Vegeta knocked furiously on the door to the Briefs' laboratory. "Woman!"
Flustered, Bulma stood from her desk and stormed to the door, and she opened it bearing a look of annoyance on her face. "What, Vegeta?"
"Has you useless father finished recalibrating the gravity chamber?"
"Seriously? You think it's okay to cause a scene just because you're impatient? And my father is not useless."
"Bring him to me at once!"
"Oh my God, Vegeta." Bulma struck her temple with her palm. "Calm down, and just ask nicely like a civilized person!"
He sputtered angrily. "It is you who are uncivilized, classless alien trash!"
"Well, insulting me certainly isn't the way to get me to do what you want. Say you're sorry, and I'll tell you where he is. I'm not going to get him for you. I'm not going to kiss your ass just because you say so, Vegeta."
Serendipitously, Dr. Briefs had heard the commotion and had come over to the laboratory entrance from his office. "Is everything all right, Bulma?"
"Yeah. Vegeta was just being a—"
"Old man! Have you finished recalibrating the gravity chamber?"
"Oh, good afternoon Vegeta. I finished a couple hours ago. I was going to tell you, but Bulma said you were resting in your room. I didn't want to disturb you." His voice carried a desperately apologetic tone.
"At long last!" Vegeta rolled his eyes. "I will leave now."
"What's gotten into you, Vegeta?" Bulma asked. "You were fine yesterday."
Refusing to acknowledge her question, he kicked the door open and pranced out of the laboratory. Thinking he couldn't hear her, Bulma went on speaking. "He's so moody sometimes, dad!"
Vegeta slowed his pace, focusing his keen hearing on her voice.
"I think he's got a lot going on right now. He has nightmares sometimes. I've heard him crying in his sleep before. I went into his room to check on him the other night—it was especially bad that time. I don't think he remembers it. I think he has anxiety issues. I wouldn't be surprised if he's depressed too." So she had been in his room. His stomach turned over on itself.
"It was good of you to give him a place to stay." Dr. Briefs said after a few seconds.
"Ask him about Saiyan culture. He likes talking about that. It makes him happy—I've seen him smile. I don't think he talks to anyone but me, daddy."
"Does he have a thing for you or something?"
"No, I'm pretty sure he doesn't. I have no idea whether he even likes people at all. I think I'm just the only one who gives him the time of day. I guess nobody really has a reason to, considering he doesn't have the best reputation, if you know what I mean."
"I guess not."
"Come to think of it, though, he hasn't really caused much trouble since he's been here. I don't think he did anything but train while he was in space. But you know what's really weird? He contacted me once while he was gone. He had the strangest look on his face—completely blank. I think he was upset about something. If you could have seen that look... I made sure to call him up a few days later. For a while, I figured kept to himself because he hated everybody. That might be part of it, I think, but there's gotta be something else to it."
"I'll make it a point to say hello a couple of times."
"Thanks, daddy."
Vegeta had gagged inwardly multiple times as he eavesdropped. He couldn't believe the woman's presumptuousness. Foolishly, she dared to assume she knew him better than he himself did. Not only that, but he now had conclusive evidence that she had invaded his privacy. He couldn't stand to listen anymore, and if the two continued their conversation, he didn't know. At least he could press the memory of it all out of his mind during a gravity simulation. Fuming, he strode at a quickened pace, eager to get outside of the building as soon as possible.
From behind him, he heard footsteps on the tiled floor. "Vegeta? I thought you'd already gone to the ship." Apparently, Bulma had begun to make her way out of the laboratory as well, and she had caught up to him while he had stopped to eavesdrop.
"Leave me alone! Your presence has impinged upon me enough already."
"I'm sorry."
Bulma followed him all the way out of the building. He spat on the ground, saying, "Clearly, you lie, woman, for you continue to harp on me. What is it that you want?" Not once did he look over his shoulder to grace her with face-to-face conversation.
"I don't want anything." She paused, deliberating. "You just don't seem yourself right now. That's all."
The Saiyan turned and glowered at her threateningly. "You do not know me at all. Now go." His deep voice had dropped to an icy rasp, and his fingers glowed very slightly with a blue energy.
Yet Vegeta did not maintain his hostile stance for long. Suddenly, he exchanged his ominous expression for one of terror.
"What's happening?" Bulma asked, more terrified by Vegeta's abrupt change than by his former animosity.
"It's..."
"What's going on?"
Vegeta blasted himself up into the sky, shrieking the word "Frieza." He had sensed the characteristic massive, bleak energy signature enter the atmosphere. Kakarot had failed.