7 – Heat-Haze Days

Miku loved smiling.

She loved laughing.

That's why Rin and Len were so drawn to her when they were first created; their life was in no way happy or bright, yet Miku could always see the positive side.

It was the same when Luka was made. Such bright optimism was almost infectious. The four of them couldn't help but to enjoy their time together, even knowing how much it infuriated Dr Gero.

They all dreamed of escaping, seeing the world for themselves.

Always being together.

That was the hope they all carried once…

But it just wasn't to be.

Miku's cold stare was a painful reminder of everything that had gone wrong, to Luka at least.

After recovering from her initial shock, she desperately flew towards Miku.

Cell, eager to get what it needed, made to do the same, but Vegeta grabbed its tail before it could fly off.

"Miku," Luka breathed upon reaching her, "you're...okay…"

"What happened to Len?"

Miku's first question was uttered like a whisper, her right hand holding Len's heart against her chest.

Before Luka could respond, Miku voiced her next question.

"Where is Rin?"

It was like each question was a knife of guilt and failure driven through Luka's heart. She was left speechless.

"What happened to your hand?" Miku asked, holding the injured hand with her left hand.

Luka was still unable to say anything. She was too scared to even look Miku in the eye.

Miku's gaze softened as she embraced Luka in a hug.

"Please…tell me," Miku whispered, Len's heart now pressed against Luka's back.

Luka's vision went blurry as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I…couldn't protect her," she wept, "I'm so sorry."

When Miku said nothing, Luka continued, "Rin- she was absorbed by Cell. I was beating it, and then it absorbed her and became stronger than me."

"That thing down there…is Cell, right?"

"Uh-huh."

"So what happened to Len?"

"…Vegeta."

"I see…"

"We should get out of here, Miku," Luka said, wiping her eyes, "Cell's after you. It wants Len's heart."

"How convenient," Miku suddenly said, "both Vegeta and Cell are down there. We can avenge Rin and Len here and now!"

Miku let go of Luka and stared down at the two, readying herself for battle.

"Miku, wait! You can't beat them! They're too strong!" Luka cried. Miku did not reply, her cold stare watching Cell as it charged directly at her…


Cell could only watch as Luka flew up to Miku, its own efforts to fly towards them hindered by the tugging force on its tail.

"Vegeta…you crave a fierce battle, right?" it pleaded desperately, "let me become perfect! I will show you true power!"

"You use the word 'perfect'. I'm curious. You think you could actually be stronger than me?" Vegeta responded.

"Of course! I will be unstoppable!"

Without warning, Vegeta violently swung Cell into the ground with great force, but did not release its tail.

"Please…I can easily overpower those two…I won't take long…you'll have the fight you desire more than anything…"

Vegeta smirked, squeezing Cell's tail and watching it writhe with pain.

"Really?"

"Yes…" it gasped, "this is…an opportunity…you'll only get…once…"

Vegeta released Cell's tail.

"You're a crafty one, aren't you? Either way, this was hardly a fight to begin with."

Cell picked itself up, its wide grin betraying its excitement.

"No! Father, you can't!" Trunks yelled.

"Hurry up and become 'perfect', Cell," Vegeta barked, ignoring Trunks.

Cell chuckled, hurtling towards Luka and Miku as Trunks powered up.

"No...I'm going to be too late!" Trunks growled, turning to Vegeta, "how could you-"

"Aren't you meant to be my son?" Vegeta said, "do you not crave a fight like a true Saiyan?"

"No! I've seen what the androids can do! They've already ruined my future- I won't let them ruin this one, too!"

Vegeta scowled at his son in annoyance.

"It's too late, Trunks. Cell will be 'perfect' soon, with only two weak androids to stand against it-"

There was a tremendous crash behind Trunks, who slowly turned around and blinked in surprise.

Lying on the floor, rubbing its head with one hand, was Cell, with a shoe print on its face.

"What the…?" Trunks murmured, glancing up at the androids in the sky. Luka had a similar look of surprise, while Miku was slowly gliding towards Cell.

Cell threw itself at Miku, who backhanded it into the sea.

"Oh for…" Vegeta growled, "must I do everything myself?"

As Cell burst out of the water with a loud splash, Vegeta charged at Miku. In one fluid motion, she sidestepped around Vegeta, grabbed his leg, and threw him at Cell. The two collided, with Vegeta kicking Cell out of the way to attack Miku again.

Vegeta grabbed Miku's right arm, and planted his foot in her abdomen, trying to pull the arm off. Miku's grip on Len's heart never faltered, as she threw a kick which connected with Vegeta's jaw, throwing him into the air. Cell, floating overhead, chose this moment to dive at Miku but was caught by an energy blast thrown by Trunks. Vegeta, now in mid-air, sent an energy wave from each hand towards Miku and Trunks.

Trunks raised his arms to block, but Miku vanished in a blur, suddenly appearing behind Vegeta as she delivered a kick to his back, launching him into Trunks. Cell grabbed her from behind, its tail aimed at her right hand, but Miku flung Len's heart into the air, and grabbed Cell's tail, throwing it to the ground.

Catching Len's heart, Miku placed her foot on Cell's face.

"You…'absorbed' Rin, did you?" Miku spat, her icy glare showing no mercy.

Cell winced as Miku struck it with her foot.

"You won't die before you feel her pain. That much…I promise you."

Miku knelt down, and drove one knee into Cell's side as she raised her left fist.

Cell gasped and choked in pain.

Miku pounded its face repeatedly with her left fist, each blow delivered with greater force than the last. Green blood stained the ground and her fist as she maintained the barrage.

"Miku! Stop!"

Miku halted, glancing towards Luka. Cell struggled to open one eye.

"That's enough," Luka continued, "please…just end it now."

Before Miku could respond, an energy wave threw Miku into the air, followed up with an elbow from Vegeta. Miku caught this, preventing Vegeta from pulling out.

"And you killed Len," she said accusatorily.

"What of it?" Vegeta replied, smirking.

Miku rammed her head into Vegeta's, her face twisted into a look of fury.

Trunks watched, conflicted between helping Vegeta and Miku, neither of which he particularly felt like assisting at the time. He noticed Cell behind him rise into the air, wheezing as it eyed everyone on the island. Only too late did Trunks catch on to what it was planning.

"SOLAR FLARE!" it yelled, releasing a blinding flash of light. Everyone covered their eyes, recoiling from the light.

After regaining his vision, Trunks whipped his head around to Miku, who was in the air not too far from Vegeta, both of which had only just regained their vision themselves. Miku's eyes widened in terror as she fixed her look past Trunks.

Why did it use that technique?

Wasn't it after the part Miku's holding?

A booming, victorious laugh erupted from behind Trunks. He slowly turned, his gaze fixed on Cell, who had its arm around Luka's throat. It carelessly bat Krillin aside with its tail as it grinned cruelly.

"You certainly know how to play dirty, Cell," Vegeta chuckled.

Cell beckoned Miku to approach it.

Trunks wanted to tell her to stop, but found he couldn't as he watched Luka, who was vainly attacking and pulling Cell's arm with her good hand.

After all…

Miku wouldn't listen anyway, even if I told her not to fall for it.

Anyway, I'm not comfortable with the idea of sacrificing anyone.

Even this android…

Luka sent a pleading look towards Miku, telling her to stop.

But Miku stood in front of Cell, ignoring Luka's protests.

"Len's heart, if you would be so kind," Cell said, its tail wide open.

"No! Please don't! Miku!" Luka cried.

"Luka…I don't want to be alone. Never again…"

After a moment's deliberation, Miku dropped Len's heart into Cell's tail.

As Cell began glowing, Luka was thrown forwards into Miku's arms, the two flying into the air to avoid the huge shockwaves Cell was emitting.

"NO!" Trunks yelled, hurtling towards Cell, furiously attacking the barrier it had created. Cell did not seem to notice as it roared, its power swelling massively. Trunks drew back his fist sharply, hissing in pain.

"No…not again…" Luka said, haunting memories of Rin being absorbed filling her mind.

A wave of dust rose and fell around the new Cell, taller, with a more serious look on its face.

It curiously observed its hands, clenching them into fists and opening them again.

"Is that it?" Vegeta snorted, "nothing too special."

Cell did not pay attention to Vegeta as it tested its speed, throwing punches and kicks into the air.

"His power didn't increase that much…" Luka muttered, reading off her scanner.

"He's hiding his true strength," Krillin said, his fearful look aimed at Cell, "dammit, if only Vegeta had finished it sooner…"

Miku let out a slight gasp, unnoticed by everyone, glancing at Krillin.

"No, I should have left sooner. I was just a liability," Luka said. Miku shifted her gaze to her.

But…I gave Cell Len's heart!

I'm the one who caused this…

"You're hiding your true strength too, right, Trunks?" Krillin asked suddenly.

Meanwhile, Cell eyed Vegeta and sent him a smug grin.

"I do apologise for the wait," it said with no sincerity, "care to help me warm up?"

"Fine. While you warm up," Vegeta responded with a similar look on his face, "I'll destroy you."

The two slipped into fighting stances, searching for an opening or an opportunity.

Vegeta was the first to strike, striking with his knee, which was blocked by Cell, as was the follow up elbow. Vegeta then threw a barrage of attacks at Cell, who easily blocked each one. Cell finally attacked, thrusting his palm, but it was narrowly blocked by Vegeta. The two leapt away from each other.

Vegeta, sweat crawling along his face, could only feel frustration and aggravation.

"You…you're not taking this seriously!" he growled.

"This was meant to be a warm up," Cell reminded him, placing its hands on its hips.

"Fight me for real! I know you're angry! Turn it on me!" Vegeta roared, his aura flaring.

"If you insist…"

Cell dashed towards Vegeta, vanishing briefly before reappearing behind Vegeta, arms folded, smugly regarding Vegeta's reaction.

Vegeta fought back his initial shock and swung his leg into Cell's face at full force.

It did not even flinch, and its smirk grew.

Vegeta jumped away from Cell, standing in astonishment.

"Why does that only happen to us?" Luka muttered quietly.

"'Super Vegeta', hm?" Cell chuckled in amusement, "where did your arrogance go? Surely this isn't the best you can do, right?"

With blinding speed, Cell rammed its foot into Vegeta's chest, flinging him rapidly through several rocks until he halted in mid-air.

"Is that all? I thought you wanted a fight. This is hardly any different from before," Cell gloated, its leg still raised.

Vegeta glided higher into the air, panting and scowling down at Cell. He stretched his arms and legs out, his aura erupting around him as energy seemed to swirl around him.

"What's he doing?" Krillin wondered aloud.

Clouds gathered above Vegeta and the ground rumbled, the sea below parting below him. He cupped his hands in front of him, the energy converging to his hands. Cell watched, his expression unchanging as Vegeta amounted an incredible mass of energy.

"Haha…Hahaha…Nng…" Vegeta laughed through his roaring, ignoring the strain on his body.

"CELL! DOES YOU PERFECT FORM HAVE THE COURAGE TO TAKE THIS ATTACK HEAD ON? OR ARE YOU STILL A COWARD?" Vegeta declared, a ball of energy crackling at his fingertips. Cell calmly lowered its arms, readying itself. Vegeta grinned.

"Is he mad? He'll destroy the planet!" Krillin cried.

"Everyone, get back!" Luka shouted, falling back with Krillin and Trunks. Miku stayed put, her level gaze never moving from Cell.

"FINAL FLASH!"

A tremendous column of energy exploded from Vegeta's hands, careering towards Cell as it seemingly ripped apart the world around it. Cell eyes widened in shock as the beam shot through and past it, veering into the sky.

Trunks, Krillin and Luka approached the scene as Vegeta slowly descended to ground level, chuckling to himself.

"The coward tried to avoid it last second," Miku said, as the dust settled, revealing Cell, its right arm and a part of its torso completely blown off.

"Haha…hahahaha!"

Vegeta laughed triumphantly, as Cell trembled in horror at the sight of its body.

"Vegeta, wait! It can regenerate!" Luka cried. Vegeta immediately scowled at her, and then at Cell, who had a minor look of annoyance on its face.

"Sheesh. Way to ruin the surprise," it moaned in a mocking tone, its smirk betraying its true feelings as a new right arm popped out of his side, good as new.

"I do have some of Piccolo's cells, after all," it explained, advancing slowly towards Vegeta as it stretched and swung its new arm around. Vegeta threw a furious barrage of energy attacks on Cell, in a futile attempt to stop it.

"Who's laughing now?" Cell gloated as it threw its right fist into Vegeta's face, blowing him onto his back.

Vegeta struggled back to his feet, rubbing his face, but Cell gave him no time to recover as it kicked him into the air. It sped through the air above Vegeta, driving its elbow into his back with almighty force, sending him hurtling to the ground.

"He's totally out cold! Trunks, it's now or never!" Krillin said.

Miku still hadn't moved from her position at all since the Final Flash, watching Cell pick apart Vegeta with minimal effort.

Is this what I really wanted?

Was I going to do this to him?

"Yes, stay right there, Miku!" Cell called out, "you're next, right after I've finished Vegeta…"

Miku did not respond immediately, watching her scanner record an increasing power in the air. Cell readied his hand, about to drive it through Vegeta.

"I think someone wants my turn," she said, indicating the air behind her.

Cell blinked, dropping Vegeta.

"What is that?" it gasped, genuinely shocked.

Trunks' body was swelling as much as his power; a humongous, terrifying force still building rapidly.

His power exceeded even Cell's.


A/N: A new chapter so soon?!

Funny story: I was kinda disappointed with the last chapter, and how long it took, so I immediately set out to write this chapter.

I did not expect to finish it so quickly. I guess I was just inspired?

Whatever. The point is, Miku's here now. At last. I'm just as happy as you guys must be.

I doubt I'll be able to write the next chapter this quickly, but I'll get it done. In the meantime, please leave some feedback!