CHAPTER 11:

MAKING PLANS

Gohan, as he sat by his father's side, was going over some written problems. Now that he and Chi-Chi had agreed on a field to research, that of ki, she had become less demanding of her son. Oh, she still wanted him to do the best he could, and had him on exercises that were practically university-level, but she had become less domineering and more encouraging. And she was at least agreeing to a balance of physical training with his homework.

Of course, there was this new threat. He had felt those strange ki signatures, so like people he had encountered. A chill had gone down his spine when he had sensed Frieza again, but it was somehow worse when he felt his friends, including his own father. And given what Bulma had said earlier about that hollow shell they had found near Gingertown…

Gohan very nearly didn't notice what happened next. It was only a subtle shift in the ki of Goku in bed, and a faint noise, that had him look over to his father, who was sitting up in bed, blinking. "Suffering from heart problems is definitely an overrated experience, especially when Vegeta's beating the crap out of you," Goku muttered, running a hand through his messy black hair. He looked over at Gohan. "Oh, hey, Gohan."

Gohan hugged his father. "Oh, Dad…you're okay!"

"It's okay, Gohan." He looked at his son. "I've got the feeling you guys have a lot to tell me."

Gohan nodded, only to notice something with his ki sensing. "I think the others are back. Grandma, Lazuli, and Trunks went to see what Piccolo was doing."

Goku gingerly got out of bed. After testing himself a little, he muttered, "Well, I feel fine enough. Okay, let's go."


Goku listened to what Piccolo, Trunks, Gine and Lazuli had to say. The others were gathered around too. Lapis was groaning. "So, we've got another one of Dr Gero's creations running around? And it wants to absorb us, sis?"

"Yeah," Lazuli said. "I dunno about you, but I for one don't want to become part of that thing. Seriously, even aside from the fact that he looked like the twisted mutant lovechild of a cicada and a human, he's got this creepy molester vibe coming from him. I don't think he's as powerful as either of us…yet. But it may only be a matter of time if he absorbs enough people. That's why he's staying under the radar."

"We'll have to stop that," Trunks said. "We need to prevent Cell from achieving his full potential. But how?"

"I have an idea," Goku said. "We can train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber."

Piccolo nodded. "You're seriously considering that?"

"Tell me for those of us who aren't in the know, please?" Lazuli asked.

Piccolo looked at the Android, before saying, "It's a special chamber…no, more of a portal to another dimension. You can spend a year training in there, and only a day passes outside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. It's a harsh realm, though. It opens out into a void with heavy gravity, and thin atmosphere. Sometimes, the dimension even throws obstacles at you to overcome, though it works best with a training partner. Only two people can normally enter, though that's a supply issue more than anything else(1)."

"Technically, sis and I don't need to eat," Lapis said. "The energy generators in our bodies do that for us. We just eat because we want to be reminded we're still alive and human…relatively speaking. Our bodies adapt like humans to training."

"Fair enough," Piccolo said. "I suggest training in threes: an Android plus two others. That way, at least one of the Androids Cell is targeting is out of his reach, even if only temporarily, and is getting stronger."

"I've got an idea," Goku said. "I want to train myself and Gohan, so we'll do that with one of the Androids, and for the other trio, we'll have Mom and Trunks with another Android. After that, Dad and, well, whoever wants to get stronger. Mom and I, while we were training with the Super Saiyan state on Yardrat, well, we thought there may be another stage beyond Super Saiyan."

Gine nodded. "The Super Saiyan of legend was supposed to be an invincible warrior, and while you can't put too much stock into legends being accurate, I had this hunch that the Super Saiyan transformation is only the first step. Goku and I can control the transformation pretty damn well. I think, given what you've done, Piccolo, that Goku should head to New Namek as soon as possible, find someone willing to become a new Guardian. We'll need the Dragonballs before long. Cell's already wiped out Gingertown, and more cities and towns will be next."

"Well then, Gine and Trunks will go first into the Chamber," Goku decided. "That way, we have time for me to head to New Namek and find someone willing to become the new Guardian. I think we should also have someone head to Dr Gero's lab. We've been meaning to do that anyway, but with everything else going on…"

"I'll go," Bardock said.

"I'll go too. If they have Cell in there, we might be able to take his younger self, do analysis, see if there's some kind of weakness," Bulma decided.

"I'll come with you too," Krillin said. "I prefer to do something useful than sitting around."

"Okay, but you'd better take care," Lazuli said.

"You too," Krillin said. The two had been going out, surprisingly enough. Lapis had once taunted his sister for having a thing for midgets. Lazuli had promptly punched him through a wall, remarking that societal definitions of beauty were bullshit anyway(2).

Android 16, after a time, said, "I will try to hunt down Cell. By my estimation, he is currently well below my power level, and as I am entirely mechanical, he cannot absorb me or merge with me. It is best that I find him before he absorbs too many people, and kill him. I will also try to locate Vegeta and Dr Gero."

"Why?" Bulma asked. "Dr Gero's still in prison, isn't he?"

"I have a feed from the news networks. Apparently, there's only just been breaking news: the prison where Gero is incarcerated was attacked about half an hour ago. Preliminary reports suggest that Gero was taken by a man who fits the description of Vegeta. While I do not have enough evidence to support this theory, it is my belief that Cell may have recruited Vegeta to his cause, and has asked Vegeta to free Gero. Vegeta must have kept his ki at a low level, as I did not notice this with my sensors."

Goku nodded. "Then it's decided. We'd better get going. We need to stop Cell as soon as possible."


Vegeta grimaced as he operated the machinery. The Prince of All Saiyans, reduced to a nurse in an automated operating theatre! Still, at least it was relatively user-friendly. Even that fool Kakarrot could operate this machine with proper instruction.

They had snuck into Gero's lair, with only a token surveillance crew left on the lair lately by the army. Cell had told him to get Gero back to his lab so that he could become an Android. Vegeta had idly considered becoming one himself, before deciding you couldn't improve on the perfection that was a Saiyan body.

That, and he was certain that the maintenance would be a bitch.

Soon, Gero's brain was placed into an Android body, a replica of Gero's own, and the readouts were looking good. Soon, Gero opened his eyes, and got to his feet. He looked at his hands, and grinned. "I considered making this an absorption model…but I think using the same generator as those treacherous reprobates will be a delicious irony. This is a better model of generator, after all."

"Yeah, yeah, bragging about the new model, I get it, old man," Vegeta said with a roll of his eyes. "Cell promised me he would make me stronger, strong enough to beat Kakarrot, his whore of a mother, his crotchspawn, and those damned Androids. Not to mention that lavender-haired girly whelp who is a shame to my seed. I should never have fucked that green-haired weakling."

"Well, we had better regroup with Cell. Where did he tell you to meet him?"

"Some city called Nicky Town. I presume you know the way, old man. So let's get going…"


On the Lookout, Mr Popo was leading Gine and Trunks, along with Lazuli, through the lookout, with Goku, Gohan, Lapis and Piccolo following not far behind. "I'm afraid the accommodation is somewhat spartan," Popo said. "But it is meant as a training facility, not as a hotel."

"That's fine by me," Gine said. "It has food, bathing facilities, medical supplies?"

"Yes. The bare necessities, though, so should you become badly injured, you may have to exit the Chamber temporarily for treatment. Keep in mind that the gravity is ten times that of the norm on Earth, though being a Saiyan, you are doubtless used to it. I heard that Planet Vegeta had the same gravity. The air is fairly thin, and the temperature can vary from about 50 degrees to minus 40 degrees Celsius. And given that much of the dimension is a featureless void, I would suggest not straying too far from the entrance. There is one last thing to keep in mind: due to the interactions between one's ki and the dimensions inside, nobody can go in for more than two years, Chamber time. Otherwise, the dimension becomes unstable. In short, you can only spend two years in there."

"Hopefully, one year will be enough," Trunks said as they came to the massive doors of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

"It could be," Popo said. "Given the high gravity and perils inside, it would be equivalent to an even longer period of training in this dimension."

"King Kai once told me that training on his world for 158 days was like thousands of years on Earth," Goku mused. "And his world was ten times normal gravity. It's our best chance, and we're at a level where the Chamber would be useful instead of a torture. Once you guys go inside, I'll make my way over to New Namek, see if I can persuade one of them to become the new Guardian. Mom, Trunks, Lazuli, I have faith in you."

"Go kick some ass, Sis," Lapis said with a grin.

Lazuli nodded, and the three entered the Chamber…


To be told of the features and dangers of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber was one thing. But the three who had entered stared at the void beyond the building they were in. Trunks, almost hesitantly, began stepping out, and found the gravity increasing as he moved out into the void.

Gine walked up beside him. "Yes, I know. It's overwhelming. You're nervous, Trunks, I can understand that. I'll be honest: so am I. Then again, this gravity makes me feel a bit nostalgic. It feels like home. I miss that ugly ball of rock. It was harsh, and so were my people, but it was home. And Frieza turned it into dust. Half of your genes come from Planet Vegeta, and as much as he's an egotistical son of a bitch, Vegeta is a strong warrior by most standards. You inherited his physical strength, Trunks, but your strength of character is your own."

Trunks nodded. "I know, it's just…I hoped he would accept me. But…when he was losing against me, he tries to kill my younger self, hoping to kill me. Thanks, by the way, for intercepting that beam."

"I'd do it again. Now, Trunks, I can't speak for Lazuli, but I'm a hard taskmaster. Our training is going to be hard and it's going to be harsh," Gine said.

"He's probably used to it, growing up as he did in the future where my brother and I went psycho," Lazuli remarked.

"Yes, but even so…if we're going to have a chance of stopping Cell…Trunks, unlike your father, I don't have an excess of pride. While I am proud of what I am, a Saiyan and a warrior, I don't care if someone else surpasses me. So you don't have to hold back out of sparing my pride. Also keep in mind that if you make mistakes, I'll point them out to you. If you think I have made a mistake, point it out. I may be older than you, but I'm not stupid enough to think I can't learn anything further. I've been training with Lazuli for some time now, so we've learned things from each other. This is gonna be a tough year, but you're gonna be stronger for it, I promise." Gine looked at Trunks and Lazuli. "We all are."

Trunks nodded. "I'm ready."

The two women nodded, and soon, they prepared to embark on a whole year's worth of training. It would be Hell, but they needed to do this, if they were to have a chance of stopping Cell…

CHAPTER 11 ANNOTATIONS:

Goku's awakened (ahead of schedule compared to canon, as the vaccine was given to him sooner), and the good guys have a plan. Unfortunately, so do the bad guys. Ah, ain't no rest for the wicked, and even less for the virtuous…

Review-answering time! davidteague3950: I'm strongly considering having Gohan (who will still be the first to go Super Saiyan 2) actually do that, saving both Androids. And unlike in canon, where the transformation turns him into a cold-hearted sadist, Gohan only prolongs the battle because he wants to get the Androids out of Cell. It'll have the same consequences as in canon (Cell going apeshit, self-destructing, Goku probably having to sacrifice himself), but for different reasons. BTW, the writer of the manga is Akira Toriyama. Seriously, you don't know that? Anyway, as for making sure there's at least one female Super Saiyan, this was a bugbear for me too. The nearest thing we've come to it in canon is when Videl contributes to the Super Saiyan God ritual, and even then, she only gets the blonde hair and green eyes.

1. Why can only two people supposedly enter the Hyperbolic Time Chamber when Buu and Piccolo are able to enter while Goten and Trunks are in there? This was my answer: they can only store so much food in there, even for Saiyan stomachs. Maybe more can enter if they were human or other beings. I also wrote in Mr Popo explaining, briefly, why there's a two-year time limit on people being able to use the Chamber.

2. Taken from Dragonball Z Abridged, shortly after Android 18 kisses Krillin.