Chapter 24: The Best Place to Train

Trunks and I searched the city for a good long time. Nothing, not a trace of Cell anywhere.

"I just don't get it." Trunks finally said as we landed onto the streets of the deserted city.

"What's that?"

"How did Cell get here? Krillen and I killed his embryo."

"Remember the regeneration thing? He could have survived that. From what I know, he grew to his adult stage, but 17 and 18 were too strong for him, so he… killed you… and stole the time machine to absorb them."

"I've ruined everything."

"Don't you dare say that!" I snapped, facing Trunks. I blushed, but quickly got over myself. "I use to think that, too. When I first got here, I thought I could really help out. But I realized that just being here is messing up the history. So I got over it, and I use what I know, along with my SG to help."

"SG?"

"Sensory gift."

"Oh."

"So you need to get over it, too. Help us fight Cell and the androids, don't feel sorry for yourself."

"Okay, you're right. Let's find Cell."

"Uh, Trunks, why is the time machine named Sayjin Princess?"

"It's a long story but… it was named after you. I'll have to tell you about it sometime. I bet in your dimension it was called Hope or something else corny, right?" we laughed as I nodded.

So we looked on foot for any signs of Cell, but to no avail. It was as if he had just disappeared. The only things we found were piles of clothes.

"Whoa!" I heard Trunks call out. I turned to see Goku facing Trunks.

"Sorry about that, but I focused on you Ki to find you. I didn't think the two of you would be together." Trunks and I both blushed, and after noticing that we both turned an even darker shade of red. Goku, of course, didn't notice. "Oh well. I got a surprise for the two of you." I gave Goku a funny look. "Well, at least one of you. Vegeta and I decided that there has to be a higher level than Super Sayjin, and I know of a perfect place to find it quick. This will give you the chance to achieve Super Sayjin, Katie."

Goku knew better than anyone did how badly I wanted to become a SSJ. During the past three years I had trained as hard as I could, trying to reach SSJ. I got up the earliest, stayed out the latest, and fought the hardest against anyone who'd fight with me. Vegeta was amazed at my determination, but he wouldn't really train me. We'd occasionally fight one another, but he beat me every time. Then after he disappeared for the last year, the only partners I had would take it easy on me. I knew they did, but I kept a secret as well, I didn't fight at full power with them, either.

"Then let's go." Goku took our hands and teleported us to the Lookout.

Gohan was waiting patiently for us, and Vegeta was standing against the wall with his arms crossed. He was mad, as usual. He took notice of us and walked toward us.

"Finally. Kakorot, why did you insist on bringing us here?"

"There's a way for us to train one day and gain the power we want."

"What difference will one day make?" Vegeta snapped.

"It's like this. There's a doorway to another dimension where time goes faster than it does here. You can train in there for a year while only a day passes here." I explained.

"Yeah. I think Vegeta and Trunks should go first, then Gohan, Katie, and I will go."

"Actually, I was thinking I should go with Vegeta. If you'll take me, that is." I asked Vegeta.

"Fine, whatever, let's just go already."

"Katie, are you sure?" Goku, Trunks, and Gohan all looked at me as though I was crazy.

"Yes. Sorry, guys, but I know Vegeta won't take it easy on me. He'll fight me as though it was for real and push me to my limits."

"If you're sure. Follow me." Goku lead us to the door that held the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

"You're only allowed in here twice, so don't mess it up. And only three people can stay in there at a time. The room should be fully stocked for you're one-year use. See you in a year!" before he shut the door, Goku handed me one of his two small bags of Zinzu beans. Goku then opened the door and Vegeta led us in.

"Baka." Vegeta said as Goku closed the door.

"I couldn't agree more." I said. Vegeta looked at me and smirked.

We stepped deeper into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber and I was amazed. The show, books, and game gave it no justice. It was a large, mostly empty white room. But it had its own beauty. I think it was the shade of white that did it. I had never seen such a brilliant, clear shade of white in my life, it was like a true white.

Then I felt a hard, painful, solid-heat on the back of my head, the unmistakable feeling of a Ki ball hitting you. Vegeta had a smirk on his face as Trunks and I turned around.

"That was uncalled for!" Trunks said, rubbing his head. He had been hit, too.

"No, it wasn't, we're here for training, not to stare at the scenery. We need to get going."

A few months have passed inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, and I'm still no closer to obtaining SSJ than the day I walked in. Trunks has improved greatly, and Vegeta, too. I've grown stronger, but I still haven't reached SSJ. And, of course, we're all in Sayjin armor. Vegeta insisted, and he sort of is my sensei now.

"That's wrong! Again!" Vegeta screamed as I attempted the Gatlik Gun for the hundredth time. I put my hands together and formed the purple colored Ki ball, I had that down. It was keeping the blast purple. Apparently purple Ki balls weren't my forte.

"Gatlik Gun!" I blasted at the nothingness, but the Ki ball changed colors to green, but that was better. Green was closer to purple when it came to Ki energy, but Vegeta wasn't satisfied.

"Damn it, Katie! It's not that hard! If you don't fix that by the time I return, you won't get to eat tonight." Then Vegeta stormed off to train with Trunks some more.

Okay, it's not that hard, I agree with Vegeta on that. But no food tonight? Is he crazy?

My stomach growled just thinking about it.

Concentrate. Purple! Hold it…. Hold it…

I practiced holding the purple Ki ball as long as I could before it changed colors, trying to see why it did that. I realized it was emotion. Anger helped it stay purple.

Makes sense, Vegeta is always mad…

So I thought of something that angered me. In this case, it was Vegeta's constant bad attitude. I hadn't had a good day, and that was making it worse.

I again made the purple Ki ball and held it twice as long before it effected my body. It wasn't changing color anymore.

"Gatlik Gun!" I shot it out and it remained purple. I did it three more times flawlessly before Vegeta returned. Trunks was with him this time.

"Are you ready to show the Gatlik Gun to me?" Vegeta demanded.

"Yes, sensei." I preformed the attack flawlessly and Vegeta smirked.

"Not too bad, kid. Now, the three of us are going to have a battle royal. It's everyone for himself. Power up and we'll start." Vegeta instructed, and I noticed he purposely said himself by his tone.

So I powered up, and Vegeta and Trunks went SSJ. My anger rose a little, seeing as they could go SSJ and I still couldn't.

Maybe it's a gene thing. Maybe only guys can go SSJ…

That made me madder, but I got over it as we began. Both Vegeta and Trunks ganged up on me, but I kept my cool and blocked their attacks, mostly. A few made weird contacts, but I basically fended them off well. We had started moving upward as the fight progressed, and I still hadn't made an offensive hit.

But then Vegeta shot a Gatlik Gun and Trunks shot a Buster Cannon at the same time right at me. Both attacks hit and I fell in a heap onto the floor.

I heard Vegeta laugh, and as I looked up I saw some form of pity on Trunks' face. Those are two things I will not stand for, being laughed at and being felt sorry for. I got up, angrier than I had ever been. It was as if something had snapped.

"I don't want your pity, Trunks! And you shut up! I'll wipe that grin off your face!" I powered up and charged Vegeta. He still had a smile on his face, and as I glanced at Trunks before I attacked, I saw shock on his face. But I didn't care; I want to make them pay.

I felt a primal anger stir deep within me, fueling my power. My anger and power both intertwined, and something snapped. All I wanted was to make them pay for mocking me.

I punched and kicked Vegeta repeatedly, and when Trunks rejoined us I started on him, too.

"I will not have reason to be mocked anymore!" then I preformed repeated Gatlik Guns on the two of them. After that I cooled down and inhaled deeply a few times.

The smoke from my blasts cleared and I saw both of them smiling. Well, Vegeta had more of a smirk, but you know what I mean.

"Why are you two still smiling!"

"You did it. You transformed into a Super Sayjin." Vegeta said. I didn't believe what I heard, but I took a good look at myself, and sure enough I was glowing gold.

"I knew you could do it." Trunks said.

I couldn't help it, I started jumping up and now and cheered. You have to understand, this was something I had wanted ever since I saw Goku transform on the show back at home, and that was over five years ago. Now that I'm twenty, I have achieved that dream.

"Will you settle down!" Vegeta snapped. I stopped in mid jump and landed, standing as still as a stone.

"Sorry, sensei."

"Now, I suggest we rest tonight and get back to work tomorrow bright and early." Vegeta went back to normal Sayjin, as did Trunks. Vegeta left and snorted about being hungry.

"That was our plan all along. Gatlik Guns need anger to work, and so dad decided to have you work on that attack so you'd already be angry. Then the no food threat, and the mocking… it worked, you're now a Legendary Super Sayjin. I'm glad this time someone didn't have to die."

"Yeah, so am I." Trunks went to leave.

"Katie, aren't you coming?" Trunks said as he turned back to face me.

"Yeah, I'm just trying to memorize the feeling so I can transform again later." I replied.

"Well, since dad's gone, there was something else I have been wanting to say to you."

"Yes?" I let go the transformation and powered down as I replied.

"Well, Katie, I like you. No, that's not it, its -damn- I think I'm in love with you." Trunks said that and made me blush, as it did to him.

"Trunks, I like you, too. But it won't work. Believe me, I love you as you love me. Hell, I loved you since I saw you back home on television."

"That's kind of creepy. Oh, sorry, I didn't mean-"

"I know." I interrupted.

"I don't care if it won't work, can't we at least try? Dammit, I love you!" Trunks nearly screamed.

"Trunks! Vegeta will hear us!"

"I don't care! You're the only woman I've ever felt this strongly for."

Well, I lost it. I admit it, I lost it then. I ran over to Trunks and squeezed him tight, and he did me as well. And damn, it felt good.

"Trunks, if you're willing to try, then I'm willing to try."

Then I felt a great spasm of pain up my spine, one that nearly made me fall down if it wasn't for the fact that Trunks was still holding me. It was my SG once again.

"Katie, what is it?" he asked with concern. I righted myself up and gently pushed Trunks back a little.

"It was my SG. Piccolo has been killed. Damn, it never has done that before. He wasn't suppose to die."

"Damn. It was Cell, wasn't it?"

"Yes, and that means that shortly-" the pain hit again, knocking me to my knees this time.

"Katie!" Trunks immediately went to his knees, too, kneeling beside me.

"Cell just absorbed android 17. How much time do we have left?"

"A few weeks, why?" Trunks answered.

"Just needed to know." I got up on my own and walked back to the living area with Trunks right by my side. I guess he thought I might fall or something. He was right; I wasn't feeling too good. I didn't fall, but it was a slow walk back. That was the first time my SG had hurt when it went off.

Later that night, after I was sure Vegeta and Trunks were asleep, I made contact with King Kai. The boys and I all had separate rooms, than goodness.

"King Kai, can you hear me?"

"Katie, I was just thinking about you and Goku. How are you?"

"Fine, but I need to talk to you. Its important."

"Jeez, you and Goku only talk to me in an emergency. Why don't you ever call to say hi?"

"Sorry, I'll do that in the future, okay? Listen, do you know what's happening on earth right now?"

"You mean that thing with the androids and the Cell monster?"

"Yes. Goku had the idea that Vegeta, Trunks, and I would train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber to get stronger."

"Trunks? You mean the one from the future?"

"Yes." I was staying patient, I was asking him for help, after all.

"And the time chamber… oh yes, Kami told me about it. Are you in there now?"

"Yes. But what I need to ask is, what do you know of the Sensory Gift Guru awakened in me?"

"Well, not a lot, I'm afraid. I know it warns you of danger, and with you specifically it lets you know if something has happened that was different from the 'show' you watched. You sound worried, what's happened?" he asked with concern.

"Earlier today the Sensory Gift went off and it caused me pain. It had never hurt before."

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what to tell you about that. You are the first one in a millennia to receive the Sensory Gift. It could mean two separate events caused it to go off at once, but I don't know."

"Alright, thanks King Kai."

"Wait, I have to tell you this joke!"

I had to think fast to keep from hearing the joke, but he had started before I could come up with anything.

"Alright, what do you give an angry, thirty-foot Oozaru?"

"I don't know, King Kai. I give up." I said, rolling my eyes.

"Anything it wants!" he started laughing hysterically, and knowing King Kai as I do, I laughed with him for a moment.

"Alright, King Kai, I gotta go to sleep now, I got training tomorrow."

Why didn't I think of that earlier?

"Alright, good night, Katie. Good luck!"