"Bulma, you need a rest," ChiChi walked over to Bulma, holding a cup of coffee. Bulma had been sitting in front of her computer for how long, ChiChi didn't know. Her lab was still a mess as she had only repaired the essential machineries involved in building the time machine. She didn't look up from her calculations. "I'm OK. Now stop bothering me!" she snapped.
"Bulma.." ChiChi was about to snap back, but stopped herself. She understood Bulma's feelings. She herself had been in a similar, "no,worse," ChiChi corrected herself, condition after Gohan died. Bulma and Trunks had taken care of her as best as they could, until one day she snapped out of it and finally accepted the fact of Gohan's death. Now Trunks was missing and Bulma was trying to get him back. ChiChi could not hope to even understand Bulma's work, she only understood enough to know that they still had no clear idea what had happened, and without that information it would be near impossible to find him and bring him back. They didn't even know whether he was still alive...
ChiChi decided to leave Bulma alone. She left the cup of coffee at her desk and walked toward the window. She looked out. It was still early in the morning, and it was raining hard. It must be really cold outside. Suddenly, one of Bulma's domestic robots entered the room. "Visitor for Ms. Bulma," the robot announced. ChiChi turned to Bulma, who seemed oblivious to everything but the figures on the screen of her computer. "Never mind, I'll get it myself," ChiChi sighed and followed the robot to the front door.
A figure covered in a dark-coloured raincoat stood at the door. ChiChi welcomed the visitor in. "Good morning. My name is Maki," their visitor introduced herself. "I have an appointment with Ms. Bulma today." She took off her wet raincoat and bowed politely to ChiChi.
"Ah.. Good morning," ChiChi returned the greeting. "Bulma is busy right now, but I'll take you to her lab." She motioned to the young woman to follow her.
"Thank you," Maki ran her hand through her green hair, which was a bit wet at the edges from the heavy rain. She took off her glasses, wiped them with a hanky and put them on again.
They reached Bulma's lab. "Bulma," ChiChi called out. "There's a young lady here to see you."
Bulma still didn't look up. "Who is it?"
Maki was startled by Bulma's snappish tone. "Ah.. My name is Maki. I came for the job interview for the post of assistant scientist." She introduced herself, then explained further. "You scheduled an appointment for last week, but you postponed it to today."
Bulma made no reply. Maki turned to ChiChi. "Please don't be offended, Maki-san. She's having a rough time right now. She's just lost her son, you see," ChiChi explained.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Maybe I should come back another time?" Maki glanced at Bulma sympathetically.
"Well, have a rest first," ChiChi said. "You must be cold. Why don't you have a seat and I'll make you a hot drink. You can leave when the weather gets better."
Maki started to thank ChiChi, but was cut short by Bulma's voice. "You're hired! Your first task is to help me find Trunks!"
Maki opened her mouth to thank Bulma, but the genius scientist was back to her computer again. Bulma's newly hired assistant turned to ChiChi questioningly. "Trunks is her son," ChiChi explained.
"Oh..." Maki looked over at Bulma with even more sympathy. Obviously, Bulma was too overcome by her grief to act rationally. She was well known as a genius scientist and inventor, and Maki considered it an honour to have the opportunity to work with her. But she was starting to have doubts now. "Should I accept?" she thought. "This is the only place where I can fully utilise my talents and skills." Capsule Corporation's technology is unsurpassed on this planet, and to this young scientist, the thought of all the technology waiting for her to test her theories and ideas was something to be drooled over. And anyway, she does need the income. She's just been kicked out of her room for not being able to pay the rent. On the other hand, *Bulma-is-trying-to-get-her-dead-son-back-to-life!* Scenes from Frankenstein flashed in Maki's mind, with Bulma as the mad scientist Dr. Frankenstein, herself as the faithful assistant Igor, and Trunks as their grotesque creation. "Ow!"
ChiChi had hit her head with a teaspoon. "Don't speak that way of the people who saved our world from the cyborgs!"
Maki rubbed her head. "How did you-- Oh. I must've been talking to myself again. Wait, did you say saved us from the cyborgs? What's Mr.Satan got to do with this?"
ChiChi sighed. "I'm not talking about that fool." She motioned for Maki to sit down and handed her another cup of hot tea. "I have a long story to tell you. You can make up your mind whether you want to work here after I'm finished."