Piccolo couldn't believe what he was seeing. Just how stupid are you, Vegeta? he thought with his arms crossed in consternation. "Vegeta, are you sure this is such a wise decision? Remember how much it took out of you when you fought android 19 alone? What makes you think these ones will be any easier?"
"Honestly, Namek, if you're trying to suggest that I get any of your help, then forget about it. I will fight her alone. No-one is to join in, understand?" questioned Vegeta, raising an eyebrow at Piccolo.
"Whatever you wish, Vegeta. I just wanted you to reconsider the possible consequences," stated Piccolo. Your arrogance will be the death of you, he thought.
18 let out a drawn-out sigh of boredom. "C'mon people, let's get this started already."
"No problem," muttered Vegeta, smirking, and launching himself at her like a rocket.
The two clashed together. Vegeta immediately went on the offensive, eager to teach the android a lesson. Nobody patronizes me and gets away with it! he thought. He was so certain of his superiority that he didn't notice that 18 wasn't even trying. He was seeing what he wanted to see. He wasn't oblivious for much longer. 18 had finally had enough, and she began to quicken her pace. Vegeta started to have difficulty with keeping up with her. He barely blocked a well-aimed punch in time. He blocked the blow with his arms and flinched from the unsuspecting pain that shot up his limbs when she made contact. None of her blows had been hard like that moments ago. lThat actually hurt! he thought in total shock. I better kick it up a notch.
Vegeta retreated a short distance away from 18, and he clenched his fists and let out a shrill cry. Ki sparked up around his body. Rocks levitated in the air. The ground beneath his feet crumbled. He screamed louder and his hair began to flash from ebony to gold. His eyes became the color of the sea, and his muscle mass grew to gigantic proportions.
When Vegeta was finished powering up, he smirked at 18 and said, "Cherish this moment. Burn it into your memory forever. You are now looking at the strongest man in the universe!"
When the duo clashed again, it seemed at first as if Vegeta had gained the upper hand with his new and improved strength and agility. Little did he know, 18 was still holding back a large amount of her own power. How could he know? 18 was just taking his hits. He punched her in the face numerous times, kneed her in the stomach so hard it would make any normal person lurch up their lunch and possibly a few organs as well. He kicked her into a cliff and it crumbled upon contact. Large boulders rained down upon the onlookers. 18 levitated for a moment in mid-air. Her head was drooping with her hair hiding her face. Her whole body was slumped over as if she couldn't hold herself up straight any longer.
"What's wrong, android? Did a screw come loose? Or… perhaps one of your springs has busted?" Vegeta taunted.
18 suddenly popped her head up and held her body completely erect. She had a smile on her face. That smile made Vegeta angry. He had just pulverized her. How could she be smiling? She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes at him. "Stop gloating. It's unbecoming of you. Besides, does it really look like you've injured me? For your sake, I hope you can do better than that!"
17 raised an eyebrow at Vegeta. "I suppose the Doctor got his information wrong. You're much stronger than we had initially thought. Regardless, I doubt you will win."
"Ha!" Vegeta laughed. "I must admit, for someone made of metal, you move pretty damn fast! If you surrender now, I promise I'll recycle you, and have you made into something a little more practical… like a toaster, or perhaps a washing machine?"
"What an annoying little man," 18 muttered. She smiled to herself and flew off.
Where does she think she's going? thought Vegeta, quickly trailing behind her.
This isn't good, thought Piccolo. That android has something up her sleeve. She'd probably leading Vegeta into a trap. Why does he have to be so stubborn and arrogant?
Meanwhile, at the Brief's house Goku had finally caught on to the confrontation that was going on without her. She had been training. She'd been training even more lately and she was upholding a very rigorous regimen. She wouldn't admit it, but she was doing this because of Vegeta. He had hurt her pride. She had a bit of that Saiyan pride in her as well. She was in the gravity chamber whenever it was empty. Initially, she'd thought herself lucky that Vegeta wasn't occupying it. She'd jumped at the opportunity to use it. She couldn't use it with him in it anymore because it would be awkward after their little spat.
She realized that it wasn't luck when she felt Vegeta's ki spark. He was pretty far away. She automatically knew something was going on. She was angry with herself for spending so much time thinking about him and monitoring her ki. She knew that it was time to quit that. She couldn't ignore it though. She noticed that his ki was fluctuating as if he were fighting someone. Then she couldn't withhold her surmounting worry when she realized that her friends were all there with him. That's when she realized that there was a fight going on between Vegeta and the androids. Everyone knew about it except her. They had just up and left her behind!
How could they leave me behind like that? This has to be Vegeta's doing! Why didn't he let them tell me what was going on? Goku thought in confusion. Ugh! I bet it's because he wants to fight them all by himself, and he thinks that I'm so weak that I'll get in the way! Why does he have to be such a prick about it? Well, I'll show him!
Goku was about to take off and join the fight to show Vegeta what she was made of but she paused. Why do I let him get to me like this? I don't want to be like him! I'm being so nasty about it! I don't want to be thought of as a mean person like everyone thinks he is. I don't have to prove anything to him. I'm just going to go in case they need some help. I will not let him get to me anymore!