One Day's Limit

(With Gohan)

'If, if Cell's down here, then, then that means everyone else is too!' Gohan told himself, trembling uncontrollably. Sure he could take them down effortlessly, but he couldn't help but feel like it wasn't going to be that easy. As of right now, he was too dizzy to even see in front of him nor even feel his own energy! But he would feel normal again after a few minutes…right?

Goz and Mez continued to stare wide-eyed at the teen below, confused and frightened by all reasons. "If…if there's a living soul down here then…then…" Goz began, too terrified to finish that sentence. Gohan however grew curious and looked up at him, giving him a questioning face.

"Then what? What's going on?" Gohan asked, trying to make himself undizzy.

Goz looked down at his club as squeezed it, clenching his teeth in the process. "It, it means that if you're found by any of the others dead here, they, they can…" He trailed off, causing Gohan's eyes to widen.

"They can…" Gohan repeated, waiting for the ogre to continue.

"They can live again…"

(With Goku)

"Goku, what is it?" King Kai snapped, getting annoyed that his friend wasn't responding. Goku continued to stare down at King Kai trying to sense for his son's energy, but it was no where on Earth!

"It's, it's Gohan…" King Kai's and Olibu's eyes widened, they knew how much Goku loved his son… "I, I can't sense him on Earth anymore!" He yelled clenching his fists even tighter.

King Kai looked at Goku before turning away. He had to help find his son, Goku loved him so much… "Hold on a sec, let me try and find him…" He trailed off and began searching with his antennas. Goku, although didn't want to try, searched for his son's chi in Other World.

"Hm…he's certainly not on Earth anymore….and he's not on Namek…"

Goku suddenly turned eyes wide in the opposite direction, looking even more frightened then before. "He's, he's in-"

"Hello boys…." They all heard a Western accent voice and turned to see Grand Kai walking up to them. "We have an urgent matter to discuss North Kai…"

(With Gohan)

"WHAT?" Gohan yelled trying to get up again, but feel once more.

Goz and Mez quickly went to his side and helped him up. "SH! You gotta stay quiet unless they'll hear you!"

"Who?" Gohan asked as he was being supported by one of the ogre's clubs.

"All of them…including Cell…" Gohan looked up at them and tried to smile to lighten the mood, but found it was impossible. His vision was getting worse with each moment and he couldn't even feel his energy return to him yet.

"Do, don't worry, I ca-can defend them off." Goz and Mez shook their heads no immediately.

"I'm afraid that's not how it goes…anyone alive down here can't use their energy because…" Mez trailed off, he couldn't finish that sentence.

"Because they're slowly dieing themselves…" Gohan's face paled a bit as Goz finished. "If we don't get you out of here by the end of the day, you earn an automatic ticket to your death and Hell…" How was he supposed to get out of here with all his enemies he's ever faced following them and he can't do anything to defend himself?

(With Goku)

King Kai stopped searching and saw the grim expression on Grand Kai's face, whatever was happening couldn't be good…

Goku looked at the two before placing two fingers on his forehead. "Wish I could stay, but my son needs my help!" King Kai saw this and immediately tackled him to the ground before Goku had he chance to us the Instant Transmission Technique.

"YOU CAN'T GO GOKU!" Goku tried to struggle free from the Kai's grasp, but he found himself unable to.

"King Kai get off me! My son's in danger!"

Grand Kai watched the two before shaking his head. "That's enough you two. – North Kai please get off Goku and Goku, you need to stay here, we need your help." Both King Kai and Goku stopped and looked up at him, surprised by the sincerity and seriousness present. "Look, a living mortal has some how made their way in Hell." Goku watched as King Kai's face paled over a few times and fear building up in his eyes.

"Uh, what's so bad about that? Can't you just get in and get them out?" Goku asked, not really seeing the problem.

Grand Kai shook his head no and sighed. "I'm afraid it's more serious than that Goku. You see, no living mortal should be able to stand in Hell and stay alive, whoever this is must be strong." Goku's eye's twitched a bit before pushing the thought away. 'No, there's no way Gohan could've found a way into Hell…' "Now the real problem is that if any of those who are dead get their hands on this living person and drains their energy, that person automatically becomes alive and the mortal dies, makes sense?"

Goku nodded. "But wouldn't one of the Kai's or even me just use Instant Transmission to get the person alive outta there faster?"

"I'm afraid that's not possible." Goku's eyes widened.

"Why?"

"Over the last few decades, the more people that die keep getting stronger and stronger. So all the Kai's agreed to make a defensive shield around Hell so that if something like this did happen, you can only get in, but getting out would be impossible…"

Goku raised an eyebrow. "Who's stupid idea was that?"

"GOKU!" King Kai yelled. "Behave! You are talking to the Grand Kai!"

"Well if you actually think about it, it's the only thing that prevents the bad ones from escaping."

Goku sighed and crossed his arms. "Well, is there anyway to get this living person-" Goku's heart stopped as sudden realization hit him. Everyone turned to him in curiosity as Goku trembled in fear. "This…this li-living mortal…it's my son, isn't it?" Grand Kai looked at King Kai with a questioning face.

"Uh…we don't know who it is-"

"It's my son…I, I can feel it…" Goku said between clenched teeth. He knew that Gohan couldn't have gotten there himself; someone else had to have sent him there just to set everyone free. "I, I need to get him out!" He yelled again and placed two fingers on his head again.

"Oh no you don't!" King Kai snapped and slapped Goku's finger's off his forehead. "I know your concerned Goku, but we need to come up with a plan before we try to do anything! Going in there blind won't help us at all!" Goku glared at King Kai before calming down. He was right; they needed a plan before they could do anything.

"Okay…." Goku sighed before looking down at the ground, still trying to keep himself at ease.

Grand Kai nodded. "Well first things first, we need a few people who are willing to go. Pikkon? You want to come no doubt."

Goku raised an eyebrow. "What? Pikkon's here?" He questioned before Pikkon walked around the corner.

"I'm sorry sir; I couldn't help but listen in." He apologized before walking up to them, looking at Goku with much concern. He's never seen him like this before… 'His son must mean a lot to him…'

(With Gohan)

Goz, Mez, and Gohan finally made it thought the maze of needles and peeked out of the exit, looking for anyone or anything lurking near by. Gohan however remained leaning against the wall, trying to catch his breathe from walking that far. 'Man, I hate it when I can't do anything!'

"Looks like the coast is clear…" Mez sighed before turning to the out of breath Gohan. "Ready to make a break for the station?" Gohan looked a bit weakly up at the ogre and nodded. He wasn't going to let himself stay defenseless and dieing without trying to help. He didn't care if he died, but if one of the others down here killed him to be free, then he cared.

"On your marks…get set…go!" Goz whispered before they all went running. The two ogres were going at great speeds, but Gohan was beginning to lag behind. His whole world began spinning again as if he hit his head on something and he was losing his balance. 'No come on Gohan, you gotta keep going!' He lectured himself and continued forward.

Goz and Mez looked behind them as they noticed Gohan lagging. Gohan continued running as he was nearing the ogres. 'Ja-just a li, little far, father…" He reminded himself before something collided with him, rapping him up in what felt like a net or something. "AH!" He screamed as he hit the ground and skied all the way to a tree.

Goz and Mez stopped running and turned to see one of the older villains, Tramp walking on over to the dazed teen. "Oh boy…"