"I don't need anyone's help. Least of all, YOURS! I'll handle this myself!"
Bulma watched Vegeta take off, angry tears welling in her eyes but she brushed them away. That arrogant moron was gonna get himself killed. He might not want her help but that never stopped her before. Bulma dug through a drawer of capsules until she found the one she wanted. She found her mother in the kitchen.
"Mom! Can you watch Trunks for me, please? I need to make sure Vegeta is ok."
"Sure thing sweetheart. You be careful now." Her mother said sweetly as she took the fussy baby in her arms. Her expression was completely carefree, as if their city wasn't currently under attack. Sometimes her mom was way too chill but that had been fine with Bulma. What other mother let their 16 year old daughter traverse the globe in search of magical, wish granting orbs or didn't bat an eye (or even open them) at the mention of her daughter heading out into a battle zone. Panchy had always been supportive, maybe even to a fault, but Bulma adored her.
Bulma slid on her sneakers and stepped out the door. She tossed the capsule in front of her and a purple hovercar appeared in a puff of smoke. Her parents watched her from the front of the house.
"I'll be back soon," She called over her shoulder. Her mother waved,, her father nodded and watched her take off, running straight into danger. Bulma knew she was being reckless but she just had to make sure he was ok...
...
Vegeta walked through the rubble of West City... no.. not West City. Not the real West City. Was this place an illusion? His memory, perhaps? Buildings crumbled around him. His shoulders tensed. The 'city' was too quiet. The day he died there had still been the screams of terrified citizens as they tried desperately to make their escape. Vegeta was unmoved. He had gotten used to those terrified shrieks when he was part of the Frieza Force. He had frequently been the cause of such fear. He had destroyed entire worlds without a second thought. They were beneath him, he told himself. Inferior weaklings. Ants beneath his boots. Their well being was no concern of his. He had just been pleased at having something to fight. The challenge was exciting, he had told himself. But he had been a fool. And he had paid for his arrogance with his life.
Vegeta wandered through the ruins until he came to the exact spot of his demise. He stood in the middle of the intersection that had become his final resting place. A single agonized scream echoed through the rubble and he suddenly saw a flash of blue out of the corner of his eye.
...
Bulma weaved through the traffic of downtown West City. She was still several blocks away from where the fighting was taking place but she couldn't get any closer. From where she was she could just make out the ongoing battle but she needed to get closer to really tell what was going on. It was a struggle to get through the crowds of frightened people blocking the roads. She had to pull over and pocket the car to continue on foot. She pushed against the mobs fleeing the danger and ducked into an alley. She cut through the side streets and encountered fewer and fewer people the closer she got. Soon Bulma came to the edge of the battle. What lay in front of her was a scene of death and destruction. The once busy shopping district was now littered with crumbling buildings and motionless bodies. She could see them now, the androids. They didn't look scary at first glance. Just a teenage boy and girl. But those two had killed two of her friends. And now they were fighting Vegeta. Actually only one was fighting. The girl. The other Android was just standing to one side. Waiting his turn? It was unnerving. Even from a distance Bulma could tell he was smiling. Like he was enjoying the show. Bulma crouched behind the rubble hoping she wouldn't be spotted.
They had first appeared three days prior on an island southwest of South City where Krillin, Piccolo, and Gohan had been training. The trio had faced the androids together but when Piccolo was struck down Krillin made Gohan leave to warn the others while he tried to hold them off. After killing Krillin, they destroyed the island and half of South City. Gohan had called on Vegeta, Tien, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha to face the monsters but then the andriods just disappeared. Her friends could normally sense ki but these androids were undetectable. The warriors had spent the last three days searching. And now here they were again causing more wanton destruction.
Vegeta and the woman fought in mid-air, trading blows too fast for Bulma to follow. What she could see was that Vegeta's normally black hair was glowing gold. He had gone Super Saiyan. It wasnt the first time she had seen it. He had shown her this form before, shortly after achieving it. He had paraded himself like a proud peacock and she had to admit she was impressed. But was Super Saiyan going to be enough?
Vegeta was fighting relentlessly but the Android seemed to be doing little more than blocking his blows. Bulma began to worry because she knew that Vegeta was expending a lot of energy. At this rate, if he didn't finish her quickly he would tire himself out and then the Androids would take the upper hand. Bulma was so busy watching Vegeta fight that she almost didn't notice the arrival of Tien and Chiaotzu. The pair came flying into the battle, Tien firing at the dark haired male Android and Chiaotzu headbutting the side of the female and knocking her back. Vegeta was visibly annoyed. He still refused to accept help. He yelled at Chiaotzu to 'help his own friends or sit on the sidelines' because he 'didn't need the help of that little twerp.'
Stubborn fool. Chiaotzu said nothing but turned to help Tien. The fighting was brutal. It was impossible for Bulma to follow one fight, let alone two. Tien and Chiaotzu tried to corner the other Android but before either of them realized what was happening Chiaotzu was taken out by an energy blast. Tien went into a rage and charged the andriod. Meanwhile, Vegeta was losing ground and then Bulma heard the sickening crack as the female android kicked Vegeta, very clearly breaking his arm and likely a few ribs as well. The golden aura faded from around Vegeta and his hair flickered back to black as he spat blood. Bulma clutched at her chest, feeling the dread as the inevitable unfolded in front of her. Vegeta stood in the center of the intersection, one arm limp at his side, the other raised in front of him. He fired a blast that was easily deflected and was then countered by the Android. One moment he was standing, the next he was engulfed by the energy blast and his body crumpled to the ground.
"Get up," she whispered as tears welled in her eyes. "Vegeta please... get up."
But he remained motionless. Bulma's heart sank. He couldn't be gone...
"VEGETA!"