Dragon Moon Z! – By Ocramed
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, DBZ and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This story is a multi-genre story. C&C are welcome.
Special Note: This story is part of the SMST/TRT series, and is inspired by Team Four Star's Abridged Parody series.
Part 38: "The Android Saga" (IV)
A year later…
"Well, I have good news," Bulma said, as she spoke to Goku, Ranma and Usagi in one of Capsule Corps' medical wards. "And, some bad news."
"What's the good news?" Ranma said. He was wary of his son and wife taking extensive medical tests over the course of a year without his knowledge.
"And what is the bad news?"
"The good news is that thanks to the medical data from the Necromongers, I have been able to fashion the means to reduce the acidic levels in Usagi's sampled blood," Bulma said.
"Then, I can have a cure?" Usagi said.
"Well, we could have just used the Dragonballs, but, yes, we have a cure."
"Woo-hoo!" Ranma said. "Now, I knock 'boots' properly."
"Ranma!" Usagi said, as she smacks her husband's shoulder.
WAK!
"Ow!"
"Not so fast, thought," Bulma said. "You will have to go through an extensive process in order for that to…happen. And even then, I don't know about the compatibility issues concerning your future children."
"What?" Ranma said.
"She's right, you know," Usagi said with a sigh. "With the way my immune system is, I could face a miscarriage situation…or worse."
"What do you mean by that, Mom?" Goku asked.
"My present body went through extensive modifications, thanks to Weyland-Yutani," Usagi said. "I don't want to risk giving birth to monster or anything."
"Oh, I see…"
"So, that's the bad news?" Ranma asked.
"Actually, the real bad news is Goku," Bulma said.
"What's the problem?" Goku asked.
"You have parasitic worms, Goku," Bulma said sadly.
"But…how?" Goku said.
"It could be anything, especially from eating."
"Ohhhh. I'm not exactly picky about what I tend to eat, I guess…"
"Thankfully, upon your insistence, I caught the problem in time, and have facilitated a cure," Bulma said, as she jots down some notes. "We can begin treatment today-"
"But Bulma, the threat from Dr. Gero is suppose to happen tomorrow," Goku said.
"Goku, you could have a heart attack and die."
"But-"
"Son, the rest of us can handle things from here," Ranma replied, as he placed his hand on Goku. "You DID make sure that we all were prepared, yes?"
"Yeah, I guess so," Goku said, as he turned his attention towards Bulma.
"And Gohan is ready, right?" Usagi asked.
"Yeah, he is," Goku said, thinking about how he, his mother Usagi and Gohan trained together extensively for a year to see if he could become a Super-Saiyan. "Bulma, how long are these treatments going to last?"
"Optimally, a few weeks," Bulma said.
"Dang it…"
"I think I have an idea," Usagi said. "We could ask Kami for use of the 'Room of Spirit and Time'."
"Usagi, you know that I don't want anything to do with…HIM," Ranma said.
"Look, Mister Popo may be the devil incarnate, but he does respect us for surviving his training," Usagi said, as she shivered at her experience at the hand of the black djinn. "And even if he doesn't respect US, I'm sure he'll understand why we need to be up at Kami's Lookout."
"I suppose you're right," Ranma said. "And if we use that room, Goku can recover faster. That way, if we really do need Goku's help, he'll be refreshed without Dr. Gero's knowledge."
"I see," Goku said. "Well, we better inform Chi-Chi and Gohan about this…"
A short time later…
"There you are," Bulma said gently, as she picked up her baby son. "Mommy misses you, my little Trunks."
"Humph," said the baby, as he crossed his fingers.
"You know, it's still hard to believe you and Vegeta, well, you know," Usagi said, as she sipped her tea in the main residential house on the Capsule Corp compound.
"It's probably because, well, Vegeta reminds me of Ranma in many ways," Bulma said. "And, well, considering the threat poise by Dr. Gero, well, I rather take my chances on being with a strong man who, well, has a noble heart after all…"
Pause.
"I just wish he stayed here on Earth, rather than insist on training someplace else," Bulma said with a sigh. She then turned towards Usagi.
"Am I…a bad person for wanting to see Ranma in Vegeta?" Bulma asked. "I…care about Vegeta, but…well, you know."
"I know what you are going through, Bulma," Usagi said. "My first love was a man named Mamoru Chiba. Sure, I had crushes before, but with Mamoru…my 'Mamo-chan'…I knew that I had found my soulmate. In fact, when I had turned sixteen years old, Mamoru and I had made plans to get married as soon as I finished school…"
Pause.
"And then, all that was taken away, when I was taken away from home, when I was caught up in a fight between a boy named Ranma Saotome and a rival of his," Usagi said.
"Oh, dear," Bulma said. "Were…you mad at Ranma?"
"A part of me was livid that I was a victim of his circumstances," Usagi said. "In fact, early on, I hated Ranma for something he had no control over. But…I came to realize that it wasn't his fault that I couldn't be with the man I loved more than life itself, and, over time, we became friends."
"I bet that was something that you had a hard time dealing with," Bulma said.
"It was. I even vowed to stay celibate for the rest of my life, because I couldn't be with the man I love…"
Pause.
"And then, I met a man named Paul Atreides, who had many of the same qualities that Mamoru had," Usagi said. "By then, I was in my thirties, and made the decision to marry him, first out of a sense of duty to Paul's people, and then for my desire to have a child, before I became too old to have one. In time, like with Ranma later on, I grew to love him as my husband."
"But you still miss this Mamoru, don't you?"
"I do. A part of me will always love Mamoru; I can't deny myself that anymore than Ranma can deny the fact that he still loves his first love, Akane Tendo. But both of us vowed to embrace our affections for each other, regardless of our conflicted arts."
"If…if there was a chance to be with Mamoru, would you?" Bulma asked.
"Of course there is a chance for me to be with Mamoru, Bulma," Usagi said. "We have access to the Dragonballs, right?"
"Oh, yeah," Bulma said with a nod. "Then, why haven't you used them?"
"Ranma is a good man, and I will always honor our marriage vows, which is why I don't use the Dragonballs," Usagi said. "But I'd be lying if I wasn't tempted to use them for selfish reasons."
"I guess I am the same way," Bulma said. "I…I care for Ranma, but I know that I had my chance to be with him, and blew it…"
Bulma then turns to her son, Trunks.
"There is a part of me that wishes that Ranma was Trunks' father," Bulma said. "But I made my decision, and, if Vegeta does want to pursue a relationship with me, after all this Dr. Gero business is over, I will embrace it."
Usagi takes Bulma's hand into hers.
"If you ever want to talk about stuff like this some more, I'll keep an open ear for you," Usagi said.
"I appreciate that," Bulma said. She turns to look out towards the window, and sighs, knowing that a part of her will always desire Ranma…
The next day, the Z Fighters are assembled near the town, on the Island of Amenbo, where Dr. Gero's living WMDs were supposed to be used.
"So, we're here," Krillin said, as he and everyone else sit around on a mountain top overlooking a city, where Dr. Gero was to begin his campaign of vengeance for the defeat of the Red Ribbon Army. "And Goku isn't."
"Relax, Krillin," Yamcha said. "All of us have gotten stronger, and we have Bunny here as the resident 'Super-Saiyan'."
"Um, you're forgetting someone," Ranma said, as he points to himself."
"Oh, we have Gohan, too."
"Hey!"
"Congratulations on becoming a Super-Saiyan, Gohan!" Chiaotzu said.
"Thanks," Gohan said. "I just hope that I am ready for when the trouble begins."
"We all do," Piccolo said.
"Exactly when will Dr. Gero make his move, Bunny?" Tien asked.
"Well, according to Goku, Dr. Gero will make his move sometime around noon," Usagi said. "Bulma is using Capsule Corp resources to monitor anything out of the ordinary from her location."
"Well, she certainly didn't like being able to come with us," Krillin said.
"It would have been too risky for her to be here, especially since she is a new parent," Piccolo said.
"I still can't believe Vegeta and Bulma, well, you know," Yamcha said.
"Jealous?" Ranma asked.
"No, I'm not ready to be a parent, or settle down," Yamcha said, as he choked up a bit. "I'm not…"
"SURE you aren't…"
"Hey, guys, if you're done talking about my relationships, I think we have something," Bulma said, over a secured signal.
"Talk to us," Ranma said, as he spoke on his wrist communicator, one of a handful that was assigned to the Z Fighters.
"As suspected, Dr. Gero's 'living weapons' can't be detected by the 'Aura Sensing Technique'," Bulma said, as she typed away from her secret location. As a precaution, she and her family had abandoned their home to stay at a remote place on Chikyuu: Dr. Wheelo's old stronghold in the north. Since the death of Dr. Wheelo and his assistant, Capsule Corps had made use of the fortress, but done so without public scrutiny. Now, it served as a hide out for the Briefs, under Tho-Ohki's protection, and a select group of Capsule Corp employees and their families…
"However, the fact that these weapons are radiating a lot of power is an indication that something big is about to happen."
"Thanks, Bulma," Ranma said, as he turned towards his companions. "Okay, we know that Dr. Gero has just deployed his revenge scheme, but we don't know in what form. So, each of use, with Piccolo serving as lookout, will search the area. Report ANYTHING that seems out of the ordinary. Any questions?"
"Um, I do," Yamcha said. "Can we pick up lunch while we're in town? I'm getting kind of hungry."
"Yamcha, why didn't you eat something this morning?" Usagi said.
"I never eat before a fight," Yamcha replied. "Besides, I didn't know we had some time to kill while waiting for Dr. Gero's whatever."
"Fine," Ranma said. "Go get something to eat then. The rest of us, you know what to do."
"Right!" said the Z Fighters, save for Piccolo, who isn't into pep talks…
Meanwhile, below, two men, one slim and the other not-so-slim, are seen walking down the street wearing only hoods and long overcoats.
"Is it not a fine day for revenge, my companion?" said the thin man, as he stops in the middle of the street.
"Yes," said the fatter man, who spoke in electronic speak. "It is a fine day to avenge the demise of the Red Ribbon Army…"
With that, the men disrobe to show their true appearance. They appeared to be dressed as Sino-Russian "Cossacks", and had the logo for the Red Ribbon Army emblazoned on their hats.
"Now, let's start terrorizing, and see if we can draw out the Z Fighters into the open," said the first man, who appeared to be none other than Dr. Gero himself, as he twirled his mustache. "And when this day is done, the Z Fighters will learn that Androids are better fighters than martial artists, this I swear!"
Tbc.