Here's Chapter 16! Thanks to SSJ2 Silven, Ali, Gohandominates, icewolf, 9thZFighter, Vic 'Cody' Seville, Ryo-chan wolfgirl, Nimarin Driggen, gohanFanfics, Laania, and Chimera prime for all the reviews on chapter 15.
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of its' characters, Akira Toriyama does!
A/N: Yes! Chapters are STILL being posted by Saiyansweetheart! Forgive any typos please!
….
Gohan moved the food about his plate but consumed nothing. Although it smelled absolutely mouth-watering, the little half-Saiyan had no appetite.
"Gohan! You have to eat something!" Daiz warned in a whisper.
The Kabochan pirate was rewarded with a disdainful glance from the boy and nothing more. Daiz looked worriedly in Turles's direction if the Saiyan noticed Gohan wasting his food…
"Best be mindin' ya own business, Daiz!" Gartoas hissed as he gave the green-haired pirate a kick in the left shin.
"Is your selection not to your taste, Brat?" Turles demanded.
Daiz was barely able to swallow the morsel he'd placed in his mouth. Turles had noticed!
A metallic sound revealed the eating utensil falling from the six-year-old 's trembling hand.
"I-I'm not h-hungry, M-Master Turles," Gohan spoke up quickly.
"Nonsense! You're a Saiyan. Choose something else if what you chose isn't to your liking," the dark- skinned warrior suggested.
"Sure spoils tha brat, don't 'e now?" the Kardanagan muttered under his breath.
Gartos found himself receiving a swift kick in the right shin from Turles!
"I SAID I'M NOT HUNGRY!" Gohan screamed as he slammed his little fist on the table.
'Brat's ah goner fer' sure!' the burly bronze-skinned pirate thought to himself.
Daiz could only hope that Turles would forgive Gohan's untimely outburst.
"You will cease to be an embarrassment immediately, Brat!" Turles snarled.
"Master Turles..." Daiz began.
"I will handle this!" the Saiyan pirate growled.
Gohan turned pale at the murderous glare the Saiyan full-blood directed towards him. What would happen now?
"You will calm yourself, Brat and you WILL eat a portion of something! Do not make it so that I have to assist you. That would prove most unpleasant for you!" Turles warned.
The frightened six-year-old kept his eyes glued to the plate before him. After forcing down a single bite, sheer hunger compelled him to devour the contents of his plate. He silently cursed his Saiyan blood for overriding his conscience. How could he enjoy a leisurely meal after what had occurred?
"Much better, Brat!" the dark-skinned Saiyan huffed as he returned to finishing his own meal.
"Ya must be leadin' ah charmed life, Brat. Tha Turles Ah know woulda' ripped out ya tongue an' ate it in fronta ya fer' ah sassin' like ya' pulled an' 'e wouldna' thought ah thing bout' doin' so!" Gartoas informed Gohan as they left the lavish restaurant Turles had chosen for their noon meal.
The son of Goku fought to swallow the lump in his throat. What would Turles do when they returned to the ship?
…
Gohan kept his eyes averted but he could feel those of the angry Saiyan boring into him.
"Make no mistake about it, Brat. I will NOT tolerate behavior such as you exhibited earlier. Your manners are to be impeccable when you accompany me in public. Is that clear?" Turles demanded.
"Y-Yes, C-Commander!" the little demi-Saiyan answered quickly.
"Now to make sure you remember that….." the pirate commander began.
Gohan nibbled his lower lip nervously. What punishment would he have to endure?
"You will clean the floor of the hall leading to the sleeping quarters, Brat," Turles announced.
That didn't sound so bad. The youngster let out a sigh of relief.
"I will check your work when you have completed your task. I'll expect to see my reflection on that floor, " the dark-skinned Saiyan declared with a smirk.
Gohan gulped. Now that would take a lot of effort.
…
'Finally done!' Gohan thought. His little arms were sore and his knees ached. He'd only been allowed to use a small rag to clean the immense floor. What he would have given for a mop! The weary youth went to find Turles to approve his work.
As Turles walked about observing the gleaming floor, Gohan waited for his response. A cruel smile appeared on the pirate's face and the six-year-old's eyes widened in horror when he noticed the black streaks from Turles's boots marring the once pristine floor.
"CLEAN IT AGAIN!" Turles barked.
Tears welled up in Gohan's eyes as he set to work AGAIN!
…
As the exhausted half-blood flopped onto his bunk he heard Daiz calling out "Time for the evening meal, Squirt!"
A low moan came from the boy as he forced himself to stand up.
….
To his inner disgust, Gohan was ravenous when he sat down at the food laden table before him. A pile of plates and bowls quickly amassed in front of him. He still ignored Daiz much to the dark-green haired pirate's chagrin. Turles gave him a nod of approval and returned his attention to his own meal.
…
Gohan started to head for his room when he was stopped by Turles.
"You will explain the reason for your little tantrum today, Brat," the former commander of the Crusher Corps insisted.
"G-Guargados! Y-You k-killed everyone there, Master T-Turles!" the boy choked out.
The onyx eyed Saiyan crossed his arms over his chest "So that's what you've been pouting about?
"H-How could you, Commander?" Gohan whined.
"We were offered an ample wage for a simple task, Brat," Turles answered coldly.
"Wiping out an entire civilization is a simple task to you?" the little half-Saiyan asked in disbelief.
"Watch your tone, Boy! And you will address me properly!" Turles said irately.
"S-Sorry, Commander!" Gohan amended quickly.
"Guargados won't be the only planet we will purge, there will be others eventually. It's part of what we do, we're pirates. But there is something you should know about the Guargados purge. Only polluted skies, dying vegetation and diseased animal life remained on that planet. The sentient beings of that world were wiped out long ago by a virus to which Daiz, Gartoas and myself are immune to. The citizens of planet Yagers wished to have the planet purged so they might restore Guargados and relieve the strain of their own overpopulated planet," the Saiyan warrior informed the son of Goku.
"I didn't know that, Master Turles," the boy said softly.
"You're still young and have much to learn, Gohan. The day will come when you will have to take a life and you'll actually enjoy doing so, " Turles declared.
"N-NO! I couldn't possibly do that, Commander!" Gohan protested.
"You're a Saiyan and your blood will assert itself eventually," the Saiyan pirate commander laughed cruelly.
The young child bowed his head in sheer misery.
A long sigh came from Turles "You're dismissed, Brat!"
…..
Daiz was waiting at the entrance of Gohan's room when the tired youngster shuffled in toweling his hair dry. The Kabochan took the liberty of entering the sleeping quarters.
"You got off easy, Kid. Don't push your luck with Turles," the dark green-haired pirate advised.
"I know. Sorry about how I acted," Gohan apologized.
Daiz chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair," It's alright, Squirt. I understand."
The boy sat on the edge of his bunk, his small shoulders were slumped. He looked completely lost.
Against his better judgment, the former prince gave the six-year-old an awkward hug. The affection-starved youth suddenly clung to him. Daiz gave the little half-blood a few pats on the back and pulled away.
"Do what you must to survive, Gohan. Now get some sleep."
….
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