6 – BurNing HeaRt
Rin…I'm so sorry.
Luka gulped, the new Cell staring at her.
I know how you feel now…this powerlessness…I hate it.
Cell was now more intimidating than creepy.
If only…I could have protected you.
No, that wasn't quite right…it was just as intimidating as it was creepy.
I'll see you soon, though…
I'm probably going to die here, after all…
Miku…please don't die.
Luka clenched her teeth, and charged at Cell, her fist colliding with its face at full force.
It didn't even flinch.
Oh…so that's what that feels like.
Frozen in terror, Luka could only watch as Cell grabbed her left hand, and crushed it without effort, until it was a mangled mess, fluids leaking out and occasionally releasing sparks.
But Luka couldn't scream in pain- it felt as if all her energy was gone. Instead, she fell to her knees, and held her left hand, a single tear falling out of her eye.
"I'll ask you again," Cell said, looming over Luka, "where is Hatsune Miku?"
"I…don't know," Luka admitted, her eyes shut, as she readied herself to meet her fate.
"Is that so? What a shame," Cell said derisively, "well, if that's the case, I still have one use for you…"
Luka's eyes shot open in shock as Cell grabbed her by her hair.
"Yes…how would little Hatsune Miku react if she found her dear friend in my clutches?" Cell said with a nasty gleam in his eyes, "or already dead?"
Luka, in desperation, attacked with her right fist, but was instantly halted by Cell.
"There's no use in struggling," Cell said, dropping Luka on to the floor and kicking her. Luka gasped in pain, totally paralysed by shock and fear.
In the air, Tien watched in horror as Cell repeatedly assaulted Luka, the very android who had beaten even Piccolo with ease.
Krillin, who had just arrived, had a similar reaction.
"Shouldn't we get out of here?" Krillin asked nervously.
"It's…going to use Luka as a hostage to get the part it needs from Miku," Tien explained to Krillin, "so if we help Luka escape…Cell will have no way of getting to Miku."
"That's great…and how do we do that?"
"I think I have an idea," Tien said, staring at Cell, "please don't try and stop me."
"Huh? What are you…?"
Before Krillin could finish, Tien had already floated closer to the ground, holding his hands up in a triangular shape.
"NEO KI-KOHO!" he roared, unleashing an enormous wave of energy upon an unsuspecting Cell, who was thrown through the ground.
Luka stood up in a daze, trying to comprehend what had happened as Tien fired another attack on Cell.
"Krillin, take the android and get out of here!" Tien shouted, already showing strains from exertion. Krillin complied, rushing towards Luka.
"Can you fly? We need to get out of here!"
Luka slowly turned her gaze to Krillin.
"Why are you…?" she breathed.
"No time! Tien won't last much longer!"
Krillin grabbed her, and the two flew off quickly. Cell could only watch as it was repeatedly struck by Tien's attack.
"N…no!" it shouted, "how could this happen?"
After they'd covered a large distance, Krillin could feel Tien's power drop. Luka also detected this with her scanners.
"No…Tien…" Krillin mumbled, "and Piccolo as well..."
"Krillin," Luka said sharply, "I need to hide. Alone."
"Huh? But…"
"Cell can sense energy. It'll sense you if you're with me."
"I can lower my energy, so…"
"There's still a chance you'll give me away. I'm sorry, but…"
Luka couldn't bear to look at Krillin. It felt like she was just using others to keep living on.
"Is that…Goku?" Krillin said suddenly.
"Wait, what?"
Luka checked her scanner, which showed another power level near Cell.
How did he get there?
Does he even have a chance of beating Cell?
"What's he doing? He hasn't had his turn yet! And where's Vegeta? Darn it…" Krillin muttered. Luka tried to piece together this new information, but it wasn't enough to get any understanding of the situation with the Saiyans.
"I'm going to get going now," Luka said, "please…"
She trailed off. Krillin blinked in confusion.
"…don't get caught," Luka finished, speeding towards a nearby island. Krillin watched her leave with minor confusion.
Why did she look so sad?
…Crap, Goku's not with Cell anymore! I should get a move-
"Going somewhere?"
Krillin froze in terror, Cell looming behind him, ready to block any escape attempt.
"So, where's Megurine Luka? She couldn't have gotten far," Cell said, ignoring Krillin's terrified look, "tell me and I may let you live…"
"Guh…I…uh…"
Cell had a nasty grin on its face as it watched Krillin stammer in terror.
Neither of them noticed Vegeta approaching, who halted in front of Cell, ignoring Krillin. He sent a challenging smirk towards Cell.
"Down," Vegeta said, indicating the island below. They landed on the island, as Krillin breathed a sigh of relief.
I should probably hightail it outta here…
But a flash of pink from another part of the island caught his interest, and against his better judgement, he decided to investigate.
Luka watched Vegeta and Cell in their standoff, dreading Vegeta's fate.
Does he not know what he's up against?
He was no match for me- he's just going to be slaughtered by Cell.
Should I intervene?
"Uh…"
A nervous voice interrupted Luka's thought process, as she shifted her focus from Vegeta and Cell to Krillin, who had landed near her.
"Shouldn't you try and run? If Cell finds you…" Krillin said.
"When the fight starts, and I'm sure Cell is focused on Vegeta, I'll run," Luka replied, looking back to the two. Trunks had arrived, standing aside from the standoff.
"Him again…" she muttered. Her scanner started recording a high power level other than Cell; Vegeta was powering up.
Already, his power exceeded hers, and he wasn't nearly done.
The ground shook violently, rocks were thrown in the air and a huge crater formed under the sheer force of Vegeta's power, his energy increasing rapidly and his body increasing in size.
"What the hell?" Luka vocalised to the surprise she, Krillin and Cell felt on seeing Vegeta power up. Nobody said anything as Vegeta delivered the first attack, the tremendous force of the blow shaking the air around the island.
Vegeta followed this up, Cell not even landing a single hit as Vegeta effortlessly pummelled it.
"Explain. Now," Luka hissed, grabbing Krillin.
"He trained in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber for the past day," Krillin blabbed instantly.
"What's that?" Luka demanded impatiently.
Krillin hesitated before complying.
"It's a place where you can fit a year's training in one day. Trunks trained there too."
"Is that where Goku is now?"
"I think so…"
"And I assume that guy watching the fight is Trunks?"
"Yeah…"
"Who is he? Is he a Saiyan?"
Krillin hesitated again, glancing at Trunks, before looking at Luka.
"I…uh…"
Luka released Krillin, who sighed in relief.
"Sorry," Luka apologised, "I was just curious."
"It's, uh, okay," Krillin responded.
"You don't have to tell me. I'll ask him myself."
With that, Luka flew towards Trunks, Krillin following after regaining his composure.
Trunks regarded the android out of the corner of his eye, but made no move acknowledge her presence.
"Trunks, right?" Luka said, feeling strangely nervous. Trunks had a formidable presence now; just approaching him was a daunting task. His scowl was as unwelcoming as Vegeta's at times.
"Get away from me, android," Trunks growled, gliding closer to the fight. Luka wasn't too surprised by the response, as it was the kind of attitude she'd expected from all the Z fighters.
"He's from the future," Krillin said from behind Luka.
"Cell mentioned using Trunks' time machine…" Luka recalled, "but why did he come back to this time? And who is he?"
"He's Vegeta's son, who grew up in a world of ruin."
"A world of ruin? Because of Cell?"
"No. Because of Hatsune Miku."
Luka span around to face Krillin.
"What? Miku?"
"Yeah, apparently she went on a rampage and killed all of us except for Gohan-"
"But she weaker than Rin and Len! How could she beat all of you?"
"I don't-"
"Speaking of, where are me and them in all of this…unless…"
We're dead?
That's the only explanation I can think of for Miku to 'rampage'.
But how can we all be dead?
"So Trunks came back to warn you of this?" Luka said.
"Yeah, three years ago."
…So that's how they found Rin and Len and beat them a few days ago?
But that doesn't make any sense! The two outcomes are too different.
I'd have to ask Trunks about it…
Luka turned to watch Vegeta kick Cell into the air, before planting his foot in its stomach and elbowing him into the sea.
At least Cell isn't a problem anymore.
Cell climbed out of the water, panting heavily and glaring at Vegeta.
"Maybe I should go look for Miku now," Luka said, watching Vegeta taunt Cell, "but I want to see Cell defeated before I leave…"
"AARGH!" Cell bellowed, "this wouldn't be happening if was perfect!"
"Say, Luka…do you know how powerful Cell would be if it became complete?" Krillin asked.
"Not exactly," Luka responded, "but enough to beat Vegeta…probably."
"Probably?"
"Vegeta is incredibly powerful now. It's very hard to say, especially since this is all way out of my league now."
"Join the club," Krillin grumbled bitterly.
"Well, for Cell to become perfect, it'd have to somehow find-"
Luka froze midsentence, gazing up at the sky.
Krillin looked up also, his eyes growing wide with fear.
Trunks had also noticed, and was clenching his teeth with a look of fierce rage etched on his face.
Vegeta was next to look up, a small smirk creeping on his face.
Cell wearily joined in, grinning widely as it leered hungrily, almost laughing out of excitement.
Luka saw Hatsune Miku's cold stare as she gazed down on the island.
The cold, emotionless stare that Trunks recognised so well.
A torrent of overwhelming emotions engulfed Luka, relieved to see her last remaining friend, but terrified for her life, and the guilt of not being to protect Rin.
But all she could convey with her gaze was fear.
A/N: It's a bit short, but at least it's done. Damn A level stuff getting my way of writing means new chapters will be less frequent until summertime.
