Modern Problems
Walking home from school with Chi-Chi, Bulma had to admit now that the novelty had worn off she was struggling to adjust having her little friend staying with her family. Bulma was a city girl to the bone for all her adventuring for Dragonballs; the same could not be said for Chi-Chi. Bulma knew she should be patient really, but Chi-Chi was just so sheltered that the urge to pinch her cheeks had been replaced by the urge to sigh. Chi-Chi may not be as smart as Bulma (so few were after all) but for the most part she was able to learn once it was explained to her. The hardest part of teaching Chi-Chi to adapt to city life was cultural. Chi-Chi had been raised by Ox-King in a very traditional household and she took poorly to any 'scandalous' city morals. Bulma's mother, Panchy Briefs, was the one pulling most of the weight there. Chi-Chi was slowly learning to live and let live, but in the meantime Bulma was juggling an adolescent girl who could out-muscle seasoned weightlifters and fire lasers with a sense of entitlement to spout her opinions to everyone. It might not have been so bad if Chi-Chi's training hadn't instilled a new sense of confidence in the girl. Literally anyone could be targeted; the poor mugger Chi-Chi had got her hands on would probably never be the same again. Bulma supposed there was a silver lining, school with Chi-Chi were never boring. Who needed to go adventuring with Goku competing against the Red Ribbon Army for their kicks? Chi-Chi was also a good conversationalist if you kept things strictly academic and made sure she had a basic understanding of the concepts. Bulma's fingers itched at the thought of testing if their theory that Ki blasts were actually a martial artist harnessing their electric potential to superheat air into plasma! The moment they got home from school she'd build a device to-! The wind picked up as a hover-plane landed in the middle of the road. Bulma shielded her eyes from the dust kicked up. "What in the world? That isn't a parking lot buster!" Bulma said. Soldiers jumped out of the vehicle and surrounded the two girls with guns trained on them. Bulma gulped as she raised her hands in the air. Chi-Chi looked down her nose at the men and women. "More thieves attacking in broad daylight? West City has a serious crime problem." Chi-Chi said. Noticing the emblems on the soldier's shirts Bulma shushed her. "Chi-Chi those are Red Ribbon soldiers, they're not ordinary thieves!" Bulma said. Chi-Chi's jaw clenched. "So they are bad people. Ok." Chi-Chi said. Chi-Chi walked over to a soldier, ignoring all the guns pointing at her. "Are you dumb, don't more or we'll shoot!" A soldier said. Chi-Chi's figure blurred; the speaker along with several of his friends were knocked to the ground. Chi-Chi reappeared and spun on her foot. She leapt into the air and kicked another soldier in the head, she was sent flying into a comrade. The sole remaining conscious soldier stumbled back, shooting at Chi-Chi. Bulma screamed, covering her eyes with her hands. Only for her and the soldier to be left gaping as Chi-Chi caught the bullets. "That's enough, think about what you're doing and turn yourself in." Chi-Chi said. The soldier whimpered as his gun clicked without firing any bullets; he had run out of ammo. Chi-Chi opened her palm and let all 30 rounds drop to the ground. The soldier fell to his knees and bowed to the girl. "I'm sorry, please spare me!" The soldier said.
The West City Police were visible confused when they answered Bulma's emergency call. She couldn't blame them. A whole squad of the Red Ribbon Army had not only attacked the world's economic centre but had also been immediately captured by a fierce country girl? Bulma was surprised herself and she'd scoured the globe for seven magical balls to summon a wish granting dragon. Chi-Chi was oblivious to the amazement she inspired, giving a stern talking to the Police Officer interviewing her for the government not taking action when they admitted to knowing the location of Red Ribbon's base. Bulma knew that pose, hands on hips and chin jutting out, it spoke of a terrible idea coming to fruition. "Honestly, if they are an army you must fight them. My father always says a warrior accepts naught but defeat to change their mind. Leave them be and won't they just gather power until they are stronger than you?" Chi-Chi said. Well she was right, except the Red Ribbon was already stronger than all the World's Governments combined. "I suppose it cannot be helped... Having been attacked without cause I, Chi-Chi of Fire Mountain, shall have an accounting with the Red Ribbon Army." Chi-Chi said. Bulma hid her face in her hands, yep there it was. Chi-Chi was a whole different person when she got on her noble dignity even before her training trip had boosted her confidence. Bulma let Chi-Chi leave on her magical cloud (it's not like the damn thing would let Bulma ride it) and ran back home to call for backup. A phone call later and at least the Turtle Hermit was sufficiently horrified by his student's declared feud. A few more calls and explanations later and Bulma had every fighter she knew prepping to follow Chi-Chi to the base: Roshi, Krillin, Goku, Lunch, Yamcha and even Ranfan. Bulma was torn between whether to go or not, on one hand it was stupid and dangerous, on the other Red Ribbon had technology that rivalled Capsule Corporation! All that marvellous, cutting-edge technology... not protected by copyright because the creators were part of a terrorist militia. Bulma's mind was made up. She ran out of the house and brought a plane out of her capsules. Bulma cackled as she took to the sky. "Suck it Dr Gero, all your technology will belong to me!" Bulma said.
Bulma's good mood took a hit when Roshi called, saying Goku had charged ahead of them so Chi-Chi wouldn't hog all the strong guys. Still, those two kids were the world's strongest under 16's so they'd last a while right? If they weren't Bulma would fly over to that stupid Tower Hermit who gave kids magical clouds for kicks a good what-for! She managed to meet up with the other's planes not long afterwards. Together they flew at top-speed after their hot-headed friends. They managed to land not far from the base unopposed. Bulma supposed she should be glad they didn't use anti-air guns but why hadn't they? The thought wouldn't leave her as the group marched towards the base, armed to the teeth. Everyone else didn't seem to notice, too busy arguing over strategy versus going guns blazing. However she had to speak up when they found the base in ruins and silent as a grave. Bulma dropped her pistol. "Oh Kami, they actually did it." Bulma said. Her companions gaped at their surroundings, only snapping out of it when Chi-Chi and Goku emerged from the largest building. "W-with just the two of you it was enough to take down the entire army..?" Krillin said. Goku smiled at him. "Sure, except the ones that ran away." Goku said. Chi-Chi tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Uh-huh, deserters are cowardly but they are excellent for instilling fear into potential enemies." Chi-Chi said. Roshi looked at the sky. "I should have known... Those students of mine deserve a good talking too raising such ferocious children." Roshi said. Inwardly, Bulma nodded. Ox-King who made his kingdom through battle was one thing, but what was Gohan's excuse being a hermit? Of course maybe it was just Goku being... whatever Goku was. Roshi had admitted to them Goku had come from a spaceship (that Bulma desperately wanted) according to Gohan and had always been unnaturally aggressive. Even if he was an alien Bulma should be able to prove that by testing his DNA right? Bulma resolved to take a few samples from him. Well... after she finished pillaging this base that is! Bulma was going to need a lot of research material to calm herself down after this debacle. Roshi cleared his throat. "Now that this ordeal is behind us I will ask again. What do you two intend to do between now and the next tournament?" Roshi said. Chi-Chi smiled and bowed. "I intend to work hard at school so that I may become more scholarly while continuing to improve my martial arts alone Master Roshi." Chi-Chi said. Roshi stroked his beard. "A clear answer, I see training with Korin has cleared your mind significantly. And you Goku?" Roshi said. Goku tilted his head. "Well isn't it obvious? I'll keep training with you and Krillin!" Goku said. Roshi bonked him on the head with his staff. "Silly boy, you want to become even better right? Don't waste time training under me, you should go see more of the world and expand your opportunities! I want you to come back stronger than ever and amaze me Goku." Roshi said. "I don't get it but that sounds fun!" Goku said. Roshi fell to the floor. Bulma figured he should have saw that one coming, Goku was never the brightest child. After a moment Roshi picked himself up. "It will be fun! Let's meet at the next World Martial Arts Tournament!" Roshi said. Krillin gasped. "But doesn't that mean we won't see each other for five years?" Krillin said. "No, I've heard they are changing it to every three years due to the increase in popularity. Don't miss it!" Roshi said. Goku clenched his fists. "Okay then that's when we'll meet!" Goku said. Everyone said their goodbyes to Goku and he had just summoned his cloud when Roshi waved his staff at Goku. "Hold up! Using Flying Nimbus is against the rules. You must run, swim and jump the entire journey under your own power as training." Roshi said. Bulma was glad that actually shocked Goku into crying out; he had some sense after all! Then he ruined that thought by agreeing with a smile a heartbeat later. Surely this madness was strictly Goku; Bulma couldn't imagine a whole race just as aggressive and active managing to become a space-capable society. Watching him run off into the distance Bulma just knew he'd be a real monster-teen when they met in three years. BUlma was going to need more research to distract her than she thought...