Omen of the Future
One day later
5 days until the Tournament of Power 2
"So, what am I doing here? There's tons of work I could be doing on Monster Island," Android 17 says, standing impatiently in the third-floor lounge of the Capsule Corp East City branch. Bulma pours dark coffee into a mug; huge black letters on the side read 'I 3 East City'.
"Coffee?" She asks. Android 17 takes the mug from her hands without a word, and sips it gently. "Dickolo asked me to summon you," Bulma says.
Android 17 spits out a jet of hyper-pressurized coffee into the carpet while Bulma is turned away. "You made another remote?" he asks sharply.
"Not a self-destruct remote, god, no."
"It gave me an overwhelming urge to immediately fly to this Capsule Corp branch. I'm gonna have to explain this all to my wife later… you should let me smash it once 18 gets here."
A great figure steps into the lounge. "I have already informed Android 18 of everything. You were hard to find," Dickolo says, moving to stand next to Bulma, towering over her small frame.
"So it's just a 'me' remote. Cool," Android 17 takes another sip of coffee. "I'll ask again, what am I doing here?" Android 17 says, proceeding to spit another jet of hot coffee into the carpet. Bulma flinches.
"Surely you are aware of the state of the Earth," Dickolo says.
"Yeah. Three weeks ago, West City was flattened. I saw the explosion from Monster Island. Lit up the sky."
"The whole of Westland is now a bleeding wound. Countless cities were vaporized by Vegeta."
"Hold on, it was Vegeta? I thought he turned a new leaf, or something," Android 17 raises his voice, shocked by the information.
"But it's not just Westland, and not even just the Earth. Over 100 billion intelligent lifeforms were slaughtered in Universe 6 during Vegeta's rampage." Dickolo's voice is cold.
"Woah…" Android 17's shock is obvious as he leans back against a table, bumping into the coffee machine. His eyes are wide.
"He killed Gohan, too. Gohan gave his life trying to stop Vegeta," Dickolo begins choking up, but keeps his composure. Bulma has to sit down, tears in her eyes.
"Yeah, okay, I'll help," Android 17 says after a moment, "So, what are we gonna do?"
"Zenozeno is hosting the Tournament of Power 2. With the wish from the Super Dragon Shafts, we'll fix everything," Dickolo says.
"Count me in."
Android 17 and Dickolo leave. Bulma sits silently on the couch. After a few minutes, Videl wanders quietly into the lounge, quickly breaking the silence.
Videl tries some small-talk. "I haven't been able to upload anything to my OnlyFans for a few weeks… I'll probably have to shut it down. I still have plenty of cash in my bank account, though," Videl says. The room is silent for a few moments. "Bulma?" Videl speaks softly, "I… I want to know something." Bulma turns her head, eyes landing on the young woman behind her.
"Yes?" Bulma asks, her voice frail.
"I… want to know if Gohan will be coming back. If my Gohan will be brought back to life."
Bulma stands up, a concerned look coming over her. "No one could possibly know that… we need to have faith in Goku and the others," she says. Videl does not respond- she looks down, hands squeezed together in front of her waist.
"Videl…" Bulma moves closer to the young woman, "Videl, certainly, you can't mean…"
"I want to use the Time Machine. To see what will happen," Videl speaks fast, snapping her head up to look Bulma in the eyes.
Bulma grabs Videl tightly by the shoulder, coming up very close to her. "You can't- I can't let you do that, it's irresponsible," she says sternly.
"But I can't keep…" Videl squeezes her eyelids closed, and shakes her head. "I'm so scared, Bulma!"
"I know. You just can't. I can't let you."
Videl's face quickly becomes stern. She says, "What if we- and hear me out, here- or what if I, to be more specific- did you a favor?"
"What? Are you drunk?" Bulma is puzzled.
"Uhm… maybe a little. But listen-" Videl stands up straight, putting her hands up near her chest. She pauses for a moment, stammering under her breath as her impaired mind tries to string together a sentence that doesn't sound entirely strange.
"Okay, Bulma, listen," Videl emphasizes. Bulma's eyes are wide, and strangely enough she does seem ready to listen to the young woman. "Let's go to my room, okay? I have some good whiskey in there. Tastes like butterbeer, if you remember that Harry Potter stuff."
"And how much of that did you drink already?"
"A couple… a few shots."
"Goodness-" Bulma backs up a little.
"Just follow me, sweetie," Videl says, whipping around and giving Bulma a cute tease before beginning to strut to the hallway. Bulma growls as she puts on a disgruntled face. Even so, she follows Videl after a few seconds.
"I don't like Harry Potter," Bulma says frustratedly.
"Yet you know about it, right?" Videl says.
"I mean- wait, hold on, how do you know about it? It doesn't exist in this universe."
Videl turns her head as she walks, closing her eyes for a second and sticking out her tongue playfully. Bulma is puzzled.
In Videl's room now, Bulma rests her eyes on the young woman as she sits softly on her bed. The sheets are a mess, though that's to be expected. The room is dark, and sparsely populated by Videl's things that survived the Westland wipe. A couple LED lamps gently bathe the room in dark cyan hues. It's cold, yet welcoming. Videl reaches over to her nightstand and grasps her fingers around a half-empty glass- the branding reads 'Satan Whiskey'. She twists off the cap and latches her lips around the opening to take a couple huge swigs. She then clumsily holds out the opened bottle to Bulma.
"C'mon," Videl insists, some low vocal fry slipping into her usually high and soft voice. Bulma stands in the doorway for some moments, face bent a bit in annoyance, but quickly loosens up as she steps in and snatches the bottle from Videl's hands.
"Atta girl." Videl smiles, eyes half-closed and barely hiding her lustful stare.
"I can't believe you," As she speaks, Bulma takes the bottle to her lips and begins downing. Videl stares silently in awe as the middle-aged mother of two swallows half of the bottle in a little over 15 seconds, finally unsealing it from her lips with an exasperated sigh. She seems to choke and gag a little bit before completely regaining her composure. "-can't believe you drink this, holy shit," Bulma moves her hand up to cover her mouth as she coughs softly. "And I can't believe you're hitting on me." Videl lights up in a chuckle. Evidently, these two women are viciously attracted to each other. Perhaps it's the unbearable pain of this situation they both share, or maybe they're just bi. It might be both. It isn't long before Bulma starts coming onto Videl- the Satan Whiskey hits her hard, and she pulls off her shirt, her boobs bouncing as they come loose from the fabric.
"Can you help me out?" Bulma asks, kneeling onto the bed and prompting Videl to remove her bra. Videl's face flushes as her breathing quickens. She feels a warmth in her crotch as she stares at the older woman literally coming down onto her- soft breaths steaming out of her half-open mouth, drooping eyes staring back at her, absolutely bright with fiery desire. Videl's mind is overtaken with endless swarming thoughts, and she can hardly coordinate a single word. "Please don't keep me waiting, sweetie. You're so fucking cute with that matted hair and those puffy, red cheeks. I was waiting patiently to be alone with you like this." Bulma continues.
Videl stammers, backing up a little bit- her chest rises and falls fast. This feels like a dream. But even if it is, it's evidently a lucid one; Videl can't help but imagine how the older woman's fingers will feel wrapped around her.
Bulma crawls closer, getting her whole body on the bed. Videl pushes up against the wall; she can't go back any further. "You know how long I've wanted to tear your cute little body up? You're always such a fucking tease," Videl gasps, a little squeak leaves her throat, "Gohan is really an amazing man, to pick someone so adorably desirable." Videl's legs begin to shake. Bulma sits up and locks her own thighs around Videl's warm, trembling legs, before grabbing her wrist. She pulls, forcing Videl closer to her; her face feels the radiating heat of Bulma's breasts. Bulma pulls Videl's arm around her back to feel for her bra clasp.
"How did he come across someone like you? Polite little Gohan." Videl fumbles wildly for the clasp, finally realizing the 'hints'.
"And the slutty things you'd wear… oh my god, you'd think you're just asking to be torn apart like a whore… I could barely keep myself together during the 25th World Tournament, you know." Bulma purrs, practically encompassing Videl's whole body. "Just begging to be fucked silly by another dominating girl." Videl squeals, her face bright red and her body warm and trembling. "I want that girl back. That strong, slutty, cocky girl. I'm going to fuck her out of you."
(Note from the Grand Priest: I checked in with the author while she was writing this. shes not very horny today so it looks like there wont be a lesbian sex scene just yet- she just kinda wanted to write a bit of steamy forbidden romance. Sorry *shrug emoji*. maybe wait for Caulifla and Kale to have a notable role again).
4 hours later
Videl lies awake, staring up at the dark ceiling lit by dim cyan LEDs. It's cozy next to Bulma- her surprisingly coarse snores help to keep her dizzying mind off of things. The Satan Whiskey still flows through her system but it's in its dying throes; her gut feels heavy and her mind is exhausted. She shuffles over to the nightstand and grabs blindly for the bottle, which clinks around slightly. What's left of the whiskey splashes about inside, and Videl groans as she sits up to take another swig. She can't fathom falling asleep sober right now. But as she stares into the dark room, eyeing all her things and the pictures of her lovely Gohan all lined up on the dresser, she puts her head in her hands as a coldness washes over her. Try as she might, she isn't going to just forget- and now she's done something strange, and maybe chastisable if you ask the average sober person.
Videl sets the bottle down by her feet as gingerly as she can in her state and rises wobbly to stand. She stumbles around a bit, kicking the Satan Whiskey over onto the carpet (although it is practically empty; none spills out), and determination carries her to the door. She grips the handle and takes a long look back at Bulma, who sleeps gracefully; her fat beautiful ass and idyllic curves make Videl consider stumbling right back into bed and throwing her body around the woman. It was so warm inside of her. But she opens the door and steps into the hallway.
"I fucked the shit out of that woman…" Videl mumbles as she walks in zig-zags, her inebriated mind coming to strange conclusions, "...choked her out, and… fuck, she came all over me…" Videl chuckles, smiling a bit, "And I shot ropes all over her chest. She'll need a shower… but I think I can go find her, uh…" Videl almost trips over her own feet. She quickly throws herself into the wall, just barely keeping herself stable.
"I can't let you do that, it's irresponsible." The things Bulma said flash through Videl's mind. She's probably right- using the time machine like this is irresponsible. But Videl can't bring herself to care. Her dripping tears are proof of what she wants most right now. She hasn't heard Gohan's joyful voice, or felt his touch, or watched his hair flutter in weeks, and all she wants to know is if she will ever again experience Gohan's love- if she'll ever fuck around with him again in downtown Satan City, or if he'll ever put her to bed again after a long patrol.
Videl makes it to the basement lab of the Capsule Corp East City branch in… she can't remember how long she was walking. She may have taken an elevator at some point… or the stairs? She cannot bring herself to care. The time machine stands among many other cold contraptions, half-covered in a sheet and just begging to be brought to the future.
Videl clambers her way up the giant machine, pulling off the sheet and almost falling back-first onto the steel floor. A button press opens the latch and pneumatic vents hiss. She gets inside, sitting without care for form within the cockpit. The interface is pretty rudimentary- after all, a young Trunks had to use this device all on his own once. Videl figures it out quick, and she sets the time: 3 weeks into the future. Videl slams down the lever, and her field of view ignites in shimmering blue and purple. It's an all-out assault on her inebriated senses and she nearly pukes, though it comes to a stop just before her nausea overpowers her.
Videl blinks a few times as she tries to comprehend what is before her. She strains her eyes to peer out of the cockpit glass- is she just drunk? She can't logically justify what she sees. She glances down to the interface, since maybe the time machine is just broken- but there are no errors, and the display reads exactly what she commanded the machine to do: bring her 3 weeks into the future.
It's white. A pure white void consumes everything outside of the time machine- all-encompassing and overwhelming, but at the same time empty and indistinguishable. Sticking her face up against the glass, blinking and rubbing her eyes, Videl can't change this reality. 3 weeks into the future, the Capsule Corp East City branch doesn't exist anymore. Nothing seems to exist anymore. As her breathing quickens and her heart begins to race, Videl slams the lever back up and the shimmering blue and purple takes over her field of view. In a few moments the time machine is back in the Capsule Corp basement, surrounded by the same cold machines and steel walls.
Bulma stands at the foot of the time machine to greet Videl. The young woman climbs out of the time machine and pauses as she sees Bulma.
"Bulma…" Videl stutters, her composure shattered by an encroaching existential dread.
"It's okay, Videl," Bulma says. She looks solemn- her face is almost expressionless, though there is obvious unease in her features. She looks down. "I read the time machine's log while you were in the future. Just 3 weeks… and…" Bulma's voice creaks and groans, her obvious fear leaking through.
"What was that?" Videl jumps down onto the floor, landing on all fours. She gets up and leans against the machine, her face dreadful. "It was… nothing… there was nothing there…"
"The time machine's instruments detected that, in this future, every universe is completely erased." Bulma says, monotone. The following silence is nearly painful as the two women try to comprehend the monumentality of this reading. Videl's breathing speeds up as her face goes white; she finally pukes, spilling that vile whiskey back out of her body. Bulma sits on a stool, slumped over.
"What will happen… during the Tournament of Power 2? What can possibly happen to cause this devastation?" Bulma wonders.
"We can't tell anyone about this," Videl says, "We can't. We can't put this weight on the people about to fight for the existence of our universe… but if things just go unchanged…"
"Right…" Bulma says, voice shaking, "So… we have to do something about it ourselves."
The Rocky Canyon is a strange region in the north of the Dragon World. It's a cool desert, punctuated with tall arid plateaus and terracotta cliff faces. It's squeezed between the old titanic pine forests to its east and the rough Ginger Wilderness to its west. Tonight, it is alight with fire and smoke; explosions that rock the empty landscape and brighten the night sky for miles around, like a dry lightning storm.
A Saiyan flies in and out of low dust-storms whipped up by the might of these vast explosions. It's Goku, clearly displaying some kind of inner turmoil. His powerful ki blasts erupt upon the arid land, some fired at nothing in particular, and others aimed for topple-able rock formations and other alike mountains. He talked with Tenshinhan earlier in the day about his woes, and even further consolation with Erasa put not a single dent in his deep-seeded distress. In the mornings, he wakes to no one but himself. When he trains, he does it alone. He didn't expect just how greatly he would miss the feeling of a solid punch from Gohan- the thrill of battle with an appreciative opponent and a good friend. He didn't anticipate the void in his heart when he can't hug Chichi in the morning. He brings food home to no one. What angers Goku the most is that he even finds himself missing the playful jeers of Vegeta, the Saiyan who took everything away from him- their rivalry, and all their inconsequential quips and drama. Goku yells as he throws another ki blast, larger than the others, and as it explodes into lightning and flame he stares into the clear night sky.
The stars far above him… are they stars? Goku is a bit bewildered as some of them begin to move, slow at first though they quickly pick up.
"Uh… huh?" Goku's brow furrows into a puzzled look. They move faster and faster until their illusion forms two words: BEHIND YOU. Goku whips his head around, scanning the horizon, and a dotted-line of white orbs zips above it. It flies past him at intense speeds- Goku turns his head back around to follow. Much like the illusory stars, the similarly-styled orbs organize themselves into another message: BRING THE BUTTON.
"...What?" Goku stares at the messages, puzzled. What button? To where? And… who sent these messages?