Why Can't You (Book 2)

3: Cell's Evil Plot, Gohan's Hidden Power "

Rikku couldn't stand it anymore. She heard Gohan's cries of pain as Cell cracked his bones. Gohan's plea that he stop the Cell Games hadn't gone through to Cell's head. Everything he had said had just fueled Cell's interest and now he was determined to see Gohan's power.

Gohan, release it! Release your power! Let it snap! Let your emotions go! She wanted to scream at him but knew it wouldn't help. She felt Piccolo's arms on hers shoulders giving her a good shake. "What's the matter with you Rikku? How can you just stand there and listen to this?" He snarled in her face. "Why won't you help him?"

"He doesn't need my help." She whispered her pain filled eyes staring up at Piccolo's. "He can do this. He just has to let go!" She glared up at him. "Just you wait! Wait until Cell has Gohan backed into a corner and then he'll have no choice. He'll awaken! He'll break cell down once and for all!"

"Listen to him! Does that sound like the cry of a warrior? It's not! It's the sound of your son screaming for mercy!" He shook her again for effort. " He's not a fighter like you! He's not thinking about how to release his power he's thinking why his mother is making him go through this and why she won't help him!"

Rikku shook. Oh god, don't tell me that, she thought. Don't tell her that she was wrong. She had gone through so much. She had felt Gohan's power, explored it, tested it. She had put aside her motherly instinct to tuck him away safe and sound and had instead put him right into battle. What kind of a mother was she? "Gohan," she whispered and pushed Piccolo away and screamed. "GOHAN!"

Gohan gasped hearing his mother's scream. He managed to wedge his eyes open and he saw his mother collapsed on her knees crying. "M-mom." He met her eyes and screamed again feeling a rib crack as Cell hardened his hold.

Rikku saw the pain, saw her frightened little boy wriggling in pain... and couldn't take it anymore. "Krillen," she looked over. "Toss me a Sensu bean!"

"Huh?" Krillen snapped his eyes away from Gohan and reached into his shirt. "Yeah, sure." He paused hearing the thud when Cell released Gohan and let him fall to the ground. Rikku turned back thankful that Gohan was alright. She had to hurry.

"Come on, hurry up and give it to me."

"Stubborn creature," she heard cell speak and turned her attention back to Gohan. "You fail to engage even when wriggling in pain. Perhaps you'll respond better to the sounds of your friends deaths."

Gohan jolted on the ground struggling to get up. His breath came out in wheezes. No, he couldn't let that happen. "You leave them out of this!" Cell ignored him turning his attention to the group on the cliffs. He counted eight fighters. Moving in quickly he sped up to them heading straight for Krillen. Piccolo tried to interfere but was quickly averted. Krillen backed up the bag of Sensu beans in his hand. With a laugh Cell snatched it away.

Rikku snarled and struggled to her feet. "No, Cell don't!" It was too late He flew back to Gohan, and despite her son's desperate plea ignored him. "I'm sorry guys, I should have eaten a bean when I had the chance."

Gohan made to attack him but got kicked aside. Rikku felt a sickening roll in her stomach and she put a hand to her head. This wasn't what she had planned. Everything was going in shambles at her feet. Her eyes caught movement and she gasped as Android sixteen came out of nowhere and wrapped his arms around Cell. She had almost forgotten about him. The attack hadn't been sensed because Sixteen was an Android. What could he possibly do?

"Don't come any closer! I'm going to kill him by self destructing!" Rikku gasped her eyes wide and her mouth opened in shock.

"S-Self Destruct?"

"Rikku, I am sorry that the androids have caused so much destruction and chaos here on Earth." He apologized and turned his attention to Cell. "No matter how powerful you are, Cell, you will not survive this explosion. Good-bye."