CHAPTER 29 – Stale Mate or Check Mate?

"F--K YOU!"

"HAHAHA I AM NOT THE ONE WHO IS SCREWED HERE."

"SHUT UP!"

"CARE TO RECONSIDER MY PROPOSAL? THE OFFER STILL STANDS."

"AAAAUUUUGGGHH! BE QUIET, ANDROID!" Vegeta couldn't cover his ears so he gritted his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut. Maybe Cell would just disappear. Almost instantly, visions of his past filled his thoughts and he welcomed the distraction.

Cell could see that he was getting to him and pressed on, "COME ON, VEGETA. EITHER GIVE IN OR PERISH. YOU KNOW YOUR FRIEND HAS ABANDONED YOU. IT WOULD BE RIGHT TO PUNISH HER. YOU COULD PUNISH ALL THOSE THAT HAVE BETRAYED YOU. AND WHERE'S GOKU? EVEN HE HAS DESERTED YOU.

Kakarot. Suddenly, Vegeta's mind raced to his last day on Earth.

They were in Babidee's ship and the wizard was attempting to enter Vegeta's mind. "Augh!" Gritting his teeth, he held his head and staggered away from the others.

"Huh?" Kakarot's son, Gohan anxiously took a step towards him, "Hey Vegeta what's wrong?"

Behind him, Vegeta heard Kakarot ask with as much concern, "Vegeta what's going on?"

Vegeta rocked his head back and forth trying to expel what was trying to enter his mind, "Something's attacking me!"

Frustrated Kakarot went into a fighting stance, "Where? We can't see anything!"

The Prince continued to stagger around the chamber, fighting the unknown force. Vegeta hissed a reply through his teeth, "inside--"

Even the Supreme Kia showed trepidation towards him, "Fight it! Resist!"

"I c-can't."

"You must!"

Vegeta cried out in pain.

Supreme Kia came closer, "That's it, resist!"

Vegeta tried to do as he had asked. In agony, he tried to pull strength from his ki. His yellow aura flared out and he transformed into a Super Saiyan.

The Supreme Kia stayed close to him, "Don't let him win, Vegeta. Don't let him do it! That's it, fight! Fight it!"

The helpless Kakarot called to the God, "Supreme Kia, what's happening to him?"

The Kia didn't answer but continued to coax the tortured soul, "Vegeta no! Don't let him! You've changed! You are not that way anymore! Babidee has no claim over you!"

Gohan began to comprehend what was happening to Vegeta. "What's Babidee doing?! Trying to kill him?"

The Supreme Kia never took his eyes off of the Prince but answered grimly, "Worst than that. He's trying to take over his mind and enslave him, so that he'll do what ever Babidee wishes him to do."

Vegeta listened to Kakarot's son's pathetic plea, "Isn't their anyway that we could help him?"

"He struggles because his heart isn't pure." Vegeta fell down on one knee. "He has to choose himself."

It was then that Vegeta knew what he would do. Supreme Kia knelt down beside him. "Don't let him take you Vegeta. Let go. The past is the past. Don't think of it. Be innocent and clear."

Vegeta's eyes flew open, "How can you say that?! I'm not innocent." Collapsing, Vegeta waited for Babidee to complete his manipulation. He would take what ever that rat Babidee would do to him. Then it hit like a freight train. He cried out in pain, as his aura wildly flared red.

Filled with fear, the Supreme Kia and Gohan backed away. Vegeta floated up and righted himself. He hovered, his hands clenched and pulled up at his sides. His back arched with his head facing the ceiling and levitated high above the others. The Prince continued to cry out from the turmoil that racked his body. Babidee soon felt the Saiyan's resistance wane. The Prince was surrendering to him. Now the wizard would make him invincible.

They all felt it. Vegeta's power was increasing. Finally, the power that he relentlessly strived for, trained for, thirst for, was being handed to him. The excruciating pain was nothing compared to the sweet taste of this long awaited victory. There would be no doubt of his rightful place now. He would be once again, the Prince of all Saiyans, the strongest in the Universe.

"Don't let them do it Vegeta. Don't let them use you." Gohan was stupid for thinking that any being could possibly control the Prince. "You're stronger then they are—Augh!" Vegeta channeled a red ki flare through his hand to silence the insolent baka. The young man slid on his back to the edge of the chamber.

Goku anxiously called to his son, "Gohan, are you ok?"

Gohan hunched himself up onto his elbows. "Eh--Yeah, I'm fine."

More and more energy was pumped into Vegeta. It didn't matter if his body could take it. He greedily accepted all the power given to him. Ki waves began to radiate outwards from Vegeta's strained form. The Prince could sense the whole underground vessel shaking.

"What a monstrous power. It's terrible. I can't even approach it," exclaimed Goku.

The power transfer slowed then stopped and Vegeta fell. He was on his hands and knees, hunched low to the ground; his forehead resting on the welcomed cool metal floor. He smirked inwardly at Kakarot's assessment of his power and thought, 'Now you are nothing Kakarot. Finally, you will know your place and I shall take great pleasure in showing you.' He continued to growl in defiance of the pain that his body endured.

Then he heard Kakarot's incessant son plead, "Dad, talk to him!" If Vegeta hadn't been in such pain he would have laughed out loud. What possible words of wisdom could come from the idiot clown?

When this actually occurred, Vegeta's mind was clouded, his thoughts mulled over various attacks he would inflict on the low class Saiyan. It didn't register what Kakarot said to him. Now his mind was clearer and he attentively listened to what Kakarot had to say. It was not useless words of advice:

"We're here. It's ok; we are going to help you--"

Despite Vegeta's darkest hours, the clown did not forsake him. Since their very first battle, the wrong he had inflicted on him, his family and friends, the Earth-Saiyan remained at his side. Though the Prince had many names for Kakarot, deserter was not one of them.

A grin appeared on Vegeta's face and he slowly opened his eyes. He quietly laughed at the revelation. Once again, Kakarot affected him in such an absurd way; he couldn't help but see the irony. The Prince threw his head back, and laughed out loud to near hysteria.

Cell looked on in complete confusion. "NOW, NOW! THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO LOSE YOUR SANITY VEGETA! I NEED YOU WITH YOUR WITS INTACT!"

Vegeta went silent and glared at his prisoner. "ENOUGH!!! YOU DON'T GET IT, DO YOU?! I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT TREACHEROUS HALF SAIYAN WENCH. I DON'T CARE ABOUT RETRIBUTION. I DON'T CARE ABOUT KING YAMA, OR THIS WRETCHED PLACE. AT THIS POINT, THE WHOLE F--KING COSMOS COULD GO TO HFIL FOR ALL I CARE! AND I CERTAINLY DON'T NEED THAT FOOL, KAKAROT." He paused to compose himself and in a tone that Cell strained to hear, "What matters to me is that I win." Cell took a moment to comprehend the statement then gasped which fed Vegeta's jubilation. "THAT'S RIGHT ANDROID! I WILL SPEND MY ENTIRE LIFE FORCE TO DEFEAT YOU. I WILL HOLD YOU FOR AS LONG AS I CHOOSE. IF MY HOLD SHOULD FALTER, I SHALL FORFEIT MYSELF AND USE EVERY LAST TRACE OF MY KI TO FEED YOUR ERUPTION. I ASSURE YOU, ANDRIOD, THERE WILL NOT BE ONE SINGLE SOLITARY CELL LEFT OF YOUR SORRY ASS TO REGENERATE! HAHAHA. THEREFORE, YOU LOSE!!! HAHAHA!"

Even though Vegeta sensed the others had returned and were behind him, he continued to laugh and relish his triumph over the dismal Cell. The Prince not only had won the battle, but his ingenious bluff has won this war. His pride and honor remained intact.

Sen came up and stood to his left. "TREACHEROUS HALF SAIYAN WENCH, HUH?!"

"CAUSE AND EFFECT, ONNA! WHERE THE HFIL HAVE YOU'VE BEEN?"

"I WENT TO GET HELP."

"I SENSE NO POWER TO SPEAK OF. IS KAKAROT AFRAID TO SHOW HIS FACE?"

"GOZ AND MEZ DECIDED ON A MORE SUBTLE APPROACH."

"WONDERFUL, THE FATE OF US ALL RESTING ON THOSE TWO MOR—huh?" Vegeta paused when he felt Cell's resistance falter. The android was gaping at something to his right. Vegeta followed his line of vision. Someone with long white hair and a bushy mustache stood stiffly next to him. Vegeta instantly recognized who it was but was too surprised to speak.

"CELL! YOU WILL STAND DOWN. END SELF-DESTRUCT PROGRAM."

Cell was also in a state of shock and hesitated, not sure to believe his eyes or ears.

"CELL, YOU HAVE ACHIEVED YOUR ORIGINAL MISSION. YOUR ACTION TOWARDS THIS BEING IS IRRELEVANT. IT IS MY WISH THAT YOU END SELF-DESTRUCT SEQUENCE NOW."

Cell's eyes went wide and if Vegeta didn't know better he would have thought the android's lip was trembling. Without warning, Cell began to shrink, slowly going back to his original size. The deafening sounds died down, along with the wind and flying debris. Dr. Gero turned his head to Vegeta, "Cell is within safe perimeters, you may release him now."

Vegeta did not heed the request but looked to Sen. "You can't be serious?!" She just shrugged her shoulders. "This is ludicrous. I refuse," he growled.,

Goz came up behind the Super Saiyan, "Don't sweat it, buddy. We have everything under control."

"Rrrrr- Forgive me if I have no faith in your strategy."

"Hey it's ok, really! The Doc here is under contract. He takes control of Cell, does a little creative re-programming on his memory to keep the guy under wraps and in return, he gets to keep his physical form. Simplicity at its finest." Goz looked over his shoulder, "Isn't that right Jeice?"

"I've seen it before; it's the bloody oath, Captn!"

Vegeta suspiciously looked back at Dr. Gero. The once man turned bio-android turned his body to face the Super Saiyan. "Yes and now you will turn him over to me." The Prince glared at Gero for a moment before he released the ki field surrounding Cell. It suddenly expanded out and then evaporated into thin air. Crossing his arms, Vegeta returned to normal, and turned his back on Dr. Gero. He didn't care for this arrangement but he was relieved to hand over the prisoner.

Cell stepped over to his creator. He towered over Dr. Gero, watching his every move without expression. Gero looked up and smiled. He reached out his hand, "Come Cell, let us take a walk." Cell's eyes widened then turned soft and he timidly took the doctor's hand. They both turned and began walking slowly as Dr. Gero spoke to him, "I am very proud of you, Cell. You are by far my greatest achievement. Your prime objective was to kill Goku was it not?" Cell slowly nodded. "Did you not do so?" Once again, Cell nodded. "Excellent, you accomplished what my other androids could not. However, you must be patient, my son. There are times when-" They continued on out of hearing range.

Sen studied Vegeta who seemed deep in thought. She had heard what Vegeta said about not caring and now was uncertain if Vegeta would really help the cause. "Vegeta?" Immediately his eyes were upon her, threatening her to continue. "What you said about not caring-"

"Humph!" Vegeta looked away before continuing, "I would have said anything to shut the bastard up."

"Oh." Sen was not convinced and she dropped her head in disappointment.

"Onna." Sen raised her eyes and found Vegeta studying her. Obviously, she didn't get him and damned if he would expose himself to her. Those rare occasions were reserved for his mate, Bulma. He looked away again. "Do you really believe I would destroy myself again for such a worthless cause?"

Goz cleared his throat then addressed the two, "I think we should all be getting back to the Entrance Hall. King Yama is waiting for you. Sen, will you do the honors?"

"Whoa, mates! I've a bone to pick with the little Sheila!" Jeice rushed up to Sen scolding then smiled.

"Feh. My time shall not be wasted any longer." Vegeta floated up and hovered a moment to get his bearings then took off.

Goz called after him, "HEY! THAT'S NOT the way to--" and gave up when Vegeta's form disappeared in the horizon.