Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Dragonball V: A World Both Familiar and Foreign ❯ Need ( Chapter 30 )

DragonBall V: A World Both Familiar and Foreign

Author's Note: Big big chapter, this one. Teehee. Prepare your emotions for a roller coaster. You have been warned. And now, the story.

Required Disclaimer: I don't own the DB franchise, I've never worked for them, I'm not making any money off this, and I'm dead sexxy baby! Read and enjoy.

Chapter 30: Need

Android #17 pulled a box out from under the bed he had been sleeping on moments before. He had made the mistake of wanting to discover if his sister was ticklish, so he had reached over and tickled at her smooth flat belly. Given that she was asleep at the time, she had reacted on reflex and swatted him in the nose where he had promptly fallen on his back on the floor below and banged his head against the nightstand. Growling, he turned over to push himself up when he noticed the box. He opened it and whistled softly. "Hey sis. Wake up! I found something you might like."

18 yawned and scratched her stomach which was still tingling and opened her large blue eyes and fix them on the male android. "What could you have found that could possibly interest me, dear brother? Did you find a surfboard or something?"

The dark haired cyborg glanced back under the bed but was disappointed. "I wish. Nope, something that you'll like better." He held up the box and saw his sister's face light up.

"Wonderful! Give it here! Give it!" She eagerly reached out for the box and pulled out the contents. They were very obviously women's clothing. A few dresses, a skirt or two, some pretty shirts. Even a scarf and lace gloves were in one corner. "At least someone in this glorified shack has taste. I wonder why they were hidden away?"

The door suddenly opened and a dark haired blue eyed girl came strolling in, looking exhausted. Her eyes widened suddenly when she saw a blonde woman rummaging through her mother's old clothes and a dark haired man kneeling on the floor. "What are you doing in my house!?" She cried.

17 grinned. "18, we have a little girl paying us a visit. What should we do with her?"

The female android shrugged. "We'll be leaving in a minute anyway. Why bother?"

"Look… just take what you need and go, ok?" Videl stated, frowning at the people. <They're so strange.>

The dark haired cyborg grinned. "She's so cute. Telling us what to do. Take what I need? Let's see…" He shot forward and grabbed the girl and hoisted her up by her upper arms and slammed her into the wall. "Maybe I'll take you. How does that strike you?"

18 had been in the process of laying out an attractive blouse and jeans with little pink flowers on them to change into when she noticed what her brother was doing. "17, leave her alone. She's just a kid."

"I suggest you listen to your girlfriend there, buddy." Videl growled.

#17 laughed. "She's threatening me! The little stupid human is actually threatening me! This is rich! What are you gunna do little girl, tell your daddy? Ha!"

18 frowned. "17, just let her go. I'll change into these clothes and we'll get going. There's no reason to hurt the girl."

The cybernetic boy scowled at Mr. Satan's daughter. "You hear that, you dirty little human? My sister wants to spare you. But I want to grind you into a bloody pulp. Perhaps a compromise? I can leave you crippled, or just break your arms, or… you know, I haven't tried out this penis of mine yet…"

Videl blinked. She had heard the word before and knew a little about what he was talking about, but she didn't understand why he thought she could help him with such a thing. "What are you talking about?"

The blonde android growled and got up and approached them. "She's just a child, 17. Don't be so disgusting. At least find an older girl. A willing one, at that."

"I didn't realize you were so soft, 18. These humans are nothing but disgusting dirty animals. We are the ultimate life-form! We should destroy them all." The artificial boy growled out.

<Ok, he's definitely threatening him. I can't rely on that girl to help, so I'll just have to knock him silly.> Videl thought. She twisted her arms so her hands latched onto his arms, which were holding onto her upper arms, and swung her legs up from where they were dangling in the air, and drove her feet into the android's solar plexus. He smiled. <Uh oh…>

"Oh, she's a feisty little one. Too bad she's so weak. Too bad for her, that is." The android growled out. He dropped her then grabbed her by the throat as soon as her feet hit the ground, lifted her back up and slammed her into the wall again and began to choke her. "Struggle for me. It's fun when you twitch around." He licked his lips as the girl thrashed around and tried to break his hold on her, but she was losing consciousness.

"17, stop it! She's just a child. This is going too far! You have no reason to kill her. Save it for Goku. We should get going to find and destroy him, ne?" The blonde frowned. It bothered her to see the girl suffer, and she wasn't sure why.

17 sighed. "I thought this might turn me on. But she just disgusts me. Maybe I should just snap her neck and be done with it. Even her struggling is getting boring."

Videl renewed her struggles, kicking the android repeatedly while struggling to break the grip on her throat with her hands. She felt like she was trying to force solid steel to bend, and her kicks felt like they were landing on concrete. She felt herself blacking out, both from lack of oxygen from her closed off windpipe and lack of blood flow to her brain. <Mama… am I coming to see you already?> The girl thought, her limbs beginning to droop.

"STOP IT!" 18 cried, yanking her brother from the girl and across the room. "What's your problem, 17?! She's just a kid. What are you, a monster like Gero?"

17 leaped at her and slapped her across the face and knocking her to the floor where she lay dazed. He sat his knees down on her shoulders and sat back onto her chest. "That's the one and only time you'll ever hit me and live, dear sister. I will explain it to you. Humans are weak pathetic creatures, and it is our responsibility to destroy their scourge. They are insects. An infestation that we must burn away. If you don't see that, you're just as pathetic as they are. Now, will you be a good little girl and help your big brother slaughter some humans, or do I need to blast a hole in your head?"

The blonde android struggled to get her arms up to throw her twin off, but he reached back and grabbed her arms and brought them over her head. He held both of her arms down with one hand, proving his superior strength to her. "Damn it, let me go 17! You're trying to kill me now? What's wrong with you!?"

The male cyborg smiled cruelly down at her. "My guess is my re-programming was a bit more complete than yours. Or perhaps, incomplete. Who knows? I really don't care. I like the thought of killing all the humans. Maybe I'll keep some around as pets. What do you think? Maybe I'll just rule the planet. Not like anyone can stop me. Not even you." He looked at Videl, who was struggling to stay conscious. "I'll make you a deal then, 18. Your life, or hers."

#18 grimaced in pain as her twin's hold on her wrist tightened. She knew she could kick high enough to hit him, but she doubted it would be enough to dislodge him, and then he would just be mad. She looked over at the girl who cried silently, her neck badly bruised. She was blocked from crawling out by the sprawled out androids, and she apparently wasn't strong enough to walk. "You'd spare her life for mine?" The blonde asked for clarification.

17 scowled and looked over at the human girl. "That's the deal. I give you my word. Make your choice."

18 sighed. Her conscience was struggling with her self-preservation instincts. She waited to see which would win. Finally she opened her eyes. "My life. Spare hers." <Damn… did I just say that? Great. My life was too short. Likely no one can stop him, but at least I won't be around to watch it.>

The dark haired cyborg growled then raised his free hand over his sister's face. "Frankly I'm surprised, dear sister. But, no matter." He stood up suddenly and backed away. "Your life is mine, so you do what I say from here on out."

The blonde blinked. "That's it? You're not going to kill me?"

The male android shrugged. "No. But if you insist I do something else, we were in the perfect position for…" He wagged his eyebrows suggestively.

18 stood up in a flash and backed away. "You're revolting! I'm your sister, you sick bastard! Your twin sister!"

"You're nothing but my slave now, you little bitch." He turned to Videl and advanced towards her. "Now, as for you, you little piece of crap…"

"You promised!" 18 shouted.

17 spat on the girl's face and was about to leave when the girl jumped up and slammed her fist into the boy's throat. The male coughed loudly and backed away a step, clutching at his neck. "Wow, I even felt that… slightly. That was stupid though." He slapped the girl to the ground then kicked her in the ribs. A moment later, she was out cold. "She's lucky I went easy on her, otherwise she'd be a red mist right now, or at the very least five miles away in a bloody broken mess." He spit on her again. "Too bad I can't piss, or I'd pee on her too."

18 growled, though there was nothing she could do at the moment. <I'll bide my time…> The android thought. She looked slightly downwards when her brother turned to fix her with a cold glare. <Gero, you bastard. This is all your fault!>

"Come on, then. Find me a cute human woman to screw around with. That's your first task. Then we'll go see Goku. Unless you'd rather I just fucked…" He trailed off and looked at the unconscious girl.

"Give me a minute to change and we'll go." She stated without emotion. She changed quickly, ignoring the leer he gave her. <Was it going to sleep that changed him, or was he like this before? He didn't seem so psychotic when we fought those humans before… Or maybe it was because I spoke out against him. He wanted to teach me a lesson. Damn him!> "Let's go." She said, walking outside and blasting into the sky.

17 took one last look at the human girl and raised his hand up, palm forward. A small ki ball formed in front of his hand. "Boom." He said with a sinister gleam in his eye. "Congratulations, human trash. I'm responsible for the bloodshed I cause, but you're responsible for hers. I'll tell you that after I kill all the humans I want to and come for you." He took off into the air and followed the blonde girl, fantasizing about all the ways he would slaughter people.

************************

Cell was in the middle of draining the energy out of a helpless human, cackling as he did so, when he heard a sound behind him. "Why hello there…" He turned and regarded the arrival with a cold glare. "Piccolo."

"Actually I'm no longer really Piccolo. Kami and I fused back together. I am the Namek that can no longer remember his name. But, Piccolo will do. I'm here to stop you from slaughtering these defenseless humans. I could easily sense you once Kami and I fused." Piccolo grinned. He was fairly sure that he was even stronger than Goku and Vegeta as Super Saiyans now.

"Ooooh, I'm scared! Hah… well you can call me Cell." Cell chuckled, draining the last bit of life from the human and absorbed him. "These people are pathetically weak, but they do add to my power. Tell me, seen any androids around lately? About this tall, one blonde and one brunette?"

The Namek's eyes narrowed. "What do you want with them? Are you working with them?"

"That is none of your concern. Tell me where they are or I'll kill you, that's all you need to know." Cell glanced around and was satisfied that he had absorbed enough people from this city.

"Well, you'll have to get past me, friend. And believe me, that won't be easy." Piccolo assumed a fighting stance, his cape billowing out behind him. What he didn't say was that with Kami's superior senses, he was able to detect the small amount of humanity in the androids, or of the female anyway. The male barely had a spark of humanity, however, and it made him difficult to sense.

Cell laughed a moment then launched into an offensive suddenly. Kicks, punches, and tail stabs flying forward so fast that Piccolo could barely block. "Oh, not so hard as you might think, Piccolo."

Piccolo punched the bio-beast in the eye which made it cry out and grab for them. Piccolo leaped backwards and used the opportunity to throw off his heavy cape and turban so he could fight at his maximum power. He would be slaughtered otherwise. "Surprised you, huh? You don't look like the androids. Do you want to help them or kill them?"

Cell blinked his eyes clear and started attacking Piccolo again. He was surprised when Piccolo disappeared and reappeared behind him, grabbing his tail and using it to flip the bio-monster over his shoulder and into the ground. He followed it by a ki blast that barely singed him. The beast stood and brushed himself off as Piccolo moved into a defensive crouch. "You might be a little more trouble then I thought. No matter, I'll just power myself up." He grinned as an energy aura burst into existence around him.

Piccolo's eyes widened. "I sense… Goku! And Vegeta… Tien… Trunks… Peasa… even myself! What the hell are you?!"

Cell laughed as he reached his full power. "I was created by the cells of all of you mighty warriors. I have all of your abilities, and none of your weaknesses. You are nothing to me. I will crush you!" That being said, he launched forward and slammed his fist into Piccolo's stomach, bringing the Namek to his knees. The green man shot his fist forward in a desperate hit, but the engineered villain caught his wrist and yanked backwards, ripping the alien's arm off, separating it from the shoulder. Screams issued forth from Piccolo's mouth, but Cell caught him by the neck before he fell over. "Now, tell me where those androids are or your head is next."

Piccolo gasped for breath. "What… what do you…. want… with them?"

Cell scowled. "I see no reason to keep it from you. I intend to absorb them. I am the greatest creation of Dr. Gero! Once I have absorbed those two, I will reach my perfect form, then nothing can stop me!"

Piccolo gasped. "But… you're already so strong! Why absorb the androids!?"

The creature shrugged. "Perhaps it is Gero's programming, or the desire in Vegeta's genes for power. Who knows? I don't really care. I will have my perfect form. Now, tell me where the androids are or I'll torture you some more. Your death can be quick or brutally slow and painful, it's your choice."

<I can't beat him but I'm pretty sure I can destroy those androids now… I have to try. I have to get away from Cell first.> He smiled at the creature. "Slow. I wanna experience every moment of life I have left. You'll never get those androids."

Cell growled and brought his free hand back to attack the Namek, but eyebeams suddenly shot out of the green man's eyes into his own. Cell screamed in agony and clutched at his wounded eyes, blueish ichor dripping from them. When he was able to see out of his damaged eyes again, Piccolo was gone. The creature cried out in frustration and took to the sky, but he had no choice but to continue looking the hard way, for he could not sense Piccolo until the Namek raised his power level to a high level. It was one of the flaws of his initial stage, after all.

Piccolo flew as fast as he could without raising his power level overly much, noticing that the creature seemed unable to sense him at this level. He concentrated for a moment and a new arm popped out. He silently thanked his ability to regenerate and flew towards the androids. He planned to destroy them quickly and lead Vegeta and Krillin to Cell, hoping that with their additional training they'd be able to take the creature down, where he failed. He glanced up at the sky. "They should be coming out in about an hour… hopefully that'll be enough time." The Namek grimaced and sped up slightly. The ki assortment that Piccolo sensed from Cell was moving away from him and didn't change directions at his increase so he breathed a sigh of relief and concentrated on the androids again. They weren't that far off. Maybe a half hour at his current speed. He didn't dare speed up, not wanting to push his luck, so he mentally prepared himself for the rematch against the androids as he flew.

*************************

18 looked away, disgusted by the sight before her. 17 had spotted a lovely young woman a little while ago and had swooped down on her and violently raped her. The problem was, he had been far too brutal and the girl had been crushed to a mutilated pulp before he was done. Unable to continue, and growing more frustrated, he had been looking for another woman, and he found one. One that he was currently brutalizing. The blonde android had made an attempt to talk him out of raping any more women, but his response had been, "Well dear sister, if you are that adamant about me not raping any more of these feeble human women, you'll come over here and suck me off." Needless to say, she was against that option even more than a few defenseless women being raped. She could turn away from the latter, after all. She felt like gagging when she heard her brother's pleasure-filled groan. She had already tried to blast him when he was assaulting the first woman, but he had just calmly told her that she would be dead before she even released the attack, even though she had been behind him and there was no way he could see her, so she didn't attack.

"Aaaaah. Not bad, for a flimsy human." The male cybernetic human commented, standing up and zipping his jeans up. "I might even let you live." He grinned maliciously and knelt down over the sobbing woman until his face was inches from hers. "Tell me I was the best you ever had, and I'll let you go." The woman spat in his face and cursed him, clutching at her bruised flesh. "Well, I tried. Ungrateful beasts, these humans are." He raised his hand and blasted the woman. "Well, I'm satisfied. Let's head for Son's house."

"Actually, you won't live that long." A deep voice announced.

17 grinned and turned around. "Didn't I kick your ass well enough last time that this would be madness, Piccolo?"

The Namek shrugged. "What can I say, I'm a glutton for punishment. Besides, I took my vitamins. Let's go. You and me, one on one." He glanced at 18. "Stay out of it, got it?"

"Fine with me." She waved her hand dismissively and sat down on a rock. <The green guy is going to die, but maybe, just maybe he'll tear that bastard into pieces. If not, maybe he'll be weakened enough that I can finish the job myself. You made a big mistake in crossing me, dear brother.>

"Why don't you fight her first? I think she's getting a bit soft." The raven-haired android offered, smiling at his sister.

"I don't care which one of you I fight." Piccolo replied, turning to look at #18.

<You little shit!> "What's the matter, 17? Scared of the green man? Those antennae are pretty scary…" She taunted him. <Take the bait… take the bait…>

"Scared? Me!? Ha! Let's go, greenie. I'll crush you! No one is stronger than me!" The darker twin growled out, assuming a fighting stance. "I'll even let you take the first shot."

Piccolo grinned and started powering up. He reached out with his senses and felt for Cell. He stopped powering up a few moments later, not wanting to risk any further energy increase, so he launched into an attack and connected against the android's chest in a fierce kick. He flipped and landed gracefully as 17 flew backwards from the momentum of the attack, and not wanting to waste the opening, the Namek blasted an energy ball at him.

The dark-haired cyborg reached down and used the drag of the ground tearing away around his hand to flip back onto his feet, just in time to cross his arms to block the ki blast. He growled as his arms sizzled and shot a fast energy ball of his own and launched forward. Just as Piccolo dodged the attack, he shot forward in a burst of sleep and drove his foot into the alien's back causing his stomach to bulge outward from the force. The fused Namek fell to his knees and gasped for breath and rolled away just as 17's foot came crashing down.

As he was rolling onto his back, he blasted some ki from his outstretched hand and used the reprieve created by the dodging android to get back on his feet. He flew up into the air and started blasting ki like there was no tomorrow. Dozens then hundreds of ki blasts trailed after the android as he took to the air, easily dodging the attacks. <Damn… I think I'm going to have to power up some more to handle this. Please, let Cell not get here until after I finish them off! Vegeta… Krillin… hurry up!> He started powering up again as the dark-haired cyborg flew at him, intent on paying him back for all those attacks. Piccolo brought his arms back, leaving himself wide open. The android fell for it and kept flying towards him as fast as he could, ready to drive his fists into and through the Namek's chest. At the last moment, the alien brought his hands forward and released a torrential amount of energy all at once. He gasped and fell forward onto his hands and knees and gasped for breath, the attack leaving him drained. He frowned and looked upwards and saw 17 floating in the air.

The android was dripping blood… or a similar fluid, from several wounds, but other than being a bit singed, he didn't look too injured. "Not bad. I didn't think you'd have time for such an attack. You've become much stronger since our last fight. Was that the extent of your power?"

Piccolo stood up and growled. <No choice now. Maximum power. I have to finish this quickly.> With an empowering cry, energy erupted around him as he raised his energy level to its limits. He took a few deep breaths and narrowed his eyes. "This is the extent of my power. And it's more than enough to beat you."

17 grinned. "Getting cocky? Oh my… how amusing. Let's see if you can handle this!" He blasted several ki blasts at the Namek, and when his opponent dodged them, he used the opening to appear behind the alien and grab both of his arms and locked the hold on. "Disappointing. I expected better from you, green bean."

Piccolo gasped and struggled but he couldn't get free. "Argh! You monster! What are you going to do now? You'll have to let me go to attack." His eyes widened when he saw the blonde android stand up then float up into the air. She brought her hands up and ki began to gather. "You promised to stay out of the fight!" The Namek gasped out.

"I know. I changed my mind." 18 stated nonchalantly. "Keep him still, 17. I'll finish him off."

17 laughed. "Well, I had hoped to kill him myself, but feel free, sis. Try not to get his blood all over me, though."

The blonde smiled. "Not a problem." She fixed her eyes on Piccolo's and shifted them slightly suddenly to the left twice. The Namek looked confused for a moment, but realization dawned on his face. "DIE!" She cried, releasing as powerful a blast as she dared straight at Piccolo's left side. Piccolo shifted his body to the right, which had been the blonde's left, and the blast went past his stomach and straight into android 17's. The dark haired android gasped and dropped the alien and plummeted to the ground.

18 calmly landed a few meters from him and watched him carefully for signs of life. She only waited about a minute before he lifted his head and growled. "You missed, you stupid fucking bitch!"

The cybernetic female looked over at Piccolo who was approaching the dark-haired android, murder in his eyes. He looked at 18 for a few moments. "I think your girlfriend there is letting you know that she wants to break up."

"She's my sister, you baka! And she wouldn't dare…" He lifted himself up on his knees, clutching at his bloody side and fixed a glare at his twin. "Would you?" It wasn't a question.

"I told you to leave that kid alone, but instead you had to piss me off." 18 shrugged. "You're nothing but a heartless monster. You've succumbed to Gero-dono's programming, showing how weak you are psychically. I want nothing more to do with you. Green man… Piccolo is it? Yes, I have extensive information on you. Feel free to kill him. I won't stop you."

Piccolo raised his hand for the killing blast but before he could charge it up, he was hit by a powerful energy shockwave. He gasped and looked up at the blonde android, but she looked as surprised as he felt. <Oh no…> He turned slowly and a monster was standing over the fallen android 17 with a huge grin on his insect-like mouth. "Cell!"

"Why thank you for letting me know where the androids were, Piccolo. How very kind of you." The engineered monstrosity slammed his foot down on 17's head and drove it into the ground. "Why, you even softened my meat up for me!"

"18! You can't let him absorb your brother! He'll become even more powerful than we could handle! Hit him with everything you have!" Piccolo shouted, then started unleashing all of his energy reserves in the form of ki blasts.

"What?! Damn it…" She growled and launched as much of her own energy into the creature as she could, and they both continued until they both fell to their knees exhausted. The dust cleared several moments later and Cell brushed himself off, then the tip of his tail widened to look like a suction cup and brought it down towards the fallen android 17.

"We… we failed." Piccolo gasped out, falling to his knees in defeat.

**********************

Mr. Satan flew over the countryside, whistling a happy tune to himself. He was on his way back from Fort Niji with his third load of relief supplies when his communicator buzzed. "Yeah?" He said as he flipped it on.

"Dad? You're still in your plane?" Videl's voice floated through the intercom.

Hercule frowned. <She sounds funny. Tired maybe. Aww… little darlin' can't sleep when she knows her dear old dad is out here risking his life for the safety of the world!> "Yeah. Those terrorists left, apparently, but they asked me to help bring in relief supplies from Fort Niji. You know, it's funny that General Murasaki guy is a pretty strange fellow."

"Murasaki?! Niji?! Father, have you looked at those supplies to make sure they are really for the town's relief!?" Her voice sounded distressed.

"Uh……. No. But, why would they lie? Honey, are you all right? You sound stressed." The martial arts champion asked, looking at the intercom as if he could see his daughter through it.

"Please dad, look at the supplies. Don't you remember the Red Ribbon army!? Murasaki was one of the top people in that organization! And Niji sounds like one of their bases." The girl nearly shouted through the intercom, wondering how her father could be so brainless.

Mr. Satan's eyes became very large and he looked behind him, his head turning at an almost 180 degree angle. "Uh… one second sweetie pie. Daddy wants to make sure he didn't just help the bad men in taking over the world…" He flipped the plane into autopilot and hurried into the hold area of the plane and ripped open one of the boxes. "Let's see… radios. That's not too bad. I should check another one though." He popped open another one. "Looks like clothes." He lifted one of the uniforms up and frowned when he saw the red ribbon symbol with the letters RR on it. "Uh… uh oh." He opened the next box and groaned. It was filled with machine guns and pistols. Even a grenade or two. He looked at the rest of the boxes, but he had seen all he needed to. He returned to the cockpit and scratched his head. "Uh honey? Daddy needs to go now. He made a very bad mistake."

"Dad wait!" The girl called through the intercom before the man could flip it off.

"Huh? What's wrong, baby cakes?" Hercule asked.

<Other than your stupid nicknames for me?> "The reason I called you is, I'll be staying in the beach house for a while. Is that ok with you?" Videl inquired.

Mr. Satan blinked a few times. "Sure honey. You have enough food and stuff? If not, I'm sure you know where we keep the spare money there, and there should be a charge card beneath the silverware drawer in the kitchen."

"I'll be fine, dad. I'll talk to you soon, ok? Don't give those bad men any more stuff." The blue-eyed girl scowled. <He didn't even want to know why I want to stay at the beach house or for how long.>

"I'll take care of it honey-bunches. Don't you worry your pretty little head over it!" Hercule announced, striking a pose and accidentally pushing the plane into a nosedive. "Gotta go, honey!" He flipped the comm.. system off without waiting for a reply and screamed in horror as he tried to straighten the plane out before he was a tangled mass of champion flesh on the ground.

At the beach house, Videl grimaced when the communication abruptly ended. She checked herself in the mirror, examining the bruises from her struggle with the male android. "From the way those guys were talking, I wouldn't be surprised if they were the ones that Gohan was talking about." The girl grimaced and looked at her ribs, glad to find they were only bruised and not broken. She had been very lucky. "Well, good luck, Gohan. I hope you tear their heads off."

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Gohan sneezed and looked around, wondering when the last time Mr. Popo had swept the lookout off. He looked up at the clock over the hyperbolic time chamber and smiled. "Daddy! It's time!" He paused and started walking towards the room that his parents had disappeared into after discovering they still had an hour to spare. "Dad?"

"Wait up, kiddo." Peasa said, grabbing the young Son before he could get much closer to the room. "Trunks! Poke your head in there and let Goku know that Father is coming out."

The lavender-haired demi-Saiyan stretched and stood up. "Your legs broken?" He asked with a teasing grin.

"You're like two meters from the door, you lazy slob. Now get in there and find Goku!" The Saiyan girl growled out, her tail swishing around.

Trunks, even though he was a Super Saiyan and she was not, knew well enough that she could hurt him in other ways. After all, she was stronger than him in his natural form. And she knew just the right places to hit. Still, that didn't mean he rushed to obey without protest. "Yeah, yeah. Keep your panties on, bitch." He froze when he saw that Bulma was glaring at him. "Sorry mom!"

"The me from your dimension must be pretty lax if she allows you to talk to people that way, especially your sister!" The blue-haired woman shouted.

"Sorry! Sorry! I always call Peasa that when we're teasing. It won't happen again." Trunks cast a menacing glare at the Saiyan girl, but she just grinned and waved at him with her tail. The boy sighed and popped his head into the room that Goku and Chichi had disappeared in to. "Mr. Son? Vegeta and Krillin are about to……………. OH KAMI-SAMA! What are you doing to that poor woman!?"

"Mommy!?" Gohan shouted and started running towards the room.

"Aw crap." Peasa muttered. She contemplated whether to just let the boy see what they were doing. After all, the Saiyans had no modesty when it came to sex. It was quite common for the warriors to have to sleep out in the open with little to no cover all together. They would mate whether people were around or not. It wasn't anything unusual to them. However, the boy was raised by Earth's standards, which mean he could be traumatized by whatever was disturbing Trunks (who absolutely deserved it for blasting her with ki while she was wearing her favorite shirt and just walking outside not bothering anyone the week before…) She sighed and ran forward, using her superior speed to appear in front of him and scooped him up into her arms. "Don't sweat it kiddo, your parents aren't harming each other. Trunks has just never seen a massage before."

Gohan scratched his head. "Oh… I didn't know that he was so ignorant."

The son of Vegeta stumbled off, babbling something about biting someone in a sensitive area. Goku popped his head out a moment later and grinned at Peasa and Gohan then looked at Trunks. "Hey, you sure gave us a surprise! I coulda sworn I locked that door. Ah well. So they're about to come out? Great! Uh… where's Piccolo?"

"Piccolo-sensei went to investigate a power he sensed when he fused with Kami-sama." Gohan explained.

Goku frowned and walked towards the edge of the lookout. "Uh oh. He's pretty weakened."

Everyone gasped and looked at the entrance to the Room of Spirit and Time, moments before it opened up. Out strolled Krillin and Vegeta, radiating power that simply boggled the mind. "The androids?" The Saiyan prince asked.

"I can take you to them. Piccolo is fighting them. And uh… someone else too. Someone… strange." Goku walked a bit closer to them and raised his fingers up to his forehead and locked onto Piccolo's ki. "Ready?"

"One second." The eldest Saiyan grumbled. He strode over Bulma and took her into his arms. "I love you, woman." He growled into her ear and gave her a soul-scorching kiss. What seemed like both an eternity and the briefest of seconds later, they pulled away from each other. "Okura?" He asked.

"Hai." She disappeared into a makeshift nursery and came back holding the demi-Saiyan baby. "Here, my prince."

Vegeta leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on the baby's head and caressed his head, which sported silky soft lavender locks. He nodded at his mate and turned to face Trunks. He walked over and wrapped his arms around the boy for a moment then pulled away. "Just in case something happens to me, take care of your mother. I'm counting on you, brat."

Trunks blushed and looked down at his feet. "Yes sir. Please… don't make me keep that promise."

The prince grinned. "I'll try my best." He turned to Peasa then and took her into his arms. The girl sniffled and rested her head on his shoulder. He ignored Goku's impatient glare and held on. A few moments later, he leaned back to look at her. "I'm proud of you. Though you are not of my blood, you are as noble and gifted a daughter I could ever hope for. If somehow Krillin survives and I don't, I swear by my very soul that I will come back to life and wring his scrawny little neck if he ever lays a finger on you again."

Peasa chuckled and hugged the man again. "I see your year with him didn't improve your attitude about us. Don't worry, maybe I'll find my life-mate soon. He might even find his." She smiled over at Krillin then looked back at her adoptive father. "Take care of those androids and return to us safely, Otousan."

Bulma and Trunks approached again and joined in a touching group hug. Krillin scratched his head nervously and looked around. "You know, it's times like these that I wish I was married, maybe with a kid of my own. I sure could use a hug too, ya know?"

Goku grinned and wrapped his arms around the short monk. "Aw, we love you Krillin! Hurry back safe and sound!"

Krillin cried out and tried to pull away then laughed and hugged back. "Wasn't quite what I was hoping for, old friend, but it'll do." He glanced at Peasa. The year in the hyperbolic time chamber had certainly changed him. He felt more mature now. He knew it was time to move past his tryst with Peasa and let her concentrate on finding her life-mate. She had been lazy about searching, since her sexual appetite was always sated. He had to end the lovemaking, though it pained his heart, because she deserved better.

As if sensing his thoughts, Peasa cast one last look at her father as she took a step towards the monk. The prince grumbled but nodded so she came closer and wrapped her arms and tail around the short man and sighed. "I like the hair." She whispered into his ear.

Krillin blushed. "Thanks. I considered shaving it again before we exited the Room, but I've grown rather attached to it. Uh… no pun intended." He grinned and gave her a sweet kiss on the lips and backed away when she tried to slip him the tongue. "I hate to say this, but I think it's time you concentrated on finding that mate of yours. You'll never be completely happy with me."

Peasa sighed and nodded, wrapping her arms around the man again. "Hearing you say that makes me wish we were bond mates. You'll make some woman a hell of a mate someday. Remember that." She sniffed and backed away. "Arigato gozaimashita. [Thank you for what you have done/what you did] You'll always be in a special place in my heart." She swatted him on the cheek with her tail suddenly and grinned. "Come back safe."

"Guys, we really need to get going. I don't think Piccolo will last much longer." Goku announced, distress evident in his tone.

Vegeta and Krillin moved to where Goku was standing and put their hands on his shoulders. "Ready." They said in unison. They waved at everyone with their free hands and hoped they'd see them again.

They appeared right next to Piccolo, who was lying on the ground, bloody but still alive and awake. A few meters away, Cell was sucking android #17 up into his tail and laughing maniacally, and #18 was on her hands and knees and coughing up what appeared to be blood. "What the hell?" Goku cried out, watching Cell.

Piccolo coughed violently and looked up at the new arrivals. "Guys! There's no time! You have to stop Cell before he absorbs 17! He might become unstoppable!"

Vegeta shot towards the creature, but it was too late. Cell began to glow and cry out in elation at the increase in power, transforming into his second form. Vegeta skidded to a halt. "What now?"

Piccolo threw a look at 18. He should have told them to destroy her, but she had saved his life. He just couldn't do it. "Get her out of here! If he absorbs her, he'll reach his ultimate form! We can't take that chance!" The Namek was silenced when suddenly a ki bean shot through his chest, bursting out of the other side.

"You're not taking her anywhere. She's next on the menu!" Cell announced with a huge grin.

"Do your best!" Goku yelled. He teleported away with Piccolo, to get him healed and then to get into the time chamber and hope that they wouldn't be needed the next day.

"Yeah… thanks." Krillin muttered. He had barely seen the blast that took out Piccolo, and that worried him.

"I'll handle him, shortie. You sit back and relax." The proud prince strode forward and grinned sadistically.

"It's hopeless! He was much more powerful than us even before he absorbed 17!" The blonde android yelled, but Vegeta didn't listen to her.

Cell took off after her, but Vegeta moved into the way and drove his elbow into the creature's stomach. The monster gasped but before Vegeta could attack again, the creature's tail lashed out and smacked him in the back of the head. "I barely felt that!"

Vegeta growled and backed away a few steps, keeping himself between Cell and the lovely android. "Time to show you my true power then." Vegeta announced with a nonchalant shrug. He tightened his muscles and stoked the rage in his heart to a boiling point and a moment later golden energy burst into existence around him. He screamed in primal fury and the whole area started to shake. Rocks fell and crumbled. Cracks opened up in the ground. Insects that were within ten meters of the prince vaporized. And still he continued to build up his energy.

Krillin smiled. "He's not playing around. He's going all out! This should be great…"

Vegeta lowered his center of gravity a bit and his energy level shot up at an even faster rate. The ground was shaking so much that everyone there wondered if the whole planet was shaking. The prince's muscles became a bit bulkier then the energy around him dissipated as he reached his full power. "Ah… that's refreshing. Now, let's get started, chikuso! [beast]"

Cell looked surprised for a moment then smiled. "Have it your way, Vegeta." He launched forward as he noticed the surprised look on the Saiyan's face and threw a punch at his face. His fist flew through an after image and he felt a sharp pain in his back. The creature rolled then reversed his momentum to drive a knee into Vegeta's gut, then brought both fists down in a hammer punch onto the back of his neck.

Vegeta cried out in pain as he landed on his hands and knees, but he fought through the pain and drove his feet back with a mule kick into the monstrosity. He twisted with the momentum and brought his foot around again and drove it into Cell's side. He took a step back then forward again and slammed his fist into the creature's gut.

Cell grabbed him and held him just long enough for his tail to shoot forward and into the Saiyan's back, barely missing his spine. He tossed the prince away and started advancing towards android #18 again. "I'm not dead yet, baka!" Vegeta shouted, bringing both hands up. "Gallic gun!" A series of ki blasts shot forward and collided into the insect-like bio-monster, knocking him down to his knees. The Saiyan stood and winced as pain flooded through his back, but he kept moving. <Once I take care of him, I can get one of those damned beans from that little furry creature.>

Cell turned and brushed his back off. "Pathetic. I expected better from you, Vegeta. Time to end this." He shot forward and started exchanging a series of blows with the Saiyan warrior, quickly gaining the advantage as the prince weakened from the injury.

<Damn, I'm going to finish this.> He caught the engineered beast's arms and rolled backwards and launched the creature into the air and then jumped up and kicked him in the back of the head and drove him into the ground. He backed up and started charging up as much ki as he could generate. <Please, let this be enough…> He was finishing just as Cell pulled himself up and started advancing. <One moment longer… just another moment… now!> "FINAL FLASH!!!!!!!!!" Energy shot forward and enveloped the creature. It was nearly everything he had left, so once the attack was done he fell to his hands and knees and gasped for breath. He looked up and started laughing, as nothing but Cell's legs remained. "I did it… thank goodness." A moment later, his eyes widened. Cell was regrowing from the leg stumps!

Vegeta closed his eyes and sighed. There was only one option left. "Runt! Take the girl and run. As fast and as far as you can."

Krillin gasped. "What about you?!"

The prince turned to look at his friend and smiled softly. "Tell Bulma… I'm sorry." Drawing from every last scrap of energy, pride, love, honor, and courage left inside him, the Saiyan warrior stood and walked towards Cell. The creature was nearly fully regenerated, needing only an arm and his head now. He turned to look at Krillin who was frozen in shock. "GO!" He shouted again.

Startled into action, the monk grabbed #18, despite her protest, and took off at a speed that made even his mind boggle. He had no direction planned, he just knew he had to put as much distance as possible between the android and the monster. "What do you think you're doing, you horrid little man!" The lovely android demanded, pressed up against the formerly bald man's body. She didn't say it, of course, but she felt a strange comfort from being so close to him.

"Saving your life." Was all Krillin managed to get out. The strain of moving at this speed was weakening him at an alarming rate, but it was worth it. He closed his eyes as he felt Vegeta blasting the monster with every last shred of energy left in his body at point blank range. So much so, that the Earth shook, tides rose, winds picked up and changed directions, and the whole planet seemed to grow silent. The shockwave was felt for a great distance, and all over the world to the ki-sensitives. Very few knew what was going on, but all felt a sadness grip their hearts as they felt a strong and brave warrior fall in his last desperate bid to save the planet, and his beloved family, from a creature that should not be.

18 grew silent and just let herself be carried. She even went so far as to wrap her arms around the man's shoulders… to better hold on, of course. She felt something warm and wet hitting her face a moment later so she opened her large blue eyes and looked up at the dark-haired short man and saw he was crying.

"Che… Vegeta gave his life… and that monster is recovering. That's just… unreal. We have no chance if he gets you. He can probably sense me since I'm burning so much energy… you'll have to take over. I'm about to drop anyway." The monk explained.

"… Of course." The android rolled them over until it was she that was carrying him and she blasted forward, changing directions just in case, and flying as fast as she could. She was nowhere near as fast as he had been, and she wondered if he would have defeated her and her brother had he fought the other day. She looked down and smiled gently as she saw the man had fallen asleep, exhausted from the escape. She noticed an abandoned looking cabin. "That'll do." She hoped that they could remain hidden from the creature until someone defeated it, but she wasn't very hopeful. It would likely find her eventually.

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Well, I did warn you it would be an emotional roller coaster. Heh… I hope you all had tissues handy. And I hope this chapter was as special to you all as it was to me. ;) Next chapter: Krillin and 18 continue to hide from the monstrous Cell and they get to know each other a bit better. ;) Also, Mr. Satan returns to add a goofy reprieve from all this heart-wrenching emotional stuff, Goku and Piccolo train, Bulma deals with the loss of her mate, and likely some other stuff. Stay tuned! You're in for a wild ride. Reviews are as always the height of loveliness and good cheer.