Payment in Full
By Trynia Merin aka StarbearerTM
Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Ball Z or Full metal alchemist. Funimation brings us these master works of anime on DVD. Toriyama created DBZ, and Full Metal Alchemist belongs to its own creators. I can only claim responsibility for the plot and the character of Atomique, Parsnip, Fermi, Bohr, Merlot, Cabernet and other fan characters here. The only pay I get is your reviews so please keep them coming! And my thanks to those who have already reviewed! Kudos and hugs to you!
Penalties for Kindness
"Were you allowed to do that?" Atomique asked Radditzu. "Isn't he your father?"
"You know nothing so stay silent. I outrank him," Radditzu said. She turned around to face him with a look of anger on her face.
"Sorry, excuse me for not knowing," she snorted. "But on my planet we respect our elders!"
"IF your elders are of the same station yes, but I am of a higher rank," said Radditzu sharply. "But I shall be patient with you, for you don't know any better."
"Humph," she grunted, giving him a Saiyan grunt that made him smirk. Radditzu guided her to join the table where Cellulose and Merlot sat with Chablis, another Saiyan female. They glanced at Atomique with mild amusement as Radditzu set the tray down.
"Sit down. You've eaten hardly anything. I can't have you passing out for battle duty," he said gruffly, sitting down, and pulling her to sit on his knee. She felt his hard muscled thigh between her legs, and blushed with sexual frustration.
"Raw bloody meat," she groaned to herself. Radditzu tail snaked around her waist, effectively imprisoning her there on his lap.
"Just had to rescue her, didn't you?" Cellulose said. "Nice of you to join us here. Were they boring your concubine, Radz?"
"Mmmph stupid Tora with his female never keeping her blasted mouth shut," Radditzu grunted. "That abject lack of discipline is disturbing."
"You know it" Merlot nodded. "I suppose your female will have better sense?"
Atomique said nothing, but sat with her arms folded while the three Saiyans stuffed their faces. Chablis glanced from Merlot to Cellulose, snickering. "Really, you big bad males would be LOST without us watching your tails."
"Mind your place, woman," Merlot snorted.
"Oh shut up and save it," Chablis laughed in his face.
"This a private party or am I invited?" asked a fourth male Saiyan with blue streaks decorating his haphazard mane.
"What the HELL did you do to your hair? It looks RIDICULOUS!" Cellulose spluttered.
"As if it's YOUR business," he growled. "I don't need YOUR permission."
"Brother, you look like a whore from Cestus 3," Chablis giggled.
"It's a STATEMENT. The warriors there have this done for unusual bravado in their competitions. I placed first!"
"Easy to do on that rock ball," Merlot snickered. "Painted the planet red did you?"
"Oi," Atomique groaned. "Males."
"I know," Chablis chuckled. "My little brother needs to seriously rethink his sense. But it is cute in a low sort of way."
"I don't want to know," Atomique groaned.
"Where are you manners? Introduce your whelp brother to Radditzu' new concubine. She needs to know ALL our names if she's to be working for him," Cellulose snapped.
"Keep your battle harness on, jerk," she glared at him. "He's Sauvignon."
"Terrific," said Atomique.
"I've not seen many creatures with hair as black as hers," Sauvignon said as he peered fascinated at her hair.
"Mmm, she is indeed quite Saiyan in appearance," Radditzu said with a low grin. "Woman, stop gawking and eat something."
"I've lost my appetite," she glared at him.
"Don't be ridiculous. You'll need to keep your strength up," Radditzu gave her a suggestive wink that made her feel hot and flustered.
"You embarrassed the poor thing," Cellulose snickered.
"Shut up. At least ONE of us is getting lucky," Chablis glared at him.
"You never had better till I came around," Cellulose bragged. Reaching over he grabbed her face and merged his mouth with hers. Atomique noticed that he had not swallowed before, and Sauvignon sighed, shaking his head.
"Get a room, sister, really!" he growled.
"Jealous?" Merlot asked. "Wipe that crap out of your hair and you might GET lucky. Or did Luki turn you down again!"
"Don't' remind me," he glared back.
Atomique felt her head swimming at all this. Especially when Radditzu' hand grasped the back of her neck and his lips closed hungrily over hers. Rubbing his hand over her backside, he forced a mouthful of chewed meat down her throat. She was forced to swallow it or choke. For a time she allowed him, till she was full.
"That wasn't so hard was it now?" Radditzu purred, stroking down her belly to just above where the AE tightened over her abdomen.
"Ugh," she groaned.
"Don't you have something more fun to do then hang out with these children?" Merlot said with a leer at Radditzu.
"Do excuse me. I shall be occupied," he said, nudging Atomique off his lap.
"Show off," Cellulose sniffed, and tugged Chablis to her feet.
"Jealous, he's jealous and making up for lost time," Chablis said.
"You know it," Radditzu grinned in that conspiratorial way indicating their sex life would be locker room talk later.
"Spare me," Atomique groaned as Radditzu half dragged her off.
Once they had found a workout room she gasped as he pressed her to the wall, covering her face with a hungry kiss. Gasping she was trapped against his body, pushing her hands to his chest.
"What the hell was THAT in there?" she gasped after he surfaced for breath.
"Nothing that concerns you," he laughed, leaning in and nipping at her neck.
"Terrific," she groaned as Radditzu started to unfasten her armor. Angrily she was getting sick of being pushed around. Frustration increased and she gave him a sharp smack to the back of the head.
"Oh, you want to play, love?" Radditzu purred, dragging her out into the floor. "Do fight, I like it when my prey fights."
"Your prey? Give me a fucking BREAK!" Atomique snapped at him.
"Is that the best you can do?" Radditzu taunted. "I will ENJOY this. Do struggle. It's the most fun I've had in years. Try and stop me if you can."
"Get BENT!" she snapped, as he pounced. Bringing up her feet she slammed a boot into his gut. It actually made him wince when she rolled away. But he threw himself on her again, pinning her between his knees.
"Now what are you going to do?"
"This," she said, suddenly spitting into his face. To Radditzu surprise the spit solidified into polymer, choking off his air like she had done before. Then Atomique poked him HARD in the side that wasn't covered by armor, and rolled over with all her strength so he landed on his back. Cursing, Radditzu tore at his face. Atomique scrambled out from under him and brought her hand up to hurl a long strand of plastic to wrap around his ankles and pin them behind his back. She took one wrist. But Radditzu rolled over, tearing the plastic from his face and laughing at her.
"Don't push your luck, female. Is that the best you can do?" he snickered.
"Shut up, you bastard," she growled at him. Throwing up her hands she generated one of her Plexiglas barriers. Radditzu smashed it easily aside with a blow, and then snaked out his hand towards her face. Just in time she dodged it, and then flailed a wild kick at his shin. He blocked it with a raised knee, and then started a series of rapid-fire punches. Atomique groaned as he nailed her in the gut. She dropped to her knees.
"You need to mind your manners, female," he snorted.
"Give me a reason to," she growled up at him, suddenly generating her power into a small ki ball. It wasn't much but it exploded in his face, surprising him long enough so she could levitate up.
"Humph, not even close," Radditzu laughed, grasping her ankle as he appeared below her. She kicked him hard in the face with her other boot, causing him to let go. Panting she hurled shards of plastic towards him, which he easily batted away.
"Saturday Crush!" he yelled, lobbing a sphere of ki towards her. Atomique screamed, throwing up her hands before her face to block it. Hot plastic formed in a barrier that absorbed most, but the molten plastic spread over her hands and face causing her to scream in pain.
"OWWW!" Atomique curled up, hugging her arm in pain as she removed the molten hot substance. Her glasses she pulled off and threw down.
"You see how useless it is to resist me with those powers? You can't even last ten minutes against me," Radditzu laughed.
Atomique felt tears of humiliation coursing down her face. Angrily she nursed the burns on her arm; simply lying there curled in shame. "Shit, what's the use."
"Well, what do you have to say for yourself?" Radditzu asked, striding up and standing over her.
"Just leave me alone," she snapped. "You win, okay?"
"Female, why are you crying? I didn't hit you THAT hard," Radditzu snorted.
"What the fuck do YOU care?" she snarled, backing away.
"You're hurt," Radditzu mumbled.
"No SHIT," she screamed.
"Let me see," he said.
"Back OFF!"
"Shut up and show me you stupid female!" he roared, grabbing her wrist. Atomique flinched away at his touch. Mumbling he saw the second degree burns all over her. A sigh coursed through him, and he reached for her neck.
"Go ahead and kill me," she sniffled.
"Shut up," Radditzu barked. His hand retreated, leaving her tingling from lack of pain that cut off suddenly. Obviously he hit a nerve cluster that deadened the pain temporarily. Atomique couldn't stop herself from crying, as she hugged herself and trembled. Radditzu shape loomed over her as he gently gathered her in his arms and lifted.
"I didn't intend to harm you so female. But it was your own plastic that burned you," he chided. "You cannot rely on it for defense against Saiyan power."
"You were going to kill me!" she yelled.
"I won't kill you," Radditzu snorted. "Stop saying such stupid things. You're far too important for that."
"Lucky me, don't rub it in," she cursed.
"Quiet down you're only making it worse," Radditzu barked. She lay still in his arms, feeling them tightening protectively around her. He carried her out of the workout room with great care, down the hall of the ship.
"I can't do this, it's too hard," she thought to herself as Lyssra saw Radditzu carrying her in.
"What the blazes did you do to her?" asked she. "Wait till your father…"
"Shut up and mind your place, slave," he snapped. "I need regen cream. She has burns."
"Right away," Lyssra snorted, grabbing a medical kit from on the wall. Radditzu laid Atomique on one of the palates, bringing her hand away and un-strapping the gauntlet and part of the armor. He took the bottles from the kit and smeared a greasy blue paste over the blistered patches of skin. Atomique glanced down at his hands glowing gold with ki, activating a similar radiance within whatever it was applied all over her burn.
"She'll heal in time, won't she?" he asked.
"How did this happen?" Lyssra asked.
"Never you mind. Tell Father that he'll be without her for a day while she recovers from battle injuries. I'll see to her care myself," Radditzu said with a hint of annoyance. "Female, can you hear me?"
"Yes if you stop shouting," Atomique said.
"This will hurt. But I can't have you losing mobility in that arm," Radditzu said, releasing the cluster. Burning fire shot through her as all the pain rushed from the abused skin. Gritting her teeth she tried not to cry out. Her fingers gripped his large hand.
"Come on, let's go," Radditzu said, lifting her up and carrying her out. Lyssra shook her head as Cellulose snickered.
"Poor little ningen burn herself playing with fire?" he laughed.
"Shut up!" Radditzu snapped, grabbing Cellulose and slamming him to the wall with his fist.
"What's bitten your tail? I was only joking!" he gurgled.
"Mind your own affairs or else!" Radditzu snarled, releasing him. Cellulose slid down the wall, landing with a thud on his backside.
"Great Galaxy, what's his deal?" he mumbled, rubbing his neck as Radditzu stormed out.
"You really shouldn't anger him," said Lyssra.
"And what would a 4th class know of this?" he glared at her.
"Nothing. Nothing at all," Lyssra shrugged, storming off to do her own work.
Back in their quarters, Radditzu set Atomique down on the bed. He moved off to the food dispenser to produce several containers of water. She lay propped up against his arm when he moved the glass to her lips. Some of the liquids rolled down her chin, and she realized that her face was partly burned. She wondered if she would be disfigured for life.
"Shh, be silent," Radditzu urged, slowly pulling off her armor. She groaned at the stinging cream, rolling her head back and forth.
"Why are you being so nice all of a sudden? I thought you considered me a disappointment."
"You had no way of knowing how foolish such a defense would be. I was merely testing the limits of your powers. We have a lot o work to do," Radditzu said, peeling off the AE spandex he'd ripped. Removing his own armored chest plate he sat down next to her on the bed. He took her hand, examining the burns smirched with regen compound.
More water was tipped past her lips. Radditzu brushed away pieces of singed hair. She groaned, asking, "So, how bad of a burn will it be?"
"It missed your eyes thankfully, and all but your cheek and chin. Your left ear's badly damaged, but it should heal. You'll have a nice series of markings to remind you," he said.
"Shit."
"It will significantly increase your attractiveness," he purred.
"You're joking," she shot back.
"I am not. In Saiyan culture scars increase the attractiveness of one's mate. The skin will heal, but you'll have the red patches that will show our first fight," he said.
"We fought before."
"Not prior to mating," Radditzu murmured, leaning close to kiss her.
"Please don't," she sniffled.
"Don't deny me, woman, I wish to apologize for my boorish behavior," he purred, bumping his face under her hand.
"Why now?"
"You are not accustomed to Saiyan tradition. I have no wish to make you angry towards me when it is my desire you are satisfied. After all…"
"You're only sucking up to me because my powers are something you think you can use, Radditzu. Just go away and leave me the hell alone!" she snarled.
"Temper, temper," he said. "I will not be this generous again. Be careful how you reject me. I might begin to think that I was mistaken in saving you."
"Oh brother," she groaned. "You really just want to get laid, don't you?"
"Laid?"
"Have sex with me because you're amorous," she sighed. "Very well, do what you will."
"It need not sound like a chore," Radditzu laughed, straddling her. "You have only had a small sample of my skill to please a female."
"Is that so? Then put your money where your mouth is," she snorted.
"Ah a challenge. I accept. You will see how well you are rewarded with pleasure if you obey me," he chuffed, removing his garments before pouncing on her again.
Much later she lay with her head pillowed on his chest. Radditzu snored in a deep sleep, exhausted beneath her. They had mated for hours on end. Wearing the silk gown again, she stretched out her toes she just touched the tops of his kneecaps. Her entire body tingled with pleasure. For the past few hours he had done nothing but show her how many times he could reward her obedience.
In turn she had given as good as she'd gotten. It blew her mind how the things she had learned from her husband had prepared her for this. They had experimented on different things to keep their love life alive, and while she was no temptress they had enjoyed one another without being bored.
"You stupid monkey, I should hate you," Atomique said quietly. "But I don't know what I'd do without you. And because you're getting under my skin I hate you even more."
Her only answer was a purring snore from the male beneath her. She familiarized herself with each line and crevasse of his Herculean body. Seven feet tall counting the hair, he was all muscle and hardly any fat. From the Saiyan females she'd seen, most of them had large busts and wide hips. They were stocky and short legged like she, but most were more toned. But not overly bound with muscle.
"Radditzu, you're an enigma. How can I hate you and care for you so much at the same time," she thought. Could she build a life that was remotely tolerable now that she had gotten herself into this mess? She had to admit flying in space towards some alien world was the stuff of her wildest dreams. Guilt filled her, but was assuaged with the realization her children were safe.
The next day she was feeling the tingling in her arm. She turned over and awoke to the sound of Radditzu cursing someone out at the front door to their quarters. Blinking she looked up to see his back to her, which pretty much was dominated by the cascade of black spiky hair that reached past his shapely ass. Both legs were bare, except for the thigh bracelet on his left leg and a clean pair of spandex briefs. As he shifted his weight from one foot to the other she saw his tail threshing back and forth like that of an angry cat.
"But sir," Persia protested. "Your father…"
"Tell my FATHER that he can send the history tapes here. My woman needs to learn self defense because she's HOPELESS! And if he's that damn curious he can speak to my face!" Radditzu snapped.
She blinked; realizing that she had understood a great deal of what he was saying for it was not English. Grabbing something from the slave with a snort, he added, "Now you can LEAVE!"
The door slid shut with a clang, and he turned, cursing about 'low class slaves' and 'stupid women'. She pretended to be asleep, lying on her side. The bed shifted as Radditzu must have sat on it, and she heard the sounds of plates being shifted on metal. Gently something rough yet warm brushed her hair from her face. The fingers slid down her clavicle to rest in her sterna notch, before tracing over her breasts with far more delicacy then she thought possible.
"Silly woman, what am I going to do with you," he grunted in that same language that seemed little more than harsh guttural words and grunts. His voice was deep yet stirring when he wasn't shouting at the top of his lungs or barking battle orders.
She moaned and stirred, making a dramatic point of murmuring his name. Something tickled as it traced over her bare skin like a hundred soft whispers of fine hair. Up and down her body it flickered, teasing her and causing her to twitch. Something pulled the sheets aside, while a soft object snaked over her body, slowly wrapping around one thigh. Again the hundreds of bristles landed on her bare arms, followed by a warm puff of air on her neck. Firm lips pressed to that place on her neck that slightly stung while weight again shifted.
Still feigning sleep she lifted her arms and put them around his neck, dragging his face towards hers. She heard Radditzu' surprised grunt as she sought his lips with hers. His hard muscled body lay down on top of her with its mass and weight. Thrusting her tongue into his mouth she tasted a hint of blood, spices and a dozen other distinct flavors suggesting he had eaten breakfast already.
Through his chest she felt a vibration akin to a cat's purr only a thousand times louder. His considerable tongue thrust past her lips to trace the insides of her mouth then yielded to allow her to enter his in turn. Parting her legs she let him rest his muscular body on top of hers. For some reason she felt particularly amorous perhaps it was because he had shown real concern for her.
"I don't know what's come over you female, but I'm quite pleased of it," he rumbled against her ear.
"You're very sexy when you're not screaming at the top of your lungs," she laughed. Radditzu saw a genuine smile for the first time on the female's face, and it stunned him how her brown eyes sparkled in a way that he had seen Lyssra's face light up at the look of his father.
"And when you're not shrilling at me, you're quite pleasant in your own way, not as annoying," he responded.
"I freely offer myself to you," she whispered into his ear.
"Mmm," Radditzu growled, as she reached up to draw him close again.
Fingers tangled in her hair as he dragged her head down. The nape of her neck was delicate. With but a twist he could kill her, but his touch was equally gentle. Radditzu tempered his actions just as Napa had happened to boast and brag that Saiyans could mate with lowly weak creatures without killing them. What he knew of mating came from various encounters with Idsarjin pleasure girls and others he had taken his comfort with. After she stopped shaking an hour later Radditzu watched her in wonder.
"Yes my precious one that's it, perfect," he growled, digging his fingers into her arms, leaving bruise marks.
"So warm," she murmured letting him envelop her body with his hair and arms. Such a ready acceptance of him pleased Radditzu, for he bound her close to him.
"You are mine, precious Tomic," he grunted in Saiyanese.
"Whatever you will, Radz-chan, I'm yours,' she whispered. "I submit to your whims."
Silent understanding passed between them, and Radditzu nodded. He smiled a genuine smile, dropping his walls for a precious second. Radditzu knew that there was something to being gentle. She clung to him, shakily. Licking his lips he enfolded her in his arms, marveling at the warmth that filled him. He enjoyed protecting her in this way. Still tangled with him she reached over with a piece of fruit and held it to his lips to feed him. A lascivious glint filled her eyes and Radditzu flipped her over with a growl.
Much later he cradled her in his arms. Dishes of food were arranged around their bed, and he reached for a piece of meat. Thoughtfully he chewed on it. Lifting a piece of fruit, she raised it to his lips so he could bite it. His tongue darted out to lick her fingers. She stretched against his scarred body gasping, "I feel too good to be dead, but I must be after that."
"You should eat more bloody meat," he said, chewing up a bit. She leaned automatically towards him, accepting the chewed mouthful from his lips. This Saiyan custom no longer disturbed her at all. Again they were attired in their sleepwear, their hair still damp with the oils from a respective shower and cleansing.
"Tastes like you," she laughed. He flared his ki to warm her, enjoying how she played with his hair.
"Your burns are healing quite nicely,' he remarked, fingering the skin where the ointment crusted and flaked off.
"Mirror?" she asked. Radditzu helped her up, turning her gaze towards the far wall. She grabbed her glasses, sliding them on to see here there nestled in his lap. They made an incongruous pair, both with tanned skin and dark hair, his much darker then hers. Yet the fur on his tail was a match for hers hair. Sweat soaked his body and hers, encrusted with dried white streaks.
"Cleansing and armor, then we eat some more, Tomic," he said, using a harsher Saiyan sounding pronunciation of her name.
Briefly she wondered if she was suffering from Stockholm syndrome. Her rational scientific mind took in all available data. Such acquiescence to her captor seemed alarming at first. Nevertheless she had pleased him, and he was treating her well in return. She would think later about what he might be buttering her up for.
Inside the cleansing chamber she rubbed surfactant between her hands. This time he had filled the large tub, and directed her to stand by the sudsy oil so she could wash his hair. Fully she saturated his thick mane of black spikes with it, scrubbing with her fingers. Radditzu purred, sitting down on the tub of the cleansing unit so she could scratch his scalp. For a moment she felt as if she were petting a huge lion capable of jumping and killing her any moment while at the same time being soothed by her touch. Every muscle of the alien vibrated with tension and ki. She could feel the density of his body so different from her own, wondering how she had survived mating with him.
Glancing down she looked at her body clothed in a soft silk gown again. Radditzu grunted for her to kneel so she could wash his back with small strokes of his fingers clenched around a sponge. His tail flickered soap down her still gowned body teasingly. Up and down her hand, shoulder and the left side of her face was a slightly pink mottling. In some strange way it looked rugged. Along her back he saw speckles that suggested the acid burns she'd suffered in Alchemy school. A scar ran up one leg, from a shrapnel injury, and the various imperfections in her body were quite known to him. Massive scars crossed his chest, then down one leg. Most of them were covered by his armor, but she was one of the few who saw them.
"I was wondering," she said.
"What female?" he grunted, reaching up to brush a strand of hair from her face. She held out a towel as he stepped out of the bath, wrapping him in it.
Radditzu motioned for her to walk with him into the bed chamber again, and sat down. She averted her gaze to his amusement as he exchanged his towel for undergarments. Humans had this strange thing about modesty, and he made no fun of her wishing that this time. To her surprise he pulled her into his lap, and lay back on the bed, holding her close for a moment. Burying his face in her neck he nipped at the mark he'd made days before.
"You and Napa wear armor, and no bodysuit, but many of the others do. Any reason?"
"It only gets in our way," he chuffed.
"I thought the less skin covered the more adventurous," she joked.
"You have strange ideas female," he laughed.
"But seriously, any reason?"
"The discretion of the wearer. While we Saiyans all wear requisite battle armor, each of us has the option to wear what portions we wish," he said.
"Thus you have epaulettes because you're a rank above your father, but still third class," she said.
"Indeed. But enough of such matters. I must teach you proper self-defense. We've MUCH to work on if you're to fight effectively at my side," he said.
"Why? I thought I was working for your father," she said.
"You have MUCH to learn, and as your master I'm responsible for protecting my property. Including the arts of self-defense. I cannot have you embarrassing me by letting someone else beat your ass," Radditzu teased.
"Hey!" she said, thumping his chest. Yet the twinkle in his eyes suggested he was messing with her.
"Get up and see if you can walk straight," he joked, helping her sit up.
The uniform was the same as before, but repaired. She opted to wear the shorter AE suit that left her lower thighs and calves visible. Bracing her foot on the bed she rolled up the legs. Radditzu grunted with a strange look of approval when he saw she left the leg ring on her upper left thigh visible for all to see. From the other third class she'd seen, they had various arm rings, but he was the only Saiyan she'd seen with a thigh bracelet.
Lyssra had a band of the same metal on her upper right arm, in the same place as Bardock's. Oddly enough she thought only Saiyans had them. Fiddling with the metal she found it had somehow attached itself to her skin, and she was hard pressed to remove it.
She set to the task of helping him on with his armor while he stood with outstretched arms. Something erotic about dressing her male filled her with mirth. Just why she should be so nice to him was a mystery, yet a hint of kindness seemed to change her whole outlook. Perhaps he did care if she lived or died, and that was enough to latch onto.
Even the leash snapped to the gold collar around her neck did not bother her as much. A small plan had germinated in her brain the night before. Be submissive and observe as much as she could to find any possible way out. That meant slowly immersing herself in the role of concubine and servant till she learned all she could with her powers of observation. If she played Radditzu properly she could somehow move him towards the ways she wished. Perhaps it could be done.
Was their attitude toward females much like Neanderthals, she puzzled. Atomique was grateful that sometimes her brain rattled into scientific conundrums to occupy her from the present reality. Such hyper focusing seemed to do her well in this strange environment. Lately each step seemed far more difficult to make, and she landed on her knees.
"Radditzu," she gasped.
"What female?" he asked, eyes filled with true concern.
Suddenly she collapsed to the floor, struggling to hold up her own increasing mass. Atomique compressed flat by what seemed to be a hundred or more pounds. She felt every muscle screaming in protest. "I can't… move… I feel so heavy, is the gravity being increased?"
"Drek, some idiot must have upped the G's to half Bejitasei normal," Radditzu grumbled, reaching down to pick her up.
"I must weigh five hundred pounds," she gasped.
"You're still not very heavy by Saiyan standards. I can lift my own weight easily in standard Vegetasei norm," he snorted.
"I can't exist, my bones will crack," she gasped, surging her powers to her limbs.
Forcing the protein and molecules to rearrange from calcium phosphate and somehow reinforce her bone structure. What was denser, yet lighter, she wondered? A long distant page spoke of carbon fibers arranged in what were called nanotubes. Picturing the structure in her mind, she pushed some of the calcium phosphate and Radditzu felt a slight change in her density. Still it wasn't enough.
"Your muscles aren't accustomed to this," Radditzu said, dropping to her side. Anxiously he held her around the waist, seeing her chest heaving in and out, laboring with each breath that grew harder to draw in.
"Anything near 10 G's will make me black out," she gasped. "Humans can't withstand anything over ten…"
"Can't you change your body?"
"I just did, but I can't even breathe!" she cursed.
"That won't matter soon. The ship is kept at half Vegetasei normal most of the time, because the Idsarjin's ambient gravity is that. I had hoped that you'd be powerful enough to withstand it," Radditzu gasped, suddenly feeling great concern and physical pain at the thought of this female dying. Although a small part of him scoffed it as weakness, the rest told that voice to shut up.
"I can't… I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Stand close," he whispered. She groaned as he surrounded her in ki to screen out what little he could of the gravity.
Crushing pressure increased. To Radditzu it felt normal, but to her it was like death. Growling he poured more of his ki into her then surrounded her with a bubble that encased her body. Effortlessly he lifted her into his arms, holding her close to his armored chest.
"I can't… breathe," she gurgled, feeling all the blood rushing and pooling in her body. Ribs ached, straining to keep negative pressure despite the effects of his gravity screen.
"Damn it! I'm taking you to Father. I had not anticipated you'd be so fragile," Radditzu cursed.
Black boots pounded against the floor as Radditzu shot through the halls. He slammed into other Saiyans who were on their way from one place or another. One of them cursed, "Watch where you're going!"
"Get OUT of my way, idiots!" he snarled. Grumbling, Tora realized who it was, and shook his head.
"What's the hurry?"
"I'm sorry," Radditzu gasped, suddenly turning his head to face his father's best friend. "My apologies but this female is dying! Who turned on the normal gravity?"
"I don't know! Didn't you hear the alarms?" asked Tora. "What's SHE doing out here! She'll die!"
"I know that I had hoped…" he trailed off.
"Come on, let's take her to your father… it seems you were already on your way there," Tora nodded, moving before him to clear others out of the way. Grateful, Radditzu moved after the third class who he technically outranked.
Easily they made their way to Bardock's lab. Tora slammed on the door, hearing a protesting grunt, "Go away I'm busy!"
"It's me! We've got a problem!" Tora shouted.
"Is that you? Come in. What's bothering you?" Bardock asked, over the intercom. "I was trying to keep other sods out of here; I'm right in the middle of a delicate experiment!"
"I know, but someone's in great need of medical assistance, that only you can give. I know you're not a physician, but you have to open up!" Tora said.
"Hold on," he said. Moments later the door slid open, and Bardock glared in surprise as his best friend moved in, followed by his elder son cradling the female.
"Father, do something about Tomic, she's being crushed by the ship's gravity," Radditzu shouted as he burst in.
"So, you do need my help after all?" Bardock couldn't' resist saying.
"Father this is NO time for games! You must save her!" Radditzu yelled at him.
"Drek, put her in the regen tank," said Bardock. Cellulose helped to put the human female in a large tank of fluid. She gasped, glad for the buoyancy of the liquid to at least support her in a semi weightless state.
"Can hardly breathe," she gasped.
"She's using her ki to change herself," muttered Bardock. "Drek, we have to work fast if we're going to make this work."
"Do what?" Radditzu demanded, voice rising in pitch.
"We can keep the gravity at one tenth ours in that tank. But if she continues to be so fragile, she cannot stay with us," said Bardock.
"Father, she's very valuable to me," Radditzu snorted. "There must be SOMETHING you can do! You're a scientist for Great Oorzu's sake!"
"I see, and for what reason?" Bardock said, almost taunting his son.
"You know it as well as I do!" Radditzu snorted.
"She means much to you, does she?" Bardock narrowed his gaze at his son, who towered over him. Anxiously Radditzu pressed his hand to the glass, watching as the female heaved in great breaths through a mask. Electronic leads were fed into her body, as she floated in the nutrient blue gel.
"Please father, help her. I implore you, I need her," Radditzu said plaintively.
Bardock saw the wall of stone momentarily softening. While there was much hardness between them, he saw not a warrior but a frightened child, desperate for help. Not out of weakness but something else that at last they both understood mutually. Slowly Bardock nodded, and then turned away.
"Cellulose, call Minister Caulif and tell him we have a subject for grafting," said Bardock with a sigh. "I'll have to turn her over to him."
"We don't even know if that will WORK!" Radditzu snorted.
"She's closer evolutionarily then Idsarjin are. Judging from the genetic samples there's less then 99 percent difference between Human and Saiyan DNA. In a higher gravity perhaps they could have adapted," Bardock mumbled, pulling up her Gene scan as Cellulose punched his scouter to call up the minister.
"So, you do need someone else after all," Bardock said with a slight smirk.
"Don't make light of my plight Father, despite what I've said of you in the past," Radditzu huffed, grabbing his father's shoulder and squeezing it tightly. "I require you, more than I'd like to admit. You are not the weakling I professed. There are things that I cannot do."
"Took you damn long enough to admit it, ungrateful sod. For your dead mother's sake I'll help your mate. And for a purpose far greater then your selfish ends," said Bardock.
"She is not… my mate," he muttered.
"Are you trying to convince me or yourself?" Bardock asked.
"But she's not…. Saiyan. You know that our laws say so," his son murmured, unable to keep his eyes off the body being prepped for an experimental procedure.
"You bit her and exchanged blood. You can't hide that. Why can't you just admit you aren't as strong as you profess? Despite what your commander Napa says, a mating bond strengthens you. This female might make you push your meager limits," Bardock whispered fiercely, grabbing his son's shoulder and whirling him around.
"I don't wish to lose her. Fine I admit it. Are you happy seeing me suffer?" Radditzu said sullenly.
"No. You think that I'm as ruthless as you are? You're truly mistaken. There are more important things then pride. And Lyssra is proof of that. You think it's shameful I did the same thing, making her my bonded mate even though she's not one of us? She's Idsarjin, but soon that difference will not matter," Bardock continued his voice laced with bitterness.
"I know the custom of a widowed female given to a male. But a concubine taking the place of your life mate," he muttered.
"I still care for your mother, idiot," said Bardock. "But I'm not dead, and I'm not blind. How could you possibly understand not having cared for anything else in your life but your damn career? Denying your obligation to continue your family's line by putting off taking a mate and reproducing!"
"Don't blame ME for that," Radditzu said sullenly.
"You can't expect your BROTHER to continue your line. At least in this universe. Not now," said Bardock. "Unless fate becomes different."
Radditzu mumbled and turned away, shamed to look at his father whom he knew was right. Slowly he ran his hand over the glass, admitting that the female human was something far more precious to him. Affection was closely guarded, and considered a weakness if it ruled one's life. It was not forbidden to show sexual desire, or closeness among other Saiyan, but it was under the influence of Freiza's sick customs that many Saiyans had taken a dim view of females and mating. To those that weren't fortunate enough to have a true Saiyan mate, how could they know any better?
The last question running through his mind was where was Lyssra? Why was Cellulose assisting Bardock at every turn instead of the 4th class? Usually Bardock kept her at his side almost like she was an extension of him. Had something unfortunate befallen her.
"Relax female, it will be much easier soon," Bardock mumbled.
"You are hopeful, but she is strong. I'm certain it will work," Cellulose said as Radditzu dropped into a black pit of weariness.
