Chapter 8: Goku's Butt

"Why?" Vegeta asked tersely, picking up his razor after shooting Goku a momentary glare.

Goku tiptoed into the room and shut the door behind him. "It's important. Please, Vegeta. I want to understand what you were trying to do at Mount Five Elements. How did you know about the place?"

Vegeta started to shave on the left side of his jaw, flicking the stubble-infused foam into the sink between strokes. "I told you already," he replied shortly, avoiding eye contact with Goku.

Goku leaned against the wall. "But all you said was that you were sick and trying to cut the suffering short. Why did you need to go to Mount Five Elements to do that?" he clarified.

Vegeta rolled his eyes in the mirror. "Kakarott, do you know where people like me go when we die?"

Goku raised a brow in confusion. "Of course. Everyone goes to Other World. Now, the check-in station that you enter through… that depends on which planet you die on or near," he replied.

"Yes, Kakarott. All of us mere mortals go to Other World when we die. But did you know that Other World is at least as big as this universe? There are many different destinations, some much nicer than others. I died on Namek, Kakarott, and went to one of the not-so-nice places. When I was luckily revived, I left that horrible place behind and vowed never to return." He paused. "You know, when I was about your son's age, I snuck out of my father's palace one night out of pure boredom and went to visit the city in disguise. In one of the seedier sections of the Vegetan metropolis, I came upon an old database shop run by a decrepit seer who told me many things I didn't know about the afterlife. She showed me some vast tomes unveiling the mysterious identities of the gods of our universe and each of their domains. It was fascinating. I learned about the Creators, the Destroyers, the Maintainers, and… Oblivion. The latter, I discovered, lived in a dark domain of the same name at the dead center of Other World. Oblivion is a place of neither joy nor suffering. A neutral domain, if you will. Every planet with its own guardian in the known universe has a gate into Oblivion. I did some digging when Porunga brought me to Earth and discovered where to find and how to open the Earthly gate. Five runestones, a live sacrifice, and a blood moon were required to perform the ritual. The peak of Mount Five Elements was the place. In short, I was there to send my soul into Oblivion," he explained, finishing his routine. He rinsed the suds from his face and brought a white hand towel to his lower jaw to dry himself off. When Vegeta shot a glance at Goku, the third-class saiyan seemed to be in deep contemplation.

After a few moments of silence, Goku glanced up with a troubled look on his face. He ran his fingers through his dark hair. "But, Vegeta… I don't understand. You're saying you thought you had no choice other than to go to this Oblivion place because you were sick and dying, right? And you thought it was the only way to avoid going to a worse place, right? Did you ever think of trying to find a cure?"

Vegeta grabbed a hairbrush from the bathroom counter and started to comb through his thick locks. "Yes, Kakarott. As you might recall, I made two such attempts alone in the time I've known you. First I sought the dragon balls on Earth and then I tried again on Namek. Didn't really pan out. See what I'm saying? And now the dragon balls won't be available for a few more months and I don't have that kind of time left. So, thanks to your tomfoolery, I've been left with one option which may or may not work. The next blood moon on Earth won't be for another Earth year, so now I have no choice but to seek a gate to Oblivion on another planet. Once the woman and her father get back from their work today, I intend to put in an order for maintenance on the Gravitron as well as the installation of a stasis unit. Then I'll be out of your hair permanently. So hopefully you're satisfied with your revenge. You've successfully foiled my plans yet again and prolonged my suffering. If I vow not to pay you back for what you've done, would you mind calling a ceasefire? I'd rather be done with our rivalry."

Goku's mouth was practically on the floor. "What? Vegeta, what do you mean revenge? I didn't get revenge, I found you a cure! You're not sick anymore, are you? I mean, you're not fully recovered either since you still have a lot of weight to gain back, but you're not coughing or feverish or…" He paused, drawing his brows together angrily. "What do you mean to say you're going to leave Earth to find another gate to Oblivion? You're not going to die anytime soon, so there's no need for you to go to Oblivion. I don't understand your logic! I mean, what are you going on about? My understanding was we've had a ceasefire ever since we fought together on Namek. You sure acted as if we did!"

Vegeta put the brush down and leaned on the bathroom counter, lowering and shaking his head. "No, Kakarott. I told you the disease was incurable. If you really think you found a cure for an incurable disease other than a miraculous wish, then you're an even bigger fool than I thought. Whatever you say you did to 'cure' me may have treated the symptoms. Sure, I may have survived the latest flare-up. I thought it was surely going to be my last. The virus will be dormant in my cells for the next several days, but when it awakens again…" He visibly shuddered. "That's why I must be on that ship and in stasis before it starts. The senzu beans may help, but all they can do is buy me a little more time."

"No, Vegeta!" Goku charged, standing up straight and unintentionally powering up a little. "Look, I talked to Bulma, too. We're not going to let some dumb disease kill you. You underestimate Bulma and Dr. Briefs' abilities as well as the medical technology available on this planet. Okay, let's say you do start getting sick again in a few days and things look grim. Bulma said we can cryogenically freeze you until the dragon balls are recharged. All I'm asking is for you to give us a chance to fix this, rather than running off into space all by yourself to commit some creepy dark magic suicide!"

Vegeta cleared his throat as he took his electronic Capsule Corp toothbrush and squeezed a dollop of toothpaste onto the bristles. "There's just one thing you're forgetting, idiot. You. Are. My. Enemy. And. I. Do. Not. Trust. You." Then he shoved the toothbrush into his mouth and turned it on.

The loud whirring sound grated on Goku's last nerve. To add insult to injury, Vegeta shut the bathroom door in his face. The Z fighter growled in anger. Errrrgh, that little meanie! Why does he have to be so difficult? I can't tell if he's just trolling because he thinks it's funny or if he really means what he's saying, he thought in irritation. "I'm not your enemy, Vegeta!" Goku shouted through the door. "No matter what you think! And I'm not letting you run off into space to kill yourself! End of discussion!"

Goku was tempted to storm off, but he was a bit overly concerned that Vegeta would try to sneak off again as soon as the Z fighter's back was turned. Instead, he waited a few minutes for Vegeta to finish his routine. When the door opened again, Vegeta looked mildly surprised. "You're still here?" he asked, almost mockingly. "I thought the discussion was over. My, you're quite the decisive one."

"Oh, hush!" Goku retorted. "If you're done powdering your nose, then maybe we can go train for a bit. Would that be acceptable to His Royal Highness?" he asked, feebly trying to hide his irritation.

Vegeta snorted. "Mocking my title, are we? Ooh, it's not like anyone's ever thought to do that before," he scoffed, pushing past Goku and opening his bedroom door. He stomped out, Goku following. "Unfortunately, Kakarott, I don't think I'm quite ready for a spar yet. As you said, I need to gain back a lot of muscle mass. That will take strength training and it seems the Gravitron is in the shop. I'm not sure how long it'll be there, but feel free to check with the blue-haired woman or the old man."

"Gladly," Goku replied, snapping out his cell. He noted there were a lot of missed calls from Chi Chi. Hmm, I need to get back to her, but I think I should wait until after I've spoken to Bulma or Dr. Briefs first, he thought. The third-class saiyan started typing up a text to his childhood friend.

Me: Bulma, where's the GR? V is ready to train.

As he waited for an answer, he followed Vegeta down the hall and through the kitchen, staring at his tail and rear end the whole way. Darn, I wish Bulma had gotten him spandex shorts instead of khakis, he mused, finding himself somewhat hypnotized by the tail's soft waving motions. He thought he heard the other saiyan utter a slight growl. I wonder what his problem is now. Vegeta stopped short in the living room, taking a moment to wind his tail around his waist. Goku nearly ran into him from behind.

"Stop tailgating, Kakarott," Vegeta chided, continuing on his journey to the sliding glass doors and out to the back patio. He did not even look at Goku as he headed right to the hammock and plopped down. "And don't even think about starting to bother me again with your annoying chatter!" the royal warned, getting comfortable and closing his eyes. He turned away from Goku and stretched out, sighing.

Goku frowned. "That looks comfy. Can I get on, too?"

"No!" Vegeta snapped. "Scram!"

Goku's shoulders fell. "Come on, 'Geets. That thing has enough room for two or three people and you're not that big!" the Z fighter pleaded, looking at Vegeta with puppy-dog eyes even though the prince refused to glance in his direction. All he got from Vegeta was another growl of irritation.

"If you want one, ask the yellow-haired woman," Vegeta spat, spreading to all corners of the hammock.

Goku was about to accept the compromise when he felt his cell buzz in his pocket. He took it out.

Bulma: Go to drawer by my bed. GR DynoCap is biggest in case. Keep eye on V so he won't get hurt.

Goku smiled and texted her back a thank you. Then he headed back inside and down the hall to Bulma's room. He found the Gravitron's capsule right where she said it would be, took it out, and returned to the patio. "Hey, 'Geets, I got the Gravitron! Come on, let's go work out!"

Vegeta's eyes snapped open. He glanced at the DynoCap in the palm of Goku's hand. "Oh, okay," he uttered, hopping up. "I'm impressed, Kakarott. You do know how to get things done."

Goku hopped over the railing and onto the lawn. Nameks were dispersed around the grounds, chatting, golfing, playing, and generally enjoying the afternoon sunshine. "Hey, everybody!" Goku called. "Can you all do me a big favor and clear a space right here?" he asked, pointing to the spot where the ship had been. "I need to put the Gravitron here and I don't want the explosion to hurt anyone."

Everyone in the area moved away. Goku pressed the tab and tossed the DynoCap. Poof! The large spherical ship appeared in a burst of white smoke. Vegeta walked up to the entrance and strolled in as if he owned the place. Goku followed him and watched as he proceeded to descend into the cabin below deck. "You can turn on the gravity, Kakarott," Vegeta called back, climbing down the ladder.

"Okay, 'Geets. How high?" Goku inquired, stepping up to the gravity controls. "Ooh, the last time I used this, it could only go up to 100 times Earth's gravity. Looks like it's been updated to 250!" Goku declared excitedly. Vegeta did not seem to hear him, so he went to the top of the ladder and called down into the cabin. "How high do you want the gravity, Vegeta? I'd be careful not to overdo it at first."

"Fifty is fine for now!"

Goku nodded and returned to the control panel, turning on the Gravitron. He smiled as the artificial gravity took effect and moved to the floor to start a set of katas. After a few minutes, Vegeta still had not emerged. Goku started to get curious and went back over to the ladder. "'Geets, what you doing down there?" he called. Just then, Vegeta returned wearing a sleeveless spandex top and pants in dark blue. He wore neither gloves nor boots with the ensemble and kept his tail wrapped around his waist.

"I keep most of my workout clothes in the Gravitron. I just needed to find a knife to cut a hole in the back," the prince shortly explained, lowering himself to a seated position on the floor. He unwound his tail and stretched his legs out straight in front of him. Then he bent forward at the waist, his torso lying atop and parallel to his legs in a fully relaxed stretch. Gradually, he closed his fingers around his toes and pulled them backward, exceeding a ninety-degree angle to the floor. "Anyway, don't let me interrupt your exercise routine, Kakarott," he remarked, his tail fluttering on the floor beside him.

Goku could not help but be impressed when he was reminded of how limber Vegeta was. There seemed to be no resistance in the prince's body to the practice of extending his joints and muscles beyond ordinary limits. Goku started working on his katas again, all while angling himself in Vegeta's direction to watch him from the corner of his eye as Goku clumsily worked on his own routine. The orange-clad warrior found himself partly hypnotized again by the movements of Vegeta's tail and body.

As the flame-haired saiyan adjusted his position into a perfect side split, his lycra cutoffs hugged every contour of his flesh from the dips and bulges of his impressive thigh muscles to the flawlessly smooth curve that lined the crease of his ass. Goku was blindly punching at enemy apparitions without paying much attention to his own motions as Vegeta stretched his arms straight up into the air. He used his left hand to pull his right one backward by the fingers, flexing his right wrist. Then he switched hands and did the same to his left wrist. Gradually, he bent sideways at the waist and extended his right arm behind his head to grab his left foot. It all seemed effortless from where Goku was standing.

"That's pretty cool that you can do all that," Goku remarked, causing Vegeta to flinch in displeasure.

The prince glared at Goku over his shoulder. "The fuck are you on about? I haven't even started doing anything yet. And even if I had, I wouldn't require your foolish commentary," Vegeta snapped, doing a backward roll to get to his feet. He walked over to the weight stand nearby, performing a couple of arm stretches and shoulder rolls along the way. When he arrived, he picked up a couple of handheld weights and started on a set of bicep curls, muttering "Ten thousand" to himself under his breath.

Goku bit his tongue, afraid that causing the slighter warrior any additional annoyance would result in being denied the pleasure of his fellow saiyan's company. Vegeta was at least tolerating the orange-clad fighter's presence at the moment and Goku knew better than to take that small blessing for granted.

After a few hours of working out in relative silence and many sneaky, furtive glances on Goku's part, Vegeta was finally fed up. "Is there a problem, Kakarott?" the royal snapped all of a sudden, nearly causing Goku to trip over his own feet as he practiced a routine of complicated defensive maneuvers.

"Wh-What?"

Vegeta dropped the weights in his hands after finishing his set of ten thousand and turned around to glare at Goku, rubbing his burning biceps. "Don't play coy with me. If you have something to say, you might as well get it out of your system so you can stop the annoying staring game. If you think I'm oblivious and haven't noticed, you better think again. Not everyone is as clueless as you, Kakarott."

Goku's face went crimson. "But… I… how…?"

Vegeta growled, brandishing a fist at Goku. "Will you just spit it out already?" he charged, irritated.

Goku swallowed a lump in his throat, dropping into a neutral stance and fully facing Vegeta. He brought a hand to the back of his head, still blushing slightly. "I… I just had a question, but I didn't want to distract you from your workout. Actually, two questions, if that's okay?"

"Yes, fine, whatever!" Vegeta said. "Just hurry up and spit 'em out!"

Goku nodded. "Right, yes. Okay, so the first one is, do you mind if we up the gravity to eighty now? I mean… like, do you think you're ready? I'm not sure where you left off before you started getting sick and I don't want to push you too…" he said, overexplaining to the point that it further irritated Vegeta.

"Sure, whatever. Up the gravity. Next question?" Vegeta blared, waving a hand dismissively.

Goku lowered his hands and poked his fingers together. "The next one is about saiyan stuff. I was just wondering… do you have any idea why your tail grew back in the hot spring and mine didn't?"

Vegeta looked genuinely puzzled. "The what spring?"

"The hot spring. You know, the Bansho Spa?" Goku reminded him.

The prince's face was blank. "I don't know what you're talking about, Kakarott."

Goku raised a brow. "Don't you remember, Vegeta? I took you to the Bansho Spa to cure your illness. I know you fell asleep when you were in the water, but don't you remember being there at all?"

Vegeta shook his head. "Kakarott, I don't know nothing about no spa. In fact, I haven't a clue what you're talking about and I've no idea why my tail grew back. I figured it was random."

Goku growled in frustration. "Come on, Vegeta! When I found you at Mount Five Elements, you were trying to get rid of me and I said I'd go but that you were coming with me. I told you I was going to take you to the legendary Bansho Spa to cure your illness. It's a hot spring in Octagon Village with magical minerals dissolved in the water that have rejuvenating properties. After I got us both out of the water, I noticed that your tail had grown back but mine hadn't. All I'm trying to ask is if you have any idea why those magical minerals might have caused your tail to regrow and not mine. Unless you think it was just a coincidence… I mean, that's one heck of a coincidence, if you ask me. It seems like the water in the hot spring itself must have had something to do with it, but I guess I could be wrong."

Vegeta rubbed his chin for a moment. "Well, maybe it was this so-called 'hot spring' or maybe it was the blood moon. Perhaps a little of both? The truth is, I don't really know… or care for that matter. As to the question of why my tail regrew and yours hasn't yet… Well, if I recall my facts of saiyan biology correctly, it might have to do with how we respectively lost our tails in the first place. Mine was chopped off with a sharp weapon, leaving the root with all the stem cells intact. Here, turn around and show me your tail spot, Kakarott. I admit you've somewhat piqued my curiosity. Maybe I can figure out what's wrong with your root by looking at the scar tissue. How did you lose your tail anyway?"

Goku turned around. "Well, that's just it, I guess. I don't have a tail spot anymore," he explained, untying his waistband. He caught the prince off guard by dropping trou all the way down to the floor.

Vegeta's face turned crimson. "Kakarott! What's wrong with you? I didn't ask to see your whole ass, just your tail spot!" he blared in irritation, averting his eyes. "Have you no modesty whatsoever?!"

Goku's shoulders drooped. "But my tail spot is on my butt," he retorted. "Or at least it would be if I still had one. That's what I was trying to show you. It isn't there. You see, when I was sixteen and training under Kami, he came to me and told me that he had the power to restore Earth's moon after it had been destroyed by a martial artist at the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament. But in order for him to do that, he said that I would need to sacrifice my tail. I didn't understand why and he was kind of evasive with the explanation… I was more or less led to believe that maybe my tail had magical qualities that he needed to use to fix the moon. Well, I didn't want to be selfish because I know there are a lot of lunar shapeshifters like us on the planet that rely on moonlight to be able to change. So, even though I liked my tail, I agreed to give it to him so he could restore the moon and I wouldn't…"

Vegeta could hardly process a word of what Goku was saying. His ears were ringing and his face was badly flushed. Damn fool, witlessly reminding me of everything I can't have. I'm never going to be able to unsee that. He growled when Goku refused to stop blabbering, oblivious to the prince's flustered state. "Shut up, shut up!" he blared, causing Goku to fall silent. He turned in the opposite direction. "For fuck's sake, you idiot, just give me a damn minute. I, um… I have to take a piss," he lied, stomping off and disappearing to the lower level of the ship. He was gone for about five minutes. When he finally re-emerged, the royal seemed much calmer but his skin and hair appeared to be oddly moist.

"Did you hop in the shower, Vegeta?"

Vegeta shot him an annoyed look. "No," he spat, brandishing a fist. "Anyway, what were you saying?"

Goku glanced upward, bringing a finger to his lower lip. "Oh yeah, I was just telling you about how I lost my tail when I was sixteen. Basically, Kami used his Earth guardian magic to remove it. It was sort of like a surgical removal because I was left without even a tail spot on my butt. So now my butt looks like a human butt and not a saiyan butt. You see what I'm saying?" the Z fighter briefly re-explained.

Vegeta slapped a hand to his forehead. "Kakarott, can you please stop talking about your butt…" He paused, awkwardly trying to change the subject. "Anyway, it sounds to me like this Kami guy removed your tail as well as the root and the stem cells inside it. In other words, in accordance with my personal understanding of saiyan biology, a saiyan's cut tail always regenerates from the stem cells in the root. In other words, no stem cells means no regeneration. Got it? My stem cells were never removed and, therefore, it was possible for a blood moon or a magical hot spring or whatever to spark a regrowth in my caudal appendage. Does that satisfy your curiosity, Kakarott?" Vegeta finished with a short huff.

Goku seemed to think for a second. Then he smiled and nodded. "Yes," he said. "Yes, it does."

"Great!" Vegeta blared in exasperation, turning toward the weight stand. "Back to work."

Goku flushed slightly. "Wait, Vegeta…" he began, watching the slighter saiyan stiffen when he spoke. "Can I ask one more question? Please, please, please! I promise I won't bother you again after."

Vegeta's shoulders fell in defeat and he sighed. "You swear? Last question, right?"

"I swear!"

"Fine. What is it?" Vegeta asked, grabbing a heavy barbell. He started with a set of shoulder presses.

"How are you able to control your Giant Monkey?"

Vegeta shot Goku a brief side-glance. "Kakarott, I feel like you're asking all these probing questions because you secretly want your tail back and you're afraid to just say it. Is that what this is about?"

Goku rubbed his arm and peered down at the ground. "Maybe…"

Vegeta released a ragged sigh and turned his full attention back to his set. "My father and tutors started training me to control my transformation in infancy. Now, there were some rumors floating around the planet that elites like myself had a natural genetic advantage in learning the control technique, but I'm not so sure. Honestly, I think it all came down to elites having the advantage of time and money. In other words, having enough leisure time off from missions in combination with wealth to hire talented tutors for a difficult and dangerous training regimen was what it took to teach an elite child how to consciously control their inner beast. For you to learn the technique at an advanced age, you would need both help from a powerful and knowledgeable tutor, as well as a heavy dose of raw talent."

The prince had the barbell stretched high over his head when he felt strong arms from behind lift both him and it effortlessly off the ground despite the pressure of 60 Gs in the room bearing down on them. "Teach me, Vegeta! Please, please, please!" Goku pleaded, enveloping the smaller saiyan in a bear hug.

Vegeta's breath almost caught in his throat. "Kak… Kakarott!" he blared. "Put me down, you idiot!" Goku complied and backed up, sensing the prince's anger. He raised his hands defensively as Vegeta dropped the barbell with a loud clatter and rounded on the orange-clad fighter, absolutely incensed. "This is your first and last warning, Kakarott. If you want me to do something for you, the very last thing you should ever think of doing is touching me in any capacity. Do you understand, fool?!"

Goku nodded vigorously. "Yes, I understand. I'm sorry… force of habit. It won't happen again!"

Vegeta halted his verbal attack, sending Goku one last death glare before returning to his discarded barbell. "As to your request, the answer is no. I would have to dedicate a fuck ton of my own time and effort to train you and I'm afraid I simply don't like you enough to invest anything of myself to your benefit, let alone that much of myself. What would I get out of it, huh? It sounds like a huge fucking hassle to me! Besides, you don't have a tail and can't transform, so the effort would be wasted. The only way you can restore your tail now is either… Well, I suppose you could wish for it back from the dragon. Or, perhaps, if you don't want to waste a wish, maybe you could go to that guardian guy who removed it with magic and ask him if he's capable of reversing his spell. But to convince him to actually do it… either you would have to threaten him or you'd have to persuade him with the promise that you would learn the Control Technique. I mean, either way, I suppose it could be done. But again, what would I get out of it? Nothing! And don't think for one second I'll be sympathetic to begging."

"Hmm," Goku thought, processing Vegeta's words. "Okay, got it. No begging. How about a fair trade?"

Vegeta froze mid-shoulder press and turned his questioning gaze to Goku. His left brow rose for a moment, but then he narrowed his eyes at the other saiyan in suspicion. "Care to elaborate?"

"Sure!" Goku replied enthusiastically. "We trade one transformation for another. If I help you ascend to Super Saiyan, you teach me the Control Technique so I can have my tail back and maybe even use my Giant Monkey to protect my planet in the future. And to sweeten the deal for you, Vegeta, I'll also vow to get that virus out of you if by some chance you weren't cured at the Bansho Spa. You know me, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to reach my goals, short of hurting innocents. Well, what do you say?"

Vegeta turned away to continue his workout with an intensely thoughtful expression. A few delayed seconds later, he spoke up again. "Kakarott, give me a few minutes to think over your proposal."

Goku nodded. "Okay," he replied, turning to the side to restart his katas. He found himself in deep thought for a few moments as he finally focused his full attention on his training practice. The Z fighter jumped slightly a few minutes later when the saiyan prince unexpectedly cleared his throat.

"Alright, Kakarott. I've come to a decision. Here's the deal," Vegeta began, not interrupting his set. "I've never taught someone the Control Technique, but I do know how it's done in theory. Your mastery of the technique could take a few years if you even have the ability to master it at all. I'm willing to bet you do have the raw talent, judging by your extraordinary performance as a warrior in the past. Since you've made your interest in this so clear and I don't believe you to be a good liar, I think you will keep your word when you vow to get me cured and help me ascend. All in all, it sounds like a fair trade to me and you've made it worth my time. Now whether or not I take the plunge and agree to shake on it depends on one thing only. I'll need you to see your friend Kami and find out from him if 1) he's capable of reversing his spell over you, and 2) if he's willing to trust you to see your control training through to the end enough to actually perform the restoration. Until you come back with an affirmative answer from him on both of those matters, I will neither make nor accept any vows."

"Okay!" Goku replied with enthusiasm. "That sounds fair. Oh, but… would you come with me to Kami's Lookout? I don't know if Kami will be hard to persuade or not on this, but maybe if you offer a detailed explanation of the required training, it might bolster his confidence in our plan. Please?"

Vegeta glanced back as he continued his shoulder presses. "Where is this place located? Is it far?"

"If we fly as fast as we can, it's maybe an hour and a half round trip. We can leave after dinner, spend the night at the Lookout, and come back in the morning. What do you say?" Goku proposed.

Vegeta blinked. "You mean you're not leaving now?"

Goku shook his head. "Bulma gets off work at five and I really need to talk to her about something first. Plus, I prefer Mrs. Briefs' cooking to Mr. Popo's. So is it okay if we leave right after dinner?"

Vegeta shrugged. "Sure, I guess. Whatever."

…

Dr. Along was starting to feel more pain near the end of the work day and it was becoming harder to conceal that fact, especially given that she was in the presence of Bulma Briefs. The blue-haired beauty was sharp and she noticed a minute twitch of discomfort in her companion's eyebrow. "Are you alright, Dr. Along? You seem a little distracted. I know it's been a long day so far. Things aren't normally this busy. Once you get into the swing of things, it'll get a lot easier. Fortunately for us both, the next busy season doesn't start until the fall. You have plenty of time between now and then to reorganize the databases to streamline everything in time for the holidays and I'll be available to help you until you've mastered our complex computer systems. All in all, there's no need to stress," Bulma reassured.

Dr. Along gave a slightly strained smile, suppressing the urge to rub her sore shoulder. "Thank you, Ms. Briefs. Yes, I suppose it's just a bit of fatigue. I normally have more endurance, but I guess I'm still recovering from my recent illness. Speaking of laryngitis, how is your patient from earlier doing?"

Bulma smiled. "He's much better. Thank you. Unfortunately, though, his personality hasn't improved."

Dr. Along laughed. "Who is that guy anyway? Am I allowed to ask? Does he work here?"

Bulma shrugged. "He's a friend. No, he doesn't work here. Vegeta is a world-class martial artist if you must know. I have several friends who are. Even my… well, my ex-boyfriend, Yamcha." She scoffed. "I say ex, but he doesn't know it yet. When he gets back in a few months from where he is right now, I've decided I'm breaking up with him for good," she expressed with a sigh, rubbing her face and shaking her head. Bulma was pretty tired from the long day. "Sorry, I shouldn't be bringing up personal issues at work. Anyway, where were we?" the blue-haired scientist uttered, turning her attention back to the large computer monitor they were staring at. She tapped a key repeatedly, scrolling down a list.

"Don't worry about it, Ms. Briefs. I'm no gossip. I am interested in these martial artists, however. When I was a kid, I wanted to learn karate so badly, but my parents forbade it. Instead, they signed me up for ballet. I love them to death, but those two are more or less married to tradition and they think things like martial arts are completely unsuitable for 'ladies'," Dr. Along said with a soft scoff.

"Oh, you want to know more about martial arts?" Bulma inquired in a tone of delight. "Well, it's only considered unprofessional for us to waste too much work time discussing these things. If you'd like, I can extend you an invitation the next time my fighter buddies get together. I like to organize barbecues and things every now and again. If you meet them all in person, you can ask questions and maybe even pick up a teacher. Now that you're an adult, you can make your own decisions and if you want to learn to do a killer karate chop, no one can stop you. You're still plenty young to learn. What do you say?"

Al's large chocolate eyes lit up. "R-Really? You'd do that for me? Yes, please!"

Bulma snapped out her phone. "Alright, give me your number and I'll send you a text from my personal cell," she said, typing with her thumbs to open a new contacts file. "Doctor… Aloha… Long," she uttered as she entered the information. "We can chat all we want on our personal phones as long as it's not work hours. There's no rule against inter-colleague friendships here, unlike in some places."

"Thank you so much, Ms. Briefs. I really appreciate this. My private cell is 270-555-6253."

Bulma typed the number and saved it. "Alright, sending you a text now so you have my number. Then I'll be able to notify you about when the next get-together is. Perfect!" she declared, glancing at the time on her phone. "Ah, ten more minutes until we're off the clock. Let's just finish up the CC-SS42-1 sales files before we head off. I think that'll be enough for today. We've been working hard."

Dr. Along smiled at Bulma. "Sounds like a plan," Al echoed, turning all attention back to the database screen and Bulma's instruction. Somehow, she found her shoulder was hurting less than before.

…

Panchy was huffing and puffing from her living room aerobics when Goku slid open the patio door and stepped inside. "Hey, Mrs. Briefs! Are Bulma and Dr. Briefs home yet?" he asked.

The blonde sucked in a breath and wiped her brow, grabbing the remote to pause her television program. "Not yet, Goku," she replied, shooting a glance at the clock over the television set. "Ah, it's five on the dot. They should be back any minute. Sometimes my husband works overtime in the lab, but my daughter will be back soon for sure. Dinner's at 6:30. Did you finish your training early today? If you'd like, you can have a seat on the sofa and wait for Bulma. Oh, I finished the laundry you gave me earlier. It's in your spot on the dining room table, all folded up, organized, and encapsulated for you. And I already put the stuff belonging to Vegeta back in his bedroom for him to find later."

"Thanks, Mrs. Briefs! In that case, I better go grab a shower in the men's bathhouse. I don't want to get your sofa all sweaty. If Bulma gets back before I'm done, tell her I'll be right back to have a chat," Goku happily declared, marching over to the dining room table to grab his luggage capsule.

"Go ahead and use the shower connected to the master bedroom. My hubby won't mind. It'll save you some time since it's right down the hall," Mrs. Briefs offered, adjusting herself into a wide stance squatting position. "I won't be done for fifteen minutes. The master bath is free until then. Go on."

Goku smiled. "Sure thing! Thanks again, Mrs. Briefs!"

"Not at all," the friendly housewife responded shortly, turning her program back on. In time with the ladies on the screen, she launched herself into a series of fast-paced squats and standing leg lifts.

Goku took his luggage capsule down the hall with him, returning ten minutes later in his orange gi pants and blue undershirt with a white towel wrapped around his shoulders. His hair was still a bit damp and he was squeezing his dark locks with one end of the towel. When he entered the living area, he saw Mrs. Briefs was on the last leg of her afternoon exercise program and Bulma Briefs had collapsed on the living room couch with her shoes kicked off, looking drained. "Hey, Goku," she said in a tired voice, noticing his arrival. "How's everything with Vegeta? No trouble in the Gravity Room?"

Goku flashed her a grin, coming to sit down beside her. "None at all. Vegeta's doing much better. He said he'd be in at about six. The senzu bean did the trick. He's got his voice back and everything."

Bulma returned a weak but genuine smile. "Awesome. Man, I was so worried," she said, punctuating her words with a wide yawn. "So what did you want to talk about? I'm all ears."

Goku blushed lightly and placed a hand behind his head. "Well, your mom knows a little bit about it. It's, well, let me just show you the letter. It'll explain everything," he said, reaching for the envelope in his pocket. He pulled it out, removed the letter, and handed the letter to Bulma. "Chi Chi doesn't want us to be married anymore. I wouldn't be so concerned, except Gohan is caught in the middle and really upset about it. I guess I just need advice about what to do to protect my son. I've never questioned Chi Chi's judgment much before, but she seems to have changed a lot in the time I've been away."

Bulma's jaw dropped when Goku spilled the news. She took the letter in stark silence, unfolded it, and started to read, her expression gradually turning more and more extreme. Her mouth contorted to form words, but none came out initially. Then she gasped loudly. "Mr. Cardinal? Rust Major Cardinal?!" she blared, her face turning red with anger as she jumped into an upright sitting position. "Are you freaking kidding me? She's marrying the CEO of Red Pharmaceuticals?! They're our biggest competitor in the medical supply business and they've been fined more than a few times by the government for sending spies into this very compound. This guy is a crook if you ask me. A technology thief!"

Goku looked surprised. "What? Really?"

Bulma turned her furious gaze to Goku. "Yeah, it's true. Hold on, let me finish. This is very disturbing," she remarked, turning her attention back to the letter. Her blue eyes zipped back and forth as she scanned the text. "Oh my… Kami! She's threatening you with legal action? Is she serious?! Oh, that little…! Wait…" Bulma glanced up at her friend again. "Goku, did you sign the divorce papers yet? Please, tell me you didn't. Tell me you didn't do anything rash without consulting me first."

Goku scratched his head. "Oh, the divorce papers… I forgot about those. I guess they've probably arrived in the mailbox by now. Darn, I'd hate to have to go all the way back to Mount Paozu for that."

Bulma breathed an audible sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. It's not that I disagree with the divorce. I'm just concerned about her threat and this little stipulation. What if we need Gohan to face another global threat in the future? He seems to have the most fighting potential out of everyone, even if he lacks the experience, and I don't want you to be liable if something happens that requires his participation."

Goku scratched his head. "Liable… You mean, like, I could get in trouble?"

Bulma nodded. "Precisely. Chi Chi could use the legal system to sue you and maybe even take away your visitation rights with Gohan. In other words, in the worst case scenario, you wouldn't be allowed to see your own son again until he reaches adulthood and can legally make decisions for himself."

Goku leaned forward and started wringing his hands. "I mean… y-you don't think Chi would actually do that? That would be cruel to both Gohan and me," he replied, his tone laden with anxiety.

"I don't know, Goku. The thing is, if you sign those divorce papers as they're allegedly written according to this letter and turn them in, you could be putting your relationship with Gohan at risk. What you need to do is consult a good divorce lawyer who understands the child custody laws in the sector where your marriage took place. Didn't you get married in the Ox Kingdom way down south?"

Goku nodded. "Yes," he replied, pulling the Zeni out of the envelope and leafing through it. "Chi Chi also gave me our savings because she says she doesn't need it anymore. I'm not too good with math, but how much does a lawyer cost? Do you think this is enough?" he inquired, handing her the cash.

Bulma took the Zeni and sighed, then handed it back to him. "Goku, this is chicken feed. But don't worry. I'm going to help you figure this out and that includes getting you some good representation that can hold a candle to what the future Mrs. Cardinal can afford. I'll consult our team of lawyers and find someone who will defend you and Gohan's interests, as well as be able to argue with the best of them."

Goku looked abashed. "You're a great friend, Bulma," he murmured, peering down at his knees sadly. "I don't know how Gohan feels about not being allowed to train, but when he showed up on the patio earlier today he was devastated about having to live with a stranger in the near future. He said that Mr. Cardinal and his mom were trying to force him to call the guy 'Papa Cardinal' against his will."

Bulma cringed. "Where is Gohan now?"

"Well, he finished his homework so I sent him, Piccolo, and a few other Nameks on a camping trip to help my son blow off some steam and have fun. I just wish I had the power to make Chi Chi see reason. I mean, okay. She decided she doesn't love me anymore, but why does that mean Gohan has to live with a man he doesn't know? How is that fair to Gohan? The poor kid. I can't imagine how he feels."

Bulma frowned and extended a hand to Goku's forearm, giving it a pat. "And what about how you feel? You love Chi Chi, don't you? To come home and find a note like this waiting for you after you get back to Earth from fighting an exoplanetary battle to protect your loved ones… it must be such a shock."

Goku nodded. "Yeah, it is. I do love her. It's odd," he remarked, threading his fingers together as he tried to process his emotions. "When Chi Chi and I were newlyweds, the first year was bliss. We were so in love and then, a year later, so happy when Gohan was born. Chi Chi and I both love him more than life itself." He sighed. "Maybe I'm imagining things, but it seemed to me like everything started to change between Chi and me soon after we welcomed our son into the world. She… for lack of a better phrase, she kinda gradually started to lose interest in me. At the same time, she became so fixated on Gohan and his upbringing and what kind of man he would become. After Gohan's first birthday party, I felt like I had to say something because I was worried. So I mentioned my concern to Chi Chi. She got really mad and accused me of being jealous of my own son." Goku swallowed a lump in his throat and met eyes with Bulma. "You… don't think I'm jealous of Gohan, do you? I would always put him first in all things, but Chi Chi's attention on him at times seems to be too much for the kid. Like, gosh, give the boy some freedom now and again. Let him explore and start to figure out who he is as a person. Gee, if I was in Gohan's position, I'd probably feel completely suffocated. Nothing wrong with getting a formal education, but there are some things you can't learn in books or a classroom."

Bulma drew her brows together. "No, Goku, I don't think you're jealous of Gohan in the slightest. I think you're hurting because, according to what you just shared, the woman you love has been treating you as an afterthought for years. It seems like she was just using you to get pregnant and then decided to toss you aside like a nuisance. How is that fair to you? You're a whole person, not a sperm donor."

Goku raised a brow. "Sperm donor?"

Bulma nodded. "A baby maker. A man who helps strangers conceive babies and then plays no part in their lives thereafter. She's basically treating you like a glorified sperm donor and now that she's got her precious baby boy, she doesn't require your services anymore. Grrr… I'm so tempted to call her up and chew her out on the phone right now, but I know it's not the productive thing to do. I need to try to keep a level head so I can help you navigate this mess she's pulled us all into with her selfishness."

Goku pushed a hand into his pocket and checked his phone. "Man, I've got a lot of missed calls from her. She must've been worried because Gohan disappeared. I should call her to let her know he's safe."

"Oh, don't worry about that, Goku dear," Mrs. Briefs chimed, having been nearby listening in respectful silence the whole time with the television turned off. "I already let her know."

Goku breathed out a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Mrs. Briefs. I wasn't looking forward to talking."

Bulma took Goku's phone and checked the call record. "Mom, when did you last talk to her?"

"Not long before lunch," Mrs. Briefs replied.

"Really? According to this record, she's called every half hour or so since this morning. The last call was forty-five minutes ago, so maybe she's given up for the day. Oh, here's the problem. It looks like you had her on silent, Goku. Was that on purpose?" Bulma inquired. "I wouldn't blame you if it was. In fact, to be perfectly honest, I think it's best you don't talk to her unless it's through the divorce lawyer. She might try to manipulate you or trick you into signing or agreeing to something you shouldn't."

"So I shouldn't answer the phone if she calls?" Goku asked.

"Precisely," Bulma said, handing the phone back. "Once you come to a co-parenting agreement through the lawyers and everything has calmed down, it should be okay for you to start talking to her over the phone and even face-to-face to arrange visitation dates. But for now, I recommend you avoid it. Just give me until Monday afternoon and I'll have someone lined up for your legal representation." Bulma paused. "Now, in the meantime, how about you move in with us here at Capsule Corp? I can't imagine that you want to go home to an empty house in the middle of nowhere, do you?"

Goku shook his head. "I'd appreciate that, Bulma. I ought to go pick up the house. Most of my stuff is still there, but I'd hate to have to make a trip all the way around the world by myself just for that."

Bulma smiled and rubbed Goku's shoulder supportively. "I'll get an employee from the Orange City branch of our company to pick it up in the next few hours and send it via certified mail, as well as those divorce papers Chi Chi says she sent. The papers should have the contact information for her attorney on them, which we'll need to hand over to your future representative so he or she can handle the case. For now, I think you need to get in some rest and relaxation. You look emotionally exhausted, Goku."

Goku rubbed his face. "I am, but I'm also getting really hungry."

Mrs. Briefs popped up from the floor. "I'll get you a healthy snack to tide you over until din-din."

Goku smiled. "Thanks, Mrs. Briefs! That sounds great," he replied, salivating.

Bulma rose from the couch, stretching her back, and handed the letter back to Goku. "I'm going to go slip into something more comfortable and then I'll instruct one of the maid bots to start preparing the empty guest room opposite mine and Vegeta's for you to move into tonight. How's that sound?"

Goku lay on the couch, grabbing a few of the pillows for his head. "Sure, but no need to rush. Vegeta and I are planning to spend the night at Kami's Lookout. We'll be back in the morning and then I gotta catch up to Gohan and Piccolo out in the mountains. My son will be disappointed if I don't show up."

Bulma paused and looked back at Goku, raising a brow. "You and Vegeta are going to Kami's?"

"Yup! Ooh, that reminds me. Vegeta and I have come to a truce of sorts. I told him that I'll help him become a Super Saiyan if he teaches me how to control my Giant Monkey transformation. We're going to see Kami to find out if it's possible for him to reverse the spell he used to remove my tail. Also, as a side note, Vegeta's not totally confident that the Bansho Spa cured his illness. He said it's an incurable disease that goes dormant and hides in cells. I told him what you said, that if he gets sick again, we can freeze him in cryogenesis until the dragon balls are ready in a few months to wish away the virus."

Bulma had a thoughtful look on her face. "Yes, we can do that, but I think we should consider it a last resort. Cryogenesis is very stressful to the body. I'll have a chat with Vegeta and see if he'll agree to let me run some tests. The first thing we need to do is discover if he still has a virus. We can tell Vegeta the plan together at dinner tonight. Anyway, I'll be back. Feel free to relax and watch TV in the meantime."

Mrs. Briefs returned to hand the remote to Goku along with a large platter of cheese squares, cured meats, crackers, cut vegetables, and grapes. "I'll be back to start dinner soon, Goku dear. Now, don't worry about a thing. Bulma will be on top of this, you can bet your bottom Zeni," she said reassuringly, giving him a pat on the shoulder before walking off to the master bathroom to take a shower.

Goku sighed, turned on the TV, and started flipping through the channels as he nibbled on the platter.

…

By the time Al Long made it back to the rundown apartment building, she was holding her shoulder in pain. While she had popped some more pain meds before leaving Capsule Corp, they were only just starting to provide a hint of relief. What she really needed was a hot shower and a long icing session sprawled out on her bed. As she slowly climbed the stairs up to her floor, her mind felt a bit numb but her heart was secretly full of joy. As much as she wanted to go out and celebrate tonight, she was smart enough to know that she needed a few more days of healing to really be able to enjoy another outing. The natural solution was to order delivery, flop on her bean bag, and have a solo movie night.

She breathed a sigh of relief as she made it to the top of the stairs on her floor and strolled down the hall toward her apartment. What was waiting for her when she got there, though, came as quite a shock. The door to her residence was slightly ajar. She raised a brow in concern, walking up to it and staring for a moment. I couldn't have forgotten to lock it, she thought. I'm always so careful about that.

Her heart almost stopped when she heard a familiar female voice inside. Mom?! But how… She gasped and backed away from the door, bringing her hand up to her head and grazing her fingers through her short locks. How was she able to get inside? Why didn't she call first?! Al thought in a panic, trying to decide what to do. If her mother saw that she had chopped her long hair off, the woman would lose her mind. My wig is inside. Kami, help me… I hope she doesn't find it! Darn it, what am I going to do? she wondered, snapping out her cell. She immediately started searching for nearby wig stores. There's one a block away. Oh, but I don't have any cash and my new cards haven't arrived in the mail yet! Shoot, maybe I can trade or beg. I hope to the heavens that they have something like my old hairdo.

"Don't worry, dear. According to the tracker on my phone, she's in the area. She's probably running a little late. It was her orientation day. I'm sure she just misplaced her credit cards and canceled them out of an abundance of caution," the woman said in a calming voice. "You don't give yourself enough credit, honey. We raised that girl right." Al's mother had always been the most even-tempered of her parents. It seemed like Dr. Long had sent his wife to check things out because he had received an alert about Al's cards. If something ever smelled off to him, he had a long history of overreacting.

Mom's just trying to calm him down. The man needs to get his blood pressure checked, I swear. If he hears I got a boy cut, though, he'll flip his shit for sure and so will she. Crap, what am I going to do? Al mused, feeling a panic attack coming on. No, I have to calm down. I can find a way out of this.

Mrs. Long chuckled. "You know what? I'm going to head to the shops downstairs and surprise Aloha with a little congratulatory gift for nailing that great position at the Capsule Corporation," she said, her voice getting louder. Al's eyes widened when she realized her mother was heading toward the cracked door. Despite her physical pain, Al raced down the corridor at top speed and hid behind a rundown soda machine. Then she turned around and peeked out from behind her cover. She saw her mother stroll out into the hall wearing her usual mid-calf-length floral dress and matching pumps, turning to head in the opposite direction with the phone pressed to her ear. The teen scientist breathed out a big sigh of relief.

I better hurry, Al thought, waiting for her mother to disappear down the hall. Suddenly, the woman turned back, took out her keys, and returned to lock the apartment door, having almost forgotten. Yup, they took the liberty to make spare keys and didn't bother to tell me. Why am I not surprised?

When her mother was gone, Al raced back to her apartment, unlocked the door, and went inside before closing the door behind her and locking it with the extra latch. She raced to the bathroom, kicking off her work pants as she went. In less than five minutes, she managed to apply feminine makeup, put on her long wavy wig, and wriggle into a business casual skirt from her dresser. Just as she was finishing up, she heard a key being inserted into her door. She ran a quick makeup check in the mirror, plastered on a big fake smile, and left the bathroom. The door creaked open but was stopped by the extra latch.

Al thought she heard a gasp of surprise. "Aloha honey, are you home? It's me, your loving mother."

"Mom," Al called, "is that you?" She walked up to the door and unlatched it, looking totally shocked. "What a nice surprise! I wasn't expecting to see you anytime soon. Is Dad here too?" she asked casually, beckoning her mother inside. "Sorry about the small mess. I wasn't expecting company."

Hola Long came in and put her stuff on the small armchair at the foot of the bed. "No, he isn't here. Is everything alright, Aloha? Your father noticed some unusual activity with your credit cards and he sent me over to make sure everything was okay. You look good though, dear. How was your orientation?"

Al simpered. "It was great, actually. Anyway, about the cards. I'm such a dope, I accidentally misplaced both of them and I thought I should just be extra careful, so I canceled them and ordered new ones. They should arrive Monday. No harm, no foul. Sorry about that, I'll try to be more careful from now on. Did you come all the way from Papaya Island just for that?" she inquired in a light tone.

Mrs. Long shook her head. "No, I came from Parsely City. I attended a work conference this morning. It went well. Anyway, I told your papa you had probably just misplaced the cards, but you know him. He's always on the alert and maybe just a wee bit overprotective. I'm glad everything's alright. I'll let him know. Oh, I got you a little present from the salon downstairs to say congrats on the new job!"

"Salon?" Al asked, raising a brow.

The woman presented Al with a small shopping bag containing a manicure kit and five high-end nail polishes. "I would stay for a girls' night out, but I'm very tired from the conference. So instead, I'll just encourage you to make some new friends and hold your own girls' night out in West City! How does that sound? Aren't you excited? You're going to meet so many interesting new people in the big city!"

Al forcibly widened her smile, trying to look excited. "Yes. Oh, my gosh, that sounds wonderful. Great idea, Mom. In fact, I already made a new friend and it's the famed Bulma Briefs! She's acting as my personal supervisor. Isn't that amazing? And she says we can totally hang out after work hours. I think you two would get along great. She's a total queen bee, just like you were in high school."

Mrs. Long chuckled. "Oh, dear. I'm still very much a queen bee. Buzz, buzz," she lightly retorted, tapping Al on the tip of the nose. "And that's great to hear. Send lots of pictures, okay? Your dad and I love to hear from you. You know that. You won't be hurt if I leave now, will you? I want to get some rest at the hotel before I catch my plane tonight. Also, I need to grab a shower and dinner before then."

"Of course not! I totally understand. Trust me, it's been a long day for me, too. I'm just gonna chill tonight myself," Al said, placing the over-the-top girly gift down on the nightstand and reaching to give her mother a hug. "You rest up, Mom. We'll be in touch, I promise! Thanks for the present."

Mrs. Long returned the hug, kissed Al on the cheek, and left.