Chapter Twenty-Four - The Battle Commences
The Z Warriors landed back at the battle scene in the HFIL with an air of triumph surrounding them. Such an atmosphere was not to last long. Sakura was still caged inside her dome of energy, and Akumasenka was amusing himself with his newfound friends. He, Cell, Furiza and some other monsters that had joined their group of terror were busy torturing the other residents of the HFIL when the Z Warriors landed.
"Well," Vegeta said, an amused expression pasted on his face. "Isn't this just typical. Children playing with toys." Akumasenka and his gang spun around and snarled at Vegeta.
"You!" Akumasenka hissed, baring his rows and rows of razor sharp teeth. "I thought you'd cleared off out of my way for good!"
"Oh no," Vegeta sneered, glaring bitterly at Akumasenka. "Like I said, the battle was merely postponed."
Akumasenka smiled, and turned to face Vegeta. "Very well." He said, clenching his fists tightly, "Let's finish this."
Vegeta smiled triumphantly and began to power up. He roared as his power increased sharply, as his muscles bulged, as his eyes changed from black to turquoise-green, and as his hair turned from black to gold. Following Vegeta' s lead, Goku, Gohan and Trunks all powered up to become Super Saiya-jins. They all changed in appearance and in power; their hair became golden-yellow, their eyes became green, and their power levels soared.
Akumasenka looked at them for a moment, a moment of fear sparking in his eyes before he smiled confidently. He took a deep breath and flew towards the group of powerful Super Saiya-jins.
Trunks attacked Akumasenka, mercilessly kicking and punching wherever he could reach, using every ounce of his super Saiya-jin strength to fight the monster. You can do it, Trunks he thought to himself as he fired an energy blast at Akumasenka's head, you have to do it. If you don't beat him, this monster's gonna kill everybody here - including Sayoke.
Trunks continued to fight as Piccolo, Yamcha, Krillen, #18, Tien and Chao-zu joined the fight.
Piccolo ran over to Furiza and attacked him ruthlessly, not stopping for so much as breath as he pounded at the changeling's pathetic body. Keiichi watched proudly as Piccolo fought like this.
"Go Daddy!" He shouted through the fight as Piccolo continued to tirelessly attack Furiza. Goku glanced over at Keiichi through his fight with Cell, trying to determine exactly who the Namek child was.
Piccolo also glanced over at Keiichi, and Furiza took advantage of this short distraction. He gathered all the energy he could muster, and span around, sending Piccolo flying through the air with a sharp and powerful flick of his tail.
"No!" Keiichi screamed as Piccolo slammed against a rock. "Daddy!" Keiichi ran towards Furiza, too much like Piccolo too just stand aside as his only parent was attacked.
Keiichi kicked Furiza sharply in the chin, putting as much power as possible behind his tiny body. Too small to have any effect, Keiichi fell to the ground after his failed assault on Furiza.
Furiza looked around him, searching for the source of that sudden, painless attack. He lowered his eyes to the ground, and saw Keiichi sitting in a crumpled heap at his feet.
"Well, well, well." He hissed, his snake-like voice chilling Keiichi to the bones. "Here we have it. Well, you are brave." Furiza reached down with his tail, and wrapped it tightly around Keiichi's neck, lifting him off the ground. The young Namek struggled to breath and cry for help, but not a breath of air could enter or leave his lungs.
Goku and Gohan both took a step back and gathered their energy. "KA - ME - HA - ME" They took a long, deep breath, gathering more energy as they made the final preparations for their joint attack on Cell, "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" A dazzling beam of energy burst from each their cupped hands, joining together to make one, jumbo energy attack. Cell could only stand and watch in horror as the blast shot towards him. Before he could even cry out, Cell was disintegrated by the combined power of Goku and Gohan, father and son.
Goku looked around searching for Furiza, and found him. "Piccolo!" he yelled as Piccolo slowly stood up, rubbing his head where it had smashed against a rock. "Piccolo!" Goku repeated as his Namekian friend looked up and began walking towards him. "Do you know who that Namek kid is over there? You know, the one being choked to death by Furiza?" Piccolo glanced towards Furiza, and his eyes widened in horror.
"KEIICHI!" He bellowed, sprinting towards Furiza and Keiichi, "Furiza! Let him go!" Furiza quickly looked in Piccolo's direction, and began cackling quietly to himself, directing his attention back to the dying child in his grasp.
As Piccolo watched his son struggling for breath, an idea came to him. Quick as a flash, he was at Keiichi's side, and he was holding Furiza's tail tightly in his grip. He raised the tail to his mouth, and bit into the tough, white skin, sinking his 'fangs' deep into the flesh. Furiza shrieked in pain, and loosened his grip from around Keiichi's throat. The young Namek fell motionless to the ground.
Piccolo pulled his teeth from Furiza's tail and grabbed his son from the earth beside him. Piccolo ran, as fast as he could, caring more for Keiichi's young life than for a quick fight with Furiza.
"Piccolo!" Goku cried as his friend appeared next to him. "Where have you been? Who's the kid?" But Piccolo did not answer him. He laid Keiichi down on the ground and knelt down next to him.
"Come on, kiddo." Piccolo whispered, gently shaking Keiichi's tiny shoulders. "You've got to wake up." Still Keiichi did not stir. As Goku looked on, he was stunned to see a single tear roll down Piccolo's face. "Keiichi." Piccolo continued, still shaking Keiichi's shoulders. "Come on, it's OK now. I'm here now. Daddy's here." Keiichi coughed, a high-pitched, quiet little cough, and breathed a few short, fast breaths before stopping altogether.
Piccolo watched in horror as his son's tiny body faded before his eyes. He had been killed, killed in an attempt to save his Daddy.
"No." Piccolo cried, yet another tear pouring down his face. "KEIICHI!"
