"How much longer are Goku and Gohan going to be in there?" Trunks asked, and Vegeta swore it was a younger version of himself talking when he spoke in that tone of voice.

"They still have three hours left to finish off their year." Mister Popo explained quietly.

"I'm sure they'll stay longer than that." Vegeta spoke up, agitated. "They'll do anything they can to surpass me."

"They're training so they can beat Cell, not you, Vegeta." Piccolo growled. "And there are nine days left, so you can afford to be patient. Why don't you rest, Vegeta...while I go in."

"What a waste of time." The prince fussed. "You don't actually expect to become as strong as a Saiyan, do you?" He chuckled. "Fine, have your day. But, I plan to take the remaining eight days for myself."

"Hn." The Namek grunted. "I wouldn't count on that.. Didn't you know you can only spend two days inside? Even the Hyperbolic Time Chamber has its limits."

"What? You lie." The Saiyan snapped, turning slightly to look over at him. "That's ridiculous, how gullible do you think I am?"

"But, it's true." Mister Popo piped up. "After forty-eight hours, the entrance will disappear, and you will be trapped inside for eternity."

"But Father, there's plenty of time! We still have twenty-three hours left." His son was trying to put on a calm face, a hint of a smirk on his lips. Vegeta grunted, crossing his arms, but suddenly something filled the air. It made him bristle, the all too familiar Ki of his least favorite person. Well, maybe not his least favorite, but close enough.

Kakarot? Why is he coming out early? Surely nothing's wrong, I can feel the little brat as well... What are they up to? Vegeta eyed the door, waiting for the two Saiyans to appear.

"They must be done. I can feel Goku's energy." Tien said, watching. Waiting.

"But.. Why now? That's not even a year.." Vegeta spoke what everyone else was thinking. There was no malice in his voice, only curiosity. The faint sound of footsteps began to grow louder, until Gohan appeared, head full of blonde hair. Kakarot was right behind him, looking like his son's older twin.

"Vegeta and Trunks, I knew I sensed them, Gohan!" Kakarot said surely. "And I can still sense Cell, too. But, he seems even stronger."

"I can't believe..how you've changed.." Piccolo muttered, staring at Gohan. The two stepped forward, walking out toward everyone.

"So, would someone fill us in on what's been happening?" Kakarot asked.

"Yea, sure." Tien managed to say after a moment, but Vegeta didn't understand why they seemed so shocked. The prince himself had been expecting Gohan to become super Saiyan. After all, he was a Saiyan warrior at heart. Even if his father was an idiot.

"Ohhh, but.. Before you start talking, I gotta get something into my stomach! Do you have anything good to eat, Mister Popo?" The Saiyan asked, and Mister Popo gaped.

"Well, at least he hasn't changed at all." Tien laughed, and Vegeta wanted nothing more than to get all of this over with. The chamber, Cell, the tournament. Everything. It was making him ill, and he wanted to defeat Cell, laugh in their faces... Then... Just go home. Because while he'd never admit it, he was homesick.

And not just homesick in the way that he hadn't been home, because he had just been there. But, he was homesick in the way that he hadn't had time to enjoy it. He hadn't slept in his bed, drank Bulma's delicious coffee, taken a shower in his own bathroom... In how long? It had been too long. Since he went off into space, he hadn't had a moment to catch his breath. The very short time he got to spend with Bulma had only made the craving for Capsule Corp. worse, and he wanted to be back in his gravity chamber, training.

He wanted coffee, and to watch the stupid earthling's news. Chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, Trunks' crying in his crib. Early morning into late night training sessions, that led to even better bedroom sessions with the woman. He even missed ducking out of the way when she threw things at his head. Like plates or frying pans... Or shampoo bottles. The thought nearly made him chuckle.

"Mmm, this is really..hitting the spot!" Kakarot interrupted his thoughts, as he shoveled food into his face.

"You said it!" His little mini me agreed happily, as he stuffed his own face. It was actually quite disgusting to watch.

"Goku, one question, okay?" Tien was watching him eat, his face holding a hint of concern.

"Hm? Okay." The idiot spoke, but you could barely understand him with that mouth full of food.

"Well, I mean, wasn't there enough food inside the time chamber?" Tien asked. The Saiyan began talking, noodles hanging from his mouth, and nothing he was trying to say made any sense. Vegeta fought the urge to walk over and smack him in the back of the head.

"Okay, Goku. Why don't you try saying that without your mouth full?" The Namek fussed, and Kakarot slurped up his noodles. "Ughh, disgusting."

"What I was saying was, is that Gohan and I can't cook very well, so it's been a really long time since we had a good home cooked meal."

"I see." Tien mumbled.

"I mean seriously, guys. Us not cooking well is an understatement. There was this time I asked Gohan to fire me up a roast beef-" Kakarot was blabbering on, and the Saiyan prince watched from a distance.

"What is going on?" Vegeta asked out loud, though quiet and to himself. "They appear to be super Saiyans.. But they're acting so...natural. I must learn the full extent of their new powers."

"Thanks a lot, Mister Popo!" Gohan grinned, after finishing his last plate.

"Woooo! That was excellent!" His father agreed, rubbing his stomach. "So, Trunks, why don't you tell us what's been happening?"

"Huh? Yea, sure, okay." Trunks spoke, sounding just like his mother.


"All right, let me see..." Her father was rambling on and on, making it difficult to concentrate. Not like she really could after what had happened with Vegeta. "..was it the green wire or was it the red one? No..hm.. Maybe I'll try the white one. Now, where did I put my pliers? Ah, here they-no..that's not.. That's not the right set. I don't understand..." He kept rambling on as Bulma worked on her computer. She was trying to tune him out, trying to focus on the importance of the work in front of her.

"Look at this, Dad." Bulma said casually to her father. "I downloaded the memory of Android 16, and it's loaded with Goku's data."

"Interesting." Mr. Briefs commented, walking over to peer at the screen over her shoulder.

"He's got everything! Fighting records, his common techniques, even his home address!" She explained, pulling up the data to show.

"How strange.." Mr. Briefs muttered.

"Yea." Bulma agreed. "The only conclusion that makes sense, is that Android 16 was designed for the sole purpose of destroying Goku.. Hmm.." She turned in her seat, staring at the android, who was lying still on the table. "But, it doesn't seem like he's after Goku at all.. Or maybe the right opportunity just hasn't presented itself, yet.."

"Hmm." Her father mused.

"Huh.." Bulma saw her dad's little cat, perched on the android's shoulder, licking his face.

"Well, his circuitry is too complex to really say. However, he doesn't look too evil.. And, as I understand, the only aggressive move he's made has been against Cell."

"That's true." The blue haired genius felt a little better about trying to fix up the android.

"It really raises profound questions about the nature of artificial intelligence." Her father explained, and Bulma stood up to walk over to look at the android. "Despite all of Doctor Gero's programming, this android could still make a choice."

"Yea..well, I'm glad he chose to be on our side of the tournament. Because once we get finished fixing him up, he'll be one of the strongest players we've got!"


Vegeta was beginning to grow impatient. He wanted to know exactly how much stronger the two Saiyans had become in their time training inside the chamber. Kakarot changed out of his shredded Saiyan armor, throwing back on his old earthling clothing. Gohan, however, asked Piccolo for an outfit like his own Namek one. Of course, his former teacher proudly gave him one, and it was somewhat strange to Vegeta how close Piccolo was with the kid. After all, he and Kakarot were once enemies. But he cared for the kid, and you could tell.

"Okay." Vegeta decided he'd had enough, as he stepped toward the big idiot.

"Huh?"

"Kakarot! You think you can beat Cell now?" The prince asked, genuinely curious as to how he would answer.

"Couldn't really tell ya." He admitted. At least he's honest. "I haven't seen him since he absorbed 18 and transformed. I'll have to go check him out." He put his hand to his head, and after hesitating a moment, he was gone.

It felt like longer than it truly was, maybe only a few moments, before appeared back onto the look out. Vegeta watched him carefully, fully aware of the heightened energy that Kakarot and Cell had caused from below. The two had been testing the waters, showing each other their strength.

"So, what did you think, Goku?" Trunks asked, his face curious.

"To be honest, Trunks, he's become a whole lot stronger than I thought he'd be. Of course, I won't really know how tough he is until I see him fight, but... Well, if I were to fight him right now, I'm pretty confident that he'd beat me into the ground." The Saiyan said calmly, surprising them all.

"Hn?" Vegeta grunted, glancing over at the clown.

"Oh, okay. I get it, Goku... I understand." Trunks said knowingly.

"He can still use the Hyperbolic Time Chamber once more. There's still plenty of time left, and we've decided to go in first. Then Vegeta, who wants to go alone." Piccolo informed.

"That's because I don't want any of you to interfere with my training." Vegeta growled, his mind drifting back to the time inside the chamber he shared with his son.

"Well, I've.. I've decided not to go in because," Tien said, defeat in his voice, "I don't think I'd be a worthy opponent."

"Trunks will be next." The Namek said. "Followed by Goku and Gohan. You two will be last."

"Gohan and I don't need a turn." Kakarot said surely, walking towards his son. What in the hell is he up to?

"What?!" Piccolo growled out in question, obviously shocked by his words.

"There's only nine days left, so I think we'll just train outside until then." The Saiyan explained, and Vegeta wondered if he had hit his head one too many times.

"You're not serious!" The prince fussed, confused.

"What do you mean you're not going back in?" Piccolo asked, eyeing the Saiyan wearily. "You mean, you don't need to go?"

"No, there's no point." Kakarot replied surely.

"But, why?" The Namek pressed, as Vegeta stood back, watching them curiously. "You do realize you can still spend another day in there."

"I understand, but I'd rather not go in." The Saiyan stood firm on his decision. "It really won't help any. Training there takes way too much out of me."

"Hm, I get it." Vegeta huffed out a laugh. "Little Kakarot finally admits that he's too weak to continue."

"Yeah, right." The other Saiyan smirked. "If you think torturing your body in there is the same as training, then go for it. I wish you'd take my advice, Vegeta.. But, I know how important it is to you that you keep up with my strength level. So, you'll be needing all the time you can get."

"Oh, really?" Vegeta played it cool, raising an eyebrow. "Kakarot, call me crazy, but you make it sound as if you've become a great deal stronger than I am."

"Sure, I'm far above you." He said, and Vegeta bristled.

"What?" The prince asked angrily, wanting nothing more than to pound the fool's face in, as he laughed quietly.

"Well, good luck, guys." Kakarot said in his usual friendly tone. "We'll catch you at the tournament, okay?" He turned to look at his son. "Let's..go."

"Okay." Gohan nodded, following behind his father, who flew off into the sky. Vegeta was boiling on the inside, feeling even more rage than ever. He was ready to go into that chamber and make light of his last stay. He was going to go further than anyone had ever gone, become the great super Saiyan that he was destined to be.

"Okay, when Goku and Gohan came out of the chamber, they were super Saiyan. Right? And yet, they seemed so..so different. Don't you think so Piccolo?" Tien was jabbering on, interrupting Vegeta's racing thoughts.

"From what I've seen, I think they're still super Saiyans. But it appears they've learned how to stay powered up in their daily lives, without creating a strain on their energy supply." Piccolo explained.

"That means they can transform into a more powerful body when they fight." Trunks spoke up, and Vegeta glanced at his son.

"You're missing the point!" Vegeta said suddenly, causing Trunks to turn toward him. "It's not about powering up. The point is that they won't have to power up when they fight. They can use all the energy it would take to transform to increase their stamina, and then only go higher if they need to. Darn! It's so ingenious."

Vegeta noticed Trunks' face scrunch up in slight anger, and he could see the gears turning in the boys head just by the look on his face. Something had came to his mind, and whatever it was, was obviously bothering him. The prince shifted his weight uncomfortably, waiting for someone to speak, hoping that they could just get on with the time chamber training already.

What the... Kakarot.. Vegeta looked up, sensing a power beginning to build. It heightened quickly, like a vehicle going from zero to one hundred in a second. The sky immediately blackened, rocks and dirt particles floating in the air. No way... How did he.. How did he get this strong?

"That energy! What is it?" Tien yelped.

"It's.. It's Goku." Piccolo mumbled, looking down. The power was only increasing and increasing, causing Vegeta's blood to boil even more. And then, it was fading fast, gone. Only Kakarot's Ki remained, his energy level back to normal.

I have to get into that chamber and train like I never have before. It's time to show them what I'm made of. I AM THE PRINCE OF ALL SAIYANS, AND I AM GOING TO PROVE IT!


Hey guys, so sorry for the long update wait !

Finally getting closer to the Cell Games ! YES !

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter KailaBrittFF or look me up by my name Kaila Murphy !

Thanks again for putting up with my slow update waits ! You guys are so freaking amazing. Seriously. Every REVIEW/READ/FAV/FOLLOW just inspires me ! So, thank you so much.

~Kaila.