I'm not going set a schedule for posting chapters. They'll come when they come.

I now have beta reader, yay! Go check out Froglady15, if you haven't already, she's got some great VegeBul for ya.

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The week following the broom closet incident passed with little more drama than dirty looks and rude finger gestures from Kenworth and Gin. Bulma was surprised and thought that Gero must have chastised the boys severely enough to deter them from directly harassing her, for the time being. From that moment forward she did her best to keep a close watch on where the two were when she made her treks down the hall to the ship's library.

There weren't many places for them to hide. Only the Doctor and his corpulent first mate, Pierro, had access to the engine room and bridge, thus eliminating the top and bottom levels of the large, spherical Asimov as scenes of mischief. The labs and the bi-level cargo and ship bays took up the entire third deck. Gero alone had unlimited access to the labs, and only occasionally did she ever hear of Pierro accompanying Gero.

Early on Bulma had discovered that the four boys underwent some sort of training on the ship bay. These classes were headed by Pierro. While her curiosity about these gatherings often nibbled at her brain, Bulma was glad that her presence was not yet required.

The second deck served as the main living quarters; it housed crew barracks, officers' rooms, galley and head. The elevator shaft acted as the Asimov's spine, girded by a spiral stair case; together they ran top to bottom giving access to all decks, passcodes notwithstanding. On the main deck access to the elevator and stairway was gained by way of a wedge of foyer that opened into a hall that encircled the entire second level. On each side of the hall rooms wrapped around. Across from the elevator was the janitorial closet-cum-Bulma's room.

The library took nearly a quarter of the outer circle, followed by three crew barracks, each with two beds. The innards of the barracks closest to the library remained a mystery as it was always locked. The following two barracks served two boys each, Gin and Kenworth in one and Mojag and Axle in the other. After that were two officer's quarters, Pierro's and Gero's, and then back around to the janitorial closet. The inner set of rooms were divided into four sections not counting the elevator foyer. There was a small laundry, which also contained water storage, heater and filtration, and there was an adequately sized bathroom with room enough for a shower, toilet and linen cabinet.

The galley took up most of the inner circle; it was split into to two rooms, a dining area divided by a wall of cabinets and open portal that led to a kitchen. Bulma had yet to see anyone use the kitchen. Meals mostly consisted of prepackaged, re-heatable fare kept stored in a large industrial refrigerator. If one needed a change of cuisine there were always the MREs in the dining room cupboards.

Bulma's main chores consisted of keeping many of the rooms clean, and washing the linen. Each boy was responsible for washing his own clothing and replacing, his bedsheets with clean ones from the bathroom linen cabinet. Pierro made sure that no one shirked their chores, as it was part of whatever training regime they followed. Whenever the boys displeased Gero or Pierro, in any way, kitchen and bathroom cleaning duties became their punishments; more often than not this fell on Kenworth and Gin. Bulma loved those days best. It meant she could afford extra time in the library, which is where she was at the moment.

She jumped automatically at the telltale whoosh of the door and her attention bolted up from her book to see that it was only Axle who lumbered in.

"Father says we are to gather at the bridge and ready for our trip Earth-side," he stated plainly.

"Oh," Bulma replied, sighing as her heart calmed. She knew better than to react so when her tormentors were busy scrubbing the toilet and shower.

"What is that?" Axle asked, pointing to the book in her lap, "it's very pretty."

Bulma's head tilted in wonder at Axle's interest in her book. "How long until we have to be at the bridge?" she asked.

"Father said we were to leave no later than 0930."

Bulma glanced at the digital clock over the library door, it was only 0859. There was a bit of time. She patted the floor next to next to her inviting Axle to sit. "You can't really appreciate these pictures from way up there, have a seat."

Axle seemed a bit confused; his thick red brows knitted but the vibrant blue creatures on the page drew his attention. He trundled closer and settled his bulk next to Bulma. From his closer vantage point he could better see the blue thing was shiny like a gem and that its wings were nothing more than blue blurs. It hovered in front of a deep crimson flower and looked like it was drinking from the bloom with its shiny black beak and tongue.

"It's a bird," he stated, "a very shiny bird."

Bulma smiled and she pointed to the text as she told him, "This is a Blue Jeweled Hummingbird. It's a very rare species on Earth. They are also called Ocean Jewels because of their shimmering aqua color and because they used to be found all along the various East Blue coasts."

Axle held a corner of the book and pulled it this way and that, causing the bright overhead light to shine off of the glossy page. Bulma giggled, at the thought that he might have thought he could make the light shimmer on the hummingbird's jewel-toned feathers.

"It's very beautiful," Axle said, "tell me more."

Bulma looked at him and said, "Perhaps you should take this book for a closer study on your own time. Can you not read?"

Axle only shook his head. She was reminded of what she had said to Kenworth last week in her anger, that she was smarter than all of the boys combined. She felt bad for making such a boast, even if it was true. She pointed to the text again as she spoke, "This says that Blue Jeweled Hummingbirds are solitary and they drink nectar from flowers as their sole food source."

"What is solitary?"

"It likes to remain by itself."

"Oh," he said, coming to a realization. "It's like you."

Bulma looked up at him, fully taking in his appearance for the first time. At 16, Axle looked much like a grown man. He had a strong jawline, prominent chin and defined high cheek bones, the latter being a trait he inherited from his father. For reasons unknown to Bulma, Axle seem to keep the sides of his head shaved, leaving his unruly red hair to stand in a wild mohawk. He was the oldest boy in the group but he seemed simpler and more innocent when compared to the younger Gin or Kenworth or even the stoic and statue-like Mojag. Axle was just as big Mojag, but while she held only a hint of apprehension for the quiet Shandian she did not feel at all threatened by Axle. His eyes gave no suggestion of insult, they were soft at the corners and the sapphire blue shone benignly under the florescence. They did not carry the same icy tone as Pierro's or the precocious cageyness in Kenworth's.

Bulma smiled, she couldn't help it. He was so nice, compared to anyone else she had met up to that point. "How do you mean," she asked.

"You are always here in the library by yourself."

Her smile melted away at the realization that he had noticed that. She didn't think anyone other than her tormentors watched her so.

"It's not because I want to," Bulma replied, after silent consideration. "I used to talk to some of the girls at the orphanage, and we used to play in the yard. We might have even been friends. I don't have friends here."

"You can talk to me. You can teach me how to read so that I can learn about birds." Axle offered.

A warmth flooded her chest and her vision threatened to blur. Last week she promised she would not cry any more but she never thought a flood of happiness at an unlikely offer of friendship would cause her to want to cry. She quickly shook the feeling off, not wanting to fail at keeping her own promise. She beamed up at Axle. "I would like that."

Heavy footsteps approached the open door. It was Mojag. He paid a quick acknowledging glance to Bulma before turning to Axle. With a quick jerk of his head he indicated that it was time to go. Axle pulled his bulk up of the floor as Bulma scramble to her own feet. She quickly put the book back in its place and trotted after the two large boys, suddenly feeling a spring to her step.

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Every few weeks Gero would make a resupply trip to Earth. The Asimov was always left in orbit, while the entire crew packed into the escape pod, which doubled as a shuttle pod during these trips. The shuttle was a large rounded rectangle with seating for 10, two bench seats and one seat each for pilot and co-pilot. A narrow walkway encircled the bench seats. At the back of the shuttle was an emergency toilet, a small storage closet and the narrow hatch that allowed entry and exit.

After going through the motions of landing protocol the shuttle touched down and everyone exited. On previous trips, she had kept close to the Doctor, but today she felt more comfortable staying near Axle. Outside the space port, they took a narrow-gauge train, with open air cars. Wind blowing through her blue hair, Bulma watched as the town seemed to sprout up from the rolling hills. The train dipped and peaked; some spots making her feel like her stomach was flip-flopping inside her belly, like it was doing loop-de-loops. 'Oh,' she thought, 'if only this train could do loops. That would really be fun!'

Too soon train stopped at the station, and everyone disembarked, bringing an end to her short lived amusement and carrying her back to the present. Gero cast a look to Pierro, who gave a slight nod in return. The Doctor then turned to Axle and Mojag. "You have the list of needed supplies. We shall return to the shuttle in one hour's time.

"Tardiness will not be tolerated," he then said to Gin and Kenworth, his voice cold, and his eyes like flinty chips of ice, indicating the he brooked no insolence from them.

The boys nodded in understanding and nothing more was said as the Doctor and Pierro strode away to a stand of horse drawn taxis. As soon as their carriage pulled away, Gin and Kenworth ran down the street faster than a pair of escaped jailbirds.

"See ya' suckas!" Gin yelled.

"Don't y'all wait up." Kenworth jeered.

They soon melted into crowd.

Half an hour later Bulma helped the taller boys carry boxes back to the station, each stack as tall as she was. Setting down her last parcel, Bulma absently wished there was an easier way to transport heavy things.

"Are we done with resupplying?" She asked Axle.

"Yes."

"Then let's go to book store, it's just over there!" She said excitedly. She had seen the bookstore sign on previous trips but always opted to stay close to station lest she get left behind. If that happened she'd be left on the streets to fend for herself. "There is still a half hour until the Doctor comes back. Please," she pleaded, "I have some money saved up from when I was still at the orphanage. The store is right here in the square." She beamed up at Axle, her little hands folded in front of her, beseechingly.

Mojag, shrugged. "I will stay," he said to Axle.

Axle nodded. Bulma jumped and squealed in delight, something she hadn't done in months and then took off, weaving her way through the crowd with Axle on her heels keeping up with the excited child with his long strides.

An overhead bell jingled as she pushed open the door. Axle ducked in behind her. For a moment she stood, frozen in awe at the sight of so many books she had yet to read. The shop seemed to be larger on the inside than it looked from the outside; it was even bigger than Gero's library! Books filled floor to ceiling shelves, rows of selves in between gave the place a labyrinthine feel and Bulma could see herself getting lost in this real life dreamland forever. The mustiness of old tomes mingled with the perfume of new books and she found herself inhaling the scent.

"I don't know where to start!" she exclaimed, more to herself than to Axle, who stood like a statue behind her.

"Children's books are this way, my dear," said a slender man with fuzzy, brown teddy bear ears. He bowed at the waist and introduced himself, "I am Libroso, welcome to Southey's Book Emporium."

"Where are the science books, sir?" Bulma asked, trying to tamp down her excitement as it threatened to bubble over.

"Science?" Libroso, asked, his brows, which were just as fuzzy as his ears, rising high and crinkling his forehead.

"Yes, sir. I especially love to read about space craft engineering."

"Eh, engineering," the shopkeeper sputtered, "right over her, eh, miss-"

"Bulma. Bulma Briefs," she said as she curtsied in her worn, pink shirt dress.

Libroso eyed her suspiciously but led the precocious girl to the science shelf anyway.

"I hope you don't mind my saying, my dear, but your name sounds very familiar." He pulled up a rolling ladder, offering it to Bulma. Just then the bell jingled, alerting him to another potential customer. "Excuse me, dear. Just call if you need help." And then he dashed away.

"There are so many!" Bulma said in reverence as she read title after title, pondering which one she wanted. All of them. She wanted all of them!

"There isn't much time. Father will be back soon," warned Axle.

"I- I can't choose." Indecision burst the bubble of her wonder. She chewed on her lower lip, as her eye darted from title to title, the need to hurry blinded her from absorbing the names she read on spines. "Um. Maybe next time there will be time. Let's just go," she said, crestfallen, as she hopped off the rolling ladder. She plodded toward the exit.

At the front counter Libroso unpacked new books that had just been delivered. "Going so soon?"

"Yes, sir. There are so many and I don't have time to choose just one." The book in his hand caught her eye, on it was a picture of what looked like a wooden boat with big billowing sails but rather than ensconced in water it hover in the sky among mountains and clouds. "What is that book?"

Libroso lifted the book over the counter and held it out to her. "Have a look."

Bulma leafed through the pages. "Are these real?"

"Absolutely- eh, in theory. I've never actually seen an air ship. The is no shortage of Marine ships in the harbor, however."

Axle asked, "Are there pirate ships?"

"Pirates!" Libroso exclaimed, "Oh, dear me, no." There hasn't been a pirate foolish enough to dock in Korin Bay in years, not with the new Marine base here."

"What is a Marine?"

"What is a Marine?" Libroso repeated in shock. "My dear, where have you been for the last 12 years? Living at the bottom of the ocean?" He hustled over to a shelf. Finding just what he was looking for he plucked out a heavy looking book. "If you are the avid reader you claim to be I think a good general history book is in order. This is the latest edition; it arrived just last week." He handed the heavy volume over.

"I'll take the both." Bulma said, "how much are they?"

"150 Zeni for both."

"150?!" Bulma said, shocked. "I only have 5."

Axle thrust a cred chip under the shopkeeper's nose, "Do you take Inter Galactic Credits?"

"Oh, Axle, you don't-"

"Don't worry about it, Bulma. I could never use it all anyway."

"Of course," said the shopkeeper, "The computer can automatically calculate the exchange rate. That's the wonderful thing about being located in a bustling International port town," he prattled as he scanned the books and then cred chip, "We accept Zeni, IGC and Berries." He handed the books back to Bulma. "Why the only thing we don't accept as payment are souls!"

Libroso, rung up the purchases and handed a receipt to Axle. "Thank you so much for your patronage. Enjoy your reading and please come again."

Axle turned swiftly, bell jingling at the opening door. Bulma ran after him, hugging her new books close, "Bye," she called out to the shopkeeper.

At the platform Mojag had begun loading boxes into a train car, Gin and Kenworth sat in their seats, hunched down as far as they could go, looking as if they were hiding from something. Axle opened a box, and motioned for Bulma to put her books inside. She obeyed. He folded the flaps back down and smoothed the packing tape back into place.

It wasn't long before horse drawn carriage pulled up to the train station and Gero and Pierro exited, each now carrying black, hard sided cases.

"Yo, c'mon on already, let's jet!" complained Gin as he and Kenworth glanced nervously over the edge of the rail car. Bulma could she the purple weasel now donned a new pair of sunglasses, pretentiously large and yellow. Somewhere during the space of an hour Kenworth had traded out his old Mackenzie hat for a new Freighter Line hat.

Neither Gero nor Pierro acknowledged them as they loaded their newly acquired luggage. Axle helped Mojag set the last boxes in place, then boarded. Sitting next to Axle, Bulma buzzed on the inside over her new books, as the train set off, back to the space port.

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"Okay, now read it to me," Bulma tilted the book toward Axle. He took it.

She watched him as he worked over the words silently, furrowing his red brows. They wiggled and twitched like fuzzy crimson caterpillars, quite an amusing sight to behold on his long and lean face.

Axle read, haltingly, "Scientists have been studying ways to improve the Ocean Jewel's declining population. Just off Dragon Island's mainland on the Papaya Islands a stable, breeding population has been established." He moved his large finger across the page as he read, pausing now and again to draw a breath. "When numbers have increased to projected levels it is hoped that the Ocean Jewel can be reintroduced along the coasts of the Red Line, where they once flourished."

"That's good, Axle," Bulma gushed. She really was impressed with how quickly he improved. She discovered that he already knew the alphabet and could read very simple words. What he really lacked was practice and a subject he was interested in. Axle smiled, it was real, genuine, and crinkled the corners of his eyes. The warmth of it filled Bulma with hope, and she smiled back at him. She spoke before she could think better or it. "Why can't all of you be so nice?" She asked, frowning.

"All of us?"

"I mean Kenworth and Gin, maybe not Mojag. I have no ill feelings for him. He never says anything to me, so can't really judge him."

"I thought you were friends with them too?" Axle asked. The word friend came out sounding funny, like someone using a new bit of foreign vocabulary they were not yet used to.

"What would make you think that?" Bulma asked, horrorstruck.

"You spar with them, and you talk to them."

"Hitting me and locking me in my room is not what friends do!"

"I spar with Mojag." Axle offered.

"What is sparring?"

"We practice fighting."

"Oh. Is that what you guys do when you all go into the ship bay?"

"Yes. We are also learning how to use the weapons and the attack craft. Father says that when you old enough you will too."

Bulma's eyes widened in surprise at Axle's revelation. Her mind turned this news over and over, trying understanding what that meant. Weapons? Attack craft?

Before she could ask any of the questions that had begun forming in her mind Axle spoke again.

"I can teach you to fight, in exchange for teaching me to read."

"I don't know if," Bulma started, but trailed off, remembering the promise she made to herself. "Even if I learned how to fight, I would still be too weak. How can I become stronger?

"I don't know how to help you with that, but I can teach you to defend yourself."

Bulma looked at him, taking in his sincerity.

"Alright."

"Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"You don't like it here, right."

Bulma was surprised, again, at his insight. Guilt nibbled at her conscience again at her earlier misjudgment of him. She wasn't sure if she should answer him truthfully. "No." She said, hesitating. "I guess I don't."

"Then why don't you run away?"

Run away? The thought never really occurred to her. If she ran away where would she go? How would she get off the ship, or eat, where would she sleep?

When she did not answer, Axle spoke again, "Kenworth and Gin have done it."

"They have?" Bulma asked, stunned. "Why are they still here? Did the doctor bring them back?"

Axle absently flipped through the pages of the book as he spoke. "This book said that most birds are wild and they live on their own. It also said that there are kept birds, birds that only live in cages. We are all like those kept birds and the ship is our cage. Sometimes a bird will fly away if the door is left open. A trained bird will return." He pointed to a hawk perched on a stout man's gloved arm. "Father is training us to be like this hawk.

Gin and Kenworth ran away, last year, when we were on Earth. We left them there for a month. When we returned to resupply they met us at the space port and begged father to take them back. They were already street urchins when father adopted them three years ago. When they returned to the street it wasn't the same. Or maybe it was, and they got used to living with us. Father is harsh in his discipline but at least we are safe here."

Bulma listened in awe. When he had finished she asked, "You say that the Doctor is training us. What for?"

"We are pirates."

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In case you were wondering:

I had to come back and add this. I didn't give much thought to the Berry/Intergalactic Credit(IGC, Cred or Credit/Zeni exchange rate. After reviewing sources, after posting this chapter, I've learned the Berry is about the same as a Japanese Yen, the same can be said of the Zeni. I've decided to make them different values since I have the Dragon World existing in the One Piece World as Dragon Island as it's own country. The Cred/IGC has flexibility in that it's a non-standardized fan fiction currency. For the purposes of this fic the exchange rate is as follows: 22500 Berry = 225 IGC = 150 Zeni or 150 Berry = 1.50 IGC = 1 Zeni