AN: Here's the next chapter. You're welcome. For my more sensitive readers - I know I said this is a T rated fic but I couldn't resist spicing things up a bit. That said, I probably have to make this warning...
Warning: adult themes and language was used in this chapter.
Chapter 11 (Science Experiment)
When Bulma woke again, it was dark outside her window. She could hear Cicadas chirping, along with the hum of the GT outside that had become strangely reassuring during her stay at Capsule Corp. Influenza - that's what Vegeta said she had caught. It was her own fault, she conceded. She should have mentioned her deteriorating vitality sooner. On the plus side, she did feel much better at the moment. The headache and aches in her muscles were gone. The lethargia however, was still present. Her throat felt terribly dry and she looked around, catching sight of the glass of water someone must have left for her on her bedside table. She drained it in one go then slumped back into the blankets with a sigh, still feeling thirsty. Just as she was about to heave herself out of bed to go and refill her glass and empty her bladder, a knock sounded at her door. She bade whomever it was entrance and Dr Briefs walked in a moment later. He was carrying with him one of the clipboards that, besides his cat and his pipe, also seemed to be one of his constant companions.
"Good evening young lady. How're you feeling?" he asked.
"Tired, but my head feels much better"
"Good, good…" he answered pleasantly, flipping through the pages on his board. His brow furrowed as he seemed to consider the information there. "Well, it seems that you have indeed contracted influenza, but your vitals show you to be recovering nicely. I took the liberty of doing some further tests on the blood sample I've taken yesterday. Compared to data extracted from the sample you gave me two weeks prior when we've started our experiments and then the following week, it does indeed seem that your immune system has been weakening at a steady rate. I've considered your theory that this may be caused by your continued abstention from seawater; and you were right: I've introduced a sodium compound similar to that of seawater to your blood sample and your white blood cells reacted immediately. It seemed to increase their ability to detect and eliminate the foreign influenza pathogen. It really is remarkable. Your body, even though its chemical make-up is currently similar to that of a human, still needs a high amount of sodium to function at its optimal condition. Now… with all that being said, I would like for you to come with me please, dear."
Speech concluded, he stood and walked briskly from her room, pausing only to hold the door for her while she dragged her metal pole along on its wheels. Bulma couldn't help but smile. Dr Briefs truly loved what he did for a living. Science was his passion. There wasn't one day that went past that she hadn't seen him excited about something his research had revealed to him. She admired that greatly.
Thinking of her own former vocation, she couldn't help but compare her own feelings towards what she did. She would always be immensely proud of what she accomplished for her people, but she didn't love being a warrior the way Dr Briefs loved being a scientist. She loved the challenge of it all, though - training hard and developing her combat skills was something that brought her immense satisfaction. It was her cause however, that was her passion: the safety and security of her realm, but the drive to protect the weak and defend her territory was not a natural inclination. It was beaten into her soul by the harsh reality of war and poverty.
As a young princess, Bulma naturally adored the respect, praise and general high regard she received from all around her. Growing into her teenage years however, all the obligatory tail-kissing began to lose its charm. Beginning to learn to distinguish actions from motives, Bulma quickly realised that all the praise and respect she received as a princess didn't really mean anything because no one respected her as a person. Her worth would always be determined by her fertility status and her physical strength. If she could breed and was deemed strong, she became a candidate for the throne. If she was fertile and proved weak she became a bargaining chip, chattel used to tie another noble house to the royal line by marriage. If she was infertile then she became an ornament of the palace - always admired, but seldom handled. Her life had no real value but that that she gave it. It was detestable - and depressing, and completely unacceptable. As her adolescent period passed with no signs of fertility manifesting - to her tremendous relief, Bulma decided that she would float for it no longer. She was not just some fragile beauty to be admired from afar. She was intelligent and capable and special. And she would make sure the whole Queendom would know it. That's when she decided that she wanted to become an Arena Champion. The training was grueling and more often than not humiliating. She had to work extra hard to prove herself, but she was determined and luckily had enough latent strength and an abundant of smarts to end up top of her class when training concluded. Her concern for the state of Queendom came only later in life, when she was stationed as a Gate guard on the outskirts of the Mer-mammal realm. Life in the military wiped away all sense of entitlement she was bred into and made her want to do something about all the atrocities she was witnessing. No one enjoys war, but when Bulma succeeded and excelled she felt passionate about what she achieved for the people she was fighting for - knowing that one more battle won is a remote village saved from slaughter and pillaging.
It's been a long time since Bulma felt that way about what she did, she thought sadly. At the time she left the Mer-realm, peace treaties were already being negotiated between the formerly warring Merraces. She had long since been promoted to Captain of the Queen's Royal guard and had been spending her life formulating protocols and running drills with her soldiers. Things had become settled and was starting to turn stale. The adventurous warrior princess was itching for a new venture.
Watching Dr Briefs work had sparked her curious nature once again. His constant narrative drew her in - prompting her to find out more, to better understand the world around her. Seeing what humans have accomplished with their world, with technology, and learning about Capsule Corps continuous contribution to that growth made her feel as if she could be a part of something big again. Not just a part, the ambitious mermaid corrected mentally, a pioneer. If Technology is meant to destroy the world in two and a half years, and knowing your enemy is the key to victory, then it seems that the teal-haired warrior princess had a lot of studying to do if she is wanted to be battle ready.
Bulma continued to follow the Capsule Corp president down the familiar pathway towards his personal laboratories, a new proposal already taking shape in her mind: She would become his protege… his padawan. (Yes - she watched Star Wars. She couldn't resist, with Vegeta being an alien and all that; and from what he told her about Freeza, she could definitely see a few similarities between the Galactic Overlord and the Emperor)
Upon entering the lab however, she was more than a little sidetracked by the unfamiliarity of its setting. It had been completely rearranged. The place where the testing station, with its various equipment and machinery had once stood, now sported a giant cylindrical tank. She looked towards Dr Briefs - his mustache was stretched from ear to ear.
"It's the new testing facilities, outfitted for your convenience." He grinned.
The tank stood from floor to ceiling and was easily half the circumference of her own room. In the centre of the structure stood a pillar encircled by a table with electronic panels built into it. An array of screens, keyboards and various other user interface equipment were blinking with colorful lights at her and excitement stirred in her bones. She looked at Dr Briefs again, her expression a near mirror of his (the difference of course being the lack of mustache) and would have hugged him for his consideration.
"Before you paint me as some sort of saint I have to admit that the upgrades are not entirely for your benefit," Dr Brief indicated sheepishly, scratching his mustache. "I was curious you see, of the affect your true form would have on your abilities."
Bulma didn't care. She wasn't even surprised, really. He was a scientist first and foremostly, and will do as scientist do and question stuff… If Bulma wanted him to take her seriously as a potential apprentice in his field then she would have to prove her worth and intelligence to him. She decided to start right then.
"Ms Briefs couldn't seem to pick up on my attempt to communicate with her, but she did pick up something..." Bulma reasoned. "It might be that air runs some sort of interference on the signal, generating noise that only people with sensitive receptors can filter. Like you… Have you ever considered that the reason you could hear me is because of your brain's ability to process data discriminately?"
Dr Briefs looked taken aback for a moment, before his eyes lit up with delight.
"I see you've found my research paper on the correlation of IQ test results and brain activity, and in addition to knowing somewhat about Signal Theory… I'm impressed. All this in a week?"
"I was curious." She grinned cheekily, "And you do have the most extensive library I've ever encountered" she praised, happy to have her efforts recognised for a change. When she tries to interact with the lab technicians like that she's usually - very politely - rebuffed. Almost as if they think she doesn't know what she's talking about.
"Well," he continued, "If that's the case I think it's high time I evaluate your IQ too… mine was 203 just so you know." He admitted with no little pride, "And yes, that was my exact theory - since studies have proven that people with higher IQ scores process sensory information differently, namely they can perceive and identify the movement of smaller, faster objects and filter larger and slower background motions. I hypothesise that I was thus able to detect and filter the telepathic signal you sent out. In other words my brain's ability to be picky with what it processes implies it is very good at blocking out distraction, which in turn raises its efficiency. It does also sometimes mean I can be oblivious to the bigger picture, if you know what I'm saying." he concluded, laughing.
"Well then my dear? What are you waiting for?" he asked, gesturing to the tank. "I was unsure of what your marine form looked like so I didn't really know what type of attire would be appropriate for swimming in. I left your armour in the changing stall in the back. You can go change if you like then I'll proceed to explain this environment to you."
There were many awesome features to the lab's new addition. The best one being the 'airfield hydra drone'. A device that instantly creates an air bubble around itself and by extension, anything it engulfs. It was created in the Air and Space department, according to Dr Briefs, and its design was based on alien technology salvaged from the spaceship that was destroyed by the time-traveller. Bulma's biometric data on the door of the tank causes it to activate and Bulma steps into an airfield that dissipates as soon as the door closes behind her. The more Bulma encountered technology's innovative solutions, the deeper in love she fell with it.
The change into her true form takes about a minute and is activated by the saltwater rushing into her lungs as she inhales. Bulma got quite a thrill out of the lab tech's reactions as they witnessed her true form. The awe and confusion clearly visible on their gawking faces was incredibly satisfying, but the moment was fleeting, because she was soon distracted by the control panel in the center of the tank and all the neat things she could do with it.
Working long into the night, Bulma completely forgot about her nightly appointment with the Saiyan prince. It wasn't until said Prince was standing on the other side of her tank, glowering at her that she noted the time. Bulma gave him a sheepish grin and proceeded to make her way to the nearest airfield drone. A button at its center activated the bubble of air which she quickly swam though. Sitting on the now dry floor at the door of the tank, Bulma waited for the change to complete, gulping large amounts of air through her gills at her ribs that seemed to push the water from her lungs and had it spewing from her mouth. She felt the splits at her ribs shrink and seal, leaving the only pathway to her lungs through her mouth and nose and watched, fascinated as the scales on her tail seem to shrivel up and shrink away, giving way to the soft smooth skin on her thighs; their only blemish being the raised skin on the sides of her legs that formed an intricate pattern of swirls that matched the pattern formed by her luminescent scales. The cartilage of her flukes shrunk to form tiny feet with cute pink toenails at its tip. Her new legs felt tingly and sensitive as it always did after its metamorphosis and she waited for the feeling to subside. Fully human again, Bulma stood and made her way to the door, laying her hand on its glass pane and watched it slide open. Not even the surly expression of her would be lover could wipe the self satisfied grin off her face. She felt, as the humans like to say, like a million bucks again - all traces of illness but a memory. And now, she thought, a sly smirk blooming on her face, operation seduce the Saiyan is back into action.
"Hey Vegeta," she started saucily, "enjoy the show?"
The Woman was really going to be the death of him! Making him wait an hour for her in her room, where she's supposed to be ill and resting. Meanwhile she's off playing science experiment with the elder Briefs - distracting him from his primary objective: improving his training equipment. That's what she is! He seethed, a distraction. That's her essential function, it seems, to everyone. Does she not realise that if he cannot reach his full potential on Earth he would have to leave for the harsher environment of outer space? And then she has the nerve to greet him so nonchalantly provocative - with clingy transparent chainmail and dripping teal hair plastered to her breasts. He was of half a mind to throw her over his shoulder and fly her to his room. Then he'll show her exactly what she could do with that unruly mouth of hers.
...The other half of his mind, the more rational half, conceded that if he bedded her now he would never reach the optimal state of mind needed to achieve the legendary. He needed feelings of rage and desperation to fuel the transformation. Around her all he felt was lust, tenderness and contentment. Damn the woman. She was making him soft! If he was already struggling to control his thoughts, which seemed to always stray towards the blue-haired marine beauty during his idle moments, how much worse would it be if he actually got to act on all of his fantasies.
Then again… maybe that is exactly what he needed to do to be rid of her distractions. The former half of his mind reasoned. If he got it out of his system, it would make concentrating on training that much easier. His rational mind, however, was not on board with this idea and was currently governing his actions. He squashed the temptation, appeasing himself with the promise of 'later' - after he achieved the Legendary, he decided, he will sate all his desires in her delectable body: as a reward. Sufficiently placated and his focused restored, Vegeta proceeded with his intended reproof.
Grabbing her around the waist, he did then throw her over his shoulder, enjoying her indignant squeak and resulting tongue-lashing as he took off. Her voice became more screechy the further he walked with her, and Vegeta suddenly regretted telling her to learn to speak. When his ears finally couldn't take it anymore he set her down - none too gently, and she fell backwards on her butt - again. Vegeta's smirk betrayed his amusement, which increased as she sprung up immediately afterwards and got right in his face.
"Why do you always do that!?" she shouted. He ignored her question.
"When we have a session scheduled, I expect punctuality, Woman." he stated, unperturbed.
"I was working and lost track of time - give me a break for Neptune's sake"
"Working..." he spat, coldly, "doing what exactly? Definitely not the ki-training you are supposed to be practicing. No, there's plenty of time for sharpening such skills isn't there? It's not like the threat of doom to everyone on this planet is looming over you in less than three years." Bulma heard the sarcasm clearly in his tone of voice, but vocal communication wasn't their original form of interaction. Therefore, it wasn't his tone of voice that Bulma looked for for cues to his actual feelings, but their mental link. She immediately picked up on the resentment he was blanketing with his sarcasm. The revelation instantly cooled her ire.
"What is your problem, Vegeta?" she asked softly this time, then switching to telepathy added 'I am helping Dr. Briefs with his research, same as you are when you field test his inventions. You told me to treat them with grace' she reminded.
'Please woman, if helping were all you were doing you wouldn't be progressing so slowly in your ki-manipulation. Do you think me an imbecile? You're devoting all your spare time into studying these humans and their ways - and why the hell do you need to know so much about what Brief's is doing all the time?'
'You act as if I'm doing something wrong.'
'You're constantly kissing his ass with your scientific anecdotes and questions - fishing for praise and acknowledgement. It's pathetic - it's beneath you! What exactly are you trying to accomplish, Bulma? You should be focusing on your training.'
'Oh my Neptune! Again with the focusing on training - you sound like.. like… a broken record. My progress is my own and I will do train as I see fit. You know, I think I know what your problem is: you want me to isolate myself the way you do so that I don't form any relationships with anyone else but you… You're jealous Vegeta, that I'm not devoting all my time and attention to you anymore.'
Vegeta's eyes widened a fraction, before threw back his head and burst out laughing. Bulma's confident smirk faded from her face as he said:
"Get over yourself, Woman! You think you mean that much to me?" This time his tone of voice and thought were completely synchronized: sadistic delight. Vegeta's mean streak has finally reared its ugly head and at that moment she knew exactly how his billions of victims felt staring into the cold black pits of his eyes: more worthless than the dirt on his boots. She was just about to reprimand herself for her own stupidity of choosing a genocidal bastard to care about. He clearly didn't give two Kelps about her other than what he could get out of her body, but then she saw something in his eyes. A crack in the vicious mercenary facade he was currently wearing. His mind opened up a fraction and revealed the wounded pride that prompted this hurtful lashing out. Bulma may have gotten a slight glimpse into the reasons for his hurtful words, but that doesn't mean that she would tolerate his behavior. No more creeping around the issues at hand, Bulma thought. It's time to lay it all out.
"Yes" she finally answered, straightening her spine to look him dead in the eyes. "Yes, I think that - and that's why I'm calling Bullshit. I think I mean more to you than you want me to and your fight or flight instinct is kicking in, isn't it? You can't run from it, now you're trying to push me away."
Not meeting her eyes, he replied "You've been watching those stupid soap operas with the Briefs woman haven't you? You've deluded yourself into thinking I have a heart whole enough to care for you. I assure you woman - that will never be the case. My heart is black as night. The most you will get out of me is a few nights of unimaginable pleasure."
Seeing the opening she desired, Bulma smiled slyly. Slowly, she reached out to his face and grabbed his chin, tilting his face back to hers (having seen this move on one of those aforementioned 'stupid soap operas') and stepped into his body until they stood chest to chest. Lazily, she dropped her arms over his shoulders in a semi-hug and spoke into his lips:
"Unimaginable, huh? My, aren't we cocky tonight"
Vegeta didn't want to fall into her trap, but her eyes were drawing him in and the taste of her breath was intoxicating. Her words and the spicy scent of her arousal seemed to hit him all at once and his rational mind watched helplessly as his self serving side took over. Hands folding around her to cup the curves of her voluptuous bottom, a husky chuckle preceded his reply,
"Cocky, Woman? You don't know the half of it. Shall I enlighten you?" he whispered, pulling her tightly into him to emphasis his meaning.
Lust washed over, stronger than she's ever felt before. His words, whispered in that gruff huskiness so unique to him, caused the most intense of changes in her body. Her skin felt felt sensitive and tingly, her knees were weak and her core throbbed with heat. There was no blacking off now, she thought, no more fear. This time she was ready to commit. She caught sight of his lips and her mouth watered, having seen the passionate kisses human share. She wanted one too, and tilted her mouth up to his, licking her lips to moisten them. The only thing stopping her from attacking his mouth was uncertainty. She's never kissed someone before. How does she go about it?
Vegeta stood like a deer caught in headlights, he knew that if he started something now he wouldn't be able to stop. His rationality was putting up the fight of its life, but was fast losing to the allure of Bulma's puckered wet lips. Seeing her catch that pouty lower lip in her teeth was the last straw and before he knew it, his mouth was on hers and he was prying that bottom lip from her teeth with gentle suction, her resulting moan drove him further off the deep end. With the tip of his tongue he licked the seam of her mouth, silently begging for entrance. And when she gave it with the parting of her lips, he wasted no time plundering. He licked into her mouth, caught her tongue and sucked voraciously, drowning in a lust filled haze. With his hands already filled with luscious ass, it was quick work for him to reach down further to the parting of her smooth thighs and hitch her up, and, smart girl that she was, Bulma quickly wrapped her legs around his waist. As if by instinct, her hips started gyrating, riding the ridge pressed into the juncture of her thighs and Vegeta reacted instantly, spinning them around to press her back against the domed wall of the compound. His body was on autopilot as he grinded back, reacting to her movements as he catered to both their pleasure. With a little panic, though, he soon realised that he wouldn't last carrying on in this manner. He needed to set her down or risk embarrassing himself. Reluctantly separating their lips, Vegeta looked around long enough to ascertain the direction of his room window. If he was going to do this, he was going to do it right he decided with no little pride. As he was about to make the leap, a presence appeared off to his side.
"Hey Vegee-ooh" Kakarot's appearance was about as effective as a bucket of ice water dumped on his head. Bulma let go of his shoulders the same time his hands flew from her bared butt and with a yelp she ended up on her ass again. Having the presence of mind to shut her legs, as she spied the orange-gi wearing Saiyan standing before her. Luckily his head was turned the other way - a blush staining his cheeks.
"Kakarot you imbecile!" Vegeta scolded, his face probably the same shade as his nemesis'.
Goku chuckled nervously, glancing at Vegeta and then quickly at Bulma before looking off to the side again. "Sorry for interrupting, Vegeta" he started, fidgeting with the tie of his gi. "I uh… wanted to invite Bulma - and you of course - to the barbeque we're having on Kame-island this weekend. Bulma hadn't met the rest of the team yet." he stated by way of explanation.
Bulma, having gotten over the worst of the embarrassment faster than the Saiyans standing before her, was more clearheaded than they were and therefore caught the anomaly in Kakarot's request.
"Kakarot, how do you know my name?" she asked - her brows furrowing in confusion. Kakarot's eyes widened comically as if he made some mistake.
"I.. uh… uhm… Ms. Briefs told me when I visited the other day." he stammered.
"You were never here during the time she's been here, you fool."
"Pretty sure I was. Anyway, I can see you're busy. I'll come back tomorrow to find out about the barbeque." He was gone before they could get another word in.
After he left there was nothing to do but stare awkwardly at one another. With Vegeta's rational side firmly back in control of his body, he felt it necessary to lay down the lines before anything else happens.
"You're distracting the doctor from his attending to my training needs - that is the problem that I have with your work with him." He said, his hormones seemingly back under his control. Bulma seemed a bit confused with the subject matter, before her eyes widened in understanding. She decided to reward his honest admission with her own truth:
"I know you think that I don't view the fate of the Earth with due seriousness. I can assure you, I do. Androids are coming to lay waste to this planet's population, but I'm not deluding myself into thinking I have the brute force needed to make a difference. I'm leagues beneath you when it comes to physical strength. I know that now… If I am do have any effect in this planet's fate it'll not be due to using my fists. Do you know what made me the greatest warrior of my race Vegeta? It's wasn't because I was the strongest, physically - it was because of my ability to outwit my enemy in every turn…
"So if you're asking me to discontinue my work with Dr Briefs the simple answer is no. It's as you said - I'm not meeting my end at the hand of a bunch of machinery in three years time. I'll use my strongest asset - my mind - and I'll destroy them as I have all the idiots who've ever dared to take on Bulma Arowana. I'll leave the punching to you." She ended, smiling.
Vegeta remained silent afterwards, seemingly contemplative.
"Very well then Woman." he finally said, "You do as you see fit to be ready for the androids when they arrive. I shall do the same. " she was about to nod in acknowledgement, when he uttered the next part. "I do not feel it advantageous to my quest for achieving to Legendary to bed you at this time." and with a smirk, he added "you'll have to wait until I've achieved it before you can have that privilege."
If Bulma had her trident she would have thrown it at him.
He then leapt into his room via his window, missing Bulma's parting words of:
"If you think you'll get away with leaving me hanging like this, Vegeta Prince of Saiyan, you have another thing coming."
AN: I'm evil - I know… but I'm holding off on that scene until I can't anymore (which is not much longer, I think)... speaking of the moment you're all waiting for - I think I'm going to up the rating. Just to be safe.