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