Here's Chapter 14! Thanks to Ryo-chan wolfgirl, SSJSilven, Parselmaster, Icewolf, Ali, Gohandominates, Nimarin Driggen, gohanFanfics, Panxodilla, Laania, and Chimera prime for all the reviews on chapter 13. Over one hundred reviews! Whoo Hoo! Thanks everyone!
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of its' characters, Akira Toriyama does!
A/N: Yes, Saiyansweetheart is STILL posting my chapters!
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Gohan sat shivering in his room. What would Turles do to him? It was so unfair, he'd only wanted another book to read. He'd never imagined that he would walk into complete chaos in the pirate commander's quarters. Who had caused such an awful thing to occur and why?
Salsir! Of course! It was the serpent being's doing! The little half-Saiyan balled up his fists in helpless fury. Turles clearly believed he was responsible. Gohan blinked back tears of frustration. Why did the Sarhassan hate him so much? As harsh as the dark-skinned pirate could be, Turles had treated him as kindly as he could expect from a full-blooded Saiyan. Now any trust between them was broken.
Daiz silently entered Gohan's room and sat beside the distraught youngster. A deep sigh came from the former royal.
"I know you didn't cause that disaster in the commander's room, Squirt. And I'm afraid it's my fault that it happened at all" the dark green-haired pirate mused.
"How could it be your fault?" the son of Goku questioned.
Daiz bowed his head as he spoke "Salsir was apparently appalled by the fact that you were allowed to enter Master Turles's quarters. I assured him that you knew better than to touch the commander's personal property."
Gohan swallowed hard "So he set me up!"
"So it seems" Daiz answered.
"BUT I DIDN'T DO IT! Why won't the commander believe me?" the six-year-old exclaimed.
The Kabochan warrior gave the boy a sad smile "Trust is a very fragile thing when it comes to Master Turles."
"DAIZ!"
Daiz leapt to his feet as the Saiyan's livid voice rang out. So Turles's anger towards the little half-blood hadn't cooled in the least. As he walked out to face his commander, the concerned crewman noticed Salsir. The brazen snakeling smirked at him. Obviously the Sarhassan was enjoying the Earth-raised Saiyan's plight. What had the boy ever done other than to defeat Salsir in an honest spar?
"I have decided the brat's punishment, Daiz" Turles announced.
"Yes, Master Turles" Daiz replied.
The pirate glared at Salsir. If only he could get his hands on that filthy snake for falsely accusing Gohan. What he wouldn't give to knock that smirk off that scaly gray face!
"Bring the boy out to face the penalty for his actions" the Saiyan commander declared ominously.
"Master Turles.." Daiz began.
"Are you refusing an order?" Turles hissed.
"Of course not, Commander! I'll fetch him immediately!" Daiz spoke up quickly.
In no time at all Gohan stood before the furious Saiyan. He fought to keep his legs from trembling. Soulless onyx eyes bored into the frightened child. The dark green-haired male whispered in his ear.
"Whatever you do. Don't show fear, Gohan."
The boy squared back his shoulders and looked Turles directly in the eye. Turles responded by crossing his arms across his chest and uttered a fearsome growl.
"Hand me the box on the left shelf above the pilot's seat, Salsir" the pirate commander ordered.
"Yes, Commander" Salsir simpered. Oh, how he was enjoying this!
Daiz paled at the sight of the box that was now held by Turles. He knew what it contained. Surely Turles wouldn't expect him to…..
Salsir could hardly contain his delight as he watched the Saiyan lift a laser-whip up in his right hand. Now the little pest would pay for daring to humiliate him!
Gohan's eyes were wide as saucers when the device in Turles's hands sizzled and crackled with a hellish blue light. Did Turles truly mean to strike him with that horrid thing?
"You'll do the honors, Daiz!" Turles commanded.
The Kabochan ignored the stricken look in the boy's eyes as he took the instrument of torture from his commander.
"Ten lashes!" the dark-skinned Saiyan decreed.
"Remove your armor and your under-shirt, Gohan" Daiz said softly.
"M-Mr. D-Daiz, You're not r-really going to…" the little demi-Saiyan pleaded.
'It's better that I do this, Brat. You wouldn't survive ONE lash from Turles " Daiz warned under his breath.
Gohan sighed as he bared his small back and stood up as straight as possible. He hoped he could bear his punishment considering he could already feel the heat emanating from the laser-whip. Salsir was beside himself with glee. That overprotective green-haired oaf was going to have to punish the brat himself. The Sarhassan couldn't wait to hear the boy's screams.
"NOW,DAIZ!" Turles demanded.
Daiz forced himself to swing up his arm and let the whip fly. Gohan grit his teeth praying he wouldn't cry out. Turles pushed the boy aside at the last possible second, the laser-whip fell harmlessly to the floor.
'How could he possibly move so quickly? Why would he stop a punishment he ordered himself?' Salsir wondered in exasperation.
Confusion registered in the pirate's face as Daiz turned to Turles. Why had he stopped the punishment?
Gohan stood still. He was too frightened to move.
"Salsir! What do you know of the Saiyan race?" Turles demanded.
What did that have to do with anything? The Sarhassan wondered.
"You will answer me, Salsir!" the Saiyan growled.
"Well, C-Commander, the Saiyans are extremely p-powerful fighters. T-They heal rapidly when injured even gain strength from a p-previous injury…" Salsir stammered.
"Have you not heard of the acute sense of smell all Saiyans possess?" Turles questioned as a cruel smirk crossed his face.
"I can't say I have, Master Turles" Salsir said nervously. Why was the commander looking at him like that?
"That's quite obvious" Turles said with an evil sounding laugh.
"I don't understand, Commander" the snakeling remarked.
"It's quite simple really. YOUR scent was all over my possessions NOT Gohan's!"
Salsir backed away slowly "M-Master Turles, You don't understand. You need to be rid of him! That brat is an abomination! A filthy half-breed! Such a vile creature doesn't deserve to live, the purity of all races depends on it!"
"You already knew it wasn't Gohan's fault, Commander?" Daiz said in an almost accusatory tone.
"Yes" the Saiyan said flatly.
"Then why would you put us through this?" the former prince wanted to know.
"I discovered my crew is made up of a most obedient second in command, a very brave Saiyan child and a traitor!" Turles snarled.
Salsir attempted to flee but Turles phased in behind him. As he seized The Sarhassan, Turles began to form a ki-blast in his left hand.
"You're not even worth the effort of a blast!" Turles snorted.
Salsir found his throat being crushed by the Saiyan pirate's powerful right hand. His eyes bulged in panic and he vainly clawed at the vise-like grip that was slowly squeezing the life from him. The snakeling dropped to his knees.
"Master Turles, Please! Please don't kill him!" Gohan implored the irate Saiyan.
"Why do you care about this worthless scum? Do you even realize what could have happened to you because of his lies?" Turles challenged the boy.
"I-I know but my father always said everyone deserves a second chance. I believe that too. Please, Master Turles?" the son of Goku pleaded.
The dark-skinned Saiyan scowled at Gohan and looked down at Salsir as if he were considering ending the repulsive creature's life under the heel of his boot. Then he glanced back at Gohan.
"N-No! No! Just kill me and be done with it! I WON'T OWE MY LIFE TO A WORTHLESS MIXED-BLOOD!" Salsir screamed as his erstwhile master loosened his grip.
A wicked grin lit the Saiyan male's face. Turles violently flung the gray scaled warrior into the far wall. Daiz walked over to the motionless Sarhassan. Salsir was still breathing. The commander had actually spared the snake being's life!
"Daiz, Throw out the trash!" Turles growled.
"With pleasure, Master Turles!" Daiz called out with a wide smile.
The pirate tossed the unconscious serpentine life-form out of the ship's entrance. Salsir hadn't been permitted to live out of mercy, he would suffer greatly knowing he was beholden to Gohan for every breath he drew.
Gohan stood watching Turles for a moment. So the gruff-voiced Saiyan had never really intended to hurt him at all! Salsir had been tricked into revealing his treachery by the cunning pirate.
Turles walked over to the pilot's chair and sat down with a sigh. Daiz held his breath when he saw Gohan race over and throw his arms around the Saiyan's neck. What would Turles do?
A strange look crossed the pirate commander's face for a moment before he snatched the boy away.
"NEVER DO THAT AGAIN, BRAT! Get your clothing on! We're heading to Zarkarest!" Turles barked.
Daiz laughed softly. Things were going back to normal.
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