Disclaimer: DB/DBZ/DBGT belong to Toriyama and other rich Japanese guys, not me.
A Brief Moment in Time
Chapter 17: Welcome to Capsule Corp.
West Capitol, Chikyuu…
Mirai no Bulma looked over the huge Capsule Compound of this dimension. Unlike the one in her time, it was still in good shape. The domes hadn't collapsed and there were beautiful gardens everywhere. While there were certainly some superficial changes—mainly due to the fact that Yamcha and Trunks Yamcha Briefs lived there—the basic construction was the same. Bulma was sure that she could get in.
"It looks close enough to mine in my time, Vegeta. I don't think it'll be a problem getting in," said Bulma. "Let me ask you one more time. Are you sure you just don't want me to go in and introduce myself and ask if we can use my counterpart's stuff?"
"Woman. I will have nothing to do with your counterpart. Nothing," he said venomously. Vegeta still obviously had a few issues to resolve with the Bulma of this dimension.
The two of them were sitting on the roof of a nearby building. Bulma had, again, drawn on Capsule Corp funds and got them a hotel room nearby. Not wanting to argue with Vegeta, she looked through her binoculars again to check out the area. As she scoped out the area, she spotted a black sedan pulling up into the compound. She followed the car as it went to the back entrance and several people got out.
"Vegeta…" she hissed. "Quick look at this…"
Vegeta sat up from where he was lying down. He had been staring at the sky trying to purge his memories of this place. Chikyuu had long held a connotation with THAT woman. He had avoided thinking about it for decades, and now he was here at the scene of the crime. The memories had come flooding back and with them, they brought anguish. He was starting to understand slightly why THIS woman had such a hard time coping with her past.
Vegeta frowned as he recognized the people who had gotten out of the car. They were Bojack's minions. Each of the three blue skinned minions of Bojack wore black suits and had sunglasses on. The other two people were Dr. Myuu, and a man in his early thirties who was ushering them into the compound.
"I see that the people of Chikyuu have sided with the rebels," he said flatly. There was no emotion in his voice and his eyes were as hard as agates.
"How about we find out the facts first before we make conclusions, Vegeta." Bulma knew she had to stop him or he'd blow his cover. He probably believed that the Sons had gone over and she knew that it was his greatest fear, to have his trust betrayed again. "Act like an Emperor and not some egotistical maniac."
"Woman… do you think me a fool?" asked Vegeta with a look of bafflement on his face. He was at a lost at how the woman could think him as foolish as to jump to conclusions.
"I didn't say anything of the sort, Vegeta," Bulma said hastily.
"Woman… I know very well not to jump to conclusions. I fully intend to hold judgment until I confront the brats myself. Tell me… was I that idiotic in your dimension? No wonder your pretender perished to a toaster."
"You know, Vegeta, when you first started that little speech I was going to comment on your change in attitude you've had in the last… was it thirty years? Well now that I think about it, you're still the same egotistical bastard as always"
Vegeta just smirked. She may have thought that he hadn't changed much, but it appears that he wasn't the only one staying static. It was the same old story happening all over again. "Enough, talk. Can we get in?"
Bulma chuckled. She sat down and looked over the ledge again. Her brows furrowed as she concentrated on looking over the grounds again. "Ok… I can get us in without being detected. We'll hop over the south wall and then make our way to the back entrance. I'm sure those codes will be easy to break. The tough ones will be the ones in the laboratory. If we're lucky they will be the same ones that I know. If we aren't I'll have to crack them." Bulma paused for a second and smiled. "You know… it's so much easier to crack your own codes than someone else's. This will be a piece of cake. Lets get down to the store, I need some supplies."
"Woman. There is no rush. We cannot make a move until they leave the compound. I know their ki signatures now and we will make no mistakes."
Bulma nodded. "Still, it doesn't hurt to be prepared and there are other things we can be doing to pass the time," she said as she grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the ledge.
The next morning…
"Woman, wake up!" ordered Vegeta as he unceremoniously dumped Bulma out of the bed they had just been sharing.
"Vege…" Bulma couldn't even finish her sentence. She was absolutely livid, as any normal person would be if they had been happily sleeping one minute and then found herself on the floor the next.
"Bojack's henchmen have left Capsule Corporation. We must get in now."
Bulma muttered a few choice obscenities under her breath as she slowly rose to her feet. Walking into the bathroom, she quickly brushed her teeth and woke herself up by splashing some cold water on her face. She quickly dressed in black clothing suited for vigorous activity. A tight black shirt went over a sports top, and she put on a pair of black tights.
"What time is it?" she asked grumpily. She didn't need to look out the window to know it was still dark out.
"It is five. We must move quickly, woman. We do not know when they will be back."
"Alright. I'm ready, let's go," she said as she put a few capsules into various pockets.
Vegeta nodded, and the two of them quietly left their hotel room. Catching a cab right in front of the hotel, they were dropped off, ten minutes later, one block away from the Capsule Compound.
The two of them wasted no time. They casually walked over to the Capsule Compound from the south. It was still a bit too early for anyone to be up and notice the two of them. Moreover, both of them were dressed in dark colors so that they would be more difficult to spot in the early morning light.
"I wonder why I would have a wall built?" Bulma mused out loud when they reached the security wall on the south side of the compound. In her timeline, before the androids came, she never had contemplated such security measures. The current Bulma had, for some reason, installed a fifteen-foot high wall around her home.
"You must have become a paranoid bitch."
Bulma glanced at Vegeta sharply in anger for a moment. Then, realizing that she was married to Yamcha in this time period, she let out a small sigh. Vegeta was probably right. With Yamcha, she knew she could never have felt secure. She'd always be wondering what he was up to whenever he went out. She'd never know whether if he would come back to her, or embarrass her with one of his many girlfriends. The Bulma of this time would have to live perpetually in a haze of uncertainty where there should have been nothing but faith. This could easily have been the seed that grew over the years and made her into a bitter self-centered woman.
Mirai no Bulma reached down, grabbed a stick, and threw it at the wall. When nothing happened, she sighed in relief. "Well at least it's a normal wall and not something I whipped up."
Vegeta just hmmped. "Let's get going woman. We don't have all day."
"You know… It's really strange to be talking about myself. After we get your collar off, I'm going to have to meet myself. I'm very curious as to how I turned out," said Bulma as she climbed onto his back. He leapt up just high enough so that she could reach the top of the wall and pull herself over. As soon as she was safely sitting on the fifteen-foot wall, he jumped up and joined her. He then scooped her up in his arms and leapt down. Using a tiny bit of ki, Vegeta floated down and landed silently on the soft ground below. He set Bulma on her feet and then sniffed the air around him. "No one is up. Let's go."
Bulma and he ran quickly to the back entrance of Capsule Compound. As they ran, Bulma pulled out a capsule and activated it. With a poof, a small electronic device appeared in her hand. She quickly pointed it in the direction of the compound and pressed it. The device was a small remote camera control. Bulma had gone to Camera Shack the night before and had put together a few little gadgets that would help her get in. The entire compound's cameras began to loop their images.
As they reached the door, Bulma took out another capsule that contained her laptop and some tools. Using a screwdriver she popped open the front panel of the security pad and quickly wired her computer in. Numbers flashed across her screen as the computer found out the proper access code. In less than a minute the door's locks clicked automatically and she opened the door.
"Your Majesty. Welcome to Capsule Corporation," said Bulma with a wave of her hand and a mocking curtsey.
Vegeta just sniffed. "Woman, you will be punished for that."
"I'll be looking forward to it, your majesty," she said saucily as she gave a little wiggle. She led him into the building and began to make her way through the labyrinth of corridors.
"This is not the way to you laboratory," remarked Vegeta as he followed her. "It must be in a different place in your time. Follow me, I remember where it is."
"No, Vegeta. We aren't going to that laboratory. We're going to my private lab."
"Private lab?"
"Yes… I have a lab that no one knows about. I didn't even tell you about it in my time… It was my one place of solitude," she explained. "Come on, its just in the next room."
The two of them walked into what seemed to be a sitting room. It was lightly decorated with an amber theme. On each of the walls hung paintings. The first was one showed a scene where Capsule Corp. explorers were battling savage barbarian tribes in the freezing winters of Sibera. The second was a painting of two lovers intertwined with each other with Cupid watching over them. A third painting was of a family having a picnic in a park. The landscape was breathtaking with the golden, red colored trees in the mountainous background. The last painting depicted a scene where soldiers were taking a break during the mid-heat of summer.
Yet, despite the beauty of the paintings, they were not what dominated the room. Instead, a large amber pillar with three slits in it dominated the room. Behind it was the painting of the Capsule explorers though it hung just below a large window. Moreover, there were furnishings in the room. It was obviously a place where the Bulma of this time intended to entertain guests. The various antiques that were set around the room must have also cost a fortune. The various vases, sculptures and such were undoubtedly meant to impress whoever was received there. Bulma's eye was particularly drawn to three figurines that were placed from right to left on the far wall away from the amber pillar; Aphrodite, Apollo, and Demeter. On the wall opposite of them stood a single statue of Hades.
"Hmmm… This is different from my time. It's this room, but I wonder where I would hide the switch. Let's see…" Bulma slowly walked around the room examining every object with care. For about five minutes she examined each wall, each piece of furniture, and every decoration with care. Finally she shook her head.
"I have no idea… This is a puzzle, I'm sure of it. I've always set things in small riddles…" she said to Vegeta, who was leaning against a wall with his arms crossed.
"I have no doubt that it has something to do with the most costly piece in here," stated Vegeta with disgust. The piece he was referring to was the large amber pillar that had three slits through it.
"Please Vegeta. I would never be as superficial as that," replied an affronted Bulma.
"Perhaps you would not, but she would."
Bulma didn't answer. She had automatically walked back to the large amber pillar and had begun examining it. As she did so, a stray ray of morning sunlight struck the pillar casting its shadow on the wall behind. Bulma turned and saw that it struck above the three figurines placed on the far wall from the pillar. God I'm a genius, she thought to herself. Each of the pillars on the far wall represented three seasons. The sun would shine on one of the statues directly on the Vernal, and Autumnal equinoxes as well as the summer solstice. As it was only weeks past the summer solstice, Bulma was sure that the middle figurine was the switch that would open. Placing her hand on it, the eyes of the Vegeta-like figurine glowed and then she felt a little tremor as the center of the room lowered itself slightly to reveal a ramp down into a hidden hallway.
"I'm a genius," she stated flatly.
Vegeta ignored her and peeked into the corridor. The entrance was small but it began to widen as it progressed down into the earth below. At the far end of the hallway there seemed to be an elevator. He jumped down and signaled Bulma to join him. Bulma walked down the hallway to the elevator and seeing a security measure, she placed her palm on a hand pad that was on the wall.
"Hand Identification Confirmed"… Chimed a computer voice. "Please enter code."
With complete confidence, Bulma entered a code into the machine. There was no response for a moment causing Vegeta to hold his breath. They were so close, yet if they were caught now there would be little hope of escape.
"Code Confirmed…" said the voice again. The elevator door opened up. With a you-should-have-more-faith-in-me smile plastered on her face, Bulma turned and, again, gave a mocking curtsey to Vegeta. "Your Majesty, my counterpart's lab awaits. I think we can get this collar off you now.
Vegeta glared at her. He felt as if she were mocking him every time she said the words, "Your Majesty."
The two of them walked into a brightly lit and meticulously clean room that was probably a thousand square feet in size. The ceilings were several feet above their heads, and rows upon rows of florescent lights ate up kilowatts of power to give this dimensions Bulma Briefs proper lighting for her research.
"This is very interesting…" remarked Mirai no Bulma as she walked through her counterparts lab. She was jealous that the Bulma of this time had the luxury of testing out the myriad of theories that she had in her head. A single glance around the room showed that her counterpart had successfully developed several new power sources, a better way to capsulate things, and even a regeneration tank. Mirai no Bulma couldn't help but feel cheated in a way.
"Woman… what are you frowning about? You have things to do." Vegeta's voice sliced through her glum musings as if it were a sharp knife.
"Give me a second," she shot back a little irritated. He was probably right though she thought to herself, she had best get to work. She looked around the lab and found several analyzing devices that she had created in her time. It was really just too convenient that she invented the same things in this time as well. "Sit down here Vegeta while I take a look at that collar."
Vegeta did as he was told. He walked over to where she was sitting and sat down. Bulma immediately went to work with the analyzers. She ran it up and down his neck, sometimes only on the collar and sometimes on the skin of his neck. The cold touch of metal kept causing Vegeta to fidget.
"Sit still damn it," barked Bulma. "Where's that vaunted Vegeta discipline?"
"Woman," said Vegeta dangerously. "You make me cook for you, you cut off my hair, you mock my status as Emperor, and now you dare abuse my discipline?"
"Just sit still… and you offered to cook for me, I can grow your hair back in the regen tank over there in less than 10 seconds and your pompous ass deserves to be mocked."
Vegeta growled at her but he sat still. "You are the most insufferable harpy I've ever had the misfortune to meet."
Bulma just smiled and ignored his comment. She was putting all her concentration into her work and like always, it caused her to completely tune out the world. Vegeta noticed this and quieted down. Bulma couldn't ever be baited while she was working.
Probably an hour went by before Bulma finally broke the silence. "This is amazing Vegeta. I don't know who the hell created this but it's just absolutely amazing."
"Is that suppose to make me feel better?"
"Huh? Oh… Don't worry I'll be able to get it off you. It's going to hurt like hell and I'm going to have to put you into that regen tank, but it'll come off. Look at the bright side… you'll be able to transform and get your hair back at the same time."
"Good… Now tell me why this thing has you so excited?" he asked.
Bulma blinked. She still wasn't use to the fact that this Vegeta had an interest in things outside fighting, eating, sleeping, and sex. It was amazing that he took such an active interest in things around him. It was amazing that he cared to ask her what SHE found exciting.
"Well… where to start. This isn't actually one piece of metal. In fact you can't really call it metal at all since it's really billions of cellular sized nanites linked together. It's almost like a mechanical living organism. It attaches so seamlessly to your neck that it's impossible to get it off without help and if you try it sends electric pulses straight into your spine inducing pain. They basically have become a part of you. If they feel pain, you feel pain."
"How are you going to get it off me?"
"Well I'm going to use electro magnetic pulses to short circuit them. It's going to be extremely painful though because when I do it they are going to send pain signals into your spine. In fact… they'll probably damage your nervous system. That's why we'll need the regen tank to repair it. I don't think there is any other way we can do it."
Vegeta nodded. "Do it. Get this thing off me."
Bulma nodded. "It will take me at least a couple of hours, if I'm lucky, to put something together that might possibly be able to produce the concentrated pulses that I need to even damage these things. Can you sit tight?"
Vegeta nodded. "Print me out a star map from the computer over there. I'm sure your counterpart has one. I need to do some thinking while you work on that."
Bulma nodded and did as he asked. Soon the two of them were equally absorbed in their work.
Vegeta looked over the star map that Bulma had printed out for him. He had highlighted the important systems and had begun to hatch plans for their re-conquest. Looking over his plans he shook his head. Quickly, he scanned the room and saw that Bulma was working away at some sort of device. Her lips were pressed tightly together and the look of concentration on her face was fearsome. He couldn't help but find her beautiful. Not wanting to disturb her he went back to his map. Looking at it, memories began to unfold for him. He found it incredibly disturbing that he continuously lost everything only to find something to replace it.
It had begun when he had been a child. He had everything. He was the most powerful Saiyan to be born in a thousand years, a super-elite. He had been the Saiya-jin no Ouji and had a world at his fingertips. Then, Freeza had destroyed it, though he had not known it at the time. Instead he had thought that a comet had destroyed his world for a while and had settled in to become a soldier working for Freeza. He had risen high and had been a favorite of Freeza's and always had Radditz and Nappa kow-towing to him. Then he had found that he had been lied to by Freeza and had his world crash down around him again. After years of attempting to find a way to get his revenge he found it in the Dragonballs on Chikyuu. Here he lost both Radditz and Nappa, and had been defeated by a third-class Saiyan. Soon after he had been killed by Freeza and completely surpassed by Kakkarot. When he had been wished back he had to start from scratch for the second time.
Shortly thereafter, he had become accustomed to Chikyuu and had even begun to bond to the Bulma of this timeline. He had thought he had found a place, only to be thrown down again when she had left him for that weakling Yamcha. Again, he had to start over. He had left for space and then, achieving the Super Saiyan form, he had secluded himself on a planet and dedicated himself to his training. He had no plans for anything besides becoming the strongest in the universe. The years had blurred for him. He had done nothing but train and he had achieved a form that was superior to the normal Super Saiyan form. It was during this time that Kakkarot's brat and the Android's spawn had arrived and fate wove him another path. With them he had become the heir to what remained of Freeza's empire. He was now, perhaps, the most powerful being in the universe. Though Kakkarot may have been the strongest, he was undoubtedly more powerful. Whole worlds trembled at his very word and if it was his will, he could have turned Kakkarot to dust with a single command.
One again, once he had achieved something, fate conspired against or perhaps for him. He had been deposed and all that he had worked for was stripped from him. He was, once again, back at square one. This time, however, he wasn't bitter. Somehow fate had arranged for him to meet someone who was as bonded to him as he to her. It was a strange sensation for him. He had never shared himself with anyone and the only being he had been willing to share with rebuffed him. Ironically, he was now opening up to that same person, though of a different time. The universe was indeed a strange place.
He came out of his musings for a second and looked at Bulma again. He didn't know how she would take to being an Empress, but he didn't quite care. He would be quite content abdicating in favor of Kakkarot's brat, and living in peace and solitude. It had been his intention to make Son Goten his heir regardless. The boy had come to mean something to him, and it was for that reason he feared deeply that the boy had betrayed him. He truly hoped that he had not, for he knew the wound from that would bite deeply.
It was strange, he thought. He had never intended to allow himself to feel again when he had left Chikyuu. Yet, somehow Goten and Marron had wormed their way into and awakened his cold, dead heart on that remote planet he had dwelt on. He had trained them mercilessly, to beyond their limits, even beyond his own, in expectation that they would quit and leave him to his isolation. Somehow they had endured and when the warlord's fleet came, they destroyed it. He could remember the pride he felt when he saw them go into battle and emerge victorious. However, what still surprised him was that he, Vegeta, agreed to leave with them. Somehow during their time together he had grown to care for them. He didn't know how or when but he knew now that they were as dear to him as if they were his own. When they had emerged victorious from the Union Wars, he had been re-forged as a new person as much as they and had formed a bond with them that was akin to a family's.
During that time, he had reached new heights, but it was not until he was forging an empire that he realized how much that Freeza had scarred him. He had known then that he would never become a great emperor. He relied far too much on his own strength just as Freeza had. He would rule through fear. His subjects obeyed him because they feared his power, save Goten only. He realized this, and that, in itself, was perhaps his greatest change. Though he may not become a great Emperor, he was still a good one. Fear was a useful tool to build the foundations of an Empire. However, his greatest accomplishment would be handing over the empire to a man he had groomed personally for the throne. Goten would not rule through fear. The people already loved him. Those who did not, respected him, and for those few who did not love or respect him, Goten was more than powerful enough to drive the fear of god into them. If that hardheaded spawn of the android would come out of seclusion then the two of them would make a perfect match to rule. He'd have to see what he could do about that while he was on Chikyuu.
"Vegeta!"
Vegeta snapped out of his daydreaming to find Bulma hovering over him with a strange looking device in her hand. "God damn it woman… do you need to be so loud?"
"Next time I'll just dump you out of whatever you are sitting just like you dumped me out of bed this morning."
"My… aren't we just a cold hearted bitch."
"Revenge is a dish best served cold. You better watch yourself Vegeta… I might just decide to grow your hair back green."
"You would not dare." The look on Vegeta's face was a mix of disbelief, fear, and outrage.
Bulma just smirked. "Ok… enough banter. Go sit on the table and you better take a deep breath. I'm going to find some anesthesia."
"I need no anesthesia woman. I am the greatest warrior in the universe."
"Umm… ok have it your way… Don't say I didn't tell you so."
Vegeta didn't bother with a reply. He walked over to the place she had indicated and sat down. "Begin the process," he said simply.
Bulma nodded and walked over to him. She activated the device on the lowest setting and set it against the living metal that was clasped around his neck. Immediately she could see Vegeta's eyes widen in pain. His fists clenched together tightly and his breath began to quicken. A soft hiss escaped from him. Carefully, she skimmed off the first layer of metal tissue and then upped the device a notch. She decided that it was better if she just killed it all as quickly as possible.
Looking at Vegeta she could see his knuckles turn white and his eyes squeeze shut. His teeth ground together from the pain that her work was obviously causing him. Removing about fifty percent of the collar she set the device even higher since the metal was becoming more resistant to the EMP as she worked. She was absolutely amazed at Vegeta's self control. Though she couldn't feel the pain herself she knew the kind of pain that she must be inflicting on him at the moment. Yet, not a single scream of pain had been emitted from him. Just as she finished, she finally heard him give a grunt of pain. Looking over she saw that he had completely passed out from the procedure. Quickly she moved to the regeneration tank and started it up. Moving back to Vegeta, she slowly dragged his body over to the tank and placed him in there. Activating it, she took a deep breath. His collar is off now… I wonder if he will still want me when he doesn't need me anymore. Sighing, she went over to the computer and began to look through the files on Saiyan health procedures so that she could make sure that everything went smoothly.
Author's notes: Thanks, Scragg, Harmony and Catycl, for your reviews. I'm curious to see who's still reading and if anyone from way back is still here.