And My Hearts Held High With This Battle Cry – Chapter 1

Dodoria laid out on the rug in front of the TV in the Ginyu Forces sector with one arm over his eyes groaning in annoyance; ''Why does this have to be so difficult?!'' complained the stout pink man. Jeice rolled his eyes.

''It's really not THAT hard Dodoria… you've worked with him for decades, you must have picked up on something he likes!''

Dodoria let out an exasperated sigh throwing his arms out into the air, ''Himself?''

Ginyu let out a small chuckle at the vain warriors expense, then called over his men ''Come on team, lets trouble shoot!''

''Chocolate!'' shouted Berta.

''He won't eat it, says it makes your skin spotty''

''Wine?'' pondered Recoome.

''He doesn't drink''

''Jewellery?'' asked Guldo.

''He's got a chest full''

''Face sssstuff?'' tried Berta again.

''Wouldn't know where to start, Bert''

''Eating out?'' tried Recoome stretching his thinking ability to his limit. Guldo started laughing like a school boy while Dodoria gave him a deadpan look.

''Well mate…'' started Jeice ''…at least you do know quite a bit about him, just happens to be all the stuff he doesn't like though….'' Ginyu nodded in agreement. ''But tell you what, I know something he likes.''

''Really? You do?'' asked Dodoria rolling into his stomach and looking attentively at the space aussie.

''Yup, sure do mate! But you know, information is valuable…'' he trailed off.

''Oh for fucks sake….'' Muttered Dodoria feeling in his back pocket before pulling out a fruit and nut chocolate bar and throwing it at the smirking red man, who caught it easily.

''Sugared almonds.''

…

Dodoria walked down the ships corridors with the glass jar of sugared almonds in his brown shoulder bag. He'd now found another problem; how to actually give them to Zarbon. 'Hey, Zarbon, I spent my entire day off travelling to some sweet shop on some planet just to get these for you…' Dodoria shook his head, he'd never have the balls to speak that confidently to the other man. Pretend he'd seized them off someone? Then Zarbon wouldn't know the effort he'd put in. Say he'd found them? Same problem. As he turned a corner so deep in thought that he nearly collided with the object of his desires.

''Dodoria! Watch where you're going! Although you do almost look cute when you're thinking that hard'' Zarbon almost giggled, holding his hand over his smiling lips.

Dodoria's bright pink flashed to bright red, unable to form an intelligible sentence; almost walking into the other man-their bodies being so close, calling him cute, that sweet giggle in his voice, his eyes glimmering with fun

''S…sorry, Zarbon!'' Dodoria finally stuttered out. Zarbon smiled and with a flick of his braid and cape turned and started to go. ''Oh, hey, Zarbon, are you on shift tonight?'' he called after him.

''From now until 00.00'' Zarbon called back. Dodoria nodded his head in thought and walked down the corridors again towards his quarters. On his way he passed Zarbons quarters, and hesitated outside. He checked no one was watching then entered the key code and let himself inside. He felt a bit guilty, he know Zarbon didn't like people in his room, in all the decades they'd worked together arbon had only invited him in twice before. Dodoria tiptoed over to the bedside table and took out the jar of sugared almonds, placing them down gently. Then he crept out of the room locking it behind him and headed down to his.

…

Dodoria's scouter bleeped over his eye with an incoming call, he pressed the accept button. ''Hey mate! How'd ya get on the other day then?'' Dodoria clicked his tounge.

''Well, I got them… but, well, you know. Didn't really say they were from me.'' Jeice rolled his eyes.

''Well that's kind of the point mate, how else is he going to know they're from you! Come on down, let's have a think over some chocolate sundaes.'' Dodoria didn't need persuading, he wasn't going to turn down a chocolate sundae! He almost ran out of his room before stopping, heading back over to a draw, filling his pockets with something then continuing on his way to the Ginyu's sector.

''Sssso what's you next plan?'' asked Berta as they all sat round the table stuffing chocolate and fudge stuffed ice cream into their mouths.

''Flowers?'' Dodoria said more as a question then a statement.

Ginyu nodded in approval. ''Which ones?''

''….hadn't got that far'' answered Dodoria.

''Carnations? Just not yellow ones, they represent disdain'' suggested Berta ''Or Tulips? But not red, they mean aggression.''

''Lillies? But not orange ones, they represent hatred'' chipped in Jeice ''Or roses, but not yellow ones, they mean jealousy and greed.''

''And not Petunias, they symbolise resentment… and Begnolias symbolise caution…'' 'helped' Ginyu.

By now Dodoria was motionless, spoon still in hand, at all the information he was trying to take in. After a few moments he blinked. ''….red roses? Has anyone got anything against those?''

''No'' answered Berta

''Nope'' answered Jeice

''Don't think so'' answered Ginyu

Dodoria let out a thankful sigh and lifted his spoon to his lips just as Recoome broke his silence;

''Although darker red roses mean your love is unrequited. In some cultures red roses mean mourning, darkness and sadness. And in some other instances, red roses can even be connected to hatred.''

''Oh for the love of !'' Dodoria shouted, throwing his spoon onto the table in frustration. The Ginyu's didn't flinch, being long used to Dodoria's outbursts.