Chapter 9 A Simple Kind of Life

You know, I never considered myself to be some super genius, but I am pretty damn smart. Not to mention damn pretty. Over the next couple of months, I invented some amazing stuff.

I invented, all by myself this time, a more supped-up space capsule that was capable of instant traveling by decreasing the time in light years. The ship could go to Namek, if it still existed, in an hour. I called it Neo Brief #1. Very fast, yet very dangerous. Everyone's afraid to try it. Amazing enough, Goku helped me build it by explaining to me how he uses his instant transmission. I decided that after the crew defeats the androids, I would test it. I'd get Roshi to come along. I'm sure he'd love space travel. It even reduces to capsule form. Cool, huh?

Also, I made what I call the direct duplicator. It's like a machine that transfer an object's mass and matter to another location by recognizing the radio waves from another machine. Better than e-mailing. Now a granny can send her grandson cookies a thousand miles away. I only made a pair at that time, but father thought I should make more.

I finally finished school. I received my PhD in advanced astro-physics. My new name was Doctor Bulma Briefs, though no one calls me that, even today. I got job offers all over the world, wonderful benefits. But, of course, I didn't work for any one. Besides, I'm rich. I won tons of awards for displaying my direct duplicator at Science Fairs: Scientist of the Year, Scientist of the Decade, Scientist of the Century, Woman of the Year, Woman of the Decade...You get the picture. I became more than the daughter of Dr. Briefs, I became world famous Miss Bulma Briefs, super-genius. I was still legs and breast to Roshi and Oolong. I received TV spots and was invited to award shows. I was a star, and a pretty young scientist to, make it so bad. Who said hitting the books were a waste of time? Everywhere I went, people recognized me. Even a few young schoolgirls asked for my autograph. "We wanna be just like you, Miss Bulma," one little red hair girl said. "You're beautiful and smart, everything I wanna be!" "Um...Thanks kid. Take care." A lot of people think I can get full of myself, but I remained pretty modest. Mother told me that for a brief moment, I was more famous than Mr. Satan was. Now, I thought that was amazing, and I had to gloat. I was on top of the world. My dreams of receiving recognition for my talents came true. I heard even Doctor Gero, wherever the hell he could have been at the time, commented me. Just a rumor, though...

One afternoon, I was down in my lab working on a new invention. I was trying to make a substitute for telephones. I know the idea sounds kooky, but I came up with some good drafts. After around nine at night, I decided to turn in. I was tired and not so fresh. I need to go rest. I took the lab's back elevator that led right up to my floor. "A nice hot bath," I said to myself as I rode up, gazing at the city. "That sounds tempting. Then, after I get out, I'll beat dad at some Super Calamity Fighter Z. He's getting too damn good at it."

Father hired some builders to install another bath for my floor just for me. It wasn't necessary, since I was alone, but he did it anyway. My bathroom is in a stormy blue decor. As you step in, the sink is on the left, made like a fountain. On the right are a bench and a laundry shoot. Further left, further down, there is a private shower. In the corner of the bath is a huge step down tub, with a window that overlooked the city. I love the tub. I laid back in the bubbly water, mist riding up my neck, reflecting the past twenty months. I reflected the dates I had with Yamcha, and our breakup. I thought about Vegeta and our conversations, that expression on his face on that night he left. When he left, so did the dreams I had of him. "I guess we weren't meant to be," I mumbled. "Just a crush. Never meant to be his princess."

Father had carpet in my bathroom. My feet slowly dried on the rug as I dried myself off with my favorite blue towel. So relaxed. "Forget the game. This we'll be a good time to finish off that mystery I've been delaying." Just as I was putting on my pajama top, father's cat came into my room. "Hey, Cat," I greeted. "What's up?" --meow-- "Meow, huh? Where's dad?" The Cat didn't meow, but it beckoned me to follow her. She led me to the elevator. "Is dad in his lab, Cat?" She climbed up my sleeve and gestured to hit the base floor. "Okay. What's down here?" On the base floor, everything was completely dark. "Hmm, the circuits must be out on this level. Thanks, Cat." As I headed for the circuit box, something struck me. "Hey, Cat, how did you get to my room all by yourself? I lock the way on the stairs."

"SURPRISE, BULMA!"

I nearly peed on myself. All of a sudden the lights jumped on and Oolong was dead in my face. "What the hell..." Around me in the gathering room was presents and cakes and people, some I recognized some I didn't. "Congratulations, my little girl," mother began as she approached me with a noisemaker. "How do you feel?" "I'll feel better if I knew why all of you decided to scare the hell out of me." "Silly, it's your birthday! You're thirty-three today!" Oh-my-Gawd, I thought, I forgot my own damn birthday. Thirty-three, it didn't sound right to me. Middle aged, whoa.

The whole gang was there for my birthday. There was Goku, with a tux on, really a tux. Chi Chi was there in a Chinese formal gown. They had little Gohan in some suspenders and Ox King was dressed the same. Let me see, Master Roshi, Krillin, Tien, Chaozu, Yajirobe, Marron, even Piccolo and Lunch was there, who I haven't seen in ages. And I noticed, with the exception of Piccolo, that everyone was dressed formally. There I was, geeked out in my personal favorite PJ's. I was embarrassed, as you can imagine. Father led me to a big chair in the middle of the room, blindfolding me. I heard something rolling toward me. If Oolong and Goku hadn't said ohh and ahh, I probably wouldn't had known it was a cake, but it was obvious. When I could see again, I saw the most beautiful cake. It was huge. A giant bundt cake, with candles all around. The words Panty Genius was in pink above white chocolate icing. "Whoa, who made this?" I asked. "I did," Chi Chi responded. "It took me all day, plus I had to keep Goku's grubby hands off." Goku blushed. "Ahh, c'mon Chi Chi. It looks awesome." He gave her a nudge. "Well go ahead, Bulma," Gohan suggested. "I'm starving!" "Make a really good wish." Chi Chi said. "Something even the Dragon can't grant!" "...Right." I closed my eyes. I needed to give this wish a little thought:

Hmm, what do I want? I have everything I ever wanted. I'm more than rich. I'm famous, worldwide. I have a loving family. I have the most wonderful friends anyone could wish for. I'm healthy. I'm alive. I'm independent...But I'm alone. I wish, I wish that I can find my true love, without the aid of a wish...Well, here I go.

It took a little effort to blow out the candles, but no hardship. "YAY! NOW LET'S DIG IN!" Everyone tore into the cake before I had a chance to get up. Vultures. Even though everyone was dressed formally, the DJ still played dance music. The lights were low and the atmosphere was noisy. It was almost like a club moved in our house. Hundreds of people were there. Some colleagues of mine, old schoolmates, so on. I didn't even want to change. I was having so much fun that I just wilded out with my pajama pants and tank on. They even had a professional bar tender there. What a night. We sang Karaoke with a live band. Krillin sucked, but I did pretty well. I singed New from No Doubt, my favorite band. Everyone clapped for me! So exciting. Krillin sang some bullshit no one ever heard of. He was booed off.

"You might as well call your house Club Briefs!" some young girl yelled at me protesting. "Yeah!" I yelled back. I was dancing with this cute tall man with brunette hair. He was all on me, riding me, but still on my toes. A terrible dancer, but I liked the way he dressed. "You wanna drink?!" I loudly asked him over the music. "Sure! I'd like that!" he agreed. At the bar, some people gave up their stool for me to sit at. "Alize', please." I asked. "A beer." he asked. We sat down, facing the new victim at the Karaoke stage. "Oh no, please don't Goku." The man faced me. "So how can I get into your life, Miss Briefs?" I grinned. "Bulma, please." "Okay, Bull. How can we hook up?" "Bulma." "Right, right Bummer. What's up with you and me?" "IT'S BUL--"

"Its Bulma, dude. Like panties, like gym shorts. Duh."

I knew that voice without turning around. "Thanks, Yamcha." "No problem." The man looked a little jealous. "Well, I guess I need to learn how to talk before you want some of me. Either that, or find a name that isn't so weird." He walked off, heading for Lunch, who was just wiping her nose from a terrible sneeze. Yamcha occupied his seat. "How have you been, Yamcha?" "Oh, y'know." "No, I don't." "Training, working, clubbin', whatever." "Right." "I heard life's been really good for you. You're famous." "Yeah." I bashfully scratched my head. "Um, listen Bulma, I really need to apolo--" I covered his mouth with my hand. "Forget it, Yamcha. I understand now. Let's just go on with our lives." I felt a smile form over my hand. "Cool. You are something wonderful, Miss Briefs." "I know." He got up, kissed my cheek and headed for Marron. "Figures, I mumbled.

The party continued until the police came. They said we were keeping up too much noise. That was about four in the morning. I was completely exhausted. Goku led me to my room and laid me down. "Bye, birthday girl," he said, with a kiss on the forehead. "Hey, you better take Gohan home, its beyond late for him." "Sure thing. Chi Chi is already home and I know she is fired up at me. See ya." He slowly closed my door. "Oy...what a night." I stretched out on my bed. "I hope no one bothers me tomorrow. I am totally not in the mood for company." I leaned on my left side, left arm under my pillow, like I usually sleep. "Ahh," I yawned. "Happy Birthday to Me.."

"Yeah, Happy Birthday. Stupid."