Cells form moved beyond Kaioshins ability to comprehend as he finished his statement, eyes narrowing as he almost silently forced a kiai to form and crash into the other Supreme Kais body from point-blank range. At the same instant with his other hand he knocked the Z-Sword out of the others hand, using the point of contact to initiate a teleport and send them across Other World to the Check In station.

Knowing that his fellow Supreme Kai would only get up and repair himself, Cell warped behind his back a dozen feet and waited until the moment was right to twist and drive his right heel into the now-soaring-backwards Kaioshins spine as the previous kiai's momentum took effect. A sickening crack filled the area as the vertebrae was broken in two and he slumped to the ground, paralyzed but alive.

"I did not wish to harm you, my brother, but you left me no choice. You will not interfere in the path of divine justice." Cell stated in a soft tone of disappointment. "Someday, perhaps, you will come to see things as I do. But until then... you will not be allowed to move from this place." he added and leaned down to pick Kaioshin up by the arms.

The cloud-like spirits that were around quickly parted way before him as Cell walked inside and strode up to King Yenmas desk. "Hm?" the ogre asked at the silence that had fallen, apparently otherwise oblivious to what was going on as he read through the logbook on his desk of all the souls arriving before him.

With no answer he glanced up and saw the two figures before his desk. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded in irritation. Cell tilted his head downward to stare into the lesser mortals eyes and allowed his ki to flare to its full capacity. The spirits around were blown backwards end over end away from the Check In station from the sudden torrent of wind that flowed off Cells' body and even Yenma was blown backwards off his chair.

"Apparently you do not recognize the last two Supreme Kai in the universe. Allow me to make myself clear: This Kaioshin has turned traitor. I do not wish to kill him, but he must be kept out of my way. Hell should make a good holding cell, now wouldn't it?" Cell asked.

King Yenma pushed back up to his feet and stared at the two of them. Before he could say anything King Kais voice filled his mind. 'That creature is not a Supreme Kai, but a mortal made from the cells of the greatest fighters of the future, including the real Supreme Kai in his hands! Heed his words for now and show no doubt to him.'

Blinking at the unexpected voice, King Yenma cleared his throat and righted his chair before taking his seat again. "Understood. Forgive my lack of respect, Kaio-sama." he stated. "Hell would indeed have the resources to contain a renegade Kaioshin. Your wisdom in sending him there rather than to the Demon Realm is incomprehensible." he added.

Cell raised one eyebrow, not recognizing the term. "Demon Realm?" he questioned. A bead of sweat rolled down Yenmas forehead. "Yes. The Demon Realm is a sub-sector of Hell where he would surely have been killed, and his soul feasted on." he lied.

"Hn. Yes, I don't wish him dead. Keep my brother where he will be safe-- but helpless." the tone was firm and intimidating. King Yenma nodded his head. "As you say, Kaio-sama." he declared. "The body will be taken and sealed away." gesturing for Cell to place Kaioshin by the door labeled 'Hell' over head, he opened his logbook again yet did not start reading.

"Is there anything else you require, Kaio-sama?" King Yenma asked after Cell had left the Supreme Kai where directed. "No. But the order of things will be... changing, shortly. More souls may be arriving in the near future." he responded, then teleported back to the Kaioshins planet.

Once Cell was gone King Yenmas stature cracked and he let out a sharp breath of relief. 'King Kai?' he thought. The kaios voice came back. 'Very good. You must do as Cell said, and I will shortly join him. The nightmare of Cell has only just begun, and we will need all the help possible.' King Kai responded.

'I have been watching over events ever since the real Kaioshin made his presence known on Namek some months ago. I have over heard what the future would have become if not for one Son Trunks efforts to derail it in the past. In this short period of time I've consulted with the Grand Kai and Kaioshin and it seems prudent that the following measures be taken...'


Approximately two days later

"So you really are going to return to the future." Vegetto stated. Trunks nodded his head. "Yeah. I have to know if what I've done has honestly changed anything at all, or if the whole thing failed." he answered. Vegetto shrugged. "And if it hasn't?" he asked.

"... Then I'll just have to come back and try again. Some key event has to be responsible. Maybe it hasn't occurred yet, or maybe Piccolo honestly needs to die." the last few words were spoken in a mild, though angered, tone. He was still having a difficult time forgiving his father for sparing the namekians life.

"... Good luck." Vegetto stated, ignoring Trunks anger. Floating into the open Time Machine, Trunks sat down again and began flipping the switches needed to power the machine up. "It might take a couple of years to charge it up again. If things worked out for the better, you probably won't see me again. If not..." he trailed off.

Vegetto nodded. "Just remember our little bet." he added. A flash of annoyance appeared on Trunks face as he dug into a pocket and pulled out the capsule. "Are you sure Gokus personality hasn't taken more of a hold than Vegetas?" he asked shaking the capsule around a little.

Vegetto smirked. "Oh, I'm sure. I just want to see him improved. Find out what the great tyrant of the universe is capable of with fully restored limbs and at full strength. And if anyone can do it, it's your mother." he stated. Trunks sighed and pocketed the capsule again. "Right." a soft hum filled the air as the energy cycle peaked and the engines began running.

"Time to go. Goodbye, dad." he called down. Vegetto simply nodded his head in reply. The lid of the machine came down and sealed itself with a hiss of pneumatics engaging and in moments the Time Machine lifted off the ground, then vanished with a high hum and distortion of reality.

His future son gone, Vegettos smirk faded. Gohan was dead, Chi-chi was dead, apparently the Supreme Kai had left and wasn't in the mood to reappear, and Kami was pretty much dead as well. Piccolo was currently sulking in his palace.

Well, the only people left that he could possibly be entertained by were the other Z-Fighters.


In Other World, Cell completed his over all planning. Earth was, after all, only one planet out of thousands with life. He had meant what he said to his fellow Supreme Kai, that now two existed the universe would be a better place. He intended to watch over and protect life from unneeded threats.

But he fully intended to avenge his creator along the way, as well as restructuring the order of things. The kaio were hardly doing a good enough job, nor the Grand Kai. And look at what had happened with the rest of the kaioshin? Practically wiped out by a single mortal and his monstrous pet beast!

Clearly the divine order was impractical, at best, if such things could occur. The threat of Frieza, another example, and his entire family would have been killed long before now, rather than allow them to live and amass such trouble if Cell had been around in time.

He would need to know where to find the other kaio first, however, before any changes could be implemented. Ascending off the Kaioshin planet, Cell began the systematic hunt for the next strongest power levels after those of earths own. It wouldn't take long with his instant teleportation.


Approximately fourteen years into the future

A disturbance in reality appeared over the remains of the original Red Ribbon Army headquarters, long since modified over time to become the new home to Dr. Gero and the others.

A high hum accompanied it after a moment and the Time Machine reappeared, the jets in each leg activating and lowering it to the ground slowly. Trunks popped the lid open and stared around himself in slight dismay. 'The scenery's the same.' he thought lowly.

Rising out of the chair and returning it to a capsule, Trunks began feeling out for his mother and Yajirobes ki. To his disappointment he found them inside he base. 'Damn it all! I knew Piccolo had to die to avoid this!' he shouted silently, expression growing angry.

Gliding down to the entry way and slipping inside he dropped to the ground entirely and began walking forward slowly, trying to get his temper under control. After a few minutes he reached the living area, and when he did his expression was neutral again, calmer.

"Hello, mother. Yajirobe." he called out to where they were sitting at a table and talking softly. Bulma jumped and spun around at the sound of his voice while Yajirobe merely glanced over. "So I take it yer not here ta bring good news." he called back loudly. Trunks shook his head.

"I changed the past. Piccolo was prevented from learning the Kaioken and killing anyone else. But father didn't kill him! He nearly succeeded, and at the last moment infused him with enough ki to recover." though he tried to keep his voice level his anger at the incident still leaked through.

"So the future wasn't changed in the slightest." he added after a couple of moments and sat down at the table, sighing in frustration and annoyance. "Well, tell us what happened. How long were you there?" Bulma asked him, looking his form over for any new injuries or scars.

Trunks explained quickly, then let out a low "oh." of realization before reaching into his pockets and drawing out a small capsule. "We had a bet before I left. That if nothing had changed..." he stood up up and backed away from the table before activating the device and allowing Friezas limbless form to appear.

The changling immediately growled aloud for the first time in days and began laying every obscenity from each language he knew out on Trunks, mostly aimed at his father.

The sight of a living being appearing from a capsule froze the other two, before Yajirobe broke it cracking out laughing. Mixed with Friezas cussing, Trunks expression shortly fell from silent disapproval and annoyance into amusement. "Ya stuffed... th' tyrant.. o' th' universe.." in between laughs Yajirobe managed to speak.

"I didn't, no, but dad did. He wanted me to ask you," he turned to Bulma, "if you would repair Friezas body. Restore his limbs somehow, synthetic material like Dr. Gero, or at least fully mechanical." Trunks explained over the other two. Bulma looked down at Frieza silently, contemplating all of this after her shock wore off.

Frieza himself paused to look up at Trunks in, firstly, surprise. After a few moments that turned to suspicion, and shortly thereafter ridicule. "No back-water technology could repair the damage done to me." he stated in a tone of finality. Trunks leaned down and picked him up by what was left of one shoulder.

"My mother contributed to the repair of machines that created androids three times your strength on Namek. Don't insult this planet again. I don't have Vegettos amusement in keeping you around to taunt." Trunks stated flatly.

Frieza snarled and tugged free, falling to the ground rather than endure being held aloft by a saiyan. "Lets make a bet out of it then, Frieza. When she succeeds in repairing your body, you'll be restrained to a lowly eight million ki instead of your full power-- until a day comes when you can prove yourself trustful." Trunks offered.

Frieza briefly allowed himself to consider the possibilities to being able to move again. But he crushed the hope before it could grow. "And when she fails you provide me with the starship to leave this soon to be destroyed world behind." he responded.

Despite what he had just said, a slight smile tugged at the edge of Trunks lips. "Agreed upon." he said with finality. "Excuse me! Don't I get a say in any of this?" Bulma demanded in exasperation. Trunks and the changling both glanced at her and intoned at the same time, "No."


Approximately fourteen years prior -- Other World

Gohan paced back and forth in side King Yenmas desk, waiting. What King Kai had thought of was... complex. But it couldn't be fully initiated, not now that Cell had gathered each kaio at the Grand Kais planet for... discipline. 'I thought we were in for trouble with Frieza.. darn it, why did I have to die against Coola!?' he thought dismally.

Whatever arrogance had bled over into him from Vegetto had fled, for the most part. He was left confident, but also now some what cautious again. Concerns over what was planned distracted him, but he was willing to do his part when the time came, unlike in earlier battles.

The inner rage and power he once possessed still dwelled in his heart, but he had more control. He didn't have to lose himself to his emotions to access it like he used to. He Idid/i require some degree of anger, but not complete, seemingly mindless and blind rage.

That, coupled with his time spent training with his.. father, had greatly improved Gohan in all aspects.

But he had doubts about what was going on. If what King Kai suggested worked, then what would they do afterward? If the answer to one problem is to replace it with another, how is that helpful? What little the kaio could get from Kaioshins mind was critical in the detailing for the plan, and the method to surpass what could become a later threat, but even still.

The only things they had been able to do before Cell intervened was to return Gohans body to him and grant him 72 hours earth side time to accomplish anything he needed. Hardly long enough to do anything of meaning, but it was more than the usual 24 hour limit.

Unless they could find one of the ancient namekian elders who belonged to the Dragon Clan, it would be impossible for him to be resurrected. 'Which is one of the required tasks.' Gohan thought and shook his head. 'And if that fails, I get shipped to earth for a little while to inform dad and.. Trunks, about the flaw in the Room of Spirit and Time.'

It was, all in all, a dismal series of events. Either way, Gohan would be taking a detour before his return to the living world. Kaioshin did not know of this slight hitch in the plan, but his form would be the offer. Whether or not it was accepted would decide if Cell would remain tyrant over the universe.


The four kaio and dai kaio were gathered together on the Grand Kais planet before Cell, his full power awash over the area and crushing most of them into the ground. The only one still standing upright was the Grand Kai himself, and that was with an effort. Sweat dripped down off his form.

"So." Cell stated, arms crossed before his chest and staring the elder dai kaio in the eye, for his shades had fallen to the ground. "You still resist. I do not intend to harm, let alone kill, any of you. The divine order has thus far been poorly executed, and the weakest can hardly be blamed for the injustices of the universe if they were never corrected by the strongest." he said with a hint of cool agitation in his voice even as his stance remained at ease, though it was perfectly still.

"The five Kaioshin failed to uphold true order to the universe. Their failings were passed down onto the five kaio, and from them out into all of Other World. No, I will not punish you for these failings. I will re instruct you to proper control over things, and then strike out should you falter and fall back into the old paths." he stated

Grand Kai narrowed his eyes. "You expect us.. to trust you?" he demanded. Cells eyes in turn narrowed. "Trust me? I expect you to listen and obey me. Trust is not needed." he responded in annoyance. "However... I alone can not run the universe. I suppose it falls onto me to trust you to continue serving the divine order." letting his power abate and fall down to a more comfortable level, Cell stepped forward.

"Since they say you are the most skilled fighter in all of Other World, let us settle this in a match. I will allow you any advantage you wish. In the end, should I win, you and the other four kaio obey my commands. And should you win, make what ever demand you wish." Cell offered in a calmer tone than before.

Grand Kai turned and looked at the four kaio behind him. ".. No advantages. Just keep your strength even to my own. Who ever possesses the superior techniques will come out on top. It is the true kai way." he murmured. "You can not abide by that now, Dai Kaio!" King Kai and the Western Kais voice rang out together. They glanced at one another in surprise, forgetting any rivalries

"You're making a mistake." Cell stated in a tone of disappointment. "But if you wish to fight me equally, then equally it shall be." rising into the air Cell shot forward to the large arena platform a few hundred feet away. Grand Kai let out a soft sigh and turned back to face the others.

"Remember, the Demon Realm is far below even Hell. It is the deepest point of Other World, as Heaven is the highest. The young saiyan can complete his assigned task, and I'm sure he'll find that old namekian on the way, but the gate way must be unlocked now." he explained softly yet seriously, weary from the weight of Cells ki pushing down on him.

The others were barely any better. "But won't they be able to cross over?" South Kai asked. "Not without a Kaioshins presence at the gate as the final marker. Now hurry." Grand Kai answered, glancing over his shoulder to see Cell waiting calmly in the middle of the arena.

"I might be able to out maneuver him and the point is lost, but I've seen some of the fighters in his arsenal. This won't be an equal fight no matter what." with that said he motioned for them to get on with it.

Each Kai was silent as they reached one hand forward and pressed the edges of their hands, interlocking the thumb or pinkie finger together, and focused. Grand Kai himself placed one hand above and below theirs with the palm facing either downward or upward, respectively, and began chanting softly in their native tongue.

A low white glow began in the middle of their hands, in the box they had created from them, but that light quickly turned a sickly yellow before fading into dark orange, crimson, dark blue, and finally pitch black. At that point the others chipped into the chanting and suddenly tore their hands away.

Left floating in the transparent box that had been formed by their hands was a strange, prism shaped sphere of ki. It hung in the air for six seconds before swirling into a minute wormhole, revealing the true depths of hell where souls became frozen for eternity as their punishment, and even further down a narrow chasm in the ice into pitch black darkness for what could have been miles.

Eventually a black-red glow appeared, no larger than a small fruit, and there the energy of the wormhole reached its destination as it closed on the kaios side. Unable to see the events that occurred, the sphere slid into the glow and sent vibrant cracks along the surface of what ever it was holding the glow into place.

A single, yellow eye appeared looking out from the cracks, making it split a dozen or more times-- yet unable to free itself. The barrier to the Demon Realm had been weakened, but not yet broken.

zzz

Back on Earth

Vegetto caught Tiens Shin-kikoho in one hand and felt the attack explode around him. The sheer out put of power behind it tore at his skin and sent a shower of blood spraying downward into the square shaped crater formed. 'Sonofa...!' before he could do much more than cough and attempt to pick him self up off the ground after losing his ten times Kaioken, several areas of flesh burned off and letting thick droplets of blood fall down, another came at him.

"Damn it!" this was hardly the entertainment Vegetto had expected after tracking the other Z-Fighters down. Having practiced with King Kai before being revived, Tien had greatly improved his Kikoho technique into the still-progressing yet very-powerful Shin-kikoho.

Yamcha had likewise upgraded his arsenal of techniques, gaining the Spirit Punch. While hardly as useful as the Shin-kikoho, combined with the Kaioken it could be a very powerful attack. Chaozus psychic abilities had taken a large step forward as well, and he used everything he had to take a hold of Vegettos form to try and keep him from moving.

"Rrgh.." they had grown far stronger than he could have expected, delaying their return to earth until shortly before the space pods from namek landed. The additional four months of training and sparing among themselves had seen high rises in strength and technique.

With no choice, he amplified his strength with a silent command of 'Kaioken times twenty!' the psychic force keeping his limbs in place snapped free as Vegetto brought both arms up before his face, no time to retaliate or even dodge correctly. The sudden rush of muscle increase sent blood gushing out of his damaged flesh, pooling rapidly at his feet...

Only to get sprayed back up into the air every direction and evaporated before the sheer heat of the attack. Vegetto himself was pushed back, but not down again, as smoke rose up from his skin where the damage of the first Shin-kikoho was cauterized.

The effect not only hurt, and badly, but it angered him as well. Some of Vegetas arrogant, egotistical personality rose up stronger than before as these mere humans were defeating him.

He saw red for only a couple of moments before he was able to beat it back down into submission, however. 'These humans are my friends!' he growled to himself, 'Not weaklings to be slaughtered.' he added more vehemently then he would have expected. To his surprise they had stopped after the second Shin-kikoho hit and he fumed to himself for those few moments.

Rising up out of the crater formed he noticed them watching and regarding him silently. "Why did you stop?" he asked in a harsh tone. He may be under control of his rage again, but he was plenty pissed none the less. "You looked like you were about to snap." Yamcha called forward after the four--including Krillin, glanced at one another, and let out a nervous chuckle.

"... Fair point." he responded gruffly. "I can't believe your three improved so drastically." he stated after a few moments. They let out a collective sigh. "That ten times earths gravity was a hard but efficient training tool. We had to improve just to be able to move up there with out growing exhausted." Tien answered. His stance after relaxing was slumping over a little and he was showing signs of fatigue.

"I can only use my Shin-kikoho a couple of more times before it strains my body too much. Kaioken drags it down to two times a day, but at least I know I can help out next time a threat appears." he said with a smile, recalling his failure to harm Nappa.

After a few more minutes of talk Vegetto rose into the air. "I need to see Master Karin about getting my body healed." he said and shot off into the sky. In truth he was disturbed at how easily they were able to keep up with him. If he had taken another Shin-kikoho without the Kaioken, he would have died.

Chaozus psychic strength had increased greatly to hold him in place. Yamchas speed was impressive, of what little he had seen before the Shin-kikoho had hit him. Only Krillin remained so far behind that he had just sat the bout out to watch.


Other World

Grand Kais body slammed into the ground beneath the weight of Cells body. The 100 tonne attachments to the Supreme Kais wrists, ankles, torso and neck proved useless after Cell utilized his teleportation, getting his entire body into positions to deliver devastating blows the aging Grand Kai had no hope of avoiding.

Even now he had no choice but to banish them least he suffocate. Cell rose up into the air and wiped his hands, as though clearing them of dust. "I warned you that you were making a mistake challenging me like this. I offered you the chance to have me at any disadvantage. But you allowed your so called Kai Pride to interfere. And you lost because of it." Cells voice was not mocking in any way, but sharp and disappointed.

"This is precisely what has been occurring through out the universe for how ever many millions of years things have been under my brothers control. It was utterly foo--" the rest of his lecture was cut off as Grand Kai rolled to his side and unleashed a gathered Thunder Flash.

Cell raised one hand to his forehead and almost instantly lowered it back at the mass of flames rolling in at him. The off white-purple tinted ki at his finger tips sizzled to life as he shouted "Special Beam Cannon!" and shot the spiraling beam straight into the heart of the attack-- and into Grand Kais immobile form.

It cut into his left shoulder and went cleanly throught, leaving a narrowed red hole that drilled through bone and muscle without spilling a drop. He shouted in pain but kept his concentration up, preparing to attack again as the flames remained on the arena from the first attack.

Cell saved him the trouble by teleporting directing in front, one hand before his face. "Kiai." he declared. The force erupted out and smashed into the dai kaios face, breaking his nose and scraping at his flesh as it sent the neck reeling backwards.

"I did this next technique when I fought and killed the Demon King Piccolo on a no longer existing future Earth. It tore him apart." Cell stated in a darker, softer voice that he was reserving for when he fought Vegetto and Trunks.

"I call it the Kiai-bouhuuu, or Storm of Kiais." he declared before vanishing from sight with instant teleportation. Grand Kais eyes seemed to be able to follow his form after each reappearance and vanish, but to the others Cell had simply disappeared and not reappeared at all.

The sight of the dai kaios body being smashed from every direction back and forth was thus even more alarming because of it. Clothing and skin was torn free in a spray of blood. Bones were broken and ripped open to free their inner marrow. And Grand Kais shouts of pain quickly rose to agonized screams as the wounds increased.

After only ten seconds it stopped and Cell reappeared to all of them, lowering both hands. Only after nearly a minute did his shouts reach them with the accompanied sonic boom, displaying the speed of which he had moved while performing each kiai.

"You have been utterly defeated. Concede and live to walk away. Continue and suffer the same fate as my brother." he warned sharply.

A barely audible whisper escaped the dai kaios wheezing lungs. "So be it." Cell responded, his ears easily hearing it. He had likewise heard their words from before. He knew what they were going to do and he understood it was another example of poor judgment passed down from the previous Kaioshin.

But the Grand Kai had suffered so they would not. That was why he wanted to fight in the so called 'Kai way'. He knew somebody had to suffer, and as the leader of the kaios it fell onto him to demonstrate what would happen to any one who opposed Cells way in the future.

Not that Grand Kai hadn't wished to win, but he expected to lose. And Cell had provided that loss in a way that should get the point across easily.

Leaning down to pick him up by the right arm, Cell stared the Grand Kai in the eyes then turned to face the four kaio. "The Grand Kai has chosen to go into the same punishment as the previous Kaioshin to atone for the problems he allowed to come into existence under his care." Cells voice carried no tone to it, no amusement or pleasure, no disappointment or annoyance.

"However, in doing so he would prevent the four of you from ever fully obeying my command. I can not allow that. I intend to change this universe for the better, and your willful cooperation will be needed in doing so." teleporting forward he lowered the Grand Kai before them.

"What planet has the most advanced medical levels?" Cell questioned them as a group. "..." "I intend to heal him." Cell growled lowly, at last letting real anger into his voice at their silence. "... Earth." King Kai reluctantly stated. Each of the others were unable to name a planet.

Cell tsked in an open show of disgust. "One out of four." vanishing from sight Cell returned to his home planet. He already knew of the senzu bean plant, but he wondered if anything else could possibly surpass it across the cosmos. What he would encounter would soon change up Cells plans to some degree.


The doorway that formed in the desk drawer that Son Gohan was pacing back and forth in surprised him. He hadn't expected it to actually form, but now that it had... It was time for him to get going. He descended down the spiraling stairway that appeared just behind the doorway quickly.

It took him a short time to reach the bottom and come out near a strange tree baring unique fruit. A tall fence ran along its perimeter, and two ogres took turns pacing around it protectively. The reason why turned out to be more than just the doorway back to the rest of Other World, but the broken form of Kaioshin hanging from its branches.

Rising up into the air Gohan untangled the Supreme Kai and flew them over the fence before dropping to the ground where he caught the attention of the two ogres. "Hey!" "Whattayadoin'!" they shouted in union. The red one approached rapidly. "Give that guy back!" he demanded as the blue one stomped forward slower.

"I guess you guys weren't filled in on the plan." Gohan muttered, laying Kaioshin on the ground. "I'm here on King Kais orders. I have to locate the path down to the Demon Realm." he said aloud. The red one narrowed his eyes. "A kaio would never instruct someone to the Demon Realm! You're gonna pay for touching his divine being with your filthy hands!" he shouted.

Gohans eyes narrowed in annoyance. The red ogre shot forward like a blur to his fellow blue ogre, but the kid before them didn't even move. All of a sudden the red ogre flew backwards with a grunt and smashed into the tall fence. Only after a couple of seconds did the after image of Gohan fade away and reveal the real thing standing behind the blue ogre.

"I don't lie." he snapped and spun in the air to kick the blue ogre in the shoulder, sending him rushing forward to land on top of the red ogre. "I guess I'm going to have to find some one else down here to take me there." he sighed and once again picked up Kaioshin before soaring into the sky to start looking for anyone that wasn't a spirit-cloud.


After several hours and weary from the search, Gohan landed by the next Mountain of Needles. No one knew about the deeper layers of Hell, or how to get to them, where at the bottom most layer the barrier between Hell and the Demon Realm lay in wait.

He hadn't found very many other dead down here with a body, either. Of them, they were souls that were in the process of repenting whatever sins had consumed them while alive, and they hadn't a clue nor did they want to know how to get to a deeper level. To Gohans amusement, he quickly located Coola. Now, Son Gohan didn't have a vengeful streak, but he did want a little pay back for his demise on earth.

And while it is physically impossible to kill them, ki attacks ido/i hurt pretty darn bad. And of course it's possible to scatter one with a well placed kiai, as well. So as he hunted for someone with the knowledge to get deeper into Hell, he tormented Coolas spirit-cloud. Minor things, disrupting his form, burning the edges of his cloud, just the sort of things the Cold Family had likely been doing for years to their underlings.

Eventually Coola demanded to know what it would take to be freed of this torture. With nothing to lose, and unlikely to gain, Gohan asked of him the same thing he had everyone else. Yet again Coola did not have the answer, but he remarked that a namekian down here was kept beneath the lake of blood as punishment for his sins, one of the few with a body.

Gohan highly doubted it. Still, it was better to waste his time doing that than this other-wise useless searching, and once more he rose into the air. It took him only a couple of hours to get back to one of its edges, for the lake of blood was massive enough to stretch across half of Hell. After dropping Kaioshin on the outside Gohan concluded how best to deal with this.

"I can blow a hole into it, try to drain it, or just dive in." rising into the sky he chose the option that would probably have made Vegetto smile. He summoned his strength for a six fold Kaioken and started charging a Kamehameha. He let it grow in his hands, feeding it strength, for ten seconds before screaming out the last part of the technique. "HAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"

Thrusting his hands forward the demi saiyan unleashed the massive beam of ki down toward the center of the lake.

In all the history of Hell, only two others had ever tried manipulating the lake of blood to their gain. Neither blew it up. Gohans Kamehameha detonated with enough force to spray a fourth of the lakes blood a mile into the sky and twice that outward.

Some of it got caught up in the clouds below Snakeway over head and retained it, later to rain blood down on the unlucky few who passed beneath. For the most part it soaked the landscape around the outside edge. The rest sloshed back into the lake, and Gohan realized with enough power he could probably drain it with only a couple more Kamehamehas like the previous.

He murmured lowly to conserve his strength, "Kaioken... times ten!" it had been hard on him before, but he kept control of it, his dead body more durable than living flesh. "Kame.. ha me... " once again he fed his strength into it, and this time got closer to the surface. His cloths already dripped of it.

"HYAAAAAAHH!!" he roared again. Even larger than the first, the explosion sent waves along the surface of the lake to crash against the farthern most edges and bleed over them to the ground outside. A good third of what remained met the same fate as the previous, but this time before it could rush back in Gohan caught the glimpse of green skin beneath what might have been glass at the lake bed.

Already weary from his earlier search and now the two ki attacks, Gohan didn't bother with another Kamehameha. He knew where that glass was before it vanished below the surface again. Though he didn't need it he took a gulp of air anyway before diving below the surface and swimming down to the lake bed a few dozen feet down.

Once at the bottom, sure enough, he found a glass window where a dark skinned being was looking up at him with mild interest. Gohan gathered ki into his palms before raising them over head in the somewhat more awkward-under-liquid pose of the Masenko, and once the sphere of ki had formed, he drove it down into the glass.

The eruption knocked Gohan clean out of the lake to crash on the edge where Kaioshins form lay, likewise soaked in blood but not damaged. What remained of the lake began rapidly draining down the hole that had been sealed like a giant plug. In only a couple of minutes the lake of blood had been drained completely, and the worn out demi-saiyan began his journey downward with the Supreme Kai hanging off his back.


Approximately 14 1/2 years into the future

Trunks pushed up off his bed at the sounds of arguing. What little rest he could get was lost as he shot forward through the hallways down to the laboratory where Frieza spent most of his time.

The first few attempts at creating fully mechanical limbs hadn't responded well at all to Friezas body. With that avenue lost, Bulma was only now after six months effort on the over all project getting the synthetic cross blend of cell cultures mixed into titanium multiplating.

The end result was an odd mixture of organic and in-organic material. The process of getting the DNA samples from Frieza had been a long and ardent one. His flat out refusal had wasted time and effort as they had to pursue the previous fully mechanical designs.

Eventually however, it seemed the idea of being restored was starting to take a hold. The changling finally allowed her to collect the skin and muscle samples required from his form, though when this took place Trunks did not know. He had been warily sleeping in his room near the crack of dawn, and when he awoke several hours later she had moved onto the current project.

The arguing now, it seemed, was whether or not the new limbs would take once Frieza assumed his original form, something he had yet to try since arriving.

"If your DNA remains the same it shouldn't matter what form you take." Bulma stated sharply. "My body changes shape when I ascend or descend through my forms, miserable human! If the strands don't align any more-- then what?!" he demanded.

Trunks stopped to watch, like he usually did. And as usual, the two stopped shouting, but carried on in lower tones that were no-less heated.

The demi saiyan sighed in frustration. This was hardly what he had expected once he had dealt with Piccolo, he thought he could relax at last, but between the on-going troubles with Frieza and the sheer amount of simple free time available to him, he almost missed the old training regiments he had endured all his life.

Figuring those two would work it out- and if not, he would decide for the changling what to do-- Trunks turned away from them and headed toward where Yajirobe was sitting and eating. "How long have they been at it this time?" he asked the smaller man.

Yajirobe finished chewing his sandwich before answering. "Two hours." he stated. Trunks rubbed his eyes wearily. "Every day its something. With all his nit-picking and remarks, its a wonder mother hasn't given up on this project altogether." he stated.

Yajirobe didn't answer. He could see what Trunks couldn't, what Frieza himself seemed to be barely starting to pick up on. Friezas attitude was changing. He was still plenty bitter, but his remarks weren't as biting as they used to be. He seemed to be unknowingly growing softer toward Bulma, but toward any one else.

The effect was not lost on her, either. She noticed it. She welcomed it. But at times like this, it drove her up a wall. "Either you can accept it now and remain in this form for the rest of your life, or you can change to your final form for the last time already and let me connect them ithen/i." she finally snapped at him.

Frieza growled to himself. He rather loathed being dealt with like this. It reminded him, vaguely, of his childhood and teenage years. Having little choice in his decisions, having to do what he was told or pay for it, it was as though fate had decided to mock him one further by reminding him of the earlier years of his life in the current situation.

This earthling woman had replaced King Kold, his father, but she still gave the orders and had the power to ensure they were carried through. And her spawn, the miserable prick, he had replaced Coola. Enforcing the orders and ensuring they got across, though he used words and semi-harmless kiais to do so.

It was almost worse due to the sheer humilation of it all! But he finally accepted that it was futile to keep this up. "So be it." he stated, closing his eyes to get away from the glare she was providing him with, and focusing his mind on anything else. He had to concentrate to do this. But his mind kept returning to all that was going on. His attention would hardly remain on his final transformation long enough to access it, as his memories returned to the past...

Frieza, no more than four or five years of age, stood by his fathers rich purple throne on a black platform inside of an mostly open amphitheater. King Kold himself was sitting in his throne and looking out over the gathered masses with one hand resting beneath his chin, elbow pressing into the arm rest in boredom.

"Take note, my son. This empire was built like the platform beneath our feet and keeping those unworthy away. Using the worthless races as stones, layering them one on top of another until a formidable wall had been born that could not be breached. And at the top, the ones responsible for the walls shaping and formation, its process of being built, rest those with the strength and foresight to create it." King Kold stated strongly.

Frieza frowned. The way so many were bowing to them was kind of amusing, but he didn't see what they got out of it. When he voiced his question, his elder brother Coola stepped out from behind the throne- already as tall as it-- and picked him up by the scruff of the neck.

"Apparently you didn't understand a word father just said." Coola stated sharply as he ascended into the air, stilling holding his younger brother by the neck.

His eyes examined the saiyans, the rare aged namekian, the countless other myriad of races among them. He smiled darkly as he found the young saiyan being groomed as the next king of their people and shot forward to grab him by the beard and lead him back to the platform against his surprised and pained cries.

"What do the people get out of it, you asked?" Coola began as he dropped the saiyan to the ground, then instantly released a death beam into the back of his head before the saiyan could pick himself up. "They get to live until we have no further need of them. They're slaves, and nothing more, and as you still don't want to accept that fact I suppose your education needs to reevaluated." he stated after staring into Friezas semi-shocked eyes.

As Coolas body had hidden what happened to the former-next-king, Coola turned around to face the crowds. "Hear me, saiyan people. Your heir to the throne has been found to be plotting against the Cold Empire. He begged in his final moments to let him live and sacrifice those closest to him, the next in line Vegeta." Coola paused in his speech to let that sink in, for the masses had fallen silent once he began speaking.

"His execution has been carried out to avoid needless suffering on your planets people. Do not forgive his for this. Do not allow his family name of Paragus to be forgiven. Execute any who follow that families line to ensure the seed of treachery is firmly stamped out." he finished speaking but leaned down to grasp the now dead saiyan by the tail, and fling the body into the air.

As he did so he fired a dozen more Death Beams into it, spraying those nearest the body with blood, guts, and flesh. Not only had Coola kept them from truly rebelling by making the executed prince seem like a traitor to both the empire and his own people, but he had dealt with their rising blood lust by giving them the gore-filled destruction of the body.

"And as for you, brother..." Coola dragged him around to the back of the throne before dropping him to the ground and delivering a sharp backhand. The angle kept Frieza behind the throne, but propelled him farther along the platform. Purple blood and light flesh adorned his knuckles and fingers where the force he used tore at Friezas chin.

"You'll eventually come to realize the truth." he called down to his younger brothers un-moving form, for he had been knocked unconscious from the blow.

Frieza opened his eyes to a mild shaking and found the earthling woman had one hand on his left shoulder. "The process is done." she stated. Without realizing it, while reliving that miserable day that began it all, Frieza had transformed successfully through each form to his final.

And the pain he had felt reliving them was his bodies way of telling him something was being done to it, only he wasn't aware of the pain until Coola backhanded him, yet it had been there subconsciously shortly after he was picked up by the scruff of the neck.

Frieza pulled away from her and looked out to the side of the lab, try to get his mind back to the present and off of those memories before two things sunk in. "The process is done." she said, but that could have meant his transformation was done. But he had taken two steps away from her and turned. Which meant the limbs had been successfully attached while he was out of it.


Narrator: Many plans are taking shape, and events are being triggered by the key players in each of them! Cells hold over the divine order is growing, Friezas limbs have been restored, and Son Gohan begins his descent into Hells lower levels! But what awaits them all? Keep reading for the preview!

Gohans body flew back against the icy walls as the large namekian back handed him. "At last. AT LAST! Oh, the day has come where your decision to return my body to me will see your destruction, Katas nameless offspring. Lord Slug has been freed from his prison." he declared, flexing his fingers and rubbing at his wrists where the chains that held him in place for so long had rubbed them raw despite his regeneration.

"And it's all thanks to you, little human." he stated. "Such a shame you'll have to die again to ensure he isn't alerted." Slug raised a hand to attack as Gohan pushed up to his feet, letting Kaioshins body fall to the platform of ice beneath him.

His face was a mask of rage.

Vegetto: 10'000'000(weakened base), 100'000'000(Kaioken times ten), 200'000'000(Kaioken times twenty). Kaioshin: 6'000'000(weakend base). Son Gohan: 1'600'000(base). Piccolo: 20'000'000(spare ki), 40'000'000(weakened base). Frieza: 200'000(current first form), 20'000'000(current restored final form). Teen Trunks: 15'000'000(base). Cell: 900'000'000(base), 300'000'000(lowered). Krillian: 23'000. Chaozu: 170'000, 850'000(Kaioken x5). Tien: 236'000, 2'360'000(Kikoho), 155'760'000(Shin-kikoho). Yamcha: 140'000, 700'000(Kaioken x5). Grand Kai: 300'000'000, 1'000.