Here's chapter 34! Thanks to Ryo-chan wolfgirl and Ali for reviewing chapter 33!
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of its characters, Akira Toriyama does!
A/N: One more chapter to go! Warning! Emotional chapter!
…..
An alarm sounded on the rejuvenation tank containing Lornai.
"She's going into distress! We'll have to get her out of there!" Appule shouted.
Two of his assistants scrambled to help. One drained the tank while another assisted Appule with placing the Parithian female on an exam table.
The head medic began a scan as he passed a small instrument over the female elite.
"These readings don't make any sense! She hasn't expired….!" Appule abruptly stopped speaking.
"Sir, what's wrong?" his green fish-faced assistant asked worriedly.
Shaking his head, Appule passed the scanning device over the unconscious woman once more. There was no mistake, the readings were precise.
'Lornai hasn't expired but the child she was carrying evidently didn't survive the Ginyu Force's attack' the blue and yellow spotted reptilian medic thought sadly.
Who would have ever thought that Lornai was carrying a child? And whose would it be? Suddenly the image of the dark-skinned Saiyan popped into Appule's mind. He gave a heavy sigh this was not going to end well at all.
Sir! The readings state that….that…" his assistant was too stunned to continue.
"I know, Talmus. We must keep this to ourselves or more than one life is going to be lost" Appule warned. Talmus simply nodded.
...
"Did ya 'ave ta go so far, Cap'n?" Jeice growled.
"You watch your tone with me, Jeice! That witch got what was coming to her!" Captain Ginyu snapped.
"Yeah! It took a while but we finally got her to scream!" Recoome chortled.
"How come I missed all the fun?" Guldo whined.
"You were still stuffing your face in the mess hall!" Ginyu huffed.
"Oh, yeah" Guldo mumbled.
Burter stayed silent as the others excepting Jeice celebrated Lornai's defeat at their hands.
...
Turles entered the launching bay of baseship 37. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Not finding a trace of the Parithian elite reinforced his unease.
Someone had to know where Lornai had gotten off to. Turles walked up to the bridge. The unmistakable mass of pink flesh that was Dodoria stood talking to one of the ship's technicians.
"Dodoria, Where's Lornai? She wasn't in her quarters or the mess hall. I even searched the training room. Has she been sent out on a mission?" the Saiyan questioned.
"Well, Monkey. I'm afraid I have some bad news for you" the pink blob announced. The smirk on his face gave evidence that it certainly wasn't 'bad news' as far as he was concerned.
Something clenced in the Saiyan's chest "Has something happened to Lornai?"
From the obvious delight on the rotund general's face, Turles wasn't sure he wanted an answer.
"Lornai was badly injured on a purge mission. She's in the medical wing" Frieza's left hand man declared gleefully.
Turles stood for a moment in shock then he sped off to the medical wing as fast as his legs could carry him. Dodoria burst into laughter.
When Turles stepped into the medical wing, he was stunned to find the female elite floating in a rejuvenation tank. The medics had kindly protected the woman's modesty with a skimpy but effective two-piece garment.
Turles sucked in his breath and covered his mouth at the sight of Lornai's injuries. She seemed to be totally covered with terrible cuts, burns and bruises. Her right arm hung at an awkward angle. The Parithian's beautiful face was now horribly swollen though partially concealed by the face mask. The dark-skinned Saiyan pressed his right hand against the glass of the tank.
Turles was suddenly consumed with guilt for not returning sooner. Keeping the Tree of Might a secret from King Cold wasn't worth this!
One of the medics walked up and checked the readings on the tank, he shook his head gravely.
"How long will Lornai be in there?" Turles demanded.
The green-skinned humanoid medic sighed and bowed his short blue-haired head "She's been in there for what will soon be three full days. It's really a miracle that she's lasted this long. Her internal injuries alone should have killed her. It doesn't look very promising."
An angry growl came from the Saiyan warrior. Turles snatched up the surprised medic by his shirt collar, "You will do whatever it takes! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"
The medic quickly nodded as he shook with terror" Yes! Yes! Of course, Sir!"
Turles went out to the waiting area. He wasn't leaving the baseship without Lornai. Hours slowly ticked by, the Saiyan dozed off as he waited for the Parithian female's recovery.
A kick to Turles's left shin snapped him awake. He leapt to his feet ready to take on his assailant. Dodoria stood in front of him. The dark-skinned Saiyan's stomach churned at the positively wicked grin on Dodoria's face. Turles knew there was no love lost between Lornai and Dodoria. No doubt the evil being was enjoying her suffering.
"You are to depart for your assignment to King Cold immediately!" the pink monstrosity snapped.
"I have to see about my teammate first" Turles insisted in protest.
"Oh? They didn't tell you?" Dodoria feigned shock.
"Tell me what?" the confused former pirate demanded.
Dodoria gave a dramatic sigh "The Parithian bitch is DEAD!"
Turles just gaped in shock. It couldn't be...not his Lornai!
"YOU'RE LYING!" Turles screamed.
Frieza's lackey merely snickered "Am I now? Check with the medics."
Just then the medic he'd threatened earlier entered the waiting area. He stood near as possible to Dodoria as if seeking protection before making his announcement.
"Sir, I'm afraid that the Parithian female has passed on. There was nothing more we could do."
The third-class warrior desperately struggled to sense Lornai's ki. But there was nothing!
Turles could hardly breathe. His teammate, his closest friend, his intended mate...was gone!
"At..at least let me give her a decent..."
Dodoria interruppted the Saiyan before he could finish "She's already been taken care of!"
"WHAT?" Turles choked.
"We ran her through the icinerator with the REST OF THE TRASH!" Dodoria chortled.
Turles stared in absolute horror at the laughing pink demon. Then he tore from the room, Dodoria's laughter ringing in his ears.
...
Turles stumbled through baseship 37's corridors on his way to the launching bay. He angrily brushed at the tears that hindered his progress. It felt as if a giant fist was crushing his heart. He wished it would burst and end the unbearable pain he was experiencing.
The Saiyan warrior dropped to his knees and let out a howl of pure agony. He slammed his fists into the corridor wall leaving several sizable dents. Frieza had managed to steal the one thing that was precious to him...
Suddenly anger filled the heart of Turles. He welcomed it. It replaced the soul-crushing pain. He would leave and grow stronger, become powerful enoiugh to destroy Frieza and he would rip out Dodoria's heart! But first those inept medics who failed to save Lornai would pay!
'Appule!' Turles thought.
He wouldn't harm Appule. The reptilian medic had always been kind to Lornai. Turles picked up Appule's frequency on his scouter.
"Yes?" the head medic's voice came out over Turles's device.
"Appule! There's been an incident in the low-level training room! You're needed immediately! " Turles barked.
"Can't they come to the..."
"There's no safe way to move him. A spar turned nasty! Get up here before he expires!" Turles insisted.
"Very well! I'm on my way!" Appule affirmed.
Turles turned off his scouter and allowed his anger to consume him. By the time he reached the medical bay, his anger had become a killing rage. The medical personnel of baseship 37 didn't have a prayer...
...
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