Chapter 3: Gohan's Last Stand
A very nervous Trunks flies to the spot where Ling and Gohan are training. He expects to hear the sounds of their sparring match but hears nothing. Trunks lands on the training grounds and sees Ling sleeping on Gohan's lap while he is cooking some fish over the fire. "Hey, Trunks. I would hug you but I'm currently stuck at the moment," Gohan said with a warm smile.
Trunks nervously rub his arm, "Sorry about your arm, it's my fault you that-"
Gohan cuts him off, "It's okay, really," he said softly. "If anyone is to blame, it's the androids,"
"Yeah," Trunks nods.
"You can use what the androids did as fuel for your Super Saiyan transformation," Gohan said.
"You still want me to become a Super Saiyan? Isn't Ling one? Why do you need me?" Trunks asked.
"The more Super Saiyan to fight the androids the better and besides, like Ling you have great potential in you," Gohan said.
"I do?" Trunks asked.
Gohan nods, "You're the son of the prince of a Saiyan prince and from personal experience, he was strong,"
"You fought him?" Trunks asked.
"Yeah, on multiple occasions. The first time was when he was trying to destroy the earth and the second was when you made fun of my dad," Gohan explains.
"My father tried to do what?!" Trunks gasped. "Did he ever try to do it again?"
Gohan shakes his head, "No, he was too focused on trying to be stronger than my dad," he sighs and looks ahead, "It became his obsession. Day in and day out he trained. Not caring about anyone else,"
"Oh," Trunks said sadly.
"You're different from him, Trunks, you train because you want to be strong to protect the people you love. Isn't that right?" Gohan asked.
Trunks nods, "Yeah! I want to be so strong that bad guys will think twice of hurting innocent people again!"
Gohan smiles, "I know you will,"
With renewed determination, Trunks rejoined Gohan and Ling in training for the next few days. As Trunks is trying to turn into a Super Saiyan, Ling is practicing the new move Gohan taught her. "Kamehameha!" Ling shouts as she fires a blue beam at the ocean. The main goal is to have her memorize the motions.
As she did that, Trunks is trying to become a Super Saiyan. Letting rage consume his heart but that is not enough. Young Trunks falls to his knees and starts panting heavily. "Sorry…Gohan,"
Gohan shakes his head, "It's okay Trunks. You're close. You just need something to push you over the edge,"
"Like what?" Trunks asked.
Gohan was quiet for a moment then speaks, "The pain of loss,"
"But I never lost anyone," Trunks said.
"And I hope you never do," Gohan said sadly. "Because it's a pain that will stay with you for the rest of your life,"
Suddenly, Gohan, Trunks and Ling see an explosion at Gingertown and hear the screams of people from that town.
"It's the androids!" Trunks growls.
Gohan turns Super Saiyan and knowing how stubborn Trunks and Ling are decides to knock them both out. He can't waste time arguing with them because they are people to save.
"Look at them run," 18 chuckles as she shoots at the feeling people.
"Double points on killing women and children," 17 smiles darkly and shoots a beam at a family.
"You're on!" 18 smiles and shoots a barrage of ki blasts at the people who are running for their lives.
"Hey, that's cheating!" 17 frowns and is about to do the same thing as 18 but Gohan flies in and kicks 17 to a building.
17 immediately flies out of it, "Wow, Gohan. We thought you were dead,"
"I don't die that easy," Gohan growls and powers up to max power.
"Well this time, you're not getting out of here alive," 18 smiles.
"It's going to be dull without you around but all things must come to an end," 17 shrugs. Rain starts to fall and rumblings of thunder can be heard, "This weather is fitting for your demise Gohan,"
The remaining citizens of Gingertown can see a raging battle high in the sky. They have never seen someone who can fight against the androids. They saw Gohan keep up with their speed and counter their blasts with his own. Even though he has one arm, he's still holding his own. Some had hoped Gohan would be able to finally kill the androids while others did not.
Though Gohan's attacks are good, the loss of his arm made it difficult for him to block. The androids love to attack from both sides. He surprised them when he caught 18's leg and swung her to 17 and kicked both of them down to the empty street below. He lands down to the ground and fires the strongest Masenko he can muster. Pouring every ounce of Ki into the blast.
The androids watch in shock as a huge beam quickly comes towards them. It hits them and destroys the surrounding buildings and roads. Luckily, there wasn't any around.
With no Ki left, Gohan reverts to his base. He pants heavily and sees the hands of the androids sticking out of the rubble. Just then he was about to think he finally killed them, hears 17 say, "Psych!"
The androids jump out of rubble and dust off any dirt on them. Gohan's attack did nothing to them.
"Hate to break it to you but we were fighting you at half strength," 18 laughs.
"It's been fun but it's time to die Gohan," 17 smiles.
Gohan weakly raises his arm defensively as the androids slowly walk towards him. They're taking their time because there's no way Gohan can run and no one who can save him.
"Say, where are those two brats?" 17 asked.
"They're dead because of you," Gohan lied.
18 smiles, "I thought this fight was personal,"
17 and 18 dashes forward hit Gohan in spots that will cause the most pain and for him to cough out the most blood. They did this for five minutes until Gohan is on the ground in a pool of his blood and rainwater.
The androids fly high in the air and point their hands at Gohan and start shooting down a barrage of ki blasts. They were stunned to see Gohan getting his second wind and turn back into a Super Saiyan and start charging a ki blast of his own, "Ka…me..ha…me…HA!" Gohan shouted with all his might and fired a huge blue beam up at the androids.
However, the beam did little to push back the androids' attack. They put a little more power into their blasts and pushed Gohan's Kamehameha down until their blasts consumed him completely.
Once the androids have gone, the remaining citizens of Gingertown come out of hiding and make their way to Gohan and give him a proper burial.
They were surprised to find Gohan is still alive but only had enough in him to say, "I might die…but they are…two others who will take my place. Though they are children at the moment…they have the power…to…finally…bring…peace…" those were the last words of Son Gohan.
Moments later, Trunks and Ling arrived. They were wondering why there were so many people crowding one spot. The young Saiyans soon found out why. "No! No! Please No! Gohan!" Trunks shout in horror and run to Gohan's lifeless body.
Ling…stood still. Her face froze to one depression. She could feel tears rolling down her face and the pain she felt in her heart was so great that it made her numb. She continued to watch Trunks cry out in anguish, hug Gohan's head and transform into the form he worked so hard to obtain. Super Saiyan.
Trunks walk towards Ling and wrap his arms around her. "Gohan's dead!" Trunks cried into the little girl's shoulder.
A/N: Happy New Year everyone!