Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Apprentice ❯ Day One ( Chapter 10 )

First off: I want to apologize for taking so damn long to write this chapter. I feel like a bum, believe me. One of the reasons it took me so long was because I was reading. A lot. I tend to do that more than I should. But, what'cha gonna do? Anyway, here is the next chapter of my main fic.

Special thanks to all who review, and extra special thanks to my 'partner in crime' Sparkling Diamond PG a.k.a. PowerGoddess. Read her fics Someone to Watch Over Me and Dancing on the Razor's Edge. *grins* On with the story.

Apprentice by Alexa

Chapter Ten - Day One

Everyone exited the small courtroom for the first intermission during the first day of the trial. Bulma nervously paced a short stretch of the hallway back and forth. A million and one thoughts were running through her head. Oh, this does not look good. That Sephiroth guy seems to be playing with Link. He keeps throwing circumstantial theories to the judge, but then tries to have any proof to the contrary dismissed. Argh! This is so frustrating. Why do I have the feeling that things are only going to get worse from here?

Link was busy talking with Judge Zidane about he legitimacy of the evidence Sephiroth had tried to reject. "Please, Your Honor. I have tried to get any of them to answer what Ashentara had been doing during the unaccounted time, but none will tell me anything. Only that she was traveling and proving to be an acceptable student." I do not want to put Ash on the stand and make her swear to tell. Their trust in me is important; it is necessary. Link tried not to let his inner turmoil show in his bright blue eyes.

Zidane carefully looked at the young man. He could see an inkling of worry barely visible on Link's face. "Mr. Link, unless it can be proven that Miss Emerald was not in any danger and acting under her own free will for her own intents and purposes, I cannot allow incomplete accounts to be permissible. However, if you can persuade her to give a testimony to 'fill in the blanks', then I shall reconsider my decision. Until then, there is nothing I can do."

Link sighed in defeat. Well, either she'll tell, or we'll reconfigure our strategy. What could have occurred during that time that no one will explain anything to me? He quietly gathered his papers and returned to the courtroom.

Ash was very, very nervous. She sat on a bench in the hall restlessly chewing on her bottom lip. Where is this feeling of dread coming from? And why the fuck won't it go away?! Ugh. Her thoughts consumed her so, she didn't really notice Bulma pacing away. Something is going to happen; it won't be good. I can feel it. She slowly looked around at the various people in court that day. Details stood out more prominently than ever before. Certain events seemed to happen in slow-motion. Her mind was chronicling the day, burning it into her permanent memory. Something is not right with the world on this day.

"Well, …" Bulma began as she stared at her watch, "break's over. Time to battle the wolves." She quickly composed herself before stepping back into the room. As she walked towards their table, everyone else quietly followed. Please, Kami, don't let this be as bad as I think its going to be.

Ash looked up just as her three brothers were smiling at her. They almost look happy to see me. Now I know something is definitely fucked. Michael's eyes shifted from Ash to the person behind her, Vegeta. I saw that. Why are you looking at Vegeta? A memory flashed before her eyes. More sound that sight. The taunting voices of her brothers insinuating what kind of relationship Ash had with Vegeta. Oh, no! She paused momentarily as the realization struck her full force. There is no doubt those bastards would try everything they can to disgrace us. Even if they lose the lawsuit, they would still have succeeded in destroying the reputations of Capsule Corp., and the Briefs family. That uneasy feeling tripled as the judge seated himself and called for the trial to continue.

It was Sephiroth's turn to present evidence or call someone to the stand. With a very sadistic smile, he calmly said, "I call Ashentara Emerald to the stand."

Oh shit!! Ash hesitantly stood up and walked to the witness stand. As the guard swore her in, she noticed an all too familiar look of triumph grace the faces of Michael, Jeremy, and Robert. I will not allow you to win this battle. Think, Ash. Just think before you speak. Try not to let this man manipulate your words.

"Miss Emerald, how long have you resided at the Briefs' residence?" Sephiroth's voice was way to calm for Ash's comfort.

"About a year."

"Only a year? That's interesting considering that Mr. Emerald claims that it has been four years since you resided in his home. Tell me, what where you doing during that time?"

"I was completing a task to demonstrate my ability to learn what Master Vegeta was willing to teach me."

"Master Vegeta? I did not know Mr. Briefs was recognized as a 'Master'. What kind of task?"

"I was asked to gather a set of rare …" I can't just say dragonballs. They're not toys, food, or even a collectibles as far as that goes.

"A set of rare what?"

"Honestly, I'm not entirely sure what one would call them. They are orange balls with a different number of stars on each one. Very pretty actually."

Sephiroth ceased his casual stride and turned an incredulous face towards Ash. "In order to prove your worth as a martial arts student, you had to gather orange balls?" Obvious amusement laced every word. "Forgive me for my candid response, but I find that to be a little odd. And, moreover, wholly unbelievable."

"Yes, it was odd, but it was still the task Mr. Briefs set before me."

He stifled a chuckle and regained his former casual composure. "How much time, on a 24-hour scale, do you spend with Mr. Briefs?"

Ash had to think about that one for a moment. "Around twelve hours each day, give or take an hour or two."

"Twelve hours exercising? Impressive. Now tell me, how much of that time are you completely alone with Mr. Briefs?"

And so it begins. "Well that depends on the day. While we train outside during the day, Trunks is at school, and Bulma is either in her lab or at her office."

"Where do you train in the evenings?"

"Usually in the gravity chamber …"

"Gravity chamber? Is that the enhanced training facility?"

"Yes …"

"And is it completely enclosed?"

If I simply say 'yes' then this asshole will just interrupt me again. What is the best way to answer this question? "The gravity room was designed to increase the intensity of gravity in a specific area. The purpose is to create a more taxing environment yielding a more productive workout. Therefore, yes, the gravity chamber is a completely enclosed space." Swear if you even try to twist my words on that one I'll drop kick your ass into the lowest level of hell.

"You spend approximately twelve hours a day with Mr. Briefs, the last of those hours, I assume, are in this gravity chamber. Tell me truthfully, do you ever feel any uncomfortable tension when you're alone with Mr. Briefs?"

Ok, that's a bit blunt. Giving up on tact, are we? Do I ever feel uncomfortable tension? When he's trying to knock me on my ass I'd think the 'uncomfortable tension' would be a given. "I am always tense when training."

"You're dodging the question, Miss Emerald."

"What do you mean exactly by 'uncomfortable tension'?"

His tone of voice changed as he asked, "Do you ever feel any romantic emotions towards Master Vegeta?" Sephiroth intentionally used her title for him in hopes of throwing her off.

What I feel isn't exactly classified as romance; therefore, I'm not lying. "No, I do not." Ash evenly spoke the words while staring Sephiroth in the eyes. Her countenance was utter blank.

"You are under oath, Miss Emerald."

"I am telling the truth." Her voice never wavered. You can neither prove nor disprove what is in my mind. Try to bait me now! I dare you. Ash silently challenged the silver-haired lawyer standing before her.

Sephiroth turned to face his clients. Receiving a slight nod from Michael, he set the next move into play. "No further questions, Your Honor."

Judge Zidane nodded to Mr. Sephiroth in acknowledgement of his statement. "Mr. Link, do you have any questions for Miss Emerald?"

Link only nodded as he wrote a little note on that yellow legal pad. "Yes, I do, Your Honor." Sephiroth sat back in his chair as Link took the floor. He hesitantly paced in front of the witness stand mentally battling with his words. "Miss Emerald, aside from your physical training, has Mr. Briefs … instilled any form of … mental training?"

"You mean like meditations?"

"Meditation as well as any sense of honor or loyalty?" A slight hint of unease could be heard in his voice.

Honor? Isn't honor one of the reasons I chose Vegeta in the first place? Seeing, noticing his display of it at the Budokai? "Honor… seems to permeate everything around Master Vegeta. That was one of my first observations when I saw him fight in the last tournament. To be in his presence for as long as I have, how could I not learn the true meaning of honor?"

The trial seemed to sway away from the point of unauthorized experimentation and more towards the idea of an affair between Vegeta and Ashentara. The change in mood was not lost on anyone. Sephiroth questioned each of Ash's brothers, and each brother all but directly stated flirtations between the two. The judge constantly reminded everyone of the intentions of the trial.

Ash remained sitting next to Bulma and was very aware of her shift in behavior. Bulma's thoughts became consumed by the implications presented before her. Hard as she tried not to think about it, she could not ignore all the time Vegeta had spent with Ash. No one can see into the gravity room. Anything could happen in there and no one would ever know about it. I spend all day in my office. Trunks is always at school. Few people ever visit the house. The employees know better than to enter the gravity room while its activated. By Kami, they could have an affair. Bulma was shaken from her thoughts when Sephiroth called her name to approach the witness stand. She shakily stood from her chair. Deliberately walking around the lawyer, Bulma seated herself before the court.

Mr. Sephiroth casually paced in front of the judge's bench while he gathered the appropriate questions. "Mrs. Briefs, will you please explain what you do at Capsule Corp.?"

"I am currently President. I approve all the final specs for new products, assist in design, research, development, and marketing. I often have my own projects that I work on …"

"Your own projects?" He asked with innocent curiosity.

"Yes. Even though I am Capsule Corp. President, I could never give up designing."

"Tell me, Mrs. Briefs, do you ever ask family members to assist in the testing of certain projects?"

"A few projects every once in a while, yes. But, only …"

"So you openly admit that your family, those who live in your house, take part in your experiments?"

Bulma opened her mouth to retaliate against her words being twisted, but promptly closed it. I have to think about this before I answer. If I say the wrong thing, then he would have something to use against me.

"Mrs. Briefs, we're waiting."

Ignoring his impatient words, she carefully phrased her answer. "It is Capsule Corp. policy that employees, and family of employees, may take part in product testing. This is stated in all work contracts that every employee signs."

"I am not asking about product testing, Mrs. Briefs. I am asking whether or not you have ever willingly subjected a family member to experimentation."

An eerie hush fell over the court room. Everyone awaited the next words to come from Bulma's mouth. Trunks mentally groaned knowing the true answer to that question. Yes. Dad and I have helped mom with so many different projects. If she admits to it, then this guy will assume Ash is included. Is she lies, and anyone finds out, then she could be arrested for perjury. Oh shit! We are so fucked.

The same thoughts were running through Bulma's mind. She knew that she had willingly subjected Vegeta to countless experiments. The fact that some were intended to improve military training programs, as well as his own, was completely irrelevant. If she confessed and the specific projects were investigated, the next obstacle would be explaining how a human could endure as much as Vegeta has. Simple; he's not human. Of course, that answer would open a completely new barrel of monkeys. One I would much rather not deal with now. And sitting here berating myself and not answering is making me look bad. Kuso! She cleared her throat, and simply answered, "Vegeta and Trunks have willingly and knowingly assisted in 'blue folder' experiments."

"Would you please define what qualifies as a 'blue folder' experiment."

"Aside from our product line available to any consumer, Capsule Corp. also handles projects and experiments for various military and government organizations." Bulma could feel her mind and hear her voice fall into that neutral, indifferent tone often used during board meetings. "Any file that falls into that category is classified into a blue folder. All personnel involved must sign confidentiality contracts as well as pass various, sometimes random, screening checks. Capsule Corp. does everything within its power to keep such information from falling into the wrong hands."

Trunks silently breathed a sigh of relief. Good going, mom! I'm glad you can think faster on your toes. I would have been so screwed in that position. Eat that, Sephiroth. What the hell are you going to do now? Trunks' train of pleasant thoughts was quickly derailed when Sephiroth posed his next query.

"Now tell me, Mrs. Briefs, why would you involve your husband and son in 'experiments for various military and government organizations'?" Sephiroth had a truly wicked and sly smile gracing his lips.

"Unlike Ashentara, Vegeta and Trunks are more disciplined in martial arts. They have had a great deal more experience and have studied for a much longer time than Ash. Their bodies can better tolerate the imposed pressure, as well as the energy put forth, involved in the blue folder experiments. I would like to request that no questions regarding anything relevant to the nature or specifics of said experiments be posed. I would rather not break the confidentiality of Capsule Corp. clients and associates."

Sephiroth was somewhat stunned by her answer. She was openly admitting to subjecting Vegeta and Trunks to experiments, albeit willingly; however, he still could not sway the court to believe that Ash was also being experimented upon. Damn! I had not foreseen this obstacle. But, for every wall there is a weak brick that can bring down the entire thing. All I have to do is find it.

The first day of the trial ended earlier than many had anticipated. Reporters lined the front steps practically crawling over each other trying to get a statement from anyone willing to talk. Lt. Blaze was in charge of security that afternoon, and she had her hands quite full trying to keep the media hounds at bay.

"Back up, people! Move it! Come on, get out of the way!" Lt. Blaze may be small, but she was a force to be reckoned with.

Vegeta didn't mind letting the human woman handle crowd control. If he so much as opened his mouth, there would be nothing left for a seven block radius. At least, so great was his rage. This was not one of the moments in which to fuck with the almighty Prince Vegeta and live.

Lt. Blaze continued her vigilant control of the throng of people awaiting outside the official building. "Dammit, Rookie! Get those people back. NOW!!"

The 'rookie' jumped when he heard his superior's voice give him an order. "Yes, ma'am. Back up, everyone. Give these people some room. Back up now."

Blaze shook her head in disappointment. He won't last very long out here.

The drive home had been another long, eerily quiet one. Ash and Trunks began heading upstairs to each of their rooms expecting Vegeta to give them a time limit in which to change and get their assed into the gravity chamber. Instead, and much to everyone's surprise, he completely ignored them both and headed out there alone.

Ash looked to Trunks who just shrugged. Both plopped onto a couch in the living room and turned on the TV. They had just caught the six o'clock news.

"Hey, Mom! There's something about the trial on the news!" Trunks shouted to his mother, who was in the kitchen on the phone with the other Mrs. Briefs.

"Hang on a minute, mom. Trunks says there's something on the news." Bulma set down the phone on the kitchen counter and walked into the living room. "What is it, Trunks?"

"Something about the trial today." He turned the volume up so everyone could better hear.

"… have been no official statements made at this time. Mrs. Briefs' lawyer declined to comment about today's proceedings; however, the Emerald's lawyer did have this to say." The woman sitting behind the news anchor desk slightly turned as the image of Sephiroth above her shoulder enlarged to fill the entire screen.

Sephiroth stood on the steps of the courthouse with several microphones in front of him. "I honestly believe that Capsule Corp. is trying to hide something. And I will do everything in my power to let the people of this good city know."

"We will report any news about the trial as it becomes available to us. Reporting to you from news center eight, this is Alexa…"

Bulma snatched the remote from her son's hand and turned the TV off. "The nerve of some people…" She audibly huffed while still staring at the black screen.

Trunks heard a muffled voice and remembered. "Mom, who were you on the phone with?"

"Mom, and she still on the phone. Dammit!" Bulma mumbled obscenities as she returned to the kitchen and the conversation with her mother.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Well, there's chapter ten. Again, I apologize for the late update, but I hadn't been very inspired to write. When I'm not inspired I hate forcing myself to write because then I feel like its not worth reading. Expect another gap until chapter eleven. The family is moving to another state so available time to write will be scarce. Sorry, but its beyond my control.