Chapter 4:

Alien among Aliens

Turles slowly came awake to the sound of insistent chatter and beeping. "Beep, chatter, beep, chatter." Shut it, he thought. He noticed speaking was difficult; as if someone had closed his throat with something scratchy.

"Beep, chatter, beep, chatter." Shut it I said. Still no sound came forth.

"Beep, chatter, beep, chatter." The beeping he could have ignored if it sounded alone, but that mixed with the chatter he could not. He seemed to be able to understand most of what was being said. This puzzled him. Still they were talking in whispers and rather fast for him. Turles couldn't stand anymore.

"SHUT IT!" was finally expelled from him feeling raspy and rough in his throat. Those two words burned his lungs as if they hadn't been forced to such work in a very long time. Plus he had tried to yell them but had come out as a whisper. What's going on? His thoughts raced to the memory of the haul failure, the loss of air, and then the blackness. All was still black.

Of course he had yet to open his eyes. Fear of what lay beyond the lids kept him from opening them. Plus the fact that it hurt a lot and that keeping them shut helped ease the pain. So he laid there willing the pain in both chest and throat to subside. Only then did he notice the other aches his body was producing. He could barely think of anything else, save for the other life forms surrounding him.

Turles suspected there were four; two male and two female. Saiyan instincts really came in handy when sight was not an option. From the chatter he deciphered the pitch and tone by listening to the chatter, even if they were whispering. And though the room had a hint of cleaners he could smell each scent they gave off. The two females were to his right, a male at his feet, and the other male to his left.

"Beep, beep, beep, beep." Now the chatter stops. So caught up in his own thoughts he missed his own heart beat changing the tempo of the beeps and thus gaining the notice of the others. The silence was broken by a soft, female voice saying, "Well, he's awake."

Turles snapped his eyes open in understanding and was nearly blinded by the harsh light. He closed them just as quickly. He tried again but slowly this time. The light didn't hurt and the first thing he saw was one of the females.

He was shocked by the pull not only on his groin but also on his heart as well. He hadn't had much contact, other than casual sex, with women so an attraction by emotion was never experienced before. Sure she resembled a Saiyan female with the common black hair and eyes, but to him she was gorgeous. He never thought he would like the plain Saiyan look, instead thinking he would be attracted to the exotic blues, purples, and reds. Now he didn't care.

He looked her over with just his eyes. Turles thought she was everything a Saiyan mate should be: not too tall, hips rounded just enough to bear his children, waist dipped in for a slight hourglass look, flat stomach, breasts full and uplifted, shoulders sturdy, and of course he couldn't see her rear but he was sure it was just as Saiyan-like. The one feature he would enjoy looking at all the time was her lovely face. This is what set her apart from the plain Saiyan girls. Hers was soft and gentle with a sweetness that some women back home lacked and would never admit to ever dreaming of wanting. He REALLY liked that about her already. He also was turned on by her, but couldn't do a anything about it; he was restrained.

He was forced to move his eyes away from her and look at what held him down. He was encased in a pod like contraption. He tried to move but this caused his body to rebel and fire spread through it. Never had he felt this way. The last broken bone he had was an arm and he had been 12. And at that age the few days it took to heal were the worst; no play or fight time. The good thing was that the arm had healed and was better than before. So thinking of the positive end result of the current pain helped ease said pain.

Then thoughts of what caused the pain made him close his eyes with a small groan. The attack. Thought I was sure to die. Almost did, too. Oh no, please, he thought while groaning again. Please have not let Kakarot hear my goodbye. Turles knew Kakarot would not have broken her promise, but in those few minutes when his pod was going down his heart had to have stopped. The thought of her life and that of her child's ending on account of his careless mind whisper had him groaning again. She never goes back on a promise. He was grasping at straws and breathes, anything to help ease the pain in his heart at the thought of her dying because of him.

But the rough pulling in of air was just causing him pain and soon he was coughing uncontrollably. A soft hand was on his cheek and a calm, soothing voice was speaking to him, "calmly, calmly. Take shallow breaths." He began to take slow, steady breaths and began to relax. Thus his lungs were set free from pain. Turles realized it was not from understanding the words, because that should freak him out, but it was by the tone she used. It was vaguely like what he remembered his mother using to help ease his pains as a child.

Again he opened his eyes but this time rested only a little on his dark beauty. He gave his stiff neck a move to look at who else was in the room, probably gawking at him. There was the other female. She had blue hair and blue eyes, which startled Turles. Back home colored hair was rare and exotic but was generally bred in hybrids. But it was the startling Royal family blue eyes on a woman. Saiyans of Royal birth were the only ones to inherit that trait, more often than not in the males; The Queen was an exception to that rule but not other Saiyans (why? you ask cause I said so ;P and she's a royal).

Still Turles looked her over, more quickly than his former appraisal. She was bustier and her hips larger but not at all unappealing. She just didn't compare to his woman. He smirked inside and thought that sounded nice.

Turles moved to the male standing at the foot of his container. And what he saw shocked him more than his mating thoughts. There standing arms crossed and a scowl on his face was a Namekian warrior. Turles had never personally gone up against the race but school and military training went into great detail about them. According to Saiyan history when first looking for a permanent planet to live the Saiyans had landed on a life sustaining world inhabited by green scaly males. And typical of Saiyans they began to purge. Two days into the "eviction" process the sky turned black and seconds later cleared. With the clear skies came the warriors that previously were not present and were not suppose to be there.

The typical first day of a purge is a survey. This was conducted to determine if the world was worth aligning with, or just purging completely and selling. The list of questions for alignment qualifications are thus: is the technology advanced enough, is the race a good stock for slave trade, how is the food, and does it have natives that may be compatible to mate with the Saiyan race?

The Namekian survey showed that the population was made up of an asexual race consisting of only males; yeah ALL males. The food was ghastly and there was hardly any vegetation. There was no technology what so ever. That left the slave trade; which this race was determined to become. Within this race each had a specific role. They had healers, elders, bearers, growers, and younglings. Each would be of use to someone in the galaxy. But NO warriors had been among them. So when suddenly there they were it was a surprise.

As the story goes the Saiyan warriors were no match for the new arrivals. Unlike the Saiyans the Namekians were merciful and let the Saiyans leave, alive. It was told to teach children that each had to strive to be better than any past warriors and that no species was our equal. It also taught that the Namekian world was off limits to settle. The Namekians were somewhat admired for their strength by many Saiyans for being able to keep them out. Thus the world would be considered allies and under the Saiyan Empire's protection, even without a treaty being signed. A treaty as signed only later when the Ice Empire was threatening to purge Namek and the Saiyans fought to save it.

Other classes of history and anatomy of enemies, allies and other creatures showed the differences in the green statuses. The warrior was the most distinguished; taller, slimmer, muscular, longer antennas, less pink patches of skin, protective to the point of aggressive, and fearless. Their sexuality has yet to be known but is speculated to be vastly different from the others. The known attributes is why Turles knew this male was a warrior and in acknowledgement curled his lip in a nasty snarl. The Namekian did likewise. Obviously he knows or speculates what I am.

Then a little, old, mustached man literally popped in front of Turles view. His hair was a softer blue than the females but Turles could tell they were related. The old man's mouth seemed to be deciding if it wanted to keep the smoking stick in it or not. And when he spoke a puff of smoke escaped and caused Turles to go into another coughing fit. His eyes also began to burn as he thought what was that? Smoking was not part of the Saiyan culture. It was deemed bad because it was a deterrent to one's health and growth of strength, so Turles was not used to it. Even with the pain Turles wondered how the stick had not even fallen out as the man had said, "fascinating."

And of course the coughing made the rest of his body hurt again. The old man was pushed away with a reprimand. As the coughing subsided Turles tried to actually take in a damage detail of his body. He got to his chest when the Namekian spoke.

"I still think we should kill it before it can do any harm." He said it with anger and disgust.

Turles found it strange he could understand most of what was being said. He also noticed that the other occupants did not notice he understood them because they went right on talking about him as if he weren't there. I will use this as an advantage to learn more about these people. And how I ended up here… alive. Wasn't I headed for a dead planet?

"What harm can a hurt man do," asked his beauty.

"It's what it will do AFTER it's all healed that I'm worried about." Why does he keep calling me an it when I've got male parts and I'm pretty sure he doesn't. Technically he's an it not me.

"We don't know anything about him; he could be on our side." Turles wanted to nod in agreement but if he did then they would see he understood them.

"I highly doubt that." The Namekian retorted.

"I'm telling you, Piccolo, he's not going to be able to move with all those casts or with all the tranquilizers I gave him." So the Namekian is named Piccolo.

"Aren't tranquilizers suppose to keep it sedated, Bulma," he said sarcastically, "it's awake now." But the blue haired woman named Bulma kept talking as if Piccolo hadn't spoken.

"Plus the walls are reinforced like prison walls. And by the time he heals we can determine if he is a threat or not."

"We can learn about him," said the beauty.

"Women." Piccolo threw his hands into the air as he continued, "you don't seem to understand how dangerous he can be." A long green finger was pointed at Turles' chest. But even with a threat all Turles thought was finally I get respect for my sex. "His power level was higher than any other I have come up against." Was? Does that mean it dropped? Not possible, thought Turles. Then he remembered and thought, oh yes I had no air for a little bit and probably was dead for a bit; that would cause my ki to drop. It will only get stronger now that I'm damaged and healing. Note to self: keep it lowered if green bean can detect with no scouter. He may prove to be dangerous to my health after all.

"Higher than yours," asked beauty? I really need to know her name.

"Well…no. That's not the point Chi-Chi." Ahh so her name is Chi-Chi. Nice.

"Yes it is. All you are trying to do is get rid of him because you're afraid of his power level being higher than yours." Turles was surprised a seemingly fragile woman talking in such a manner to a powerful warrior. It was Saiyan-like and he smirked. I like that.

"…" was the Namekians answer.

"Then go train to get stronger than him," Bulma said. "It will be months before he's able to sit up let alone walk and fight." Months? Turles wanted to laugh. Little did they know Saiyans heal fast and the months Bulma predicted will actually be weeks, two at the most. If only I could find out the extent of my injuries then I would know for sure. He was pulled out of his thought by Piccolo speaking.

"Is the GR working?" GR, what is that?

"Yes," Bulma replied. So Piccolo turned and walked out. Then the woman turned to her father and asked, "What do you think about us saving him?"

The old man just looked at Turles with an interested stare and responded, " I could care less what you do with him, and I just want a good look at him. Think my first alien." Both women looked at each other in astonishment and the back at him, then burst out laughing.

"Dad," Bulma said in between laughs, "Piccolo is also one and you've seen him around for years." The old man now looked astonished. Turles was astonished also that they knew what a Namekian was and tolerated him. Where am I that a Namekian is an ally to these people?

"Really, Piccolo? Never would have guessed it." And the girls laughed harder. He left with the sound of their giggles at his back.

"Bulma, sometimes I wonder about your dad. I mean he's a genius and all but he's not all there." Chi-Chi was pointing to her head when she said the last part. She was still smiling and if Turles were standing his knees would be weak. That smile affected him so.

"I know, right? Makes me wonder too." There was a little silence as both women calmed from giggling. Then as one they looked at him as if finally remembering he was there. Turles smiled back at them.

"Do you think he understands us" asked Chi-Chi?

"He's probably responding to our gaiety. I would take it as a good sign that he is friendly." You have no idea he thought. Of course he was friendly, but he was also dangerous as the Namekian said.

"But talking to him would be useful."

"No doubt, but until we can figure out what he speaks and also understand it we'll just have to use hand gestures." They lapsed into silence and basically just stared at him. Which usually wouldn't bother him but his beauty, Chi-Chi, was making a piece of his anatomy swell as much as it could in the constrains of his cast.

Turles felt a little confused as to why he had this instant attraction to this female. He had no idea of what race or origin she was, but he wanted her. Usually an instant arousal was specifically for ones mate and only after being mated. It was said to have to do with the formation of a mate bond, but not to be confused with a heart bond. This is a rare bond that joins the two mates completely and forever. This bond has to be from both sides and witnessed by others to be truly historical. Many mates had tried to achieve this but one or two things usually are missing to make it complete. There are three distinct traits to a heart bond: children, telepathy, and love.

Turles himself had only witnessed a true heart bond once; the King and Queen. Theirs above all other bonds had all the traits, including the most elusive one: love. The Saiyans have the capacity to love greatly but they tend to spread it around too much. Not all Saiyans loved their mates but only wanted them around for making food or to have sex with. This sharing of the love, as it can be called, made it uncommon for a Saiyan couple to have more than two children together. This may sound odd but a male did not always have a child with just one female but with possibly three or four. This was normal behavior for Saiyan males.

But in recent times more females would not stand for her male to be with any other female but her. So the common practice of multiply mates was decreasing. The decrease in females being born also was a factor in one male per one female ratio to increase. And still couples usually strived for no more than two children. Turles thought of his father and the many children he had. If not for Goten I would believe my parents had had a heart bond. But Goten had been born after his mother had died.

It was after his little brother was brought into the home that Turles disbelieved in his parents bond. But it had been hard to give up. They had all the traits. Turles had seen the way his parents would look at each other all gooey eyed and they seemed to be able to talk without actually talking. Mom would know the minute dad would get home. She used to run to the door to greet him. When he was hungry she would have a snack waiting for him. When he was frustrated she would be there to challenge him to a spar or lead him to the bedroom. But being that Turles mom was a twin herself maybe gave her the ability to use telepathy on everyone she loved.

Telepathy was not unheard of by the Saiyans. They had conquered or allied with races that had this ability since birth and so were aware of it. Turles was very close to the subject since he had a twin and shared that telepathic ability with his sister. Other Saiyans did not unless they had a heart bond. Scientists have been curious as to why certain races have telepathy and experiments abound after said race has been discovered. They would have had a field day with Turles and Kakarot if not for their fathers quick thinking in telling people that the twins were in fact not twins, but only siblings. But now the whole planet knows we were in fact twins. I wonder if the science division will test her blood now. He laughed at what they would find. Or maybe what they won't find, after all Bardock was the lead scientist and had a penchant to hide facts about his own family.

Turles always had a feeling that when he bonded it would be a heart bond. Being so in touch with his self due to the relationship he had with Kakarot it seemed logical. The woman he mated with would end up being forever. And now here he was half heart bonding to an unknown female of unknown origin. What he didn't know was if it would be returned. He figured he would get over it soon and find someone else eventually if she didn't feel the same. Though the feeling is still there, I can feel it growing.

He had a while to think about it. Heck I have a few weeks to heal. Perhaps I will use my time here to get to know her. He smiled to himself. Yes I won't be bad at all but rather I will be like Kakarot's Goku all carefree and open. And as soon as he had the thought that for a new planet and a new life it was decided he would have a new name; Goku Son.

And apparently a new language. It did sound familiar but from where? He was sure he only knew two languages; his native Saiyan and the one he was learning while on route to planet Diamond. Then he remembered as a picture of Kakarot popped into his head, but only she was her six year old self and not her grown up self. She was laughing at him as he tried to learn the new language.

Being that she was a daughter of a Son, Kakarot was given the privilege to learn the language that only Son females knew. The language was brought back by an ancestor when he returned from an off world mission. He taught it only to his daughter, of which he had three. The language had something to do with a prophecy the twins would learn about later when their mother lay dying.

So wanting to use the new language more Kakarot had taught Turles. Of course that was forbidden by Son elders, but the children didn't care. He had been slow to learn and was never very good at the speaking part, but was he ever good at the writing. I always was skilled more with my hands than my tongue, he thought. Kakarot would talk and he would dictate to paper. That always irked Kakarot that he had such girly penmanship and she had terrible penmanship. They used the language as a means to talk in front of their father without him knowing what they were saying. It worked great when he tried to force them to not use telepathy.

The twins had ended up breaking a lot of rules. Later it was realized that the Son elders would have punished Kakarot terribly if they had found out a male Son had knowledge of the language. But Turles mentally thanked Kakarot's foresight to be the first to break a long tradition because now he knew Chi-Chi's language. I am a little rusty but all I need is a practice and I will be fluent in it again.

Best introduce myself and break the ice. So he began in Saiyan saying, "hello. I am Goku Son." Both women looked at him in surprise, but they stayed silent. He continued, "I mean you no harm." And he meant that, too. Ok so nether knows Saiyan, on to the next. He tried the Diamond language using the same phrases. Still no recollection and shocked expressions.

So he tried the Son language and both woman took a step back gasping in surprise. Ok so they got it that time. But that is strange. How do they know the secret language? Is this where it came from? And how did the old Son learn it? So many questions but for now he had to concentrate on the women. He could hear their breathing change from calm to anxious. Also their heart rates went up.

Bulma grabbed a pair of scissors off the table behind her and pointed them at Turles. He just quirked an eyebrow at her. She asked slowly, "how do you know our language? An old, very old, version but ours none the less?" Old? I was doing my best to get it right. She's the one that sounds odd, not me.

Turles didn't answer her because Chi-Chi began to talk, "old Bulma, how so? I understood him just fine." So I had said it right. Then what is Bulma talking about.

"Well yes of course, but his is old English. People don't speak like that unless they go to those renaissance fairs." (ok so I have no idea how to speak let alone write old English so from now on it will just be modern English)

"So," asked Chi-Chi confused?

"So? So what if Piccolo was right and he is here to conquer us and only learned English to threaten us?" Bulma was still pointing the sharp looking scissors at Turles face and being unable to defend him didn't like the weapon much. If he could move he would have grabbed them out of her hand. He did notice they were shaking a little from her nerves.

"But old English? Don't you think he would have learned the new version before he came to destroy us?" Chi-Chi sounded unconvinced of his evilness.

"…" was Bulma's response.

Turles was tired of waiting for them to decide if knowing that he knew their language was good or bad. Only one way to show them I'm good. He spoke again, "hand writing." He nudged his head to the pod and it made a tap tap sound where his right hand was located. This he realized was not as badly injured as the rest of him.

"I think he wants to write something."

"But his arm…" Bulma gestured with the scissors but didn't finish what she was going to say.

"Just get some paper," Chi-Chi said rolling her eyes. "That one was fine only a little bruised. You just were afraid it could do damage and so bandaged it. We need to learn to trust." Even commanding as a Saiyan woman. But is that a good thing?

With a huff Bulma handed Chi-Chi the scissors and turned back to the table behind them. While she looked for paper Chi-Chi moved forward to Turles side. She had her arms up in an offensive manner and Turles lifted an eyebrow in surprise. Of course she had no idea I won't hurt her. She pushed a few buttons on the side of the pod and whoosh he was free. Ok so only his right arm was free but it was enough to feel air on his skin.

Chi-Chi began cutting Turles out and he noticed the scissors tremble in her hands. Is she really that scared of me? Of course he was pointedly staring at her which was a little rude and unnerving. He couldn't help it; all he wanted to do was stare at her.

He could feel the bindings coming loose as she neared his shoulder. Turles felt her hand tense on his arm and looked at her face. She had her eyes held tightly closed and her head turned slightly away. Didn't she know that showed off her lovely neck even more? He gently lifted his hand and stroked her cheek. Then they were staring at each other; her eyes wide in surprise and his warm in longing. He smiled at her and she lost her footing.

The moment was broken by Bulma saying, "Alright if he wants to write to communicate so be it." And with that she forced a quill into his hand. But it was one he had never seen before. How am I suppose to write with no ink? He gave the woman a sour look while twiddling with the quill (so Saiyans are pretty advanced but some technology is still lost to them, that's why they seek it out).

"Oh for goodness sakes. It's a pen and it already has ink in it. Neanderthal." Bulma took the pen and wrote 'idiot' on the paper. His look of surprise so startled the girls they both laughed. But Turles paid them no mind, his was focused on the 'pen' as Bulma had called it. He began to draw circles on his paper to experiment and see if indeed it wouldn't need more ink. More lines and spirals joined the circles on the paper.

"Just write," Bulma boomed as she rolled her eyes. Turles thought he heard her mutter something about stupid man under her breath.

"Bulma…" Chi-Chi chided.

Turles stopped his doodling, deciding that it would take a lot for the ink to dissolve or run out. He began to write. He decided he like this 'pen' device and how well he could write with it. I may take few home with me. That is if I ever make it home?

"My name is Goku Son," he began. " I was traveling on an ally mission when my pod was attacked. I thought I would be left for dead." He turned the paper towards them and let them read it, all the while hoping they could. But by their faces the obviously couldn't. They looked puzzled.

"Um… pod?" Bulma said at last. While Chi-Chi said, "Son?" they had asked the words at the same time. Turles was thinking, so they do understand. The two woman looked at each other and simultaneously asked the other, "does that mean something?"

Turles wanted to go on but apparently the fact that they had spoken at the same time was funny and the two were giggling. He coughed to gain their attention. It did but only for his beauty. Bulma also stopped laughing due to the starring contest Turles was having with Chi-Chi.

"Explain pod," Bulma asked. She handed the sheet back expertly breaking the contest.

"My space pod? It is a personal space ship capable of travel 10 times faster than a 10 class cruiser." He wrote to mirror his thoughts.

"So where is it?" Bulma asked after reading and seeming to understand what it said. Chi-Chi was little confused by her look. The question had been directed at Chi-Chi after all.

"Did you not find me in it? With my injuries I'm surprised I'm not still stuck in it." Turles had grabbed a new leaf of paper to ask that.

"Chi-Chi?"

"Dad didn't say anything about a spaceship. He just showed up at our house bearing a injured tailed man. Then we brought him straight here."

"Well ask him where or how he found him." Bulma sounded annoyed pointing at Turles.

"Fine!" Chi-Chi sort of stomped over to the door and after taking a deep breath she yelled, "DAD!"

Turles winced tough he was smiling. His sensitive hearing slightly damaged but he was glad she even yelled like a Saiyan female. Maybe I'm on a long forgotten settlement? He shook that thought off because no planet was EVER forgotten. But then the room began to shake as loud footsteps were heard from outside. A very large man squeezed himself into the room and made it seem tiny. The size of the man made Turles reconsider his first thought. He was used to huge Saiyan males like Nappa, but this man was a giant compared to them. And this is her dad?

"Yes, Chi-Chi?" the big ox asked. His voice was gentle and not at all what you would expect from a man his size.

"Where did you find this man?" she asked pointing at Turles; who in turn gave a little wave with his free arm. The ox returned it with a little smile. Ok scratch him being of Saiyan descent, he is way too gentle to be one.

"Out in the desert."

"In…?" the tone was one a mother would use in asking a small child a question.

His response was told with a small voice and a guilty lowering of his head, "in a weird sort of can. It was all scrunched up and broken."

"Could you find it again Ox King?" the man's name is really Ox and here I was just calling him like I saw it. The woman must take after her mother, thank goodness. Turles had to stop his train of thought because it was gearing towards images of a woman Chi-Chi size giving birth to a huge child that the Ox King must have been. TMI (Too Much Imagery) thought Turles.

"I suppose so." The Ox scratched his beard. "But why, it's useless now?"

It looked like Bulma didn't want to answer, especially in front of Turles. It was after all his pod they were talking about. But finally she said, "I have my reasons."

The Ox King shrugged his massive shoulders and said, "Ok." With that he turned and the floor shook again as he walked out. Both woman turned back to look at Turles.

"Piccolo was right, he's not from here." Bulma only nodded toward Turles this time. So Namekian knows what I am, an alien. But does he know for sure what origin?

Now comes the hysterics, he thought. It always happened when Saiyans landed on a new planet and the purging process began. The inhabitants would realize who they were and begin screaming while pointing and trying to run. Of course Turles had never experienced this but heard it from his male relatives who had.

But none came. Both woman were staring at him in wonder. "Alien," they both said, only one said it in amazement and the other in shock. Hadn't they just laughed at the old man for making the same statement? Haven't they known the Namekian long enough to not be new to the idea of an alien in their midst?

He nodded to accept the term. All this excitement was draining and he felt tired all of a sudden. He was going to close his eyes for only a little but as he was lowering his lids Chi-Chi moved close to him saying, "It's strange but for the tail he could pass for one of us."

Turles was wide awake again in a panic. OMG I can't tell if it's still there. Not being able to move any of his lower body he couldn't tell. He did feel the stroking movement on his arm and the soothing voice saying, "it's still there."

He looked into her eyes to see if she was lying but they held no deception. How could she know how much a tail means to a Saiyan? If she had she would be telling me it was removed due to damage, but really for safety reasons. Just another thing to hide from her.

Now calm again he felt tired once again. Why do I feel like this suddenly? The last thing he saw before closing his eyes was his black beauty, Chi-Chi, smiling at him. The last thought was how good his dreams would be.