Part 4

Alora couldn’t believe it. In only twenty-four hours she had gone from the lesser to the greater. Everyone in school knew her now and no longer made fun of her. They all thought her extremely courageous in the fact that Cell was no more than three feet away from her and she didn’t say a word and didn’t run.

She had never seen so many news reporters and journalists in her life. It was amazing. And they all came to see her; to ask her how she felt and why Cell didn’t harm her or anyone else.

“I don’t know why,” was all she could answer. She wasn’t about to tell them that she was in love with the powerful android. They’d think she was crazy and then she’d not only be the laughing stock of the school, but the entire world.

When Alora was finally able to return home, her mother was there to greet her. “I can’t believe it! Are you okay? He didn’t hurt you at all?”

“Mother, I’m fine really,” Alora laughed. She went to her room to dream about what had just happened. People were thinking of her as a hero, all because Cell put out a little fire. She should go to see him. After all, his appearance was the reason for all of this. “Tomorrow, perhaps,” she said as she dropped onto her bed.

Cell, meanwhile, stood on the arena floor like he always did. His arms were crossed and his face stern. Unfortunately, he wasn’t feeling as delighted as Alora had been all day. He sacrificed his pride to Alora, but it seemed that she really didn’t care. He had thought and hoped that she would’ve come out to see him, but she didn’t. He now stood alone, just like he had done before.

“Alora, where are you going at this time?” Her mother asked when the sun had barely been up for half an hour.

“I have to go see someone that I saw at the fire yesterday.”

“Now? At least have some breakfast first, dear.”

“Sorry Mom, but I really need to get going.” Alora jumped down the hallway on one foot as she tried to get a sneaker on the other. “I’ll be home later!”

The young blonde took an old bike out of the basement to use as transportation. She didn’t think her feet would allow her to make another journey like she did before. Besides, this was much faster than walking or even running.

It only took a little while to reach the desert, and soon she’d be coming upon the arena. Excitement filled her head as she peddled towards her android.

When Cell came into view, she jumped off the bike to jog the rest of the way. “Cell!”

Cell ignored her and kept his eyes closed, although this time he was facing in her direction.

“Cell,” Alora panted as she bent over for a moment to catch her breath. “Why didn’t you come back for me yesterday?” Silence. “Cell!” She nearly shouted. “Are you listening to me?”

“Of course I am. Its not like I can’t hear you.” His eyes remained closed.

“So, answer my question.”

He didn’t answer at first. But finally he replied, “I did come back for you, however it seemed to be that you were too busy with your new adoring fans.”

Alora felt as if he slapped her. “Cell, I didn’t mean for that to happen. I just didn’t want to see anyone get hurt…”

“Of course,” he replied. “I suppose that it was my own fault that you ended up ignoring me for the remainder of the day.”

“I didn’t ignore you, Cell.”

“Oh, that’s right. You only spent a few hours talking to those pesky reporters and then you went home, long before night even settled in.”

“You were watching me the whole time?”

“As a matter of fact I was.” He finally opened his eyes to look at her. Their sharpness stared her down. “If it wasn’t for me, nothing would’ve taken place yesterday. I hope you’re grateful.”

It took Alora to figure out what he meant. “You mean to say that you started the fire? But why?”

“I have no answers.”

“Cell, tell me!” He wouldn’t answer her. “You know what? You’re just jealous.”

“Hardly.”

“Well, fine. Be that way. Since you don’t seem to care anymore, I’m leaving.”

“I never said I didn’t care.”

Alora stopped. He got her again. It seemed that she just couldn’t remain mad at him. “Look, I’m sorry Cell. But that’s probably one of the biggest things that’s ever happened to me.”

“One of the biggest? And what are the others, may I ask?”

She turned back around, a tear escaping her eye. “You.”

Cell was speechless. Did he really mean that much to her? And now her words seemed to puncture something embedded within him. For now he felt that she meant that much to him as well. He knew now that without her, he would never truly be complete.

The noise of an engine caught both of them off guard. Alora looked around, as did Cell, for what the intrusion could be. Then they saw a white van with the initials ZTV painted in red on the side.

“More reporters? Why now?” Alora asked mostly herself.

“Most likely because of my Cell Games.”

Alora had completely forgotten that today was the day of the tournament. She turned to Cell, who seemed to be in his glory at the moment as he watched two men get out of the van.

“In only a few hours, the games will finally begin.”

“What will happen?”

“I’ll fight the most powerful warriors known to this planet, and I’ll defeat them with ease. I doubt that even my strongest rival will be any match for my perfections.” He looked on as the two men made their way up a hill to watch the games from a safe distance. Well, which seemed to be safe to them, that is.

“I suggest you leave, my dear Alora. I can guarantee that these fights will get ugly.”

“I don’t want to leave you though…remember? I said I’d always be there for you if you’d let me.”

Cell looked down at her, contentment in his eyes. “Then take cover over there somewhere. I’ll make it a point to keep the fight away from where you are.”

Alora smiled and left it at that. She quickly jogged off to find a safe seat so she could watch what the world was going to see.

The games started with “the world’s champion,” as he was known. His name was Hercule, the biggest goof off known to mankind. Alora couldn’t help but laugh at the way he made a fool of himself in front of Cell. The pitiable defeat almost made her fall off the rock she was sitting on.

Cell’s next two opponents, who were some of Hercule’s trainees, were also easily defeated in an embarrassing manner. Alora was sure neither of the two would bother to fight again.

The fight between Cell and the one with tall gold hair kept Alora sitting on the edge of her seat. She watched with anticipation as the two went at it in the air and on the arena floor. Sparks of energy would shoot out every once and a while as they seemed to be gathering their strength. Alora knew that Cell was strong, but she didn’t understand the power he was always talking about. He was constantly creating some kind of beam from his hands that he shot at his opponent. What shocked her even more was the fact that this other guy was doing the same moves.

Cell’s destruction of his own tournament arena was something to think about. From afar, Alora couldn’t tell why he had done so. In a way it was a shame, for he had done a marvelous job of making it.

The fight between the android and the golden haired fighter continued until Cell’s upper body was blown off. Alora, not being aware of Cell’s regenerative abilities, jumped to her feet ready to scream out. She almost fell to the ground when she saw Cell’s head pop back out. She made a mental note to ask him later how he did that.

Soon after Cell’s new growth of an upper body, the match seemed to have ended. Alora could hear something about giving up, which came from the opponent. What she thought she heard wrong was that the man’s son was going to take over. But it was true. A boy with similar coloring stepped onto the desert ground to take his father’s place. He didn’t look any older than ten-years-old.

“Well, Gohan,” Cell said to the boy. “It seems your father has given you the burden of doing his job. Will you be able to give me a decent fight, or will I be bored out of my mind until you give up as well?”

“Whatever it takes, Cell, I will defeat you,” Gohan replied harshly.

Cell laughed. “The same spunk as your father, eh? No matter. He already figured out that he was no match for my perfection. Its only a matter of time before you understand as well.”

“Shut up and fight.”

Cell took that as the starting bell. He flew towards the young boy and gave him an array of punches and kicks that even the son of Goku was having trouble keeping up with. Cell laughed mockingly every time he landed a punch, sending Gohan into a nearby mountain.

“Well, Gohan, it seems its time for round two. Will you be able to stand it?”

Gohan spit in front of Cell. “Bring it on.”

Cell snickered. “Big words for such a little boy. Perhaps you’d be more of a challenge to me if I put your friends’ lives on the line.”

“Don’t even think about it…” Gohan commanded. Of course, the android didn’t listen. He immediately flew towards the group on the ledge and took the precious bag of sensu beans that Krillin held in his hand.

“Come Gohan. Without these, you’re all doomed, now aren’t you?”

Alora could tell that Cell was taunting the boy, but how long would it go on? Though Cell had proven to be stronger, she had to admit that this boy wasn’t as weak as he looked. After all, looks can be deceiving.

Cell found that he had to increase his strength and speed to keep up with the young Super Saiyan. He couldn’t believe that this little brat was so powerful; but it was proving to be a challenge.

After five minutes of nonstop punches and kicks, Cell knocked Gohan to the ground. The boy slowly made it to his knees, but saw the mocking android above him. Cell laughed, trying to humiliate Gohan as much as possible.

On top of the cliff were the spectators stood, Android 16 watched in horror as Cell beat up the eleven-year-old boy. He couldn’t let this go on. After what Androids 17 and 18 had done and now Cell, he realized how terrible Dr. Gero was to create all of them for such purposes.

Cell was just about to fire yet another attack at Gohan when he himself felt an attack. The large, gentle Android 16 came down to the battlefield to lock Cell in a life-threatening bear hug. “You will no longer harm this peaceful planet, Cell. No matter how powerful you have become, you will not survive the blast of my bomb.”

Even the perfect android, Cell, became nervous or to put it mildly, scared. Alora heard what the gentle giant said and held her hands in tight fists as she leaned over to see and hear what was happening down below.

She couldn’t bare to watch. She felt she had to do something to stop this whole ordeal. She got to her feet and started to make her way down. If she got there quick enough, perhaps the other android wouldn’t self-destruct if she was in the way.

Android 16 kept his grip tight on Cell as he tried to set off his bomb. But after a moment, he found out that nothing was going to happen. Then, Krillin piped in to tell everyone what Bulma had done with the bomb when she was repairing the android.

Cell laughed when he heard the news. Alora stopped in her tracks, not sure what to think. But the next event that happened had wished that she had taken cover. Not to protect herself, but so she didn’t have to see what Cell did to the other android. Android 16 now lay in hundreds of pieces that were scattered across the area.

Gohan watched in horror. He couldn’t believe that Cell had destroyed another android created by the evil Dr. Gero. This one was bad and he had no care for anything but himself and his ego. It was time to take him down.

“CELL!” The boy screamed. Visions of what could be the future shot through his mind; the world as Trunks came from, his parents dead, along with his friends. His energy soared sky high and the power he was emitting was incredible.

Cell watched in awe as Gohan powered up to the next level. A level that not even his own father had reached. Now the fun would begin. He would finally be able to prove to everyone how strong he really was.

Gohan finished his transformation and eyed Cell down. He wouldn’t let anything go any farther. He knew darn well that Cell wouldn’t stand a chance now. The only fun that would take place is seeing Cell cower before him in pain, just like the innocent people of earth had done before the android. It was time for Cell to pay.

Cell smiled as the Super Saiyan approached him. “Well, I see that this will turn out to be more interesting than I had originally thought.”

“Can it.”

Cell gasped at the rudeness of the new Gohan. No one would talk to the android like that, except Alora had gotten away with a few comments. Alora. He had almost forgotten about her. She was supposed to be on a ledge not to far away, but when he looked, the ledge was empty. He quickly scanned the area for any sign of her, but before he could finish, Gohan’s fist was in his stomach.

Cell bent over, saliva escaping his mouth. “How dare you…. you…brat!” Cell charged at Gohan, trying everything within his power to at least touch the little nuisance. “Hold still damn it!”

“You can’t win Cell,” Gohan said finally after he became tired of dodging Cell’s pathetic attempts to hit him.

Alora started to become scared as she saw Cell being pounded into the ground by this young boy. How could someone so young have so much potential to defeat Earth’s strongest adversary?

A yell from Cell after being hit in the back rang in Alora’s ears several times. “Cell…” she said to herself. He was going to get himself killed. What would she do if something happened? No…Cell…

“Stop…” she said way to soft for even an ant to pick up. “Please, stop.” Her fear kept her voice from producing any kind of sound. She wanted nothing but to jump into the fight and clobber that little monster with the golden hair.

“You’re through Cell!” Gohan yelled as he started to charge up a Kamehameha wave.

Cell started to gather his own energy to do the same, but he knew that it wouldn’t be any match for the amount of power Gohan was putting into his attack. This can’t be happening to me! A Saiyan child cannot possibly became capable of such strength! I won’t let this happen! I MUST prove myself to everyone that I am the perfect being on this sorry planet!

Both attacks were fired, only one survived. Gohan’s Kamehameha wave quickly overpowered the one created by Cell. The android just barely missed having his head blown off for a second time that day.

“CELL!” Alora shouted once the dust started to settle. She had gotten to her feet and made herself visible to everyone around.

“What the?” The Z fighters said in unison as they observed the young blonde girl on the battlegrounds.

“Who does she think she is?” Vegeta added to the questions that they all had.

“Cell!” Alora shouted, stopping herself from running up to him to block him from any more attacks.

“Alora, stay back!” Cell shouted back. The last thing he needed now was for her to be in danger. “Get out of here now!”

Gohan couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Cell was telling a human to stay away. But why?

Not far from where the Z fighters were standing was the little group of the normal earthlings. Hercule listened to this obviously insane girl. “She’s going to get herself killed,” he said to the reporter.

“What are you going to do Hercule? You can’t possibly let Cell get her!” The nerdy looking reporter commented.

Earth’s champion stared at him, with a look that could’ve killed, if that were possible. Oh great, now he’s gone and done it. Now the people at home are expecting me to jump in there and save her. The things I do for my fans!

“I won’t let that evil monster touch her! I, Hercule, will save her!” The curly-haired man yelled, holding his fingers in a peace gesture to the camera. He turned, gulped, and gathered the courage to go out there.

He quickly ran towards where Cell and the girl were standing. As he got closer, he started praying that the monster wouldn’t see him. Yeah right, as if that were possible.

To grant Hercule’s wishes, Cell was preoccupied with Gohan trying to lure him away from Alora. All of his attention at the moment was on Gohan’s speedy fists. His name being shouted by a feminine voice got him a fist in the mouth.

“Let me go!” Alora yelled in Hercule’s ear as he tried to carry her away.

“Don’t worry, miss. I’ll get you to safety,” he said, trying not to look back.

“No!” Cell yelled, dashing in their direction. He flew as fast as he could to get her, and just as he was about to knock out the weak fighter he had dealt with earlier, he heard Alora telling him to watch out.

At first her words made him question her. However, he sensed the power coming towards him. The android’s feet touched the ground and turned his body around far enough to see a thin, golden beam coming towards him. He had no time to react. He didn’t even have time to hear Alora scream.

Gohan’s small finger blast hit the target straight on. Cell stood helpless, a hole going straight through the left side of his chest. He could quickly feel his energy reducing to almost nothing as he fell to one knee.

“Cell!” Alora screamed. The commotion had stopped Hercule long enough for her to kick his leg and to escape from his hold. “Cell!”

She dropped to her knees when she reached him. “Cell, say something. Are you alright?”

Cell let out a cough and then wiped his mouth of the purple blood that demanded escape. He tried to take deep breaths as he felt Alora’s hands taking place on his shoulder and arm.

“You must get out of here, now,” he commanded her.

“I refuse to leave you like this,” she told him. “I said I’d never leave you. I won’t break my promise.”

Cell’s legs completely gave way from beneath him. He fell to his back and struggled to sit up. “Alora, listen to me right now. The last thing I want to happen is for you to get hurt. I never meant to hurt your arm like I did. And I never meant to make you frightened of me when you came back…”

“Cell, you don’t have to explain that to me,” the girl said, tears filling her eyes. She wiped them away with her arm. Her hand came back down to Cell’s chest, feeling the blood that oozed from his wound. “End this now, and I’ll get you help.”

“No, I don’t want help. I will end this once and for all. That child will not humiliate me.”

“Cell, you’ve proven yourself. Please, finish this when you’re stronger. You can’t possibly…”

“Never,” he choked. “I will never turn myself in.” He stopped his selfish squabble with her for a moment and stared at her face. “I truly am sorry for the way I have behaved towards you.”

Alora smiled, and took his hand in hers, pulling herself closer to him as he sat up more. He smiled at her, his magenta eyes sparkling in the afternoon sun. “Alora,” he started, searching for the right words. “I want you to promise me something right now.”

“Anything.”

“Never let anyone tell you that you’re less than what you really are. You are better than all of them…you are the perfect human. I tried to help you with the fire…to let them see that you’re not afraid of anything.” He smiled yet again.

Alora’s tears trickled down her face. “You started that fire…just to help me?” She felt honored that he went through the trouble of making himself ‘look bad’ as he had put it before just to help her win the respect that she deserved.

“Alora let me kiss you…” Cell leaned over to let his lips touch hers. They shared a deep, passionate kiss, and the biggest kiss that either of them had ever experienced.

Alora felt him pull away, but she wanted them to just continue. She couldn’t believe that he was actually going to go through with finishing the battle. She helped him stand on his feet and stabilize himself before he let go.

Cell turned around and gave her a smile that she loved to see on his face, his eyes looking so meaningful and loving. A quick wink, and he turned to face the Super Saiyan that stood in amazement as he watched the two.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to pull Cell, but you’re not going to finish it,” Gohan said, his hatred for Cell rising with every action the android made.

Cell wanted to laugh, but his wound wouldn’t let him. He quickly glanced over his shoulder to make sure Alora was getting herself to a safe place. When he was satisfied on her whereabouts, he turned to the boy. “Once again, a person who claims to know me so well, however, you have no idea what’s been going on.”

Cell ignored the demands his body screamed at him to stop. The android and the semi-Saiyan ignited in the last battle that would take place that day. Cell was lucky that Gohan dropped his guard long enough to let Cell land a punch.

Gohan’s feet skidded backwards. He stopped, wiped his mouth of the blood Cell caused to trickle over his lips, and looked at the being before him. The ultimate android was already on strike two. And strike three would take him down and out for good. The attack that he had landed a few minutes ago was just enough to slow the monster down. Now the tables had turned, and Earth’s fighters would turn out victorious.

Cell chuckled to himself. “You honestly think you still have a chance? You might have wounded me, but don’t think that you’re the one with the advantage. All I need is one cell to survive any attack and I can regenerate my entire body in an instant.”

“Well, we just won’t let that happen then.” Gohan flew to a rock and stood on top, looking at eyelevel with the android.

Cell knew that he wasn’t thinking clearly. Why had he just told Gohan that? Now the boy would truly defeat him if he put enough power into it. The light was starting to hit him. He didn’t have a chance. As hard as it was to believe it, he was going to die. But he wasn’t going to let the little brat do it without a fight.

Gohan wasn’t intending on fighting any longer, however. He had had enough and wanted to go home and let himself rest for the next month or so. His final attack started to be powered up, aiming towards the android.

Cell tried to think of all possibilities he had to get out of the range of fire. The only thing he could do was to try to fly away and use everything he had left.

And that’s exactly what he did. He flew directly above where he stood, waiting for the Super Saiyan to finish. At the right moment, he would finish gathering his own energy, race behind Gohan, and blast it in the boy’s direction, hopefully putting him out of the game.

Cell held his breath as Gohan finished the Kamehameha phrase. His arms just started to move to release the blast when Cell quickly sped to the other side. Unfortunately, he did so too soon and wasn’t quick enough.

The android held his hands out to shoot his own energy blast when Gohan turned around and released his own. Cell’s eyes widened as he saw the final attack racing towards him. He had never thought of so many things in such a short amount of time. And in the end, the only thing he could think of or see in his mind was Alora. She had taught him so much. Without her, he never would’ve truly become complete. He just hoped that she was going to be all right for the time she had left on the Earth.

Alora watched in horror as the golden blast started to be fired towards Cell. She wanted nothing but to cover her eyes, but her body was temporarily paralyzed with fear. He wasn’t going to make it out of this one, and she knew it.

Just before the large ball of energy hid Cell’s body behind it, she saw him glance down towards her. She could only see his line of sight, but couldn’t tell if there was that white smile on his face or not.

The next thing everyone saw was the tremendous explosion that took place in the sky.

The blast disappeared, the dust cleared, and the sky was empty once again. It was over. Earth was no longer in danger. Cell had finally been defeated.

Alora had been offered a ride home from a young man with lavender hair. He was very nice and seemed to understand the grief she was feeling, but she kindly turned him down and told him that she’ll make her way home when she was ready.

The mysterious fighters flew away into the distance, leaving Alora alone in the desert. Well, almost alone.

“Excuse me, but would you like to tell us what was going on between you and Cell?” An annoying reporter asked, sticking a microphone in her face.

“No comment,” Alora said. She smiled, got up, and walked away.

“Well, no thanks for saving her from that Cell,” Hercule said crossing his arms in disgust and thanking the heavens at the same time for sparing his life.