Chapter 9: Save the Village

Gohan, Lao and Lime landed outside of the village.

"Ok, so I am guessing this big dome is the shelter you were talking about." Gohan stated.

Lao nodded. "Yes. How do you plan to do with this?"

"Just stay back and don't interfere. Keep a safe distance." Gohan walked up to the shelter and saw the villagers standing around it.

"Cells gone now so why do we still need to give you more?" An elderly woman asked.

"Yeah!" A man yelled. "Our dead has also miraculously come back to life. Everything is back to the way it should be. We don't need this shelter anymore."

A short man in a suit growled in anger. "You will do as I say. I run this village now and everything comes through me. Whatever I want I will get."

"What you're asking for is too much. We wouldn't be able to take care of our families properly. A middle aged woman spoke.

The short man snickered. "You think I care? You and your families can rot in hell for all I care. If I don't receive payment from you then you will have to deal with my men here and I know you don't want that."

The men beside him pulled out rifles to scare the crowd.

Having enough of this Gohan made his way to the front. "You have some nerve to be showing those in broad daylight."

The man narrowed his eyes. "You got something you wanna say punk? Don't think I won't hurt a child."

Gohan dismissed him with a wave of his hand. "You couldn't hurt me even if you wanted too." Gohan walked up further while the rest of the crowd started backing up. "One chance. One chance is all I'm giving you to surrender. If you don't then I'll have to deal with you. And I can't promise you'll live."

"Whatever. You're just all talk." He looked to his men. "Take this kid out." The five goons aimed their guns at Gohan.

Gohan frowned as he disappeared and reappeared behind his foes with their guns in his hands. "I don't think you guys will be much trouble without these." Gohan crumpled the guns up and threw them to the ground.

The men ran toward Gohan to attack. Gohan smirked and moved faster then anyone could see. He punched one man in the stomach making him lose consciousness. He elbowed another man in the chest stunning him and making him lose his breath for a second. He chopped him in the back of the neck to finish him. He round house kicked the next man in the face knocking him out. He lifted his knee in another man in the stomach before lowering his elbow to the back of his neck. All of this happened within the span of seconds.

Gohan turned to the last man and saw him holding a pistol towards him. "Think about what you're doing. There is innocent people behind me."

The man Ignored him and shot the gun without hesitation. Gohan caught every bullet that came his way. When he finished he dropped them onto the ground.

"You would fire with the crowd right behind me? You could've killed many innocent people, but people like you don't care."He charged forward and punched him in the face breaking his jaw on contact. Gohan kicked him when he hit the ground and he rolled towards the other unconscious men.

He pointed his hand towards the unconscious men as a ki ball formed. "The only way to make sure you don't do this to anyone else is to end you."

"He has the same power as Cell!" "He's going to kill us all!" "No one is safe!" "He's going to kill us like Cell did!" "He's a monster too!"

Gohan heard all the shouts the villagers were making and his eyes widened. 'I was about to kill them! I didn't even think twice about it either. I was acting just like Cell. Just like...a monster. And the worst part is that I don't feel bad about it.' He pointed his hand towards the building and blew it up in glorious fashion.

The short man backed up in fear as he pulled his phone out and called someone. "Get over here quick! We have a huge problem." He hung up the phone and backed away slowly as he saw Gohan approaching.

"You will leave and never come back. If I hear you've done this to another town then I will have no choice but to end you. This is your last and final chance. Make something out of your life instead of wasting it."

Just then someone landed between Gohan and the man.

"You call for me John?"

The man now known as John gave a grin. "What took you so long Tao?"

Tao smirked. "I was taking care of business elsewhere." He looked at Gohan and chuckled. "You seriously needed help with this kid?"

"He took out my men like they were nothing. He even destroyed my building." He looked at Gohan. "You should've just killed me kid. Now you're dead. Get him Tao. I don't care how much you charge just kill the brat."

Gohan sighed. "I tried to be nice."

Tao looked over at Gohan. "You look familiar boy."

"I should. I heard a lot about you Mercenary Tao."

"Oh my reputation precedes me. Tell me how did you hear about me?" Tao asked.

"My father. He was one of the only ones to beat you in a fight. Maybe the first one to beat you. He's also the reason you're a cyborg now."

Tao's face paled. "Your father is Son Goku?"

Gohan nodded with a smirk. "I even surpassed him in strength now. I also don't mind killing if I have too, so do you still want to fight me knowing this?"

Tao found the closest column and knocked it over. He threw it in the air and ran to jump on it while it sailed away.

Gohan chuckled. "It looks like your secret weapon is gone. Now what are you going to do?" He turned to John, but only to see him running away. Gohan turned to the unconscious fools and picked them up by the collars of their shirts. He turned to face the villagers. "You should be safe now. I'm sure nobody will mess with you now. I'm taking these guys some place where they can't cause any harm."

The village clapped and applauded for him. Gohan smiled softly as Lime and Mr. Lao walked up towards him.

"I have to thank you for everything you've done." Mr. Lao said.

Gohan looked down. "This just makes us even now."

Lao sighed. "You have to stop blaming yourself for what happened. Stop feeling sorry when it wasn't your fault. You handled your situation better then most. Besides I'm back now and everyone is safe from Cell."

Gohan nodded. "I understand, but it doesn't change the fact that I had you killed. He would've killed you both anyway, but I still told him to torture you."

"And I'm glad it was me who was tortured instead of Lime. Stop being so hard on yourself. If it makes you feel any better I forgive you. You're a good kid."

"I don't know if I am anymore. I have a long journey ahead of me. I need to work through my issues. You saw for yourself that I was about to kill these guys in cold blood. The bad thing is I don't feel bad about it at all." Gohan answered.

"What matters is that you didn't kill them. You had enough self control not too and it wasn't in cold blood. You were protecting the village. Protecting these people and their homes. You're not the monster you think you are. Unlike any other monsters you still have a heart. Try considering that."

"Kind of weird since it was you telling me to become a monster in the first place." Gohan let out dryly.

Lao nodded. "I said what I had to to save my grand daughter. It was selfish, but all I thought about was her safety. I didn't care how she stayed alive as long as you saved her. I'm sorry for not being considerate to you, but I can't apologize for wanting my Lime to live."

Gohan sighed. "I don't expect you too. I would've done the same if I was in your shoes."

"You're not a monster Gohan. Not yet anyway, but you do have some darkness inside of you. A monster kills without thought. They are merciless and don't care about anything. You are far from that. You only kill when necessary. When you know there is no way they can change. You kill to protect.

Gohan bowed slightly. "Thank you Mr Lao. I needed to hear that, but I really must be going now

"Well I hope you come and visit Gohan. You're one of the only friends I have that's my age." Lime said.

Gohan nodded. "I'll try to come visit as often as I can. You're the only friend I have my age. I would love to see you again." He started floating in the air. "I'll see you guys later. Bye!"

And with that Gohan was gone.

A/N: End of the chapter. There is only one more chapter left and then this story is finished!