Chapter 064 - Passing the Baton On
The news that Goku'd given up had shaken everyone upon the clifftop nearby. The words repeated in Corset's mind: "I give up". No matter how many times she heard it she still could not believe it had come from Son Goku of all people. Not even Cell could believe what he'd heard come from the Saiyan's mouth.
"Son Goku... do you realise what this means?" The android asked perplexed. "It would mean once no one is left to fight in the Cell Games, every last person on Earth will die."
"Don't get the wrong idea Cell; I haven't run out of fighters yet." Goku replied.
"It's the same thing…" Cell muttered bemused. "Vegeta and Trunks may have improved but they're nothing like you!"
Corset's mind raced with many thoughts. Just what was Goku planning? No one here was stronger than him; why was he giving up? Didn't he realise he was the best fighter they had?
"Can I designate the next fighter?" Goku asked.
"... You're really going to go through with this." Cell spoke.
"The game will end at this next match because if this fighter loses, there will be no one left who can beat you! I know after trying my hand against you that they can beat you! That's why I'm leaving it all up to them..."
Corset's stomach was backflipping, her heart pounding in her chest. She wished Goku'd specified what sex this fighter was; that way if the word he had been chosen, she'd definitely, definitely know he wasn't talking about her! 'Please not me! please not me!' She crossed her fingers and tried to gulp down the lump emerging in her throat.
"Do you mean to tell me there's someone stronger than you and me?" Cell demanded. "... Let me hear the name of this fantasy warrior!"
Goku turned around to face his comrades up on the ledge. Corset's heart almost stopped; she couldn't take the suspense! Which one of them would he choose?
"It's your turn... Gohan!"
Had she heard that right? Corset gazed over to Gohan who wasn't standing too far from her; he seemed pretty shocked to hear it as well! Was Goku really serious? Gohan was stronger than him?
"What did he say?" Vegeta demanded.
"G-Gohan's gonna fight...?" Corset mumbled. "... Gohan, he thinks you're stronger than him..."
Gohan said nothing.
"Has he lost his mind at last?" Piccolo bellowed clearly not pleased with the outcome. "Is he going to send his son to his death?"
Corset pondered this thought as Goku floated up towards them. Sure Gohan's power had grown a lot since he'd entered the Room of Spirit and Time but would it be enough to face off against Cell? She wasn't so sure of that.
"You can do it, Gohan, right?" Goku smiled as he landed before the shorter Super Saiyan.
"M-Me? Fight with Cell?" Gohan stuttered.
"Stop and think about this, Goku!" Piccolo snarled. "How can he do this? He's grown remarkably powerful but this is Cell - not even you stood a chance against him!"
"Piccolo..." Goku interrupted, "... Gohan has far more power than I can believe. Think about it; he's been fighting with us ever since he was little and has always kept up with us. I was nothing like that when I was his age."
"Even if he's a Super Saiyan now, fighting against Cell..." Krillin stammered.
"Why don't we ask him how he feels?" Goku suggested. "Gohan, during the fight between Cell and I, did you struggle to keep up with us?"
"... Well... no," Gohan answered, "but neither you nor Cell were fighting for real, right?"
"I don't know about Cell but I was giving it my all," Goku replied. "You were measuring my ki against your own, right? So to you it looked like I wasn't giving it my all."
"... Is this true, Gohan?" Piccolo asked.
Gohan frowned, "... Yeah."
Corset blinked in surprise and amazement. She'd assumed Goku had not been fighting at full power because of how strong she knew Gohan could get, so it was a shock to learn that the power Goku had been giving out was indeed his maximum! She started to question her own strength; she wasn't that far off of Goku's maximum herself! The training inside the Room of Spirit and Time had done far more wonders than she'd initially been aware of.
Goku patted his son on the back confidently, "Do it Gohan; bring peace to the world. You want to grow up and become a great scientist, don't you?"
Gohan looked up at his father briefly, "... Alright, I'll give it a try." With that he removed his cape and flew down to lower ground to meet Cell.
"... Are you really sure Gohan can handle this, Goku?" Corset asked. "I know Gohan got really strong but I thought strength wasn't everything... Wouldn't his experience count against him?"
"Nah, he'll be ok," Goku smiled confidently. "Just watch."
Corset anxiously turned back to watch Gohan; she wasn't sure how this would turn out but she was worried. Gohan wasn't a fighter by nature like Goku and the others seemed to be. She wasn't sure how he really felt about this fight but she hoped he'd be able to pull it off, as unrealistic as it currently sounded.
"Krillin, you still have some senzu beans, right?" Goku asked. "Could I have one?"
"Sure," Krillin passed Goku up a bean.
The Saiyan smiled as he retrieved the bean. "Thanks..."
What he did next caught everyone by surprise. "Hey, Cell - catch!" Before anyone could stop him Goku'd tossed the bean up to Cell. "That's a senzu bean! Eat it!" Goku yelled up to the android.
"Are you nuts?" Krillin cried in horror.
"What are you doing?" Corset demanded, baffled. "Are you trying to get Gohan's chances of defeating Cell to nothing?"
"Cell's exhausted; it wouldn't be a fair fight," Goku explained.
To everyone's horror Cell ate the bean, the android smug and confident as his energy returned to him. "You're a fool; you don't get that this will mean the end of the world! Well I won't decline of course and you'll soon regret it!" His power jumped up as Cell revved his ki back up to maximum.
"Goku, what you did was insane!" Piccolo snarled.
Corset looked down at the battlefield before her. Cell had powered up, now it was Gohan's turn. 'Please don't die, Gohan...'
With a loud bellow Gohan began to power up. The sudden shock of the staggering rise of his ki shook everyone as the ground violently trembled. Higher and higher it went, passing Goku's power and finally peaking. The dust settled around him, slowly drifting away from the energised boy.
Corset's eyes weren't as wide as the others but she was still amazed by how much of a gap there was between his and Goku's power! She still couldn't believe what Goku was fighting at earlier was actually his maximum; she'd been so sure he could give more. His son had clearly surpassed him, just as Goku had wanted him to...
"That's Gohan...?" Piccolo spluttered. "... Mild-mannered Gohan?"
'That's Gohan, Piccolo' Corset nodded to herself.
Cell descended and landed a little ways behind Gohan. The boy turned and put up his guard as Cell muttered to him, his words too quiet and inaudible to hear...
Her blood pressure was surely doing overtime. Now would be the moment of truth, the moment they'd find out if Goku's true plan would work or not.
Cell charged forwards and attacked, Gohan blocked his kick oncoming kick, dodged his swipe and avoided the next kick. The two came to a stop on the ground.
So far so good. Gohan was quick enough to evade Cell's attacks but was he powerful enough to deal damage? Corset gulped and kept her eyes peeled to the fight, fists trembling by her side as she clenched them tighter, nails almost piercing into her skin.
The android's speed suddenly increased, looking like a blur to Corset. He grabbed Gohan by the shirt and head-butted him, repeatedly punching him in the face. With a light toss the android extended one arm and yelled out, sending Gohan shooting backwards with a kiai. The boy vanished through several metres of rock, dust expelled through the cracks as he was engulfed.
"This is horrible!" Krillin growled.
"G-Gohan!" Trunks called.
Corset hurriedly locked onto his ki...
"Goku, this is all your fault!" Piccolo bellowed. "Your judgement was wrong, we all warned you this would happen! Gohan is dead!"
"Don't jump to conclusions, Piccolo." Goku muttered, "Can't you still sense Gohan's ki?"
"... He's fine," Corset spoke in relief. "... Maybe we ought to give him more credit." Although she had to admit for a moment she'd agreed with Piccolo!
"Enough of these games, Goku!" Cell barked. "Have a senzu bean and fight me once more!"
"Idiot, look behind you!" Goku jeered.
Gohan had emerged virtually unscathed from his impact with the rocks. He walked until he stood a couple of inches away from the towering android. For a while nothing happened; Gohan and Cell seemed to be talking to each other.
"... Can you hear what they're saying?" Krillin asked. "I can't make it out?"
Corset couldn't tell what was going on either; she could hear their voices but not their words.
Cell suddenly bolted forwards punching the off-guard boy clean in the face! Cell wasn't giving him a chance to recover as he dealt blow after blow overwhelming Gohan, his ki slowly falling as Cell used him like a punching bag. She couldn't watch this; she couldn't stand here and watch her best friend be killed by this monster.
Corset stepped forward, something stopped her; a hand grasping onto her shoulder.
"Stay here," Goku ordered.
Corset glared at the fighter, "... But..."
"Just do it," Goku butted in sterner than before.
She wasn't going to argue with him. Hesitantly she conceded defeat and turned away, watching with a look of remorse on her face, just in time to see Gohan kick Cell onto his backside!
"Cell fell on his butt!" Krillin chuckled.
The android rose and wiped his mouth, examining the damage he'd taken. After a moment or so he extended his finger.
Corset was sure she recognised this attack.
A beam suddenly shot from Cell's finger, Gohan dodging with ease – It was that attack! That had been the attack Freeza'd killed Dende and her with! Several more beams were fired, Gohan dodging them all.
"That's Freeza's attack!" Krillin cried.
'Oh yeah... Cell has Freeza's cells too!' Corset recalled, answering her own questions as to how Cell knew that attack. A small wave of nerves shot around her every time Cell fired off the attack. It had killed her after all.
Gohan made a sharp dash to the side – Cell suddenly closed in and caught him in a bear-hug! Gohan quickly started to scream as Cell began to squeeze. There was no way he could break the hold; Cell had too much of a grasp on him and the android didn't let up on his ruthless and cruel attack.
Corset flinched struggling to stay on the spot. She could hear Gohan's screams and it did not sit well with her to hear them. She hated hearing people in pain and not doing anything about it; it was like torture standing here having to listen to it! To top it off it was someone she knew and cared about, her best friend. She couldn't listen to it!
"Gohan!" She cried, trying once again to charge in.
Goku was far more forceful this time; he snatched her ankle and tossed her to the ground, Corset skidding backwards a few feet. Dazed but still determined she hurriedly got to her feet, glaring angrily at Goku. "What are you doing?" She yelled.
"I told you to stay here!" Goku barked.
"Stay here? Can't you hear that?" Corset bellowed. "Gohan's in pain, Goku! I can't just stand here and watch this – he's my best friend!"
"I agree; I can't stomach watching this anymore!" Piccolo stepped forwards. "I'm going in!"
"Wait! Neither of you would stand a chance!" Goku warned. "Just wait a little longer."
"Wait? For what?" Piccolo demanded. "Wait for Gohan to be killed?"
"Wait for him to get mad," Goku answered. "Gohan's rage will soon unleash his full power and then we'll really see something!"
Corset glared at Goku. "... You mean his hidden power?" She asked sternly.
"Our only hope to beat Cell is to use the power in Gohan," Goku nodded.
Corset looked back over to Gohan, feeling worried and sorry for him. She couldn't deny whenever his hidden powers had appeared in the past, he'd really laid it to whoever had provoked him! They were unpredictable though; Gohan had no control over accessing them and they would suddenly vanish even when awakened! Did Gohan know this was what Goku was counting on? Did he know why he was being left to suffer like this?
She doubted it.
Gohan wasn't a fighter by nature.
"You're wrong, Goku." Piccolo cried. "Gohan isn't a warrior like you. He may be stronger than all of us but deep down he's a scared eleven-year-old boy. Does he even know about any of this? Did you ever discuss any of this with him?"
Goku turned and looked at Piccolo. The smile of confidence had gone and was now replaced with a look of confusion.
"Do you even know what he's thinking right now? It's not rage! He's probably wondering why his father is letting him get hurt like this!" Piccolo snarled. "He's wondering if his father cares more about the rules of this fight than his son's life! However strong Gohan is, he's still a child! I don't care if I get killed - I'm going!" With that the Namekian began to remove his weighted clothing.
Goku stared at his son, lost for words. Gohan's screams were still echoing through the immediate area as Cell continued to crush him.
Corset looked up to Goku, "... Please... Help him!" She asked. "Gohan doesn't like to fight unless he really has to..."
"... Krillin, give me a senzu bean."
"Sure," Krillin smiled reaching into the small bag. "You're not gonna chuck this one to Cell, are you?"
"No, this one's for me," Goku shook his head.
The small thump down below caught everyone's attention; Cell had released Gohan. The boy lay on his face panting for air. Cell seemed to have gotten bored of torturing him, much to Corset's relief, though she wasn't sure what he was going to do next. Gohan wasn't getting back up which worried her though he had endured a lot of pain.
The android muttered something, he was too far to be heard clearly...
Then without warning he shot towards the group on the cliff.
"No! Stop it!" Gohan screamed bolting to a leaning position.
Corset quickly put up her guard as the android closed in on them, not sure what to expect. Cell stopped right in front of Krillin, snatching the bag in his hands before the warrior even realised what had happened!
"These are those nifty senzu beans?" Cell smiled. "They're annoying... I'll hold onto them for you!" With that he flew back down to Gohan.
Corset clenched her fists in frustration and helplessness; now if anyone was to sustain any injuries there'd be no way to restore their power, unless of course by some miracle someone managed to get the senzu beans from Cell! The android went back to talking to Gohan, who was slowly getting to his feet. After a moment Cell glanced back up towards her and the others.
"Watch out," Piccolo warned. "He's up to something!"
"Damn it, I should have taken a senzu bean when I had the chance!" Goku cursed.
Gohan suddenly dashed forwards to attack- Cell booted him off into a nearby cluster of boulders clearly expecting the oncoming attack. "If you're going to get mad, do it for real!" The android bellowed.
Corset's eyes widened in shock. Without warning had Sixteen intervened. Cell was completely caught off guard and by the time he'd realised what was happening, Android Sixteen had grabbed him in a lock from behind and lifted him off his feet. Cell didn't seem to be able to break free from the android's strong grasp.
Corset hadn't even seen Sixteen leave!
"When did he get there?" Goku gasped.
"He's a machine!" Piccolo growled. "He can go about undetected."
"Sixteen's gonna fight Cell?" Krillin cried.
"He doesn't stand a chance." Trunks said baffled.
Corset nervously watched the android; sure he had Cell in his grasp but with both of his arms already in use, what did he plan to do?
"Forgive me for sacrificing all of you!" Sixteen bellowed up to the group. "I'll have to blow myself up along with Cell! This is the final power I was never meant to use- none of you can survive a blast at this close range!"
The eleven-year old girl hesitantly put up her defences, realising even with them up there was little point of her trying to defend herself/ This wasn't right, she didn't want to die again! She'd trained so, so hard; she'd finally become a Super Saiyan and still she was going to die! What had been the point in it all? She didn't want to leave her mother, baby brother and grandparents undefended! Despite all this she knew there was nothing else that could be done. With a heavy heart she closed her eyes and waited...
The seconds went by like minutes...
Confused she hesitantly opened one eye and looked down at Sixteen.
Nothing seemed to be happening. Slowly she put down her guard, unsure of what was going on. Sixteen seemed to be just as confused from the little part of his face she could see.
"Sixteen! You can't blow yourself up!" Krillin bellowed. "When they fixed you at Capsule Corp, Dr Brief found a bomb in your body! They took it out because it was too dangerous!"
"Grandpa found a... a bomb?" Corset gasped horrified. What kind of person was Dr Gero putting bombs inside his own creations? Did that mean Cell had one as well?
A flash of light and a peak in Cell's ki caught her attention; her eyes widened in shock as she saw Sixteen's body fall to pieces under Cell's ki blast; the android had somehow managed to free one of his arms most likely in Sixteen's moment of realisation. Body parts and metal clattered across the ground, head landing amongst them. The sight made Corset gag; machine or not he looked perfectly human, so to see him decapitated still made her feel ill!
Cell walked over to the destroyed machine's head and kicked it away. Android Sixteen's head struck a couple of rocks and landed before the horrified human spectators who all shrieked in fear and disgust.
It had all happened so fast. First Sixteen had Cell cornered and was preparing to blow himself up, then in the blink of an eye it was Cell who had the advantage and was destroying the mechanical fighter! It played in slow-motion, making her feel sicker and sicker every time she saw it in her mind. Corset flinched and turned away furious with Cell. Someone else had just been killed.
Cell's attention went back to those on the ridge above Gohan and himself. Corset had no idea what he was planning but whatever it was, she was now raring to fight. She refused to let what had happened to Sixteen happen again. If Gohan wasn't willing to fight then she would!
"What is he doing?" Vegeta spat.
Cell's tail seemed to open up, several blurs shooting out from it.
"What... are those?" Piccolo stuttered.
Corset gaped in shock and amazement. Down by Cell were several smaller Cell-looking creatures; the main difference being they were blue and short as opposed to green and adult-size. She quickly began to count them... eight in all...
Then it clicked.
She was about to fight. They all were.