Bulma yawned as she walked into the living room after being up all night. Trunks and Ranch had returned earlier from their night out and were now sitting on the couch in more casual clothing. With them were Raditz and Krillin, and they were all watching the news apprehensively, while Launch and Chi-Chi were feeding little Trunks and Ranch. Grateful for the help she was getting from the two other mothers, Bulma sat at the table and served herself what remained of breakfast.

"You two have a fun date?" Bulma asked.

"Yeah, mom, we had a good time," Trunks answered. "Thanks."

Bulma giggled mischievously. "Glad to know you two enjoyed yourselves."

"Yeah, Bulma, we really appreciate it," Ranch agreed gratefully.

"Hey, no problem," she said, clearly pleased with herself. "You two needed a taste of the good life since your time is so bleak."

Raditz quietly grumbled to himself, "Yes, but a hotel…"

"What was that, honey?" Launch asked sweetly.

"Nothing, dear!" Raditz blurted out hastily. When they had returned earlier that morning, he was clearly unhappy to know what those two had been up to, but even blue-haired Launch had made it perfectly clear that there would be dire consequences if he made a scene.

"In other news," Bulma continued, "despite all the damage that 16 took, dad and I should have him good as new in time for this tournament."

"Hey, that's great!" Krillin said gladly.

"Yeah, the murder-bot is getting better, let's celebrate," Trunks said sarcastically.

"Come on, Trunks, just give him a shot," Krillin insisted. "What do you have to lose?"

"Common sense," Ranch interjected. "Besides, we are giving it a chance. We haven't gone down there and blown it up yet, after all."

"I'll ask you not to do that after all the work that's been put into him so far," Bulma said.

"Sure, mom," Trunks said complacently.

The time eventually came to leave for the lookout to meet with Goku and Gohan when they exited the time chamber. Baby Ranch was bundled up and was carried by Launch, who was carried by Raditz, while Chi-Chi clung onto big Ranch. Waving good-bye to Bulma, the party left Capsule Corp.

At the lookout they found Vegeta, Tien, and Piccolo, who were all still waiting for Goku and Gohan to get out of the chamber.

"Anything new?" asked Piccolo.

Krillin replied, "No—and whether that's good or bad is up to you."

Looking around anxiously, Chi-Chi asked, "So where are they?"

"They're still not finished," Piccolo told her. "Just wait a little while longer."

Chi-Chi sighed. "As if I have a choice." She then sat down by the door to the chamber to keep vigil.

"So, Piccolo, have any ideas on what to do about Vegeta?" Raditz asked as he glared at Vegeta, who was off on his own.

"Depends. How much stronger do you think Goku is going to be? Stronger than Vegeta?" Piccolo said.

Raditz thought about it for a moment, and replied, "Most likely."

Piccolo smirked. "After Goku emerges, and Vegeta starts pouting, we should just walk in without saying anything."

"Simple. I like it."

"And let the rest of us outside deal with the fallout," Ranch commented. "Thanks for that." Then a thought came to her. "Hey, dad, speaking of ideas, have you had any thoughts on what we'll do once we're all done with the time chamber?"

"What do you mean?" Raditz asked.

"Well, it's not as if we're actually playing along with this dumb tournament thing, right?"

Caught off guard, he slowly said, "Well…"

"Dad," Ranch went on disbelievingly, "we really aren't going to take him on one-on-one…right?"

"Look, Ranch, you heard what Trunks said, Cell called out your uncle specifically, and he isn't going to pass up the chance for a good fight," he explained.

"That's stupid!" she exclaimed.

Amused despite himself, Piccolo replied, "You aren't wrong, Ranch, but knowing Goku that's most likely what will end up happening."

"This is your uncle we're talking about Ranch," Raditz stated. "Besides, I'm a Saiyan just like him, so I can understand his desire for a challenge like this."

"So what! You're actually willing to gamble everything on this stupid game? You told Uncle Goku that you'd blame every drop of blood that was spilled on him. What the hell changed?"

But Raditz just sighed. "Ranch, as soon as we stepped out of the chamber it was immediately apparent that everything changed. Cell has become so strong it will not matter all that much how we decide to handle this."

"Sweetie," Launch began sympathetically, "this is the sort of thing your uncle would do since I've known him."

"Does that mean you think this is a good idea?" she asked skeptically.

"I didn't say that," Launch admitted.

Ranch was about to continue her argument, when she felt a new power appear. Raditz and everyone else noticed too, and at the entrance to the chamber, Goku and Gohan emerged with their armor in tatters—in their Super Saiyan form, no less. Just from looking at them it was clear that they had grown far more powerful than they were before.

"Hey, everybody!" Goku greeted with a smile.

Raditz started, "Kakar—"

Chi-Chi, who had stared at Gohan in complete shock, let out a screech. "What happened?" she said hysterically, falling to her knees in front of Gohan. "Where's my sweet little Gohan?"

"Mom, what do you mean?" Gohan asked, concerned. "I'm still me."

"But who said that you could dye your hair?" she went on, her eyes tears up.

Ranch quietly asked her father, "Has Aunt Chi-Chi never seen a Super Saiyan before?"

"What? Of cour—" He stopped and thought back. "Now thinking about it, she probably hasn't. At least, I can't think of a time we transformed around her."

"Actually," Trunks said, "she saw my dad and I transform the other day."

"Take it easy on her," Launch told them. "She just received a big shock seeing her son suddenly so grown up."

But Chi-Chi only cried. "My baby is a punk now!"

It took a while, but when Goku managed to calm Chi-Chi down, he asked Mr. Popo if he still had his clothes. As Goku began changing, Gohan went up to Piccolo and asked for a ghi like his. Piccolo happily obliged and placed his hand over Gohan, and in a flash he was wearing a new ghi, although Chi-Chi obviously didn't fully approve.

"So, Kakarot, you think that you can now beat Cell?" Vegeta asked Goku.

Goku thought about it for a second. "Based on what I felt when you fought him, and how I am now…" Everyone around him hung on his words, waiting anxiously for his reply. "I'd probably get destroyed." They were all stunned by his answer, and became confused when Goku laughed and scratched his head.

"Kakarot, how can you be so calm!" Raditz demanded. "Even if you did have some sort of plan, what good would it do if none of us stand a chance against Cell?"

"You don't think you have a chance?" Goku asked Raditz. "How does your strength compare to his?"

"What do you mean? Are actually suggesting I should have challenged Cell?"

"Not exactly, I'm just saying you should size yourself up against him," Goku suggested. "I'll even do it with you!"

Vegeta let out a bark of laughter. "Don't bother. If I couldn't beat Cell, Raditz, there's no possible way you can."

Somehow Raditz managed to hold back his retort. He wasn't about to fall for Vegeta's goading, not this time. He was about to tell his brother that they shouldn't go, when Ranch stepped forward. "I'll go with you, Uncle Goku."

"What!" Raditz and Trunks both exclaimed in panic. "But Ranch—"

"Don't worry, guys, it'll just be a quick in and out," Goku assured them.

"Yeah, and I want to get a better idea of what we're up against if we're really going to wait another week," Ranch explained to them.

Raditz clenched his fist, but said in frustration, "Fine then!" He and Ranch each placed a hand on Goku's shoulder. One moment they were on the lookout, and the next they were directly behind Cell. Before them stood a creature that was vastly different to the one they saw at Ginger Town.

"Well, if it isn't Goku," Cell said. "And he brought his family, how nice. Come to see where the fate of the universe will be decided?"

"Really?" Goku replied. "Seems pretty small for something that big." Cell didn't seem to like that answer and turned to look at them. "You know, you aren't the first person that's wanted to rule the universe. And you'll fail just like the rest of them."

The three of them stared down Cell, who met their gaze. Ranch and Raditz transformed into Super Saiyans, and they, along with Goku and Cell, began to emit raw energy. Wind began whipping around them, dust was kicked up, and the air began to crackle with electricity. As the two sides continued to stare each other down, those back at the lookout and at Kame House felt the power they were emanating.

"Cell," said Goku, "when the time comes it's just going to be you and me. Leave everyone else out. Are we clear?" Ranch broke her stare down with Cell, to glare at Goku but didn't say anything. Cell only smirked, which he took as an agreement. "You'll pay for all that you've done. Grab on." Raditz and Ranch did as he asked, and the three teleported away.

"So," Trunks asked upon their return, "what do you think?"

"He's just as tough I thought he'd be," Goku replied. "And I'm pretty sure that if I fought him right now he'd beat me into the ground."

As the news shocked those around him, Piccolo got Raditz's attention. As those two left the group, Trunks asked, "Well, are you going to go back into the chamber? We've still got plenty of time. I'm thinking of going in myself after my father."

"Yes, and I'm going in alone," said Vegeta. "I don't anyone to interfere with my training."

Still shocked by what Goku said and the power he felt, Tien said, "Well, I've decided to not go in, because I don't think I'd be a worthy opponent."

Krillin said sympathetically, "I know what you mean. It doesn't matter how long I'm in there for. There's no way I'd get strong enough."

"So how about it?" Trunks asked Goku. "After we're done you and Gohan—"

"Absolutely not!" Chi-Chi shouted angrily. "My Gohan was already in that place for a year. I'm not letting him do it again!"

Gohan started, "But mom—"

"No, your mother's right, son," Goku said, somewhat surprising her and everyone else but for different reasons. "We've only got eight days left. If we're going to train we'll just do it out here."

"You can't be serious!" Vegeta cried.

"But why?" Krllin asked. "If you still—"

"Because there's no point," Goku answered without worry. "It won't help and training in there really takes a lot out of me."

Vegeta suddenly looked pleased with himself. "I get it. Kakarot is finally admitting that he's too weak to continue training."

Goku, however, was amused. "If you think that torturing your body like that is training then go for it. I know how important it is for you to keep up with me." Ranch snickered.

"By the sound of it, you think you're stronger than me now," Vegeta said in annoyance.

"Sure do," he replied, infuriating Vegeta. "Well, see everyone at the tournament. Before we head home Chi-Chi, I want to see Korin—"

"No, I want to go home now," she immediately replied.

"But, Chi-Chi, I just want him to gauge my strength," he pleaded.

"You already did that," she countered. "We're going home."

"Are you coming with us?" Launch asked Ranch.

Shrugging, she said, "Sure, I don't see why not." Looking at Trunks, she asked, "What about you?"

"Yes! At least stay for dinner," Launch said enthusiastically.

"Sure, I'll drop by."

When everyone gathered around Goku and teleported away, Vegeta said, "Enough of this. I'm going in."

Having noticed that Piccolo and Raditz had already entered, Tien began, "Yeah well—"

"Hey, Tien, don't you need to go to Kame House—I'll go with you!" Krillin quickly blurted out.

"If you say so." As Krillin and Tien flew off, Vegeta went to the chamber's door and became outraged to discover from Mr. Popo that Raditz and Piccolo were already inside.