Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Veil ❯ Brokfest ( Chapter 2 )

Bulma felt her throat begin to constrict as she made her way down the vast extent of the palace hallways. She found it difficult to keep up with Bardock's fast pace, he seemed as though he was in a great rush. She looked around in awe at the beautiful sculptures positioned carefully. Antiques paintings were hung from the walls, giving the slightly eery Tudor effect. One portrait was particularly disturbing, it portrayed a large Saiya-jin with flame-like hair standing tall and proud amongst a sea of dead bodies. Her father's voice echoed in her mind.

~Hide your beauty Bulma. If these Saiya-jins catch on to your hot tempered attitude and appearance, they will stop at nothing to break your spirit.~

So engrossed by her surroundings, Bulma found herself crashing straight into the prominent back of Bardock. He turned around to face her with a slight look of annoyance gracing his otherwise stoic features.

Bulma bit her lip and ducked her head, "Sorry, I didn't mean to zone out."

Bardock narrowed his eyes at the tiny female, taking in the detail of her porcelain skin. "Be careful on where you choose to 'zone out' Ms. Briefs."

Bulma took a deep breath and nodded in understanding. She tried to think so another thing to say, but found herself stumped. She raised her eyebrow as she noticed that Bardock had not moved from his current position.

Bardock hid a smirk as he noticed the Earthling's ever growing curiosity. He turned to the wall and pulled down the lever of the torch carrier.

Bulma frowned.

Noticing the frown, Bardock spoke, "The best thing about living in a palace is the innumerable secret passageways. If you ever want to escape from something terrifying then I suggest you learn where all of these passages are." The gruffness in his voice made Bulma jump.

Part of the wall slid open, to reveal another long passageway. Bulma noted that there were a number of doors in this passageway. Bardock stopped at one of the small doors. It seemed rather hilarious that such a large man could actually fit in such a tiny passageway.

He cleared his throat, trying to receive Bulma's attention, "This is the servant's quarter. You are to stay here," he said, pointing to the first door on the right and tossing her the electronic key to her room.

Bulma caught the key with ease, "Where do you stay?"

Bardock clenched his jaw, obviously angry at the question. "I reside five doors down from here. I never used to live on the palace grounds but, the King demanded that alter my living situation."

"If you don't mind me saying so sir, you don't seem like a servant.." The look on his face made Bulma almost feel sorry for the old man.

He paused for a moment, looking at her. "There was once a time when I was not considered a servant," he hesitated for a moment, "In any case, scientific servants live in this quarter, being Head of the Science department does not mean I get added luxuries." He looked at the dial on his odd looking watch. "It's getting late, the King will wish your presence in the morning's meal time."

She held back a smile, "You mean breakfast, right?"

He looked at her slightly perplexed but nodded anyway, "If that is what you Chikyuu-jin call it then, yes, he will order your presence at 'brokfest'."

Bulma held back a giggle as he pronounced the word so strangely but she had forgotten that he was an alien, as she was to him. "Will you be with us at breakfast?"

He shook his head, "No, I will be in one of the many labs. Ask one of the servants to escort you to the Science Department. Do not come on your own, have I made myself clear?"

She nodded slowly. "Well, thank you. I will see you tomorrow, hopefully you will be able to show me what your planet requires in technology."

Bardock bowed his head slightly but just as he was about to retire to his own room, he stopped himself, "On further analysis, I will send one of my sons to escort you. He will meet you in the Royal courtyard after 'brokfest'." With that said, he quickly retired to his own room, for some much needed rest.

As he stepped into his room five doors down, Bulma let out a small giggle at the way he pronounced 'breakfast'. Shaking her head, she entered her room but stood completely immobile from shock.

The room itself could hardly be called a room. It was more like a cell for a patient from an insane asylum. The walls were painted a a dark shade of burgandy, which may have looked nice had there been sunlight allowed in the room. But in the cold darkness that surrounded the room at that very moment, the colour seemed dank and depressing. In the corner of the room was a cot-like bed draped in uncomfortable looking sheets and on the far side was an equally lonely looking desk. Bulma looked around in the dimness, noticing that there was only a small rectangle on the ceiling for ventilation.

She sniffed the room slightly, noting the musty smell. *How can these people live like this? It seems as if I've stepped back in time, feels like the twilight zone.* Snorting, she closed the door behind her and began decapsulising her clothes and other possessions.

Feeling more depressed than before, she began ceremoniously hanging up her clothes in the small cupboard that was provided. Once this was completed, she meticuously laid out a few blue-prints on the wooden desk and placed the rest of her capsules in the desk drawer. This was the best thing about being the daughter of a genius. She felt her chest tighten at the remembrance of her own father betraying her. She saw another connecting door and realised it was her own private bathroom. *At least these Saiya-jins aren't too barbaric!*

Changing into a pair of shorts and tank top, she scrambled into the cold looking bed and hugged the flat lifeless pillow for comfort. She closed her eyes as the tears began to threaten their way to the surface.

That night she slept a deep dreamless sleep, much to her relief.

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