Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Dragonball V: A World Both Familiar and Foreign ❯ Denial ( Chapter 32 )

DragonBall V: A World both Familiar and Foreign

Author's Note: Debido: I can safely guarantee that Vegeta will not reappear with a halo over his head, nor will Gohan get pissed off and suddenly turn SS2. Beyond that, you'll have to wait and see. ;-) And yes, Cell is much stronger than he was in the show. He has to be, or he wouldn't be much of a challenge because Vegeta at the power level he was at when he self-destructed to try to kill Cell, he could have beaten the living crap out of the Vegeta in the show at the end of the Cell saga easily. Cell is of course missing two DNA samples he had in the show, namely Frieza and his pappy. But he has more Saiyan DNA, and he has Kui's and Ume's DNA (yeah I know, they weren't that strong but what does that matter? Teehee.) There's really no logical reason why Cell is more powerful in this timeline, since he should actually be weaker, but he wouldn't be much of a villain if he was a weakling, now would he? Also, though in the show Cell only became more powerful after he regenerated from that one brain cell, I thought that was kind of cheesy given the kind of injuries he suffered, so I made it so he gains power (from his Saiyan DNA) every time he receives an injury that would kill someone without the regenerative powers. So, since Vegeta gave Cell two "fatal" wounds and Peasa gave him one, that's three power increases the old boy has gotten already, not even considering the increase in power from android 17 (the androids too were much stronger than in the show.) So, there's your explanation, not that you asked for one. Teehee

Required Disclaimer: I don't own the DB franchise, I've never worked for them, I'm not making any money off this, and I'm dead sexxy baby! Read and enjoy.

Chapter 32: Denial

Vegeta felt himself being pulled forward, though the movement was not of his own doing. He felt confused and disoriented as the last moments of his life replayed themselves in his mind's eye over and over again. He came to a stop suddenly before a very large creature sitting behind a desk that made a house look like a pebble. "What… what is going on?" Vegeta asked, still bewildered by the happenings.

The gargantuan red-skinned creature looked down at his desk then at the Saiyan prince. "Vegeta, I am King Yemma. It is I who shall pass judgment upon your life."

The prince scowled and looked around. "Where is Cell? He should be here as well!"

The judge of the fallen frowned and flipped through his papers again. One of his aides spoke up a moment later. "King Yemma, Cell is the creature that has been sending so many of Earth's people here lately."

"Oh, of course. Yes… he is not dead yet, Vegeta." Yemma informed him.

"What?!" The Saiyan shouted in disbelief. "You're telling me I gave my life for nothing!? That freak is still terrorizing Earth!? My family is still in danger! Send me back to Earth this instant! I demand it!"

"Your time on Earth has passed. It is time for you to be judged." The behemoth announced. He looked over the prince's file and frowned. "You have led a very interesting life, Vegeta. Complicated as well. It presented quite a problem with judging you. For most of your life you destroyed, killed, and gloried in it. But for the last few years, you have led a peaceful life and sought to preserve rather than destroy. You even sacrificed your own life to save an innocent's life, even though your previous meeting with her was… not to your liking."

Vegeta scowled. 'I should have just blasted that bucket of bolts into pieces. Instead I give my life for nothing? I will never make that sacrifice again if I have an alternative. This I swear.'

"However…" King Yemma continued in a grave tone. "A few acts of goodness do not balance out a life spent in the pursuit of power and death. I hereby sentence you to Hell. I am sorry."

The prince's eyes widened in outrage and surprise. "What!? You dare presume to judge me, you fat tub of brainless…" Before he could finish his insult, and despite the powering up he was doing at that moment, the floor beneath him opened up and he fell, unable to fly back up, into the depths of hell. A whispered apology to Bulma were the last words spoken by the fallen Saiyan warrior, and they floated up to the guilt ridden ears of the Judge of the Dead.

************************

Bulma awoke to an empty cold bed. It was not the first time she had woken up alone, in fact that was often the case as Vegeta had a tendency to wake early and renew his training. The night when he crawled into her bed, sore and tired from his efforts were often the only times she saw him at all during a day. But those moments were precious, even if no words were spoken and no actions were taken. The world always felt safer and full of hope when her mate was next to her. But this time was different. Vegeta wasn't coming back, and the world no longer felt safe and very little hope remained.

She sat up and sighed. The blue haired woman noticed Chichi asleep in a chair next to the bed with Okura's crib beside it. The lavender haired baby was asleep as well, much to her relief. She loved the baby boy, but she was not in the mood to deal with him. The inventive genius crept out of the bedchamber and out onto the main area of the Guardian's Lookout. There she saw Peasa leaning against a pillar and staring off into space, Trunks doing katas and looking quite perturbed, and Gohan sitting near the Saiyan girl and watching the clock over the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. The demi-Saiyan boy glanced her way and gave her an encouraging smile. "Bulma! I'm happy to see you up. Is there anything I can get for you? Some water? Something to eat?"

The blue-haired woman shook her head. "I can't eat right now. I don't think I could even keep it down if I tried. But thanks kiddo." She approached Peasa and knelt down to look her in the eye. "Any news from Krillin? Is he still… you know."

The girl blinked and took a few moments to process what she was being asked. "He's alive. I can't sense Cell anymore, but I know he's still around. I don't think he's absorbed that android girl yet either, so I guess Krillin is keeping her safe. I can't tell where he is, just that he's alive. I'm a bit worried about him."

Bulma smiled softly and stroked the girl's spiky hair for a moment. "I know. He can take care of himself. He's a lot stronger than he looks. You know that. I'm more worried about Goku and Piccolo. Their training may not be enough, but they likely won't have time to train for a second day… year… whatever." She sighed and glanced at the Room of Spirit and Time. "I kind of wish that Piccolo and Kami hadn't fused. The dragon balls vanished when they did. I don't know if they knew that was a consequence or not. But, as it stands, we have no way to wish the fallen back since Namek is gone."

"Don't remind me, Bulma… I mean mom." Peasa grumbled. She cast a sad look towards the chamber where Vegeta's body was being held and looked away again. "Frankly, if Kakkarot and the Namek can't take out Cell, I doubt that I and the half-breed over there will do much better."

Trunks froze in mid-motion and glared at his adoptive sister. "Quit calling me that! I'm just as much a Saiyan as you, you little…"

"Quiet you two! I can't take your bickering today, all right? Just spare me." Bulma cried, clutching at her temples as a headache started to form. She paused and looked at Peasa intensely for a few moments then her expression brightened. "That's it! I have an idea! The genius that is yours truly has come up with another truly inspired idea! Trunks! Get your lazy butt over here! Take me to my lab at Capsule Corp. right now! There's not a moment to waste! You can get back here and go into the time chamber to train with your sister when you get back. Peasa, watch over Gohan if you wouldn't mind, and if Chichi wakes up ask her to watch over your little brother for me for a while. Thanks!" She hurried over to Trunks, who shrugged at the other two onlookers then flew away with his mother.

"I wonder what all that was about?" Gohan stated.

Peasa shrugged and looked up at the sky for a few moments. "So, tell me about that girl that was kissing on you at that pervert's island. Are you two close?"

The boy fidgeted nervously. "Uh… I wouldn't say close. We competed against each other in the last Budoukai. Since then we've been writing off and on. We're just friends."

The girl elbowed Gohan in the ribs and tickled his nose teasingly with the tip of her tail. "It looked like you two were more than friends when she kissed you."

The demi-Saiyan boy blushed and swatted at the tail tickling at his nose. "She only did it because dad yelled it. She was just teasing me. You know, doing it to embarrass me. It's nothing like what you're thinking!"

Peasa chuckled. "Sure, kid. Sure." She decided then to change the subject. "Did you know that Saiyans reach full maturity normally between the ages of 14 and 15? In our culture, that is when you are considered an adult. It's also about that age that we have our growth spurt."

Gohan blinked. "Really?"

"Yeah." The Saiyan girl smiled at him. "Basically 80% of our total growth takes place during that time. Before that, there's only a small amount of growth in Saiyan children. We resemble humans of about your age up until we hit that growth spurt. Then in a short period of time, we reach our full adult height and reach sexual maturity. Essentially, we go from childhood to adulthood almost literally overnight."

Gohan blinked a few times. "How old are you, Onee-san? [big sister]"

"15." Peasa smiled at him. <Big sister, huh? That's so cute.> "You're 10, ne?" After the boy nodded she continued speaking. "Just wait a few years, Gohan. You'll reach adulthood and have all these thoughts and urges… it's really quite distracting."

The demi-Saiyan boy blushed. <Urges… I never thought about Peasa being old enough to want to be with someone like that… that's so weird.> "Oh… well… um…"

The girl chuckled, seeing a change of subject was in order before the boy had a meltdown. "It's going to be strange without Vegeta around. I've never really connected with Bulma. To tell the truth, I've been around males my whole life. It's what I'm accustomed to. It's what I'm comfortable with. Relating to Bulma is just… hard. The only thing we really have in common is our interest in science and Vegeta. And, I'm sure she suspects that I use to have a crush on him."

Gohan's eyes widened in shock. <Peasa and Vegeta?! That's just… weird!> "When did it change?" <Please say it changed… ew!>

The Saiyan girl frowned in thought, her tail swishing around unconsciously. "I don't know. I guess not that long after he adopted me. I think it was partly a matter of pheromones."

"What do you mean?" The young Son asked, perplexed. He knew what pheromones were, but why would they be involved with Peasa and Vegeta forming a parent-child bond?

Peasa chewed her lip thoughtfully and considered how to explain it. "Well, when we were captured by King Cold and I was being tortured, Vegeta proclaimed me as his daughter. This isn't unheard of in Saiyan society. In fact, it's rather common for older Saiyans to recognize in a child all the qualities they would be proud of were they a child of their own. If the child has no parents, it's likely the older Saiyan would adopt them. In the royal family this happens even more often. The children sired by the king aren't always the best choice for a successor. In fact, often the throne went to an adopted child, one who shares a bond with the sovereign. This child usually had all the best qualities to be the next ruler. Intelligence, strength, and a willingness to sacrifice oneself for the protection of one's people. Vegeta, despite being the old king's birth child and being raised in large part by the tyrant Frieza, was the epitome of Saiyan royalty. Perhaps he saw something similar in me. I don't know. No matter the case, he sensed in me the daughter he never had. Blood relations matter little in this case."

Gohan nodded, beginning to understand. "You miss him, don't you? I can tell you loved him a great deal."

The Saiyan girl sighed, sadness radiating off of her as her thoughts shifted to the fallen prince. "He was the only parent I ever knew. Bulma is nice, but… like I said, we just never connected. My uncle use to tell my brother and me that your childhood is over the moment you realize that someday you are going to die. Seeing Vegeta broken and lifeless… I came to that realization." She looked at the boy and managed a sad smile. "I hope you never reach that point, kiddo."

The child frowned in sympathy then leaned forward to wrap his arms around the teen's shoulders. She was still for a few moments then allowed herself to sob on his shoulder. <I came to that realization when my father died when I was a child. Even if I didn't understand it then, I certainly did when I lost control and nearly killed myself when I killed Frieza's goons. I understand completely…>

Chichi came out of the bedchamber holding the infant Okura in her arms. "Gohan! Where's Bulma?"

Gohan fought the urge to yank himself out of Peasa's embrace, though he wasn't sure why the gesture embarrassed him. "She went to work on something at her lab. She asked if you would take care of the baby while she was gone. She didn't say anything more. She just took off with Trunks." <Bulma can fly on her own… I guess she asked Trunks to fly her because he's faster. She's working on something where time is of the essence… I wonder what it is?>

Chichi sighed and poked her head around the corner. "Mr. Popo, sir? Would you happen to have any milk around?"

The genie hurried off to the kitchen and returned with a bottle. "Oh yes! Ms. Bulma left her extra bottles here."

Goku's mate smiled and fed the hungry Saiyan baby, glad that Bulma had the forethought to bring some bottles of breast milk to the lookout. She glanced in the direction of the Capsule Corporation (or rather the direction she assumed it to be in) and pondered on the same thing that occupied her son's mind.

***************************

Videl took one last look at her neck, hidden under a turtleneck sweater, and saw the bruises were beginning to fade. Luckily for her, she always healed quickly. Also, it was unseasonably cool that day so no one gave her a second glance for wearing the sweater, though they still did since she was a new face at the school. But she was done with school for the day and heading for Master Roshi's island home now to continue her training.

"Bye bye, Vadel!" One of the students called.

The daughter of Mr. Satan grimaced, but didn't bother correcting the girl. She was already throwing the capsule that held her plane, after all. "To Roshi's island, please." She told the mechanical pilot. After they launched, the blue-eyed girl sighed and plopped down into one of the padded chairs and worked on her homework on the flight. Occasionally she scratched at her neck and wondered what fate had befallen her attacker. <I can't really think anything bad about the girl. She didn't do anything to me. She even tried to keep the guy from attacking me. I hope she's ok. But I hope that boy had his head ripped off and fed to a dinosaur!>

Just as Videl was putting the finishing touches on her homework, the plane landed. She frowned and took a few moments to look it over then packed it away. She glanced out of one of the windows and saw the silhouette of the turtle hermit sitting in front of his television, so she went ahead and changed into her training gi and stepped off the plane. A moment later, it was re-capsulized and tucked away and she was entering the hermit's house. "I'm here, Master Roshi. Are you ready to… what are you watching?"

Roshi was staring at the women on the screen exercising and swaying from side to side and flexing his arms in excitement. "Eh heh heh heh! That's right girls! Work those legs!" He glanced to the side and saw his newest pupil doing her best to keep from laughing at him. "Oh… uh… hello there young Videl. Eh……. How long have you been standing there?"

"About a minute or two. Do you always get that interested in aerobics? I would think you would exercise as well. What's the point of watching it if you're not going to exercise?" The girl frowned at the old pervert in confusion.

The turtle elder felt sweat beading on his forehead and decided a change of subject was in order. "So, ready to get to the training for today?"

The girl nodded and followed the old man out to the beach. They stopped just before reaching the waves. "Are we going to spar? Or maybe you're going to show me how to do the kamehameha wave?" Videl inquired eagerly.

"No, no. Not today. You have much to learn before you could wield such a technique. I want you to concentrate on meditation for now. Focus your senses, reach out with them and try to feel out the strongest kis on the planet. Try to get a sense for who they are, and where they are. You must be able to sense the energy in those around you if you are ever to hope to sense your own potential." Roshi commanded.

"That's it? You just want me to meditate?" The girl asked in a disappointed tone.

"Meditation is very important, you impatient little…" The hermit coughed and lowered his voice. "Yes, just meditate for now. You'll thank me later for helping you develop these skills. They took the rest of us a very long time to learn, so you'll be happy to acquire these skills so early on." Seeing that the girl was still upset about not going anything more physical, he decided on a matter he had been pondering since the day before. "I was thinking of taking you to see Korin later. But I have to warn you, it might take you quite a while to reach him, and possibly a very long time to complete his training. Why, it took me three years to complete his training. But, your skills are far more advanced then mine were at that time, so it shouldn't take you more than a few days."

"I have school." Videl reminded him, frowning at the thought of missing such desirable training. <I know I've heard that name before. Something about a tower, and magic water. Could that be the person he is referring to?>

Roshi paced around a bit then turned to look at the girl. "I'll write you a note excusing you. Like I said, it shouldn't take you more than a few days. Surely you can catch up on your studies. I'll even give you a few days off of training afterwards so you can catch up on schoolwork. Agreed?" <Korin could certainly teach her how to harness her ki sensing the quickest and he should help improve her endurance and speed as well.>

The blue-eyed girl looked down at the ground for a long moment then shrugged and nodded. "Sounds good."

The hermit cackled. "It's agreed then. Now, meditate for a while. I'll leave you alone. When I come back out, I'll put the heaviest shell I have on you and start training you." Without awaiting a response, the turtle elder rushed back inside and flipped the television back on.

Mr. Satan's daughter tuned the perverted laughter she was hearing out and concentrated on her meditation. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to sense much more than the backs of her eyelids and the sunlight on her skin. Needless to say, she was getting frustrated.

**************************

Android 18 was getting frustrated as well. Ever since they had come out of the lake, she had been coyly flirting with the short man, 'accidentally' dropping things and bending over to pick them up, making vague comments about how she wondered what men were like, everything short of just blurting out that she wanted the monk to kiss her and maybe even some other 'stuff'. But so far, he seemed oblivious. "Do you want me to cook that fish you caught? I think I could figure out how." She inquired.

"Nah, don't worry about it. I'll just build a small fire and set it up for roasting. You just relax." Krillin replied, moving away to gather up some firewood.

The blonde sighed and sat back against a tree. <No man could be this polite and courteous. The information that Gero, or at least I'm fairly sure it was Gero, placed in my head seems to suggest nothing to the contrary.>

The monk returned and set up a fire and a spit to roast the fish on, then he sat back against a tree somewhat near the cyborg. "Goku and Piccolo should be finishing up their training in about an hour. Piccolo was able to sense Cell once before, so perhaps he'll be able to again and we won't even have to see his ugly face again?"

"I don't want to talk about that freak that ate my brother." 18 stated coldly. She noticed the man flinch and move slightly away from her and she mentally chastised herself. <That's definitely the way to bring him closer to you. Snap at him. Way to go, 18. Next perhaps you'd like to jump on him and start pummeling him?> "So, are you married?" <Damn, that was a little too direct. He's definitely going to know I'm up to something. Maybe if I…>

"Nope." Krillin responded, interrupting the blonde android's train of thought. "I'd ask you the same, but I guess there's no way you could be, huh?"

"……. Right." 18 replied. <Thank you for reminding me. Jerk.> "So no wife. Do you have a social life, or do you just train all the time?" <In other words, are you a freak?>

Somewhere in the afterlife, Vegeta sneezed. "I do train a lot, but I have a social life. Well… kind of. I'm not going out and meeting a bunch of friends and partying all the time, but I have close friends. I even had a girlfriend up until a short while ago."

<Girlfriend… that explains it. He's still hung up on her. She probably dumped him and he's trying to win her back.> "I see. She didn't like the hair?" <How could she not? He looks so cute…>

The monk rubbed his wild black hair self-consciously. He was still trying to feel comfortable with it, as the old beliefs from his childhood spent in the Orin monk-hood held that all great martial artists shaved their heads were still ingrained in him. "Does it look that bad?" He looked like he was about to run off and shave his head.

"I think it suits you better than the bald head. So I was right? She broke up with you because you re-grew your head while you were in that weird training room you mentioned earlier?" Android #18 asked, leaning forward and rubbing the man's head much to his embarrassment.

"No, no. We were basically together because we weren't with anyone else. Basically, the relationship wouldn't and couldn't go anywhere. I felt I was holding her back from finding her life mate, so I ended it. It was hard…" Krillin sighed and used a stick to prod at the fire. The sun was setting and the overall effect was very cozy.

"I see." 18 replied. <Yep, he still has it bad for her.> "You sound like you wish you hadn't done that. What makes you so sure you two aren't meant to be together?"

The monk fidgeted nervously and stirred the embers again. "Let's just say that her instincts were pretty clear on that point. And besides, I've had someone else on my mind for a long time now."

The lovely blonde regarded the short man's profile and frowned. <So another woman. I see.> "Who is she?" <So I can rip her head off. No… where did that thought come from? I hope Gero's programming isn't affecting my judgment like it did 17's.>

Krillin glanced over at her, the look a little more meaningful that he had planned. "Hey, I think the fish is done cooking. You want some?"

#18 blinked. <He can't mean me… can he? No, impossible. I can't get my thoughts in order. Part of me wants to just fly away and forget I ever met him, but another part wants to stay near him, no matter what. I can't stand this! I have to say something. Tell him how attracted you are to him. Tell him that you want to cuddle up with him and hope to stay hidden away with him forever. What the hell am I thinking? I barely know this guy. Is this Gero's programming or my human side that is causing all this confusion? Or perhaps both. Damn, I hate this. Maybe I should just fly far away and forget I ever met this guy? Just say something. Tell him what is on your mind!> "Sure." <Wow… I'm so proud of myself. Sigh.>

They ate in silence, neither daring to speak. They were both too distracted by their conflicting thoughts. Just as Krillin put out the fire and they were getting up to head back into the house, a twig snapped nearby. The monk dropped into a defensive crouch and put himself between the android and the sound. "Damn… do you think he found us? 18, stay behind me."

"No, come over to me, my lovely little morsel. You belong in my body!" Cell's voice announced a moment before he stepped into view.

"Ew. That sounds like something I would say to…" She trailed off and blushed and glanced at Krillin, who was too distracted to realize what she nearly said or what it meant. "Leave me the hell alone you freak! You already ate my brother. Be happy with that!"

"18, run. I'll hold him off." The short man stated grimly.

"It doesn't matter if she does run. I can sense her now, thanks to her darling brother. So run if you like. I'll find you as soon as I deal with your little boyfriend." Cell chuckled and took a few menacing steps forward.

Krillin began to sweat. The monk flew forward and was swatted to the side like a bothersome gnat. After crashing through a dozen trees he finally came to stop. He got up and flew forward again, heedless of the danger to himself. He knew that Goku and Piccolo would be coming out of the hyperbolic time chamber any minute and would sense his power increase and know what it meant. He just had to hold Cell off long enough for reinforcements to arrive. He cried out in pain when the monstrosity drove its elbow into his back and knocked him half a meter into the ground. "Ow…" Was all he managed to say.

Android #18 didn't know whether to help the man, and likely end up getting devoured that much quicker, or to run as the monk had asked and stretch out her life for a few minutes more. She was already jumping forward and raining a flurry of blows upon the bio-engineered freak before she realized she had decided. The deciding factor was the man dangling from the creatures reptilian hand, which was clutching the monk around his formerly bald head.

"Oh, she's feisty. She's going to make such a delicious meal, don't you agree little Krillin?" Cell inquired, squeezing down on the monk's head.

"18… please… run…" The dark-haired man gasped out. He brought his hand back and an energy disk formed there. "Destructo disk!" He cried, throwing the attack desperately. At the pointblank range, the monster had little chance to dodge. All he got for his effort was a severed arm. "GO!" Krillin shouted, using the opening to move back and pour as much energy into an energy wave as he could. The android took off at top speed after hesitating only a moment, tears spilling from her eyes. "Kamehame…. AH!" The attack was cut off when Cell launched forward and used his remaining arm to smack the short man in the gut.

Without bothering to finish him off, Cell blasted forward and made it in from of the fleeing cyborg before she had even gotten very far. "No, you're not leaving my dear. You belong with me!" His tail shot out, opening up into a funnel and started sucking her in despite her best efforts to get away. "Oh, what a glorious day this is! The day I become perfect!"

"NO!" Krillin shouted, flying forward at top speed and raining blows upon the beast. He raised his hand and was about to blast the creature's tail off, but his attack was cut short as the newly regenerated arm grabbed his throat.

"Now now… none of that. Not when I'm so close! You won't live to see my completion. You annoyed me too much." With that, he reached around to grab the back of Krillin's head and with a savage twist, the monk plummeted to the ground, staring up, paralyzed and dying, as Cell began to glow with new energy. "Yes! Yes! I can feel it! This is glorious!" The creature shouted in pure joy.

<18… I'm so sorry. I failed you.> Krillin thought. He felt a sense of peace with an overtone of regret washing over him as his heart began to slow. Tears fell from his eyes as Goku and Piccolo suddenly appeared.

"Aw shit, we're too late!" Goku cried, watching Cell make his final changes into his perfect form. He swore loudly and flew down to the fallen monk. "I'll be right back! See if you can beat him, I'll join you in a minute!" He vanished, teleporting the dying monk directly to Korin to get a senzu bean.

Piccolo powered up to his maximum power and flew forward. Just as he threw a punch, Cell dodged to the side effortlessly as if he were dodging a snail. His fist short forward and burst straight through the Namek's stomach and out the other side. "Pity, little green man. I had hoped you'd be at least a moderate challenge. Shame on you."

Piccolo gasped in pain and horror. <His new power is beyond comprehension! Not even Goku can beat him… we're doomed.>

Cell frowned and studied the green man impaled on his arm. "Strange, you seem to have become much more powerful in the last day."

"I was… in… training, you monster! Damn… if only we had more time…" Piccolo slid off the monster's arm and clutched at his wounded stomach, concentrating on regenerating the wound. <Why did he let go of me?>

"Interesting. Could you become even stronger if you had a few more days to train?" Cell inquired.

Piccolo stared at the bio-monster in disbelief. "Why would you let us train longer?" <It has to be a trick.>

Cell smiled, regarding the Namek with his purple eyes. "For a challenge, of course. I want to test my new abilities. What better way than to fight the best warriors on Earth at their best? I'll tell you what. I'll give you two weeks to train. That should be more than enough time."

The Namek gasped in surprise as the last of his wound regenerated. It was then that Goku reappeared, powered up to the maximum of his Super Saiyan abilities. Unfortunately, he was about as strong as Vegeta had been, and he knew it. "Let's get him, Piccolo!" Goku cried, assuming a fighting stance in midair.

"By all means. Try your best." Cell agreed with a smile.

Piccolo shared a look with the Saiyan and then they both flew at the creature and exchanged a fury of blows. The bio-monster easily dodged and blocked the blows from both warriors, then suddenly grabbed Goku and threw him into the green-skinned warrior at full force. They both plummeted to the ground. Before they could get back to their feet, Cell crashed down into them with both feet, then leaned down to look at their pain-filled faces. "So, do you give up?"

"Goku, he offered to let us train for two more weeks. He wants a challenge. Obviously we can't give it to him right now." Piccolo gasped out.

"It is my driving goal to destroy you though, Goku. Perhaps I should do that and just let the green bean here train." Cell smiled and raised his foot, ready to crush the Saiyan's skull.

"Gotta go!" Goku shouted, raising his fingers to his head and teleporting himself and Piccolo away before the attack came down.

The engineered freak of nature smiled as he flew away, wondering how much of a challenge the Earthlings would be after two weeks. He decided to spend a little time enjoying himself before he set up an area to fight any and all challengers. "A setup like that Tenkaichi Budoukai that they are so fond of should be perfect. And I would know perfection." Cell laughed and flew towards the sun as it began to dip under the horizon, the future beginning to look as dark as the surrounding area.

****************************

And thus another chapter comes to a close. I had originally intended Krillin to fight Cell a bit longer, but as I wrote the scene it just played out how it wanted to. And, I have to admit, it's better the way it is now. Next chapter: More training as the Z warriors ready themselves for the Cell games. Meanwhile, Mr. Satan vs. the Red Ribbon Army, round 2! Expect to see Peasa and Trunks in the RoS&T, but whether they get freaky and have wild Saiyan sex or not remains to be seen. ;-)