Author's Note: I've received some questions as to where Bulma lives and where Vegeta lives. To tell you the truth, I really don't know! All I know is that they live far away from each other. The story really takes place some time after their last adventure before Trunks, of course. Like I said, this is completely AU, so there's really a lot of things that don't agree with the series. Hope you guys can use your imaginations! One last thing: thanks to all you guys who review my stuff. It's all because of great reviewers that allow me to keep motivated. Thanks!
Fallingby A. Mikato
Part Two: From Darkness to Light
"Bulma!"
She turned her head to look around, wondering which direction her name was being called from.
"Miss Bulma, over here!"
She found Professor Armstrong, who was one of the chief technicians for Capsule Corp. She had grown a close bond with him over the years, even to the point where she considered him a father figure. She never had a dad to look up to while growing up. Armstrong knew this and took Bulma under his wing.
She walked over to him, standing in front of a room in the hallway. She smiled as she greeted him.
"Hello, Professor. Your wife was right, you do clean up rather nicely!"
He laughed. "Well, Bulma, you look amazing yourself."
She blushed, and ran a hand over her dress to smooth it out. "This was the only thing I could find in the stores that fit me. I didn't have too much time to fix myself up, so I guess I'll take your word for it."
He glanced at the briefcase she was holding. "Are you ready for your big night?"
She nodded. "I guess so. I haven't had any time to get nervous." She looked around the hallway. "Do you know where I'm supposed to go, because I don't! This place is huge!"
He nodded and led her to the grand hallway. "I figured you wouldn't know where to go, so I waited for you out here. You must be excited."
She shrugged. "Not really." She smirked. "The way I'm feeling tonight, I guess it's more, 'finally!' than anything. I've been working my butt off for so long, and they just now managed to see it!"
"Well," he said, moving along. "Men in the corporate business are blind to women's accomplishments."
"I think I out of anyone should know the magnitude of that statement."
"You've worked hard to be where you are, Bulma. You should be proud."
They reached the grand hallway. Bulma looked over the crowd of people, all ready to see her new invention. There were at least one hundred of them, dressed prim and proper in tuxedoes and ball gowns. She really didn't know why they were making such a big deal about this thing, but she really didn't mind. Bulma was never one to complain about being the center of attention. Gracefully, she walked up to the executive director, James Lee, who was standing next to a Greek pottery exhibit in front of the museum.
"Bulma, here, let me get one of my assistants to take care of that for you," he said gently, as he motioned one of his assistants to retrieve the silver briefcase from Bulma's hands.
"Thank you, Mr. Lee." She felt her spine shiver in disgust as she felt his eyes study her body. She looked around, trying to find a way to exit the awkwardness of the moment. She could have said things like, "It's such an honor, Mr. Lee, to be here tonight," or, "I couldn't have imagined such a better outcome!" But of course, she didn't, because there was no truth to the statements! In fact, if she were to tell the truth, she'd be saying things like, "You arrogant, stuff-nosed bastard, it's about time you've come around," or, "Things would be a lot better if I had control of the company!" Bulma was a woman of truth, and she wasn't going to let anything jeopardize that.
"Bulma! Bulma!"
She looked across the room, where she spotted some very familiar faces. "Excuse me, Mr. Lee, there are some friends of mine I'd like to speak with."
He smiled. "Don't be too long," he said. "The ceremony will begin in a few minutes."
She walked away from him, disgusted. But the sight of her friends made her feel better. Their warm and welcoming faces among the crowd of her corporate peers didn't make her feel so alone anymore.
She was greeted by Goku first. He hugged her and said hello. She told him that she appreciated him coming. If anyone else didn't come but him, she'd be more than happy. Goku was her dearest friend, and wanted to share experiences like these with him.
"Thanks for coming," she said.
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world," he said, smiling. "And, uh, you said there was a dinner after this?"
Bulma laughed, along with Chi Chi, who said her hellos. "That's actually the only way I got him in a tux," Chi Chi said, fixing Goku's bowtie. "I said there was a free gourmet dinner after the ceremony, and he suddenly was very motivated to attend!"
Bulma hugged Chi Chi as well, and noticed her friend's belly. "Oh my god, Chi Chi!" Bulma exclaimed as she rubbed Chi Chi's stomach gently. "You're huge! The last time I saw you, you weren't even showing!" She looked at Goku. "Have you thought of a name yet?"
He nodded. "We're thinking about naming him after my grandfather."
"That's a great choice!" Bulma smiled and leaned over to talk to Chi Chi's stomach. "Hello, little Gohan. This is your Aunt Bulma!" She looked at her two friends, so happy for them and their lives together. Inside, she was always envious of their relationship, for who couldn't see how happy Chi Chi and Goku were? They had a long and rich history together, and now they were making one of their own.
"Krilin and Piccolo couldn't make it, they had some things to attend to back home," Goku said. "But they send their regards."
Bulma smiled, knowing the two wouldn't show up anyway, tuxedoes and fine dining weren't exactly their forte. But she was glad to know they were thinking about her.
"Bulma!"
Professor Armstrong was calling her from the front, signaling that it was time to the ceremony to begin. She excused herself from her friends and proceeded to the front. She could feel all eyes on her, and it was satisfying. She finally felt that she was getting the respect and admiration she deserved.
"Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention?" Armstrong said as Bulma approached him. "Tonight, we will be celebrating the accomplishments of a very special and talented young lady." He looked over to her and smiled sincerely. "Bulma has been working with us for over six years, and through those years, she has contributed many innovative projects and ideas. Capsule Corp. would like to recognize her achievements by giving her original patents and full support from our company for all her inventions, from the past and those to come, and for the present." He signaled the assistants to unveil her invention. As they did, amazed gasps echoed through the room. Armstrong handed the floor over to Bulma.
"Good evening everyone," she said. "I'd like to thank you all for being here tonight." She walked over to her invention and placed a hand on it. "The Earth is a very beautiful thing. It's not hard to see, I think everyone in this room can at least agree with me when I say that. But although people know and see how beautiful the Earth is, few are actually doing anything to conserve it.
"I've invented many things to aid the conservation of the Earth. Inventions that save electricity, lower the percentage of litter and waste, inventions that purify the water that we drink. But I had yet to invent something that would spare the air of the waste and toxins that are so unfortunately rising in percentage every time we run a gas-powered factory, every time we fly our airplanes through the sky, every time we start the ignition of our cars.
"But tonight, I am going to show you something I have concurred to be the most innovative, the most energy-saving, the most Earth-friendly invention I have come up with up to date." She smiled, her speech delivered eloquently and perfectly so far. "This, my friends, is Patent Number Zero Zero Zero One," she smiled and paused. "I have yet to find a suitable name for it." The crowd mingled in mild laughter. "It has the ability to use pure water as a means for gas." The simplicity in her words was ironically the biggest statement of the night. "I don't see a need to explain it. Rather, it'd be more effective to show you." She took a bottle of water and poured it into the funnel-like structure of her invention. The crowd was waiting in anticipation.
"Professor Armstrong, if you would be so aid me in removing the energy source inside this museum." He nodded, and she faced the audience to explain her test. "This building's lights are run by gas electricity. Dr. Armstrong will remove the fixture that allows the gas to run the current, and I will replace it with 0001, and you'll be the first to witness it at work. From darkness to light, I guess you could say."
Professor Armstrong removed the power fixture, and the entire room went black. Bulma walked slowly with her invention at hand to where Armstrong was. "Excuse me, Professor, if you could allow me some room."
"Yes, of course," he said, as he walked far from her to give her space.
Bulma placed 0001 into the nook where the original power source was, ready to amaze her colleagues. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Patent 0001!" She lifted the lever that started the current, and in a matter of nanoseconds the lights went back on. People gasped and clapped in adoration. But as quickly as the lights went on, Bulma noticed a spark of electricity running through the walls. It reached the power source in the wall. Bulma had been around enough technology to recognize the magnitude of that tiny spark.
A bomb...
Before she had time to run, the spark reached its destination- Patent Number Zero Zero Zero One. But before it exploded she felt her waist being whisked away, like a strong wind. She stood, in shock, as the wall exploded, as well as her invention. The explosion was small, it didn't do any damage to anyone around else. But it would have killed her if she had remained standing there. And that wind, what was that wind that brought her to safety?
The crowds were running now, screaming, as crowds often do. To Bulma everything was a blur, like a dream. Her eyes were still, glazed over with shock. What was going on?
She saw Chi Chi and Goku running towards her from afar. Her senses started to return, and she shook her head to clear her thoughts.
"Are you hurt?"
That voice...It was familiar.
"Are you all right?" it asked again.
Bulma closed her eyes and sank into her dream. It was all too much right now, too many things to handle all at once. She felt her knees give way, only to feel arms- those very arms that pushed her away from that explosion- keep her from falling to the ground. Before she blacked out completely, she opened her eyes and said his name before closing her eyes again.
"Vegeta..."