Honor Trip

(Season III)

- a Dragon Ball Z FanFiction -

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Victory (Season Three Premiere!)

Disclaimer: Dragon Ball, the glorious franchise it is, is not in any way a property I control. I can only wish to supplement its mystique with stories such as the one herein. The same is in regards to related characters, symbols, plot elements, etc.

With that said, I hope you enjoy the story!


Note: The version of Cell that attacked Trunks at the end of Season Two, (at the end of the previous chapter), is NOT the version of Cell whose path of redemption began on the battlefield and accelerated after his trial in court. Instead, this incarnation of Cell is the version who was shocked to find Cell and Trunks outside Dr. Gero's laboratory upon his release, and who refused to believe in adhering to what he felt were his counterpart's misguided senses of "virtue" and "redemption." This version of Cell will continue to be referred to as "Future Cell," for the purpose of clarification. Future Cell was supposedly killed by his counterpart at the end of Chapter Twenty-Four, but instead of death, he achieved something far greater .…


He had not known if he would ever have the chance to make this dream come true, but as he looked upon Trunks, who was writhing in pain on the ground, he felt a sense of sordid satisfaction.

"Ignorance is bliss, Trunks, and you and my counterpart were thankfully quite ignorant," Future Cell said, as he reveled in the glory of Trunks' agony. "You were unable to stop me from succeeding because you had no idea I was alive. This proved to be most fortunate."

Future Cell once again took a moment to observe his new form and embrace his foul euphoria. He looked at his hands and then at his chest, then redirected his gaze toward Trunks.

Trunks had not been in any state of Super Saiyan when Future Cell had forcefully struck him, and he was only now beginning to be able to stand.

"You know, I could have pretended to be my counterpart and masqueraded as him for a while, only to suddenly – and possibly literally – stab you in the back," Future Cell said with a malicious grin. "I could have even made it seem from the onset that he had somehow returned to believing in the values he had abandoned. But instead, I've been rather forthright with you, considering the obvious advantage I could have had through making you believe I was him. Ah, but I wanted you to experience the truth of your predicament, and for you to be consumed by this fear. Are you enjoying yourself?"

Trunks sneered.

"How the $%^& are you still alive?" Trunks asked, with his growing frustration out of the ramifications of this unanticipated peril becoming all the more clear. "Cell killed you! There's no way you could have escaped Cell's energy attack; it completely surrounded you and when it abated, you were gone!"

"You're wrong about most of that," Future Cell said, as he halted his approach within three meters of Trunks, who suddenly powered up to his Ascended Super Saiyan sub-form.

"What do you mean?" Trunks asked. "Are you here because we inadvertently brought you back with the wishes we made with the Dragon Balls?"

"I could psychologically torment you by saying yes, but instead, I'll reaffirm your conclusion that I never died to begin with," Future Cell said. "The fact you now know that even my counterpart's best efforts could not kill me should give you pause. You see, Trunks, I cannot die, and neither could he. And now that I've absorbed him into my being and gained the perfect form that he had achieved and wasted, I will pick up where he left off and fulfill the glorious mission that he disregarded!"

Trunks let his energy flow, and his aura became more and more engilded.

"We just went through all that effort, after so many years of horror, to restore life to those from whom it should have never been taken away," Trunks said, as he increasingly concentrated his power. "I doubt you're in the mood to let Cell free, but even if you're not, you've achieved the perfection you craved so much. That should be enough. It is not necessary for us to fight. Just let the people of this planet and of this universe live in peace. Leave us alone. Please."

Future Cell took a moment before starting to cackle.

"You actually thought I would give in to such weakness?" Future Cell asked. "You're in no position to be making demands of me. Your power level pales in comparison to mine, especially after my successful absorption of my counterpart. If you thought my counterpart was strong before, then imagine how strong I am now after enabling my base form to become magnified by the totality of his strength! Besides, Gohan from the alternate past tried to convince my counterpart to stop fighting based upon similar notions of peace, and my counterpart wisely declined. My counterpart made that choice before his corruption, and I refuse to fall from my high ideals!" [Author's Note: Future Cell is referring to the discussion between Gohan and Cell that took place in uncut DBZ episode 182, "Gohan's Plea," in which Gohan tried to convince Cell to stop fighting and instead resolve their conflict peacefully. Canon does not confirm whether Trunks knew about the content of that conversation, as it is explicitly stated in the episode that Gohan and Cell were speaking with such low volume that it was difficult for others to hear what they were saying.]

Trunks had only hours ago felt like the battle to free his future had finally been won.

Now, it looked as though the war was entering a whole new phase.

"It shouldn't matter that I'm not as strong as you," Trunks said, in his initiation of what he regarded as a quite desperate maneuver. "You're obviously an intelligent being, and you know that conflicts don't have to be resolved through fighting and death. If there's one thing I learned from Cell, it's that even the largest of conflicts don't necessarily have to be solved with fists."

"My counterpart was a misguided fool," Future Cell said, as he then maneuvered quicker than Trunks could readily respond and kicked Trunks in the chest, sending him hurtling many meters backward.

Future Cell darted forward, then positioned himself about five meters away from where Trunks had managed to stand up.

Before he could mock Trunks, a group of fighters suddenly appeared in front of him, but behind where Trunks was standing.

Gohan had used Instant Transmission to appear at the scene, and Future Cell saw that Vegeta, Piccolo, and Krillin had accompanied him through physical link.

Vegeta and Piccolo let go of Gohan's shoulders, while Krillin let go of Vegeta's right shoulder.

"Well, this explains a few things," Gohan said, as he observed the confrontation, then addressed Trunks. "Sorry we're late, little bro'. We needed to make sure everyone else was safe before we arrived."

"What is the meaning of this, Cell?" Vegeta angrily asked, as he made a fist with his right hand. "Did you mean to deceive us all this time?"

"That's not Cell!" Trunks yelled, while keeping his gaze affixed to Future Cell, so as not to commit the tactically disadvantageous move of turning around to address those who had arrived. "This is the version of Cell from this timeline, the one I was talking to you about before."

"The one you said you and Cell killed?" Gohan asked.

"It looks like the two of you did a great job making sure this freak was dead!" Vegeta said. "Tell me, Cell, how is it that you're still alive?"

Future Cell closed his eyes momentarily, then widened his smirk.

"I'd be happy to answer that question, as it will be one of the last you'll ever ask," Future Cell said, as Vegeta, through his rightful rage, transformed into his Super Saiyan form. "Besides, providing you with the answer will help me demonstrate how screwed you all really are."

"Oh joy," Krillin said.

"After my counterpart surrounded me with destructive energy, I honestly thought I was done for," Future Cell said. "However, the true brilliance of Dr. Gero's design soon became quite clear. Even though my overall consciousness was temporarily lost, every one of my cells possesses a life force of its own! Because of this, my subconscious was able to utilize an ability that I had not been aware I possess, but which I am privileged to have in my arsenal. At least one of my cells survived my counterpart's attack, and from the one or few cells that survived, my subconscious will for survival triggered various actions, enabling whatever cells were left to expand and multiply. As a result of this, I was able to completely regenerate into my initial form!" [Author's Note: This explanation is completely consistent with Dragon Ball canon, as it is the same explanation that Cell gave the Z-Fighters in uncut DBZ episode 189, "Cell Returns!", regarding how he was able to regenerate and still be alive after his self-explosion even though only one or a few of his cells had survived the explosion that had killed Goku. An extended author's note after the main content of this chapter elaborates upon this point with further details.]

"Damn it!" Piccolo shouted, realizing the implications of what had just been said. "If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't still be here!"

"If it's any consolation, Piccolo, I consider myself to owe much gratitude to the Namekian race's remarkable regeneration abilities," Future Cell said. "Dr. Gero enhanced those abilities many times over to create the wondrous effect of being able to revive from a single cell. But he would not have been able to enhance those abilities if they had not existed in the first place. Thank you so much for remaining alive long enough for Gero to extract what he needed from you."

"You're disgusting," Piccolo said, with substantial derision.

"How could perfection possibly be 'disgusting?'" Future Cell asked. "Don't you see the astounding and miraculous value of not being able to die? I can never be killed! You would have to successfully destroy every single one of my cells to kill me!"

"While it's improbable, it's not impossible," Gohan said. "And as long as there is any possibility, there is hope."

"You're desperate and you know it," Future Cell said. "But I must confess, improbability did play a role in my success. Obviously, when I fully regenerated, I was in my original form, because that form, and not this one, was the form I had possessed when the majority of my body had been destroyed. I did not know how much time had passed from the moment of my apparent destruction to my full regeneration, but I reasonably assumed that it was no more than half an hour, as the sun's position in the sky had not substantially changed. I knew that I needed to take full advantage of my second chance, and so I developed a plan. I decided to keep my energy low and to keep myself as quiet as possible to avoid detection, and I tried to sense my counterpart's energy signature so I could move toward it. Unfortunately, his energy signature kept moving around, and I now know for sure that this was because he kept on using the Instant Transmission technique. Eventually, the location of his energy signature stabilized, and I ventured to the Capsule Corporation compound, over whose remains we now stand. I had recognized two options for accomplishing my goal of achieving my perfect form, and even though I knew it was unlikely that either would succeed, I decided to have hope."

"Whenever a creep like you has hope, it makes my blood boil," Trunks said.

"I could make that happen literally, as opposed to figuratively, right now if you interrupt me further," Future Cell said.

Trunks remained silent.

"I thought so," Future Cell said, with a widened grin. "My two options were to somehow absorb my counterpart while he was off guard, or to steal a new time machine that would have almost certainly been built for the intended purpose of allowing my counterpart to return to the alternate past. While my counterpart was making the sixth and unanticipated wish with the Dragon Balls, I thought my dreams of perfection were about to evaporate entirely, since if the wish had been successful, he would have neither been here nor needed a time machine, and it would have been unlikely that another time machine would have been built. You could imagine that I was ineffably relieved when the wish not only failed, but apparently caused my counterpart to lose consciousness long enough for me to take advantage of a brief moment in which only Bulma was guarding him! All I had to do was smash through the window of the room where he was being kept and absorb him right through my tail! I did not know for sure if I would achieve my perfect form through absorbing an alternate version of myself who had achieved it, but as it turned out, my assumption had been correct! Aren't you glad that Dende was proactive enough to improve the Earth's revitalized Dragon Balls through enabling them to have the power to grant a third wish? I am!"

The Z-Fighters were speechless.

"Lost for words, huh? Well, you should be," Future Cell said, as he entered somewhat of a fighting stance, causing some of the Z-Fighters to back up, and others to position themselves in deeper fighting stances. "Trunks, you remember how strong Gohan was in the alternate past. I have those memories as well, and if I haven't made it explicitly known through my previous comments, I'll now make it quite clear that I have gained all of my counterpart's memories as a result of his cells and energy becoming integrated with mine. I know exactly how strong Gohan in the alternate past was compared to my counterpart, and I know how much stronger I've become after absorbing him. Now, I'm at least on par with a Super Saiyan 2! And with my other special abilities, such as my miraculous regenerative power, there's nothing that any of you will be able to do to stop me!"

Trunks grunted in despair, and he began to power up, hoping to achieve as much power as he could.

Gohan, however, smiled.

Future Cell took quick notice of this.

"What's so funny, Gohan?" Future Cell asked. "Are you laughing about the irony of the fact you're going to die mere hours after you were brought back to life?"

Gohan chuckled.

"Well Cell, it just so happens that you've greatly overestimated your chances," Gohan said, causing Trunks to wonder how Gohan could possibly be so confident.

"Have you gone insane with fear?" Future Cell asked, with a chuckle. "I just told you that I can't die and that I've attained a level of power that's far out of your reach. What could you possibly do to defeat me?"

"Plenty," Gohan said. "Instant Transmission, after all, isn't the only technique I learned during my time in Otherworld. In fact, I found it awesome to hear that my counterpart from the alternate past acquired the ability to become a Super Saiyan 2. It just so happens that I did as well!"

Future Cell's grin was quickly superseded by a look of nervousness.

Trunks felt astounded, and his change of expressions was quite the opposite of Future Cell's.

"You're bluffing," Future Cell said, as his grin returned. "From what I understand, Android 17 and Android 18 were able to defeat you quite easily before they killed you, and even as an adult, your normal state seems to still be much weaker than that of Gohan from the alternate past because of the differences in how you were trained and raised. He harnessed his special gift of strength. You never did. And you were never aware of the existence of beings as powerful as my counterpart and me, since all you had to fight were 17 and 18. The need to become as strong as a Super Saiyan 2, even in death, was never there. You must be bluffing!"

"Unfortunately for you, I'm not," Gohan said. "I acquired the transformation because I wanted to be prepared in the event I would ever need to use it. Are you ready to see the result of my efforts?"

Future Cell considered whether he should rush forward and kill Gohan on the spot before Gohan had the chance to transform. Overconfidence had led to his counterpart's failure against Gohan in the alternate past, and his counterpart had allowed Gohan from the alternate past to transform instead of either stopping the transformation or killing Gohan when he was in a weaker state and it would have still been easy.

However, there was always the consideration that he could absorb Gohan's energy after his transformation, which was a tactic that his counterpart had utterly neglected to properly consider during his own match with a version of Gohan.

"I could kill you right now, but I'll let you transform," Future Cell said. "After all, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have the opportunity to test my newfound powers."

Trunks didn't know whether to laugh at the comment or be anxious. If Future Cell really had Cell's memories, then Future Cell obviously would have remembered that Cell had said something along those lines before promulgating the chain of events that had enabled the alternate past's version of Gohan to outclass him.

"Alright then," Gohan said. "Watch this."

Gohan quickly transformed into a Super Saiyan, then began his next stage of ascension.

The ground began to shake as the intensity of Gohan's energy began to increase.

He vigorously yelled to help accentuate the effectiveness of the transformation, which benefited from the concentrated strength his rage helped provide.

Vegeta had been astounded to learn that there were levels beyond Super Saiyan, as this had confirmed suspicions he had begun to develop soon after he had achieved the form. While he remained jealous of anyone who could surpass him in strength, at the moment he knew it was best to push such jealousness aside and instead hope for Gohan to have as much strength as possible.

Gohan's muscles began to significantly bulge outward, and his hair became not only more rigid, but slightly lighter in color.

His golden aura shimmered with power, and the waves of golden energy cascaded, without interruption.

Gohan's yelling ceased, and he smiled upon his ascension.

"Now what, tough guy?" Gohan asked. "You've got two Super Saiyan 2s to deal with now, Trunks and me! If it only took one Super Saiyan 2 to overpower your counterpart, imagine what will happen now that you have to face two of us!"

Any hint of fear on Future Cell's face had evaporated.

He pointed at Gohan with his right hand, then began to laugh with hysteria.

"I can't believe I actually thought that there might have been something to be worried about!" Future Cell said, as his laughter calmed. "You really had me going there for a few moments."

Gohan was taken aback by this.

"Huh? What do you mean?" he asked, as he continued to wonder what could have possibly prompted Future Cell to have such a reaction.

Trunks broke the news to him.

"Um, bro, that's not the Super Saiyan 2 transformation," he said.

Gohan did a double take.

"Wait, what?" Gohan asked. "What the hell do you mean? Of course this is the Super Saiyan 2 transformation! I can tell by your appearance that you've attained it too!"

Trunks quickly realized that it was not just possible, but probable that Gohan had come to use a different name for this sub-form than the designation the Z-Fighters of the alternate past had given it.

All the levels beyond Super Saiyan were ones that were named somewhat arbitrarily, after all, and Trunks recognized that it was entirely possible for the Z-Fighters of one timeline to have given a transformation a name that the Z-Fighters of another timeline had ascribed to a different transformation.

"We're both in a sub-form of the original Super Saiyan transformation," Trunks said, to Gohan's utter shock. "In the alternate past, we came to call it the 'Ascended Super Saiyan' sub-form. It isn't a fully-fledged transformation, especially because you don't need to acquire it, or the sub-form after it that we called 'Ultra Super Saiyan,' in order to become an actual Super Saiyan 2, which is something different altogether, and is a fully-fledged form. With the Super Saiyan 2 form, there's a much slighter muscle mass increase, there's a bunch of lightning in the aura, and when your counterpart achieved it, his power level is increased way beyond the Ultra Super Saiyan sub-form. But it looks like neither of us has achieved it, unfortunately." [Author's Note: Trunks' statement that the Ascended Super Saiyan and Ultra Super Saiyan states are sub-forms rather than fully-fledged transformations because they are not needed to achieve the actual Super Saiyan 2 transformation is consistent with canon. There is an extended author's note after the main content of this chapter with regards to this.]

"Obviously, this terminological mix up must have resulted from this timeline's version of Gohan or possibly even Goku incompetently classifying the Ascended Super Saiyan transformation as something far greater," Future Cell said. "Tell me, Gohan, did you also think you had the power to become a 'Super Saiyan 3?' If so, then that would make this whole situation even more hilarious."

Gohan said nothing, but sneered at what had transpired.

"I'm a stronger Cell, and you're a weaker Gohan," Future Cell said. "It's quite pathetic, really, that you're so weak. Here you are, as an adult, and yet you're far weaker than the child who bested my counterpart. In fact, it appears you're even weaker than Trunks, the student you trained! You missed out on becoming the person you could have been had Goku been there for you the way he was there for your counterpart in the alternate past. And speaking of your father, I bet you wish you could have brought that imbecile back with that extra wish with from the Dragon Balls, but because he died of natural causes, you couldn't. Instead, you brought back that buffoon Yajirobe, who of course is such a big help to your pathetic group!"

"How dare you," Gohan said, as his anger augmented. "You're mocking my father and me for circumstances that resulted from my father dying of a heart virus. And you're mocking Yajirobe because he doesn't happen to have the 'perfection' you falsely claim to have. What's your problem?"

"My only problem is that I'm having some difficulty deciding what will be the most satisfying and gratifying ways to kill each of you," Future Cell said. "Who's in the mood for some good old-fashioned suffocation?"

'As much as a freak as Cell had been before he got punched in the head, and as violent as a murderer as he had shown himself to be, this guy seems to be even crueler in some ways,' Trunks thought to himself, as he continued to contemplate what to do next.

"You know what? I've got a wonderful idea," Future Cell said. "While you savor your last moments of life, allow me to show you all what you're truly up against!"

Future Cell took a deep breath, then prepared himself to unleash the momentous onslaught of his strength.

"Right now, what you see is the basic version of my perfect form," Future Cell said, with his hands held out, as if to beckon the Z-Fighters to admire and be inspired by the breadth of his appearance.

While Trunks remembered that both Cell and Future Cell's auras had at times exhibited a white coloration, Future Cell's golden aura suddenly roared to life, just as Cell's had on many occasions.

"This is my equivalent of the Super Saiyan transformation!" Future Cell said, causing everyone other than Trunks, who had seen this before, to be taken aback. "I call this an 'equivalent' because of course, since I'm not actually a Saiyan, this is not truly a 'Super Saiyan' transformation. But as you know, I inherited the genetics of many Saiyans. Especially with Dr. Gero's enhancements of your DNA, Vegeta and Gohan, and also of Goku's DNA, I possess the ability to become something akin to a Super Saiyan! This obviously isn't overly apparent because I don't happen to have any hair that becomes gold, but my aura, and what by now I'm sure you have all noticed is my quite heightened power level, are quite revealing. [Author's Note: Cell at many times in canon exhibits a golden aura, and especially because of his inherited genetics and the contexts of his fights, it is heavily implied that he transforms into one of his equivalent variants of the Super Saiyan transformation whenever he takes on a golden aura.]

Vegeta felt aghast that the glorious and sacred transformation of his race had been corrupted by this fiend.

"Trunks, I'm sure you remember well what I'm going to exhibit next!" Future Cell said, as he gathered more energy. "You correctly explained beforehand that the sub-forms are unnecessary, but I will now display them for my own amusement!"

'Unnecessary for … oh … crap …,' Trunks thought to himself, as his sense of foreboding deepened, considering the main implication of what Future Cell had said.

Future Cell's aura shimmered as his muscles bulged.

"This is my equivalent of the Ascended Super Saiyan sub-form!" Future Cell yelled.

Then, his muscles bulged egregiously, and his power skyrocketed.

"And this, now, is my equivalent of the Ultra Super Saiyan sub-form!" Future Cell yelled, as he consolidated his energy. "When Trunks fought my counterpart in the alternate past, my counterpart demonstrated to Trunks the inherent weakness that Trunks failed to realize about the Ultra Super Saiyan state, that any advantage it provides in strength is significantly mitigated by the sharp reduction in the wielder's speed. Trunks learned that the hard way; isn't that right?" [Author's Note: In uncut DBZ episode 165, "The Cell Games," Cell demonstrated to Trunks that he also possesses the ability to significantly bulk up his muscles as an extension of his perfect form. He has a golden aura while showing Trunks his bulked-up transformations. It is heavily implied, especially because he does this as a means of comparison to Trunks' Ascended Super Saiyan and Ultra Super Saiyan sub-forms, that Cell showed Trunks his equivalents of these sub-forms.]

Trunks grunted, while Future Cell's muscles reduced in size and his aura dissipated.

He appeared to return to the basic state of what he referred to as his 'perfect form.'

"However, as a result of absorbing my counterpart, I have gained such an increase in energy and prowess that I have acquired the capacity to ascend to a level beyond the realm of his capabilities!" Future Cell said, confirming Trunks' fears. "Observe the true masterpiece of my perfection!"

Future Cell's power augmented to an even greater extent than it had when he had showcased his equivalent of the Ultra Super Saiyan sub-form. His muscles slightly increased in mass, but not nearly as much as they had for his equivalent of the Ascended Super Saiyan sub-form. Efficiency, after all, was a much more significant virtue than mere size.

The lightning within his aura danced about, and he accelerated his aura, as if to show the lightning off.

"This, gentlemen, is my equivalent of the Super Saiyan 2 transformation!" Future Cell said, causing the Z-Fighters to feel an even greater sense of trepidation. "Notice, Gohan, how the lightning within my aura surges and gushes, as an accentuation of how powerful I have become! Had you actually achieved this fully-fledged form like your counterpart from the alternate past, you would have possessed an aura like this one. But too bad! You failed! All of you failed! Especially you, Trunks!"

Future Cell held his right hand out and clenched his right fist, as if to signify his intrinsic excellence.

"I believe that in honor of this occasion, I will call my equivalent of the Super Saiyan 2 form my 'Super Perfect' form!" Future Cell said. "It has enabled me to achieve a level of capability that's much more fitting within me than it ever would have been for any of you! Gohan from the alternate past isn't here to stop me, and you, Gohan, pale in comparison to him! He could have killed my counterpart when he had the chance, just as you, Trunks, failed to kill me when you had the chance. This is the ultimate reward for your collective decisions to hold back from your instincts and listen to others who wanted to give their enemies clemency!"

Trunks had been feeling something close to shame in retrospect for listening to Cell instead of eliminating the threat of Future Cell while Future Cell was still within his tube. He had wanted to, but Cell had talked him out of it. At the time, he had thought he was adhering to a higher sense of morality and nobility.

Had he refused to listen to Cell, this scenario would not have come to be.

The horror of the fact that Cell's plan, in the end, had led to this horrid situation despite Cell's noble intentions had been something Trunks had not stopped thinking of.

But even in the darkest of times, there could be light.

It was a lesson Trunks had learned throughout his life, and he felt as though he needed to call upon the wisdom of that principle now more than ever.

"It's true that I could have stopped you, Cell, but that would have been so unfair to you that it would have been horrible, and even grotesque, for me to have done that to you," Trunks said. "I recognized what might happen if we gave you a chance. I accepted the risk. Cell isn't the only one responsible for allowing you to live; I am too. And you know what? Despite all of this, and despite all the negative repercussions of that choice and all the many questions I've had for myself as to whether it was the right choice or a foolish one, there's still a part of me which feels that even now, it was the right choice. You had the right to live a peaceful life. You had the right to at least have the chance to live a life of peace. As you know, I had no regret in killing a version of you in the alternate past when Krillin and I went to Gero's Laboratory looking for plans that could help us defeat Seventeen and Eighteen. That version of you was still in his tube, and never had a chance to be a better person. Cell talked me into giving you a chance. It was the right thing to do. You seem to completely reject the idea that so much of what you believe in is actually wicked and flawed; you need to wake up and understand that Dr. Gero was an evil man who brainwashed you into becoming a monster. Your desires of death and destruction might make you feel good, Cell, but they are more evil than you realize. Especially if you have Cell's memories within you, surely you must remember the revulsion he had when he finally saw the light and recognized the horror of how incorrect he had been for all the wicked deeds he had committed. As Cell and I tried to tell you before, when we tried to help you see the light, protecting and safeguarding the lives and freedom of others from the forces of oppression and death is the holiest and most morally righteous, universally good thing you can do. If you truly want to be perfect, then you should adhere to those values, because if anything is truly perfect in this universe, it is the summation of those values. Please, open your heart and mind. Think. Listen to the power of reason. You can use your powers for so much good. Don't live the life of a destroyer. Again, even if you don't want to join us in peace, just let us be. Let the universe live in peace. Please."

Many moments passed before Future Cell responded.

And during those moments, as the Z-Fighters waited for Future Cell to answer, something else that Future Cell had not expected came to pass.


He had suddenly regained a semblance of consciousness, although there were so many uncertainties that rushed within him that he felt overwhelmed.

'Where am I?' he thought within.

An answer came, although its source was not immediately clear.

'Where do you think?'

The answer was more in the form of a thought than speech, and even though he had been unconscious for so long, Cell wondered what was happening.

'Is anyone there?' Cell thought within, hoping that he would hear a response again.

'It seems that you have regained a form of consciousness,' conveyed the response. 'Tell me, do you recognize what has transpired?'

Cell, in an action that could best be described, for lack of a better word, as 'reaching' throughout his surroundings, took a moment to search for an answer.

He found one.

'You fiend!' Cell exclaimed, in as much of a yell as could possibly be conveyed through an internal thought. 'Please, listen to Trunks! There is still a chance you can change! At least consider what he has to say!'

'So you know what has happened,' Future Cell thought within. 'Well, it doesn't matter. You are delusional, and so are they. None of the sentiments you developed shall have any influence over me, as every single one of them was developed from a warped perspective.'

'Have you considered that what you view as a warped perspective might in fact be the correct one, and what you have come to view as correctness might in fact be what's truly corrupt?' Cell asked within.

'My perfection, unlike the lesser sense of false perfection that you once had, is insurmountable,' Future Cell thought within. 'The feelings I have adhered to have helped me have the drive to acquire this tremendous power. How could they be incorrect feelings when they have led to something so magnificent?'

'Your body and mine are one in the same,' Cell thought within. 'I will stop you if you won't do so voluntarily.'

'Ah, but do you notice how you cannot actually see, and all your visions are merely from my memories?' Future Cell asked within. 'You cannot move me! You cannot change me! If you had been one of the inferior androids, you would have no consciousness at all! It is almost certainly because of your advanced state that you have even this small semblance of consciousness. You can remember what I see, and you can think what you will. Apparently, despite my efforts in the last many seconds to quell you, you're still here. Well, it doesn't matter! My superior power of concentration will enable me to block out all you have to say. Now, without further ado, prepare to bear witness to the final destruction of the Z-Fighters of this timeline!'

'They're going to find some way to stop you,' Cell thought within. 'It doesn't have to be this way. I'll also remind you that you didn't acquire nearly as much of a power boost as Gohan did when he transformed into a Super Saiyan 2. Even though his strength increased close to tenfold from what he had achieved as a Super Saiyan, your power increase is nowhere close, probably because you're thankfully not truly a Saiyan.' [Author's Note: The Dragon Ball Super Exciting Guide: Story Volume, pages 62-63, states that it is standard for a Saiyan in the Super Saiyan 2 form to become twice as strong as the Saiyan would be as a Super Saiyan, and this claim is extremely debatable with regards to the overall logic of the power multiplier being a factor of only two. An extended contributor's note after the main content of this chapter further explores why the power multiplier of 10x will be used instead of the power multiplier of 2x, and the logical reasons regarding this decision.]

'The Saiyans are about to become extinct, as are the humans of Earth,' Future Cell thought within. 'Remember, none of this would have been possible without you! Your mistaken notions of 'redemption' will cause you great pain as you bear witness to all the many things you will never be able to forgive yourself for enabling to happen. Observe!'

As Cell considered his counterpart's thoughts, and struggled to wrest control over Future Cell's body, but again to no avail, he began to use a tactic he had not used in quite some time.

Cell calmed himself as much as he could, even as the maniacal thoughts of his counterpart raced through their collective consciousness, and he began to pray.


"I have considered your words, Trunks, and I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'll once again pass on the peace offering," Future Cell said, to Trunks' revulsion.

"There must be a way to win," Trunks muttered under his breath, as he continued to consider his options, while Future Cell began to walk toward the Z-Fighters.

"Don't you see the wondrous irony in all of this, Trunks?" Future Cell asked. "Even though my counterpart endeavored to revive you with the Dragon Balls, then helped you revive your family and friends, I'm going to make up for his mistakes by killing you all!"

The pace of his approach began to intensify, as Future Cell chuckled to himself.

"If that isn't ironic enough, then consider what has led to this moment," Future Cell said, with the fervor of malevolence. "Had my counterpart not quested for his ridiculous notion of 'redemption,' then the circumstances would not have been in place for him to arrive in this timeline. Because he did this, he has enabled me to achieve and exceed everything Dr. Gero wanted me to accomplish, the way it was always meant to be!"

Future Cell's smile widened as Gohan and Piccolo formed up on Trunks' left and Vegeta and Krillin formed up on Trunks' right.

None of the allies knew if they would live past this day, but they all had one mindset in common.

They weren't going down without a fight.


Up next: the 200th review special! And immediately after that, Chapter Twenty-Nine! As Future Cell asserts his power, the Z-Fighters discover more about the maniacal terror's twisted motivations. Can they survive long enough to save the universe from the clutches of this revitalized darkness? Revelations and battles abound, next time, on Dragon Ball Z: Honor Trip!

Season Three has begun!

Thank you so much for reading Chapter Twenty-Eight!

And thank you even more for more than 25,000 collective hits to Honor Trip's pages! This feat is one that is superlatively appreciated!

In fun and fanfiction,

American Vigor

Chapter Twenty-Eight: (Completed 5/10/2011); (Revised 6/12/2011)


Author's Musical Note:

I'm proud to announce that the symbolic theme song for Season Three is "Davidian," by Machine Head. You can listen to this song by typing "Davidian" and "Machine Head" into the search feature of a standard Internet browser and finding the related music video.

This song, while extremely awesome, (and hence why I chose it as a theme song for this season), is not in any way a property I control. Please keep in mind to support the song's official release. Machine Head is awesome, and I feel the group's music compliments the awesomeness of the Dragon Ball universe.

In fun and fanfiction,

American Vigor


Author's Extended Note: Future Cell's ability to regenerate from one cell is entirely consistent with canon, as in uncut DBZ episode 189, "Cell Returns!," Cell explained that he was able to regenerate FROM ONE CELL that survived after he self-exploded and destroyed King Kai's planet. In FUNimation's dub of this episode, Cell explained that "every cell in [his] body has a life of its own," and that one cell survived the explosion, which enabled him to regenerate FROM THAT ONE CELL. This is also why Cell stated in episode 189 that "he can't die," because he apparently believed that no matter what Gohan or any of the other Z-Fighters did, they would have never been able to destroy EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HIS CELLS before he could regenerate.

Because of this, even though Cell thought he killed Future Cell in Chapter Twenty-Four by using his Shining Nova attack, at least one of Future Cell's cells survived, which enabled him to regenerate. It is logical and in accordance with canon that Cell would not have known that it was possible for Future Cell to have been able to do this. In uncut DBZ episode 189, Cell said that he was surprised that he was able to regenerate from one cell, as he had not known he was capable of being able to do so. As Honor Trip diverges from canon DBZ before the point in canon in which Cell regurgitated Eighteen and then self-exploded, Cell would therefore not have known that Future Cell was capable of regenerating from one cell, as he hadn't known he was capable of doing so himself! This would also explain why Cell didn't bother to make sure that Future Cell was actually dead at the end of Chapter Twenty-Four, as Cell had no idea there was a chance of Future Cell being able to come back.


Author's Extended Note #2: Trunks' statement that the Ascended Super Saiyan and Ultra Super Saiyan transformations are sub-forms rather than fully-fledged forms because they are not needed to have been attained in order for the user to achieve the actual Super Saiyan 2 transformation is consistent with canon. During the Cell Games, Gohan transitioned directly from Super Saiyan to Super Saiyan 2, showing that it was not necessary to acquire the two sub-form transformations in order to become a Super Saiyan 2. Once a true fully-fledged Super Saiyan transformation is attained, however, the build-up from transformation to transformation apparently does not have to occur, as evidenced by Goku's direct transformation from his normal state to his Super Saiyan 3 form during his battle with Super Buu (Gotenks Absorbed).

There are two examples, however, one from Dragon Ball Z and another from Dragon Ball GT, which might on the face seem to contradict the logic of classifying the Ascended Super Saiyan and Ultra Super Saiyan transformations as sub-forms because they are not needed to achieve the next fully-fledged transformation. These two examples consist of instances in which transformations that have been widely regarded as full transformations were apparently skipped over entirely on screen in order to achieve a subsequent transformation, blurring the definition of sub-form that Trunks used in this chapter with that which he distinguished as a fully-fledged form. The two examples are Gotenks' apparent bypassing of Super Saiyan 2 when he transitioned from Super Saiyan to Super Saiyan 3 in his fight with Super Buu, and Vegeta's bypassing of Super Saiyan 3 when he achieved Super Saiyan 4 without having first developed the capacity to transform into a Super Saiyan 3. Super Saiyan 2 and Super Saiyan 3 are obviously not widely regarded as sub-forms, but rather as fully-fledged forms. Trunks' distinguishing of sub-forms as transformations that are not required to achieve the next fully-fledged form still works, however, because of the following considerations:

With regards to Gotenks transforming from Super Saiyan to Super Saiyan 3 on screen in DBZ without Gotenks ever clearly exhibiting a Super Saiyan 2 form in established Dragon Ball media, there are at least three possible reasons that would be consistent with canon and with Trunks' distinguishing of sub-forms from forms in this chapter.

Firstly, it has been speculated that Gotenks' Super Saiyan 2 transformation is briefly seen during the first time on screen in which he transforms from Super Saiyan to Super Saiyan 3, although this has not been positively confirmed. It is also possible that because Gotenks is a fusion that the rules regarding fully-fledged forms and sub-forms of Super Saiyan are somewhat different for him than they are for non-fused individuals.

The most plausible explanation, given that Gotenks admitted to Piccolo that he already knew how to transform into a Super Saiyan 3 before he fought Super Buu in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, was that in the midst of their training, Goten and Trunks managed to ascend Gotenks to Super Saiyan 3 after having first achieved Super Saiyan 2 in the fusion, which is entirely possible, as it is logically inferable, based also on Gotenks' confidence on screen in achieving Super Saiyan 3, that Gotenks first achieved the form during an off-screen training session. If so, then it is entirely possible that Gotenks achieved Super Saiyan 2 off-screen, then first achieved Super Saiyan 3 off-screen. Because of this, and as Goku demonstrated (ironically) in his fight with Super Buu (Gotenks Absorbed) that once a fully-fledged transformation has been attained the other fully-fledged transformations below that one can be skipped over, (as Goku transforms directly from his normal state to Super Saiyan 3), it is entirely possible that Gotenks was able to transition from Super Saiyan 3 directly from Super Saiyan "1" only because he utilized the apparent ability to skip over full transformations that have already been attained.

With regards to Vegeta being able to transform into a Super Saiyan 4 in Dragon Ball GT without having first achieved Super Saiyan 3, the most logical reason for why this was able to happen was that because Bulma artificially induced the transformation with the Blutz Wave Generator, the rule that would have normally required Vegeta to have first achieved the Super Saiyan 3 transformation before he achieved Super Saiyan 4 did not apply. It is never revealed whether Vegeta was able to transform into a Super Saiyan 4 again after the battle with Omega Shenron, and this might have confirmed whether Vegeta would have permanently been able to bypass Super Saiyan 3 to achieve Super Saiyan 4, which could potentially impact the validity of the differing definitions Trunks uses for "sub-form" and "fully-fledged form" in this chapter. However, as there has been no confirmation to this end, the distinguishing definitions Trunks used for "sub-form" and "fully-fledged form" in this chapter are not infringed by Vegeta's bypass of Super Saiyan 3. It should also be remembered, with regards to Dragon Ball GT, that Akira Toriyama did not have substantial creative control over this series, as opposed to the substantial creative control he had over its predecessors, and so apparent inconsistencies and questionable canonicity regarding GT have largely resulted from this.

As a result of the above considerations, Trunks' definitions for "sub-form" and "fully-fledged form" still stand on their merits, as the two apparent exceptions to these definitions, Gotenks' on-screen transition from Super Saiyan to Super Saiyan 3 and Vegeta's artifical bypass of Super Saiyan 3 in his achievement of Super Saiyan 4, do not inherently contradict the distinguishing features of those definitions.


Contributor's Note from Genescritor: Based upon what is seen in the canon series, it would be more logical for the power multiplier from Super Saiyan to Super Saiyan 2 to be more akin to 10x, as opposed to 2x.

One of the factors that supports this statement is the way how Gohan, after transforming into a Super Saiyan 2, destroys the seven Cell Juniors with only one blow for each of them, as seen in the uncut DBZ episode 185, "Awakening." If Gohan's power had merely doubled, it wouldn't be very logical for him to destroy them all so easily.

Also, during Gohan's fight against Cell, when he is in his Super Saiyan form, the best blow he manages to land is one kick that brings Cell down, in the uncut DBZ episode 182 "Gohan's Plea." That kick, however, is one that gets Cell by surprise, and it only makes a small injury on Cell, as seen by the drop of blood trickling out of his mouth. After Cell wipes that drop away, no more of them pour out. That, and the way how Cell overwhelms Gohan during the remainder of their fight before Gohan turns into a Super Saiyan 2, shows that the level of power Cell was displaying at that time is higher than Gohan's.

It is also obvious that Cell was not fighting at full power when Gohan gave him that kick, as later on, in the uncut DBZ episode 186 "The Unstoppable Gohan," Cell powers up much more. Even so, one punch with all of his power barely bends Gohan backwards, and doesn't leave any visible mark. As Cell was shown to be concealing a lot of power when Gohan kicked him as a Super Saiyan and barely injured him, and as it is also shown that Cell is stronger than Super Saiyan Gohan without being at full power, it is much more likely that a power multiplier of only 2x for Super Saiyan 2 would, at best, put Gohan on an equal ground with Cell at full power. The way how Cell doesn't significantly damage Super Saiyan 2 Gohan with a punch he delivers at full power further suggests that the Super Saiyan 2 power multiplier exceeds 2x.

It should also be remembered that in the uncut DBZ episode 187 "Cell's Break Down," when Cell fired a Kamehameha against Super Saiyan 2 Gohan with the intention of destroying the Earth, Gohan countered Cell's Kamehameha without looking as though he was substantially trying, while Cell was doing a Kamehameha to his max. If Gohan had only become twice stronger, it can be said, based on relative energy output seen in the series, that he would have needed to gather a considerably higher amount of energy to counter Cell's Kamehameha.

Besides Gohan's fight against Perfect Cell, we can also consider another demonstration of Gohan's power at the Super Saiyan 2 state that suggests Gohan becomes more than twice stronger than a Super Saiyan when he ascends into a Super Saiyan 2. That demonstration is in the Dragon Ball Z Movie "Bojack Unbound." In spite of its many illogical points, and of the way how it can't be readily considered canon, "Bojack Unbound" is also potentially illustrative of how strong the Super Saiyan 2 transformation was intended to be compared to the basic form of Super Saiyan. Bojack's minions appear to be on equal ground with Super Saiyan Gohan, and indeed, might even be a little bit stronger. When Bido, Bujin, and Zangya use the psycho threads on Gohan, they manage to make him drop out of Super Saiyan. However, when Gohan transforms into Super Saiyan 2, and Bido and Bujin try the same technique, he acts as though the strings aren't even there, and then snaps them all easily with a single flare of his power. Not to mention that, after getting completely rid of the strings, Gohan cuts Bido in half with one punch, and slices Bujin in two with a kick. If Gohan had merely doubled his power, it doesn't seem very logical that he would have gone from being on an equal ground with Bojack's minions to destroying each of them with one blow only.

Thank you for reading my Contributor's Note,

Genescritor


Thank you for reading these notes, and I hope you found them insightful.

In fun and fanfiction,

American Vigor