Chinks in the Armor

Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z, it belongs to Toei Animation Co. Ltd. and was created by Akira Toriyama. However the Oc's Bakelite, Atomica, Infrared and Melmac are mine as is the plot of this fan fiction. It means no harm to the awesome anime and manga! I make no money from this! Thanks Heiress and everyone who's reviewed. Glad you like Atomica. Now we see how much Bulma will learn from someone else who might have known about the Androids... other then Trunks.
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Sunlight gleamed intensely off the hoods of oncoming cars and off the backs of the ones in front of them as Atomica drove the roadster along the superhighway. For some reason Bulma was extra sensitive to light judging by how she felt she had to clap a hand over one eye. Fishing through her purse she grabbed her sunglasses and shoved them on. Atomica grabbed the pair of slipovers that Bulma tossed her from the glove compartment. They neatly fit over her thick framed glasses.
"Almost there," said Atomica, glancing sidelong at Bulma. During the drive Bulma had not said much, retreating into a private funk. At first Atomica wondered if she had said something wrong by admitting how much she knew of Bulma's private life. People tended to confide in the chemist with their personal problems because they knew she didn't gossip. Unfortunately Atomica ended up being more of an emotional dumpsite because she was willing to listen to people's problems. She usually responded with a blunt answer or reasonably good advice.
"Bulma, are you pissed at me for 'unmasking' your secret?" she asked.
"I just want to know how much do you know?" Bulma asked suspiciously. "About Vegeta?"
"Only enough to know he's one of those powerful fighters that sometimes show up, when things get really dicey. That guy who's been using Capsule 3. He's not human. No more then the kid who smashed up the Red Ribbon base years ago. Or the two space aliens that blew up East City five years back," said Atomica.
"You knew about that too?" Bulma inhaled sharply.
"Someone called them 'Saiyans,'," said Atomica warily. "Pictures on TV were pretty grainy, but I saw my share of them. And the Red Ribbon army psy corps was pretty… hem well informed about strange and magical threats."
"I… that's how you knew then? And then you saw Vegeta around Capsule," said Bulma.
"Bulma if you're worried about me spilling, don't be. I have no reason to tell anyone. Especially since you know about me," said Atomica. "I'm good at keeping secrets."
"I trust you," Bulma nodded. "I guess that's another reason why…"
"And I guess I know why you acted the way you did, when you learned about me working for the Red Ribbon army once," said Atomica softly. She gave Bulma a small smile.
"I know that, it's just… weird that one of my own employees knows so much. But then again I shouldn't be surprised," said Bulma with a nervous chuckle.
"You're not alone, Bulma. Being pregnant's a scary thing. I should know, because the way I got pregnant was pretty much passion between myself and a lonely soldier. He liked me and we kept each other company. But fraternization with fellow officers wasn't exactly encouraged," said she.
"It wasn't?"
"Females were normally expected to devote their whole careers to the army. Sure we could HAVE sex with other members but to get pregnant and have kids made things… difficult. Sure we all USED birth control, but even THAT can't always be a 100 hundred percent guarantee," she shrugged with a laugh.
"We're here," Atomica pointed to the green exit sign. Bulma eagerly eyed the gentle rolling dunes visible behind lines of trees planted alongside the exit ramp.
"Pull up over this way. That's the private section Capsule owns," said Bulma. She directed her employee along a maze of back roads, towards a more secluded access road hidden in trees and high signs. This was the isolated stretch that nobody dared walk or play on save the uber rich. Fortunately Bulma was one of the wealthy few. They passed through a guard shack and onto the lot where Bulma directed her to a parking spot.
"WE can walk here. It's a preserve class area, but Daddy used to bring me and Mom here a lot. So mom could nude sunbathe in peace and my father cold work on his best inventions," said Bulma.
"Your mom nude sunbathing. Why am I NOT surprised?" Atomica suddenly chuckled. Opening the doors both women stepped out into the dirt area. Bulma opened the trunk to grab out a sun hat from one of the bags. Atomica took her own that they had just bought. Then the two women strode down the stretch of hidden wooden stairs to the beachfront only the wealthy trod upon. Small furrows in the sand indicated a machine had combed the pristine white sands for trash and cigarette buts from other wealthy families.
Soon they strode side by side towards the surf. Bulma had to hold her hat down on her head with one hand. She stepped out of her sandals then ventured up to walk where the line of tide swooshed up. Then it receded to leave a dark delineation of sand smoothed by its wake. Atomica came up on her left side, standing next to her new friend so their toes barely touched the next lapping surge.
"So, are we totally alone?" asked Atomica.
"Yes. We can talk in absolute privacy. You can tell me more about how much you know," said Bulma.
"What do you want to know exactly?" asked Atomica. "About the Red Ribbon army?"
"Well," Bulma cleared her throat. "About the secret projects in the Red Ribbon army that were kept secret. You said you heard rumors. What about?"
"Enough that people shouldn't," said Atomica. "What specifically?"
"Do you know about… the army building any Androids. About someone named Dr. Gero?" asked Bulma with a whisper. At the sound of the name Atomica's eyes snapped open and she swallowed hard. Her knees shook and she pressed a hand to her head.
"OH god," Atomica whispered back. "Not him."
"You do know?" Bulma asked. Panting, the professor spun away from Bulma. She felt the woman's hand on her shoulder and a blast of sharp wind whistling up from the ocean waves.
"How would you know about him unless…" Atomica trailed off, her face blanching white.
"Please you have to tell me! Did he build any… artificial humans," asked Bulma.
"Artificial… humans," Atomica whispered. Dropping to her knees in the sand, she curled her legs around and sat. Bulma settled besides her, wondering what was so horrendous.
"What did I say… please…" Bulma asked.
"I… that was something almost NOBODY knew about, and we only heard rumors," Atomica wheezed, her heart pounding. "How the HELL… did you know?"
"Let's just say, I have my sources," Bulma said cryptically, remembering the lavender haired youth. Atomica turned and gaped at her, eyes wide behind her glasses. A strange purple crackled her hair momentarily and then she squeezed her eyes shut and leaned back.
"Damn… I… they do exist. But I don't know much more then rumors. Dr. Gero worked in a different department then Dr. Minos. He was in charge of biotech research. The branch that gave us... treatments to enhance our abilities," Atomica stammered, her stomach twisting.
"Please… you must tell me! If we can stop them," Bulma swallowed.
"You're talking as if they… this is insane," Atomica panted. She heaved great breaths in, trembling like a leaf as she sat there. Her fingers twisted into the sand, digging small furrows.
"What are you so afraid of?" asked Bulma, reaching to take her friend's hand.
Opening her mouth, Atomica regarded Bulma with dark eyes. Then she pulled her glasses off and settled for the haze of shortsightedness taking some stimulation away. Only the sound of the surf tumbling in the distance could be heard. Bulma squeezed Atomica's fingers and said, "Take your time. We're alone out here remember?"
Atomica's eyes flickered back and forth as if staring through Bulma into a forgotten time. Hesitatingly she said, "I… well if we were to admit we knew anything we'd be shot. But Dr. Gero… had projects that even Commander Red knew little of. He had a computer on an island… Southwest of here… and there were rumors of experiments where he had…"
"Did you see any of these androids?" Bulma asked, crossing her legs and settling more comfortably in the sand.
"Android 8, and 9," said Atomica. "Major Metallitron, and then there was Violet. She underwent the process and became the first cyborg prototyped seven."
"Violet? You knew Violet?" Bulma yelped in surprise.
"She was one of the ones that graduated the academy ahead of me," said Atomica. Tendrils of her long brown hair whipped in the quickening wind. Sunlight was suddenly blocked by the passage of clouds over the afternoon sun, casting them in temporary shadow.
"One of the first volunteers to undergo the change. Some of us didn't want cybernetic upgrades. Others were purely artificial. But there were artificial humans and humans enhanced with cybernetics," said Atomica.
"So two types?" said Bulma. She pulled off her sun hat, letting her freshly cut hair swirl in the cold chill of the sea breeze.
"Gero tried both. He even took two children. There's no telling WHAT he did to them. He was an animal. He made the worst of what Dr. Minos did look… like nothing," said Atomica shakily.
"Why are you so scared?" Bulma wondered. She felt it was her turn to comfort the woman next to her now, whose confidence was suddenly shaken. Gently she rubbed Atomica's shoulder.
"We were afraid Dr. Gero would take over. Commander Red only used him and his abilities to get ahead. But Dr. Gero had his own agenda. Nothing short of world domination. But as long as Blue and Silver and Black were around, and we were, he couldn't do anything. That's why things were kept so secret. By the time most of the Army was disbanded, Gero had disappeared," said Atomica softly.
"So nobody knows if he's alive or dead?"
"There were other rumors that his own machines had killed him, or hurt him. And that the Dr. Gero we would sometimes see was himself an android. Or a cyborg that he'd experimented on himself," said Atomica in a horrified grimace.
"You need to tell me ALL you know," said Bulma firmly. "The future of the world could depend on it!"
"But how do YOU know they even exist?"
"Because I… there's someone who comes from a time where the Androids destroy humanity and do take over the world. And there's nothing anyone could do to stop them," said Bulma angrily.
"That's… insane!" Atomica blinked at her.
"So's letting things happen if these Androids are out there! Why do you think I need the armor? Because Earth's Special Forces are training to stop them when they do come out!" said Bulma.
"then if you DO know, why not destroy them?"
"Because Vegeta will kill me if I do," Bulma said lamely.
"It's Vegeta. He's the… father?" asked Atomica quietly, as Bulma touched her belly. Pressing her eyes closed Bulma nodded.
"And he's one of those… Earth Special forces. That I hear rumors and people talk about?" asked Atomica. Bulma again nodded, regarding Atomica with tear filled eyes. Somehow the release of telling someone else had untied the knot forming in Bulma's stomach a bit. Someone else knew of the possible holocaust to come, and had shared that pure private hell with her.
"Yamcha belongs to them, and so do your other guests I see? The bald guy and the really nice guy with the orange suit who has a huge appetite, and the dirty old man who grabs people's butts?" Atomica laughed.
"You know a hell of a lot about my friends," Bulma mumbled, flushing pink.
"We're employees of Capsule, and we know but we don't tell. When we were hired we were told to expect weird things to happen," Atomica chuckled. "The last time the GR blew up, we just cleaned up the mess. And there was talk of that guy named Vegeta staying at the house. And the dimensions of the plastic for the armor you wanted made… fit the dimensions of the armor I… um…"
"Made. Don't you see, that what you once did to destroy will save lives?" Bulma asked, grabbing Atomica's hands in her own. Manicured fingernails threaded together and Atomica stared at Bulma in wonder.
"So, that's why… you're being nice to me?" asked Atomica.
"That, and the fact that we have to stick together," said Bulma with a shaky smile. She leaned over and wrapped Atomica in an awkward hug, as if to show her understanding and fear that was mutually shared. Atomica accepted the hug, rubbing Bulma's back and resting her face in her boss's shoulder. Suddenly they were not employer and employee but two frightened women who feared the future of their world. They felt only an ounce of power to stop something that loomed like a dark shroud on the planet's future. Only a small candlelight in the darkness, but enough to illuminate a pool of hope.
"So, now what?" asked Atomica.
"I'm not sure how or what to tell my parents still," she murmured.
"We'll think of something, don't worry. But I'd think you'd want to tell them or someone now because you're going to have a baby depending on you, and its future isn't certain," said Atomica.
"Yes, that's what makes it worse. I have to find some way of letting them know, but I'm still terrified," said Bulma quietly.
"No matter what they think, you can count on me," Atomica nodded. Bulma rested her head against Atomica's shoulder and the other woman draped her strong arm around Bulma's shoulders. They derived comfort in that second, one already a mother the other a mother to be. Deeply Bulma inhaled, then let out her tension in a sigh.
"I know you're scared, Bulma. I'm terrified too. But all I can think about right now is my daughter Curie. And how in the hell am I going to protect her," said Atomica. "I'm more scared for her then for me."
"But we have to DO something," Bulma said with a frown. "I can't... your child... we have to DO..."
"Exactly. But what are you going to do? Hide in fear and try and hide you're having a baby? Or stop worrying about what people will think and worry about that son or daughter and if they'll have a world to live in?" Atomica asked.
"You... you're right," Bulma suddenly realized. Tears swarmed over her eyes, and she felt anger. Even though the baby was far too small for her to feel yet, the thought of just sitting helplessly just became unacceptable.
"I think vacation's over. My source… says that three years will happen before the Androids first come out of hiding. And already it's been one and a half. So it's high time Capsule did something to prepare," said Bulma angrily. She straightened up, and Atomica said the sparkle of outrage present. This was the boss she knew so well, who did not take no for an answer. Somehow it was reassuring, giving Atomica the resolve to stop being terrified and start thinking of how to stop an unseen force.
"I guess it's asking too much to know how you know this," said Atomica, buttoning her sweater. "Maybe if you told me how you knew what you did, then we can think of what both of us can do, to protect our children. How we can help each other."
"Well, I'll tell you, but it's a crazy story," Bulma said. She began to share the events of the mysterious lavender haired youth as Atomica and she watched the ocean crashing and surging on the private beach. As they spent more time together, Bulma knew she had an ally. Somehow telling her parents and friends might be easier with Atomica's advice.
***
In the days that followed, Bulma found herself busy laying plans. While she was the rising VP of capsule, she also ended up making clandestine deals in the way of bomb shelters and new defensive uses for Dr. Polly Atomica's plastic. Fear filled her often times, and she dreaded what the repercussions of her pregnancy would be. Today she had arranged for an appointment with her gyn but instead of driving right to the clinic she insisted on a shortcut. Unfortunately the shortcut had turned into a long circuitous route that convinced her friend Polly Bulma was dodging the appointment entirely.

"What should I do?" she whispered.

"Don't you trust this doctor?" Polly asked as they rode through the city in Bulma's car.

"I… think so. She's Dr. Iodine. She's prescribed my birth control pills since I was sixteen. I can't help but think my mom wouldn't care who the dad was as long as she has a grandkid. But my dad…"

"All right, here's what you can do. You can try and go someplace on a long trip and make up a cover story. Sooner or later you can't hide this. You're a grown woman, Bulma with your own destiny. There are lots of single mothers who use artificial insemination to get pregnant. Let the press think it's that if that sex partner of yours Doesn't come back."

"He said he would," said she. "And he spoke like he expected this baby would be born."

"That's a start," Polly nodded. "Now, let's get you to a doctor and get a sonogram and see if it's healthy."

"But he's a Saiyan…"

"So, if Dr. Iodine knows what's good for her she'll keep her trap shut. You're NOT going to get a coathanger to this are you?"

"No! But what kind of a mother can I possibly be?" she asked.

"As good as you can if you want this baby. And the father by the sound of it wants the kid or he wouldn't have acknowledged you were pregnant. He can sense ki you said, so he must have wanted it, right?" Polly Atomica said logically. Relief filled Bulma's empty soul, and she felt as if this woman were a much needed anchor in the whirlpool her life was becoming.

"Here we are," Bulma said, pulling up to the small unobtrusive clinic.

"You can do this. You're not alone," said Polly, reaching for Bulma's hand. Bulma gave it a squeeze and smiled with watery eyes. Then she released her hand so they could both unclip their seatbelts and exit the car. Drawing in her breath sharply Bulma strode forwards through the parking garage with her friend at her side. Seeing Bulma's legs stud with goose pimples and her slowing gait, Dr. Atomica slung an arm around her shaking shoulders.

"One step at a time. C'mon you're Bulma Briefs, remember?" she urged. Bulma nodded and let herself be dragged along by the slightly older woman. She guessed Dr. Atomica was barely thirty.

"How do you manage a kid and a full time job?"

"I have a nanny and daycare. But the father DOES show some interest. Even though we're not 'together' he still takes the baby on weekends. And he DOES pay child support. But since your kid's father is an alien prince I don't know if you'd have to worry about that," said she. Bulma laughed nervously, feeling the knot in her stomach lessening.

"No court will want to even TOUCH this custody agreement," said she.

"Are you sure that you don’t want to tell your parents now? It's not like they can…"

"They can disinherit me," she mumbled. "And the scandal… my dad's old fashioned."

"What a load of bullshit. Well let's take this one step at a time. Mind the step," she said. Fortunately they were soon sitting in the waiting room of the clinic. Bulma thumbed through the magazine nervously while Polly checked her watch. Then they let the receptionist admit them to the clinic. Along with other mothers and families they were in good company.
***

"So is this your first?" asked the nurse, taking Bulma's temperature.

"Yes," Bulma said.

"You two must be very happy," said she, glancing at Dr. Atomica. Bulma blinked.

"Oh no… we're not a couple. I'm just bringing her here," Polly laughed with a wave of her hand.

Bulma's blue eyes widened and she whispered, " what the hell was that about?"

"Obviously she thinks that you and I must be lesbian lovers having a kid. Don't sweat it. That shows you how open minded the people at this clinic are. I'd say it was a good sign," said she.

"Is everything confidential?" Bulma whispered.

"Of course. Sorry about the confusion. I just started here two months ago," the nurses aid apologized, blushing. The slight bulge at her abdomen gave Bulma some reassurance that someone else was facing the same immediate concerns though further along.

"She's just not used to the idea of… being a mother," Dr. Atomica said.

"I'm scared to death," whispered Bulma with wide eyes. "I feel sick."

"Here, let me get you to lay down on the examining table. Then I'll get the GYN to look at you, Miss," said the nurse assistant. With Dr. Atomica's help they walked Bulma into the nearest examining room. Wax paper crackled under Bulma's backside when they helped her sit on the table. Dr. Atomica physically helped lift the smaller woman in her arms to the nurse aid's appreciation.

"If you'll lay back I'll get you something. And if you're feeling up to it, make sure she puts this on," said the aid.

"Remind me to complain," Bulma groaned, pressing her hand to her mouth. Polly smoothed her hair from her forehead.

"Easy, relax," she said quietly. Shaking her head she glared up at the ceiling as if to confront the absent father light years away in space.
***
An ultrasound technician soon slathered gel over Bulma's belly. She tried not to squeal with laughter at the smooth probe gliding over back and forth. In the small wedge of sound they saw odd shapes that the tech tried her best to decipher. Into view swam a small empty oval, which the tech pointed to.

"It's one sac. Looks like you're a few weeks along all right! Congratulations, you’re a mother, Miss Briefs," said the tech.

"Remember no reporters get wind of this or its you're job!" said Bulma angrily.

"Of course not!" said the tech.

"Easy Bulma," said Polly, sitting with her arms folded across her chest. Her eyes softened at the sight of the amniotic sac and a small shape inside jarring into view then slipping out as the tech tapped keys and froze the frame.

"It's so small, I can't see it," Bulma said.

"Let her hear the heartbeat if she can," said Dr. Atomica. Nodding the tech waved for the other nursing tech to grab a small handheld Doppler. Seconds later Bulma's heart pounded at the sound of the monitor, and a fast whooshing noise.

"A heartbeat?" Bulma blinked, looking down at her belly. She only had a slight pooch on her normally flat toned abdomen.

"That's it, very strong. Looks like you were twelve weeks along instead of eight. You remember…" Dr. Iodine asked.

"I do," Bulma said quickly. "And so does the father. But he's not available."

"Well we can give you some helpful literature and a prescription for prenatal that will help. And of course the blood tests will show us more information. But don't hesitate to schedule your next visit. And don't worry. We'll be discrete, Bulma," said Dr. Iodine.

"My parents don't know. And I don't WANT them to know," Bulma swallowed hard.

"Understood," the doctor nodded. She motioned for the techs to pack up the ultrasound, and then a small clicking noise was heard followed by the hiss of a printer.

"What's that?" Bulma panicked.

"Would you like a picture of your baby, miss?" asked the technician. "I know it's small, but sometimes it helps to relate…"

She passed the picture to Bulma, and she swallowed hard to see the small shadows showing the sack and something not much larger. Nevertheless Bulma's throat choked and she felt some sense of relief. It was a real live baby, and not an abstract concept any longer. Hearing that heartbeat had made her son a reality she could finally accept.

"My son," she murmured, laughing almost hysterically as she felt herself pass out on the exam table.

"Ms. Briefs!" the tech groaned.

"Bulma," breathed Polly sharply.

"Don't worry, we'll take care of her. If necessary we can admit her to a hospital for observation," said Dr. Iodine.

"You don't get it. The child's father… is not a NORMAL person. Any tests you get results from, if they are anomalous, you can't let anyone know," said Dr. Atomica as she gave Dr. Iodine a meaningful look.

"Is the father… a Reclassified?" asked her with a voice in a whisper.

"You could say that. He's not anything like an ordinary human if that's what you mean," said Dr. Atomica.

"Ah, I see. Don't worry. I see that you know more about this sort of thing then you let on. Fair enough. I'll recommend someone with experience with Reclassified and their families," said she.

Reclassified was a label for someone who had been genetically altered during any experiment by anyone associated with the Red Ribbon Army or other illegal genetic research. King Furry's provision had granted amnesty and anonymity to any anomalous alterations of nature. This included those many would call 'freaks'. While sentient animals were common, there were a preponderance of mutants from the labs of Dr. Minos and ones like the lost Dr. Cochin and Dr. Uiro. The unholy trinity of genetic researchers had produced many a bio warrior that only wished to live under a new identity. Medical treatment for such bio or genetic refugees was handled under Provision 51.

Dr. Iodine scribbled down a number and showed it to the scientist. As Bulma muzzle came around she blinked up in shock to see the two women talking seriously in hushed voices. "What's going on?"

"Ms. Briefs, I'm simply giving you the name of a physician who can handle Provision 51 cases such as yours," said she.

"P… provision 51?" Bulma stammered.

"It's okay, they're on our side, Bulma. They won't breathe a word to anyone. And you'll get the best care this world can offer," Dr. Polly Atomica whispered. Bulma nodded gratefully, and took the folded bit of paper offered.

"Don't worry. You're in good hands with this doctor," Iodine nodded. She slipped out, leaving both women alone in the exam room.

"I'll leave so you can get dressed Bulma," said Polly. She squeezed her friend's shaking hand. Bulma nodded weakly and sat alone in the sterile room. Burying her head in her hands she felt the tears leak down her cheeks.

"Damn you Vegeta," she whispered to none in particular. Already under Provision 51 she was relegated to a code of silence that would forever raise the eyebrows of any of her Z warrior friends. Some of them had received treatment in such centers. Nevertheless the unspoken code among society would wonder why she was being so evasive. Sooner or later Yamcha would pry, and her other friends.