Part 21

                                    

                                          
         
                          
When they appear on top of Kami's lookout, Gohan is quick to run up to 21, looking worried as he eyes her disheveled form. "Julliet! Are you okay?" he asks, watching as she slowly turns around and drags herself to the edge before flopping on her backside in silence.
                          
"Give her a moment Gohan. She has some things to think over." his dad tells him, smiling reassuringly as his son turns his gaze up at him. 
                          
Gohan takes one more glance at 21 before nodding solemnly. "Okay."
                          
21 feels a bit numb after what happened, after what she did. It's like she killed a piece of herself and in a way, she did. But she had no choice. There was no saving the 21 of this time. She would've only caused more trouble. It didn't make it easier though.
                          
It is then she makes a decision. She wants to distance herself from her other self in some way. She doesn't want to share a name with an android that would have killed anyone without a second thought. She doesn't want to be confused with that person if she could even be called that. That android 21, was a true android. Complete. 
                          
Being called Julliet from now on is what she prefers. The actual change might be slight, but to her, it's a huge leap forward in finding her own identity. No longer will she be a number. She's a person and wants to be called as such. She nods to herself. Julliet it is, from now on till the end of her days.
                          
She makes it final in her own way, by ripping off the remains of her glove, tossing the cloth aside carelessly. She can't see Goku smile at her knowingly, while Gohan looks confused, but seeming to accept it as his father seems perfectly fine with it.
                          
.............
                          
'He's holding on, somehow.' Julliet thinks as she senses Piccolo fighting down below. She knows he won't last though. He will tire eventually and they never do. She offered to go down, but Goku ordered her to stay put, saying she will only get in the way. She supposes that's true. She's strong, but not that strong.
                          
She suddenly senses something else and her thoughts are confirmed by Gohan. "Woah, daddy. It's Cell, isn't ? He's heading for Piccolo isn't he?" he asks, getting to his feet worried.
                          
"Yes son, I'm afraid so." he frowns. "And son, I know how you feel. I'd much rather it'd be me down there than Piccolo." Goku states, eying the door to the hyperbolic time chamber impatiently. "From all the battles I've been in. This is the hardest one by far." he admits.
                          
"Oh." Julliet breathes out in shock as she senses Cell powering up after a while. Energies are moving down below and she's getting on edge. She should go down there and help.
                          
"Don't." Goku calls over, pinning her down with her gaze. "Why?!" she calls back anxiously. "I do not have to wait my turn to go in there. I could help down there!" she insists, but Goku shakes his head.
                          
"You know very well it's no use. There is no point in going down there, only to die." he chides, making her clench her fists. "Please stay. Don't risk your life fruitlessly like that." he practically begs, making her anger simmer down to a small flame. 
                          
Hanging her head, she quietly sits back down. It's so frustrating. She used to be so powerful, but here and now, she's not much compared to some others. She hides her face into her hands, shutting out the rest of the world, not wanting to keep track as long as she can do nothing.
                          
She ignores the screams of Gohan as Piccolo is downed, his father trying to hold him back as he wants to get down there. She ignores Goku punching Gohan to knock him out of it. She ignores Mr. Popo's words as he tries to reason with the boy. She ignores the fighting. She ignores everything for as long as she can.