The dim hum of the Gravity Chamber resonated through the metallic space as Vegeta leaned against the observation deck's railing. The chamber was dark, the lights off to give him an unobstructed view of Pan's every movement through the two-way tempered glass. From here, he had a perfect scope of the chamber without any distractions.
The chamber's settings were dialed to two hundred times Earth's gravity, a crushing force that would leave most beings flattened. But not Pan. Not tonight.
For weeks, he had noticed her sneaking into the chamber during the quiet hours, slipping away from her quarters to push herself far beyond her limits. He had let her continue, silently observing from the shadows. Her unrelenting determination intrigued him, her stubborn refusal to yield to her own exhaustion striking a chord within him. But tonight, as he watched her small frame standing steady against the overwhelming force, he could sense something different.
The air shimmered faintly with her energy, golden light flickering around her like a fragile flame. In her outstretched hand, an orb of energy struggled to take form, its unstable surface crackling with erratic power. Vegeta's sharp eyes narrowed as recognition set in.
Big Bang Attack.
Vegeta uncrossed his arms and leaned forward slightly, his dark brows furrowing. Impossible. She had no business knowing this technique. He had only begun teaching her the basics of ki manipulation. Yet, here she was, attempting to replicate an advanced attack that had taken him years to perfect.
The orb quivered in her palm, refusing to grow, its surface rippling like water disturbed by an unseen force. Sweat dripped down Pan's brow, her jaw clenched with effort. Vegeta noticed the tremor in her legs, the slight wavering in her stance.
She's forcing it, he thought, irritation flickering across his face. She doesn't understand the fundamentals, and yet she's trying to wield my technique? Foolish girl.
And yet… he didn't intervene.
Pan adjusted her stance, tilting her palm slightly as though unlocking a hidden mechanism. Vegeta's tail flicked behind him in surprise as the stagnant orb surged to life, expanding rapidly. Its sheer force sent her sliding back, her boots screeching against the metallic tiles. But even as the energy pushed her to her limits, she didn't relent.
Her eyes burned with resolve as she fought to steady the orb. The glow of her aura intensified, casting sharp shadows across the chamber walls. Vegeta's jaw tightened as he watched. The energy was raw, chaotic, and entirely unstable. Yet, somehow, it answered her command.
Her stance… her energy... it's so similar to Vala's, Vegeta thought, his eyes narrowing. No, it can't be...
The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. The way Pan was manipulating the orb, pushing it far beyond her control, was eerily reminiscent of the chaos he had witnessed during the Tournament of Power. It was as if she had tapped into something dangerous, something raw and unpredictable.
And then she vanished.
Flashback
Vala didn't even glance at him as she raised her arm toward Toppo, palm facing outward. A small ki orb began to form in her hand, flickering with raw potential. The energy shimmered, pulsating with intensity. But what happened next took Vegeta by surprise—the orb began to expand. It wasn't just growing; it was shifting its energy in a way that seemed almost unnatural.
Her hand continued its motion, unlocking the orb's potential, and within seconds, the sphere grew fifteen times its original size. The air around it warped, distorting with the raw pressure of the energy contained within. Vegeta's instincts screamed, and he couldn't help but narrow his eyes in suspicion.
Vala smirked, her eyes gleaming with cold amusement. "I don't want you out yet. You could still be fun." Her voice dripped with malice as she dashed forward, the orb still growing, gaining more power with every step she took.
In a flash, she teleported, appearing behind Toppo, and without giving him a chance to react, she slammed the now-massive orb square into his back. The impact was like a celestial collision, a thunderous sound that reverberated across the arena. Toppo was sent flying with explosive force, his body skidding uncontrollably toward Vegeta, who stood at the ready.
End Flashback
Her voice rang out, clear and defiant: "Big Bang!"
The orb exploded forward, its trajectory a crackling blaze of power. Vegeta's sharp eyes followed its path, noting the imperfections in its formation—the uneven spin, the jagged edges of its energy. It wasn't perfect, but it was effective.
Before it hit the wall nearest the door, she closed her hand to a fist, pulling her arm back; and the ball of energy listened. Her eyes swiveled to the bots, and her body twisted in the air, her fist pointing the orb in the direction of her line of sight. She forced the orb forward, destroying the bots instantly.
Pan landed on the floor, one hand out for balance while she pulled her fist backwards, her arm level with her head. Slowly, she opened her fist and the orb remained stationary, as if waiting for instruction.
She started to slowly walk around the massive energy. She lifted her arm and her index finger lightly grazed the orb. She brought her thumb up, and made a motion. The orb began to lose its mass, shrinking.
Vegeta's breath caught in his throat, his mind still reeling from the flashback. Vala couldn't control the Big Bang during the tournament, just manipulated its size. She couldn't make it wait for her command, let alone refine it this way...
His eyes narrowed, disbelief lingering in his voice. "This... is beyond what I've seen. Even Vala couldn't..."
Vegeta stepped into the chamber, his boots clanging against the floor. The sound echoed sharply, breaking the tense silence.
Pan froze, her golden glow flickering. Her body was still taut, a slight tremor in her stance as she slowly turned to face him. Her teal eyes widened, a mix of guilt, surprise, and defiance flashing across her face.
"Uncle Vegeta…" she gasped, the orb in her hand sputtering as her focus faltered. The energy crackled once before fading completely.
Vegeta's gaze darkened as his voice dropped to a low growl. "What do you think you're doing?"
Pan stood straighter, her small frame betraying the unease now creeping in. "I… I was training," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, but there was a hint of stubbornness in her tone.
Vegeta's brow furrowed deeper, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Training?" he scoffed, his words cutting like a blade. "You're trying to wield a technique you can't even control. Do you know how dangerous that is? Where the hell did you learn this technique?"
Pan stiffened, taken aback by the question, but her determination didn't waver. "I… I watched old recordings," she said, her gaze dropping for a moment before meeting his. "There were old videos from the Cell Games. I... I wanted to learn more. To understand the moves you all used."
Vegeta's eyes narrowed further, his irritation rising. "You're learning attacks by watching old videos?" he barked. "This isn't a game, Pan. The Big Bang Attack is not something you just pick up from a recording. It's not a trick to be learned on your own."
Pan's fists clenched, her jaw tightening. "I can do it!" she snapped. "I just need more time!"
Vegeta's eyes softened slightly, though his anger simmered beneath the surface. "You think brute force is enough? This isn't just about power. The Big Bang Attack requires precision, discipline. Without control, it's nothing but a liability."
Her defiance didn't waver. "I'm learning!" she shot back, her voice rising with frustration.
The room fell still as Vegeta's eyes bored into her. For a long moment, he didn't speak. Finally, he exhaled sharply, his arms falling to his sides, though his chest still rose and fell with the weight of his thoughts. Beneath the irritation and frustration, there was something else—an unwilling pride.
"You've made progress," he muttered begrudgingly. "But don't mistake progress for mastery. If you want this technique, you'll do it right. No shortcuts. No recklessness. Understand?"
Pan nodded quickly, her earlier frustration morphing into an unwavering determination.
Vegeta turned toward the chamber controls, his mind still turning over the sight he had just witnessed. She's reckless, he thought, his lips pressing into a thin line. But damn it, there's no denying her potential. If she learns to control this power... she might surpass even me.
As the chamber powered down, Vegeta cast one last glance at Pan. The energy had dimmed, and her small frame was once again nothing more than a reminder of the raw potential she held. But in her determined stance, he saw the spark of something much greater.
You're your father's daughter, all right. But if you want to carry the pride of the Saiyan race, you'll have to earn it.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Vegeta's lips. He turned toward the exit. "Don't keep me waiting, brat. You've got a lot of work to do."