Disclaimer: I don't make any profit from this work of fiction

Chapter 58

The blood stains deeper

In the FBI headquarters a tired Yamcha piled up the files he wanted Agent Puar to sort through. He had been working on the case for only a day but it wasn't looking good at all. Agent Bulma had completely disappeared. He had hoped that there would be something to lead them to the next clue but he was going round in circles. Two other members were also reported missing, Agent Magenta and Special Agent Tao.

He had him on the top list for investigation along with the uncooperative Red team. Everyone he had talked to from that team had been the least helpful and only gave the bare minimum of effort and information. One person had tried intimidating him to leave them alone but his gorilla like attitude had put under suspicion first. His name was Special Agent Azure and he was the first for the psychic scan tomorrow.

Special Star Agent Beri had retired to her room and he only had to wait from the feedback from Assistant Director Piccolo about tomorrow's schedule.

Agent Puar was finished for the day.

"See you tomorrow." He waved as she bowed.

"Good work today Sir, see you tomorrow." She said politely. It must have been a relief for her to be back to the headquarters. She could go home to her apartment in West City instead of being in the guard living quarters in the Central City Refugee camp. The place had an oppressive atmosphere where you couldn't really relax.

They had finished the paperwork for the Central City case but it was clear that Vegeta had been there. It made no sense why he had gone there or even how. He was secretly glad that another team would be trying to work those problems out.

A knock on the door broke his mild conjectures and he was greeted with an old teammate.

"Agent Viola!" He said. "Are you being brought back to our team?"

She shook her head. "I'm under investigation, but I wanted to let you know that I have done everything I could to keep Agent Bulma safe."

"I did ask you that... Sorry, I forgot how impulsive she is. She is hard to keep track of."

"I shouldn't even be here but I feel incredibly guilty. I was so focused on my training. I am a newly appointed second class, I just wanted to keep up with my training. All Bulma did was stay in the basement from morning to evening. I've no idea how she could accumulate so much work with what so little we have."

"I have all of Bulma's files here and she's been making a great resource for us. She was even giving us help for my case in Central City."

"Wow, well, I came to ask what time do you want to see me tomorrow? I heard from Assistant Director Piccolo that I was one of first for questioning."

"Well... That all depends on the psychic we're given. I don't know yet, but be ready for the morning. I will message you tomorrow when I get the information. Sorry, we're all playing it by ear right now. This hasn't ever happened before."

"I know it's my fault... I should have done more. I'm afraid my guilt might work against me. I didn't have any involvement in the kidnapping."

"That's not for me to judge, we'll call you in the morning and you can make a statement." Yamcha said coldly. He was disappointed with Viola, he had recommended her for Force 2 when he had been adjudicating her practical exam when she was a recruit. He knew that she had a good fighting ability and an adaptive sense for the situations. She had joined his team for a short while and had fitted in really well. Assistant director Piccolo had been strict about not holding any biases to the agents he was going to interview and have scanned.

She disappeared from his view with a quiet "see you tomorrow" and he was left alone again. Bulma was his first crush and he still held on to the hope that she would notice him. His fear of women had been cured by Special Agent Beri but he still found it awkward talking to Bulma. Agent Briefs never wore much make-up or dressed in fancy clothes but she was too beautiful to be real sometimes and he couldn't find a way to speak with her without sounding like a schoolboy.

Her kidnapping was hitting him hard and the idea that it had been other agents behind it was igniting a sense of vengeance he hadn't felt since the Saiyan attack. He couldn't stop his feelings that were at bursting point. If anything he needed to go do some training and work out his anger before tomorrow. He wouldn't be able to hold back if the psychic revealed who the spy or group of spies were. He wanted to kill someone for the first time in a while.

A few rounds in the simulation room might do it or a spar with someone. He would need his cool for tomorrow.

"I can't believe she's been missing for 3 days..." He grumbled to himself. He had to be strong and promise himself that he would tell Bulma about his feelings. Even if it meant he crashed and burned. He missed his chance before as he never went to see her in hospital after her first major incident. He had just enough courage to send her flowers but he had forgotten to leave a signed note.

The Biscotti case he thought would be his chance too but he had messed up. North City as well he was sure he had some missed opportunities. He had a new challenge to show Bulma how he feels if he could just rescue her. He could be her knight. The idea cheered him up a little and he went to the training area with a real goal in his head.

000

In the hidden base, night was coming but Bulma had no idea of time. She had been working with the head scientist all day in the underground laboratories with no natural light, only the shine from the electric lighting. She was being treated like a gopher and was only allowed to fetch and set up things. Dr Frappe didn't trust her with anything more complex than basic computing tasks and manual labour.

"It's 8 o' clock, best get going back to your cell assistant." The doctor said. He hadn't addressed her as Bulma or even by her surname the whole time.

Bulma tapped the giant android guard Eight and he lifted her up. She had convinced them that she wanted to be carried whenever it was any distance. The laboratory to her room was a good 20 minutes on foot and they refused to give her one of the carts that the other staff used.

"You act like a princess, how droll." Dr Frappe said. "Thankfully your work has been acceptable."

"Anything to get out of my cage." Bulma answered and tapped Eight on the shoulder as he carried her in his huge arms. After a day of trying to work around his programming she had taught him not to carry her slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She had been slowly testing his programming by asking seemingly innocent questions and requests.

She waited till they were in the high walkways over the factory area that she asked Eight, "Can you put me on your shoulders? I want to see the machines."

As she had taught him, if there were no rules saying no then it must be fine. The logic was infallible. To a machine mind the logic was all that mattered. As he was so big he placed her carefully on his right shoulder and Bulma looked down into the factory. She could see multiple units of basic droid like machines being turned out. These were not the high functioning Android types but a more basic soldier. She had only been doing tasks related to controlling the twins. She was itching to get down into the factory and hack into the system to discover their purpose. She could guess, they were machines for war. Once Vegeta was killed or tortured then she assumed that the army she could see would be unleashed.

She made idle chat about how huge it all was and impressive while secretly feeling a slow growing dread. Her hand rested on Eight's back and she searched for the offending lump. The restraining chip that was overriding his natural program. Bulma's tool she had hidden in her sleeve slipped into her hand and she began to work quickly. She knew exactly how to remove it from observing it before and focusing her previous meditation on examining it in her inner space. There were not many cameras watching in the area so she didn't have much time. There was a loud click and then a thud as the metal lump fell onto the grating walkway. There was a clang sound as metal hit metal and Bulma cried out in surprise flipping backwards and landed clumsily on the grating.

She moved quickly to crush the chip under her foot crying out about how she'd fallen. "Oh no! I slipped!" She moaned while Eight loomed above her. She winced as she had actually hurt herself and limped a little as she tried to look up to the giant android.

Then she saw his eyes, there was no longer that strange yellow glow but a worried expression.

"Miss Briefs, are you alright?"

"I fell backwards, I think sitting on your shoulder is a bit much for me. Sorry to worry you."

"I'm ordered to keep you safe." Eight said picking her up again.

"Oh, you're doing a fantastic job." Bulma said smiling.

"I feel strange... Did you scratch my back?" Eight asked.

He was suddenly a lot more talkative. "Well, I saw a bug there, that's why I fell. I swatted it away and lost my balance."

"I see, thank you." He awkwardly smiled and Bulma sat in his giant arms being carried all the way and trying to fight the smug grin that was trying to break out on her face. The satisfaction of her genius had been absent from her life for a while and she bathed in the glory.

She was placed down gently in front of a new door.

"Dr Gero has ordered a new room for you as reward for your help. It will still be locked at night and you are reminded not to leave or any freedoms will be revoked." Eight repeated a message that had obviously been given to him by the higher staff in charge of the androids.

Gero, she had come to realise was too ill to directly control the inner workings of the base. He must have final say in everything but the minor work was done by middle men. However, Mr Black's accident had lead to the current leadership being under stress. It was unfortunate for Black but for her she could only see an easy way out. Their weaknesses were being exposed.

She said goodbye to Eight and made sure to confirm to him that she understood the warning. For now she would play their game and be a good little guest.

Her new cell was very similar bed set up as before but now she had a bathroom attached. The bolts on the wall gave an impression that there had been a TV attached there. The size was slightly better but carpet had been ripped out to expose the concrete floor. It was not a room for comfort but more convenience. She wouldn't need an escort to the shower area any more. But the lack of furniture and any form of comfort gave her the reminder that this was not a hotel room but a prison cell. It was on a higher floor but the tiny barred view was still only of sky.

The previous room had a few stashed items that would be found by now. She couldn't use the same hiding spot, it would definitely be checked when they came to clean the room. Her widget tool that was a multi-purpose screwdriver and wrench made especially for the androids was her new treasure. She wanted to keep the tool for as long as possible. For now, placing it in her pocket was the best place.

A knock on the door came and a food tray was passed through a small slot on the door. The door looked similar to her old one and she suspected that it was taken from her old room or from the same place. All other doors on the floor were made of wood. It was just this room that had a prison cell door. It meant she couldn't pick the lock easily or break it. It also meant that it would be difficult to open from the outside unless you had the key. She had been locked in for the night with nothing but the four walls for entertainment. The meal was the same as before. She didn't have much appetite but she ate what she was given. She noted that she was given plastic utensils again.

In the silence of the room she heard a strange whirling sound. She looked from the side of her eyes, carefully not turning her head to the sound. A ventilation grate had a small flashing red light. She was being watched. It didn't surprise her at all and she had to assume she was not really being given more freedom but more spying on her every move. She went casually into the bathroom to wash up her face and she tried to listen for similar sounds of another camera. It was silent but a movement detection device was on the wall as lights had come on automatically as she entered.

She couldn't guarantee that it was safe of recording devices or a smaller and better hidden camera in the room. This was quite bad for her plans. They all involved her having some private space to meditate and create a new machine she had been creating in her mind. She couldn't build anything here without it being discovered. She decided to not worry about it now but have her shower and go to "sleep" early. She could think clearer in her new inner world.

The next day would come soon enough and she wouldn't be escaping anytime soon. She still had to see if anyone noticed that Eight was missing his control chip on his back. She had taken a big risk but it would be worth it if it worked out.

'It may be too late to create a dummy to replace it but there's also a chance nobody knows or needs to check.' The screws had been a little old and worn so it could be something that Gero himself put on Eight's back. A lot of older machines she had been ordered not to go near as they were Gero originals and had no replacements. The man was getting worse rather than better and his mental health was in a shambles. His only focus was revenge rather than upkeep of his factory. The full focus was to prepare for Vegeta's arrival.

Bulma couldn't say he wasn't coming, he didn't care like they thought he did. They didn't believe her and she was labelled as the Princess waiting for her prince. She didn't view her kidnapping like that, she was meat on a hook for a fish that would never bite. It might take weeks or even months before they realise the truth. Till then she would work on her own escape plan. The FBI would be looking for her and if she could contact someone reliable she might get help.

The corruption in the FBI might be more than just Tao and his team. She hated the fact that her sanctuary had been dirtied by such elements. She doubted Piccolo now since he'd kept the truth about her father from her, how many more agents at a higher level knew that fact too?

She had those worries and doubts burning through her head as she had a shower. They had given her a box for her clothes. One was a plastic wash basket type the other a wicker box without a lid. She would need to ask for more underwear and a spare jumpsuit. The pyjamas were available but they were simple cotton clothing with no pockets.

They were not going to trust her any time soon, the robotics work was far too simple for her but it got her out of the room. She hated every second staring at the blank white walls and being among electronics and dials were nudging her memories of her old life.

She drifted into her inner world and expected the darkness to greet her as usual. The ice room was emptier than usual, it wasn't there waiting for her. It was bright and clear, no swirling mist wrapped around her feet. She took the chance and made her way into her laboratory. It had now changed to a larger warehouse size with separating partitions keeping each of her investigations apart but connected. She put her hand on a blank wall and created a door from her memories. It was a shabby steel door with only a sign on it that said "work in progress, please knock." She recreated her father's laboratory behind the door, everything was still and not moving. The smell of coffee and cigarettes was as strong as she remembered. A lab-coat with stains of oil, coffee and tomato sauce hung up in the corner.

This was a place she didn't need but had to visit again.

"I'll find you Dad, it might take a while but I am going to find out everything they've been hiding from me." She touched the sleeve noticing the black cat hair and she couldn't contain her tears, the final straw but it just strengthen her resolve. She had to move forward but for this moment, she would cry. It was a few minutes of ugly sobbing before she could walk back to the door and lock it. Her work wasn't finished but she could freeze her heart again and return when she wanted. Forgiveness was for the weak. She would never forgive them from taking her father from her.

000

Outside in a quiet forest far from West City Vegeta finally secured Tao. He had found an abandoned hunting cabin not far from Frypan mountain. He hadn't slept or meditated for the whole 24 hours since he'd been carrying the human on his back. He was a strong warrior and be his recovery ability was quite impressive. Much more than the weakling, Violet, he woke up sooner than her and needed sedated again. He dumped the unconscious body of Tao down and drained him a little more. This would be his last meal before going into the tiger's lair. He would lose the strength after a few minutes now but it wasn't enough. He couldn't win by strength but by his mind. He had ran through the forest revelling in the flow of energy, he almost took off and flew but he couldn't risk it. He was close to the doctor's mansion according to his map. He would be there soon but first he had to finalize his plan.

Bulma was his connection to the workings inside the Gero house. Even if she didn't know they were linked, he would need to do something soon that would put his mind at risk and reveal to her as much as he could allow. So far it had been a window into her world but now they needed to share information to survive. His pride as a Saiyan hung onto this last part, he usually only relied on other Saiyans but he was the last of his kind and new alliances had to be made.

He settled down in the cabin and swept into his mind fortress. The bone stairway lead him up to the corner of the dark world. He could smell her.

The sweet fragrance of simmering anger and vengeance all lying under that cool façade she created so effortlessly. Her motivation had increased since he had last entered. She was a perfect student, one that followed his instructions while researching and making her own path. He couldn't force her to him, that wouldn't be what he wanted. He would have to invite her to him. He didn't want a mindless slave brainwashed and empty, he wanted her to keep that anger and force that made her unique.

The ice room was bright and sparkling. She was actively working further in, just behind the ice glass barrier.

"Knock, knock..." He growled and smashed into the room.

000

Author's Notes: I'm still here! I know I take a long time but in real life I've finally figured out why I'm always all over the place with schedules and keeping my attention on one thing. After many years of struggling to figure it out, the doctor just said, you've got ADD, possibly ADHD which explains my crazy childhood a lot. So my mental health is taking a final break but the dyslexia I always claimed I have is just one of my symptoms or more likely a possible misdiagnosis to the BS I deal with in my head everyday and it's just getting worse as I get older.

Off that topic the strings are slowly working their way together and now I've just had Vegeta charge in full force to get Bulma's attention. Bulma's reaction will come next chapter as I try to limit myself to about 3000-4000 words a chapter, it makes it easier to edit and check myself. Yamcha will also be making more appearances as we follow his investigation. More annoying Beri but she's a fun character to write.

So again, if you spot anything I've missed, let me know, be kind and to the point and I will appreciate it very much. I'm not perfect and this work is now my passion as it's gone well past my expected 20 pages. I will be aiming to complete this as my current hobby goal.