Here's chapter 13! Thanks to Dark Domination, Daenosaur, Ryo-chan-wolfgirl, Scimitar X, 9thZfighter, Laania, icewolf, Ali, Mohammed Alzo, Blake2020 and SilverSaiyan44 for all the reviews on chapter 12.
Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or any of its characters, Akira Toryiyama does!
A/N: It has been some time since a computer error wiped out chapter 13 as I was correcting a typo. I no longer had a copy of the original chapter so I put off replacing it until I could concoct a reasonable replacement. This is by no means the original chapter 13 I can only remember bits and pieces of it. But for the sake of chapter 14 making sense this is what I've put together. I am still giving credit to the original reviewers for this chapter in the intro for the following chapter.
...
Turles returned to the ship with Salsir who gave Gohan a baleful glare as he stiffly marched to his quarters with the air of someone who had just caught the scent of something entirely disagreeable.
Gohan had given up any overtures of friendship with the Sarhassan as the serpentine being had rebuffed each and every attempt. He was kind of creepy anyway. He shrugged his small shoulders and continued perusing the thick tome he'd been intent on before the snake-ling's arrival.
"Don't let that stuck-up viper annoy you," Daiz quipped.
The half-blood sighed and closed the book as he finished reading the final page.
"Seriously? You read the whole thing already? You just started that book yesterday!" the Kabochan commented in disbelief.
Turles rose from the pilot's chair where he had just seated himself. He directed Gohan to follow him.
The curious demi-Saiyan trailed the pirate commander and soon realized they had arrived at the elder Saiyan's personal room.
Upon entering Gohan gaped at the size of the sumptuous bed with luxurious black coverings that took up one entire wall. But his eyes widened at the sight of the opposite wall. Shelves upon shelves were packed floor to ceiling with books of every conceivable size and color.
"You may come here and pick a book of your choosing when you are not occupied with chores or training. I will trust that you will leave this room in the same condition in which you found it. Fail to do so and you will NOT set foot in here again. Is that understood?"
The youngster nodded and eagerly grabbed an enormous green volume lettered in gold. A slow smile crossed Turles's face as he noticed the title. "A History Of The Saiyans."
...
Salsir racked his brain trying to come up with something that would cast an unfavorable light on the half- Saiyan mongrel that Turles permitted aboard his ship but could think of nothing. Surely as a full-blood himself, Turles realized that the very existence of such a creature was an absolute abomination? No matter what the pirate commander had ordered Salsir was still livid from being defeated by the tainted little upstart. There had to be a way to make the brat pay for the humiliation he'd suffered.
He would think of a way to discredit the filthy mixed blood in time. The Sarhassan decided to contemplate what luscious delights awaited him during the evening meal which was still a few hours away.
...
Daiz shook his head as he waited for the purple bovine-faced merchant to pack the items he'd been sent to purchase by Turles. If the self indulgent pirate craved a certain confection, elusive fruit or rare spice-well no matter what exotic treat came to his mind the Saiyan was determined to satisfy his palate's desire as expediently as possible. The trip to Elthinos had been entirely unnecessary except to procure Nariq berries, Darnathian honey and smoked Keldo salmon. It was no wonder the merchant sported a wide smile as he packed the luxury ingredients; one could buy a small shuttle for the price!
Gohan patiently waited outside for Daiz to exit the small shop as he watched several alien youth play a game. The blue and yellow feline-looking youngsters tossed a ball back and forth. When it landed by his feet Gohan tossed it back to them. To his immense surprise the players waved him over and asked in Galactic Standard if he'd like to join them.
Looking over his shoulder the demi-Saiyan realized Daiz was still about his errand. Surely a few minutes playing with his newfound companions couldn't hurt. It had been so long since he'd had any interaction with anyone close to his age.
When Daiz exited the epicurean shop, he was surprised to see Gohan running about playing some sort of game with five rambunctious Mewtalians. It dawned on the Kabochan that the little half-ling hadn't been allowed the luxury of being...just being a kid in some time. The giggling little boy was a far cry from the mostly somber child he'd come to know.
'Awwww, Turles isn't likely to starve any time soon. It isn't gonna hurt to let the boy play a while, ' Daiz reasoned.
Gohan suddenly looked up apologetically and handed the ball back to a disappointed Mewtalian.
"It's ok, Gohan. You can play a little longer!" the dark green-haired pirate called out.
The former royal's chest clenched at the sheer gratitude in the Earth-born youngster's expression as he turned back to play once more with his furry companions.
...
Turles sniffed the air as Gohan passed him and his eyes narrowed at Daiz. The Kabochan merely shrugged his shoulders.
"Get cleaned up for the evening meal, brat!" the pirate commander barked.
"Yes, Commander!" Gohan replied as he rushed to obey.
"I suppose you have no idea why the brat smells like he spent an afternoon on Mewtalis?' Turles growled.
"The market was crowded, Master Turles," Daiz answered.
"Of course! And the majority of the crowd were Mewtalians!' the Saiyan snorted.
"Maybe they all came to get some of that Keldo salmon, Commander!" Turles's second-in-command quipped.
A sour look crossed the Saiyan's face.
"That will be all, Daiz!"
Daiz struggled to keep a straight face as he headed to his own quarters. With Turles's disdain for the Mewtalians he was lucky not to face a severe reprimand for his remark. Unless Turles planned to punish him later...he swallowed hard and hoped for the best.
...
Salsir sighed in disgust as the miserable mixed-breed walked past him. The Sarhassan's jaw dropped as he saw the subject of his ire boldly walk right into the pirate commander's private quarters. The absolute nerve of the little beast! Surely there would be some comeuppance for such insubordinate behavior? Well he would report this immediately to make sure that the misbegotten whelp didn't escape punishment for his actions!
Instead of the outrage the serpent-being expected, Daiz merely shrugged his shoulders, "Turles allows Gohan to enter his quarters on a regular basis."
"If you ask me that little pest is allowed far too many liberties!" Salsir snapped.
Daiz had had just about enough of the Sarhassan's obvious contempt for Gohan.
"Let's get something straight here! Gohan has earned his place on this crew! YOU have yet to do so. SO BACK OFF!" the Kabochan barked angrily.
"The commander will soon regret how he spoils that brat allowing him free rein in HIS quarters!" Salsir spat.
"What are you talking about? Gohan knows to respect Turles's personal effects!" Daiz huffed as he walked away.
An evil smile crossed the face of the scaly citizen of Sarhass...
...
Gohan happily made his way to Turles's quarters eager to choose yet another volume from the huge library the Saiyan possessed.
The little half-blood sucked in his breath in disbelief as he took in the sight of the utter disarray before him. Books had been flung across the room, boots and armor were scattered about, the grand bed had been stripped and the coverlets littered the floor. All manner of the pirate commander's personal items were tossed about as if a great wind had blown them about.
Gohan felt the furious Saiyan's angry stare before he even looked up.
"THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY MY TRUST?" Turles roared.
"N-NO! Master Turles! I DIDN'T DO THIS!" Gohan protested.
"GO TO YOUR QUARTERS! I'll summon you when I've decided your PUNISHMENT!" Turles barked.
Half blinded by tears Gohan stumbled off to his room...
Until the next chapter!
daughterofrisingsun