Inner Workings of My Mind
Chapter 13
"Gohan!" Bulma called from her position in front of her computer within her private lab.
Gohan silently padded into the room, carrying several tools that the boy had been using to adjust parts of various experiments. The hybrid looked over the blue-eyed scientist should and examined the information on the screen. "When are you going to tell Vegeta about our project?" he inquired.
Bulma rapidly typed in a few commands before replying. "I'll tell him when we have definite results, Gohan. There is no need to get his hopes up," the blue-haired woman said. Her cerulean eyes flickered rapidly as she read the data on the computer screen. Various charts and graphs flashed across the monitor before words appeared in bold red in the center of the data. 'Experiment Failure' appeared several times before disappearing and the computer continued processing and organizing information. "From the results of the tests, we are not very close to finding our solution."
Gohan made a sound of agreement as he too watched the data roll across the screen. "What was it that you wanted, Bulma?"
The heiress's sapphire pools brightened and a smile spread across her face. The look in her eyes did not bode well for the young Saiyan hybrid standing before her. "Chichi called," the genius said, her enjoyment growing as she saw Gohan's face paling. "She insisted that I monitor your studies and make sure you aren't slacking off. I think it is time that you put your intelligence to use and just graduate from high school already."
Panic flashed across Gohan's face. "You can't mean that I go to high school, Bulma! I just turned thirteen last week."
The blue-haired genius laughed and quickly added, "No, Gohan! Don't be ridiculous! You can merely take the exit exams to show that you already have high school level knowledge. You'll pass easily and then you can show it to your mother. She'll be so pleased that it will keep her off your tail for some time."
The teenager breathed a sigh of relief. "You had me worried, Bulma. What if it isn't enough for her?" he asked.
The woman waved at Gohan in a nonchalant manner in an attempt to convey her lack of concern over the matter. "Don't worry, it will work. And when Chichi decides that she wants more out of you, we can arrange a way for you take college courses and keep her happy."
Gohan nodded. "Okay, Bulma. When should we schedule the exam?"
Another mischievous grin crossed the genius's face as she said, "Well... Most high schools are having their exams next week and I thought you could just take the exam at Orange Star High School. I already got permission from the principal, Gohan. It's all settled."
Gohan groaned at the blue-haired woman's meddling. It was a good idea, he just wished that he had received more of a warning.
Gohan tugged lightly at his new clothing, slightly uncomfortable in it. It was the morning of the first day of the high school exit exam, and the teenage hybrid was beginning his day in a new set of garments that Bulma had insisted that he wear.
When the rich scientist had discovered the state of Gohan's wardrobe she had promptly declared it a fashion tragedy and happily threw out everything that wasn't a training gi. She had then dragged a reluctant Gohan to the nearest department store and went on a shopping spree.
It wasn't that Gohan was ungrateful; he just thought the whole adventure was completely unnecessary. Gohan had never really liked the clothes that his mother had bought him, but considering how often he wore gis and how little he wore actual normal clothing it hadn't really mattered all that much. The Saiyan half-breed thought of Bulma's concerns as rather pointless. But, there was no arguing with a determined, wealthy genius.
The adolescent frowned at his reflection in the mirror, observing his new outfit with dark eyes. Dark, tight jeans clung to his legs in a manner that felt almost confining, and a purple shirt framed his lean torso. Gohan shrugged and exited his room. He supposed he could deal with it for the three days that the tests spanned.
Gohan rapidly scribbled out the necessary calculations for his Math exit exam. Even at only the age of thirteen, he was already breezing through the tests being set before him This was his final exam, and after three days, the young Saiyan was ready for his exam results.
Unfortunately, the adolescent would not receive his Mathematics results until tomorrow, but he would receive the scores for his other exams.
The teenager's stomach grumbled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since the large breakfast Bulma had served him in the morning. The hybrid began writing out his answers even faster, so he could leave the exam as quickly as possible to find some food before the results were posted.
Gohan quickly exited the silent exam room and pulled out a capsule that Bulma had prepared for him. After finding an isolated area, the hungry teenager pressed the button and tossed it on the ground. With a cloud of smoke, a full Saiyan sized meal appeared and Gohan excitedly dug in.
Gohan carefully scanned through the posted results, searching for his candidate number in the rankings. As expected, the board for the math results was blank and would remain this way until tomorrow morning.
Gohan heard the grumbling of surrounding students as they lamented over their scores.
"Holy shit!" one male exclaimed. "The same person got perfect scores in all of the categories!"
A red-haired girl next to him frowned as she too scanned the board. "Who the hell is it?" she asked in disbelief.
"It's not a number I recognize," he replied with a disgruntled shrug.
Gohan's dark eyes shifted to the top of each list to see the top placing candidate. The hybrid's eyes widened and he grinned as he recognized the number. He had received perfect scores in all of his subjects and he was confident that Math would be no different.
Lord Frigid made a displeased sound in the back of his throat as he observed the cowering figure before him.
"What do you have to report?" he demanded of the whimpering and stuttering creature before him.
"W-we have discovered that P-prince Vegeta has m-mated with one of the h-humans on E-earth. H-he has a s-son about two y-years of age. He appears to b-be c-capable of the transformation that L-lord Frieza had d-described," the green-spotted, blue-skinned alien stuttered out.
Lord Frigid impatiently drummed his light purple-skinned fingers against his arm rest as he listened to his underling's report. "And the extent of his powers?"
The alien squeaked in fear as he stuttered out, "U-unconfirmed, L-Lord F-Frigid."
Lord Frigid's fingers stilled and dark purple nails dug into the chair as his purple eyes narrowed with displeasure. "Confirm it, or there will be consequences for your whole division," he threatened. "Is there any other information to report?"
The green-spotted, blue-skinned alien rapidly nodded his head. "W-we have also discovered t-that there is another S-Saiyan on E-earth. H-he is but a c-child of o-only thirteen or f-fourteen, but he seems v-very s-strong, sir. V-vegeta is also aligned w-with a N-Namekian. H-he too is s-strong."
"Continue investigating Vegeta and his allies. Send in Avo and Cado on your way out."
"Y-yes, L-Lord Frigid!"
Lord Frigid watched as the frightened minion scrambled to complete his bidding. He smiled viciously as Avo and Cado entered the room and kneeled before him. Lord Frigid had a message for them to deliver.