"700 times gravity." Said Vegeta.
"You have to be kidding me. That is a big jump. I do not want you to get hurt, plus this spaceship can't take that much force!" said Bulma.
"You will do it, woman. Install more of those ship hull reinforcements or build a new machine."
"I suppose I could upgrade the reinforcements and start to think about designing a new machine…" Bulma said, deep in thought. "We could also install voice command so that you don't have to be at the console to turn it off as a safety measure."
"Agreed. Be sure to allow voice command to also turn on the machine as well. While I am adapting to the higher gravity, it will be beneficial for me to intermittently turn on the gravity higher mid exercise for spot training."
"All right but for safety, only you and I will have access to voice command." Bulma said seriously.
Later that day...
Bulma spent the rest of the day working on the upgrades to the gravity room. Vegeta was pushing her to get them done as soon as possible so she almost worked all night. After a quick breakfast and extra strong coffee, she planned to spend the rest of her morning installing the new ship hull reinforcements and then maybe take an afternoon nap. While she was working on it, Vegeta flew off to train remotely.
Vegeta returned later that afternoon and found Bulma still working on the hull reinforcements, sitting midair on a hover bot.
"What is taking you so long woman?"
"Hello, your majesty…I decided to program the voice command first and then I had to remove the old devices and install these new larger devices. If you would have been here, you could have helped me. They are pretty heavy, and my back is killing me and I'm exhausted! But I'm almost done here."
"Hmmm. Well, how much longer until you are finished so I can use whatever measly gravity level is available."
"Ugh…you can't wait another five second to engage the gravity?"
GRAVITY ENGAGING IN 5..4..3
"What?!" Exclaimed Bulma realizing that the system interpreted what she said as a voice command to engage the gravity which was set to 500.
2…1..
Vegeta phased in behind Bulma, wrapping his arms tightly around her from behind and instantly powering up to shield her from the force of the gravity with his ki.
"Disengage gravity!" Vegeta yelled out.
GRAVITY DISENGAGED
"Idiot woman!" Vegeta grunted out.
Once the gravity turned off Vegeta powered down and floated to the ground while holding Bulma. Once her feet touched the ground and he let go of her, her legs immediately crumbled beneath her. Vegeta caught her and gently laid her on the ground.
Vegeta saw that she had gone pale, her eyes were open but unfocused and her jaw was stiff. She did not appear to be breathing. He assumed that she had passed out from the unavoidable pressure.
"Wake up woman." He said gently slapping her cheeks.
When she didn't wake up, Vegeta gently pried Bulma's mouth open, plugged her nose and put his mouth over hers to blow in air in an effort to start her breathing, but she remained completely tense.
After quickly discarding a glove, Vegeta felt for Bulma's pulse on her neck. He could feel it faintly.
A moment later, Bulma suddenly blinked and breathed in a deep labored breath, waking up to Vegeta hovering over her on the ground.
"What.. happened?" She said barely a whisper.
"You engaged the gravity."
"Oh, right. Thank you, Vegeta, you saved me in my dream." Bulma said wistfully, raising her hand and caressing Vegeta's cheek.
Vegeta quickly scrambled to his feet crossing his arms in annoyance.
"I saved you for real woman. If I had not been here, you would have been killed in an instant."
"Computer, disable the gravity voice command system I installed today!" Yelled Bulma.
GRAVITY VOICE COMMAND DISABLED.
After a few moments of resting and getting her strength back. Bulma raised her upper body off the ground, her blue hair looking wild from the blast of ki. She suddenly felt warm moisture between her legs.
Vegeta threw her one of his workout towels. He had noticed Bulma had let go of her bodily faculties when she passed out.
"I peed on your gravity room. I'm sorry." Bulma said meakly putting the towel on the ground between her legs to clean up.
"I need to go lay down... and get a med bot." Bulma said getting to her feat, but she could only go a few steps before wobbling and laying her head on the console in her fatigue."
"Pathetic." Vegeta said. With that he picked up Bulma and flew her to her bedroom and dropped her off roughly on her bed to rest.
Immediately after, Vegeta flew off to one of his favorite islands, ready to blow up part of the shoreline. He was furious at the foolish woman for her careless mistake, delaying his use of the gravity room.
He was also annoyed about the fact that he had to save her. His survival instinct learned in his formative years working under Frieza was to not come to another's aid as it undermined his image as a ruthless warrior. He especially was targeted by Frieza and his men so it was imperative that he never showed the slightest weakness.
It seemed his pattern on Namek of helping the humans in moments of need had continued. For a moment Vegeta struggled with the fact that he may also have felt concern for the female.
After an hour of taking out his aggressions, blasting the ocean relentlessly, he rationalized that he only did it because the woman is useful to him in achieving his goals. Nothing more. There was no detriment to him by saving her.
He had to admit. Yes, he needed her, for now.
The next morning…
"Thank you, Vegeta. I am grateful that you saved me." Said Bulma.
"Pfft. I do not care about your thanks."
"Well all the same. It was very good of you to do."
"The next time you are in imminent danger, do not expect me to come to your aid."
"I thought I was… sort of your friend.. at this point."
"Foolish woman. I do not care about you in the slightest." After saying this Bulma was quite and Vegeta glancing in her direction could see the disappointment on her face.
"I'm curious… is there anyone you care for?" Said Bulma softly.
"Why would there be?"
"Vegeta … I care about you. I cannot help but think that you belong here, with us. It does not take away the fact that the first part of your life was incredibly difficult but like you told me the other day, you can start something new."
"Do not pity me, woman. Or compare your life to mine. I am only here to achieve my own goals as quickly as possible. Everything else is irrelevant to me."
"I know you will, achieve your goals and so much more. I believe in you Vegeta, your tenacity is admirable."
"You pretend your loyalties do not lie with that clown, Kakarot."
"Goku can take care of himself, I'm sure."
"Do not think you can call my bluff, woman. I have no intention of letting that clown live, on my honor as the prince of all Saiyans."
"Yeah, yeah… well there is no point worrying about that now. Why don't I finish the gravity and then you can take it for a spin. Huh?"
"Hmmm. I will return in an hour and you better be done."
"Slave driver!" Said Bulma, poking Vegeta in the chest with a mock pout.
Vegeta smirked and turned to leave.