Hope you all are staying warm. ICYMI, I posted another update earlier this week. So make sure you've read the previous chapter, before getting into this one. Enjoy!
One bright afternoon, Piccolo left home towards West City. He couldn't stop thinking about the Saiyans cutting ties with the Earth. Especially remembering what Bulma had told him, and the questions she asked Goku. A feeling in his gut knew that the androids had to be involved somehow. And it was a feeling he couldn't ignore.
He needed answers.
Finding Capsule Corporation didn't take long - the rounded building looked just like it did on the news. He landed on the front lawn and walked up to the door. No security, no guards, nothing. Surprising for one of the biggest companies on Earth. One would think security would be important.
Nevertheless, he tapped his knuckles on the door. Soon, a bubbly blonde woman opened the door. She grinned at him "Why hello there, stranger! Aren't you a handsome young man! What brings you here?"
He glanced around nervously. This woman was already making him uncomfortable. "Is Bulma home," he asked.
She perked up even more, as if that was possible. "Oh, you're one of Bulma's friends! Of course! She's right upstairs. You can come inside and make yourself at home. I'll go up and get her!" She motioned for him to enter. As he did, she walked up a staircase in the corner of the parlor. Piccolo ducked his head and walked into the house. He hadn't thought it would be that easy to get in. She didn't even ask who he was.
Soon, Bulma came running down the stairs, holding onto the handrail. She looked different than she did when he saw her last. Her hair was straightened and short, cut just below her chin. Bangs cut across her forehead. And she was dressed so casually. That seemed unlike the Bulma he had known, all those years ago.
As she got to the bottom step, she looked up at him. Her brows furrowed. "Piccolo? What are you doing here? And how did you find my house?"
"We need to talk."
She blinked, hearing his tone. She quickly sat down on the edge of the couch, while Piccolo loomed over her. Whatever reason he sought her out, it must have been serious.
"Tell me what happened with the Saiyans. Why have they paused the alliance?"
Bulma sighed. Knowing Piccolo as well as she did, she saw no reason to keep it from him. "So, Planet Vegeta's been under a crisis. A few months ago, someone… something started targeting Saiyans and killing them. No one had been able to figure out who it was - the only evidence we had were these little plastic pieces found in each of the bodies. They had two triangles facing each other on it." She mimed it with her hands. "The only lead that made sense to me was the Red Ribbon Army. So when I came back to Earth, I started looking into it. That's why I talked to Goku a while back."
"Do you really think it's involved?"
"I do. Not the whole army, but this one guy who worked for it. He was their lead scientist, and his name was Dr. Gero. He was in charge of what they called 'the android project'. A bunch of experiments to meld man and machine together. I did some digging, and…," as her voice trailed off, she stood up. "Maybe it'll be better if I show you. Follow me."
Bulma led Piccolo up to one of the studies. She pulled out her files on the Red Ribbon Army and slapped them down on a desk. Opening one of the folders, she sifted through all of the papers until she handed one of them to him - the model sheet she had discovered at the old base.
"That was one of Gero's ideas for a stealth android - one that can get in and out without anyone noticing. Able to do assassinations and things like that without it getting traced back to the Red Ribbon Army. The army collapsed shortly after he drafted it, so I don't think they had the chance to actually use it. What I do know is that it's a dead wringer to the murderer back on Planet Vegeta."
He glanced up from the paper. "What makes you say that?"
"I… kind of had an encounter with it. A couple of times. That's why I came here - we thought it would be safer for me on Earth. Anyways, that picture is exactly what I saw that night. But when I went to report it to the rest of the investigations, they found more evidence that I wasn't aware of. They said they had transcripts from Gero to various world leaders, saying that the Saiyans were a threat that needed to be dealt with. It apparently convinced the Saiyan council that we needed to cut ties with the Earth until this was all settled."
He nodded, handing the paper back to her. "This android - the one you think is behind those murders - how strong do you think it is?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. Apparently really strong. Vegeta told me he had chased after it one night, and he still managed to get away. Even with him being a Super Saiyan. Piccolo, why are you asking me all of this?"
"Because there's something here on Earth that's just as big of a threat to us as that android is to the Saiyans. And my gut's telling me they're somehow connected."
Her eyes widened, as she stepped backwards. "W-what?! What do you mean?"
"Several months ago, we received a warning about a threat. One that'll evolve into something bigger - powerful enough that it'll wipe out almost all of the Earth warriors and plunging the planet into a wasteland. On May 12th, there's going to be an attack. Caused by androids created by Dr. Gero. If you think he's behind whatever's going on with the Saiyans, then I have to think they're somehow connected to those androids. As if there's some bigger plan that we aren't seeing."
Bulma was shaking, after hearing Piccolo's words. She leaned up against the front of the desk. A threat to the Earth? Not just that, but one that was connected with what was on Planet Vegeta? If Piccolo was truly certain, the implications were even more horrifying than she thought.
"Oh my god," she said in a whisper. "You really think this is happening?! How did you learn about this?!"
"I'm not at liberty to tell. But the Earth warriors and I have been training nonstop since we learned about them. Hopefully, when that threat comes, we'll be strong enough to defeat them."
"How strong are these androids?"
"Even stronger than Frieza."
Her heart stopped. She couldn't even wrap her head around the idea of someone being stronger than him. Even with all of their collective strength, they were only just barely able to defeat him. And if they were involved on both Earth and Planet Vegeta, then nowhere was truly safe. For the first time since this started, she was overcome with hopelessness.
"Piccolo," she said, digging her fingers into her hair, "what are we going to do? What can we do?!"
"The best hope we have is in our training. The other Earth warriors are getting stronger every day. As for you, I'd be careful going anywhere by yourself. If those androids attacked and you were there, then you'd need to get away fast. Especially with your current state."
Current state. What did he mean by that? Then, her eyes widened in shock. "How did you know I was pregnant?!"
"Not important. What is important is that you be more cautious. I don't know how you managed to find all of that information, but I doubt you got it through conventional means."
She rolled her eyes, as she held her forehead. "I got that lecture from my dad, already. I haven't even looked into the army since we discovered all of that stuff. And even if I did, now that we're cut off from the Saiyans, I'd have no one to report it to. So I am being 'more cautious'."
"Keep it that way, then. If anything happens, you know where to find me."
Bulma was confused. Why was he acting so concerned over her, specifically? It seemed unlike him. Maybe it was leftover from their time on Planet Vegeta together. "I will," she said.
Just as she said that, Raditz suddenly poked his head into the room. "Hey, Bulma, I was just thinking about something - are you still up for going out on the town, tomorrow?"
She smiled and rolled her eyes. Leave it to Raditz to show up at the most inconvenient of times. "Yes, I haven't forgotten."
Raditz looked over at Piccolo. "Hey, I remember you! You were one of those Namekians who fought with us against Frieza! Your name is Nail, right?"
"Piccolo," he corrected.
"Right, right, Piccolo. Well, it's good to finally meet you! Are you gonna stick around for dinner?"
"I appreciate the offer, but I was just leaving. I should be getting home." He looked back at Bulma. "Remember what we talked about, kid." With that, he walked out of the room and out of the house.
Raditz frowned. "What did you talk about? Was it something important."
She sighed, as she jumped down from the desk. "I don't know. But hopefully it won't become a problem soon."
"It's okay if you tell me. I can handle it."
She shook her head, walking up next to him. "It's fine, Raditz. I'm sure it's not as bad as I think it is. Anyways, I think I know the perfect place where we can spend the day, tomorrow."
His eyes lit up at her words. "Really? Where?"
"You'll have to wait and find out until tomorrow," she said with a wink.
He huffed. "You're no fun."
She laughed, her troubles forgotten for just a moment. She really wasn't sure what to make of all that Piccolo had told her. He wouldn't lie to her, especially about something so serious, but she just couldn't wrap her head around all of the facts. Some of it sounded too ridiculous, even after all she had been through. There's no way this conspiracy went that far. Still, she knew she needed to be cautious and careful from now on.
But little did she or any of the other Earth warriors know, the threat would be coming sooner than expected.