Chapter 29: Family Reunited

That next morning I ate what was left of the foreign fruit and then Cell and I were off again. He still had to carry me, but it didn't bother me anymore.

"So, what's going to happen next?"

"How's that?" Cell asked.

"You can't tell me you haven't thought out what you're going to do when we show up at the castle. The Empress will kill you on the spot."

"If I'm a prisoner she may not."

"I thought you couldn't lie? To me, it sounds like you're lying to yourself."

"Denial really isn't lying." Cell retorted.

We came upon a small river, and Cell put me down. Cell's Ki was still low, so he couldn't fly, and I couldn't fly in my condition.

When this was still just a TV show to me, I would have never imagined Cell with Ki so low he couldn't fly. Then again, I would have never imagined him acting this way. I would have never imagined Cell carrying me through woods and passing unicorns. He's kept me safe. He's helped me. He has shown me things about my home I never knew.

"Why have we stopped?"

"I'm going to climb that tree and try to look around for some reference as to where we are. I'll be back in a moment." Cell walked over to the large tree in question and jumped up into it, disappearing.

Mirai told me that Cell was hiding in the trees in HFIL when they went to ask him to help me. Mirai must really love me to have gone to HFIL to ask Cell, of all people, for help. So must Vegeta and Goku to go with him.

Mirai and I Bonded… Vegeta called me his daughter… Goku protected me and raised me… they never doubted me or my abilities, but this time I can't win… not if I'm fighting against the Angel power. They don't know how powerful it really is.

When I used my Angel power, I felt like a god, and that wasn't just a power rush. I could have done anything, had anything. Maybe if I was a little meaner, maybe if I didn't have such thick armor of love, I would have done anything and had everything. But my humanity, the element Sayjins call latar, kept me in control. Goku gave me that. Mirai, Cell, even Vegeta gave me that.

I don't feel so good… why am I so cold all of a sudden? Its Planet Vegeta's autumn.

"The city is west of here." Cell jumped down from the tree, "If we continue east- Katie?"

"Cell, I'm so cold… why am I cold?"

Cell knelt down and felt my forehead.

"Your fever has resurfaced. You're in no condition to be moved."

"We have to… we have to find my family." I argued.

Cell stood up and looked behind me, then back down to me. I closed my eyes, knowing we weren't going anywhere.

"Not until your fever breaks. If only I knew where the rebels are-"

"Look behind you." this voice was so distant, but it wasn't Cell.

"By the Vegetian gods, it's the emperor."

The voices seemed to float. I couldn't open my eyes, I was so tired.

"Please, just hear me out-"

"Hey, there's the Empress! She don't look so good."

"Kill her now while we can."

"No, don't! That isn't the Empress! If you could just get Tien-"

"Yeah, you'd love that. You've been after him for years, Cell."

There was a thud and gasping. It sounded like someone was kicked and they fell to their knees.

"I'm not going to report you, just listen! That isn't Katrin, that is Katie, her counterpart from the vortex!"

"I don't believe him."

"No, listen…" I opened my eyes and looked at the men. One was Yamcha, and he was standing at my left, "Yamcha? It's no surprise you're helping Tien."

"Shut up!" Yamcha kicked me in the side. I let loose a scream from the pain, he had hit the rib that was broken. I even cried in pain, something I remembered doing only a few times.

"Do you think if she was the Empress we'd be stuck out here!" Cell screamed.

"Maybe it's true. Tien did say-"

"Tien isn't here." Yamcha said, "I need proof." Yamcha knelt down and looked me in the eye, "How can I trust you? How do I know you're not the Empress? Unlike Tien, I only have these two eyes."

"Here, look at this." I started rolling up my sleeve on my left arm, "I got this scar… at least 30 years ago. I was under a spell, and this was a tattoo to bind me to the wizard." I showed him my Majin scar.

"You could have done that yourself." Yamcha challenged.

"You're right, of course. I'm in no condition to fight anyone right now. Take me to Mirai and Gohan…" I was so tired.

"Tien has them at camp. But how can we be sure she is telling the truth?"

"You don't know if I'm telling the truth or not, but why pass up on a chance like this? You've got Ki-suppressing equipment of some kind, don't you?" I opened my eyes long enough to see Yamcha nod, "Put them on Cell and me. We won't be able to attack you. If we're telling the truth, my mate will know immediately. If we're lying, you can kill us."

"Okay, so let's say we might think you're not the Empress, but he is Emperor Cell, isn't he?" Yamcha asked.

"Yeah, but he's helping me…" I was so tired, but I had to fight off the sleepiness for just a little longer, "If I am Katie, and not Katrin, I hope you'll be able to trust me and not kill him…. He can explain it to you… right now… I can't keep… my eyes open…"

The voices seemed to float further away. I couldn't hear a lot of what was being said. Most of the words were twisted, fading in and out.

"She needs help, please."

There were loud voices, harsh voices. The voices were spinning around me, making me feel like I was on a turn-a-bout at the playground.

"Its okay, Katie. We're going to their base. If all goes well, by this time tomorrow you'll be up and fighting again…"

I was moving through the air, then placed back down again. I could finally open my eyes, and looking straight up was cloth. I shook my head and looked again. I was in a tent. I started looking around, and next to me was Cell, tied and bound. He had a band on his arm with a red flashing light. I looked on my right arm to see one just like his.

"Cell, where are we?" I asked. I noticed how hard it was starting to feel to talk and breathe.

"A rebel camp. I think we're at Tien's base."

"Are Mirai and Gohan here?"

"Don't know, we just got here."

"I hope they'll believe you… I couldn't stand to lose you again."

"That's the fever talking-"

"No, it… maybe it is, but I mean it. I loved your counterpart. You remind me of him- no, you are him, just a little different." I said.

"Save your energy. Once your mate and Gohan see you they will know its you and you'll be healed."

I closed my eyes and relaxed. Right now, I knew Gohan and Mirai would know it was me on sight. I knew they'd listen to me and Cell. I knew it would all be okay now.

"Cell? Thanks."

"No, thank you. Without you, our universe may not have a chance to change." Cell replied.

"Well, who do we have here?" I opened my eyes to the voice of Tien.

"Hello, Tien." I said.

"There's a rumor going around that you are the counterpart of our Empress. But she was locked in Purgatory Prison. No one has ever escaped from there before."

"Well I did… with some help."

"You don't sound so good right now, but I know that the Empress is a good actor."

"Tien, please, have you found my friends?" I asked.

"Friends?" he repeated.

"Tien, don't play games with me. I'm not the Empress, I swear. I give you my word as a Sayjin. Please, tell me, have you found Mirai and Gohan?"

"Perhaps, I need more details from you first. I may have this enlightened third eye, but I still need information to go on."

"Mirai… he's my mate. He looks like Prince Trunks, but older. And Gohan, my young cousin. They don't have tails… they were dressed in human clothing when I last saw them." I explained.

"She's sick, so stop playing with her!" Cell cried.

"You are the real deal." Tien said, looking at me.

"Don't harm him, he's the help I had when I escaped. He wants to help stop the Empress."

"Why is that, emperor?" Tien looked over a Cell.

"I have my own reasons." Cell replied simply.

"Well, I believe you, Katie. Mirai and Gohan told me a lot about you. You have some visitors. Only they can be for sure you're telling the truth. Come on in, boys."

I looked over to the tent flap as two figures came in. It was Mirai and Gohan, dressed in Sayjin-style armor. It was white, just like Tien's, Yamcha's, and the other men I saw earlier. I smiled, relieved that they were here and safe.

Mirai immediately came to my side and took my hand. He was worried, but he was smiling, like me. He looked almost the same as when we had trained in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber all those years ago. Years I had once forgotten because I lost him.

"Hey, how are you?" he asked.

"Oh, fine, just fine." I replied.

"Katie, come one, tell us." Mirai urged.

"There was a cave in. Let's just say I got into a fight with the rocks and the rocks won."

"And him?" Gohan asked, thumbing to Cell.

"He saved me. A lot. It's complicated, but he's on our side."

"My loyalty is to my mate, and that means she has to be stopped. If this continues it will destroy her." Cell justified.

"I guess it's safe to say you're the real deal." Tien added.

"Yeah, I am." I sighed.

"Tien, lets get her into one of those rehab-tanks." Gohan asked.

"Yeah, after she's healed…"

I'm so relieved… so tired… but I'm safe now…

AS22: another chapter done, great…

Cell: she's obviously tired, so I'll say it once more. R&R! if you don't, well, I have ways of persuasion that don't include a frying pan of doom…