AN: So I'm going to be updating this story once a month with a goal of 15 chapters max. I'm also going to try and wrap up my other story at the same time so I'll try to get both Deep Blue and The Price of Time out within a week of one another. Wish me luck!
Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z, Super or GT or any of the associated characters that appear in this fanfic.
Chapter 2: A Warning from the future
Well, Bulma thought as she clung to Yamcha, things definitely took a turn for the weird back there.
First Frieza shows up and everyone had resolved themselves to being dead meat, then suddenly, a doppelganger that doesn't even look old enough to have graduated middle school shows up and makes mincemeat of the most feared creature in the galaxy. A doppleganger that happens to be a Saiyan. 'Weird', Bulma decided, is probably an understatement.
Another peculiar coincidence Bulma noticed about the mysterious youth is that she seemed to be affiliated with Capsule Corp too, judging by the logo on her indigo jacket. Had her father been dabbling in genetics again? Because if that was the case she would be majorly pissed. How dare he not include her in his experimental process, she fumed.
The flight didn't take long. Soon they were touching down at another section of the wastelands. The girl surprised them all though, when she took out a orange-pink plastic case, and flipped the lid to reveal some capsules. Selecting one, she depressed the clip and tossed it a few feet away. The smoke cleared to reveal a miniature refrigerator.
"Anyone for some Soda?" her mini-clone asked.
Vegeta was suddenly in the girl's face.
"Listen, brat. You're going to tell us exactly what you are how you're affiliated with Kakarot"
To the girl's credit, she didn't shrink back in fear, nor did she lash out either - given that she was probably the strongest person on the planet. She just grinned at Vegeta before popping the tab on her drink and taking a swig.
"Well," she started, apparently sufficiently refreshed, "To answer the first part of your question: I'm a Saiyan. Half, actually."
"Like me?" Gohan asked.
"Yes, Gohan, like you."
"Oh cool… wait, how did you know my name."
"I know all of you guys, but I'll get into that soon." she said, turning back to Vegeta. "As for how I know Goku: well, I've never met him."
"Then how do you know the exact location and time he'll be arriving, girl?" Vegeta prompted further.
"Because I'm from the future."
It was silent for a few beats as they all seemed to absorb the ramifications of that statement.
"Get out of town!" Krillen exclaimed his disbelief, but Bulma suddenly asked:
"How far in the future? From our obvious resemblance, we must be related, yes?"
"Wait, Babe, don't tell me you believe her. I mean, 'from the future', that's crazy talk. Time travel is not possible" Yamcha cut in.
"Actually," Bulma replied, "I've been working on a theory for some time now… One where our current reality is but a single dimension in a multidimensional existence of Space-time. If I, or my offspring somehow expounded on this theory and figured out a way to travel between these dimensions, well… I'd say it's possible that we could have a time traveller standing before us right now. The question that I have then is.. why now at this point in time? Why are you here?"
"It can't be anything good, that's for sure." muttered Piccolo.
"What I want to know is who contributed to your Saiyan half. I mean, there are only two Saiyan left in existence: Vegeta and Goku." Krillen asked.
As the group stared at Vegeta, their eyes shifted towards Bulma and it suddenly dawned on her:
"You have got to be kidding me!" she exclaimed. At the same time Vegeta was shouting
"Oh hell no! Not in this lifetime!"
"I wouldn't be caught dead-
"As if I'd ever sink so low-
As they were screaming their simultaneous denials, Bulma caught a glimpse of her boyfriend's face. He was white as a sheet. Poor Yamcha, she thought.
Taking a deep breath, Bulma attempted to settle her nerves to speak again,
"How far into the future did you say you were?" Bulma asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"I didn't." the time traveller said, "Although, since you asked. I'm from twenty years in the future."
"And how old are you?"
"14"
"That must mean: you're my…"
"Daughter. Yes."
"And Vegeta?"
"Is my father."
"Oh Kami" she said, feeling suddenly queasy. She glanced at Vegeta, he was standing with his back towards them, arms crossed tightly over his chest.
"How?" she heard Krillen ask. Bulma watched the girl raise an insolent eyebrow at the ex-monk and from the expression, she could suddenly note the resemblance between the girl and surly saiyan that was likely busy pretending that this conversation wasn't happening. Krillen blushed. "Oh gosh, I didn't mean that!" he clarified. "I mean, Bulma is dating Yamcha. How is it she had a kid with Vegeta."
"Hey!" Bulma yelled, "I resent that! I didn't have a kid with anybody... yet."
"Future you then" Krillen corrected.
"Don't worry Momma," what happens in this timeline has no influence on my own. The girl answered. Bulma's chest jumped at the title. She didn't even know this girls name and yet, being called 'Momma'. It warmed something within her. She always wanted a daughter. She mused.
"I won't necessarily be born in this timeline. The future's not set in stone. Only the past. And I was getting to that, Krillin." the girl continued. She took a deep breath and her next word completely froze the warm and fuzzies bubbling in Bulma chest. "In three years time, on May 12, Dr Gero is going activate his latest accomplishment in Android technology. These androids will then proceed to kill their creator and go on a rampage, destroying everyone and everything that catches their unholy interest. The planet will be become desolate in less than a year. Billions of people wiped out in less than a whim."
"No way!" Krillen yelled, while they all stood frozen on the spot.
"What about dad?" asked Gohan.
"Yeah, Goku always manages to save us. Are you telling me these things are stronger than a super saiyan?" Krillen asked.
"Yes. They are. And unfortunately Goku contracts a virus that affects his heart. It seemed to be tailored to affect Saiyans only. He dies a few months before the Androids are unleashed. Momma had been working on a cure when he died. She managed to get a working antidote, but it was too little to late. She suspected the virus was also created by Gero, but there was no proof. Anyway, she vaccinated my uh... me. At birth. She also administered it to my father. Here," the girl said, reaching for the breast pocket on her jacket. She pulled out a small brown glass bottle. "This is the vaccine." she told Bulma, handing it to her. "You can reverse engineer it if you like."
"I was told to tell you that this won't prevent Goku from contracting the virus, but it would help him survive it. Everyone with Saiyan blood should be vaccinated." She ended, looking pointedly at Vegeta's turned back, then at Gohan.
"Thank you." Bulma said, accepting the gift.
"What about the rest of us?" Piccolo asked. "I assume I die since you wouldn't be here, warning us if the dragon balls were still active."
"Yes, Piccolo-sama. You die. All of you do, except Master Roshi, Chichi and my father."
"So I'm still alive?" Vegeta asked, a smug grin on his face. "I'm not surprised. There's no way a bunch of tin cans can defeat the Prince of All Saiyan!" he exclaimed, following the proclamation with an evil cackle, but as Bulma turned her gaze back to the time traveller. she saw that the girl was staring at her toes, and noticed her fists were clenched, knuckles turning white. Ah.. so Vegeta died as well. She guessed, a bit saddened by the thought as it appeared this young girl really cared for the Saiyan.
"Girl, what's your name?" Bulma asked softly. She watched the girl's shoulders rise and fall with another deep breath. She looked up, her watery gaze catching Bulma's.
"Bra. My name is Bra Eschalot Briefs.
"I've always liked that name for a girl." Bulma remarked.
"Eschalot is a fine Saiyan name." Vegeta said and Bulma's surprised gaze swiveled to the Saiyan Prince. He was watching Bra with a strange expression.
Interesting. She thought.
"I don't get it though." Krillen cut in, "If warning us about this threat won't change your future, why bother with it?"
"We need to find a way to destroy these monsters." Bra's tone suddenly brimmed with hatred. "Our last hope of defeating them in my timeline died with Papa."
'Wait... what?" Vegeta said, his tone bewildered.
"I'm too young to continue the fight, especially on my own." Bra continued, ignoring Vegeta, " I'm nowhere near as strong as Papa was, but even he couldn't…" Bra sighed then looked away, attempting to compose herself. "My mom said that if brute strength won't kill them, we need a different approach. So she left you her research. All the information she had gathered about the androids over the years is in capsule 6 in your Hoi Poi case." she said, speaking to Bulma.
"What? Bulma asked, fishing out her own capsule case. "But Capsule 6 is my submarine."
"It used to be." Bra answered, "Mama switched it during her initial testing of the time machine. She knew you wouldn't know the difference since your rarely use that one."
As Bulma moved to depress the capsule, she felt something sharp prick her finger and immediately dropped the capsule to scrutinize her thumb.
"It can only be opened with your DNA," Bra clarified, "for security reasons. The spike on the top was just to gather a blood sample."
"You could have warned me." Bulma complained, sucking on the injured digit, but her injury was soon forgotten as the Capsule erupted, revealing a life-sized holographic image of herself… her much older self, Bulma noticed.
Future Bulma looked at them, eyes seemingly catching their own before swivelling to Bulma again.
"Hello everyone." she spoke. "I take it since this Capsule has been activated, Bra has succeeded in her mission." Future Bulma paused, scanned through them again and said, "Although, I do not see Goku present."
"Sorry, B. I got a bit ahead of myself. Goku should be here soon." Bra said, speaking directly to the hologram.
"That's alright dear. It shouldn't have any detrimental effect on the mission."
"Amazing" Krillen commented, watching the image with awe. "Can she actually see us? Are we speaking to Bulma in the future?" He asked Bra, but was answered by holo-Bulma instead.
"No, actually. I may look like her, but I'm actually the Artificially Intelligent Personal Assistant system that Bulma developed ten years ago, using an image of herself for the prototype. You may address me simply as 'B' if you wish. Bulma has made a recording. I shall proceed to play it now." holo-Bulma then turned back to present Bulma, her demeanor shifting from blank to visibly weary in an instant.
"So, I don't know how much my daughter has told you so I'll start from the beginning:
The earth is facing a grave threat. In your time right now, Dr Gero is busy developing the most dangerous weapons in mankind's history. These weapons will be unleashed on May 12th, in the year 767. They are strong - stronger than a super saiyan and have practically a limitless supply of energy generated from a small internal reactor within their bodies. The Saiyans will need to reach a level beyond super saiyan to compromise the defenses of these creatures. All researched gathered at this stage points to the theory that these androids were originally born human, but have been enhanced by artificial organs and biomechanical nanite technology. They've been known to regrow limbs. We suspect that only decapitation or destroying their energy source would kill them. Beware however, they also have a self-destruct function. If any of you succeed in overpowering them, kill them quickly. Before they get a chance to activate it." here Future Bulma she paused, a frown scrunching her brow. She took a deep breath before continuing.
"Before..." she started, voice cracking a bit. She took a deep breath and cleared her throat. "Before Vegeta's death. He confided in me that there is another level. A level beyond Super saiyan. He felt it, but I don't think he was able to attain it. He must have posed enough of a threat though, because Seventeen self-destructed. Vegeta was killed in the resulting blast. Android 18 still lives, but she seems to be off sulking somewhere. There's been no sightings in the five months since…" future Bulma sighed heavily. "It seemed like a good opportunity to get some real work done. So I built a time machine. I do not know how much longer we'll have this calm. The only thing that I know and care about is that my daughter is safe and alive. She'll be helping you in the fight against the androids in three years time. Make the most of your time until then, and prepare well. Also, don't forget to vaccinate the Saiyans. The half-breeds too. Maybe with Goku alive, things won't turn out so bad. Train hard and good Luck..." The holo-Bulma paused, then her expression changed again to the pleasantly blank expression of her AI system.
"End of recording," holo-Bulma stated. "I'm available if you have any further questions regarding the information gathered on the Androids. My data includes video recordings and various voice recordings, research notes, blueprints and digitally stored genetic samples. Thank you for your time." Then, hollow-Bulma disappeared back into the Console laying harmlessly on the rocky ground. Bulma simply stared at it.
"A level beyond super saiyan…" she heard Vegeta say in a slightly dazed voice. Then: "Brat, you say that I've reached the level of super saiyan in your time. Tell me how it was done."
"I only know what you - what my dad told me when I asked the same question. Though I do not think you're going to like the answer." Bra answered.
"Tell me!" he yelled.
"Geez Vegeta!" Bulma exclaimed. "Take it easy! She's just a kid."
"You stay out of this, woman." he said, turning towards her to glare in his signature fashion.
"Uh, you're such a jerk!
"And you're a loud-mouthed bitch!"
"I don't know what must have gone through future me's head to have a child with you. Clearly, the grief of losing my all my friends and being isolated from society made me insane."
"Actually," Bra cut in. "I'm the second child you two had together in my future. My brother was born before the androids."
"What!" Vegeta shouted.
"No way!" was Krillen's contribution.
"Babe?" Yamcha sputtered. He looked heartbroken. Kami, he's acting as if I already fell into bed with Vegeta, she thought, exasperated.
"Now wait just a minute!" Bulma shouted over everyone's various expressions of disbelief.
"Why would future-me send her younger child to warn us when you have an older sibling at home? I mean, no offence, but you're 14."
"My brother died when he was just a baby. Killed by the androids." she stated. Everyone was suddenly silent. Bra then turned to Vegeta. "You told me that intense emotional trauma is the only thing that can push a Saiyan over the threshold toward achieving the Super saiyan, coupled with a burning rage that abandons all sense of self-preservation. You told me that it was watching the Andriods murder your infant son that triggered your transformation. They would have killed mom too but you somehow managed to catch 18 by surprise blasting a hole through her center. Momma said that you just missed her reactor that day. 17 took his sister and retreated. You went after them, but since they don't have any detectable energy signals, you couldn't find them. Mother found you three days later, passed out from the damage they inflicted just before your transformation. They were back in fighting form three months later, the hole in 18's middle almost completely regenerated."
The silence stretched on.
"What triggered your transformation." Bulma dared to ask. She already had an idea. Bra didn't answer for a beat, but when she did she met Bulma eyes, her own shone with that same deep hatred Bulma noticed when she spoke of these Androids before.
"I ascended when I found my father's lifeless body at the bottom of a crater the size of a small country." Her fists were clenched tightly, "They will pay. That bitch will pay… my sword is good for her. I will rip her apart with my bare hands. " she said, and spat on the ground as if ridding herself from a bad taste.
They blinked at her in stunned silence.
Her scowl was an exact replica of the Saiyan Prince standing at her side.
AN: So I couldn't decide whether I wanted to go for Bra or Bulla in this story. FFN ultimately made up my mind for me.