5 – RIP=RELEASE

"Cell…" Piccolo growled quietly, watching the news report of yet another town's population 'mysteriously vanishing'. It was still early morning, but as a Namekian he did not require sleep as much as humans or Saiyans.

After just a few days, he's absorbed so many people…just how strong is he?

Our only hope is that Vegeta or Trunks ascends…

His thoughts were interrupted by a noise outside the Kame house. He stood up and approached the window.

"Can we have moment of your time?" Luka asked, standing outside the house with Rin behind her.

Dammit! Why now?

Actually, this might be a good opportunity…

If I destroy Rin, then I can take her heart and, at the very least, keep Cell from getting it if I can't destroy it.

The only problem here is Luka…

"Get up! We've got company!" Piccolo shouted, waking everyone in the room, before stepping outside. Krillin, Tien and Yamcha followed suite, each gasping in minor terror upon seeing who was outside.

"There's no need to get so worked up about us. We're only stopping by," Luka said, twirling a lock of hair around her finger. Rin was visibly nervous, seeing how tense Piccolo and the others were.

"Any of you seen Hatsune Miku?" Luka continued.

Piccolo took a moment to answer.

"Why don't we take this matter to that island over there?" he said, pointing to the distance. Luka fixed Piccolo a challenging scowl.

"Fine. Just you?" she accepted.

"Yes. Let's go."

Piccolo flew off, followed by Luka and Rin, while Krillin and the others watched, minor relief flowing over them. It was soon replaced with fear, as they worried just how Piccolo would handle the two androids.

The three landed on a small island, where Rin sat against a lone tree as Luka stood across from Piccolo.

"I may end up killing you…" Luka warned, as Piccolo threw off his cape and turban.

"I won't go down as easy as last time," Piccolo said.

"Hm. If you say so…" Luka said, before turning her attention to Rin, "stay out of this, okay? I don't want you getting hurt."

Rin nodded as Piccolo powered up, his arms tensing as his aura erupted from his body. Luka's eyes widened in shock.

"So that was you I detected…" she uttered. Piccolo smirked, launching himself at Luka who barely had time to react. She raised her arms to block a frontal assault, but Piccolo passed her and planted his elbow in the back of her head, causing her to stumble forwards as he followed it up with a kick. As she picked herself up, Piccolo launched a wide wave of energy, which she barely managed to dodge.

As she tried to get her wits together, Luka thrown into the air by Piccolo, who had grabbed her from behind. Stopping herself in midair, she was then forced to dodge and block a series of energy blasts. She noticed something odd about them, though.

Only some of them are aimed at me…and the ones that arm coming towards me are easy to deflect. What's he doing? He's just…wasting…energy…?

An unwelcome realisation dawned on her as Luka glanced around herself when Piccolo stopped firing blasts. Surrounding her was a cage of energy balls, stronger than the ones she'd been deflecting.

He intentionally distracted me with those low powers attacks…

He's barely let me even attack, yet alone land a single hit…

She turned her gaze towards Piccolo, who smirked in reply. Luka clenched her teeth, scowling venomously, her fists trembling.

Shit…

I've underestimated him…!

The energy balls converged on Luka, all of them exploding at once, creating a huge cloud of smoke and dust.

"LUKA!" Rin screamed, watching the scene hopelessly.


Cell, many miles away, could sense Piccolo at high power, seemingly alone.

"There's no one else he could go all out on but the androids!" it declared, releasing its current victim from its grip.

"Yes, I should be ready by now to get past CV03…haha…"

It shot out of the window, making beeline to where it could sense Piccolo.

"Just wait, Kagamine Rin! You and your brother's heart will soon be a part of me!"


As the dust settled, Rin sighed with relief as Piccolo snarled; Luka had emerged unscathed, a force field surrounding her. She descended to ground level.

"I must say, that was a close call. That could have seriously hurt," she commented, raising her arms in a minor stance, "you took me by surprise, but it was still a wake-up call. I won't be holding back now."

Piccolo said nothing, slipping into his own stance. Luka took a moment to survey the island and the damage it had taken.

"But first," she said, "how about a change of scenery? I fear this island won't last much longer."

"Suit yourself," Piccolo grunted, as the three flew to a larger island with a raised area. Once again, Luka and Piccolo took their stances.

Their eyes met, and they slower stepped closer to each other, both searching for an opening to exploit and any telling signs of attack.

In an instant, Luka rammed her knee into Piccolo's chest, dashed to the side, catching Piccolo with a left hook as she spun around to deliver a kick to his back. Piccolo stumbled forward into a crouch, ducking Luka's next kick and catching her following punch. He grabbed her arms, swinging her over his head and into the cliff face.

Rocks and dust scattered as Luka burst out from the cliff face, vanishing briefly before appearing behind Piccolo, throwing her fist into the back of his head.

Piccolo was smashed into the ground, as Luka took a moment to brush herself off, assessing the damage both of them had taken. Piccolo stood up, and did the same.

"Not impressed," Piccolo taunted. Luka glared at him, but did not respond. After a moment, both leapt into the air, their initial attacks clashing loudly. Luka, however, did not take as much recoil force, and followed with a sweeping kick to Piccolo's side. He was launched to the ground, but landed on his feet and sprang up towards Luka, firing waves of energy at her. Luka blocked these, but took a direct uppercut from Piccolo. He swiped at her with his other hand, but Luka blocked the attack and followed up with her own, which was also blocked.

Both having the opponent's arm other arm in their grip, they struggled in midair to break free, neither letting up. Piccolo fired beams from his eyes, hoping to catch Luka by surprise, but she ducked and threw herself forward, ramming into Piccolo and forcing them directly downwards. They both plummeted to the ground, Piccolo taking the brunt of the hit.

Luka leapt off him, and watched him get up.

"You still have a chance to give up," she said, "I'd really hate to have to kill you."

Piccolo frowned, and thought for a moment.

So far we're fairly even, and I do seem to be inflicting some damage on her, however minor it may be.

But at this rate…

I'm losing energy, but she has infinite energy. I can't afford to drag this out.

If only I could find her weakness…

Sweat trickled down Piccolo's face; a combination of minor fatigue, the heat, and his mind desperately searching for a way to win.

Luka stared coldly at Piccolo.

She seems to rely on close-combat…

Maybe I could use that…

Piccolo smirked, and tightened his fist. Luka watched this, readying herself for Piccolo's approach. However, Piccolo did not move from his spot; he stretched his arm, sending his fist flying towards Luka, catching her square in the face.

Gritting her teeth, she twisted her body, and grabbed Piccolo's wrist before he could retract his arm. She raised her free elbow, and slammed it into the arm, snapping it. Piccolo growled, and tore off his arm after it returned to its original length. Luka took the opportunity as Piccolo regrew his arm, dashing towards him and smashing her head against his. Immediately afterwards, she threw up her leg and kicked Piccolo's chin, sending him into the air.

And before he could even react, she was behind him, hands locked together, smashing his skull with tremendous force.


Blearily, Piccolo forced his eyes open, trying to make sense of the fuzzy shapes he was seeing.

After a few blinks, he could make out Luka's feet. He made to pick himself up, but was instantly halted when Luka planted her foot on his back.

"I'm afraid you've lost this, but I'm glad you're not dead."

Piccolo lifted his head up, barely able to see Luka's from his position on the ground.

She was smiling, but with no sense of satisfaction or pleasure.

"Anyway, I'm off to hunt for Miku again- then we'll probably leave the planet or something. I don't know. We'll figure it out as it comes," Luka continued. Rin stepped beside her.

"If you see Miku," Luka said, stepping off Piccolo, "please don't attack her. I don't think she'll be able to put up a fight against you."

The two androids floated off, and Piccolo's vision once again became blurry…

…and when he next opened his eyes, he was greeted with a less pleasant sight.

"I'm very disappointed in you, Piccolo," Cell said, advancing slowly towards him.


Luka looked deep in thought as she and Rin left Piccolo on the island.

Not too long after, Luka slowed to a halt. Rin glided towards her.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"There's someone on else on that island…" Luka muttered.

"Do you think it's one of his friends? It probably is."

"No, it's the one Piccolo was fighting before- and it's even stronger now."

Neither spoke as Luka turned around.

"You're not seriously suggesting we go back…?" Rin asked.

"We can't just leave him there! He might die!" Luka said, her voice slowly rising.

"But- what about-"

"We can't stand around and do nothing! I left him in a vulnerable position!"

Rin stayed silent for a moment, considering her reply.

"I'm scared, Luka…I'm scared more than I've ever been in my life."

"Rin?"

"Do you know how it felt? Watching Len die? Do you know how it feels to lose someone right in front of your eyes, to be totally powerless?"

Luka hesitated, not wanting to respond too quickly.

"I don't care what you do…but I don't want you to die. I don't want to be on my own again…"

Luka pulled Rin into a soft embrace.

"Nobody else is going to die today, okay? Not you, me, Miku, nor anyone we fight. I'll be fine, Rin. I promise."

With that, Luka flew back to the island. Rin followed without hesitation.


It didn't take long for Luka to arrive at the scene, but it was already too late; Cell was holding Piccolo upside down by the leg, who was wincing in agony and in a far worse condition then Luka had left him.

Luka watched in horror as Cell blasted Piccolo's side, and chucked him into the sea.

"Cell…?" she uttered, dropping to the ground, "but…how? You're not meant to be completed for another 20 years!"

Cell turned to face Luka, its cold, malevolent stare sending chills down her spine.

"Ah, Megurine Luka, how nice of you to come," it said, "and you were even kind enough to bring me my next meal."

Luka spun around to see Rin land behind her.

"Rin! Get away! It wants you!" she shouted, turning around just in time to catch Cell's pre-emptive strike.

"If you must know…I'm from the future," Cell said, attempting to sidestep around Luka, who threw a kick to its head. It ducked, throwing a punch to Luka's stomach. Luka wheezed at the force of the punch, but did not relent, grabbing Cell's arm and throwing it to the floor. She rapidly fired a series of energy blasts towards the ground where Cell was.

After the dust cleared, Cell picked itself up, its gaze switching between Luka and Rin, the latter of whom was rooted to the spot, paralysed with fear.

"Was there a reason you had to come back to this time to absorb Rin and Len?" Luka asked.

"Of course- in my time, the only android alive was Hatsune Miku. Both parts that I needed were taken apart by some meddling scientist! So when I happened across Trunk's time machine, I killed him, and came back to this time."

"Looks like I'll be fulfilling my programming here," Luka muttered as she raised her hands to eyelevel, "did you know? I was created to destroy you, in case you failed to function as intended. Of course, I've rebelled against Gero's will, so I'll be destroying you whether or not you're functioning correctly."

Her hands started glowing softly in a light pink colour. She swiped at the air, leaving a brief glowing trail. Cell regarded this with minor interest.

Luka, after several more test swipes, raised her hands in an attack stance, and grinned.

"I still need to name this technique- but that doesn't matter. What matters is how quickly I'll finish you with it."

Cell would have snorted derisively it could, charging at Luka head-on. Luka made no effort to move, merely swinging her hand upwards as Cell approached.

Cell jerked to a halt after it passed Luka, noticing its arm lying on the ground beside Luka, who turned to face Cell.

"I know you can regenerate, but that takes up energy, doesn't it? So if I slice you apart repeatedly, and you keep regenerating…what happens then?"

Cell glowered at Luka, as it tried to regrow its arm. Luka saw this, speeding towards it and slicing off its other arm at the elbow. Cell growled, attempting to jump backwards out of reach, but Luka thrust her hand through Cell's abdomen, spun around, and sliced it in half.

Covered in Cell's green blood, Luka watched the creature writhe on the floor.

"But…how…" it gasped, vainly crawling away from Luka.

"You made a vital mistake when you came after me in your imperfect form. There's a limit on how much power you can gain in it. I was designed to be stronger than that limit."

Luka planted her foot on Cell's head, smirking as she continued, "Of course, your only other alternative was to find Len's heart, and that'd mean somehow finding Hatsune Miku. I guess you were doomed to fail from the start."

"Hehe…that's all I needed to know…" Cell responded, as Luka frowned.

Then, from behind, Cell's legs, which had been previously sliced off, exploded loudly, throwing Luka forward before she could deliver the finishing blow to Cell. Her hands stopped glowing as she stood up.

She immediately scanned the dust and smoke, looking for Cell's energy signal, but it was already gone. Luka's eyes flicked across her surroundings, looking for any signs of Cell, but all she found was a hole in the ground.

Cell had escaped underground.

There's no way I can predict where it'll resurface or where it is now…

No choice. I'll blow up the island.

"Rin!" Luka called out, before noticing Tien as well, "and Tien! Get in the air! Away from this island!"

Tien looked confused, but nodded obediently, taking to the air, while Rin stayed rooted to the spot.

She looked confused and upset.

She doesn't know about Cell…and she's scared of it.

Maybe she's scared of me, too.

Clamping down on the negative thoughts, Luka started firing random attacks at the ground, hoping to draw out Cell. It was a fleeting effort, as the island was just big enough for Cell to evade fire without detection.

Nonetheless, she continued firing until Tien's voice loudly rang from the sky.

"RIN! BEHIND YOU!"

Rin spun around in time to see Cell burst from the ground, cackling madly with its tail hovering over Rin, the gaping hole ready to absorb her.

Rin shrieked as the tail covered her, slowly sucking her in.

"RIN!" Luka shouted, flying towards Cell in a desperate attempt to save her.

Cell began glowing brightly, producing shockwaves that knocked Luka backwards as it gradually changed form. Its energy spiked, a massive increase that only kept growing until, at last, the glow faded, leaving a larger, more powerful Cell standing in its place.

Its new blue eyes rested on Luka, who returned the look in terror, as it smirked.

"Now then," it said, "tell me where Hatsune Miku is."


A/N: I liked writing this chapter! I'd really love feedback for this one, because I want to know how my fight scenes are in particular.