*Chapter 14*

Goku, Gohan, and Pan landed on a cliff just a couple of feet from where Trunks was sitting. When he saw them he stood up and smiled at them. "It's good to see you're feeling well Goku," Trunks told him.

"Thanks, how's he doing?" Goku asked motioning towards Vegeta.

"He's just been standing there. I've tried talking to him but he just tells me to leave him alone," Trunks told Goku a little frustrated.

"Let me talk to him," Goku said walking up to Vegeta.

"What do you think they're talking about?" asked Trunks.

"Grandpa told us about a hyper something or other," Pan told him.

"I think it was called hyperbolic time chamber," Gohan corrected.

"What the heck's a hyperbolic time chamber?" Trunks asked.

"No idea," Pan said just as confused, "What about you dad, do you know what it is?" she asked him. Gohan shook his head, "sorry, never heard of it either."

Goku walked back with Vegeta, and he instant transmission them to the lookout. Goku explained what the hyperbolic time chamber was. It was another dimension where you could spend one year in there and only a day passes on the outside.

It was agreed that Vegeta and Trunks would go first, then Goku, Gohan, and Pan would go next.

"I'm going to go insane, living in that chamber with my father for a whole year," Trunks said sighing his father was probably going to ignore him for the whole year. "Not to mention I'll miss you terribly," Trunks told Pan.

"I'll miss you too," Pan told him almost near to tears, they had been friends for almost six year and they were never apart that long from each other.

"It's time to go boy," Vegeta growled.

Pan gave Trunks a tight hug, she tip toed to reach his face and kissed him on the cheek. He blushed slightly as he returned her hug.

Vegeta mutter to himself why his son would want to associate with someone of Kakarot's blood. Goku on the other hand, had big smile on his face, they did look pretty cute.

"Train hard and be strong," Pan told him as they broke apart.

"You can count on it," Trunks said with smirk. He followed his father into the chamber and Pan watched as the door closed slowly behind them. It would only be day for her but it would be a whole year for Trunks, she wonder how much time had would have already pass for Trunks and Vegeta, how much they had improved.

"So are you and Trunks a couple?" Gohan asked as he sat beside her. Pan blushed slightly before she answered, "No we're just friends, I thought I already told you guys that," Pan said embarrassed that her cheek were still burning.

"Well the way your blushing I'd say you were," Gohan told her snickering.

Pan sighed at her father's amusement, to be truthful she knew she had feelings for Trunks more than just friendship. She sort of had a crush on the boy since she was ten. Besides, Trunks probably didn't have the same feelings for her that she had for him.

"Hey you two," Goku said coming up to his son and granddaughter, "Are You two hungry? Cause I'm starving," Goku said as his stomach began to growl. Pan and Gohan exchanged amused looks as they all went to go find Mr. Popo and have him cook them something to eat.

The Hyperbolic Time Chamber:

The door to the time chamber closed behind the two saiyan males, "What the hell is so special about this Place?!" Vegeta scoffed.

Trunks body was on fire, "It's hot, there's less air and the gravity is different," Trunks said.

He and Vegeta went outside to take a look around, Trunks was surprised at what he saw, "What?! I don't believe it. There's nothing here! We're surrounded by total emptiness! We're floating in an empty void, what kind of place is this?" Trunks said getting a bit intimidated at what he saw.

"Too much for you, Brat?" Vegeta asked scoffing.

"Of course not!" Trunks told his father. "But, now I know why only few can only stand a whole year in this place, it's over whelming." Trunks didn't want his father to see he was afraid. He was going show his father that he was strong; he went through a living hell all his life and survived it all. This was his chance to prove himself to Vegeta.

Vegeta went outside in the vastness to start his training. Trunks kept his distance knowing his father would want to be left alone. How in the world was he going be able to live here a whole year in this place with his father? He sighed deeply, *Well I better start training,* he thought to himself, *The sooner this year is up, the sooner I can see Pan again.*

It had been a long grueling six months for Trunks, Vegeta mostly wanted to be left alone, Trunks respected his father's wishes. The training in the time chamber was intense. The gravity so thick you could hardly breathe and temperature would change from freezing cold to raging hot. The only time Vegeta and Trunks were ever in the same room together was when they were eating their meals.

Vegeta would sometimes spar with Trunks before he would go off and train alone.

Trunks wanted prove to his father he was strong just as strong as him it's what kept him going, he knew his relationship with his father wasn't going to be anything like Goku's and Gohan's is or like Gohan's and Pan's was, but it was something in a strange wired way. He didn't realize his father would watch him sometimes from where he would be training, Vegeta would never admit it out loud but he was proud of his son, his determination, his will to go on, to be so strong at his age, it was amazing.

Outside the time chamber:

Goku, Gohan, and Pan were waiting at the pillars beside door of the time chamber, Goku sat cross legged against one pillar and Pan and Gohan sat by each other by the other pillar. Piccolo was currently fighting the androids Goku and the kids could sense everything that was happening, Piccolo was fighting with android Seventeen.

"He should be able to hold them off." Goku said trying to reassure Gohan. They quietly sensed out the battle. They had no idea who was winning because I couldn't sense the androids. Piccolo's power remained the same, getting higher and sometimes lower. Suddenly, there was another large ki heading towards Piccolo.

"Oh no! it's Cell!" Gohan yelled. He got up, but was stopped by Goku.

"Gohan, we can't fight yet." Goku ordered. "Piccolo should be able to hold him off as well and if the androids want to live, they'll have to help him."

Gohan frowned as he sat back down. Pan rubbed Gohan's shoulder, she knew how much Piccolo meant to him from all the stories he used to tell her when she was little. Piccolo was like a second father to Gohan.

They waited to see how the battle would play out. Cell didn't fight Piccolo. He was fighting android Seventeen; Cell seemed to be winning, so Piccolo stepped in. He was holding his own against Cell, but suddenly, he started losing. Then, the most unexpected thing happened. Cell's ki rose rapidly, which signified a ki attack, and Piccolo's ki dropped to almost nothing. Gohan was the first to react.

"Piccolo!" Gohan screamed. He jumped from his spot and started running to the edge of the lookout, but was stopped by Goku.

"Gohan, no! Goku yelled. "You can't go fighting. We have to wait!" He did everything he could to hold his son down, but Gohan kept squirming.

"Let me go! Let me go!" Gohan cried. "I have to help him! Let go! I don't wanna wait! He'll be dead! Let go! Let me go!"

"Dad, please stop!" Pan urged as she ran over to the father and struggling son. "You're not strong enough. Please dad, don't go!" Gohan didn't listen as he pushed Goku off him.

He launched into the air, but suddenly hit the ground. To Pan's horror Goku had transmission himself above Gohan and hit his son.

Pan let out a gasp, "Grandpa! How could you?!" she cried.

"I'm sorry, but had to." Goku said solemnly. "Gohan, listen to me. If we don't follow our plan, we'll be killed. The earth will be destroyed. Everyone you know and love will parish. You have to train."

"But dad," Gohan pleaded. "It's not fair! Piccolo didn't have to die!" he whispered.

"I know, but more people will die if we don't follow the plan, do you want that to happen?" Goku asked his son.

Gohan shook his head no as hot tears were coming down his cheeks.

"What's going to happen to the androids?" Pan asked. "Without Piccolo there to help, they'll be absorbed. We just can't sit here!"

Goku was silent. He was concentrating. That's when they all noticed Cell's power getting higher.

"Oh no..." Pan whispered. He got an android.

Cell's power kept getting stronger, almost without end. Finally, it stopped.

"Grandpa, we have to do something!" Pan urged. "Cell's already too strong for…" Pan was interrupted when they felt another strong ki.

"Tien!" Goku yelled. "He's not supposed to be there! What does he think he's doing? He's going get himself killed!" Goku said through gritted teeth.

Suddenly they felt a shockwave of power from Tien. He was using his tri beam on Cell trying to give the other androids a chance to escape.

"He's using too much of his energy, if he doesn't stop soon…" Goku said unable to finish his sentence.

Pan was clutching her fists, why was Tien being so foolish? Piccolo was most likely dead and now Tien was losing energy fast. She couldn't stand it any longer, she went super saiyan and shot up from where she was sitting and was about to fly off when Goku caught her arm.

"No, Pan you can't," Goku said gripping her arm tighter.

"Let go of me!," Pan yelled trying to get loose from his grip, "I'm not going sit here while our friends are out there dying, I've seen too much death to last me a life time! All of you died in my timeline, I'll be damned if l let it happen again," She said with unshed tears in her eyes.

Goku looked at her and then nodded, "Alright let's go," he said as he instant transmission them to the scene.

"Tien!" Pan yelled as she saw him fall to ground exhausted and barley conscious. She ran over to him, "It'll be okay we'll get you to lookout, you'll be okay."

Cell was surprised when he saw Goku and Pan come out of nowhere, too surprised to even make a move to attack. He demanded to know how they did that, but Goku ignored him when he felt Piccolo's ki, he instant transmission to where Piccolo was lying passed out. He came back to where Pan and Tien were. Pan put Tien over her shoulder and grabbed her grandfather's shoulder as Goku transmission them all to the lookout. The last thing Pan saw before they were at the lookout was Cell trying to attack them.

They made it to the lookout and gave Piccolo and Tien some senzu beans, within a few seconds, Piccolo and Tien woke up.

"Where..." Tien muttered groggily. "Where am I?"

"Are you okay Tien?" Pan asked.

"Yeah," Tien replied. "The last thing I remember was fighting Cell. Did I win?"

"Afraid not," Goku said, "But you did hold him off long enough to give the other android a chance to escape.

They all sat down as they all waited for Trunks and Vegeta to come out of the time chamber. It seemed like forever, when they finally felt Vegeta and Trunks' energy and the chamber door opened.

Pan jump up from where she was sitting, she was going to make the most of seeing Trunks again before she would have to go in the time chamber herself. Trunks was the first to walk out, Pan was surprised to see Trunks was taller almost as tall as Goku, his close were a little tattered, and hair was long! It was up tide up in pony tail.

"Thanks for waiting guys, did we miss anything?" Trunks asked.

Pan ran over to him and gave him a tight hug which he returned happily. He was glad to see her again, "Trunks you look…you look…sexy," Pan sputtered out before she knew she what she was saying. She covered her mouth in embarrassment at saying her thoughts out loud, "Trunks I didn't…"

Trunks was blushing profusely, "It's nice to see you too gorgeous," Trunks said casually trying to embarrass Pan as much as he was embarrassed, and it worked. She was blushing red like tomato from the neck up.

"I guess we're even then hah?" Pan asked before she and Trunks burst out laughing and embraced each other in another hug. "I missed you so much Pan," Trunks said smiling as they walked over to Goku and the others.

"It's really good to have you guys back," Goku said with a huge smile on his face. "Things have gotten a lot worse since you've been gone," he told Trunks as Vegeta came out the chamber, crossing his arms.

"Hey Trunks you've changed," said Gohan.

"I'll say," Goku said, "You look like you're in great shape."

"Thanks," Trunks said smiling.

"You were in the chamber for a whole day," said Mr. Popo, "I haven't known anyone who could last that long in there."

Pan smiled up at Trunks, "That's Trunks for you, toughest guy I know," she said giving him a light punch on the shoulder.

Trunks smirked, "We probably could have come out a lot sooner, but father wasn't ready to leave till he was sure he did all he could do. He insisted on training for the full year, even though it only took him a couple of months to trans…" Trunks said before he was cut off by Vegeta.

"Quiet!" barked Vegeta, "You've said quite enough boy, our training is not to be discussed, ever!"

Trunks sighed, "Well I guess you're going to just have to wait and see for yourself."

Goku smirked, "So it worked out, I guess," he said.

Vegeta retuned the smirk, "Maybe, I will take of everything now, there's no need for you and the brats to attempted the training Kakarot, because I'm sure you wouldn't survive it. Besides I can guarantee it that I won't be needing any of you to help me take care of the androids."

Trunks and Pan sighed heavily, that man and his pride.

"You fool!" Tien shouted.

"Listen," said Piccolo, "I don't you how powerful you think you are, but you're underestimating our enemies," Piccolo told Vegeta.

"While you were in that room, Cell absorbed android Seventeen and transformed. So don't go telling me you can handle it," said Tien. "You don't even know what you're up against!"

Vegeta laughed, "Clearly trying to defeat Cell has taken its toile on all of you, that's why I'm offering to take care of him myself," Vegeta said with a look of confidence on his face.

Pan rolled her eyes and Trunks sighed, his father didn't learn his lesson from last time.

"Vegeta," said Goku, "I really think you should listen to Tien and Piccolo, I mean you'd have to triple your strength to stand a chance…"

Vegeta smirked at him, Goku stood there amazed, was Vegeta really saying he was that Powerful?"

They all stood there in silence for a moment before they saw a ship landing on the lookout.

"Hey guys it's me! Where are you," Bulma shouted as she came out the ship with baby Trunks.

"Hey, it's Bulma, Gohan said as all the Z-Fighters started walking out to greet her.

"Hey Trunks how are you doing," Gohan said giving Baby Trunks his hand to hold. The baby held Gohan's hand started talking in baby language.

"He really likes you Gohan," Bulma said smiling.

"Of course," Gohan said giving her the Son grin

"Yes you like Gohan don't you Trunks, you're grow up big and strong just like him," Bulma said making Baby Trunks laugh with delight.

Bulma was smiling down at baby Trunks when she noticed Trunks in his tattered clothing. She ran up to him, "Oh my gosh, Trunks what happened! I mean you are Trunks right?"

"Ugh, yeah." Trunks answered.

Pan let out a little laugh at Trunks' embarrassment.

"Oh, wow you've grown," she said, "Is this a wig?" she asked pulling on his hair, "No it's real!"

"I was in the hyperbolic time chamber," Trunks explained, "I spent a year in there but only a day had passed out here, that's why I've grown a little."

"Oh."

"Father and I trained together," Trunks told her.

She looked over at Vegeta curiously, "Vegeta, you don't look all that different, why didn't you hair grow at all?"

Vegeta looked taken aback a little before he went back to his same expression and spoke, "For your information, a pure Saiyan's hair does not change from the day he is born."

"Oh," Bulma and Goku said in unison, "Is that right, how about," Goku said amazed.

"I guess that's why you've never needed a haircut," Bulma told Goku.

"Hey yeah, but I wish I could something about these split ends. Hahaha," Goku said rubbing the back head grinning, while Pan and Gohan snickered at him and Trunks looked at him confused.

"Well why don't you try shampoo," Bulma suggested.

"I don't have time to listen to Kakarot's hair problems, but I sure would like to know why you're here?" Vegeta said a bit annoyed.

Bulma sighed, "Hold on I'll show you, you see this fight with Cell's going be tough. So I thought you guys could use some new combat suits," she told him as she clicked the capsule. "And if you stop being a jerk Vegeta! Maybe you can have one too."

She went over to the box and opened it, handing everybody there suits. "Here you go Pan this one yours, I really had fun designing one for a girl," Bulma said smiling.

"Thanks Bulma!" Pan said happily as she ran into another room to change.

"Wow, it's just like the one I had on Namek, remember dad?" Gohan asked.

"Hey these are really light, cool!" Goku said tossing his armor up.

"So all of these are saiyan combat suits?" Trunks asked his mother.

"More or less, I tried to copy Vegeta's as much as possible," she told him.

"You did a great job Bulma!" Gohan said happily.

"Why thank you Gohan."

"You know what the difference between you guys and me is?" Pan said as she walked up to where the Boys and Bulma were. "I make this look good," she said with a smirk and a hand on her hip. Trunks snickered, she did look pretty good in that armor.

"I can take you and Trunks to Cell by instant transmission if you like Vegeta," Goku offered.

Vegeta gave him a face, "Hell no!" he shouted before blasting off.

Trunks shook his head and sighed, "Well I better catch with him," Trunks said.

"Oh here you're going need these, just in case," Goku said handing Trunks two senzu beans.

"Thanks Goku." Said Trunks.

"Take care of yourself Trunks, and make sure your father doesn't do anything stupid." Bulma said.

"No worries mom," he told his mother before turning to Pan.

"You come back to me in one piece, you got it?" Pan said hugging Trunks goodbye.

"Hey don't worry about me, I'll be fine," he said as he hugged her, "You train hard with you grandfather and dad, okay? Stay strong, and we'll see each other again real soon," he said.

"I'll miss you," she said as gave a kiss on the cheek, "For good luck," she told him.

Trunks blushed a little, "Thanks I'll need it," he said as flew off to catch up with Vegeta.

"Awe! You two are so adorable together," Bluma said making Pan blush.

"Okay you two, are you ready?" Goku asked his son and granddaughter.

They nodded, as they followed him into the time chamber.