Chapter Fifteen
Of all the bargains . . . Ava thought wryly to herself as Dikon watched her closely for any sign that she might comply.
"How about you free me, let me finish eating, and I let you live."
I had a feeling that wouldn't work. Oh well, didn't hurt to try. Now to implant a thought into her head.
"You can't kill me," Dikon smiled charmingly at her.
Ava lifted a brow.
"And why is that?"
"Because you love me," Dikon smoothed his shirt.
"I do not," Ava frowned, if there was any man she loved than it was a machine.
"Don't lie to yourself, my love, admit it. You know you love me," Dikon teased.
"You are the one who is deceiving yourself," Ava lifted her chin.
He is completely delusional, Ava thought softly, such a waste, if only I could get him back to earth . . . find him a weak earth woman for him to protect.
"Come on . . ." Dikon paused, "What is your name?"
"Why should I tell you?" Ava turned back to the cart of food and considered her options.
"It would be nice to exchange names before we reproduce," Dikon frowned as he realized she wasn't really paying attention to him anymore.
"I would never reproduce with you," Ava lifted a glowing hand in his direction.
Dikon nearly flinched as the ball of energy nearly singed his skin as it went over his shoulder. He spun around to see what she had damaged when the blast nearly struck him in the face. Must have been reflected somehow . . . he thought as he watched it hit the cart right into her hands, the metal . . .
He had no time to move out of the way as the blast hit him in the stomach.
"Remember, I could have killed you," she laughed as she continued her meal.
Dikon gasped for air, the blast had been small but powerful. The food must be giving her energy . . . vixen . . .
"Resourceful," Dikon straightened slowly and grimaced, "no more food for you."
Ava chucked the cart at him viciously.
"You would starve me," she growled as he dodged the projectile, "and I thought you were different."
Ava deliberately closed herself off from him, refusing to even look at him as if disappointed by his very presence. Not too far off from the truth, the bastard!
Food was always a serious subject for saiyans.
"Different from whom?" Dikon inched closer, unable to resist the bait.
"Frieza was not above starvation."
Ava gasped as her face was jerked to meet his, she hadn't expected this reaction from him. She also hadn't expected the emotions that swirled in his eyes.
"Don't you EVER compare me to that bastard!" Dikon said with barely controlled rage.
"You know him?" She asked as his fingers dug into her chin.
"I know of him," Dikon released her as suddenly as he had grabbed her, "It's his brother I know personally."
He started to pace.
"Cooler?"
Dikon stopped in his tracks. She was looking at him with stunned disbelief, strange, he had never been able to read her eyes before.
"He destroyed my planet because we refused to be his pawns in warfare. I was to be off planet when it happened and I have been tracking him ever since," Dikon's voice was raw with emotion.
"But you're a mercenary . . ." Ava shook her head, they couldn't share this background . . . it would be far too intimate.
"Revenge doesn't pay very well," Dikon hit the wall, "I am always one step behind."
This can't be . . . we are the same . . . Ava swallowed and closed her eyes.
"I know why you can't find him."
"Why?" Dikon frowned, how could she possibly know where he is?
"Because he's dead."
Somber black eyes met shocked green.
**
"Alright, go on 18," 17 pushed his sister out the door.
"Are you sure that is what it means?" 18 looked at her brother skeptically.
"I told you some things don't directly translate," 17 smiled, "What's wrong, sis, don't trust me?"
"No, I don't," 18 remarked dryly.
"That hurts 18," 17 placed a hand on his heart, "Why don't you just stab me in the back?"
"You have a knife handy?" 18 smiled as her brother merely laughed in response.
**
Bardock's eyes darted up in surprise as the female, now known as 18, started to speak in his native tongue. Though it was not the language that startled him but the message she was trying to convey. Surely she didn't mean what she had just said, and even if she did, it would be improper if not impossible to comply.
Vegeta glanced at them amused, he could see his brother-in-law watching as well with a suspicious gleam in his eye. What an interesting thing to ask Bardock, either this was 17 playing tricks or the blond android had serious issues.
"I cannot . . . accept," Bardock remarked gruffly.
18 blinked at him confused. Why would he feel the need to revert to her language?
"I thought saiyans were always hungry," 18 frowned when the saiyans started laughing.
17 laughed as well before picking up his daughter and slipped out of the room unnoticed.
"What is so funny?" 18 demanded, if there was one thing that she didn't appreciate it was being laughed at.
"When you use flesh in that context . . ." Vegeta paused to glance at Bardock with amusement, "It means something else."
18 tilted her head.
"I only said would you partake of flesh. We have some on board."
"Things do not directly translate," Bardock smirked, "You basically offered your body to me."
"What?" Blue eyes widened.
"You offered your flesh," Vegeta motioned to Bardock, "Give her the translator."
"You appear to need this more than I do," Bardock tossed the translator to the android.
18 continued to frown as she punched in her newly learned saiyan. The machine beeped and announced it's answer.
"Would you like to taste my body? It is delicious."
18's mouth dropped open in shock.
**
Dead? Dikon looked at the saiyan with disbelief, could my hunt be over? Dikon knew he was on a suicide mission going after Cooler for there was a limit to what even he could absorb from the monster. Now to find out that he was dead . . . Most of his life had been wasted on this search.
"Impossible . . ." Dikon rubbed his face, "Who could have defeated him?"
"Kakarot was the first but Cooler returned stronger . . . Vegeta and Kakarot destroyed him once and for all," Ava was unaware of the tenderness in her gaze.
"Then I have made enemies of allies," Dikon smiled wearily, "How did you know Frieza?"
Her eyes shot to the floor.
"You spoke as if you knew him personally," Dikon said softly, wondering what story she had to tell.
"Frieza was more shrewd than Cooler," her midnight eyes glazed over, "He approached us with an alliance, our people are always up for a challenge so we accepted. It wasn't long before we realized what he really wanted and by then, it was too late. He had the Prince for his army, me for leverage, and then he destroyed our planet."
"Obviously more saiyans than that survived," Dikon spoke gently.
"Off planet," she shifted restlessly, "Now there are only three."
Three? Dikon puzzled silently, but what about all the people on her ship?
"You said Frieza kept you for leverage. . ."
"Yes, the male of my kind refused to obey him . . ." She trailed off miserably.
"But they listened when he threatened your life," Dikon filled in he reached out to cup her cheek.
She avoided his hand.
"In time he planned to mate me to the Prince," she shivered lightly, "He wanted more monkeys for his zoo."
She sneered at the memory of Frieza, may he rot among the insects and offal he created.
"What happened to Frieza? How did you escape?"
Ava growled silently at herself. This was becoming far too personal . . . Keep it short and to the point.
"Prince Vegeta rescued me."
"But . . ." Dikon became deeply concerned, "I thought the blue-eyed male was your partner."
"He is."
"But . . . why didn't Prince Vegeta take you as a partner?" Dikon's voice was suspicious.
"We don't suit," a smug smile crossed her face, finally time to play.
"Liar," Dikon glared at her.
**
"17!!!"
17 laughed as he braced the door with his body. Sasoli sat on the bed watching curiously as the door started to shake in it's frame.
"Damn it, 17!" The door cracked.
17 winced as his sister started ramming the door in an effort to get in.
"Why is Aunt 18 mad?" Sasoli cocked her head to the side.
"Daddy played a little trick, that's all," 17 laughed.
"A LITTLE trick?!" 18's outraged voice seeped through the door. "I'll show you a trick where your head is separated from the rest of your body!"
A worried expression crossed 17's expression as the blows became more powerful making his feet slide across the floor before he could adapt.
"Sasoli, come here baby," 17 called to his daughter.
When she was secure in his arms 17 leapt away from the door at the exact moment 18 barreled through it. She was unable to compensate for the door giving away so easily, so she hit the wall, making a huge dent.
17 laughed as he darted from the room.
18 picked herself up slowly, smoothed her hair, and stalked out the door. Her brother was standing by the control panel and the saiyans were watching impassively.
"I am going to kill you," she announced.
"Are you?" 17 grinned unashamedly as he raised his daughter in front of him.
"Even you are not low enough to hide behind a child," 18 snarled.
"Not just any child," 17 clarified, "but your only niece."
"She won't save you!" 18 charged him and 17 took off.
Sasoli shrieked with delight as they darted back and forth all over the ship with her Aunt in close pursuit.
"Do they do this often?" Bardock watched them amazed by their speed and agility.
"I have no idea," Vegeta remarked dryly, keeping a close eye on his niece.
"Faster!" Sasoli giggled in her father's ear.
17 grinned as he somersaulted in the air avoiding 18's hands, "I'll try."
Vegeta stood up as they increased their speed. Fun and games were fine but they were going way too fast, one slip, and they would go straight through the ship's hull like paper.
Bardock watched with approval as his Prince joined the fray.
The androids gasped as one was yanked off his feet and the other bounced off the Prince, both hit the ground with a thump. Sasoli squealed with delight.
18 was on her feet in a flash and glared at Vegeta who held the back of 17's shirt.
"Release her," Vegeta ordered.
17's eyes narrowed as he let go of his daughter. She ran to Bardock laughing.
"If you want to kill him then do so after we have landed," Vegeta jerked 17 to his feet and relinquished his hold.
17 straightened his shirt and sent a smile in his sister's direction.
"Yeah, 18, don't damage the ship," 17 scolded her playfully.
"I don't want to damage the ship," 18 replied tartly, "I want to damage you."
"Did you see us Bardock? We were going so fast!" Sasoli opened her eyes really wide.
"Yes, you were. How powerful are they?" Bardock inquired, curious as to how powerful a hybrid of machine and flesh could be.
"Mommy says 1.5 super saiyans," Sasoli smiled at the strange expression that crossed his face.
**
"Hey man, I have to go check on Maron. She's been taking a nap," Krillin nodded to Goku as he took off down a hallway.
"No problem," Goku smiled and made his way to the kitchen," oh hey Gohan."
His son spun around with almost guilty surprise.
"What's going on?" Goku narrowed his eyes thoughtfully as he studied the room.
"Nothing," Gohan laughed a bit nervously, "Just considering having some ice cream."
"Ice cream?" Goku's eyes lit up.
"Yeah, the girls were having some," Gohan shrugged.
"Mmmm, ice cream," Goku sat down and started eating his wife's leftovers.
"Um, Dad I don't think that is a very good idea," Gohan looked around nervously.
"Why?" Goku ate another scoop, "You had some."
"What?"
"You have some chocolate on your face," Goku watched his son pale suddenly.
"Yes, you do, don't you Gohan," Videl's voice rang in the air.
"Goku . . ."
Goku dropped the spoon at the sound of his wife's voice. "Um, yes dear?"
"Talk about catching them with their hands in the cookie jar," Bulma laughed.
Five minute later.
"I don't believe this," Gohan grumbled to himself.
"Well, if you hadn't been sneaking ice cream," Goku smiled.
"You should talk, you ate it right in front of them," Gohan replied.
"Yeah, but I have less time," Goku laughed.
The three women shook their heads at their men folk who stood in the corner.
"They are no better than children," Chichi grumbled.
"You would think Gohan would know better," Videl agreed.
At the sudden silence the Son women turned to Bulma.
"What? Speak for yourself. My Vegeta is more discreet," Bulma's smile turned smug.
"Sure he is," Chichi crossed her arms, "Bellowing for you to serve him."
Bulma arched a brow.
"He just does that for attention and for your information, he doesn't always bellow and he doesn't always want food."
Bulma sent a saucy smile over her shoulder as she left them to their own devices.
"Braggart," Chichi sniffed.
"Yeah," Videl smiled suddenly, "That's Bulma."
End of Chapter Fifteen