Kera:
Krillin, Gohan, Piccolo, Kera, Tien and Yamcha had been with the Turtle Hermit for several days now. Chi-Chi cared for the still sleeping Kakarrot while the others spent most of their time watching the news. Each time the news told them which city had fallen victim to Cell, they set out to confront him, but Cell was one step ahead of them each time. Each time they returned to the island frustrated.
Trunks, who had left Krillin to train with Vegeta after the destruction of Dr. Gero's computer, had not reappeared since, nor had Vegeta.
Everyone had high hopes that Bulma could decipher the android blueprint that Krillin and Trunks had found in Dr. Gero's underground laboratory, giving them a way to neutralise the androids.
Angrily, they all stared at the television as images of a deserted city flickered across the screen.
"That's not far from here," Yamcha said.
"Cell will surely be able to locate us again," Piccolo remarked.
"Why don't you take a plane?" Everyone turned to Chi-Chi, who was just coming down the stairs. "What now? That way you can suppress your auras and still be quite fast."
No one wanted to admit that the thought had not yet occurred to them. Chi-Chi sighed and shook her head. "You'd think that this fighting all the time would cloud your brains."
Since she was indeed right, the protest was only quiet.
Yamcha pulled out a capsule containing a plane. He went outside, flicked the switch and threw the capsule onto the sand. With a loud bang, a cloud of smoke appeared, which quickly cleared to reveal a large transport plane. He opened the cargo hatch and climbed in.
Krillin, Piccolo, Kera, Tien and Gohan followed him. Chi-Chi waved to them as they took off.
"I hope we find Cell this time." Krillin's voice quivered. Whether from fear or excitement, Kera couldn't tell.
"With every person Cell drains, he grows stronger. I should have killed him when I had the chance." That guilt still gnawed at Piccolo. Kera, who had sat down next to Piccolo on the floor of the plane, put her hand on his knee soothingly. Piccolo then breathed a little more calmly again and put his hand on hers.
Apparently, the fusion with Kami made Piccolo a little more open with his feelings. Small gestures like this happened every day by now, and in front of the others as well.
Krillin looked away sheepishly and looked ahead through the glass.
"Oh, if only Goku were here now. Surely he could help us."
"Papa!" exclaimed Gohan.
"Yes, that's right, your papa," said Krillin, still staring out the window.
"Goku! Kakarrot!" shouted Piccolo and Kera.
"Yes, Goku ..." Krillin turned around and couldn't believe what he was seeing. Standing in front of him was Kakarrot, beaming at him from above. Tears of joy shot from Krillin's eyes and he jumped at Kakarrot to hug him. They slammed into the wall of the plane. Gohan ran after him and jumped into his father's arms as well, laughing loudly with reunion joy.
Kera felt a tear of joy run down her cheek too. Piccolo gently wiped it away.
"Papa, are you all right again?"
"Yes, I'm in great shape and I'm happy to see everyone too." He gave Krillin and Gohan another hug, then turned to Pic-colo. "Hello Picco-Kami!"
Kera suppressed a grin. Piccolo's features slipped from his face. "Well, listen, I'm as pretty as Piccolo and I'm going to call myself the same."
Kera couldn't hold back her laughter and snorted.
"Uh, okay. I want to train with Gohan in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. For a year."
"No one has ever lasted longer than a month in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Staying longer is dangerous," Piccolo replied.
"I know that. But we will make it. I can't fight the androids yet. I'm not strong enough for that."
"All right. We'll keep Cell from finding the androids for as long as we can."
Kakarrot nodded his thanks to Piccolo and extended his hand to Gohan. Kera blinked once and father and son were gone.
"What is the Hyperbolic Time Chamber?" asked Kera.
"A space that exists outside this plane. It is in the void. You can enter it through Kami's palace. If 24 hours pass on earth, a year passes there."
'A year just you and me. What could you do there?", Kera mentally sent to Piccolo with a giggle. She saw a slight blush rise in his face and his hand gripped hers a little tighter.
A few minutes later, Yamcha landed the plane. They got out and searched the area. But again they did not find Cell. Frustrated, they flew back to the small island of Master Roshi.
Vegeta:
Vegeta stared into the distance. He stood on a rock in the most barren landscape he could find on this earth. He had to become stronger. Only how? Trunks was near him all the time and had not left his side for days.
Then he suddenly felt the energy of Kakarrot and turned around. His son was standing with him.
"You're all right," Vegeta said dryly and turned away again. He didn't really care what the other had to present.
"Yes. Gohan and I would like to train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Will you come?"
"What kind of chamber is that?"
"A chamber that exists outside of this time. In another dimension. You can train there under increased gravity. The best thing is that time passes differently in this room. When 24 hours pass here, a year passes in the space of mind and time."
Vegeta tried not to let his excitement show. This was wonderful. He would have the opportunity to train without any time worth mentioning on Earth. This was his chance to get past the level of a Super Saiyan.
"Fine by me. But I want to get into this room first."
"All right." Kakarrot nodded.
"I'm coming with you!" shouted Trunks, taking a step forward.
Vegeta immediately wanted to hurl a no at him, but then he reconsidered. Maybe there was nothing wrong with having someone by his side to give him more training opportunities.
"All right. But don't stand in my way," he admonished the younger man, who nodded curtly. "Where is this room, then?"
"The entrance is in the palace of Kami. I will show you." Kakarrot rose into the air. His son followed him immediately and Vegeta did the same. The four of them flew to Kami's palace.
The white tiled platform hovering in the sky made no particular impression on Vegeta. Was the entrance to another dimension supposed to be hidden here?
Kakarrot led them through some corridors of the palace and stopped in front of an inconspicuous door. He opened it and took a step to the side. "Here is the entrance," he said redundantly, making an inviting gesture.
Vegeta paid him no further attention and walked past him. "When we're done with the androids and Cell, it's your turn, Kakarrot." He thought he saw a smirk on Kakarrot's face. He wondered if he was looking forward to fighting him too.
He pushed the thought aside and entered the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Trunks followed him. With a sucking sound, the door fell shut behind them. Vegeta looked at his new surroundings. To the left he saw two beds, to the right passages to other rooms. He glanced in briefly and recognised a kitchen and a bathroom.
Opposite the door through which they had entered the room was an archway that seemed to lead back outside. Vegeta crossed the doorway and stopped abruptly. He had indeed left the room, for he was on a kind of terrace. But there was nothing in front of him. Endless white emptiness spread out before him. The air was thick. It was hot. Vegeta felt that this room would push him to his limits. He smiled. This was just what he needed.
Piccolo:
The hours dragged on. Piccolo wished he could fly somewhere with Kera. Somewhere where they were alone. Instead, they had been squatting for days with too many people in a house that was too small. Privacy unthinkable. Sometimes he gave her a fleeting kiss when no one was around. A brief caress of her cheek or hand, a smile that only she could see.
Everyone in the house knew about Piccolo and Kera's relationship, but no one spoke to them about it, although he knew that Kera might well tell Chi-Chi a little more. But she was not yet ready to make it really public. She said that she had to talk to Vegeta first, as she had committed herself to him. Piccolo could understand her. For him it didn't matter if he made a couple in love in front of everyone. What mattered was that he was aware of his feelings towards Kera and knew from her that she felt the same way.
Kera was talking to Chi-Chi, Piccolo was following the news without any real news. Krillin, Tien and Yamcha were trying to get some sleep and had spread out on every available spot on the ground.
Almost 24 hours had passed since their encounter with Goku on the plane. Piccolo hoped that he and Gohan had really lasted a year in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber and would now join them again soon.
Suddenly he jumped up, looked out the window and cursed loudly. Kera was immediately beside him. The three androids had landed on the beach in front of the house and were looking in at them. They waited. They wanted to talk. Piccolo gave them a quick nod, tipped Kera off to wake the others and stepped outside. Kera and the others followed only a few seconds later.
"What do you want here?"
"We want to know where Goku is," the black-haired man said.
"Not here," Piccolo remarked dryly.
"So we have to beat it out of you?"
"Try as you might. But we're going to that uninhabited island over there." Piccolo pointed to the left. On the horizon was a larger island with no houses on it.
17 shrugged his shoulders. "Fine by me."
Piccolo took off, but turned back to the group in mid-air. "You stay here. You can't do anything anyway."
Krillin nodded in agreement. Kera also rose into the air. Piccolo looked at her.
'I told you to stay here!'
'That doesn't apply to me. I can give you power in an emergency.'
Piccolo's eyes darted back and forth. He was thinking. Looking into Kera's eyes, he knew it was useless to contradict her.
'All right. But you fly away if things get dicey.'
Kera nodded so curtly it might as well have been a shake of the head. Piccolo knew she wouldn't leave him alone anyway, for which he was secretly grateful, but at least he had said so.
The two flew with the androids to the neighbouring island. Kera and Piccolo landed next to each other, the androids grouped together opposite them.
Piccolo threw aside his turban and cape and got ready for battle.
Kera:
Kera looked at the androids closely. The woman had changed her clothes since their last encounter. 16 had moved a bit away from the other two and was watching a flock of birds that had settled in the trees around.
"17, it's just you and me fighting, is that clear?" called Piccolo to the cyborg.
"Of course. If your chick intervenes there, 18 will get there too."
"Watch your mouth," Piccolo said quietly, tensing all his muscles. Kera felt Piccolo concentrate his energy. His power had increased many times over. Through their link, she perceived how deeply Piccolo could now extend his strength.
He rushed at 17 and placed a hook to the chin that hurled the boy high into the air. Quick as a flash, Piccolo raced after him, overtaking 17 in flight and bringing his fists down on him. 17 slammed to the ground and remained lying.
A small hope stirred in Kera. Maybe Piccolo was strong enough to defeat 17. But 17 straightened up again almost immediately and fixed Piccolo with his bright blue eyes. He wiped his mouth. "Granted, you're really fast."
Piccolo did not deign to retort and fired several small balls of energy. But thanks to his speed, 17 was able to dodge each bullet. Enraged, Piccolo fired a larger energy ball after it, which hit 17 but he deflected it upwards, leaving him unharmed.
Frustrated, Piccolo cried out. Kera saw him feverishly thinking about what attack to use next. She knew an idea had occurred to him as he grinned devilishly. He raised his arms towards 17, who was hovering a few yards above them. Several yellow balls of energy sprung up around the android and remained hovering in a large radius around him.
"Hey, can't you hit it now?"
"Say hello to your creator in hell for me!" With these words, Piccolo executed a gripping hand gesture. The bullets moved towards 17 and exploded.
Kera had jumped up at the last moment and flown a few yards. She shielded her eyes with her arm and turned away. The flash of the explosion was so bright that it had certainly still been visible on Master Roshi's island.
A huge cloud of smoke had appeared where 17 had been a moment ago. As the smoke slowly cleared, the first thing Kera saw was that the island they had just landed on was no longer there. Looking back up, she realised that 17 was still hovering in the same place, surrounded by a blue shield.
Kera and Piccolo cursed. 17 didn't even seem to have suffered a scratch from that powerful attack.
"I hope the environmentalists don't get that you destroyed the island," 17 said, brushing his hair behind his ear. "Come on, let's keep fighting back there." He pointed to the next island and flew off, closely followed by 18 and 16. Piccolo and Kera followed the androids.
'Are you okay?
'Yeah, I'm fine. Do you want me to give you power?'
'Not yet,' Piccolo declined with thanks. Kera squeezed Piccolo's hand briefly before they landed again.
"Now will you tell me where Goku is?" 17 had been waiting impatiently for Piccolo and Kera to land.
"You can wait a long time for that."
17 had stood very close to Piccolo and was staring at him. Who would strike the first blow? Kera, who stood a little apart, was itching in her fingers. She would only too gladly join the fight. She saw a twitch in 17's arm and wanted to shout something to Piccolo, but by then it was too late. 17 punched Piccolo violently in the face. Piccolo's head jerked back and he staggered back a few steps.
Kera was amazed. She had felt nothing. The training of the last few years had worked. Closing the connection so that the other felt no pain was something they had trained intensively since entering the warrior bond. They had tried for a while to maintain this blockade permanently, but they had quickly realised that it was draining their strength too much. So they had concentrated on closing the connection for a split second and then opening it again. And it worked well, as she now had to realise. Because her head would also be throbbing properly otherwise.
Piccolo wiped her mouth, from which blood was dripping, and spat out. "I have to admit that. Your blows are fast. They're not particularly powerful for that, though."
17 growled. "I'm the strongest." He attacked again. Piccolo blocked his blow and now lashed out as well. 17 also managed to block his punch. The exchange of blows seemed even, which raised Kera's hopes a little again.
Her eyes kept twitching to 18 and 16. 18, like her, was watching the fight between Piccolo and 17. Her eyes were the same colour as 17's. Ice blue, cold. 16, on the other hand, didn't seem interested in the fighters at all. He looked in another direction and seemed not to be in this world at all.
When Kera looked back at Piccolo and 17, she saw them standing opposite each other. They had grabbed each other's hands. Energy crackled between them. The earth was shaking. The volcano on this island let out a deep rumbling sound. It was spewing lava. This island, too, already showed clear signs of struggle. Neither of them would give in. The veins on Piccolo's arms and hands stood out. His teeth were bared. At the moment the two seemed equally strong, but if it was true that 17's energy never ran out, as they had learned from Bulma, then this fight was pointless. Even if Kera could give Piccolo all her energy, it wouldn't be enough.
With a jerk, Kera turned around. Someone was approaching. Someone evil. It had to be Cell. Kera cursed inwardly. He must have sensed Piccolo's energy while fighting and had come here as fast as he could. What was she supposed to do now?
She looked at 18. She didn't seem to have noticed anything. Could she sense energies at all? Piccolo and 17 were no longer where they had been two seconds ago. She had to warn them that Cell was coming. Or should she tell 18? Kera jumped forward, but then her attention was diverted.
Cell landed on a rock not far from her. From his elevated position he watched those present. A spiteful laugh played around his lips as he leapt forward and set his sights on 17.
Kera shouted a mental warning to Piccolo, who immediately relayed it.
"17, watch out!" shouted Piccolo, but it was too late. Cell grabbed the android and threw him to the ground. With one foot he held him pinned to the ground while he pointed the spike at the end of his tail at 17.
Piccolo came from the side and rammed his knee into Cell's face to distract him from 17. Cell remained lying a few yards away. Quickly, 17 rapped himself back up.
"What is that ugly thing?"
"That's Cell. Also a creature of Dr Gero. He must absorb you and 18 to gain his ultimate power."
Cell seemed completely unfazed by Piccolo's attack and talk and made another dash forward towards 17. This time Kera prevented him from getting closer to the android. She lunged at Cell and pulled him to the ground. He brought his fists down on her, forcing the air out of her lungs.
Then she felt strong hands on her arms. She was being lifted up. Beneath her she heard hissing. Piccolo had attacked Cell again. She blinked upwards against the sun. Someone had grabbed her and taken her out of the line of fire.
He landed with her some distance away and let her catch her breath. It was Tien. He apparently hadn't been able to stand just waiting it out on the island. "Thank you," she murmured.
Piccolo didn't stand a chance. Cell hit him in the head with a kick that hurled Piccolo several yards.
The Namekian remained on his stomach. Kera, who was watching with Tenshin-han from a safe distance, cried out. The pain in her neck almost took her breath away.
Kera was unable to move and could only watch as Cell approached Piccolo. He grabbed Piccolo by the neck and lifted him up. Piccolo's head slumped to the side.
Kera let out a sob. She saw Cell put his hand on Piccolo's stomach and send a beam of energy through his body, exiting out the back. Kera screamed and collapsed. She held her left side. When she took her hands away, she saw that her battle suit was soaked in blood.
Tien had knelt down to her. "What's wrong? Why are you bleeding?"
Kera breathed haltingly. Every breath burned in her lungs. Helpless, she could only watch as Cell flung Piccolo's lifeless body away from her. It hit the surface of the water and slowly sank. Cell did not have a single glance left for the Namekian. His target was the androids.
Kera could not breathe enough to scream. She wanted to sit up and run to him, but it took almost all her energy not to faint.
"Kera, it's too late. I can't feel Piccolo's aura anymore."
"Let me go," she said weakly.
"But ..."
"As long as I live, Piccolo lives too. Let me go." She put all the determination she could muster into her voice. Hesitantly, Tien pulled his hand from her shoulder and helped her stand. He supported her all the way to the shore.
"Stay here and keep watching," she pressed out between clenched teeth. Before Tien could ask what she meant by that, she dropped into the water. She could still hear Tien's scream and felt his hand trying to reach for her, but he couldn't manage to grab her.
Dear reader,
I hope you enjoyed the chapter. A little announcement: As I'm going on a little holiday, no new chapter will be published for the next two weeks. I'm looking forward to your opinion on how you think it will continue. Feel free to write it to me in the comments.
All the best!
Yours, Jessica