Blood Pact

Chapter Twenty-One

Shenor was quiet as he sat behind the control panel.

Vegeta did not speak other than to tell Zetell to watch him carefully. Learn his techniques for the ship. Vegeta felt certain that Shenor would try to over take them eventually.

Their current location was approximately 96 hours away from Frieza's last known coordinates. But, he could be anywhere in the galaxy now.

So, immediately Shenor was instructed to broaden the radar field. It showed only two ships, but both were too small to be Frieza's. One headed West toward an uncharted planet. The other headed East toward a planet known as Earth.

"Which direction do you want me to head?" Shenor asked. "West or East?"

"Neither." Vegeta replied. "I am in search of a much larger ship. Ever heard of Lord Frieza?"

Vegeta enjoyed the look of shock on Shenor's face. "But….why would you want to find Frieza?" Shenor asked. "The man is….is…"

"The creature is a loathsome existence." Vegeta replied angrily. "When I find him I will kill him with my bare hands!" Zetell saw Shenor's blue eyes grow bigger at the remark. Apparently this Frieza's reputation has preceded him.

Talia and Raditz spent hours each day training.

She was getting stronger and seemed somewhat happier.

However, her voice had not returned. The trauma and abuse she had endured from Frieza seemed to have destroyed so much. Her voice was only a small part of what he had taken from her.

Talia now carried a small note pad with her everywhere she went in order to communicate with Raditz.

Raditz had plotted a course for a planet known as Earth. It had taken them several months to reach this point, but their destination was now just a couple weeks away. From the data on the ship's computer, Earth would be suitable for them. Talia wasn't sure about the people that lived there, but Raditz had assured her that no harm would come to them.

Talia and Raditz had grown close. She considered him a brother. Although he would never take Vegeta's place, he had filled an emptiness in her that she feared would never be possible. She trusted him.

However, Raditz had taken notice to the changes in Talia over the past several months. She was truly a beautiful young woman. Her long black hair and shinning eyes were a wonderful accent to her soft skin. He enjoyed their sparring sessions since it gave him the opportunity to be close to her.

She was a Saiyan. The last female of her race. And it appeared that he might be the last male. Except for one….

Raditz had not explained to Talia the whole reason that he had set a course for Earth.

The possibility that his younger brother, Kakarott was alive. Raditz knew that as a baby, Kakarott had been sent to Earth to enslave its people. But then, Frieza destroyed everything and Kakarott was never heard from.

Frieza did not know of his existence, otherwise Earth would have been on Frieza's agenda long ago.

Now, Raditz went in search of Kakarott. Together with Talia, they would rid Earth of its people and their Saiyan race would be reborn.

Frieza's wrath was heard throughout the galaxy. He had destroyed two more planets in his search for Talia. Millions of people dead. Races now extinct. And he grew more and more impatient.

The people on his ship had resigned themselves to eventual death. They knew that in his present state of mind, no one was safe. Not until the girl was found. Not until Lord Frieza was satisfied.

And that did not seem to be within his grasp.

Not yet.

Just days away from Earth.

Raditz had been up for the last two nights straight, trying to avoid a meteor shower that had occurred. He dodged as much of the meteors as he could, but some of them did manage to hit the ship. It worried him that if he weren't careful, his entire plan could be destroyed.

Without reaching Earth, what chance did he have to preserve his race?

Talia tried to stay out of his way as much as possible due to his foul mood.

That Saiyan temper.

But, so much time on this ship, with nothing to do but train had left Talia bored. And he didn't have time for her right now. Talia was disheartened as she stayed by his side at the control panels.

Hours had passed; several more meteors hit the ship. Large ones. At one point, the lights flickered.

"DAMN!" Raditz screamed. He was frantically trying to maintain their course. Moments later the lights went out and the red emergency lights came on.

Talia mutely watched.

Raditz seemed to be on the brink of losing control himself. He picked up a small chair and threw it against the wall, shouting.

Talia could say nothing. She watched as Raditz again tried to reprogram the coordinates. But, the controls were not cooperating. He slammed his fists down hard. Sparks flew. Talia stepped back suddenly afraid.

They weren't going to make it. She wanted so much to speak, opening her mouth. Only grunts could come out.

"Shut up." Raditz said hatefully. "I hate when you do that!" Talia was suddenly hurt by his tone.

"We are flying blindly now." He said as he stood. "There is a slim chance that we might make it to Earth, but I'm not counting on it."

Talia could feel his rage. His blinding temper which seemed to consume him. He had failed.

She decided to go back to her room and await their fate. But as Raditz spoke, she stopped.

"I had everything planned out so well." He began. "The escape….the trip….training you." He did not look up at her, but out into space. Talia waited in the doorway, her heart going out to him.

"Zarbon was not easily convinced. In fact, only money and promise of power could possibly sway him. It took me years of skimming from Frieza's resources to initiate this plan." He smiled to himself. "Vegeta did not even know."

Talia's heart raced at Vegeta's name.

"In the end, we had to confide things to Adedda. I knew you would have no trust in me without her help." Talia slowly walked over to Raditz, placing her hand on his arm. She wanted to console him.

Raditz turned and looked at her. "I knew I could make you love me." Talia felt her breath exit in a gasp at hearing his words.

Love?

He reached his hand up and touched her face. "Together…you and I…that is how it was always supposed to be."

Talia's black eyes were full of surprise. She backed up suddenly, breaking contact.

"Don't be afraid." He said softly. "We are all that is left. What was once a proud and feared race is solely dependent upon our love."

Our Love?

Suddenly Talia felt an ache in her stomach as she backed further away.

"We have only a few days left. Either we reach Earth…or we drift in space." She heard anger in his voice. "Whatever the outcome, I love you."

Talia bolted out the door and ran.

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