Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Variations of Fate ❯ Umbrage ( Chapter 18 )

Bulma stood on the balcony of her quarters, her back against the palace wall as she gazed past the palisades glittering in the westering sun and upon the departing slaves far below. Vocation and decorum and habitation and the word of law now separated them from her, but she was one in heart with them all.

Free, but not really.

What was she to do?

She was, in good conscience, bound to this planet as long as her family and friends remained.

But there were things she could never have.

She was neither of the world of the Saiyans nor that of the Earthling slaves. Her life in freedom was a farce. All the days of her life she would never be free of the bonds of her work. She was free of the title but not of the station. Freedom was a word, a noble philosophy, but so hard to truly acquire and live. She would work and work and work until the end of her existence, working for means and ends she did not agree with. But acquiescence meant her survival.

Did it mean losing her conscience? Selling her soul?

That was her lot in life, her moral dilemma.

The breeze rippled her hair, accenting the multihued crystals in her hair. It rippled her robes, robes she held protectively closed over her body.

"Bulma?" came Savoya's quiet inquiry from inside. "Time to go. We can't afford to be late."

Reluctantly, Bulma stepped away from the wall and inside, discarding her robe and steeling away her thoughts, pressing them into the furthest recesses of her mind. Now was not the time. She had to acquiesce.

"...Miss Briefs..." intoned Salrud with palpably dripping sarcasm, stiffly bowing to her with an overbearing sneer on his face as he scoffed, "It seems we cannot start ceremonies without you. That is to say, without a mere Earthling seated at the head table we cannot began a Saiyan ceremony. Liberating slaves indeed."

"Salrud, that's enough," snapped Savoya, "Come, Bulma. Forget this purist and let us head to Vegetasei's future."

The Saiyan girl snatched the Earthling by the arm and yanked her forward, past Salrud and some rather flabbergasted and scandalized courtiers. Perhaps, however, what had them more scandalized and flabbergasted was the manner of Bulma's dress and how Savoya directly went against duty in order to shepherd this girl -- a human, no less! The horror! -- to the banquet table instead of the future Queen!

Perhaps it should be said those most flabbergasted and scandalized were (the majority) female with a generous smattering of traditionalists in their midst. Otherwise, Bulma seemed to have the gaping attention and ogling eye of every being in the room, human, Saiyan or otherwise. Intentions may have been good or bad or simply...stunned. The gauzy black dress was, if nothing else, a sensational garment.

"Here," Savoya said, pulling the seat out for Bulma, "This is your seat. I'm over there a few places down. Unfortunately, whoever made seating arrangements was either not thinking or looking for...what would you say on your planet? Oh, yes. A 'cat fight.' You're sitting diagonally from Sukena and across from Vegeta. Luckily, Suhyo will be seated beside you. Now, I'm off to go collect Sukena and..." Savoya glanced up, "Here comes Suhyo. Anyhow, I'm off."

The Saiyan female disappeared amidst the crowd as Suhyo took his seat beside her, stating nonchalantly: "I see my granddaughter shirked her duties to drop you off." A suspicious quivering of the old man's shoulders followed his words.

Bulma glanced sidelong at her superior and then grinned at him, "Yeah. I had a run in with Salrud. You know how that goes." She snorted derisively. "So, how much longer until Pomp and Circumstance enter?"

Suhyo quirked an eyebrow at her, "Pomp and Circumstance? Hmm...well I could see how that could describe his majesties."

"It's a Terran musical composition, for matriculating students."

"Ah. Well, I'm sure it could fit the situation, seeing as the younger has returned from something of an education," said Suhyo dryly, "but at any rate. I don't think it'll be long before they enter. Then you'll get to see my grandniece come caterwauling in with that shrewish voice of hers."

Bulma's eyebrows raised significantly, "Wait...is your grandniece who I'm thinking she is?"

"Well, if you're thinking of Sukena you'd be right on the mark. I'm the unfortunate grand-uncle of the would-be future Queen of Vegetasei."

Bulma shuddered, "My sister, Ava -- poor thing -- has to help that wretched creature. She's her personal slave."

Suhyo scowled at that, "Poor thing, indeed. I can't imagine being subjected to her presence for that long. Dinner and this ceremony will be long enough as it is simply from being seated across from her."

Bulma snorted. "No kidding."

"Ah, speaking of that wonderful creature...her comes my poor granddaughter and her wretched kinswoman."

Sukena flounced over, hips swaggering with showmanship fit more for the stage than for a banquet in honor of the man she hoped she would soon wed. Bulma pointedly returned her attention to Suhyo and continued talking with him, albeit on a different subject.

"Alright, so...tomorrow we should probably discuss those potential adaptations on the regeneration tanks and the idea of a self-contained chamber for training purposes, correct?" Bulma asked Suhyo, offering him a wink. Might as well put a bug in Sukena's ear and see where the conversation led. Oh, but baiting the would-be crown Princess was quite fun!

Suhyo gave Bulma a knowing look but readily winked in reply. "Oh, yes! The gravity chamber, correct? We could add other environmental modifications as well...but I suppose the gravitational factor would be most beneficial in training."

"Gravity chamber?" Sukena chimed in, looking suspiciously at the two scientists.

"Yes. There is the potential for it to happen," Bulma said matter-of-factly, glancing at the Saiyan female as she continued, "It may not happen, however, if we do not have the right materials or our science isn't quite...evolved enough for that."

"Well, it had best be finished. I want it for a gift to Prince Vegeta on our wedding night."

"Sukena, the science department doesn't answer to you. Nor, I think, will it ever," Suhyo said sternly, brow drawn into a disapproving line.

Sukena looked ready to shoot a snotty reply back to Suhyo when suddenly the Royal Anthem of Vegetasei blared from the band. With a final death-glare sent towards the two scientists, Sukena hopped up. Bulma and Suhyo did likewise. All in the room held their left hand behind their back, and their right over their heart.

The King and Prince entered midway through the anthem, hands held in the same position their subjects held theirs. They moved to their seats at the main banquet table. As the anthem came to a close, King Vegeta raised his hand and then lowered it, "Please, be seated."

Everyone sat.

King Vegeta cleared his throat, "It is with great honor that I speak at the start of this ceremony for my son's safe return to me and to all of you. I have been parted from my son for far too long. I could not avoid giving him to Lord Freeza's custody. Had I refused, our world would have come to an abrupt end." The King looked pointedly at his son.

Prince Vegeta glanced up at his father but otherwise remained stoic and scowling.

"It is with great relief that I welcome him home at a banquet of far more importance than the parade this afternoon. We will dine in his honor and celebrate his return. Everyone, take the glass provided you," King Vegeta cleared his throat. A server walked up, handed him a champagne class and bowed. The King nodded at the server; the server disappeared amongst the tables, "and raise your glass in salute to my son, Prince Vegeta. Welcome him home."

All raised their glasses; Prince Vegeta looked suspiciously uncomfortable.

King Vegeta took a sip of wine before he continued, "Now let's eat in his honor!"

The King sat; soon the room was filled with clamor and cacophony.

Bulma glanced curiously across the table at the Prince as she sipped on her wine, only to be met with an icy glare from Sukena. Bulma quirked an eyebrow at her, most intent on staring her down, but she was interrupted by Suhyo whispering in her ear.

"I believe we should talk with the Prince about some of your plans."

"What plans?"

Bulma shot a glare at Suhyo. The director merely winked at her. Bulma shook her head, thinking quite uncharitably: Damn him!

"Ah, Bulma is quite an inventor. Quite an ideas person, that is to say. The upgraded security system installed in the palace was her invention -- well, the surveillance system at least. Now she's working on increasing the efficacy of the regeneration tanks. That is to say..."

"Silence, old man," the Prince said to Suhyo, turning his attention to Bulma, "I want to judge for myself if she is as competent as you say she is. I can hardly discern that with you babbling on for her. Speak, human."

Bulma gritted her teeth and looked sideways at Suhyo for guidance. However, the director looked quite pleased with himself. Pushing the Prince's buttons? Her brow creased quizzically before she relented.

"Well, I suppose I could speak for myself..." Bulma began slowly. Vegeta glared at her; Sukena, meanwhile, had taken to chatting with the Saiyan to her right as uninterested in science as she was. Bulma took a quick swig of her wine and then set down the glass as she continued, making pointed eye contact with Prince Vegeta, "Well, you see, I'm doing a bit of biochemical engineering and also experimenting with nanotech. Both fields could be useful in determining a more efficient way in which to heal an injured being and also sufficiently decrease the time needed to heal. Now, I'm not sure on the particulars, just yet, but I've something like 200 pages of research and experimentation on the subject."

Vegeta quirked an eyebrow at her as he replied snidely, "200 pages? That doesn't sound efficient research time to me."

"Prince Vegeta, this sort of biotech is fairly new and there's little literature out there on it. Furthermore, the research that IS out there is mostly owned and horded by none other than Lord Freeza. It's carefully guarded and getting your hands on it would be particularly nasty to negotiate," Bulma snapped, railing off on the Prince without a second thought on the matter. Prince Vegeta's eyebrows, meanwhile, took on an aggravated twitch. "Freeza regards science as quite useful in his dominion over this sector; he appreciates it for how it benefits him and his goals of conquest. This is why your father is emphasizing our department," she motioned to herself and Suhyo, "There is little hope of full autonomy from Freeza without the use of advantageous technology. NOW, I have another idea..."

"To be expected of a human," Sukena cut in shrilly, "back-talking to the Prince of all Saiyans! Quite the slave-like thing to do!"

"Silence is becoming of the young and ignorant," Suhyo stated sharply after a connoisseur-like sipping of wine. As his dinner plate was placed in front of him, he nodded to the server, offering heartfelt thanks before he took out his dining utensils and placed a napkin in his lap. Sukena, meanwhile, simmered in her seat, glaring at her grand uncle. Bulma pointedly ignored the shrew.

"Thank you," Bulma said, nodding as her food was placed in front of her, before returning her gaze to Vegeta, "Now, as I was saying. I also have another project that could come as some use to you and your soldiers against Freeza. A gravity chamber, to be used in training..."

"You two are conspiring against me!" squealed Sukena, brandishing her finger at Bulma and Suhyo.

Suhyo guffawed loudly, "Grandniece, I tell you once and once again, silence is becoming of the young and ignorant. I'll amend the statement, too, to include the paranoid! If you make a scene I'll escort you out myself -- by your hair!"

Prince Vegeta snorted at the comment, the familiar Vegeta smirk forming on his lips. "Women are best when silent."

Bulma barred her teeth but upon opening her mouth to say something, Suhyo reached over and snatched her wrist, shaking his head. Bulma shook her hand free, making as if to place her napkin in her lap -- which she did just before railing off on Vegeta once more, "Really? Women are best when silent?! Honestly! Some males are so backwards it's a wonder they can find their way around a landing strip! Do you know where much of your planet would be without women or with women being silent? You wouldn't be here. Much of the training and technology in the science department wouldn't be here but for women! And, while some individuals should be silent," she pointedly glared at Sukena, "you shouldn't make a blanket statement about women being the ignorant ones! You're ignorant for making that statement! Apparently you like docile, subservient females and don't care for the contributions they've made to--"

"Woman, shut up!" Vegeta barked at her as he stood up, his teeth on edge. One fist was on the table while the other palm began to glow with the light of a ki-blast. "I swear, if you say another word--"

"You'll what? Kill me?"

"Don't try me!"

"I think I will! I don't fear death! What is there to live for here, for me at least? You have everything you could ever want! But you're insanely arrogant and horridly unappreciative of everything that has been given you. You're royalty, for God's sake! You haven't lived as a slave! You can't possibly understand freedom or even appreciate it! You can hardly understand subservience!"

"Woman, you know nothing!" growled Vegeta, his hand glowing more brightly by the minute as he lunged across the table. Aghast, Bulma sat as far back in her chair as she possibly could. The room was growing very silent and all eyes were unblinkingly set upon the Prince and the arguing scientist.

"Vegeta!" barked the King. "Stand down!"

Gritting his teeth, Vegeta glared between his father and his target. Finally he acquiesced. The ki subsided from his palm. "Woman, you are lucky my father values your life. Had it been my choice, you would be ash."

Bulma, quaking fearfully, in her chair merely gritted her teeth. Slowly, the room again became a cacophonous, echoing vat, but the tones were more subdued and hushed as the nobles gossiped about the events.