Three Rivers of Justice

Chapter Seven

Rideria felt something cool as it touched her face. Slowly, she opened her eyes, not able to focus, but seeing someone green above her.

"You are a very foolish girl." The voice said, continuing to rub the cloth along her brow.

She tried to move her arms and legs, but felt as if all her strength had been drained from her body. "Where…." She tried to speak, but there was simply not enough oxygen in her lungs.

"Don't try and speak." He said. "You're lucky to be alive."

Rideria could hear the splashing of water, and saw lights around her. She wasn't sure if she were still in the chamber or not, but remembered all too well what had happened. Indeed, she had been foolish.

Closing her eyes again, she felt a blanket being placed gently over her body, her clothes soaked from perspiration. "You just rest. Tomorrow, you should be fine." He said.

"Wait…" Rideria said, trying to focus on the face in front of her. Was it her father? No, it was not his deep voice, but just an octave higher. "Who…." But again, she couldn't speak.

"Never mind." He said. "I'll see you tomorrow." As he walked out of the sitting area, Kaizer dimmed the lights. Hopefully the girl would get some rest, and then tomorrow she would realize what danger she had put herself in. If he hadn't had the same desire to train rather than sleep, she would be dead by now.

Kaizer had gently picked Rideria up, carrying her to the sitting area and placing her on one of the soft sofas. After cooling her off with a wet cloth, he figured she would survive and it would be best if her father did not find him here with her. It would not be considered proper in their Namekian culture. True, Kaizer should have brought this immediately to Piccolo's attention. But, Rideria was so proud; fighting for independence that he felt it would be best to wait. Perhaps he would tell her father tomorrow, perhaps not. Either way, as long as the girl was safe, Kaizer had done the right thing.

Wanting to train, he continued on to the training chamber, setting the gravity machine on one hundred times gravity. Yes, this was more his pace and he easily adapted. Another day of intense training like this, and he would no doubt be the strongest warrior on his planet. Well, except for Piccolo and that Saiyan. But, when it was over, they would be gone and he would be left to defend his beloved people if need be. Kaizer trained for several hours.

Rideria woke up just before dawn, feeling as if she had been kicked in the gut. And the back, and the legs and the arms. Her head hurt and her mouth was extremely dry. It took her a moment to remember what had happened. Just what did happen? How did she get here? Thinking back, Rideria remembered being in the training chamber and putting it well past the limits her father had set. Then, she remembered the pain in her chest and everything going black.

Rideria got up; her legs shaky and walked back toward the chamber. The ship was quiet, but she wanted to find out which passenger had helped her last night. Carefully, she made her way down the hallway, staggering every few steps. She felt so weak.

"You just don't give up, do you?" Kaizer asked.

She whipped around to see who was speaking to her and was immediately too dizzy to stand. She fell against the wall and was headed for the floor when Kaizer grabbed her. "Take it easy, kid." He said, picking her up in his enormous arms. "You need to rest, not be up and running the halls." He scolded.

Trying to think clearly, Rideria looked up at him. "It was you? Last night?"

Kaizer smiled. "Well, I wanted to work out and your pathetic body was in my way. So, I had to move you around."

Rideria knew he was trying to be funny, but she was in no mood. "You shouldn't have interfered." She said angrily, but softly.

"Yeah, right." Kaizer told her. "And right now your father would be mourning the loss of his daughter."

Rideria smirked, an expression similar to Piccolo's. "He would not mourn. My father does not show such trivial feelings."

"Think as you wish, but no father could bear the lose of a child. Even as one as stubborn and disobedient as you." Kaizer said. "I suppose I'll have to put you in your bed if I am to have any peace." His long legs moving slowly, he carried Rideria to her room, which she shared with her sisters. Quietly, he opened the door. "Which way?" He asked. It was dark and all three beds looked the same.

Rideria pointed to the one in the left corner. "That one."

Kaizer moved carefully, trying not to make any noise. He lay Rideria down. "Now, stay put, or I'll be forced to tell your father about your little escapade."

"You mean, you won't tell him otherwise?" Rideria asked, surprised.

"I see no reason, being that you survived." Kaizer said. He turned to leave, when suddenly the lights came on and there were two loud screams.

Within moments, he felt himself being pummeled, falling to the floor, shouting for it to stop. Both Rhyne and Rikola were on top of the Namek, beating him mercilessly, when their father entered the room.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!" Piccolo growled loudly enough to shake the entire ship.

"He was in our room, Father!" Rikola shouted, holding onto his arm, twisting it around his back.

Before Rideria could find the strength to speak, Piccolo grabbed Kaizer and shoved him against the wall, causing a large and visible crack. "I'll kill you." Piccolo said in a low and menacing voice.

"Father! Stop!" Rideria finally managed. "He was helping me! That is all!"

Piccolo's head snapped around. "What do you mean? Helping you? What business does he have in your bedroom?" She paused for a moment too long and Piccolo put his arm around Kaizer's neck, putting him in a headlock. "Speak quickly girl, or I'll snap his head in two."

"I went to the training chamber." Rideria began. "I put the controls too high…and I…I passed out. Kaizer found me and revived me. He was only bringing me back to bed because I could not walk on my own."

Reluctantly, Piccolo let Kaizer go. "Is this the truth?" Piccolo asked, still shaking from anger. "Your only intention was to help my daughter?"

As Kaizer tried to catch his breath, the rest of the ship had been awakened. Gowan had been standing in the doorway for several moments, not willing to move against Piccolo. Now, Vegeta and Bulma stood, wide eyed at Piccolo's angry outburst.

Coughing, Kaizer tried to defend himself. "I would never do anything improper against Rideria. Or any of your girls." He said through his coughs. "I only tried to help her."

Piccolo backed him once again up against the wall. "Next time you try and help one of my girls, you damned well better tell me about it….Or I might snap your neck before I ask the questions."

"Yes, sir." Kaizer answered. Rubbing his throat, he left the room, brushing past Gowan, Vegeta and Bulma.

Piccolo snarled, his face still showing his immense anger. "What the hell are you looking at?" He yelled at the others. Hurriedly, Gowan left, running after Kaizer to get all the details.

Vegeta crossed his arms and laughed. "Namek, your parenting skill may lack, but your instincts are flawless. I thought you were going to crack that boy's neck."

"Come on, Vegeta." Bulma said, pulling on his arm. "It's over. Let's give them some privacy."

Once they were alone, Piccolo eyed his girls. "This will not happen again." He said to all of them, but specifically to Rideria. "You disobey me, and you will be punished."

"I'm sorry father." Rideria said, getting up out of bed. "I know I was wrong…" Then, another wave of dizziness hit and Rideria tumbled to the floor.

Anxiously, Piccolo picked her up and placed her back onto the soft bed. "Get some drinking water." He told Rikola.

The girl hurried out and returned in seconds with the water.

"You two go ahead and continue resting." He said to Rikola and Rhyne. "I'll stay with your wayward sister." He was very sarcastic.

Neither one of them argued. They climbed into their beds and pretended to sleep. All the while, secretly watching as their father tended to Rideria.

"I'm sorry." Rideria said again.

"Shut up." Piccolo said. "It's done." His tone was firm, but not cruel. "It won't happen again."

"No, sir." She said, almost asleep. "Don't be mad at Kaizer. He was truly trying to help me. I think I bit his head off enough for both of us."

Piccolo did not reply, but he doubted anything she might have said or done would come close in comparison to what Piccolo had in mind. In a few minutes, Rideria was asleep.

THANKS FOR READING!!! PLEASE REVIEW!!