Chapter Eight

18 pushed the button and immediately she was confronted with an alien. He was about her height from what she could tell though his bright red hair and eyes were obviously odd. His skin seemed to be a mottled gray as well as moist.

"Standard language 10."

The male nodded with apparent understanding though still had an air of suspiciousness around him.

"I do not recognize your ship female," his voice almost seemed to ooze from his vocal cords.

"I am from Torak," 18 tried to keep from gawking at the alien's grotesqueness.

"I see, what are you doing so far from your planet?"

"Looking for saiyans," 18 tilted her head curiously as the alien paled in hue.

"S-S-Saiyans?!" The alien stammered with a touch of fear and loads of incredibility.

18 nodded, what's the big deal? She thought to herself. It's not like they're a dangerous species.

"Why in the great galaxy would you go looking for saiyan? You haven't heard of more survivors have you?" He almost seemed to beg her.

"Not exactly, I heard of a mercenary named Dikon was looking for these creatures," 18 answered blandly.

"Really, I heard he accepted a challenge from an inferior race, but then again, that would be a challenge wouldn't it? After all, they are extinct," the red eyes narrowed suddenly, "Why are you so interested?"

"You could say I am a scientist, of sorts," 18 replied smoothly, going over her own personal mental files of the saiyans.

"The greatest fighting race ever recorded.... The species has always fascinated me and to get my hands on a live specimen..." 18 trailed off fully aware she was giving the impression that this was her purpose in life, and frankly, she was pleased with her newfound acting ability.

"I see," the male eyed her, "you are one of the more attractive humanoids, exotic really. What would you say to a meal together?"

"I'm taken," 18 barely restrained herself from gagging at the thought.

"The beautiful ones always are..." he sighed wearily, "Would you keep me in mind if it doesn't work out?"

He looked at her hopefully.

"Sure, you'll be the first on my list," 18 nodded, there is no way on earth...

"Well, in that case I'll put my ear to the wind for information. Dikon in never hard to find, in his line of work he can't afford to be, so I should have exact coordinates to his whereabouts in an hour."

18 blinked at the alien completely astonished.

"Why would you do this for me?"

The male smiled warmly.

"Not many races are kind to mine and it would be my pleasure to be of service of a possible life partner," he winked," plus, it would be worth the trouble just to see you smile."

18 shook her head slightly, humbled completely before this horrible looking alien.

"Then it is a deal I will smile when you return."

He nodded.

"Will you continue in this direction and speed?"

"Yes."

"Then you'll hear from me for sure."

"Thank you," 18 tilted her head forward in a gesture of deep respect.

"It's my pleasure," he made a gesture with his hand that was strangely elegant.

The screen went blank. They had three days before they could even begin their search for Sasoli.

**

Dikon sat in the captain's chair with the small saiyan beside him. Her presence felt right somehow. He could see her from the corner of his eye kicking her feet idly. He was more cautious with his words, true, though he could nothing about his protective instincts though... truthfully, considering who her family was, it didn't look like she needed his protection.

The Dark Prince, Dikon shook his head, as if I didn't have enough problems.

Prince Vegeta was the only other person who was able to compete with him on a planetary destruction basis, in fact, the only difference between them was Dikon got paid. Dikon had in fact wanted to meet this Prince of Mayhem but they had never crossed paths and now he had the Prince's niece.

"Landing sequence activated," the computer announced.

"Are we going to see the Splavoids now?" Her eyes sparkled curiously.

"Yes, now brace yourself, Blue," Dikon replied.

He had taken to calling her Blue since, for one she wouldn't tell him her real name, and two her eyes were her most prominent feature. Besides he had to call her something.

The ship dropped suddenly like a rock from the top of a tall building. The ship came to an abrupt halt and lowered gently onto the ground.

Dikon sighed as he freed himself from his restraints and then released Blue.

"The King should be greeting us, a royal welcome," Dikon took Blue's offered hand.

"Really," she smiled as they walked to the main entrance.

The doorway opened slowly to reveal dark green aliens no taller than Sasoli. As one they gasped in horror at the sight of her before them.

Dikon frowned at them, what the hell is their problem? His hand tightened on Blue's as she buried her face in his leg.

The king stepped forward while eyeing Blue wearily.

"What is the meaning of this Dikon?" He demanded.

"The meaning of what? You told me to bring her and I did." Dikon frowned.

"Why is she not restrained? She is a vicious animal! You should have put her on a lease, at the very least!" The King raged.

"She's harmless!" Dikon defended both her and his judgment.

"No saiyan is harmless," the King stepped forward and yanked Blue towards him.

"Are you helpless?" He shook her harshly.

"Dikon!" Her voice was frightened.

Dikon watched in shock as the little saiyan looked to him to save her.

"Look at me! Saiyan scum!" The King grabbed her chin and forced her to look into her terrible pink eyes.

He gasped and released her.

Blue didn't hesitate as she took the opportunity to run behind Dikon for protection.

"What is wrong, sire?" A random guard questioned King Fruin.

"She is a half-breed," the King turned accusing eyes to Dikon, "and they will not come for a half-breed mongrel!"

"Half-breed? That is not possible..." Dikon argued, feeling Blue shake with obvious fear.

"Saiyans do not have blue eyes, idiot," King Fruin snapped.

"I saw the mother and the father is definitely a saiyan since his brother is..." Dikon fumed a bit, "Maybe it is just a genetic throwback."

"Impossible! The only way that is remotely conceivable is if..." The King blinked, "No, we must execute her immediately. The legend must not come true."

"What legend?" Dikon glared, warning the guards to keep their distance as they tried to close in.

"Super saiyan, kill her! Dikon, I order you!"

"No," Dikon picked up Blue and was pleased when she curled her tail around his arm.

"What?!" The King roared.

"No, she is not dangerous and I will not kill her for the sake of some stupid legend. If you are that worried I will keep her secured in my quarters and I will take care of her. If I find so much as one hair on her head damaged when she is not with me then I will wipe out this entire measly planet," Dikon eyed the King coldly.

The King turned a lighter shade of green.

"The saiyans will come for her," Dikon announced with absolute conviction, "I almost had to kill the mother, who is full blooded, to take this cub. I am going to my quarters and I expect enough food for three people to be brought to my door in ten minutes."

Dikon turned on his heel leaving King Fruin and his subjects agape with shock.

**

17 looked up at the sound of the door as it opened and dropped his eyes sullenly when he saw his brother-in-law.

"What's wrong, Android, need your oil changed?" Amusement colored the saiyan's voice.

17 glared at him.

"Very funny, in fact so funny I forgot to laugh."

"I am not surprised, you left your brain on earth," Vegeta smirked as he sat on the opposite bed.

"I am not in the mood for this hidden meaning crap, Vegeta," 17 snarled.

"Fine, why do you keep bothering her? What do you want?"

"I want her to trust me," 17 exploded as he leapt to his feet, "I want her to tell me if some alien bastard tried to bite her or kiss her! I want to know!"

Vegeta nodded.

"As do I, though she will probably never tell."

"Why?"

"She is a warrior and as a warrior she will bear her pain alone," Vegeta's voice turned solemn, "She is not going to change, not even for you..."

"Well, that's fine! I don't want her to change I... she needs to cry.... She needs to release the emotions she has bottled up inside of her before she explodes... she needs to cry..."

17 sat down and lowered his head.

Vegeta regarded the android in silence.

"I have only seen her cry once in my entire life," Vegeta said softly as if he was talking to himself.

17 lifted his head.

"It was right after she met you and discovered you were an android--"

"But--" 17 interjected but Vegeta talked over him as if he had said nothing.

"She came to me, thinking you were no more than a machine with artificial intelligence. A fake man. She was devastated. Bulma told her otherwise."

"She cried because she thought I wasn't real," 17 said almost disbelievingly.

Vegeta shrugged.

"Draw your own conclusions. Leave her alone for now and she will come to you later."

"She listens to you," 17 met Vegeta's eyes.

"She knows I won't pry."

**

"Hey, boys, guess what?" 18 burst into the room.

When they just stared at her blankly, she frowned, sighed, and tapped her foot impatiently.

17 rolled his eyes.

"What, 18?"

"You know the ship," 18 waited until Vegeta nodded, "Well, I convinced the captain to locate Dikon's exact coordinates for me."

18 smiled as she waited for exclamations of surprise, praise, and extreme gratitude. She received nothing as the smile died. She really should have known better than to expect reactions from her brothers, she was too optimistic for her own good.

"How did you do this? What did you promise the captain?" Vegeta frowned.

"I promised to smile at him and my hand in marriage if Krillin should die," 18 shrugged.

"What?" 17 blinked at her.

"Hn, figures," Vegeta shook his head, "Only a woman could get expensive information for free."

18's laughter filled the room.

"We need all the advantages we can get, Vegeta," 18 smirked amused, "17, go tell Ava the good news you moron!"

17 nodded and left the room.

"Give him any tips?" 18 lifted a brow.

"Only to give her space," Vegeta rolled his eyes, "I hope they solve this little problem before lights out, after all, I am the one who has to share a room with her."

"She's your sister," 18 smiled.

"Hn."

**

"Do you know the legend, Blue?" Dikon sat down as Blue ran around exploring the new space.

"Legend?" She turned to him.

"An old story about a... super saiyan," Dikon closed his eyes as he started to rub his temples, the Splavoids were giving him a headache.

Why did I ever accept this challenge? Dikon sighed. Because you will make lots of money if you succeed.

"I know all about super saiyans!" Blue squealed.

Dikon opened his eyes.

"Are you the legendary?"

"Legendary?"

"Did... your mother ever tell you, you would become a super saiyan?" Dikon asked sharply.

"Maybe," her eyes danced.

"You can tell me," Dikon softened his voice, "I know Prince Vegeta is your father's brother."

Dikon ground his teeth softly when Blue just shook her head at him.

"Fine, but at least tell me how your uncle got his tail chopped off."

"Yajirobe cut it off when he was fighting," she told him seriously.

"Yajirobe, huh? He must be extremely powerful," Dikon said unable to hide the awe in his voice.

Dikon frowned confused when Blue burst into uncontrollable giggles and wouldn't explain what she thought was so funny.

**

"Ava?" 17 tapped gently on the door.

"Go away."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean what I said earlier, Ava... I was just mad and... I thought you liked to make me mad," 17's voice turned from pleading to teasing.

"Come on, open the door, I have news," 17 offered.

A smile crossed his lips when the doorknob turned but died when the door itself only opened fractionally.

"What news?" Ava stood in the doorway, blocking his entrance.

"18 was able to convince a captain form another ship to track down Dikon for us."

Silence.

"We will be able to reach Sasoli faster instead of wasting time searching for the right planet," 17 reached out to cup her cheek with his hand.

He was unprepared for the door when it slammed shit, catching his hand in the process.

"Damn it! That's my hand!" 17 pulled his hand free creating a small hole and a huge crack in the door.

"All you had to do was say was don't touch me," 17 grumbled as he inspected his hand.

17's spirits boosted when he heard his wife's quiet laughter.

"I will inform you when we have more information," 17 ran his hand along the crack he had created before he went to watch for the light.

End of Chapter Eight

AN: Ok, people here you go! I had a hard time getting this chapter to you, the stupid computer decided to be moody with me! Well, I showed him his place! Humph! Oh, yeah so I hope you like! This is all for you!