| GOHAN'S UPGRADE Part 2 Azulesan Suddenly, something caught the corner of his eye and he turned in midair. He focused on a lone figure lying facedown in a massive pile of debris. With its emerald skin and purple gi, it was obvious who it was. Gohan sped to the ground and dashed to Piccolo�s side. �Piccolo-san!!� At the sound of the child�s voice, the namekian stirred, pushing himself up with his one functional arm and turning his head. Glazed, unfocused eyes came to rest on Gohan and a weak smile escaped Piccolo. �Go�han.� The demi-saiyajin fell to his knees and lifted his mentor�s arm up around his shoulders. �Hang on!� he cried, getting to his feet. �I�ll get you to help!� The older warrior shook his head feebly, violet blood leaking from his mouth. �There�s�nothing�to be done.� �But Piccolo�� �No buts, kid.� Defeated, Gohan gently leaned his mentor up against a demolished stop sign and buried his face in his torn shirt, crying over his helplessness. �No Piccolo-san�please don�t die!� �Sorry, Gohan.� Piccolo rasped, speech slurred. �I�m�very proud�of you�You�re like a�son to me.� With those last words, the brave namekian perished from that dimension. �Piccolo-san,� Gohan gazed at his surrogate father�s face for what seemed to be an eternity. Suddenly, that same rage that had been surging inside of him boiled over and he screamed. He screamed because of the pain, the helplessness he felt. He screamed because he was the last warrior standing. He screamed with a purpose. Instantly, the golden aura flared up all around him and it turned his hair gold. Falling to his knees once more, he pounded the ground with his fists. ����� �Wow, Gohan-san!� Trunks blurted out, astonished. �That was the motivation I needed.� Gohan concluded, gazing fixedly at Piccolo�s gravestone. �Hopefully, it�ll be the right motivation for you too.� Trunks stared at him, eyes wide. �What do you mean by that?� Gohan stood up, �You�ll see, Trunks. You�ll see. |