Hey!
Here is the second chapter of my story. I really hope you like it :)
I enjoy A LOT writing this story. I can't wait to share with you what I have in mind. :3
Have fun! xx
Chapter 2 – Bulma
In the far reaches of downtown West City, a sleek car pulled up. The hum of the engine echoing off the walls of the skyscrapers stopped dead when the driver turned it off. The alley in which she had parked instantly became silent.
A silence that was quickly broken when the passenger side door opened.
"Frankly, I still don't understand why you don't want to park on the main street," said a high-pitched voice.
The driver got out of the car, readjusting her high-waisted denim shorts. She wobbled a little on her high heels before pressing a switch hidden under the car's body. Immediately, the latter disappeared in a cloud of smoke, and the woman bent down to pick up the tiny capsule that had replaced it.
"For the hundredth time, Chi-Chi, I want to avoid attracting attention. And the best way to do it is to get there on foot, and certainly not with my Bugatti Divo," the woman said dreamily, carefully placing the precious capsule in a small metal case she stuffed in her purse.
"But my feet hurt already! I haven't been out for years. I'm not used to wear these horrors anymore," she complained, pointing at the black high-heeled lace-up sandals she was wearing. "And since when, you, Bulma Briefs, don't want to attract attention, huh? This is new?"
"You just had to wear more comfortable shoes. I had already warned you before I went to get you."
"You told me we were going to a nightclub. What was I supposed to wear? My sneakers?"
"Why not?"
Chi-Chi began to walk down the sidewalk, nervously smoothing her black hair over her shoulders. Her friend followed suit and put her arm around hers.
"Because they are covered with mashed potatoes I cooked yesterday. And because I wanted to. The last time I dressed up was when I got married. Can you imagine? Gohan just turned seven! It feels good to feel pretty once in a while."
"And you did well! You really are beautiful my friend."
"Thank you," cooed Chi-Chi. "If you had seen Goku's face when I left! I almost didn't come tonight!"
Bulma grimaced when Chi-Chi gave her a knowing wink. She quickly dismissed the image the comment had conjured up in her head.
"Where did you find this dress? It gives you a beautiful neckline."
"Look who's talking! Have you seen yours? If only I could have half the breasts you have," she replied, looking down at her small breasts, pouting.
Bulma glanced down at her own cleavage. She tugged on her yellow crop top and noted with satisfaction that the square neckline of it was very flattering on her curves.
"You know Yamcha will be there tonight, huh?" Chi-Chi asked promptly.
The young woman tensed.
"Krillin already told me," she replied, looking straight ahead to avoid her friend's analytical gaze.
"This is the first time you will see each other since your breakup."
"Hum hum…"
Chi-Chi squeezed Bulma's arm, knowing the delicate nature of the topic. The separation was recent and the scar, still fresh and fragile.
"I thought you were going to wear more makeup than that. You didn't even bother to put on a little mascara. And you haven't undone the ponytail I know you've been wearing since you walked into your lab this morning! A bit more and you were coming to dance with your lab coat tonight," Chi-Chi continued, trying to bring a little more levity to the situation. "Did you at least take a shower?"
"What are trying to insinuate?" Bulma asked, falsely offended.
"What I mean is, if I had been you, I would have made sure to make him regret having a fling with whoever that girl was. And you never know. Maybe tonight is the night you'll meet the love of your life!"
Bulma laughed.
"You're dreaming. That man, if he exists, certainly does not live on this planet. The chances of meeting him tonight in a nightclub of West City are practically nil."
"Exactly! Practically nil, but they are not at zero. SO…"
Chi-Chi stopped short and planted herself in front of her friend. She lifted her arms and tugged on the rubber band that held the thick mass of blue hair and let it fall around her face. She slid her fingers into it to tame them a bit. Even away from her family responsibilities, her maternal instincts were showing up.
"You know what I think would look really good on you?" she asked, laughing. "Curls! A perm to give maximum volume to your magnificent hair!"
"You think?" Bulma asked, playing with one of her locks. "It's true that I'm getting tired of my long hair. Could you do it for me next week?"
"My pleasure!" Chi-Chi laughed as she digged through her friend's purse.
She got out a lipstick and applied it to Bulma's mouth. Once satisfied with the scarlet coloring that had been painted, she took her hand and led her towards the main street of the city.
"You'd look hot in a potato sack, anyway. You don't need anymore than that to make your ex jealous. Hurry up, I can't wait to dance!"
They traveled a few hundred more meters before emerging on the main street. The city was particularly lively on this Friday evening. The sound of their voices was quickly drowned out by car horns, the cries of drunken passers-by and music from the trendiest restaurants. They ran across the street and a motorist in a hurry drove way too close to them. Bulma, true to her temper, gave her the middle finger. Chi-Chi hid her face, reproaching her the vulgarity of the gesture.
They then both looked up at the center of the metropolis and held their breath.
The skyscrapers were imposing. The light filtered through thousands of windows, illuminating the streets with colored facades and the signs of merchants and restaurateurs who tried to attract tourists. The sidewalks were crowded with people who wandered around, looking at the windows, dancing to the rhythm of the music of a street band or tasting local dishes served on the streets. Nothing unusual for a Friday night.
Nothing out of the ordinary… except maybe that half of those people walking around weren't Humans.
Reinforced breastplate, disproportionately wide metallic shoulder pads and white gloves that went up to the elbow were now part of the usual landscape. Some even carried a loaded weapon, indicating to the other half of the populace that it was better not to rub shoulders with them. A costume that had slowly carved out a place for itself, both in urban and rural environments, and which made it easy to identify those who wore it.
Frieza's soldiers.
A small amount of them had landed on Earth just over a year ago. Like this, without warning, space pods had crashed on multiple places on the globe, and these exotic-looking individuals had introduced themselves as travelers and space explorers. Their speech was the same; Frieza, their Emperor in search of adventures and discoveries, had sent them in the hope of developing a friendly and business relationship with their inhabitants.
Most humans had gladly welcomed these seemingly harmless strangers with open arms. Happy to discover that life outside Earth existed and that it carried new technology, business relationships were quickly established with these new visitors, each party benefiting from the commensalism that had initially been built.
Time, however, had slowly unveiled Frieza's hidden intentions, and hostilities soon crept into the relationship.
The number of soldiers who landed daily on Earth had increased. Isolated altercations erupted, and suspicious incidents began to be reported, involving attacks of undetermined origin, injuries, disappearances, and even deaths. Now aware of the power of Frieza and his men, Humans didn't dare to retaliate or even openly question his real intentions. A progressive escalation that left a bitter taste in the mouths of the inhabitants of Earth, who no longer knew exactly on which feet to dance, or how to manage these visitors who were increasingly beginning to be described as invaders.
Bulma had considered their arrival as an invasion from the start. She and her father had initially refused to share information belonging to Capsule Corp. to Frieza's army and had always remained very discreet about the nature of their work.
"Since when do Frieza's soldiers walk around with loaded guns?" Bulma asked, scanning two armored aliens walking in their direction.
Chi-Chi clenched her fists.
"I don't know, but I heard they increased their numbers a lot during the past week."
The two women looked around.
"I can easily believe it. They really are everywhere tonight... It's a bit scary, don't you think?"
"Pff, they all look shabby," Chi-Chi spat. "I bet I could beat them with my bare hands. I haven't fought in a long time, but Goku makes sure to keep me in shape."
"I would hold back, if I were you. They are all equipped with the new model of Ki weapons. They are less harmless than they look. I studied one with my father, which I stole from a soldier who fell asleep near the factory last month. Even though the charging technology could definitely be improved, their capacity and power have increased a lot."
Chi-Chi narrowed her eyes as she stared at the two men walking past them. One was tall and thin, his purplish skin covered in shiny scales. He smirked at them, revealing two rows of sharp, needle-like teeth. The other was rounder, its head adorned with a greenish-hued crest that rippled like a tentacle in the wind.
Bulma grimaced.
"If only the soldiers he sent here were nice to look at."
"Armed with the best weapons in the galaxy or not, my Goku could eliminate them all with the snap of his fingers," said Chi-Chi between her teeth.
"Still, when was the last time he took off from King Kai's planet?" chuckled Bulma. "How did you convince him to come home this time? "
"Oh, Goku is easily manipulated when it comes to his stomach. I promised him a real feast if he stayed with me and Gohan this week. Besides, I hope he didn't take him to hunt tonight, I strictly forbade him to leave the house until he finished his math homework. He never takes Gohan's studies seriously!"
Bulma listened to Chi-Chi's complaints with a distracted ear. She knew her oldest friend's obsession with working out, as well as his simple-mindedness, and she couldn't blame his wife for complaining about it. But she also knew the uncompromising nature of Chi-Chi, who insisted that everything was always rigorously perfect, especially when it came to the education of their son.
Therefore, it was by discussing the inconveniences of the marital union that the two friends progressed on the overloaded main artery of the West City. The muffled sound of electronic music soon mingled with the surrounding cacophony and Bulma felt the excitement rise when she saw the length of the queue stretching out in front of the nightclub.
The evening promised to be particularly exhilarating, and it was with enthusiasm that Bulma guided Chi-Chi towards the entrance reserved for the privileged guests of the club.
A few meters from their objective, they were interrupted.
"Good evening, pretty ladies," said a deep voice to their right.
Chi-Chi interrupted her endless tirade about her husband. She imperceptibly slowed her pace and Bulma turned her head to glare at the man who had dared to address them in such an unusual way.
She saw three men, their backs casually leaning against the wall of the nightclub they were about to enter.
Armor and white gloves, but no weapon.
The two taller ones looked at Chi-Chi who had raised her nose to let them know she was not interested. The smaller one was looking directly at her.
Eyes black as ink, fixed on her. Two dark orbs, motionless, implacable.
Seeing them, the outside world faded into darkness.
And while he seemed to be diving into clear waters, his jet-black gaze strangely lit up with a bluish tint, Bulma felt herself capsize, and she sank into the abyss.