Locke

Honestly, spending the night in Hell wasn't that bad. I met a cool Saiyan couple named Bardock and Gine, who I soon found out were Goten's grandparents, and they showed me around. I couldn't fathom how Gine ended up in Hell at first, but she explained that she convinced Yemma to let her stay with her husband. The story made me think of Meadow, how she might do the same when she died, and how much I despised the idea. Then I met someone who probably ended up wishing he hadn't met me: the bastard himself, Dr. Gero. After kicking his ass for the things he'd done, I demanded that he tell me anything else about me I didn't already know, as he had programmed Oreg with my schematics. I ended up learning something that really peaked my interest.

"That's everything!" he insisted. "A-and the evolved Noire Form is some kind of mutation! I never planned for it!"

I sighed and straightened up. "Well, I guess this new 'Darkness Form' did help against Sanow, so I can't be mad. But expect another angry Android when Cell comes back down here. Ahem... if he comes back down here." I turned back to the two Saiyans. "So, on with the tour?"

Bardock laughed. "Kicking ass one second, perfectly calm the next. I can see why you and my grandson got along so well." He motioned for me to follow him.

After that, we set up camp for the night, and I somehow awoke feeling well-rested. The two led me deeper into the pits of Hell, which I was finding not to be so bad.

Cell

I dug through the large snow drift, trying to find the treasure hidden inside. My hand finally wrapped around it, and I lifted it up triumphantly: the Two-Star Dragon Ball. "Don't worry, Locke. I'll have you back in no time!"

Via Instant Transmission, I returned to Bulma's lab and placed the Ball on the table with the four others I'd collected.

"Well, well," a voice said behind me. I turned and found Bulma approaching, eyeing the set with interest. "You've been busy, Cell. You must really care about this kid."

"Wouldn't you do the same for your children?" I asked.

She smiled. "You know, when it comes to family, you're a bit like the rest of us. You'll both do anything to protect them." Then she laughed. "Of course, you don't try to hide it, unlike my husband."

I pulled the Dragon Radar out of my pocket and pressed the button. "I'd love to stay and talk more, but I only have two more to go."

Bulma nodded. "Well, get on with it. You aren't the only one waiting for him." I quickly returned home to check in.

Rachel hugged me tightly when I gave her the news. "Then hurry up," she commanded. "In case you forgot, Meadow doesn't know about this. The sooner he's back, the more depression we save her from."

I smiled. "She'll be the happiest girl in the world." I bent down slightly to place a light kiss on her lips, then started to leave.

She stopped me. "Hey, Cell?" She seemed nervous about her question. "Um, now that you don't look like, well, you anymore, do you think we could...?" She trailed off, but I noticed her fingering her ring.

My smile turned softer. "Once Locke is alive again. He shouldn't miss his parents' wedding." She smiled and nodded, then I left to find the last two Balls.

Meadow

I stared at the objects I had set out on the bed in front of me: an unopened pregnancy test that I couldn't accurately use until the next day, a picture of me, Locke, and Trunks at the beach, and a knife. My reason for the knife was clear, but what I couldn't figure out was whether or not I'd use it. I wanted to reunite with Locke as soon as I could, but if I was pregnant, then our baby would die with me. I couldn't let that happen.

"If I test negative," I decided, "I'll do it. If I'm positive... I won't." I still wasn't sure about the first one, but I'd realized that suicide was the only way to ensure someone like me would end up in Hell, where I'd been told Locke was sent.

As for the picture, I just wanted something to remind me of happier times, fight off the grief at least until the next day. By then, I'd have one of two new things for that purpose. Feeling my stomach quake, I went to get something to eat. I'd been eating a lot since that night and hadn't gained an ounce of extra fat, so I hoped that that was a good sign.

Locke's mother was sitting on the couch, watching a recording of the Cell Games. It struck me as odd and more than a little insensitive that she was so calm about her son's death, but I reasoned that our new information that the Otherworld was still a physical place in our universe made it seem less like he was dead, and more like he was away on vacation. No matter how much I tried, however, I couldn't see it that way. The love of my life was dead, and that was all there was too it.

I made a cup of instant ramen and started back towards Locke's room, but something in the recording caught my eye. Namely Cell's Kamehameha struggle with Gohan, which hadn't been in the recording I'd seen. Ms. Brangwen noticed my interest and explained. "It's a video Cell took with his father's spy drones. They managed to keep from being damaged, so they got the entire fight."

I sat down with her and watched the fight. "Ms. Brangwen," I started hesitantly. "You know about all of the things Cell did, right?" She nodded. "Then why did you accept when he asked you to marry him? Any normal person would have turned him down, even if they were on good terms with him."

She sighed and paused the recording. "Cell isn't like that anymore. Meadow, I spent months under the same roof as Cell. I got to know what he was like off the battle field. He was always willing to help, really liked learning about modern entertainment, and happily accepted the mantle of being Locke's father." She smiled. "That's the man I fell in love with." Then her smile turned more comedic. "And that's the man I want to father the rest of my children, now that he can." My face turned bright red.

"Not under my roof, you're not," her dad scolded as he walked in, still in his pajamas. "And especially not until you two are married. When are you two going to get on with that, anyway?"

She smiled. "In a few days," she replied. "Bulma and Vegeta are helping us with a special surprise for everyone first, though. We can't get married before it." My interest was peaked again, but she started the recording again.

Cell

"H-hand it over!" I growled. The kangaroo I was glaring at bared her teeth, then handed the Seven-Star Ball to her joey, who retreated into the pouch. "I don't have time for this!" I grabbed the animal's shoulder and shoved my hand into the pouch, rummaging around for the ball. She cried out in alarm and tried to pull away, but I was far stronger. I finally grabbed it and pulled it out, with the joey hanging on tight. I gently took hold of the baby and pried it off, then handed it back to its mother. "Thank you," I sighed. "Now, just the Four-Star."

The radar led me to a wasteland, with an interestingly familiar crater blown into it. I ignored the feeling of deja vu and went searching. Then one of the rock structures caught my eye. Only it wasn't a rock; it was a pillar of smooth marbel, overgrown with weeds.

"My arena," I realized. "This was the site of my Cell Games!" I looked around, then ran to one spot. The hard-packed dirt was darkened in the shape of a humanoid. "This is where I perished..." On a whim, I checked the radar, then dug into the dirt beside my shadow. I pulled out the final Dragon Ball. "That's a strange coincidence," I remarked. "Or was it here for a reason...?"

My thoughts were interrupted by my phone going off. I quickly answered. "Cell?" I heard Vegeta's voice. "Do you have the last two Balls?"

"Right here," I replied, placing the Four-Star in the messenger bag I'd brought along.

"Then bring them to Capsule Corp. immediately! Something's happened!"

Meadow

After watching in awe as Cell met his end, I slowly started to return to Locke's room, then changed my mind and went further down the hall and opened another door.

Sitting in the center of the emptied-out storage room was a large white coffin, the lid propped open. I slowly approached and looked inside. Locke lay motionless among the soft white cushions, almost as though asleep. His family had chosen to dress him in a white tuxedo with his hands folded over his lower chest. The only sign that this body was no longer inhabitted was his still chest.

I reached in and stroked his cold face, a tear rolling down my cheek. "You always did love white, didn't you?" I fondly commented. "It's every color at once. Heh... I wouldn't be surprised if you end up finding some kind of Super Saiyan White while you're over there..." The trickle of tears started to become a stream. "Locke... I might get to see you again really soon. But if I don't, then... I'm sorry. That you won't meet our baby for so long." Then I realized something. "They'll be like Goten." A thought popped into my head, but I quickly dismissed it. "No. I might move on, but not Goten. I know he feels guilty now, but I just can't get that close to someone who tried to kill you so many times." I waited, almost hoping I'd get a responce. When none came, I had to choke back a sob. "I miss you, so much." I leaned in and kissed his cold lips. "If you see Sanow down there, please make him regret what he did to you even more than I know he already does. Make him regret betraying his family like this."

"Meadow?" Ms. Brangwen called. "I have some good and bad news." I gave the body one last soft kiss, then left, not noticing the faint glow reflecting off the white surfaces.

Okay, I'm aware that this got a little too real, with the whole suicide bit, but I really like when things get dark before the light.

So, we're starting to wind-down here. I'll go ahead and tell you that I've got exactly ten chapters to go now, meaning ten weeks before I go MIA from this site for a while. I hope someone likes this story enough to be disappointed by that. See you next week.