In Search of Amity
Period 29: Unanticipated reaction
In Med Bay, Trunks
articulately stitched Goten closed; miraculously the patient was
awake and sitting up talking.
"Did you even get a
swing at them, I mean they were practically standing on us?" He
asked of Trunks.
"No Korofi did all the
work while we were on the ground, one was almost close enough to
spear but it didn't happened." He admitted morosely, keeping his
hands nimble with the last stitch.
"Shit, Tapion would be
pissed about this, he gave you that sword with the intention you
would use it." He reminded, recollecting the swords previous
wielder, a great warrior, and friend, even if only for a short time.
Trunks clicked the tip
his tongue against the back of his teeth.
"Tapion is the last
thing on my mind right now, but he was a good friend, one I hated to
loose. I still have the sword Dende gave me here too you know." He
mentions.
"Yeah I saw you
carrying it in, where did you put it?" Goten asks.
"In the cargo bay,
near the crates. Listen there's something else I need to get off my
chest, I can't tell you about it though, im sorry." He
conversed, snipping off an extra piece of stich with a pair of small
silver scissors.
Goten was hurt by this,
he though he and Trunks shared all their troubles, but he would
respect his friend's wishes, he slipped off the table to his feet.
"Whatever you say,
just remember if it gets too heavy im always there to lend a hand or
ear, thanks for the stiches man." He offered, slapping his
companion's shoulder thankfully and left med bay.
Trunks cleaned up alone;
grasping a humid rag from the sink he wiped the residue blood from
the tabletop, stoping a moment to reach back into his hair, pulling
out Pans pink elastic hair band and allowing his long tresses to fall
back around his face.
Fiddling the object
between his thumb and forefinger, he sighed.
"Gohan… how am I
going to explain this to him."
Goku directed Korofi to sit on the black, three-seater couch and he accepted stepping around a small rectangular coffee table, tugging the hem of his pants up a notch before taking a seat.
Both Goku and Gohan each took a seat in one of the recliners on either side of the couch; they too were black and thick leather, Gohan crossed his left ankle over his right knee and settled back, a certain part of the Namek jumped out at him due to how large they were.
"So, you did bring something with you from home." He said leaning forward slightly, pointing to the booties on the Namek's feet, Korofi snorted a chuckle.
"Yeah, they are amazingly comfortable and don't soak up water, great for travelling on foot over long distances. " He explained straightening his leg out and showing off his left foot, the saiyajins nodded with interest.
Goku leaned his back
deep into the chair comfortably.
"Please tell us about
where you born, which village and family?" He instigated,
interlocking his fingers and resting them in his lap.
"Well, I was born in
the capital village beneath Gurus tower, Dende, his brother and I
grew up in the same community, though we didn't have much to do
with one another. More by reputation than contact." He clarified;
Goku and Gohan looked to one another knowing each had the same
question in mind.
"You and Dende knew
each other, why didn't he say anything." Goku stipulated.
"Perhaps he didn't
recognise you with your altered appearance, though he did seem
distant after you arrived." Gohan supposed, rubbing his chin with
thumb and forefinger, Korofi dismissed the theory.
"No, he knew who and
what I was, you cant fool another Namekian no matter what you do."
He revealed with a one sided smirk, Gohan nodded.
"That makes sense, im
sure us saiyajins have a way of sniffing out others of our kind too."
He chuckled.
"Ok, I think its time
we explain to you exactly what the situations is here Korofi, it
concerns you more than you may know." Goku proposed, Korofi looked
back and forth between the two men, unsure of how the situation of a
group of earthling could have anything to do with him.
Goku was careful of his words as he lay it all down, earth, Dende's return then the awful truth about new Namek and its unthinkable loss of life and their quest to save it from immanent destruction.
Hours passed by the time
the full story ended, by then Korofi had turned pail with unspoken
grief, he couldn't take in what had happened to his people, burying
his face in his hand he rubbing his eyes roughly with his fingertips,
looking up to the opposite wall he blinked open his eyes.
"My father, brothers,
uncles, grandfathers, great grandfathers… they were all
farmers…they didn't have a chance." He angered with control,
standing up and walking away from the couch to take a breather.
Goku pressed his lips
together regretful, he could not begin to understand the impact it
was having upon Korofi, to learn his entire family is gone and
perhaps forever.
"I'm sorry it had to
be this way, but I will find a way to put things right, I am leading
this quest because I feel it's a possibility." He pledged,
leaning forward from his seat with his hands hanging limply between
his knees.
Korofi nodded.
"I wish you all the
best of luck, you are going to need it." He presented, Gohan
blinked with confusion.
"What do you mean…
your not coming with us?" He stated standing from his seat, Goku
looked over to his son motioning him to sit back down.
"That's right,
landing on new Namek in itself is suicide, what you intend to do once
there in unthinkable." He made known and turned to the pair, Gohan
walked toward him with a question filled expression.
"But, they are your
people and they are suffering, you cant just abandon them." he
alleged with purpose, Korofis reaction was one of indifference.
"I did it once and I
will do it again, besides there is nothing left for me there… now."
Turning away, he began leaving the lounge; Goku leaned back in his
chair and folded his arms.
"Your strong Korofi,
stronger than you think, you could make a difference to those that
are left, us alone may not be enough." He relayed in a hopes it
would convince the Namekian to change his mind.
He stopped, turning the
corner of his eye toward them.
"I pity you Goku… if
its not too much trouble, could I be left off at the next space
station?" He requested. Goku gazed at the coffee table for a
moment, observing the frosted shapes in the clear glass.
"It can be arranged
Korofi, it may be several days before we come across a system
though." He explained.
"That's fine,
thankyou Goku." He responded and finalised his leaving of the
lounge, vanishing from the room silently.
The two left behind sat
wordlessly, Gohan looked to his father before speaking.
"I really thought he
would help, I mean… I didn't befriend him for it I just though…"
he trailed off, Goku knew his son meant well, but it didn't matter.
" It was his choice
son, no one should be forced to fight even if it is for their own
people, you need a reason to fight and I get a feeling that his
reasons are buried too deep to reach." He explained, Gohan who
nodded his understanding.
"Yeah… listen I need
to talk to Bra, I'm hoping she might show Korofi around since they
seemed to get along at the bar, ill see you soon." He said.
"Will do." Goku
responded.
He found her in the kitchen preparing the days lunch, smelled line vegetable omelette and tofu sausages.
"How are you holding up, how is Goten doing?" He asked approaching the centre of the room.
Bra looked over her shoulder briefly to him before turning back to the omelette in the pan.
"He's fine, standing and walking around actually, a good sign." She informed, turning the plate sized omelette over onto its uncooked side.
Gohan nodded
gratefully then approached the large dining table, taking a seat so
that he was facing her.
"I need a favour from
you if you can spare the time, Korofi needs to be shown around the
ship, and since you both get along well, I was hoping you would do
it." He put forth, his eyes focussed upon the smooth grainy wood
of the table top, she was silent for a few moments and he felt his
request denied.
"Yeah… sure." She
replied with a lengthy pause between words that of course caught his
attention; he sat up attentively in his seat.
"Has something
happened, is someone ill, is it Piccolo?" He pressured and stood
from his chair, his mentor still a great concern for him.
Bra shook her head
abruptly and turned to him.
"No, no one is ill and
Piccolo is fine, it's not really my place to talk about it, it
isn't my business, actually forget I said anything." She
applied, walking across the floor to fetch another plate from the
cupboard.
He did not divulge any
further, however his concerned didn't fade about the matter, none
the less he had what he'd come for and felt assures that their guest
would be properly received.
"Thanks again for
taking this responsibility Bra, I owe you a well deserved gift for
your next birthday." He confirmed, pushing his chair from the
table and standing, stepping away he pushed it under again and
proceeded leaving to attend to other matters, his hands slipped deep
into his front pockets.
"Wait, Gohan." Bra
called and he stopped instantly turning to her.
"Talk to Trunks, its
all I can tell you." She passed hesitantly and he nodded
obligingly.
"I will do that, see
you in a little while for dinner." He responded, leaving with his
stride quickened slightly.
Making his way hurriedly
down the staircase leading to Med Lab, he felt tense and the
anticipation with him was overwhelming, his younger brother suddenly
appeared from inside one of the dorm rooms, slipping on an old, clean
shirt, gently to avoid breaking his newly placed stitches.
"Hey little bro how
you feeling, you look pretty upbeat considering what you just went
through." Gohan commented, gently turning his brothers arm to view
the sticked more clearly.
"That liquid morphine
is my new best friend, I tell you it's the next best thing to sex."
He chuckled as he buttoned up the shirt, Gohan laughed.
"That's saying
something, but hey ill catch you later I need to find Trunks, get
going up stairs dinners almost ready." He indicated, pointing back
the way he came.
"No worries, ill save
yours from Dad and Vegeta" Goten called back as his brother
continued hurriedly down the corridor.
Goten turned to head
toward the kitchen when Piccolo stepped into his field of view,
strangely wearing a long green jacket.
"Heya Piccolo how are
you feeling?" He inquired curiously, his eyes looking down to
finish buttoning up his shirt.
"I'm sorry Goten but
im not Piccolo, its Korofi." He pointed out to the half saiyajin;
Goten looked up and blinked widely at the Namek.
"Whoa this is out of
this world, you're a Namek too!" He explained in surprise,
making Korofi smile shyly.
"Hey why not proud,
the Namekian are one of the greatest races in the universe!" He
said excitedly, Korofi again looked down shyly.
"I am Goten Sir, the
reason I kept a disguise was to protect myself from harm, but that is
over now." He explained and moved to walk past.
"Ah I see, hey wait
where are you going now?"
"I was looking for
Master Piccolo, I was hoping to speak with him, that is if he is
willing." He publicized openly, Goten considered the idea.
"I guess you could,
you can usually find him down in the cargo bay or on the upper levels
meditating, either way I wouldn't expect a warm welcome from him…
come up stairs to the kitchen when your ready ok" He informed.
" I thankyou for the
warning sir, I will join you all up stairs soon." He replied and
turned to leave.
"Korofi." He called
and Korofi stopped, turning to face him.
"Goten will do." He
said with a broad closed lip smile, Korofi nodded respectfully as the
feelings between the two eased.
The Namekian jogged away
toward the upped levels, searching for his elusive elder.
Dende gently grasped
Savarnas shoulders, pushing her away to look at her face, her skin
soft and fragile against the tips of his claws, she refused to look
up at him, her hair matted across her forehead and eyes.
She reached into her
pocket, pulling out her ventilator, taking two long puffs to calm her
breathing.
"Listen to me now, I
had no choice in what happened and why I didn't come back, I
couldn't and you know that, I told you what happened, it's the
whole reason we are on this ship in the middle of space." He
prompted, gently releasing her so she could stand on her own.
"If I could turn back
the clock I would, id give anything to be young again, in the lookout
library with a book about philosophy in my hand. Standing on the
lookout and overlooking with the earth Piccolo, without having to
know what I do, having to seen what I have." He relinquished as an
effort to make amends.
Gently she removed the
hair from her face and eyes to look into his, they were to her dismay
full of sorrow and regret, and without thinking, and she nodded her
forgiveness in a way that he understood.
He gradually smiled, it
was a smile that his facial muscles had not display in a long time;
it was pure internal peace for something had been repaired, and it
was the relationships between them at last.
"I think its time we
start fresh, see each other for who the other really is, not see them
for their mistakes." Savarna put forth with a rare wisdom.
"So, have you forgiven
me finally?" He asked.
"I think I have and it
feels, it feels good." She replied surprised with herself, her
lips spanning into serenity.
"Your wrong about one
thing though." She added
"What?" He asked
curiously
"Your still young"
At first he walked the
way but found it too time consuming, flying up Korofi made his way to
the upper levels to find him, though not powerful, the ability to fly
and create clothing was with him.
"Master Piccolo?"
He called, feet touching down on the top level, no response came
apart from the gentle humming of heaters and the buzzing electrical
links.
"I don't mean to
intrude sir, but I wish to speak with you" he stated, stepping
cautiously around he scanned the darkened area, it was full of wall
consoles, wiring, airlocks and a single porthole window letting in a
sparse amount of light.
Standing before it he
looked out to the star struck blackness outside, a quiet and
comfortable space if you were an unhappy soul, he though.
There seemed no sign of
the great warrior and former god, as he walked back to the railing
that opened to the hollow of the ship, gripping his hands loosely
around the stained cold metal he searched the opposite end of the
level, the walls generic as the ones behind him.
A great hand clamped
itself tightly around his Adams apple, jerking his skull back against
a muscular chest, with fear engulfing Korofi grasped the fingers
around his throat with both hands and held steady. Watching as
another hand armed with a clasp of live wires came into the corned of
his vision, sparks flying wildly on its end.
"Your questions better
be valid." Piccolo stated, his face coming closer to the back of
Korofis skull.
"P… please sir…I
…. I … cant… breath." Korofi gaggled.
"Drop the sir crap, I
have a name and im proud of it"
"Y..es…Piccolo" he
gaggled again.
Piccolo frowned,
dropping his grip of the Namek's throat, walking back to the
console from which the wires came, replacing them in their proper
sockets.
Korofi fell forward onto
the railing, massaging his throat to reopen his airways.
"Goten told me…
(Cough)…not to expect a warm welcome" he coughed hatefully.
"Did he now, you best
listen to that boy."
"I didn't expect it
to be life threatening, then again it's my own fault for dropping
my guard." Korofi admitted, standing he swallowing a few lumps of
saliva, clearing his throat.
He turned to see Piccolo
who was leaving down a short dark corridor, he followed cautiously,
but as he did he could sense more than just one entity in the room,
he concentrated upon the sensation, picturing it in his stomach as it
would look. It formed into the shape and colour as it he did when
they first met.
"Piccolo are you ill?"
He asked
"No."
"Have you felt
different in recent times, out of sorts, distant or depressed?"
Piccolo stopped and
turned to him agitated.
"If this is what you
came for I regret not killing you when I had the chance, what are you
getting at boy?" he demanded.
"I sensed something
within you earlier and now, a parasite or virus, it's eating away
at your inner walls." He revealed with concern.
"Parasite, what
ridiculousness is this, Namekians are unable to contract illness."
He retaliated dismissfuly.
"Not an illness, an
invasion that is feeding off you. I am certain of this Piccolo you
must listen to me." He persisted.
"Why should I listen
to you boy, you are nothing but a space hopper without a ship, you're
the parasite as far as im concerned now take your leave before I send
you." Piccolo released.
"I was a healer."
Korofi revealed.
Piccolo stopped and
turned, his eyes squinted systematically at the younger Namek, and he
senses his genuineness and that concerned him.
"What do you see?"
he asked.
"I don't know what
it is, please allow me to examine you, and I may have a better chance
at identifying it."
Piccolo tiled his head
back untrustingly.
"What kind of
examination?" he asked.
"Very simple and
painless, I need you to lie down and relax. Trust me I used to be
the resident healer in the ruins of Amrosis 4." He revealed to
help ease Piccolos reluctance.
"I see" Piccolo
responded.
Without further ado, he
lay down on the smooth concrete floor and closed his eyes.
"Thankyou, now just
relax" Korofi instructed and kneeled down beside him, bringing his
hands up and spreading his thin fingers apart he one upon Piccolos
forehead and the other upon his stomach and shut his eyes.
Concentrating his energy
into either palm, a light blue aura emitted over Piccolos skin,
gently speeding over the patient's entire body. Now Korofi could
see everything inside the patient in a swirl of shapes and colours
that identified each object to him, a sweep of the neck down found
nothing apart from dehydration.
"You need to drink
more, your liver looks depleted … its also responsible for you
reduced libido." Korofi diagnosed with his tone serious and
professional.
"Watch yourself boy,
or ill cut yours off permanently." He growled throatily.
Korofi did not respond,
concentrating now upon the head and pushing all his power into the
hand upon Piccolos forehead.
Searching through the
masses of vessels, strong brainwaves made themselves known sparking
like enraged fuses as he passed them.
He saw Piccolos ki
centre and was mesmerised by its strength and vividness however its
shape was strange, it looked as though it were splitting apart over a
period of time, and them without warning a rush of power lunched from
the ki source and attacked.
"AHHH!" Korofi
screamed as his hand received shockwaves of multiple jolts, burning
so boldly that his skin pealed away.
He was thrown from
Piccolos side, up in the air and to the opposite wall back first.
"What the!" Piccolo
awoke and sat up delirious to what happened, only that he heard the
young Namek scream and saw him at the base of the wall clasping his
ravaged hand beneath his opposite armpit, rocking back and forth
grinning in pain.
"What was it, what did
you see… tell me boy!" Piccolo growled waling up and raising
Korofi up from the floor by the collar of his coat.
"I don't know" he
squirmed
"What do you mean you
do not know, it just attacked you, you must have seen it!" he shook
the Namek.
"I didn't, I have
never seen anything like this before I swear."
"Dammit boy tell me!"
Piccolo screamed shaking Korofi harder who was throbbed in pain, his
hand grazing against his coat.
"I cant!" He
screamed back, Piccolo dropped him to the ground.
Storming back and forth
in the short corridor the warrior was loosing tolerance, Korofi
pulled his hand out into view, he cringed, the skin had only slightly
regenerated, and muscle tissue was still visible.
"I don't know what
it was, but I do know that it is alive and it's not feeding off
you." He pronounced.
"Its not, then why is
it in me, do I look like an apartment block to them?" Piccolo
demanded, standing over Korofi with his fists taunt.
"I don't know, but
its not there to harm you and it's also not ready to leave yet. It
attacked me to protect itself from being expelled." He explained
with his hand in clear view of Piccolo, he kneeled down to observe
it.
"It did this?" he
asked, Korofi nodded.
"Then leave it, it
only intended to injure you not kill you, ill deal with it in my own
way." Piccolo announced and stood. He started walking back to his
place by the small porthole window, then stopped,
"Is it normal for some
parasites to speak to you?" He asked with his back to him.
"No, parasites want to
hide from you, not announce their presence." Korofi responded much
to Piccolos distress.
Thankyou for reading
