Well here's Chapter 7! Thanks to mr saiyne, Laania, Ryo-chan wolfgirl, JeanneValois and Margo for all the reviews on Chapter 6!

Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or any of the characters, Akira Toriyama does!

...

Wnen Turles returned to his ship, he found the Parithian female polishing the twin blades of her sword. The pirate bit back a smile when he noticed the sudden added vigor to her actions when he passed by. It wasn't hard to tell that the female was still furious with him but she'd cool down after a bit. Hopefully.

Zalas looked from the Saiyan to the woman who appeared absolutely livid. Something had occured between his commander and the assassin and the Arkalete wasn't sure if he cared to find out just what had transpired.

Azir smirked smugly, it didn't concern the Danazan in the least if there was strife between Turles and Lornai. The sooner the commander realized his mistake in recruiting the female, the sooner she'd be dismissed and sent on her way.

" There's going to be a large shipment of Tradarian star diamonds transported from Artessa to planet Tanador. We're going to intercept that shipment " Turles informed his crew.

" We're going to take on an Artessan warship? They won't use anything less to haul something that valuable!" Zalas exclaimed.

" Commander, With all due respect. We don't have the capability to take on a ship of that size not to mention the weaponry on that ship would outclass our armaments in every way " Azir protested.

" I never said we were going to attack the Artessans" Turles broke in.

" Well they're not going to let us just waltz onto the ship, Master Turles" Zalas sighed.

" That's where our lovely Lornai comes in" the Saiyan pirate announced.

Lornai looked over at the dark-skinned Saiyan as she heard her name mentioned. What was Turles up to?...

...

" We're getting a distress signal from coordinates RZ21240 , Captain " the pilot of the huge Artessan warship announced. "Should we respond?

" That's the oldest pirate trick there is, Alonis" the captain replied.

The Artessan race were feline-like creatures with large close-set golden eyes, pointed ears and muscular fur covered bodies that varied in color. They walked upright and wore tunic-like leather garments. Though they seemed gentle in appearance, the Artessans were a fierce warrior race.

" So we're going to ignore the signal, Captain Purvan?"

" See if you can get a visual response and I'll make my decision based on what we observe " the gray tabby furred Captain Purvan ordered.

" Attempting to make visual contact " Alonis declared as he scratched his black furred ears.

The huge visual screen above the ship's controls suddenly lit up. The two Artessan warriors were taken completely by surprise at the image that came over the screen.

A humanoid female with midnight black hair and tawny golden skin appeared. Her clothing was a torn and bloodstained white garment that brushed her slender legs at mid-thigh. Her emerald green eyes were reddened and puffy. It seemed that she had been weeping for some time.

"Oh! Help me! Please!" the woman cried out.

" Who are you? Why are you sending out a distress signal?" Purvan demanded.

" She sure is pretty!" Alonis whispered as he suddenly began smoothing his thick black fur.

Alonis yelped as the captain cuffed his ears " Don't plan on any dates just yet!

" M-My name is Kalashia. I-I 'm the only one left alive on board this ship!"

" What happened to your crew?" Alonis cut in.

" I- I d-dont know! I heard blasting noises and horrible, awful screams s-so I hid in a supply closet I was SO SCARED! I came out when it got quiet and everyone was DEAD! There's blood EVERYWHERE! HELP ME ! PLEASE HELP ME!" the golden-skinned female pleaded.

" She just HID while the whole crew was slaughtered?" the gray tabby captain huffed.

" Hey! When they're that gorgeous, they don't always have a lot upstairs, Captain" the black furred pilot reasoned.

" I suppose we should help her. How much danger could such an obviously pitiful female be?" Purvan sighed.

" We'll pull alongside you and allow you to board..."

...

When Lornai entered the Artessan ship, she quickly dispatched the black and white spotted crew member sent to welcome her aboard. Now to get rid of the rest..

...

" What makes you so sure Lornai can pull this off, Commander?" Azir grumbled.

" Azir, Females are capable of far more than bearing young and preparing meals" Turles insisted.

" Not in a properly run society. On Danazania, women knew their true place " Azir declared.

" Sounds like a most boring planet" the Saiyan pirate teased.

...

The Parithian female was heading to the ship's bridge when two furious Artessan warriors confronted her. She blocked the punch from the first, a large calico male, and sprung into a series of handsprings to avoid the blasts from the second warrior's weapon. Her strong legs wrapped around the neck of her first assailant and a resounding crack gave evidence to his fate. Lornai snatched a concealed dart from beneath her hair and flung it at the orange tabby that held the small blaster.

With a strangled gasp, the orange furred Artessan collapsed. The lethal venom contained in the dart had stopped the feline warrior's heart within seconds.

Unknown to the female elite, the bridge cameras had picked up her recent attack. Captain Purvan and Alonis watched in utter disbelief as the 'pitiful female' decimated part of their crew. Lornai had not chosen to wear her gold armlet on this paticular venture. As the captain caught sight of the flowing script on her arm, his blood seemed to have turned to ice in his veins.

" That woman isn't a victim...she's a professional killer! The mark on her arm, it signifies she's part of an assassin's guild!" Purvan snarled.

"WHAT?" Alonis screeched.

The Artessan captain was beside himself over allowing the 'pitiful' female to come aboard his ship. But she had seemed so helpless, so convincing. Now he had to correct his mistake. He had to protect the Tradarian star diamonds. Each of the fiery blue-white gems worth worth a sizeable fortune. No doubt that's what the female assassin was after. But why had she come alone?

" Danid, Have your squad report to..." Captain Purvan's voice changed to a scream as he felt an intense pain in his back and then nothing.

Alonis looked on in absolute horror as his captain suddenly had a blade protruding from his chest. Purvan fell lifeless to the floor. An ebony-haired, golden-skinned female stood behind him holding a blood-drenched sword that she casually wiped clean on the hapless captain's clothing.

She really was pretty but the Artessan pilot was struck with fear rather than admiration for the female assassin. The black Saiyan armor she wore was intimidating in itself. Her black knee-high boots kicked the captain's body out of her way.

" You'll direct this ship to coordinates KL5728000 if you expect me to allow you to live" Lornai ordered.

Alonis obeyed out of sheer terror...

...

Lornai had searched several compartments in the Artessan warship but found no trace of the fire diamonds. Had Turles's informant been mistaken? As she walked back to the bridge, Alonis announced that they had arrived at the coordinates she had ordered. The pilot had secretly punched in a message for assistance. A team of Artessan warriors would appear from the other section of the ship at any moment.

The ship's floor creaked as Lornai made her way to the pilot's seat. A smile lit her face as she observed the flooring, there was a barely discernable seam between one portion of the floor to the other. There was a secret compartment in the floor! No doubt the diamonds were hidden there.

The female elite smirked as her scouter beeped. Walking up to the control panel Lornai punched several buttons.

" What do you think you're do..." a feral growl from the golden-skinned female silenced the Artessan.

Suddenly the door behind them slid open revealing a squad of four fully armed Artessan warriors. Alonis gave a sigh of relief. Lornai gave the pilot a baleful glare, he must have contacted them as she had disposed of all the crew excepting the black furred pilot.

The four warriors went from two calicos, two of the same hue as the pilot and the leader of the group, an extremely muscular gray and black tabby.

" Great Goddess! Your crew allowed one female to take them out?" the squad leader muttered in disbelief.

" I assure you, she's quite the handful " a chilling voice sounded behind him.

The group of warriors were stunned to see a spiky black-haired Saiyan male in black and silver armor. As he raised his hand, it was the last sight they ever laid eyes on. A powerful ki blast obliterated the Artessan squad. A green -skinned four-armed bald humanoid stepped up to stand beside the Saiyan. Alonis swallowed hard. Surely his fate was sealed.

As Zalas, the lavender-haired Arkalete, entered the ship he saw Lornai walking up to a black-furred feline creature.

" Wait! You SAID you'd let me live !" Alonis protested as the female stood directly in front of him.

" I DIDN'T say for how long!" the Argayan smirked as she blasted the Artessan to oblivion.

' So Saiyan' Turles thought to himself with amusement.

Zalas shuddered as he saw the smirk of approval on Turles's face. No wonder the two got along.

" I don't see any diamonds!" Azir snorted.

Lornai tapped the floor with her foot. Zalas ran his hand around a moment and found the concealed latch that opened a compartment in the floor. Two dozen chests lay in the compartment. When Turles pulled back a lid from a chest, glittering blue-white gems cast colorful prisms across the wall.

" There are your diamonds, Azir" Lornai gloated.

...

Lornai sighed contentedly as she lay back on her bedroll, staring up at the starlit night sky of planet Yelasid. The pleasant climate had the crew sleeping outside rather than in the ship. She had made sure to put a bit of distance between where she and the three males lay sleeping. A slight chill was beginning to be apparent but she was unconcerned as she had brought out a blanket just in case.

After getting the diamonds sold quickly as possible. Turles and his crew had picked up the necessary supplies and had then went to the most elegant establishment in the sector and had ordered the finest food and wine it offered. After the successful raid, price was no object for the Saiyan. The female elite couldn't remember having had such an extravagant but delicious meal.

While in the small shop inside the restaurant, Lornai had admired a gold and emerald necklace. She was stunned when the dark-skinned Saiyan had pressed it into her hands as they boarded the ship. Lornai didn't miss the dispproving glare she recieved from the Danazan male. Azir was highly annoyed when Turles would give her little gifts from time to time. She hoped the Saiyan wasn't trying to win her affections for she had no intention of allowing that.

...

Turles sat up, he thought he had heard someone weeping. Sure enough, when he arose the Parithian female was huddled up into a ball and tears were running down her cheeks.

The Saiyan male sighed, no doubt it was the nightmare that persistently plagued her. She steadfastly refused to speak of it. Was it really just a dream or a horrible memory of something that had actually happened to her? Turles suspected the latter.

Lornai grimaced as Turles appeared and knelt down beside her. She certainly had not wanted him to see her in such a state. The female elite felt her cheeks began to burn as she took in the sight of his muscular form in just the revealing briefs he wore beneath his armor. She had not meant to stare so obviously and the tell-tale grin on the Saiyan male's face made it evident that he had caught her.

A powerful arm wrapped around her, Lornai gasped as Turles pulled her to his bare chest and she burst into fresh tears. He probably thought her to be hopelessly weak. To her surprise, he gently stroked her hair and rubbed her back with his free hand.

"Are you sure you don't want to speak of what's hurting you?" Turles whispered.

" N-No, y-you can g-go. I'll be fine!" the Parithian insisted. Her face was seriously starting to flush.

The Saiyan's nearness had her senses reeling. His skin was so warm and his touch so soothing it unnerved her, she began to tremble in spite of herself.

" Please leave!" Lornai almost pleaded. It felt so good it to be held that it was all she could do not to snuggle into him.

" I'm not going anywhere" Turles replied.

" WHAT?"

" I am staying right here until you calm down" Turles rumbled.

" Y-Y ou c-can't stay here! You're not even wearing..." she started.

" I'm sure you'd like this better than what I usually sleep in " the Saiyan male teased.

The female elite's face colored even more.

" I was going to say full armor in case of an attack. What were you thinking?" Turles smirked.

Lornai's face went crimson.

The female elite went silent, Turles didn't mind holding her in the least. He couldn't figure out why but the woman's scent was familiar somehow. Not the signature fragrance she wore. It was something beneath the perfume. After only a few moments Lornai's head drooped. Turles was surprised that she had fallen asleep!

He should lie her back and return to his original sleeping place. But what if the dream demons haunted her slumber again? He would just stay with her, the Saiyan commander mused. Turles stretched out on the bedroll, gently pulling the golden-skinned female with him and covering the both of them with the blanket. He stifled a chuckle as she snuggled up against him. There'd be hell to pay for his actions in the morning but he was going to enjoy this little bit of heaven tonight.