Author's Note – I'M ALIVVVVE!  You were really beginning to wonder huh??  God, I am SO sorry about how long this has been… Lol, you've probably given up on me by now… But hey, I FINALLY did it.  Writer's block is a terrible thing, but I have been working hard to get over it and think I may have finally broke the ice back into this fic!  So, for any of you still hanging in there and reading, I hope you enjoy the chapter!  I'll try to get the next one out a HELLA lot sooner.  Happy readings, and if it's not too much trouble, please review ^ ^!

Chapter 5 – Trusting Betrayal

Bulma took a step back at the name, a strange light filling her eyes.  Memories started playing in her mind at the mention of that name…  Zett frowned as Bulma quickly shook off the glazed look on her face and regained her composure.

"Everything alright Bulma?"

"Oh! Yes… I just, well, there was someone else with that name who…" She stopped, smiling and waving a hand. "Oh, it's nothing, just an odd coincidence.  It's nice to meet you Cell."

She reached out her hand to shake his but received only a nod in return.  He paused however and examined her for a moment, quickly placing a recollection of who she was.  This woman…  Is the wife of Vegeta.  If the girl knows them… does that mean that the power I sensed from her…could she be…??

"Well hey!  I'll be right back all right?  I just have to run to the bathroom real quick!" Bulma explained as she placed her bags on the seat beside Zett and winked. "Don't have too much fun while I'm gone!"

Zett laughed as Bulma headed around the corner and turned back to Cell.  He seemed slightly preoccupied however, lost in thought.  She tilted her head, watching his deep pink eyes for a moment before waving a hand in front of him to catch his attention.  "Hey, are you okay??"

Without a word he stood up and walked slowly around the table.  She followed his movement as he made his way around behind her, placing his hands on the back of her chair.  She waited apprehensively, hoping he wasn't planning on trying to make some kind of move for the necklace.  What is he up to…?  And why isn't he replying?  He was obviously planning something, and the suspicion of the whole situation was continuing to grow.  However, she wasn't at all prepared for what he did next.

"HEY!!"

Zett jumped up out of her chair, bright red as Cell shoved his hand down the back of her pants.  Spinning around, she suddenly realized why he had done it.  She looked down slowly to see her tail clenched tightly in his fist.

"Beg your pardon Miss,' He hissed, "But you're not exactly human are you?"

With a quick embarrassed huff, she snatched her tail out of his grip, shoving it back inside her sweats.  But before she could comment, he placed his hand firmly on her shoulder and smirked, leaning down to meet her eye level.

"You were not here seven years ago…Saiyan."

Her eyes widened as he said this and her brow creased as she looked towards the door.  They had already drawn enough attention; it was time to find somewhere a bit more private.  Gesturing for him to follow she quickly headed outside.  The bell on the door jangled softly as they left, turning quickly around the corner into a small ally.  She pushed him against the wall, still a little unsettled by the tone that had been in his voice when he had uttered the name of her race.  She knew for a fact that the existence of Saiyans was not well known on Earth, so this man must have had some kind of connections with either Vegeta or one of the others…

"Sorry about that!  I just had to freshen up, but-" 

Bulma stopped as she reached the table to find nothing but shopping bags.  Doing a complete 360, she scanned the restaurant, but the other two were nowhere to be seen.

"Oh!"

 She threw herself down onto the seat and pouted, watching as the waiter placed the drinks Zett and Cell must have ordered on the table.  Picking one of the glasses up, she downed it in one shot.  Placing it down with a thunk she sighed, resting her chin in her hands. "Why does everybody always forget about me?!"

"And what do you know of Saiyans?  Who exactly are you anyway, Cell?"

He grinned and straightened his shirt.  "Alright, I agree.  Any more of that pathetic small talk would have killed me. I-" He paused, the corner of his lips pulling up even more before his face became rather convincingly serious. "I know some of the other Saiyans living here.  Goku Vegeta…and 'Gohan'." He placed his fist behind him so she wouldn't see it clench.  "I helped them fight seven years ago.  The planet was in danger."

Cell grinned at his own incredibly intellectual mind.  A perfect story, and it wasn't even really a lie!  He HAD helped them fight… he just didn't mention they had been fighting against him.  Minor details, minor details…

This girl seems the kind to trust too easily.  With my clever story, and abundance of charm, I'll have her handing over that pendant in no time…

Zett stood quietly for a moment, processing the information.  Could he be lying?  Not many people could have known OF Vegeta… let alone his name.  Maybe Cell was telling the truth!  Maybe he was one of the friends that Zett was going to meet along with the others… There were just a few things that seemed a little misplaced…

"You say you helped them fight…" She began carefully, studying his expression for any hint he might have been making up stories, "However, I sense no Ki from you…"

He nodded quickly, holding a hand to his head, a pained look on his face.  "Yes, I'm afraid that during the battle, the enemy used a special technique to remove my Ki.  He placed it in that stone that you wear around your neck!  I've been searching desperately for it…  This is the reason I have been so adamant on getting it from you… I'm so terrible sorry I was unable to tell you this in the first place, but you must understand."

Zett nodded at this, her hand slowly moving to the pendant around her neck.  His story would explain a lot… including the reason she had felt such a powerful energy radiating from the stone.  But if this had all happened seven years ago… why had it taken him so long to find it?  Certainly he must have wanted it back as soon as possible…  And he must have been able to somewhat sense Ki…  There was just something that didn't fit quite right to the story, but she wasn't sure exactly what it was.

Maybe I'm just paranoid…

Cell coughed, breaking the silence, and gave her a somewhat pleading look.  Taking a step towards her, he smiled warmly. "Now that you know… Do you suppose I could have the pendant back?  It would help me greatly, I'm sure a talented Saiyan warrior such as yourself would be able to sympathize…"

Zett sighed as she removed the stone from around her neck, holding still tightly in her hand, reluctant to give it up.  Maybe she should wait… Just in case.   She could bring Cell back to Vegeta with her, and have him confirm the truth of his story.  Then, if he was lying, then she would be able to keep the pendant…

She just couldn't explain it, but part of her desperately wanted to keep the beautiful jewel…

And another part desperately wanted to give it to him.

Cell could feel his body beginning to shake with excitement as she took off the necklace.  Yes… yes if she fell for this, it would only be a matter of seconds till he regained his true and perfect power…  His vision locked on her hands, he felt a sweat drop roll down along his forehead as he tried to calmly wait for her to hand it to him.

Come now my dear… 

His eyebrows narrowed, his lips pulling up in an evil smirk as her arm began to move forward.

Only moments now… and then I'll show you…

I'll show you what I'm truly capable of.