AU, if it wasn't for one little bump on the head. Not only would Goku be a little different, but all of DB history. He would have never wanted to eat Chichi's 'Mary'. That means no Chichi and Gohan, sorry. He would have killed Piccolo, taking Kami down too and leaving the earth unprotected. He would have recognized Radditz and gone to help. Leaving the Earth open for invasion.
The smoke woke her. Coughing she dragged herself onto the floor and toward the door. Panic filled her as she opened her eyes to see the smoke pouring under it, rising towards the ceiling. She turned and crawled towards the balcony, where fresh air awaited. Gasping in the fresh air she looked to find a way to climb down, a tree, a drainage pipe, anything.
Instead the light of other fires caught her eye; all of capsule corp. was burning, and the city beyond. She could faintly make out the cries from around her; people screaming, fleeing. Her hair rushed forward as a massive ki blew past her overhead. Goku! She thought, thank kami he's back!
She began jumping up and down waving her arms wildly to get his attention. Anything to get off this freakin' balcony and down where her medical training could do some good. But as he turned the light caught his face, that's not Goku, that's not even humanoid. The thing flew towards her faster than her eyes could follow and grabbed her with its lower set arms,it held her close to its abdomen even as she screamed kicked and cried for release.
A feeling of hopelessness filled her as she woke from one nightmare to another. Bulma uncurled from her spot against the dank wall, and walked over towards the cleaning basin. It was like a tough of water with a mirror attached. Scented soaps and various other hygiene supplies littered the area. They were always required to be clean and well groomed, in case a surprise visitor would come wanting to make a purchase.
Then the slaves would be required to change into nicer garments and parade around, and be inspected by the customers. They kept up the façade that they were well kept in a high end aunclia house. In reality they slept on the stone floor, but as long as they were clean and well fed people would pay top dollar for them. Bulma knew this was the best she would be treated until she could make her escape; after that well shed deal with that when it came. The plans as it stood was to get 'purchased' and during the transaction, blend into the crowd and simply walk off. Many customers made large purchases specifically if they were worried the girls wouldn't survive long.
So when she herd the chiming bell and the slide of the door, Bulma lined up with resolve, brushing out her hair she then pinched her cheeks and bit her lips to substitute for what would have once been a rigorous make up routine. She marched out and was handed the gold shimmery transparent fabric they were all required to wrap around themselves, like some sort of tantalizing toga. As they entered the guest chamber each grabbing a pitcher of wine, she worked to soften her face and sway alluringly, the only thing she couldn't change were the eyes. Her eyes always showed the defiant intelligence within, and often were her downfall in getting purchased. So instead she lowered them, hoping to go for subservient at least.
The promenade began, as soft seductive music began to play in the background. She kept her eyes down casted as she walked in front of the lounge chair of their aspired guests. She was surprised to see their goblet was held out in front of her, she was selected. As she poured the wine she glanced up, a white lizard, with burgundy lips smirked back at her from where he loafed in the chair. She smiled to hide her shock.
It could be worse. She thought, though not sure what he would want with me we aren't even the same type of animal, there are others here more suited to him. She stood aside as he sipped his wine and selected another girl.
She then began to observe her temporary 'master' and his cohort while she pondered his selection. One was a tall green amphibian looking man with long hair, he was nice to look at but once again, they wouldn't be compatible for what most people come here to shop for. When he crouched down to whisper in his master's ear, she laid eyes on the other. Suddenly her selection was obvious. Except for the crazy hair, which could just be how it was styled, he could have been human.
He was approximately her height, maybe a little taller, but that could be the hair, which reached up towards the ceiling as if to defy gravity. Of course that just matched the mixture of defiance and boredom in his eyes. He turned to look at her, as if he could feel her eyes on him, but his gaze was broken by the other man returning to attention.
Finally the selection process was over, now she would be inspected. Bulma dreaded this next step, as she had only imagined what horrors it entailed. She was pleasantly surprised to find that a physical examination would not be taken place. Instead Freza, as he was called, went down the line of females and asked them a series of questions.
When finally his eyes laid on her he asked. "Can you fight?"
"Umm, no not really." She responded, hesitantly.
"Hmm, no power either. Do you have any abilities or talents?" he asked shrewdly.
"I can sing, I guess." She said.
"Alright, let's hear it." He ordered.
She sang a few bars from a pretty song she heard once from her mama mia soundtrack back on earth. The whole time Freza was not only watching her, but also the dark haired man's blatant attempts to ignore her.
He cut her off with a wave of his hand and said. "I think I'll keep you around for entertainment." With a chuckle. Then he proceeded down the line to interview the others.
All in all he had purchased 12 slaves, a record sale, and great chance for her to slip away unnoticed, she thought.
"Vegeta." Freza ordered. The dark haired man stepped forward for his orders. "Summon your helper chimps and take those back to the ship, I'm going to take this one for now." He waved indicating all but one of the slaves. The small avian girl began to mewl quietly, what Bulma could only assume was her species version of crying.
She began to drift towards the back of the group as Vegeta spoke into his scouter. She had almost separated herself when she heard.
"BULMA!" Goku shouted as he landed, "My kami, I never thought I'd see you again!" He said as he scooped her into a bear hug.
"G-Goku?" She stammered in shock.
"Kakkorot put that thing down you don't know where it's been; besides she belongs to Freza." Vegeta scowled.
"No, you don't understand, she was like a big sister to me back on earth. She practically raised me," He began. "Wait did you say 'belongs to Freza', hold on, no. You have to do something Vegeta, she won't survive something like that."
"Relax." He replied. "She can hold a tune so he said something about keeping her around for a bit. He's off playing with another toy at the moment."
As Goku breathed a sigh of relief Bulma planted her fist against the side of his head, cringing as her hand crumpled against his steely muscles.
"Where the hell were you? Earth is gone, Goku, GONE! And you were off gallivanting with your brother! I knew you should have never left, you could have fought them off! But NOOO, you had to go save some numb-nutt 'prince' instead defending the people who actually CARED FOR YOU!" She began her rant, picking up steam as she screamed her obscenities in his sensitive ears.
"Bulma, SHUT UP!" he screamed back at her.
She closed her mouth in shock as he said. "Let me introduce you to prince Vegeta." He said indicating the man beside him who was unsuccessfully attempting not to laugh out right. "And I wanted to help, but by the time I found out what happened on earth it was already too late. Did anyone else . . Survive?"
"Not that I know of." She said dejectedly.
"Where do you want them, Boss?" a tall balled man called out, as he began to gather the crowd of women.
"Just take them all to the sparing room for now; we set off for HQ in 20." Vegeta replied without looking.
"Well, it's been a pleasure gentlemen safe trip." Bulma said politely as she began to calmly walk away. That is, until her hair was caught and she was pulled backwards into yet another steel hard body.
"Where do you think you're going?" Vegeta asked, smirking down at her, as she glared up at him nearly upside down.
"Um, to meet up with Freza of course, he's expecting me, now if you would let go." She said as she struggled to break his iron grip on her hair.
"I happen to know he's quite occupied right now, and if this is some bull shit attempt at escape you're going to have to try a lot harder than that. Trust me." Vegeta said as he tugged her by the hair, making their way on foot to the loading docks on the other side of the city.
"Get your hands off me you great lummox!" She shouted as she was dragged backwards kicking and screaming.
"Kakkarot, what the hell is a lummox?" Vegeta asked as they marched onward.
"I'm not sure, sir. Earth was a pretty weird place." Goku replied, as he herded the other slaves forward.