Here's Chapter 37. Thanks to Laania, Ryo-chan wolfgirl and the unnamed reviewer for the reviews on Chapter 36.
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ Akira Toriyama does.
Nappa stormed into the quarters he shared with Raditz on baseship 37. His meeting with Vegeta had certainly not gone as planned. He'd expected the prince to be absolutely furious when he learned of the miserable third-class's decision to be mated to a damned Parithian. The royal Saiyan's acceptance of such a blantant betrayal of their race was beyond the former general's understanding. Raditz should have paid dearly for his actions.
A familiar scent in the room caused the bald Saiyan to snarl in anger. Why was he picking up the Parithian female's scent? She couldn't have come to their quarters, the blasted female was on a three day mission with Zarbon. So where was it coming from? Then he saw it, a pale green coverlet was lying on Raditz's bunk. The baka had obviously taken it from the woman's room, the delicate scent of Bachari flowers clung to it. Just as the burly Saiyan was considering blasting the object of his disgust into nothing, Raditz strode into the room.
The long-haired Saiyan pulled off his armor, tossed it in a corner and belly-flopped onto his hard bed. He seized the green coverlet and buried his face into it, inhaling its' scent. A soft mournful sigh came from Raditz as he gathered up the cloth into a bundle and wrapped his arms around it before instantly dozing off.
Nappa shook his head in disbelief. The worthless third-class was actually missing the female elite. Maybe it was time to find out more about this mission of Zarbon and Lornai's. If he could get some doubts about her fidelity into Raditz's head...A wicked smirk crossed his face, he could use their having mated against them.
...
" ...and that concludes why the Bratalian Federation should seriously consider becoming part of the Planetary Trade Organization. I am certain all parties concerned will find the result to be most beneficial" Zarbon ended his speech to thunderous applause.
" Well, It seems your silver tongue has worked its' magic again" Lornai teased.
" I can be a bit persuasive" Zarbon said airily. Lornai raised an eyebrow at the arm that suddenly wrapped around her waist as the changeling led her back to their seats. It seemed to her that Zarbon took a perverse delight in being able to touch her without recrimination for it. He would hold her hand, play with her hair and once had the nerve to nuzzle her cheek. Hopefully he was just emphasing their role, if he was getting any notions she woud have to set him straight.
Zarbon found himself entranced by the Parithian female's tale of an epic battle fought on Kaladian, her supposed planet of origin as being the Princess Kalyssa. King Gailous was hanging on her every word, a smile lit the warrior-king's face. The teal changeling was quite intrigued, first the female elite had entertained the women present with an extremely amusing tale that even had the men joining in the laughter at its' completion. And now the men were responding with nods and shouts at descriptions so well depicted that they could almost see the battle being fought.
So far everything was going quite smoothly,Frieza's lieutenant mused. The meal that had been served had been utterly sumptous. Much finer than the fare on Frieza's ship. And the commander of the Saiyan unit could easily pass for one born to the throne. Her mannerisms, speech even the way she walked pointed to far more regal origin than that of a common soldier. He wouldn't admit it , but he was actually enjoying her presence.
A shaggy , brown- furred being rose from his seat. Two long thin horns graced the top of his head that had a bovine appearance. His red silk robe rustled as he passed Frieza's emissaries, Zarbon didn't miss the glare from the bovine -being. Prince Mootaris of the planet Agarith was bitterly opposed to the Federation becoming a part of Frieza's organization. Lornai's eyes followed the direction in which the prince had departed.
Zarbon quickly caught the predatory look in the eyes of the 'princess'. Obviously the prince who had just left was her prey. Did she really have to lick her lips at the idea?
Excusing herself, the female elite quickly made her way to where the Agarithish ruler stood getting a bit of fresh air on one of the terraces...
Lornai reappeared and took her seat at the teal changeling's gave him an adoring look and then proceeded to discuss a novel with the young noblewoman that sat across from her. Minutes later, a guard rushed up to King Gailous.
" Your Majesty! The delegate from Argarith has been rushed to the medical ward!"
" Please excuse my departure, I must see about Prince Mootaris," the king apologized to the various delegates as he followed the guard out of the ballroom.
Zarbon turned to look in the female Argayan's direction. A wink from the woman confirmed his suspicions. She had taken out the only opposition to Frieza's proposal.
...
The Crellgorian monarch returned with a distressing report. A weak heart had ended the life of the Argathian prince. Out of respect, the discussions would continue the following day.
Lornai took Zarbon's proffered arm as they began to exit the ballroom. Hasith barred their way." Oh,Your Majesty, You are aware of the fact that Prince Malorn is a most accomplished dancer. Are you not?" Hasith questioned the king
" Wonderful! He and his lovely wife can start things off tomorrow after the decision and the evening meal" Gailous declared with delight.
Lornai didn't miss the stricken look on Zarbon's face before it was replaced with the mask -like expression he always wore when he stood by Frieza nor did she miss the mocking smile on the gray reptile's face.
As they walked down the pillared hall to their room, Lornai suddenly paused. A strange groaning noise reached her ears. Zarbon protested angrily as the female warrior quickly shoved him against the wall. Frieza's right hand man gasped as one of the great stone pillars crashed into the floor where they had stood just moments before.
Guards came from every direction at the sound of the crash. The massive stone pillar had crushed the marble floor beneath it on impact.
The Crellgorian monarch sucked in his breath as he was told of the incident.
" So strange that it would fall so, the pillars are reinforced to prevent such a thing. It's most fortunate that you were unharmed."
" Most fortunate indeed" Hasith commented, but the look in his eyes seemed to convey that he was not pleased at all that Frieza's envoys had survived.
...
" I am quite certain that YOU had something to do with Prince Mootaris' death" Zarbon declared as he sat across from Lornia in the comfortable sitting area in their room.
" He had a weak heart, I merely helped nature move things along a bit faster" Lornai stated flatly.
Zarbon stared at the Parithian in amazement. She was certainly an enigma. One moment she was a charming, exquisite example of royal bearing and a cold-hearted killer the next. Which was the real Lornai? Or was she a culmination of them both?
The woman was combing out her luxurious hair that had turned back to its' ebony hue after her shower. A delightful floral fragrance wafted in the air as she pulled her comb through the midnight strands.
" We'll be following in his footsteps tomorrow. At least there's one last fabulous meal to look foward to before our lives are ended" Zarbon sighed.
" What are you talking about?" Lornai asked as she put down her comb and faced the teal changeling.
" WE are expected to start the dancing tomorrow evening. I haven't stepped on a dance floor since my youth. The Prince Maltor was quite skilled, we shall be given away by my ineptness" the teal changeling declared
" And we were SO close to succeeding in our mission" he added morosely.
" Is that all you're worried about, a dance?" Lornai tittered.
" I fail to find what is so amusing about it!" Zarbon snapped.
" I believe I can help" the Parithian said softly. Zarbon stood up as she motioned for him to do so.
Lornai swallowed hard as she placed the changeling's hands at her waist and rested her own on his powerful shoulders. Their faces were just inches apart. Frieza's lieutenant was feeling quite awkward and couldn't resist baiting her.
" If you wanted me to hold you and give you a kiss, you could have just asked" Zarbon needled.
Lornai snatched her hands away," Just forget it! I'd rather DIE!"
" I was just teasing" Zarbon insisted to the female elite whose back was turned to him,"Please, Lornai."
The commander of the Saiyan unit turned around in surprise. Zarbon NEVER said please to anyone. He really had to be concerned about the following evening. She reassumed their previous position. For several hours, the Parithian female instructed the teal changeling in a variety of simple yet seemingly intricate steps to convince the delegates that he was indeed the talented prince.
Zarbon was still concerned but Lornai reassured him," It will be easier with the music, you have a natural grace when you move. You'll do just fine."
A genuine smile lit Zarbon's face at her comment. With an elegant bow, he bid her a goodnight and left for his private sleeping area.
Lornai sighed as she stretched out on the small couch in the sitting area. She couldn't wait until this mission was over, she missed Raditz terribly and hoped he was staying out of trouble.
...
In the lower level mess hall Raditz sat picking at his food. He never imagined he could miss someone so much. It also worried him that Zarbon might harm the Parithian female .
Nappa decided to rub the lower level's face in the fact that his mate had gone off with Zarbon.
" You know I thought it was real funny last night that you got to sleep with her blanket and ZARBON got to have his wedding night with your woman" the burly Saiyan taunted.
" It's just a mission, Nappa! They aren't really together!" Raditz growled.
" First Turles, then Jeice, then you and now Zarbon, your woman really gets around, huh?" Nappa leered.
THAT did it! Nappa suddenly found himself flat on his back receving a vicious pounding from the furious Raditz. The stunned Saiyan elite was finding himself hard pressed to fend off the attack. He hadn't been aware that the third-class had increased his speed and strength this much!
"Break it up! I SAID BREAK IT UP!" Dodoria roared as the two battling Saiyans ignored him. It took quite an effort for Dodoria to pull the long-haired Saiyan off of the badly injured Nappa.
Dodoria just gaped at the damage the young Saiyan had caused his elder teamate, Nappa was covered in bruises as he had come to the morning meal bare-chested. He had a long gash on his right cheek, his left eye was swollen shut and his left arm hung at an awkward angle, " Get to a tank, Nappa! And since the two of you would rather fight than eat, you can just forget about your other two meals today!"
The pink behemoth smirked as he watched the two Saiyans leave the mess hall. He'd learned some time ago that missing meals hurt the Saiyans far worse than any physical punishment he could meet out. But since when could Raditz take on Nappa? He'd barely had a scratch on him.
...
Hasith could barely control his fury at the announcement that the Federation had indeed decided to become part of Frieza's organization. The emissaries from Frieza should have been disposed of the night before. But all was not lost, the 'prince' would soon reveal that he was not the real Prince Maltor. He snickered as he imagined the teal-skinned being floundering on the ballroom floor.
...
Nappa snarled as his stomach growled, he'd go to the training room and try to get his mind off his empty stomach. Giving Raditz an evil look, he stomped out of the Saiyan quarters. When Raditz could no longer sense the bald Saiyan's presence, he reached under his bunk and pulled out a sealed box of emergency rations Lornai had given him for just such an occassion. The pressed dry meat wasn't what he would prefer but it was food. And he had absolutely no intention of sharing!
...
Zarbon nervously stepped out on the ballroom floor. He wore similar clothing as the day before but this time in a deep royal blue. Lornai gave him an encouraging smile as she stepped out with him. It was hard to believe that the vision in blue silk was Frieza's prized assassin. Her long emerald hair hung loose held back only by the delicate golden tiara that was set on top of her tresses. She wore a gown of shimmering royal blue silk that was cut low but tastefully in the front and swept down to the floor. A golden choker bearing a huge single sapphire hung at her throat. It seemed as if she floated rather than walked.
As the music started, Zarbon counted out the steps in his head as he and the Parithian began the routine they had rehearsed. But suddenly, he remembered! Lornai's eyes went wide in surprise as the teal changeling began to move quite confidently in a pattern she hadn't shown him but could mirror perfectly. That rare true smile lit Zarbon's face as they continued.
Hasith stared in utter disbelief. How could this be? Could the royal couple have possibly escaped from the destruction of their ship? He had been certain they were Frieza's impostors and they would have given themselves away by being totally incompetent on the dance floor. Oh well, he would seal their fates when they returned to their rooms.
Zarbon and Lornai bowed before the enthusiastic applause before they took their seats. The teal changeling gave her hand a gentle squeeze as they were seated. She gave him a curious look. Leaning back in his seat, Zarbon finally relaxed. There were simply a few official details to go over in the morning and they would be on their way back to baseship 37. He and the Parithian would back back to their usual routine, strangely the changeling actually regretted having to do so.
Lornai had erupted into laughter at a joke told by one of the Prokashan delegates. The silvery peal caught Zarbon's attention, it was so different than the cold mocking sound he was familiar with. King Galius declared the evening to be offically over.
Zarbon and Lornai silently walked toward their room. Just past the hall, the female elite froze. A low feral growl came from her as she was actually sniffing the air!
" Entirely too much time spent with the Saiy..." Zarbon began. He stopped at the look of utter terror on Lornai's face.
" Phase out and go to your right, NOW!" Lornia hissed in a low voice.
Zarbon did as directed and dropped his jaw as a huge red and black serpent slammed into the wall where he had stood just moments before. A quick ki blast ended the creature.
" Azkorlian serpent, There's no known cure for its' venom. No one has been able to successfully manufacture an anti-venom. Its' properties are far too toxic. Your tissues dissolve on contact with the venom until there's nothing left of you" a shaken Lornai informed him.
King Gailous was furious when he was informed of the near fatal encounter with the Azkorlian serpent. " Two incidents now! Someone obviously resents your presence and plans to remove it. Hasith, See that a guard is placed outside of Prince Malorn and Princess Kalyssa's room."
" Of course, Your Majesty!" Hasith agreed. He would definitely place his guard at the door of Frieza's envoy. A wicked smile crossed his face as he went to carry out the king's order. Of course there was no guarantee of the emissaries' safety with his guard...
...
Nappa came back to the room he shared with Raditz to find the third-class had left the room. Now why did he smell meat?
Okay...How about if all the silent readers that read EVERY chapter actually read and review hmm...?