Here's Chapter 15! Thanks to Ryo-chan wolfgirl, SSJ2 Silven,Nimarin Driggen, Chimera prime, Ali, 9thZFighter, icewolf, Gohandominates, Laania, and gohanFanfics for all the reviews on chapter 14.
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of its' characters, Akira Toriyama does!
A/N: Saiyansweetheart is still YET posting my chapters for me. Please excuse any typos!
…..
"We're still going to Zarkarest, Commander? It would be nothing for Salsir to cause problems for us there," Daiz commented.
"I have no fear of that fool. Besides, we'll only be there long enough to pick up our newest crewman," Turles replied.
The Kabochan was startled at the Saiyan's reply. He wasn't even aware that Turles had selected another member for their crew. Strange, the commander wasn't usually so secretive.
….
The brilliant lavender skies of planet Zarkarest had Gohan gazing up in awe. Life-forms of every description bustled about the busy spaceport. Gohan had never imagined that so many different kinds of spacecraft existed. It was hard for the little half-Saiyan to decide where to look first. And of course he had to keep up with Daiz and Turles.
Turles stopped at Bay 44 and appeared to be waiting for someone. In a few moments, a huge burly figure wearing a robe of shaggy brown fur lumbered into view. Bushy black hair wreathed a weathered face that wore a matching thick beard. The son of Goku noticed a smile slowly spread over Daiz's face.
"Gartoas? You worthless Kardangan! Don't tell me we're gonna be saddled with you again!" the former prince called out.
" Yer' lucky ta be breathin' tha' same air as me, Kabochan trash!" the newcomer shouted back as he waved a bronze-skinned fist in a threatening manner.
"Glad to see the two of you getting along so well already," Turles said dryly.
"Surprised to see ya still out'n about, Turles! Thought somebody woulda' nailed yer' hide by now!" Gartoas chuckled.
"Not yet, Gartoas. The reward is still available," the dark-skinned Saiyan quipped.
"It's mighty temptin' to report ya and collect it ya know," the husky being mused.
"You're welcome to try but you'd be on your way to Hell before you could raise the alarm," the onyx eyed warrior challenged.
"Aw, Ya never could take ah joke!" Gartoas snorted.
The Kardanagan noticed the very confused six-year-old staring from one male to the other.
"Who's tha runt? One of yer' womenfolk drop him off on ya?" the beefy being chortled.
"Picked him up along the way," Turles informed him.
"Getting' charitable now in yer' old age, are ya?" Gartoas teased.
"Not hardly!" the Saiyan commander growled.
Daiz turned to Gohan," This waste of space is Gartoas. He used to be part of our original crew before…."
"That's not a story fit fer' a youngster's ears, Daiz!" the bearded warrior spoke up quickly.
"True!" Turles echoed.
"The brat is known as Gohan," Daiz chuckled.
"Let's get going!" the Saiyan pirate barked.
"Same ol' Turles! Always in ah blasted hurry!" the Kardanagan grumbled.
….
Gohan decided he liked the newest member of Turles's crew. The rough voiced Kardanagan was full of amusing stories and he knew just how much he could get by with when it came to Turles.
Daiz was happy to have a former comrade as part of the crew. But the dark green-haired pirate was curious about their abrupt departure from Zarkarest, Turles had barely given them time to board the ship when he tore out of the spaceport in a blur of speed.
"We've got company, Commander!" Gohan shouted.
Turles scowled as he spotted three rapidly approaching ships bearing down on them on the observation screen.
"Friends of yours, Gartoas?" the Saiyan demanded.
"Ah would'n exactly call 'em friends, Master Turles," Gartoas chuckled.
"What did you do this time?" Daiz huffed.
"Nothin' much. Just a wee bit of ah misunderstandin' at one of tha local waterin' holes. Ah mistook an officer's wife fer' a…a…" the massive Kardanagan glanced at Gohan.
"Well, Ah mistook tha missus fer ah lady of…ah…evening leisure so ta' speak," Gartoas finished.
Both Turles and Daiz burst into laughter.
"Hey! Tha nasty scuffle afterwards left er' a widow, ya know!"
"No wonder you wanted to leave Zarkarest so quickly!" the pirate commander mused.
"Just bringin' some excitement ta yer ' routine, Commander," the bearded pirate snickered.
The former Kabochan royal rolled his eyes. Life wasn't going to be dull with Gartoas aboard.
"Strap yourselves in! I have some hangers-on to lose!" Turles commanded.
His crew hurriedly obeyed. As the ship blasted away at top speed, the following craft disappeared in the starry distance.
"This ol' crate can still getta ' move on, eh Daiz?" Gartoas smirked.
…
The Kardanagan watched in utter disbelief as Gohan ingested his breakfast. How could so small a child hold so much food? He was used to Turles's appetite but he hadn't a clue that a youngster could devour such quantities.
"An' Ah thought Ah could put it away,"Gartoas muttered.
"You'll get used to it," Daiz sighed.
"Naw! Not such ah little one eatin' like that! "
…
Gohan lay sprawled on the ship floor with a huge book as was his habit when he completed the duties assigned to him. Gartoas scratched his head at the sight.
" Turles makin' tha boy study so much?"
"Actually, Gohan reads everything he can get his hands on," Daiz informed him.
"Pshaw! Too mucha that book learnin' an' e'll be gettin' too big fer' is' britches!" the burly pirate warned.
"He's a good kid."
Gartoas didn't miss the obvious concern in his fellow crewman's voice.
"Ya don't know what Turles gots planned for im'. Best not be gettin' attached, Daiz."
'Too late for that!' Daiz thought.
…
Gohan was left to 'guard' the ship on planet Gurgados. He was completely unaware of the total purge that his fellow crew-mates were performing on the planet…..
…
Turles landed his ship at a small lonely outpost on planet Yagers. His crew followed as he entered a small gray building, a strange bored looking creature sat at a great metallic desk.
"Commander Turles! We have been expecting you! You left nothing alive on Gurgados?" the silver- armored elephantine being questioned Turles.
"Nothing remains on Gurgados but scorched earth," Turles affirmed.
"Not ah blade o' grass," Gartoas chimed in.
"Excellent! I assume our agreed upon fee for a total purge still applies, Commander?" the pudgy life-form questioned.
"Yes," the Saiyan replied.
Total purge?
The little Saiyan half-blood was totally aghast at the words that seemed to echo in his mind. He had actually enjoyed the last few months as part of Turles's crew and now this?
Gohan gave Daiz a stricken look. Thousands must have died as he sat waiting for his teammates to return to the ship.
"You don't understand, Squirt. We only…" Daiz tried to explain during their departure but the six-year-old ignored him.
"Warned ya not ta be gettin' attached," Gartoas spoke up earning him a glare from the dark green-haired warrior.
…..
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