Ch. 6
Love was out to get me,
That's the way it seemed.
Disappointment haunted all my dreams.
-I'm a believer, from Shrek
"At least we know now she's loyal to the officers," Zarbon said sometime later to Frieza. Frieza frowned.
"Yes, but at such a cost?" He sighed. "At least your instincts were right on."
"I should have pressed her to tell me what was wrong from the beginning," Zarbon sighed. "I knew something was wrong…"
"Dodoria's gone now, anyway," Frieza said. "Time to find a replacement. What a bother."
Zarbon said his goodnights and headed to his own room. They were nearing home, now, and he'd have to have his wits about him to explain to the other men what had happened to Dodoria…and why they'd come back without the Dragon Balls.
He hadn't fully understood it himself at the time. But orders were orders, and insubordination wasn't the way to get on Frieza's good side.
He looked in surprise as he stopped. He thought he'd been heading to his quarters. So why was he in front of the infirmary? He shrugged. Might as well pay the newly appointed Sergeant a visit. He entered and frowned, catching sight of her immediately. She was pale, laying on a stretcher. Because no physical damage had been done, she did not require a healing tank, though the doctor had wanted to keep her around for observation. One glance at her and Zarbon knew she had been crying. Somehow that disturbed him. It always disturbed him to know that a grown woman had been crying. Not that Krista was grown yet, but still…
He sighed and walked over to her. Though she hadn't made any movement, he knew that she'd seen him come in and that he was now standing over her.
"Hello, Sergeant," he said softly. Krista's eyes flew open.
"What?"
"Because of the loyalty you showed Frieza, even if it was a little misguided, in trying to protect his status as an officer, Lord Frieza has seen fit to promote you. Congratulations."
Krista was silent. Zarbon cleared his throat uncomfortably and went on. "He's also given you a full week off," he added. "And I'm sorry about the things I said earlier.." he said, guilt seeping into his voice for the first time. "Had I known that Dodoria would take it so seriously, I would never…" he sighed again, and turned to leave.
Would never have what? A voice said in his mind. He whirled around to face her, eyes wide in shock. Krista's eyes were looking at him pleadingly.
I would never have said anything to that effect, he thought. Please, forgive me for it. And I promise I'll never let anyone hurt you again. Where had that come from? But he knew he meant it. He'd never let anyone hurt her ever again. Krista actually smiled.
You're forgiven. A facsimile of laughter filled his mind, and he knew it was Krista's, even as he realized that he'd never heard her laugh out loud before. Tell Lord Frieza that I'm grateful for the promotion.
I will, Sergeant. Rest now. You'll want to enjoy your time off.
That laughter filled his mind again and then she was gone, and Zarbon could see that she'd gone to sleep.
Feeling oddly lonely now that she was no longer in his mind, he turned and walked to his quarters.
"Nichiyoubi wa hitori no hi,
Peach Pie wo, yaita ato…"
Zarbon could hear her singing through the door. He smiled unconsciously. She could really sing. She must have turned her translator off, though, because he couldn't understand the foreign words.
"Sentakumono hosu you ni
shinkokyuu de nesobetta.
Furueru mune ni te wo ate,
Miageru, aosugiru sora."*
A little loathe to bring this impromptu concert to an end, he rang her door chime. The singing abruptly stopped, and Krista appeared at the door. When she saw who it was, a shadow of a smile passed over her features.
"Commander. Come on in."
Zarbon stepped in and raised a brow.
The walls were plastered with drawings-very well done drawings-of different people, different animals.
He recognized one picture as a group of defenders who had been on earth, some of the few women to show up. The only thing that gave them away was the short skirts of their uniforms, he thought to himself. He turned to another picture, of a yellow animal with red spots on it's cheeks, and a striped back.
Pikachu, the word floated into his mind. He raised a brow towards Krista, who smiled. It's a Pikachu, a pocket monster. At once his mind was filled with a memory that wasn't his:
He was running through the forest towards the lake, trying to out-run his big brother. He tripped and fell, his long blue hair draping over his face. When he picked himself up, he was face to face with a real, live Pikachu! He smiled.
"Hello, Pikachu," he said softly. "I won't hurt you."
He reached out to pet it, but a small jolt of electricity jumping from the Pikachu's electric sacs in it's cheeks made him think otherwise. He stood, heard Touma calling him. He turned and began to run back towards Touma, looking over his shoulder one last time at the mouse-like pocket monster…
Zarbon blinked. "How did you do that?"
"I'm what's called a mutant," Krista said softly. "That means I have powers not many other humans have."
"That's quite a gift," Zarbon said admiringly.
"More like a curse," she said softly. "Mutants are persecuted by other humans on earth." She shook her head and smiled brightly, dispelling the cloud of gloom that had seemed to settle over her in those few moments. "But we're not on Earth, are we? What did you come for, sir?"
"I came to make sure you were all right. You go back on duty tomorrow."
"Don't I know it," she said, sighing. "But I suppose I've got to go back sometime."
"I think you'll find the bridge a much friendlier place now," Zarbon said. Krista smiled and nodded.
"I'm sure I will."
Zarbon turned and left. As the door closed behind him, he was sure he heard
" Ai suru hito no namae wo
chiisai yonde mita
yasashiku yasashiku…"
"There she is…"
Jeice chuckled coldly. Word had arrived far before the ship that Lord Frieza had taken a woman on board. Jeice hadn't believed it for a moment, but now he saw her with his own eyes…
She looked scared. That wasn't unusual, he thought to himself amusedly. Cadets always looked scared. Some didn't survive. He turned to Guido.
Think Zarbon's put her through the wringer yet?" he asked. Guido shrugged, blinking all four eyes.
"Hard to say," he said, looking closely at Zarbon. "Might have, might not have."
"In any case," Burter put in. "We'll be sure to introduce her, won't we men?" He grinned.
The men are all staring at me…
Zarbon smiled a little. That's because they're not used to seeing a woman in uniform. Most of them won't hurt you.
Most of them??
A sigh entered her mind. Some are like Dodoria…but I did make a promise to you, did I not? Don't worry…Zarbon mentally directed her attention to a specific group of men sitting together. They are the ones to worry about. They're the Ginyu Force, the strongest we have here. They're all a match for Lord Frieza himself, and they tend to "rule the roost" if you will. Of course, their captain, Here, Zarbon highlighted a tall man standing in the corner. Captain Ginyu is the most dangerous one. Though, judging from the way you fought me, that may have just changed. Zarbon did not bother hiding his amusement from his thoughts. Krista wasn't sure if it was amusement regarding the Captain or herself. Krista flushed, which only added to the men's amusement.
I'm not that good…
If Lord Frieza saw fit to take you with us, rather than kill you, then rest assured, you are that good.
She walked with Zarbon to her new, permanent quarters. Zarbon smiled. Krista realized that it was truly the first time Zarbon had actually smiled at her, not smirked.
"Here is your permanent quarters, where you will be residing during your career here. You are allowed to decorate according to your own liking, you know," he added, grinning.
He turned and walked to the door. "By the way, Sergeant," he added over his shoulder. "There's no backing out now."
He left. Krista looked around her (much more spacious) quarters and suddenly paled. "What have I done?" she asked herself.
To Be Continued…
(Yes, there is another fic to come. Don't worry, it's summer. It'll be up quite soon. Read and Review please, pretty please, por favor, sil vous plait, onegai!)
*The opening song for Video Girl Ai. Great show, great OAV. Get it if you can.