Three months was too long.
Far too long.
If we waited that long, we would arrive after Frieza… or worse, after Vegeta.
That was unacceptable.
"We're cutting it down to one month," I muttered to myself.
Acceleration
The laboratory was filled with movement.
Metal. Sparks. Motion.
I increased the number of Battle Puppets to twenty-four.
Each one built with a specific purpose.
Each one assigned a task.
"Oracle," I said, not looking away from my work. "Delegate construction support to all available units."
[Acknowledged.]
Since I could only control four puppets at once without collapsing, the rest were handed over to the Oracle Module.
Unlike me—
They didn't need rest.
Didn't need sleep.
Didn't slow down.
So when I finally forced myself to rest, the work didn't stop.
It continued.
Relentlessly.
The Ship
The blueprint evolved faster than expected.
What was originally a large vessel had now become something else entirely.
"…This is more than a ship," I murmured, staring at the projection.
It could now house over fifty people comfortably.
Even after allocating massive space for:
training zones
mechanical systems
laboratories
My father's voice echoed through the communicator.
"This is insane, Bulma. Do you even know how big this is getting?"
"I do," I replied calmly. "Can you build it?"
A pause.
"…Yeah. But you're pushing the limits."
"Good."
Recovery
On the other side of things—
Goku recovered exactly as I predicted.
The healing pod functioned perfectly.
When the chamber opened, Goku stepped out, stretching his arms as if he had just woken from a nap.
"Wow! I feel great!" he said with a grin.
"Dad!" Gohan ran toward him immediately.
Chi-Chi followed, relief clear on her face.
I crossed my arms.
"Twelve hours," I said. "Exactly as calculated."
Goku looked at me.
"So what's going on, Bulma?"
The Plan
I explained everything.
Namek.
Frieza.
The timeline.
The room grew quiet.
"…So we're going there before he does," Goku said.
"Yes."
"And we train before that."
"Yes."
He grinned.
"Sounds fun."
Of course it did.
Training Assignments
I organized everyone quickly.
"Goku," I said, turning to him. "You're training with Raditz."
Raditz folded his arms.
"We go all out?" he asked.
"Within limits," I replied. "The healing pods are not miracle items."
Goku laughed.
"Got it!"
"Nappa."
He looked at me immediately.
"Yes, Miss Bulma."
"You'll be sparring with me and Krillin."
Krillin blinked.
"Two against one?"
"Yes."
Nappa smirked slightly.
"…That sounds acceptable."
Limitations
I couldn't give the training my full attention.
Not when—
Half of my mind was still connected to the Battle Puppets.
Still building.
Still working.
So I relied on Krillin.
"Stay alert," I told him quietly.
He nodded.
"I've got your back."
No Shortcuts
I deliberately chose not to use my armor.
Not this time.
"If I rely on it now…" I thought, watching the others prepare, "…my base will never catch up."
This training was for:
real growth
Not artificial advantage.
Strategy for Namek
The plan was clear.
Arrive first.
Warn the Namekians.
Prepare them.
"Evacuation will be necessary," I muttered.
Some would stay.
They always do.
Fighters.
Protectors.
Those who refuse to run.
So I had to prepare for that as well.
A Dangerous Possibility
There was one scenario that bothered me.
If Frieza arrives…
…and finds nothing.
No Dragon Balls.
No Namekians.
Nothing.
"…He might just destroy the planet."
I closed my eyes briefly.
That outcome—
Had to be avoided.
At all costs.
Doubt
Training continued.
Goku.
Raditz.
Nappa.
Krillin.
Even Gohan.
Everyone was growing stronger.
And me?
I looked at my own hands.
Three thousand… maybe a little more now.
Still far behind.
Far too far.
"…Why am I even trying?" I whispered under my breath.
The Answer
Then—
It came back to me.
That future.
The ruined world.
The silence.
The loss.
My expression hardened.
That's why.
Resolve
"I don't need to be the strongest," I said quietly to myself.
"I just need to do everything I can."
Even if I fail—
At least I know:
I didn't stop.
Loneliness
There was one more thing.
Something I didn't say out loud.
Something I couldn't share.
All the knowledge I carried.
The future I remembered.
The things only I knew.
"…It gets lonely," I admitted silently.
But Still…
I looked around.
At Goku laughing.
At Gohan smiling.
At Krillin training.
At Raditz and Nappa preparing.
"…But I'm not alone."
Final Thought
This time—
Things would be different.
They had to be.
And I would make sure of it.