.01

[System: Time Vault]

Rhuda found herself inside a vault of sorts. There was a long table in the middle with a high ceiling above and walls and walls of bookcases filled to the brim with rolled up scrolls. The amount of scrolls was too much to count. Next to her stood Trunks with his arms crossed, and he bowed a little to a pink elf.

Well, not a elf but a cute type character with light pink skin and elven ears. Two earrings dangled from them, and she wore a colorful robe with white boots. This creature had pink hair as well.

"Supreme Kai of Time, we made it back safely. It seems like there was some glitch in the system." Trunks said.

The SKOT was this tiny creature then. She frowned cutely and put a hand under her chin in thought. "I see. Well, I'll see if Bulma can sort that out later. I'm just glad Rhuda came back unharmed-but, where is her Time Patrol equipment?"

Rhuda clutched the long jacket tighter. She didn't have a good answer for that either, in fact she was wondering why she was naked as well.

"Not sure. Maybe the system error did that, too." Trunks remarked.

The SKOT nodded. "It's possible. The training simulator is a little outdated after all. Well anyway! No sense in crying over spilled milk as they say."

The topic changed. SKOT smiled and said, "What a good session it was despite that. Rhuda really lives up to her saiyan background."

[System: Character Menu Option Added. View Stats, Abilities, Equipment and items, Relationships and Gifts.]

"Yeah. We need a another saiyan on hand to fight those time villains," Trunks said. "With her and Broly on our side now I'm sure things will go smoothly."

SKOT: "Let's hope for that. In the meantime, Trunks, I have some pudding if you'd like-"

The handsome man beside her coughed loudly and grabbed Rhuda's hand, saying, "S-She's uh got more training to do! With her Instructor. Can't be late for that! I'll show her the way!" Trunks pulled her away from the blinking elf.

Now they were outside of that imposing palace. Trunks dropped her hand and sighed loudly, a puff of breath coming out. "Phew! That was close. The last time I ate her pudding I was sick for three days."

Rhuda giggled a little.

"You're laughing but I promise it wasn't funny at the time." He shook his head. "Ah, anyway, you're probably tired right?"

She checked her Health and Stamina bar, seeing the two filled. "I'm fine."

The environment was now that of a bird cage. It appeared to be dislocated in space somewhere, maybe a floating platform. Glass windows allowed viewing of several moons and planets around the bird cage. There was green grass with a path of stone leading towards a shiny portal of sorts. She wondered where that would go but decided not to run off and find out lest it take her to another battle. A tiny dome home was to the left. Mechanical Capsule Corp parts were strewn everywhere. It looked like a hoarder lived there.

[System: Time Nest]

"Really? That's surprising. Ha, who am I kidding? You are Broly's sister after all." He smiled. "For your first battle you did pretty good."

She tried to say thanks but her mouth blurted, "Hmp! I don't need you to tell me."

"Er, right. Well uh...about my jacket..."

Trunks told her to bring it back if she didn't mind, once Rhuda was properly clothed of course. He pointed to the portal across the grass. "You can take that portal and find the [Shops] down in the Plaza. Oh, you'll need some TP medals. Here."

He deposited some blue coins into her palm. "This should do the trick. If you need more let me know."

Rhuda wanted to bring up the subject currently on her mind. She was somehow in a video game. The last thing she recalled was falling to her death. So was this some sort of messed up death dream? Or was there more to it? "Hey," she grumbled, "Is this place a joke? Or is it all there is?"

Blink. Blink. "Come again?"

[System: Topic Restricted]

Well, that sucked. How was she going to get answers, then? There had to be someone who could help. "Where is my so called Instructor at now?" She asked.

"Uhh, should be down by the Academy. There's a road leading to it. You can't miss it, but here [Map] just in case you get lost."

[System: To use MAP say 'Map']

"..Thanks."

The conversation ended. Rhuda tried to talk to Trunks again but he kept saying the same thing over and over which was annoying. It seemed that she needed to go see her Instructor to further the storyline. She left through the shimmery portal and found herself amidst a colorful tiny city.

[System: Conton City]

Conton was filled with eye candy. A staircase led downwards, leading to a covered area with robots milling about. They had a [!] on their heads. So it seemed she would need to talk to them eventually, then. Across from that area was a fountain with a statue of a tall Earthling. It was a hologram and he was giving the thumbs up sign.

Three towers with markings on them where beside that, with a road leading towards what appeared to be a school.

It would be all too easy to get lost.

"Map!"

In her field of vision a screen displayed points of interest. There were red scrolls, gray scrolls, gray stars, and other icons. She stood a moment just trying to process it all. It was all too vivid to be a dream. Which meant only one thing-

She'd been brought to this video game.

Rhuda sighed. "I'm dead aren't I? I just know it. At least...this is a different place. I did want that more than anything after all. Still...a video game? On Dragon Ball no less...I hope I can survive."

[System: Player Death No Respawn]

"Wait, what? If I die here-I'll die for real?"

The girl hung her head a little. Kami was cruel.

After checking the MAP once more she set off down the steps and walked to the nearest shop. It sold outfits but they were much too pricey for her current TP. The shop to the left was cheaper albeit not as unique in selections. She chose a basic fighting outfit with stats that weren't too great but didn't suck either. A screen shown her full body and she took a moment to stare at herself in wonder.

She was beautiful.

For once, her features were remarkable and set her apart. The full bodied form of a saiyan woman, with thigh length auburn hair and spiked bangs, fluttery green eyes and a tiny cute mouth. She vaguely remembered making Rhuda someone she'd want to be-an exotic beauty. She turned this way and that admiring all the perfect curves. Two large breasts from the side stuck out and she grabbed them in wonder. "Ahn, they feel huge! I-I really look like this?"

Her next thought flitted to the Romantic Option she'd chosen. Rhuda had already unlocked Trunks, so who would be next? Could she have more than one partner, or was it set? "Character Menu."

[Character Screen]

Only to her a screen showed a list of Stats, Abilities, Items and Equipment. She chose the Relationships Option and took a moment to look it over. Beside certain characters that she recognized where grayed out Hearts.

Trunks Brief

His was the only one unlocked currently, a pink heart with nothing filled in the bar.

Under it she saw,

Goku

- Grayed

Friendship Level 0

Vegeta

- Grayed

Friendship Level 5

Gohan

- Grayed

Friendship Level 0

Goten

- Grayed

Friendship Level 0

Zamasu

- Grayed

Friendship Level 0

Goku (Black)

- Grayed

Friendship Level 0

Broly

- Grayed

Friendship Level 10

"Eh..?!"

The last one surprised her. Broly was her brother, so...? So...! "W-What kind of game is this?!"

Clearly whoever designed this game had a complex of sorts. Rhuda shook her head.

"I guess I'll go give Trunks his jacket back now," she said.

He was standing by the dome home with his arms crossed, occasionally stretching and rolling his neck. Rhuda stared a moment. He was the only unlocked Heart. Was that normal? Did she need to progress in the story to get others?

"Hey, you brought it back."

[Handed over 'Jacket']

"..Thanks, I guess," she mumbled.

/cringe

Trunks smiled. "Glad to help. Have you already spoke with everyone?"

"Not yet."

"Come back when you have."

Rhuda left the Time Nest and went back to Conton, pulling up MAP to see where her Instructor was located. "Over there huh. Okay, then.."