"Damn it." Tyler Myers muttered as he finished reading the letter, taking off his tortoiseshell glasses and running his fingers through his iron gray hair, "I knew this was going to happen." The Principal of Satan City's Private Science Academy reluctantly left his office full of special awards and trophies, and trudged down the halls of the school with his hands in his pockets. He passed a wall full of posters, turned the corner and stopped outside of classroom number 141. He sighed wearily, unwilling to perform the task before him, but he understood that he had no choice. When the Ruler of another planet DEMANDED that he receive the best educator of science on the planet, that is EXACTLY what that Ruler would receive, no questions asked. Mr. Myers turned the knob slowly and entered the room silently, closing the door behind him.
Bulma paused in mid-sentence, but continued as the principal waved her on. She cleared her throat and smiled at her students, "As I was saying class, a pH level of seven is neutral, one is acidic and fourteen is a base. Lemon juice is an acid." She stopped and made a gesture to a woman sitting with her feet on the desk. Chichi sprang out of her seat and started passing out worksheets.
Bulma raised her voice over the rustling of papers, "Fill out this worksheet, study your chapter seven notes and you'll be ready for your test next time."
>>Ring! <<
"Have a great weekend!" Bulma shouted as the students scrabbled onto their next class. Her smile wavered slightly as she noticed the principal watching her as the last child finally scurried out. The silence was deafening and a little awkward until Chichi purposely dropping a book, "Oops." She grinned as Bulma and Tyler looked up.
Bulma smiled and rolled her eyes, her mood becoming more optimistic now, "Can I help you with something Mr. Myers?"
Tyler sat on the edge of a desk and shook his head sadly at her, "No, but I wish I could help you."
Chichi’s chair scraped the floor loudly as she stood up, "Do you want me to leave for this Bulma?"
"No! Whatever he says to me can be said in front of you." Was Bulma’s emphatic reply.
Reluctantly the assistant sat down again; her dark eyes darting from her friend, to her boss (who was glaring at her) and then to her only escapes (the door).
"Maybe you should sit down for this Bulma." Tyler started grimly.
"Oh Kami, is it really that bad?" She asked, sitting slowly, her eyes wide in fear.
Tyler ignored the interruption, concentrating on his task, "I received a letter today that has come from the King of another planet. The Head of Earth’s science Department received it and immediately sent it to me, for you." He paused to gauge her reaction so far but he could tell nothing by looking at her face at that moment He continued, "He wants you to go into space and teach science to the children of the elite children of that planet. He says you’ll be paid and a ship is being sent for you tomorrow around four at The Field in SW City."
Silence once again reigned until Chichi broke it (once again), "How much is he willing to pay?"
Bulma leaned forward, her elbows on the desk and her eyes glittering in anticipation, "Money is a small matter right now Chichi, this is the chance of a lifetime!" Her eyes narrowed suddenly as she realized what Tyler just said, "Did you just say that there is a ship ALREADY on it’s way here for us?" Myers nodded dumbly. "That whoreson ruler assumed I’d agree to come; he’s got some nerve!"
Chichi leaped out of her chair and rummaged in the closet as she tried to find her purse, "I got to start getting ready for the trip! I’ll se you at four Bulma."
Waving absently Bulma stood from the desk, and didn’t notice the scowl on Tyler’s face as he watched Chichi go, "Is that all you had to tell me Mr. Myers?"
Tyler’s eyes became as wide as saucers, "‘Is that ALL!’ Are you crazy? You act as if this was the most normal and expected thing in the world! You’re going to leave Earth behind for some little rock thousands of miles away from here?" he calmed down a little as he noticed the odd way Bulma was watching him, "Listen Bulma, you’re a great teacher, the best I’ve ever seen. I don’t want you to go. Any way, your little friend, Chichi can’t go, why does she think that she’ included?" He asked the question scornfully and said Chichi’s name with venom.
"She’s right to think she’s included, Chichi is like a sister to me and I wouldn’t leave her here or go anywhere with out her." She snapped back angrily, snatching up her pursed, bag, and her jacket from her desk. "Tell the students that I’ll miss them and I may write to them. The test is in the bottom drawer along with lesson plans for the rest of the year. Good bye Tyler, and good luck."
Frantically, Principal Myers grabbed her by her shoulders; "This is the worst thing you could do Bulma. Please reconsider. I’ll- -I’ll give you a raise, I’ll double what you’re making right now. Please, don’t go."
Bulma raised her eyebrows at his pathetic behavior and swept his hands from her angrily, "Staying here with an ass like you and leaving this opportunity behind would be the worst thing I could do Myers, so fuck off. " She brushed past him and went out of his school and out of his life forever.
"Oh crap, I forgot to cancel the newspaper. I wonder if they’ll figure it out? Hmm… I hope so." Bulma said to herself into the deafening silence of her home. She put the last pair of folded socks in her suitcase and then sat on it, closed it, capsulated it, and put it with the rest of her capsules in her purse. A series of loud honking noises from outside indicated the arrival of the taxi-driver (who was fifteen minutes late). Bulma ran to the front door and held out her index finger out to the driver to indicate that she needs a few more minutes.
She closed the door softly behind her and slowly walked back to her bedroom. The most painful part of leaving Capsule Corporation is leaving the memories of people I love so much. Her fingers trembled a little as she picked up a picture of a young, smiling girl, sitting in a rocking chair with a man with lavender hair, glasses and a serious look about him and a smiling blonde woman with her hands clasped in excitement. Mom, Dad, I miss you so much. I HATE having to leave and sell our home, but I know you’d both insist I do so if you were still alive… She tucked the picture into her purse absently as she saw another. A newer and fresher pain crept into heart and fresh tears trickled down her cheeks as her cerulean eyes slowly examined the picture. It was a snapshot (taken two months ago) of a beautiful woman in mid-twenties smiling up at the black-haired man she had her arms around. This man was smiling at the camera with his hands on Bulma’s shoulders.
"Oh, Yamcha." She whispered, more tears silently flowing, "Why did you have to leave me?"
She hugged the picture to her chest, and sobbed like she did the day she found out about her beloved’s wreck. You promised me you’d never leave me alone Yamcha, you swore to me. Now I’m alone…no. She corrected herself, no, I have Chichi, but I love her like a friend, a sister. She isn’t my other half like you were Yamcha. She ignored the little voice in her head that was mocking her tears, telling her she was wrong. She dried her eyes and immediately regained her composure, Vegetaseii is where I can make a whole new start. I can meet another man; it’s not as though I’m ugly or anything. Hmm… I wonder what the males on Vegetaseii look like… She thought, smiling to herself a little and drying her tears on the back of her hand. She picked up the picture in her other free hand and closed her bedroom door behind her and opened the front door. She smiled as the taxi-driver looked up at her from his paper, but she felt a pang of something (regret, remorse, anticipation, or all three) as she locked the door for the last time. She dropped the key in her purse along with her capsules and got into the taxi. "The Field in SW City." She told the driver.
The driver growled something that suspiciously sounded like ‘finally’ and stepped on the accelerator and zoomed off of the CC property, which is now actually the property of AZZBCGHZKX Technologies according to a deal Bulma made with the company head four hours ago. {AN if such a company really exists, I apologize for using the title with out permission}. She didn’t look back.
Chichi sang tunelessly to herself, but stopped when she looked down from her spot on the hill and saw Bulma getting out of a taxi. "Hey Bulma! Up here!" Chichi waved as she saw Bulma looking around. She looked up as her friend finally trudged over to where she was sitting, "Hey stranger."
"Hey yourself." Bulma replied automatically, "Where are your capsules Chichi?"
Chichi stood up, "They’re in my pocket. I didn’t bring many; I don’t have a lot of stuff as you know."
Bulma nodded sympathetically, "I know."
Smiling Chichi looked into the somewhat dull eyes of her friend, "So…did you bring any money?"
"Of course." Bulma laughed. Her friend was making fun of herself (via her love of money) to cheer her up. She stopped suddenly and gasped, pointing up to the sky, "Look Chichi! It’s the ship." Both women stood there in awe as the ship began to descend toward them rapidly. Bulma began to wish she had chosen to arrange her hair in a bun like Chichi always did as the wind whipped her blue locks about her face.
Chichi unconsciously drew in her breath as the ramp came down and two figures advanced toward them. As their features became distinguishable from the cloud of dust that was the result of their fast landing, Bulma decided that the two could almost be twins, if the face of one wasn’t so obviously lined with age, worry, and scared by marks of battle. Both had tails and black hair that defied gravity. The one Bulma assumed to be the older of the two fiddled with a thick metal band, like a cuff, around his wrist before speaking to the two women in their language, "Which one of you is the teacher?"
Bulma boldly stepped forward, ignoring the curious looks of the second man, "I am."
The older man nodded in satisfaction, "Good…who is that?"
Chichi’s eyes finally left the body of the younger alien; "I am her assistant."
The strange man from Vegetaseii shrugged in disinterest, "Come on you two." With that he turned and walked back up the ramp, not waiting for them.
Chichi scurried quickly after him, purposely brushing against the silent one, "Gomen."
The man smiled briefly and followed behind her, watching the swaying of her hips appreciatively.
Bulma frowned after all three of them, but finally followed, curious to know what exactly she had gotten herself into.
"That’s my son, Kakkarot with your assistant over there, and I am Bardock."
Bulma smiled in relief as the silence between her and the older man was finally been broken, "My name is Bulma." She fidgeted on her stool as she watched Bardock absently stroke the cuff on his wrist, "What is that on your wrist?"
Bardock made a noise similar to a muffled chuckle, "I designed them; they’re universal translators. You and your assistant will be assigned one once we reach Vegetaseii." Bardock frowned slightly as he heard giggling, "Then again, your friend may already know the SL in its entirety by then if she and Kakkarot don’t shut the hell up."
Rolling her eyes, Bulma slowly spun on the stool, but stopped as she was facing the two. Chichi and Kakkarot were sitting closely together and teaching each other words in their respective languages. Bulma couldn’t hear anything because they were whispering to each other, but from the look on Chichi’s face, it was either about money, or she was really enamored with the young man from Vegetaseii. They’re getting along REALLY well. She thought to herself.
The female voice of the computer announced that they would be landing in less than ten minutes. Bulma ran to the window and looked out in hopes of seeing some fantastic scenery but lights shining all over the place blinded her and she could see nothing.
"Bardock, what is your race called?" She asked, as she realized she didn’t even know yet.
The older man frowned a little as he looked up from his written orders; "Don’t you know already?" He snapped. At the look on her face, he continued less harshly, "Vegetaseii is the home of about 1,000 true Saiyans. About 198 are the super-elite, 350 second-class, and 450 third-class, the rest of the population consists of slaves or warriors who were spared during purges."
Bulma quickly mentally added the figures, "What about the last two?"
"The last two are King Vegeta and his father, the former king of Vegetaseii." Bardock stated.
The ship landed so gently, Bulma wasn’t even aware of it until the voice of the ship announced it. She grabbed her purse and quickly followed Bardock, Chichi and Kakkarot behind her.
She and Chichi simultaneously gasped as they took in the huge crowd near the ship. "They’re all here to see us?" Chichi gasped. Bardock smirked as he answered, getting them to get off of the ramp and walk to the edge of a long red carpet, "No you foolish girl. They’re here to see the King. He’s right over there." He said, pointing to a figure walking toward the couple, with someone trailing behind him.
Bardock motioned to his son to come over to him and started speaking to him quietly yet sharply in the SL. Kakkarot blushed and nodded, turning his back to Chichi. "Come on." Bardock ordered the females.
The crowd was silent as the two Saiyans and the two humans walked the length of the red carpet to the King. Bulma frowned at a few who openly gawked at her since she had no tail. Chichi paid no attention, concentrating on the posterior side of Kakkarot. As they came closer, Bulma’s eyes were first drawn to the King. An imposing an impressionable man to say the least, he had dark black probing eyes, thick ebony hair, furrowed brows, and a long, somewhat aristocratic nose (which Bulma was sure he used for looking down at people). What drew her attention to him besides his electrically charged eyes, was his mouth, which was drawn in a straight line at the moment, but for some reason, she could see those lips on hers, nuzzling her neck, sucking her… Bulma shook her head a little to clear these thoughts from her mind, Bulma, hormone check. For Kami’s sake, he has his wife with him and you are practically drooling at the sight of him. Pathetic. The woman with Vegeta was a little shorter than the King, she was very curvaceous, she had black eyes with an alarming twinkle of red in their centers, and black hair with a few rays of red intermixed. She looked angelic, even in the dark red, short, and tight dress she was wearing that revealed the tops of her breasts. Bulma felt a little dowdy in her short khaki skirt, blue tank top with an open white shirt over it, and black sandals, but she tried not to show it. I wonder if Chichi feels self-conscious in that purple dress she always wears? She looked at her friend, only to notice that Chichi was staring whimsically at Kakkarot. Bulma rolled her eyes, Hell’s bells, Chichi could be walking around in a hamburger bun and I doubt she’d notice right now. She blushed a little as she saw the look in the eyes of Kakkarot; I have a feeling that Chichi won’t go to bed alone tonight.
Bardock cleared his throat and turned the translator off, making his announcement loudly in the SL (Saiyan Language). "King Vegeta and Lady Anyla, I present to you the head educator of earth; Bulma Briefs, and her assistant, Chichi."
Vegeta frowned, "She’s the best that filthy little piece of shit planet has to offer? How pathetic."
"I’m sure she’ll prove to be satisfactory, sire." Bardock said, defending the woman, much to the surprise of the King, Kakkarot, and himself.
Vegeta raised his eyebrows, "What makes you think that, Lieutenant?"
Bardock flinched as he heard the King use his title (it could never be high enough to his standards); "I’ve talked with her sire. I believe she is very intelligent, maybe even a genius." Even though she can drive any Saiyan in his right mind bat-shit in less than 30 minutes with that inquisitive nature of hers…
"That will be determined." Vegeta replied absently. He shook Anyla off of his arm impatiently, ignoring the whimper she made as she was forced to stand-alone. He pointed to the blue-haired woman and beckoned for her to come forward.
Bulma could tell by listening to their tones as they spoke their foreign language that the King was displeased at something. The woman beside him was watching her with cold eyes, her gaze returning to the King every once in a while. Something about Anyla’s eyes was hypnotizing and forced her to look only there, until Chichi elbowed her roughly in the ribs and shoved her toward the King. He looks like a cocky little bastard. And he’s almost as handsome as my Yamcha. This thought diminished any amorous feelings she may have been experiencing earlier, and she inclined her head proudly as she followed the King’s order, moving closer to him.
"You are the best educator of science the earth has to offer?" He paused and Bulma could hear the mockery in his voice, "Somehow I find it hard to believe that someone like YOU could be posses any kind of knowledge."
Seething, Bulma slowly and quietly exhaled her pent up breath, "Yes, I am the one. As a matter of fact, I am the smartest female in the universe. To help me decide whether or not I want to stay here, I want you to tell me how many children there are, and I have a few other demands you’ll have to meet." Bardock and Chichi stared at her as if she had just sprouted three additional heads, but said nothing, since the King did not ask them to speak.
Vegeta made a dismissive gesture with his hand at her words, "Yes, yes. I’m STILL not able to believe that you are the world’s smartest. You can’t be smarter than I am." He grinned at these words, "Or are you?"
Yeah, well I find it hard to believe that a bastard like you is King. And I’m sure it isn’t too hard being smarter than a fucking jackass like you. Bulma thought angrily. She made no reply, only glared down at her sneakers in an attempt to control her explosive temper, If I wasn’t so determined to start a new life here, and if He wasn’t my superior, I’d give him a piece of my mind.
Vegeta smirked and shrugged as if saying, ‘Hey, I knew I was right.’ He slowly closed the distance between them and smirked into her stunned face. "First lesson woman: how to greet royalty." He took one of the limp hands from her side and turned it palm-side up and kissed it. Bulma jerked a little when she felt his teeth lightly scrape against her skin. Her eyes widened as he looked up and dropped the hand. The King of Vegetaseii pushed the silent woman, Anyla, toward her, "This is the future Queen." He said gruffly.
Anyla’s eyes shone brightly and her smile was sugary sweet and deceptively angelic, "Welcome Bulma." She said sweetly, dropping a curtsey.
Unsure of what to do, Bulma laughed a little nervously, "Thank you…um—"
"Anyla."
"Thank you Queen Anyla."
"Not yet she isn’t." Bardock muttered to Kakkarot.
Anyla giggled prettily, "Not yet you silly! We’re going to be friends so you can call me Anyla."
Bulma smiled at the Saiyan beauty, "Thank you."
Vegeta impatiently held his arm out to Anyla and turned to Bardock, "You. Arrange whatever the female needs and let her know what she needs to so that she can get started tomorrow. Kakkarot," He paused as his sparring partner sprang to attention, "Prepare to get your ass kicked in my personal gravity room at 1900 hours."
"Yes sire." Kakkarot responded eagerly.
Bulma watched the couple leave in confusion. She waited for Bardock to finish talking to Kakkarot, who walked off into the crowd, "Bardock, what was that all about? And when do I get a translator?"
Chichi pouted up at the Saiyan, "Yeah, when do we get our translators?"
Bardock rolled his eyes, "First question: that was the King accepting your presence here: this guarantees that you will be accepted as worthy to teach the children of the nobles, do you understand?" Bulma nodded in comprehension. "Second question: tomorrow, now be quiet and follow me." The crowd parted as Bardock made a beeline through them and to a long hallway with high metal walls. Bardock stopped outside of a door numbered 121-122; "Here are your rooms. You can program your password yourselves. There is a Visual and Audio Screen in there that you can receive calls and use to order food or assistance or something." He paused as he noticed Bulma intently studying the symbols on the entrance device, and then continued, "You two will sit in on the former teacher’s last day of class tomorrow at 0900 hours sharp. The classroom is at the end of this hallway and to the right. You’ll get your translators in the morning, after I adjust them." With that, he left.
"What no good bye?" Bulma said.
"Oh, forget him Bulma. I have an idea for our password: earth backwards, that way it’ll be really hard for anyone to guess it."
"I don’t care Chichi, I just want to get inside of my room, get out of these clothes, and get into a sudsy bathtub." Bulma growled, entering HTRAE into the system.
"Your password has been stored. You may now enter." The computer said, opening the door.
Now why would the Saiyans want to computerize when a person exits and leaves a room unless they have some kind of surveillance…Bulma thought in suspicion, looking around.
"Hey Chi, I thought you and Muscles were going to be…well you know, together."
Chichi laughed, "Bulma, you are so naïve! Just because the man is cute and is obviously attracted to me doesn’t mean I LIKE him enough to sleep with him. He’s just eye-candy while I’m here; he keeps my mind off of jerks like that Bardock guy. What a dick."
Bulma frowned as she finally stepped through the door, "I like him Chichi, he’s a nice guy. Just a little rough around the edges."
"I think he’s one GIANT rough edge." Chichi shot back. With her keen vision, she looked to the two doors, one on the left and one on the right, and walked to the one on the right, "Here’s my room." She proclaimed.
Bulma frowned and groped along the wall until she found a switch turning on the lights. They stood in a medium sized "living room" with a VAS (what Bardock had told them about), a desk with a lamp, a couch, a chair, and a small bookcase with a few dusty volumes on it. On the floor was a picture of a man with a tail and black hair, a Saiyan, Bulma realized, holding planets in his hands. Written under the figure were strange figures, I have the feeling I know pretty much what that says, but I’ll ask Bardock about it tomorrow anyway. She heard a door close, and realized that Chichi had finally gone into one of the rooms that split off of the kitchen, in the back of the "living room" (which will henceforth be called the common room or just the commons). The kitchen was medium in size, with cold, metal walls, cold metal refrigerator, a small stove (Praise Kami I have Chichi around to cook, I --detest cooking). She walked through the kitchen and to the closed door on the right. She opened it slowly, finding the light switch again, and turning it on. The room was not much bigger than either the commons or the kitchen, but it seemed to Bulma like Heaven. She threw herself unceremoniously on the bed, bouncing on the mattress a few times before settling down with a contented sigh. Ah, this is the life. I’ll just close my eyes for a second, then I’ll go shower, she thought, doing so. Unfortunately for Bulma, her brain had different plans and once it shut down for that one second, it was ready to shut down for the rest of the night.
