Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Unexplainables Explained ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2

Bulma opened her eyes and shut them again very quickly. The yellow-green alien she had viewed for a split second chuckled, "I know you're awake. Come on, you need to be tested."

Bulma opened one eyes, scowling at the alien that leaned over her. She was lying on some kind of cot in a cell full of women. She was the only human in it. "Tested?"

The alien nodded, reaching a hand down to her, "It won't hurt or anything. It's just a scan to see if you have diseases. Wouldn't want our buyers to catch anything."

Bulma reluctantly took the hand and the alien heaved her onto her feet in one smooth motion. He squeezed her hand hard before letting it go, probably a warning to not try anything. She wasn't doing anything until she knew what her situation was. "Buyer? You're going to-sell me?"

The alien nodded, "I know it's quite a shock, but if you comply and be good, life will be easy for you. Think of it as more of a change in lifestyles." The alien crooked a finger and started to walk out the door. The other females' eyes latched onto her and she shuddered.

Bulma followed the alien, looking at the almost comfy style of the ship they were in. Well, she hadn't expected a cell to look-comfortable. "What if I don't-comply?"

The alien shrugged, not even looking back as he led her somewhere. "Depends on your master I suppose. We can't control who buys you. You might get off easily and get a job as someone's maid. The boss should raise the price on you. You are quite the looker. That'll keep those men with only one thing on their mind away from you. They usually don't carry much money."

Bulma shuddered. This didn't sound good at all. She was going to be sold as a slave. She thought of breaking into a run away from this alien, but she did not know the layout of the ship she seemed to be on. To run now would only ensure that she was watched more closely. She'd rather stay on these aliens' trusting side. She would wait.

"I had some friends…I was with them when we were attacked. Can you tell me where they are?"

The alien chuckled, "That was strange. Here we are fighting these guys and let me tell you, they never gave up until the last blow." He heard the shocked gasp behind him and turned to see the female had stopped and was keeping herself upright with one hand on the wall. "No, no! We didn't kill them. We got a last-minute message from the boss saying to take them alive, even the female fighter. We usually kill fighters. You're friends were lucky."

Bulma let out a sigh of relief. Well, at least they were alive. "What happened to them?"

"Ah, we keep the races separated. They were each put into different cells. Merick wants gladiators for their annual competitions. The alignment of Merick's moons just happened to coincide with the Ygthys this year."

Bulma mouthed the foreign words and the alien chuckled as he turned back around and motioned for her to continue, "You'll learn all about that. You seem intelligent enough. Perhaps we could raise the price even higher, although some buyers don't like intelligence in a woman."

Bulma rolled her eyes as they halted in front of a door, watching out of the corner of her eye as the man punched in a code. 667849; yep, she could remember that. She'd have to see how often they changed it. "Most men don't like intelligence in women. I've seen my fair share of them."

The alien chuckled as the door slid up, walking into the room and waving a hand for Bulma to follow, "I'm sure you'll see many more too."

Bulma nodded her agreement, scanning the room for anything of interest. No vents, very little sharp pointy objects, and one door. Nope, this room was nothing.

Her mouth dropped open as she watched one girl, in the front of a long line her and the alien that had escorted were in the back of, refuse to do as one of the male aliens was asking. Without a pause, the alien reached over and ripped her clothes off, leaving her quite naked. The woman tried to cover herself, looking very scared and embarrassed as the alien, ignoring her, scanned her with some kind of hand-held device.

The alien beside her leaned over, "See? Just do what they say. They won't touch you."

The alien looked down at the scanner and gave a short nod, waving the girl away. The woman allowed herself to be led by the arm to a curtained area that both vanished behind.

"What happens if they don't pass the test?" Bulma couldn't pry her eyes away as another woman was led forward, this woman taking off her clothes without protest and being quickly scanned. The alien checked the scanner, looked at the woman, and shook his head. Her escort led the woman, still naked, to the door. She didn't seem to know what was going on as she passed Bulma, but it was clear she had not passed.

"They get sent down to the breeding pits. That's where the weak and old males are. We breed them to try and get suitable offspring for selling. We have to make a profit off them somehow."

Bulma gulped as the girl who she first saw tested stepped out from behind the curtain with her escort looking quite uncomfortable with her revealing and scandalous clothes. Okay, so Bulma had walked around a spaceship with two guys in her panties when they had traveled to Namek, but she knew them, and that wasn't half as bad as what this girl was not wearing. Was that a thong?

She groaned and the alien again chuckled. She really wanted to smack the guy. "Yeah, there is that. But we have to sell you. It's best to show off the best of a product."

"I'm not a product."

The growl made the alien raise an eyebrow. "I wondered if you had any spine. Watch how you use it. It may come in handy, but it could also hurt you."

Bulma nodded silently, biting her lower lip as she waited. She still hated these people for what they were doing, but they acted so nice it was hard to be I'm-going-to-kill-you hateful.

They didn't have to wait long before it was their turn, and Bulma stood nervously as she was instructed to undress. She did so slowly, trying not to feel all the eyes on her as she did so. They allowed her to take her time, as long as she did do it.

She watched nervously, not covering herself. Why should she be ashamed of her body? If they wanted to look, let them. The alien scanned her and she sighed with true relief as he nodded. She was led back behind the curtain and watched as the alien appraised her with not a hint of lust in his eyes and picked out a soft pink sleeveless dress that would nicely show off what every man appreciated on Bulma Briefs.

She had to preen a little in front of the mirror. The dress was a little too daring for her tastes and might attract the wrong crowd, but there was no denying she looked great in it.

The alien again chuckled as she twirled around, watching the dress flare out around her ankles as the slit opened to reveal creamy white legs that curved sinuously. The top of the dress angled down to a point to reveal cleavage, pushing her chest up and out so that it looked as if it would burst if she moved wrong. The dress dipped in to hug her hips and accented her flat, toned stomach, a tiny diamond-shaped hole showing off her belly button. Actually, considering how limiting in movement the thing was, it was quite comfortable.

She turned again to the alien; surprised to see he wasn't checking her out. "Um, this might sound like a strange question, but-"

"The escorts for the women are all asexual."

"Oh, well that answers that question." She was glad he had answered it. She'd have stumbled over the question otherwise.

The alien tilted his head to one side, indicating that they should leave. Bulma nodded, following him out and watching the women still waiting as they either glared in shock or envy. Over the dress or over her figure, she didn't know which.

Her escort and she exited the room and continued down the hallway the way they had been going. She stayed silent, taking in the positions of cameras, doors, vents, anything and everything that could hinder or help her escape. Basically, all she needed to know was where her friends were. She wasn't leaving without them.

They again stopped before a set of double doors, the decal and etchings on their golden surface pointing to the importance of the room beyond. Her escort politely knocked on its surface and was answered by a muffled voice that sounded raspy.

Her escort opened the door and signaled for her to wait outside, though he still held the door open so that she could clearly hear what was said.

"What have you brought me?"

Her escort answered the raspy voice, "You told me to pick out the most stunning of the lot, Boss. I've not only picked the most stunning physically, but the most stunning intellectually."

"Do tell."

Her escort grinned and waved her forward. "Let me show instead."

Bulma stepped into the room, immediately aware of the many eyes that latched onto her. However, the strange being seated in the middle of the room was what held her attention. She was sure her mouth must have been hanging open.

After getting over her initial shock at the double-sex creature, Bulma realized the-yeah, had asked her a question. "I'm sorry. Can you repeat that?"

Joso smiled at her, "So polite. That'll up her price right there. Polite merchandise is hard to come across."

Bulma's face went a livid red and she thrust her chest, heedless of her lack of cover there, "I am not merchandise! My name is Bulma Briefs and I happen to be the heiress to Capsule Corporation and a super genius to boot. I will not be referred to as merchandise or products again!"

Joso looked wide-eyed at her escort, "This is the one from Earth? The one that was with the last of the resistance? She's spicy! We could sell that!"

He turned his attention back to Bulma. "You'll forgive me for demeaning you, I hope. I will make sure to refer to you as Bulma Briefs as long as you make sure to call me Joso. Now, perhaps you tell me more about this 'super genius' ability." Joso leaned back into the chair, folding hands across lap.

Bulma suddenly took notice of the many aliens around her, some obviously not as unaffected by her charms as her escort. She scooted closer to said escort and was glad he didn't comment on it. "Well, mechanical genius really. I can fix or build almost anything." She thought she was being pretty modest by adding that almost.

Joso chuckled, "Yes, we could sell Bulma here to a wayfarer; a traveler who would need someone to warm their meals as well as their bed; someone who could use a mechanic type. Set her starting price at six-no seven hundred zenni. Try to go up by hundreds."

Bulma's face again darkened at the sexual reference. She pursed her lips and was quite frustrated to hear someone moan. She did not look to see the culprit; she just wished they'd leave this room, the main deck, before any more eyes raped her.

Her escort seemed to notice her discomfiture, that and they were done speaking to Joso, and took his leave, guiding her back out of the room and down an unfamiliar corridor.

She could immediately tell that this was a more private section, but before she could ask about it, her escort once again jumped straight to the answers. "You've made a good impression on the Boss. He only lets his favorites call him by his name. You're being sent to the high-priced section. You'll be one of the first sold, which means less anxiety for not having to wait."

Bulma couldn't help but ask. "Him?"

The alien chuckled, "Yes…. To avoid confusion most of us call the boss him. It provides for more respect in the outer world. Sorry to say, but the whole galaxy's a patriarchal society."

Bulma shrugged, "True. That's why I'm such a bane to men."

The alien chuckled, stopping before a room and pressing the button outside of it. "You'll make something of yourself, Bulma Briefs. Just remember to control that temper. There are many who will not tolerate it. I wouldn't worry. Joso makes sure his favorites take it easy."

He turned to the room and indicated it with a sweeping gesture. Bulma took in the white silk motive, the canopy bed, and the exquisite vanity and was a little guilty to think that she liked it, her prison. "This is your room for the duration of your stay here, which will only be two days. Unfortunately we had to keep you sedated for the month-long trip here. Oh, and your friends, they've already been dropped off at Merick by one of the transports. Merick didn't want to wait for their gladiators so they came to pick them up."

Bulma's face fell as she stood there, feeling every bit of her hope crushed that suddenly. "What will happen to them?"

Her escort rubbed his chin in thought, "Well, if they fight well they could fight themselves out of the gladiator life and into one of comfort and leisure training other gladiators. I've seen them in action first-hand. They'll do great!"

He sounded so sure that Bulma could do nothing more than assume he was correct. She entered her room and took to the bed as soon as the door closed, deciding that sleeping and contemplating for two days would be the most she would be doing. Escape seemed like a bad plan right now. She would wait. Her new 'master' would be sure to make a mistake, and then off to Merick.

' ' '

People avoided him as if he had the plague. Truthfully he might as well have had it. The yellow cloak that covered most of his body did not all the way cover the huge red welts that marred his black skin, seeping a white liquid from them at a steady pace that the crowd around him found disconcerting.

Ironically, the very thing that was slowly but surely killing him was allowing him to navigate the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd in the marketplace of Junai with ease. The yellow cloak was like a sign that said 'stay away, I'm contagious'.

He brushed a strand of long, white hair from his ebon skin, revealing the onyx that glimmered at his forehead telling of his heritage and his exile. Well, since his race stayed on the planet they were born on for all their life, he had to have been exiled.

He sneered at one particular woman who was scowling at him as he walked past her. She made a sign against evil and hurried past. He actually chuckled and let a piece of his cloak brush her body. She shrieked and jumped back, turning and running to yell about the demon curse she now had.

Of course the many hoax medicine men gathered around her, offering her various creams and powders that would cure her affliction. Glaring at the back of the diseased one as he walked away, she bought all she was offered.

The afflicted one continued his walk, ignoring the many people who spit in front of him, cursed him, and did various other signs towards an unwanted visitor. No one wanted what he had, after all. Really, he doubted it was contagious in the way they thought, not that he would mind if they all got it. They'd leave him alone then.

He was looking for a cure, but he kept getting distracted. He wasn't finding what he was looking for. The search was becoming increasingly frustrating.

He stopped as someone stepped in his way and turned shocked ruby eyes up at the-okay, thing that had stepped in his way. He actually took a step back; mostly to get the full impression of ridicule and hilarity the man/woman was sending off.

"Hey! You look like a nice man! A man with money perhaps?"

He sneered in the man's face and altered his path to walk around the man/woman. He felt a jolt of shock and turned with his even wider eyes that contained a hint of anger in them. The man/woman had grabbed his arm.

Joso's eyes widened and he retracted the hand, wiping off the liquid it had collected from just that minimal contact, not a little tinge of fear of contracting something guiding his actions. "Come on, now! You'll give old Joso a listen, won't you? I've got something that might help you, my friend."

He turned fully around, finally speaking for the first time since landing on this planet. "I'm not your friend." His lilting, smooth voice held an accent that put an aristocratic manner to his tone.

Joso chuckled, holding both hands up in surrender. He already had caught the man's interest. "It's just something I call all my potential customers. If you have money, you are a friend."

The diseased man before him smirked and Joso mentally relaxed. He had money. Reading people was something Joso was an expert at, well not as much as breeding, but an expert nonetheless, and this man had a lot of money.

"You say you have something to help me?" The man raised black-skinned arms up to reveal the extent of his condition.

Joso had to choke down the bile in the back of his throat at the sight of seeping liquid and raw, red skin that seemed to glow angrily through the blackness of its natural color. He shook his head. "I do not know what you have, my friend, neither do I have a cure for it. I do have something to help you. It would be troublesome in your condition to find what you are looking for. There are not many who would talk to you, much less take your money. I have something that can help in that department and perhaps others. Would you like to come inside and discuss it?" Joso moved to the side, inviting the man into the huge tent set up with a gesture.

The man hesitated and Joso answered the hesitation, "You think this is a trap? I am Joso! Have you not heard of the great Galactic Breeding Expert? I have many races to choose from, all clean, male and female for whatever your taste is. But you, my friend, I like you. You are cautious and resilient to these harsh conditions. The Junains are not a loving people.

"I have something special for you. She's a rarity. Sharp in wits, long in looks. She's beautiful and smart, my friend, and that is as rare as the determined man I think you are."

The man waved his hand, a disgusted look on his face as he turned it away. "The sucking noises are making me more ill than I already am."

Joso nodded his head in a small bow. "Forgive me, but that was not flattery, merely truth. You are not a man of sweets and candy, you prefer bitter and true, yes?"

The man's eyes again turned to him, red orbs narrowing, "Perhaps. Perhaps I would like to see this rarity."

Joso smiled again motioning the man forward. The man's red eyes bored into Joso as he passed him, promising a painful and long death if this was indeed a trap. Joso gulped at the look and followed him.

Joso took the lead once he was inside, guiding the man back to his 'office', which was just a desk and two chairs set up on either side of it. Joso took the seat behind the desk, indicating the man take the seat in front. The man did so, and Joso started the conversation that would hopefully get him a lot of money.

"So, might I know your name?" Joso folded his arms on top of the desk, leaning forward in a friendly and personable manner.

"Naku." The other sat stiffly in his own seat, and Joso could tell he was studying his surroundings.

"Okay, Naku, I know your people prefer your women a bit on the darker side, but I have a blue beauty that I'm sure you'll like. So, without further ado, here she is."

Naku heard a rustle of cloth to his side and turned toward it, keeping an eye on his back. His full attention was soon on the rustle and its cause as the cause stepped fully into view.

A/N: Yet again, no Vegeta. Where is that Saiyan? Well, I originally intended on not ending there, with such an evil cliffhanger, but someone requested the next chapter and since I'm not that far ahead, I decided to punish you all. Nah, I just liked leaving it there. I really love JadedBest so don't send her flames and stuff just because of this cliffy…. ^_^ Next Chapter:

"Within seconds, the contract was signed and the money passed and Bulma soon found herself gazing into a pair of red eyes that were standing before her. The expressionless face was driving her nuts, so she scowled at him. "I hope you don't think you own me now. Because you most certainly do not."

The man titled his head to one side, eyes not leaving hers, staring at her until she squirmed, only then looking away and heading toward the door."

Goodness! Who is this…um, Naku? He-owns Bulma? Boy, Vegeta's gonna be mad. (shrug) His fault I suppose.

Ssjprincess: Oh! Nice. BTW, forgive me for LPP? ^_^ Hmm, interesting theory. I almost fear your mind…. Almost. You did marry the Prince of all Saiyans, can't be that smart. (clasp hand over mouth) Whoops! I WUV you, Veggie! Freakish…yes, I was on a caffeine high when I made he/she. Plus, who better to know what a man/woman will want in a man/woman/woman/man? Vegeta, you are you. Don't you know where you are? You're conquering the world with a cold…. Heehee Glad you're excited…. Now, if I can just get it done….

Masamune: Of course I won't end it there! Much more excitement and 'what the heck?' to come.

Susan: You can't believe it? Ever heard that new song 'Complicated'. The pop song, not the country one. Maybe that fish food, or the worm…. It might just be lack of food and swimming, or heck, deprivation of sex for the last 21 years…. (don't gasp, I'm only 21)

JadedBest: Beginnings are my favorite. Endings are always harder…. Complicated? Heehee, exactly what I thought of when *I* heard that song! We think alike! Scary…. Yeah, she might be ravaged and then get pregnant and then Vegeta comes back and kills the child and her rapist who she had grown to love and she goes nuts and kills him and kills herself. Romeo and Juliet ending…kinda.

KangaKilla: Steal my brain? Heh, have fun. It'll drive you insane. See, I like sex, but I've never had any, I've never even been kissed, and I have these bouts of self-pity and then get real angry and go on a caffeine binge like I'm on right now and I talk about stuff that makes people go O.O and O.o and face vault and stuff cause I'm a weird combination of Goku and Vegeta but not like a yaoi and I'll shut up now…. Take me with you? Wait, I was going to be a psychologist. O.o;

No ff.net fans? (pouts) Fine. Be that way! I just won't write back to all you who haven't reviewed! ^_^