Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Fallen Heroes ❯ Chapter Seven ( Chapter 7 )

Someone was tugging on my arm but I couldn't see anything. I tried to put my hands to my face but I was pinned. There was a weight pressing down on my whole body. My arm was being pulled again and it dislodged me from my hole in the side of the mountain. I was flung over a strong shoulder and I screamed at the pain.

I woke the second time on the lookout after having a senzou bean shoved in my mouth. Piccolo and Tien were sitting next to me and I looked at them.

“What happened?” I asked.

“Cell got 17 after Piccolo fell. I tried to stop him but, I wasn't strong enough.” Tien answered.

“No, I mean, Piccolo, what happened to me?” He seemed to think about it before answering.

“When Cell knocked me into you, somehow, your power was transferred into me. It gave me a strength and speed boost but it wasn't enough. Have you ever done anything like that before?”

“No, never.” I answered.

“There were once Nameks that could do that. They could act as a kind of focus for another person. During battle they would transfer all their power to a more powerful Namek.”

“Do you think this is something I could do with anyone?”

“With the Nameks, it was always more useful if you used it on your own race. Like if you did it to Goku, he would get more use out of your energy than I did.” Piccolo said, looking at Kakarrot and then back to me. “This is a very useful technique. I think you should worry about developing this more than ascending to the next level.” I nodded.

“Miss Corbin, I have prepared a bath for you, if you'd like.” Mr. Popo said.

“Thank you, Mr. Popo.” I got up and followed him into the palace. He escorted me into a large room with a large claw foot tub in the middle and closed the door after I had entered. I peeled my blood soaked clothes off and got into the hot water. As I finished bathing, I felt Trunks and Vegeta exit the Pendulum Room. I jumped out of the tub, grabbing my bra and underwear, and found a fluffy white robe folded neatly on a stool. The robe flared out behind me as I ran to them. My wet feet padded across the open courtyard and I finally spotted him amongst the group. He'd grown taller and he looked so much stronger. I was flooded with emotions and realized that I had missed him, even if it had only been a day. He turned to me just in time to catch me as I jumped into his arms. He picked me up a few inches off the floor and hugged me tightly.

“I missed you.” He whispered in my ear. His voice had dropped a bit and had a gravelly sound to it.

“I missed you, too.” I whispered against his lips and kissed him. We pulled away from each other and I noticed his hair. “Your hair, it's not suppose to grow.” He gave me a funny look.

“What do you mean?”

“A Saiyan's hair never changes from the day they're born.”

“I'm only part Saiyan, remember?” I smiled at him and ran my fingers through his shoulder length locks.

“I like it.” Someone coughed loudly and we chuckled. Trunks gave me a quick peck on the lips and set me down. Before he turned back to the group he pointed to the front of my robe. I looked down and realized it had come open from neck to navel, revealing the flat muscled planes of my stomach and thankfully nothing else. I adjusted it for modesties sake and we turned to the group. The group was shuffling uncomfortably except Vegeta. He was glaring daggers at us. Bulma's plane landed on the lookout, breaking the tension in the group. She jumped out of the plane with baby Trunks in her arms.

“Hey guys!”

“Hey Bulma, what are you doing here?” Kakarrot asked her.

“I brought some supplies for you guys. The fight with Cell is going to be tough so I thought you guys could use some new combat suits.” She pulled a capsule out of her pocket and it landed on the ground with a pop. She opened the silver case and pulled out five tiny white squares. Bulma tossed one to Vegeta with a wink and Gohan, Kakarrot, Trunks, and I took one for ourselves. As the guys changed into their suits, I turned my back and shimmied into the pants. I slipped the robe off after my bottom was covered and pulled the suit the rest of the way up my body, hoping I hadn't flashed anyone. After I was situated, I turned back to the group.

“So, all of these are Saiyan combat suits?” Trunks asked.

“More or less. I copied the one Vegeta wore on Namek and made a few comfort modifications.” She looked around the group and noticed Piccolo and Tien hadn't taken one. “Hey, aren't you guys going to wear yours?”

“I am a Namek, not a Saiyan and I won't dress like one.”

“That's right, I refuse to wear the same thing as Vegeta after all the terrible things he's done.” Tien replied.

“There's no point in you putting one on Kakarrot. You won't need it.” Vegeta said with his trademark smirk.

“And why is that? Do you plan on finishing Cell yourself?”

“Yes I do.”

“Do you want me to take you over there with my instant transmission?”

“I don't need any help from you.” Vegeta walked to the edge of the lookout. “So long.” He said and jumped over the side.

“Oh boy, what an ego.” Bulma said.

“I'll follow him.” Trunks said. Kakarrot stopped him.

“Here are two senzou beans. I saved them for you and Vegeta.”

“Thanks Goku.” He slipped the senzou beans into his collar and held his hand out to me.

“Now Trunks, I want you to be careful and take care of Corbin.”

“I will Mom.” We dove off the lookout and I let myself freefall for a bit, feeling the wind in my hair. I peeked over at Trunks, unsure where to start. There were so many things I wanted to ask him. Up at the lookout I had been so overcome with joy that I acted on impulse, but now I wasn't sure.

“Trunks…” I said, nervously. He looked at me with a warm smile. “When you said you weren't sure what this is but you don't care, what did you mean?”

“Corbin, I really like you. You're fun, kind, strong. What I meant was I like being around you and I don't care if this is my time or yours. I just want to enjoy what we have, while we have it.” I smiled sadly. He was right, even if we fell in love, he would have to leave eventually. I looked at the blasted pieces of islands we were flying over. `This is was my heart will look like when he leaves.' I thought to myself. `It's better to just stop this before it gets serious.' He grabbed my hand, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Please don't close me out.” I removed my hand from his gently and looked out at the island on the horizon.

“There it is. Time to get your game face on.” I said and flew at top speed to the island. We touched down on a cliff overlooking the battle between Vegeta and Cell. Vegeta was obviously the superior of the two. Cell was having trouble getting any punches and kicks in. I realized then that Vegeta was toying with him and I laughed at Cell's obvious frustration. As I watched the fight, I felt Trunks glance at me out of the corner of his eye. He sighed.

“Please don't shut me out. I want to be friends with you, if you don't want us to be anything else.” I turned to him.

“I can't. Even if we're friends, it will turn into something else and then you'll leave. I'll die inside when you go. I'm sorry.” The neck of my combat suit seemed to grow tighter as I suppressed tears. As I turned away from him, a single tear rolled a wet track down my cheek. I looked out at the island, trying to even my breathing. I noticed something in the trees below us, something unnaturally green. After suppressing my ki, I jumped off the cliff and made my way to it. I knew before I got there what I would find but I wasn't expecting Krillin to be with them. The two androids were together with Krillin standing a small distance away.

“Krillin, what are you doing? Cell is right over that mountain. Deactivate her all ready.” He sighed heavily, looking at the ground. I looked down and saw the remote in pieces at his feet.

“I'm sorry, Corbin. I couldn't do it.” I opened and closed my mouth, unsure of what to say. All of our hard work was laying in pieces and I felt the urge to cry again.

“Cell knows where you are! Get her out of here!” I heard Trunks yell above us. I looked up and found Trunks blocking Cell's path to us. How had he gotten past Vegeta? He was just mopping the floor with him.

“Vegeta, we had a deal. Now get this damned brat out of my way.” Vegeta was suddenly there and attacked his own son. I turned back to Krillin.

“Get her out of here now!” I screamed at him. He grabbed 18 by the arm and tried to drag her away but she was trying to save 16.

“Come on, 16. I'm not leaving here without you.” Cell was flying straight for us.

“Just fucking go!” I turned to him, changing into a super Saiyan, just in time to block his first attack. He slipped past my guard and punched me in the stomach, knocking the wind from me. He brought his fists up to give me a blow to the head but I rolled out of the way and kicked his legs out from under him. After back flipping out of the way, he charged me again. Blood flew from my mouth as he punched me square in the jaw and I fell to my knees, quickly rolling out of the way of his next attack. Trunks jumped in then and I took my time getting to my feet. Vegeta was back and aimed a ki blast right at Trunks' back. I jumped in the way just in time and crumpled to the ground in pain. I pushed myself up to sitting position and my chest plate fell off in pieces. I could feel that half of the spandex of my suit had been burned off in the blast and I touched my back, coming away with burned flesh and blood. The adrenaline of battle pushed the pain back and I pulled my arms out of the sleeves, tying them around my waist. Thankfully I had put the sports bra back on. Vegeta attacked Trunks again and Cell took the opportunity to fly toward the sun.

“Solar Flare!” Everything went white.

“18, get out of here!” I screamed into the chaos and I received a panicked shriek in response. He had her.

My vision came back in stages and finally I was able to see what had happened. The spot where 18 had been was a ball of electric blue energy and Trunks charged into it. He was quickly spit back out and I marveled at the amount of energy he was creating. The light show was over after a few minutes and Cell in his perfect form stood were it had been. He was slightly smaller and looked more human in his new form. Cell stretched his new body and threw a few practice punches at the air. Krillin screamed wordlessly and dove at Cell, kicking and punching him.

“Enough of this.” Cell said after a few moments and kicked Krillin in the chest, sending him flying. Trunks rushed to his side and gave him a senzou bean.

“Vegeta is done for. He's hiding his true strength, just like you. I felt it when he kicked me. Vegeta can't beat him.” I heard Krillin say to Trunks. I pushed myself to my feet, fighting the waves of pain that ensued, and made my way to Trunks. I reached them as Vegeta and Cell began their fight.

“Is this true?” I asked.

“Yes.” He mumbled, looking at the ground.

“Then why are you still standing here? Go help him.”

“Corbin, you know how proud he is. If I did that he'd never forgive me. If he truly can't beat Cell then I will step in when he falls.” As I growled in frustration, a wave of pain knocked me to my knees.

“You're hurt, here.” He said, reaching into his collar and pulling out a senzou bean. “It's the last one.”

“I'm fine. If things go the way you think they will, Vegeta's going to need that.” I sat back in the grass and watched the fight above. Vegeta was getting clumsy in his anger and finally he got a good punch in, sending Cell into the side of a mountain. Vegeta powered up and aimed a ki ball at him.

“Final Flash.” He screamed and released the ball. When the dust and debris settled, I saw Vegeta had blasted Cell's top half to oblivion. I watched in horror and disgust as the quivering mass sprouted a new torso, then arms, and finally a head.

“You used a lot of energy with that last one, didn't you Vegeta?” Cell was suddenly in his face and punched him. Vegeta landed in a crumpled mass and turned back to normal.

“Krillin, take my father to Master Roshi's and give him the bean.” Trunks said handing it to him.

“Krillin, do not fail this time.” I said coldly. He nodded and the two of them took off for Cell. After Vegeta was safely out of the way Trunks laid into Cell, but after a bit it seemed that Trunks couldn't get a hit in. Cell got in a few good punches and then he knocked Trunks into the ground.

“Get up or I'll put you down permanently!” Cell yelled at him. Trunks appeared out of the crater and powered down to normal.

“I've failed, Cell. Finish me.” Before I knew it, I was in the air flying to them. Cell landed in front of Trunks as I landed.

“How did you come to be this strong?” he asked Trunks.

“Why should I tell you, you're just going to kill me.”

“If you had more time, could you become stronger?”

“I'm sure I could but Goku will be done with his training soon. He'll take you, no contest.” Cell laughed.

“That's it! We'll have a tournament. I will fight your team one at a time and the last one standing will be the winner. Let's say ten days from now. Watch the TV, Trunks; I will give the details tomorrow.” Cell laughed to himself once more and took to the sky. Vegeta and Krillin landed behind us.

“Where's Cell?” Vegeta demanded.

“I couldn't beat him.” Trunks replied simply.

“Of course you couldn't. You're no match for him. Where did he go then?”

“He's gone.” Trunks told Vegeta about the tournament.

“Well, I'm going back in that room for another day. Then I will finish Cell.” Vegeta said confidently. The bushes close by rustled and we all turned to see Android 16 drag himself towards us.

“Please, take me to someone that can repair me. I will help you fight.”

“No, you are a plague to the Earth.” Trunks said. Krillin stepped forward and helped the android up.

“What do you think?” Krillin asked looking at me. I walked slowly to the android and looked inside the gapping hole in his head. The circuits were scorched and I had trouble seeing the extent of the damage.

“Let's get him back to the lab. I'll do a full workup and see what we can do.”

“Thank you.” He said and Krillin took to the air supporting the android. I tried to lift off but failed. The pain was worse now that the adrenaline was gone.

“I'll carry you back.” Trunks said, scooping me up in his arms. He cradled me carefully so that he didn't touch any of the burns on my back and I fell asleep in his arms.