Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or the characters
So, I finally have a little more direction with this story. I had block for a while, but today I was able to get two whole chapters written alone in addition to this one that I had saved for a while. All I can promise is BXV moments ahead! Thank you for a being patient and for reading and reviewing!
Now…Onward!
They could not believe it actually worked!
Cui and the Saiyans had returned to Frieza later that day, and Vegeta reported that he had decided to take adirect approach that did not involve violence. Frieza had actually been impressed that the monkey prince had actually been rational enough to talk with anyone. "So, this scientist…he believes that if we give him a sample, he can compare it to all known compounds."
"Yes, Lord Frieza," Vegeta replied as respectfully as he could through gritted teeth. "The scientist, though, is very wary about alien life and fears an invasion. To complete this project, he is hoping that we'll provide protection and keep the others away from him. He is aware that we must be present to make sure he is actually doing what he needs, but he only wants us around."
"Well…" Frieza pondered. "If you will be there, and allow Cui to accompany you, I don't see anything wrong with it. How long should it take?"
"A couple weeks," the prince explained. When he saw Frieza frown, he added, "There are many compounds in their system to which they need to narrow down."
"Hm…fine," Frieza scoffed. "But I want to have detailed reports when you return. If you can get the scientist to work overnight, do it. We've wasted enough time here as it is."
"As you wish," Vegeta replied. Once they were dismissed, the four PTO soldiers returned to Mount Paozu. They had to get started with the next part of their plans. They only hoped that Bulma was at the ready.
Bulma was ready to get back to Capsule Corp. and start working on finding the compound in addition to improving all of the technology the Saiyans, humans, and Cui needed for training. She had already told her dad she needed to take a sabbatical so that she could focus on private projects. Her father knew the real story, now at least. He didn't mind covering for her at the company, especially with the Earth at stake.
When the Saiyans touched down on the mountain, Bulma breathed a sigh of relief. She turned and smiled, but she frowned when she saw their serious expressions. "Um…did it go well?"
Nappa scoffed at her question, but Vegeta remained stoic. "Frieza agreed to the conditions but-"
"Hey, that's great! So all we need to do is-"
"Woman, let me finish," the prince demanded. "Frieza is growing increasingly impatient. He wants to leave as soon as possible. He is demanding you give detailed reports and that you work through the night."
"He demanded I work through the night?" Bulma asked, a little surprised. "That's gotta be a suggestion, though. No one can possibly work nonstop for…"
"A 'suggestion' by Frieza is a demand," Vegeta stated. "When we give him the first report, we will have a better idea of how much time we truly have."
"That's great and all," Yamcha griped, "but that won't be possible. Even you guys need rest. There's no possible way to stay up all night every night."
"You Earthlings have no idea," Cui replied callously. "Time is not a luxury that we are allowed. Frieza sets our time limits, and going over can result in severe punishment. He wasn't thrilled that we said a couple of weeks, and when he demanded the scientist work through the nights, he was suggesting that we make the scientist comply by force regardless of health."
Goku's eyes narrowed at the other Saiyans and Cui. "If you are suggesting that you're going to hurt her, then this agreement is off. We don't need or want your help."
"Brother," Raditz sighed, "that is not what we were suggesting at all. This is what Frieza expects. No one is planning to harm your friend. We are just informing her that she needs to work quickly on both projects."
Bulma looked to Vegeta who seemed very impassive to the whole situation. At first, she had been worried about what he was saying, but now she was just being warned that she couldn't dally. It wasn't impossible for her to stay up some nights. She used to pull all-nighters in college and had been fine. Well, fine only if she had a cup of coffee or two, and then she'd crash the following night. If she could go back to that, she'd be able to work pretty efficiently. She would need rest every other night, but she'd be able to be up early in the morning. It would wear her out, but at least her friends would be ready. At least she hoped they would.
"Okay, this is what we'll do," Bulma stated. "He wants you guys here watching us at night, fine. That just gives you more time to train while I go through the compounds. We'll all go back to my place. We have plenty of space, and my father and I can work on the training equipment and the compound searches together, especially when he's not at the company. Plus, my mom loves guests and cooks constantly, so you can look at this like some kind of training vacation."
"Vacation?" Nappa questioned. "What does that mean?"
"Uh…" the humans replied as Goku thought of a way to explain it.
"Well, a normal vacation is like where you go somewhere away from home to get away for stress or something while just doing leisurely activities," the younger Saiyan said.
"Isn't that the opposite of training?" Vegeta scoffed.
Goku grinned at him. "Not when training is the de-stressor." Then he grew serious again. "But, from what Raditz has told me, you guys don't get to eat as much or to train as much as you need to. This Freezer guy sounds like he's trying to prevent you from getting the rest, nutrition, and activity you need to take him down."
"Frieza," Cui corrected, "knows that others will try to oppose him if they ever reach his strength, so he doesn't allow what is needed for a race to grow and thrive if it means saving his own hide."
"Coward," Bulma snapped harshly. "Well, okay then, what are we waiting for? Let's get back to my house so I can show you all to the guest quarters. We'll get you guys fed and then get the gravity simulator set up in the backyard."
"Hey, B…what about the Dragon Balls?" Yamcha asked.
"If she gives me the radar, I can start searching," Krillin offered. "We can all take a day to look for another. That would only take a week."
"Yeah, provided it takes only one day to get to one," Yamcha pointed out. "I mean, some were in crazy locations across the globe. We never know where they're going to end up."
"It could still be done," Goku stated. "When we aren't training, we can help."
"You guys can fly, too, so it'll be quick to get to them," Bulma reminded them.
"Flying would give us away with the scouters, regardless of where we are," Raditz explained. "That wouldn't work."
"Hm," Bulma responded, her hand touching her chin as she concentrated deeply. She then gasped in excitement and snapped her fingers. "I've got it. I've been trying to work on something that blocks out someone's ki in the form of a watch. I have the drawings finished, but now I just need to execute the science. If I head straight to the lab when we get back, I could have it finished by dinner."
"Girl, I don't think you're nearly as capable as you think," Nappa growled. "You don't even know how to wield ki, yet you think you can make something to block it out."
"I've been around Goku, Yamcha, and Krillin for years and I know a lot more about ki than you assume I do," Bulma said in her defense. "I don't care whether or not you believe me. I'm the best shot you've got in this. You can either choose to trust me or not, but it won't deter me from the things I need to do."
"Let's just get to your house, Bulma," Goku interjected wanting to end an argument before it began. Bulma may have been calm, but Nappa looked irritated with her once again. To refrain from getting back into that moment, that moment where he had wanted to tear Nappa apart, he needed to stop moments like these from escalating.
"Right, just go get Gohan and we can all go," Bulma agreed, ignoring Nappa's glare. Of course, by ignoring the former general, she also missed the glares both Vegeta and Raditz were sending his way.
Next in New World
Krillin returned in the evening hours with the third Dragon Ball, the first being the four-starred ball that Goku had found once again. Apparently, the Earth-raised Saiyan had found another Dragon Ball before he found the four-starred and had forgotten all about it. With three Dragon Balls, they only needed four more.
Vegeta was still skeptical about these spheres. He didn't know what exactly to believe. These humans and even Kakarot swore by them. Their power had to be real. Thankfully, it was their advantage to have and not Frieza's.
"So…how are you holding up?"
Vegeta froze when he heard the Earth-raised Saiyan talking to the blue-haired woman. The prince's opinion of the woman had slowly been changing the more he interacted with her. She had been doing so much for him and what remained of his people. It left him feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude towards her. It also left him feeling more interested in her than he believed he should be.
"I'm exhausted," Bulma replied while trying to cover up a yawn. "Do you mind getting me a cup of coffee?"
"No, Bulma," Goku answered sternly. "You need to get some rest. You've been up for almost forty-eight hours straight. That's not good for you."
"I just need," Bulma began before a yawn cut her off, "to get through these last few blueprints so that I can construct the training bots tomorrow, plus I also need to run the plusonium sample to more compounds and-"
"Bulma, I don't care about this tyrant," Goku scolded. "I won't let you hurt yourself by not getting enough sleep."
The human sighed and shook her head. "And I can't let you all get hurt because I couldn't work fast enough."
Vegeta felt a pang of guilt at the fact that this human was putting her health on the line for them. He had never experienced such selflessness before at any point of his life. There were times he took on the brunt of Frieza's punishment to prevent Raditz and Nappa from being persecuted, but that was as far as his altruism went. Had he even been given the opportunity to aid another race, he would most likely walk away. These humans were certainly a confusing bunch.
