NOTES

Okay, the person I have the hardest trouble making sense to is myself. I define things to myself, and then forget them, so I have to keep meandering back and forth.

So, why do you need to know this?? Okay, I realized that I said that it was going to jump between two POVs, but technically, it does and it doesn't. Know anything about quantum physics?? No?? Well then, allow me to blow your mind.

Okay, in quantum physics, one thing can be in two different states at the same time. Well, I'm not going to give you the whole cat in the box theory, but just try to comprehend that. Now, in science, once you prove that it's one thing or the other, it's no longer in the state of being both. It's that whole knowledge and belief thing.

So ANYWAY, technically, you can't prove what's in your mind, and your POV is in your mind.

What I'm attempting to communicate is that the whole thing is in two POVs, but interpreted through Bra. So essentially, since Bra's native language would be Japanese, that's what she's using as her linking tool. You know, like when you speak Spanish as a foreign language, you interpret it through English. So, that's why there may sometimes be a Japanese word or two spliced in there.

Got that?? No?? *sighs* At least I tried.

Another huge thanks to BluEydMnstr for beta-ing! Go read her stuff. Maybe she'll update.


Arachne, Chapter 2 - Acanthoscurria Musculosa


Hook, line, and sink her.

Yes, that's what he did. Most females have been hooked, lined and finally sank. He had me hooked alright. Those fire red eyes, blazing into mine. Most men don't look women in the eye. No, they feel they're above that. But he had. He saw me as the equal I was. The equal who was constantly proving that she could eliminate the men who were lined up in front of her.

But, we're getting ahead of ourselves, aren't we?

My father took three mates (don't ask me how he managed to survive their deaths). Each bore a daughter, and each died after that birth. No, my father did not kill them, though it is customary for some males of higher class to dispose of females, who produce female offspring. Prior to what was considered my seventh solar birthday, there was an epidemic. A strain of bacterium, formed by one of the underground science labs, was lost and let loose. The strands mutated and became a selective killer. It attacked women during labor. The population took a dive, and after about twenty Earth years, a vaccine was formulated, and the remnants of the bacteria were contained.

So my father, left with the three of us, was determined to have a successor. If a male of higher class chooses to mate with a female who is below him, she cannot refuse him, and my father was not about to let his line be extinguished due to that.

My sisters and I were put on a training schedule that was usually reserved for the high-ranking soldiers, and the hard work paid off. However, as it turns out, instead of the men being turned away by our strength and determination, they were drawn to it. New age fetishes...go figure. My sisters were mated before their nineteenth year. My father, acknowledging this, taught me how to hide my power and how to lose. So that's what I did, and that's how I ended up in the army. Unfortunately, once reducing my training program, I was no longer able to cultivate my strength.

I originally entered the army as a tactics expert, and a damned good one too.

Hook, line, and sink her.

That's where Mienai came in. Ah yes, Mienai, our fleet leader. He wanted only one thing: to be assigned to purging. To get clearance, one's fleet has to fulfill certain requirements; there must be 23 members in all, and there are sixteen specific positions. I was the last filler of these requirements. The squadron was in need of a negotiator, and since there were already two tactical experts (and Mienai had his eye on me), that's what I became. Why? Negotiators are the only members of a team who cannot fight. It is considered an act of good faith to the members of those on the councils of the planets. A fighter cannot be a peacemaker. The position is normally filled by older male warriors, women who do not wish to fight (or merely want to hide their power, as with my case), or fugitives. And to maintain these good relations, it is forbidden for the negotiator to fight with anyone outside of his or her legion by law.

Has the other foot dropped yet? Well, allow me to stomp for you.

Hook, line and sink her.

Mienai did everything he could to seduce me, and he succeeded. One night, during one of our routine missions to update a treaty, he confided in me that the Kirejin were planning to attack. He convinced me that such treachery warranted my joining in the battle. He led an attack on a tiny village, one that I heedlessly allowed to go on, one that I willingly participated in. The raid was successful. We extinguished the inhabitants within a few short hours.

As I'm sure you've realized by now, the Kirejin were not planning to attack, and they were utterly weak. In fact, the update was to enhance our protection of them.

Hook, line, and sink her.

A hearing was held to determine what to do about the situation. Another crew was sent to formally apologize and reestablish the alliances. The soldiers were dismissed from the trial and allowed to continue their military duties. After all, they were only following orders.

Mienai was to stand trial and was later given the choice of exile from the galaxy or execution.

I was also sent to trial. The council determined that since I was responsible for military actions on the planet, and since I had condoned the attack and chosen to fight, I would be stripped of all military prestige and exiled.

Hook, line, and sink her.

Yeah, that crazy bastard sank me, alright. The thing called love...

His last words to me were, "Gotcha."

Yeah, his last words.

Gotcha, Mienai.

Hook, line, and sink her.

· · · · · · · · · · · · ·

I sucked in precious air as I was jarred out of my nap. I bit the inside of my lip, trying to concentrate on something other than the tears welling up in my eyes. Why had that one shaken me so? I sighed, not understanding myself, and relaxed my body back into the couch. Jeez, this is a tacky couch. What is it with Mom and stripes? I suddenly realized that I wasn't alone.

I slowly turned my head to view the purple-haired freak that is my brother. He was giving me that know-it-all look again. Thanks for passing that to him, Mother.

"What?" I asked, hoping he would just shrug me off and move on.

"Enjoying your daydreams?"

I rolled my eyes and looked away. Take the hint, Brother.

"You're lucky I found you and not Dad." He sat down. "You've been doing that a lot lately."

Just what I need. Trunks fishing for answers.

"Mom's worried."

She's always worried.

"I'm worried," he said in a softer tone.

You're nosey.

"Do you need to talk?" He made an attempt to look me in the eyes. I turned away. "Bra, if something's wrong, if someone's hurting you…"

"I can take care of myself," I stated firmly. I can't defend me from my dreams, and neither can he.

He sighed. "If you change you mind…" He waited for a response and received none. "You know where to find me." He stood and finally moved away.

Well, that's one bullet dodged…for now.

· · · · · · · · · · · · ·

"I refuse, Nyanko."

"Refuse? You can't refuse!"

"It's my night off. I can do as I damned well please."

"But Phæra," she continued to plead, "I need you."

"You know," I began, growing suspicious, "you've never asked me to work on my night off before."

She tried to mask a groan. Yep, she was caught. What was she up to this time?

My eyes met hers in the mirror. "Out with it."

"Okay, there's a male out there."

I rolled my eyes. "What's new?"

She glared at me in return. "I'm getting to that. Look, he's a new customer, and he specifically requested you."

"Well, tell him he can't have me."

She blew out air in frustration. "Phæra, a satisfied client is a happy client."

"Then why do you want him to come to me?!" She smacked her forehead down on the counter in front of her. I gave it a moment's thought. "Look, just send him Shiris. Tell him she's me."

Nyanko lifted her head and pressed her hands together, leveling me with an open gaze. "I don't usually do this."

"I know. I just said that. You always let me enjoy my days off, and I'm grateful that you're lenient. I'm not trying to show disdain. I just want my break."

She growled. "That's not what I mean." She paused. "Look, the guy's offered four times your normal rate." She continued, taking my cough as a sign that she now had my undivided attention. "If you do this for me, I'll give you sixty-five percent of the profit and an entire week of vacation."

I'm not a petty woman. Money doesn't tempt me to do things…often. No, what was burrowing under my skin was the fact that the man had not only requested me, but he was offering well over the normal negotiation rate. Oh yes, this would be interesting. "Alright," I did my best to sound nonchalant, "I'll do this, but don't forget the deal when his guts are splattered across the floor."

"Yes, yes. But at least leave me a leg."

"Agreed." We shook hands, and she led me into the hall.

"Sir, all monetary commitments must be settled before services are rendered," she said to a shorter man who kept his back to me.

He nodded in response, and she moved to collect before proceeding to leave.

Sighing slightly, I slowly began to circle my prey. He was sort of stocky and had the oddest shade of green hair. He appeared to be Saiyan, though. Perhaps one of the hybrids. Then, I saw them. Two telltale marks adorned the cleft of his shoulder. I stalked in front of him, fixing him with a very unhappy glare. "I don't know who you think you are, but I am not in the bond-breaking business. I'm sure I don't have to inform you that it's considered treason, in the highest."

If I thought I had him with a killer glare, then the one he returned after I had finished speaking was murderous. He spoke, slowly, evenly, and with calculation, "My mate is dead."

I don't think the laughter that burst from my lips aided the situation. "You're tell…telling me that…that your mate died and you're still living?" I doubled over as the chuckles continued to consume me. After a few more seconds, I slowly returned to my upright position and schooled my features. "Listen, Bud, I realize that most of you soldiers consider all of us ignorant, but believe me, I'm no moron. Besides, everyone knows that the death of one part of a link kills the other, and if not, the survivor is utterly strong, or left weak." I paused, letting him know I meant what was being said. "I'm sure you can find an alley girl to help you for that kind of money, but it won't be me. You can collect from Ms. Nyanko in her office."

I headed for the door, but halted immediately when a large hand closed around my forearm.

"What do you think you're doing?"

His cold eyes were piercing my placidity. "I paid for a fight, and I'm going to get one."

I was startled, the realization slowly sinking in. "That's all you want, isn't it? That's why you asked for me."

"What if it is? You have to do what I want, right?"

"No. We get a choice. We don't have to do anything—or anyone—that we don't want to." I took a second to give him another good glower. "Now get your money and get out."

"So, you're that scared of me?"

That did it. "Take a few deep breaths and enjoy your last minutes on Vegeta." I turned away. "When you're done," I called over my shoulder, heading out the door, "meet me in TC 13." I said, tossing him the corresponding strip of metal.

I smiled as I entered my room to get my training gear. It was sad, really. Such a weak soldier, ready to die for no reason. "I suppose I'll just have to put him out of his misery."

· · · · · · · · · · · · ·

I stormed into the Gravity Chamber and winced slightly as I watched my father slam himself into the wall. My disturbance had caused the gravity to automatically reduce, and the hologram he had been fighting dissipated.

He rose slowly, keeping his back to me, as he slung his head back and forth once and rolled his shoulders, an attempt to relieve the anger that was quickly building up. Then, he just stood there, waiting.

"Daddy," I began quietly, but remembering to whom I was speaking, I built my resolve back up quickly. "Daddy, I want you to train me." Was that a quiver that just shook him?

I watched his back. The muscles slowly began to loosen themselves. His breathing became steadier. I could just see the smirk creeping up on his lips and altering his entire demeanor. "Do you mean that?"

"Yes. I want to fight, Daddy."

· · · · · · · · · · · · ·

I grabbed the foot that was thrust in front of me, hoping to twist the ankle. Most males are weak in that area…among others. I wasn't ready for the heel that knocked my head forward. I flailed my arms, trying to keep my balance. He grabbed me from behind.

"Yield, Woman."

I elbowed him in the stomach, and he lost his grip long enough for me to leap away. I swung around and went for a drop kick. He maintained his position on his feet. Damn, he was stronger than he looked. How was that?

"Is that your best?"

I slung my head from side to side, stretched out my spine, and rolled my shoulders, trying to come up with a keystone to his undoing. Yes, someone needed to knock him off that high horse. Making a quick decision, I went for a roundhouse, one of my personal favorites and took the time to note the smirk that crossed his features. I saw the hand go out, knew he was ready make a grab for my ankle the instant I got within a centimeter. But before he had a chance to do this, I rotated my other foot, bouncing up into the air and successfully flipping over his head to land on the floor behind him. He lost no time, swirling around, readying for another leg maneuver, or at least that's what he was apparently anticipating, considering the fist that landed squarely in his nose left him faltering backwards.

Microseconds later, however, it was my turn to be surprised, when I allowed his drop to the floor to go unnoticed, only to have my legs knocked out from under me in a sweep kick. As I laid flat on my back, looking up at the fluorescent lights, I breathed slowly and deeply. Yes, this was what being a Saiyajin was all about—this indescribable compulsion to fight. And two of our race, here, at our best, kicking, punching, anticipating, doing what it took to win. I couldn't remember having been this exhilarated about a fight in a long time. It was a shame he was going to have to die.

I waited patiently, letting him come to me. I put my senses on high alert, carefully analyzing the sounds of his boots, as they softly treaded within the chamber, his breathing, his smell of sweat and exertion. He wanted me to know he was coming. Yes, it was nice to see that some still played with their prey, as I was so accustomed to doing. It was a lost art on the newer generations. His breathing slowed. He was thinking, trying to figure out what the spinning wheels of my brain were coming up with, or maybe he was doing a bodily inventory, searching for my weak spots. Too bad, Love, I have none.

I watched, keeping my eyes partially lidded, as he slowly approached and finally halted, his feet in close proximity to my upper leg. Perfect.

I felt myself jump lightly, as he spoke softly, "You're a good fighter…"

I smirked. So, compliments was the game? Well, I could do compliments. "Likewise," I played his psyching game.

I awaited a move, but none came. He just stared down at me, studying. I finally decided that I had had enough waiting. I thrust my leg straight up into the air, aiming for his stomach. I wasn't too surprised when two hands closed around the calf firmly.

This was pure ecstasy. I prepared my other leg to launch for the back of his knee.

Then, he found it necessary to speak again. "You're a good fighter," he repeated. "Just not good enough…yet."

My face fell, my enthrallment with the battle going with it. He dared to criticize me? Who did he think he was?

I was about to call him on this mistake, when I was suddenly yanked to my feet and pulled against the male at whom my hatred was currently directed. I felt his deep breathing against my chest, and my lungs' pace slowed to match it. What was he trying to do to me? His tail was suddenly at my hip, not moving but merely making its presence known. Forget what he was trying to do. What was going on here? Minutes before, we were fighting. How had he gained the upper hand? And what was he up to?

"Black Widow," he began, "do you still plan to kill me?"

I smiled slowly. "Of course."

He nodded in understanding. "Okay then." He dipped his head slowly and brushed his lips over mine. Then he stepped completely away from me. "That's good to know." He turned and exited the TC.

I stood there, my mouth partially opened, watching the exit. What the Hell? What made him think he could leave? And why had he done that? I couldn't even remember the last time I had seen a live man exit through one of the chamber doors.

Finally, I stopped my gaping and forced myself to breathe once again. Nyanko was sure to fry my ass for this.

Thanks for reading this chapter; hope you enjoyed. And now, if you don't mind, why not hit that little button down there, and drop me a line? Or, you can always email me at guardianlethe@hotmail.com

Until next time...