Here's Chapter 20! Thanks to Nimarin Driggen, 9thZFighter, Laania, Ryo-chan wolfgirl, icewolf, Chimera prime, Gohandominates, Ali, SSJ2 Silven, Full Power, humancygrax, awsomeclaw, and firelifeblizzard for all the reviews on chapter 19.

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of its' characters, Akira Toriyama does!

A/N: Still depending on Saiyansweetheart to upload my chapters for now.

….

Gohan slid from the pilot's seat at Turles's order. The Saiyan pirate commander slipped into the seat and manned the ship's controls.

Daiz stood waiting as the curious youngster walked over to him," I'll show you where your new quarters are, Squirt."

The six-year-old rolled his eyes at the use of 'Squirt' but quickly followed the former prince. Gohan had been awed at the size of the bridge compared to Turles's other ship. Turles had wasted no time in showing the boy the expansive training room, Gohan could hardly wait to utilize it. They passed a seating area that even had a small area for preparing and storing simple meals. Daiz stopped at the third door down a sizable hall. A wide grin lit Gohan's face as he stepped into the room.

One corner of the room had a bed that was considerably larger and seemingly more comfortable than his previous one. Three copies of red and black Saiyan armor hung on the wall directly across from the bed. Two pair of pricy black Hardenazar lizard boots gleamed on the floor beneath them.

"Would Turles be spoilin' tha brat now?" Gartoas grumbled from behind them.

Daiz had to admit that the room and its' contents were a far cry from the boy's previous quarters.

"Wow!" the little half-Saiyan shouted.

Gartoas and Daiz turned to see what had caught the child's attention. The pirates dropped their jaws in amazement. At the far wall of the room stood three shelves lined with scores of books.

"I can't believe Turles would go to the trouble of…" Daiz began.

"Whatta ya make o' that? 'E tryin' ta' make a scholar outta tha runt?" the Kardanagan huffed as the delighted youth perused his new collection.

A pang went through the son of Goku at the word' scholar', that had been his mother's dream for him. He hadn't thought of her for some time now, Gohan realized guiltily. The boy hung his head.

Daiz glared at Gartoas and shoved him out of the room.

"Am ah' supposed ta' have done somethin'?" the shaggy black-haired pirate snorted.

"Just leave the boy alone for now," the Kabochan snapped. Something had obviously upset the boy.

"AW! Too much book learnin' aint' good fer' im' ya know. Clutters up yer' mind fer' important things," the burly bearded warrior declared.

"Such as what 'important things'?" the dark-green-haired pirate wanted to know.

"Ya know. Fightin', swearin', charmin' tha ladies," Gartoas informed him.

"You couldn't charm a drunken Deardi toad," Daiz snickered.

"Like YER' beatin' tha women offa ya when yer' out an' about!" Gartoas shot back.

"You'll have to settle the lover's spat later. Get ready to land!" Turles called out.

The two red-faced pirates were silenced immediately at the Saiyan commander's comment.

….

Gohan learned that the food preparation area aboard the ship would only be used when stopping in for a meal wasn't feasible. Turles had no intention of changing his habit of elaborate meals during his travels unless absolutely necessary. But hearty snacks would be available when anyone of the crew chose to help themselves.

On planet Zelborn, the crew leisurely enjoyed their noon meal. Garotas brought up news he had heard in the small city of Delbaras.

"It seems yer' royal lady friend 'as done put a price on ya' head, Commander," Gartoas spoke up.

"Has she now?" Turles asked with a wicked grin.

"Ta' be sure she has, Master Turles. She's a wantin' ya alive cause she's gonna kill ya 'erself," the Kardanagan answered.

"She's welcome to try. She won't be the first to attempt to do so," the Saiyan pirate commander replied.

"And she probably won't be the last woman who'll want to kill you, Commander," Daiz added.

The three adult males burst into laughter as Gohan scratched his head in puzzlement.

…

The blue-haired female looked over at her brunette companion and shook her head in sympathy at the sadness etched on the other woman's face. What should have just been a simple day of shopping at West City mall had turned into a day of horror and unimaginable loss. After even Capsule Corps had been largely destroyed by a freakishly huge tree of all things, Bulma had speed off to Mount Pazu to seek Goku's help.

When the heiress had arrived at the Earth-raised Saiyan's home she had found a frantic Chi-Chi insisting that Goku was with the other Z-fighters somewhere up the mountain. They were totally unprepared for the sight that greeted them at the foot of Mount Pazu.

(Flashback)

A monstrous tree had its roots stretched from the base of the gigantic trunk to far beyond what the eye could see. Surely it couldn't possibly be the same tree whose branches had caused the destruction of West City. The horribly wounded bodies of the slain Z-fighters lay scattered about-Tien, Chiaotzu, Krillin, Piccolo and Yamcha. Goku was nowhere to be found.

Bulma struggled to keep from collapsing as tears coursed down her face and harsh sobs wracked her slim form.

"Gohan snuck off to help them, I just know he did!" Chi-Chi cried out as she wrung her hands. "WHERE'S MY BABY?"

"Goku has to be…." Bulma's voice died in her throat as she saw the freshly dug pile of dirt. Bile rose in her throat as she read 'DAD' scratched out in a childish scrawl across what was clearly….a grave.

"What's wrong, Bulma? What did you find?" the daughter of the Ox-King demanded.

Chi-Chi gasped and nearly fainted as she made her own grisly discovery.

"NO! NO! NOT YOU TOO! GOOOKKKUUUU!" the ebony-haired woman screamed in agony. She dropped to her knees in grief. Suddenly something caught her eye.

Small blood-stained footprints were still visible in the dirt but ended in thin air.

"They took him! Whoever did this…..THOSE MONSTERS HAVE MY GOHAN!" ChiChi screamed.

(End of flashback)

Tears welled up in Bulma's eyes as she remembered finding the crushed bodies of her parents among the wreckage of what was once Capsule Corps. She had convinced Chi-Chi to accompany her aboard the spaceship her father had created some time ago when it seemed apparent that the entire planet was dying. Somehow the demonic tree was sucking the very life out of the Earth. At first the grieving widow refused but at the suggestion that they could search for Gohan, Chi-Chi had readily agreed.

The azure-haired genius seriously doubted that they would find the six-year-old if he was even still alive. But it kept Chi-Chi going and she didn't have the heart to suggest otherwise. Four months had resulted in a fruitless search and their fuel and supplies were dwindling. Bulma was going to have to make a suggestion that she knew would anger her companion..

"We're going to have to seek some kind of employment, Chi-Chi," Bulma declared as she watched the stars and planets whiz past as they flew ever deeper into space

"WHAT? Are you out of your mind? I'm not working for any aliens! WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SEARCHING FOR GOHAN!"ChiChi bellowed.

"Chi-Chi, We're low on supplies and fuel. This ship can't fly on air you know and we have to eat," the young scientist said gently.

"I know but how will we possibly find jobs or even speak the language out here?" the mother of Gohan protested.

"I've discovered there's a universal language, it shouldn't be too hard to learn. You're a great cook among other things," Bulma suggested.

The Ox-King's daughter merely snorted at her suggestion.

"Remember this is for Gohan," the heiress reminded her.

"Right. I'll do it for Gohan," Chi-Chi sniffled.

….

Turles sat looking glumly out into space it didn't go unnoticed by Gartoas and Daiz.

"Ya think e's missin' tha pirate wench?" Gartoas whispered.

"No comment, " Daiz answered.

Gohan entered the bridge area with a small box under his arm. He slowly walked towards Turles. A frown crossed over the Kardanagan's face.

"Ya might be warnin' tha brat not ta' be annoyin' Turles," the massive pirate suggested.

The Kabochan recognized the what the boy carried," He's just got a game of Tarchia."

"An' ya think tha commander wants ta be bothered wi' that?" Gartoas grumbled.

"Who do you think taught him how to play it?" the dark green-haired pirate smirked.

Gartoas gave him an incredulous look.

"Care to play a round, Master Turles?" Gohan asked softly.

Turles looked up at the pensive expression on the six-year-old's face. A long sigh came from the Saiyan pirate.

"Set it up, Brat"," the commander ordered.

"Ya gotta be kiddin' me," Gartoas muttered. "Quit lookin' so smug afor ' ah belt ya one!"

So what did you think? Please let me know!

daughterofrisingsun