Disclaimer: Dragon Ball Z and of its characters belong to Akira Toriyama.
Notes: PG-13 for occasional mild swearing. This is an A/U and you can assume all of the characters are OOC…
Diplomacy - Prologue
The blue-haired woman contemplated the large, floating head above her desk, noting the smile tugging at the corners of his transparent lips.
"Just what are you up to?" she queried.
A bare hint of fang peeped out. "We still haven't discussed details of the UPC this Wednesday…"
"Is that all?" she grinned. "Do you think me as forgetful as yourself? I've already outlined Capsule Corporation's concessions and demands, as described in the copy you received last month. I'm thoroughly prepared! It's not as if I haven't done this video conference thing before…" she waved an admonishing finger at the man who dared question her competency.
"That just it, Ms. Briefs," his smirk developed into a full-fledged grin. "There is no vid-conferencing. You have to come in person."
"What?!" she shrieked.
"Tradition demands that the Universal Peace Conference be attended by tangible representatives. As a sign of good faith, you understand," he said with mock-seriousness.
"This is completely ridiculous! There's no way in hell I'm going to fly myself to some alien planet, just because tradition demands it!"
"Oh, really? Then I guess Capsule Corporation is choosing to be left out of the trade negotiations this year…"
"Y-you …" she sputtered. "You could have mentioned this before the absolute last minute! I have three days to pack, fudge up an excuse for my absence, and fly to another freaking planet!!"
"My dear!" his amber eyes were wide and innocent. "My apologies if my news has had such an adverse effect on you. I'll simply have to tell the intergalactic leaders to reschedule the conference at your convenience."
"I'm coming," she glowered. "There's no reason to mock me. I just hope you know how much I utterly despise you."
"Yes, yes. You hate me and wish to impale my innards with something lethal and jagged. I can withstand it all, because I have the privilege of meeting the wondrous Bulma Briefs in person!"
"Flirt!" she rolled her eyes. "I'll have you know I have a baby now." She blinked, realizing that she would have to leave Trunks with her parents.
"Is it the little darling in the picture down there?" he peered down at the contents of her desk. "He's got purple hair. I can just imagine what his daddy looks like!" his boyish face glowed with laughter.
"He got the hair from my side of the family, you toad…" she snatched the photo from the desk, and violently pressed a button on the communications pad. The head abruptly fizzled out in the midst of its mirth, and Bulma removed the Universal Translator from her head.
Damn the man! Her father could handle Capsule Corporation. And her mother wouldn't mind taking care of the baby. Vejiita wasn't even present to be his usual troublesome self. But how in the world was she going to get to the conference in the span of three days? She stared at the paper that spewed out from her fax machine, before picking it up.
Don't worry about the travel arrangements. It's been taken care of.
It figured that the bastard responsible for her dilemma had manipulated her into owing him a favor.
She sighed. The only thing left to do was lie to her family.