Here's Chapter 21! Thanks to Ali, Ryo-chan wolfgirl, dbzlover, 9thFighter, Nimarin Driggen, icewolf, firelifeblizzard, Gohandominates, Chimera prime, Belsareth, Laania ,SSJ2 Silven, Ingarra, and humancygrax for all the reviews on chapter 20. Also thanks to TheAcheronFlow for the review on chapter 2.
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of its' characters, Akira Toriyama does!
A/N: Yes, Saiyansweetheart is STILL posting my chapters. Please forgive any typos!
….
Gohan received a baleful glare from Turles as he successfully defeated the Saiyan at Tarchia for the second time in a row.
"I've taught you too well, Brat," the dark-skinned Saiyan growled.
"Should we stop playing, Master Turles?" the six-year-old asked cautiously.
"Not until I'VE won a round!" Turles huffed.
The youngster nervously moved his playing piece in the chess-like game. A wicked grin crossed his opponent's face.
"You're pinned in now, Brat," Turles smirked as he completed his offensive move.
Gohan moved another piece cutting off any defense to the pirate commander's own most valuable game token.
"How in the Seven Hells of..." the Saiyan looked at the boy across from him in disbelief.
"Enough sitting around, Brat! Get to the training room!" Turles ordered trying to keep amusement out of his voice.
"Yes, Commander!" the little half-Saiyan called out.
He hurriedly gathered up the assorted playing pieces and quickly packed them away before speeding off to the training room.
"Not ONE word," Turles warned a smirking Daiz.
…
"You can punch harder than THAT!" Turles barked.
Gohan aimed another blow at the pirate commander but it was effortlessly brushed aside.
Gartoas shook his head, Turles was going to mop the floor with the brat. The Kardanagan had slipped into the training room purely out of curiosity. Maybe Turles kept the brat in line by beating him senseless every so often.
"If you went up against a two- day- old Saiyan infant you'd be slaughtered!" the dark-skinned Saiyan mocked.
An outraged roar came from the half-Saiyan child. The next punch caught Turles in the left temple and sent him flying. Only his quick reflexes kept him from slamming into the far wall.
Gartoas gaped in disbelief, Turles leapt back on his feet.
'Brat's gonna be nothin' butta' pile o' ashes' the burly pirate thought to himself.
"MUCH better!" the full- blood Saiyan declared.
"Ah'ma seein' an' a hearin' things," Gartoas muttered to himself. He stepped out of the training room.
…
When Turles and Gohan exited the training room, the six-year-old sported several cuts and bruises on his small face. But it was the purplish-black swollen area above Turles's left eye that caught the attention of Gartoas and Daiz.
"Ah thought Turles was gonna blast im' on tha spot," the bushy-haired bearded pirate whispered.
"Turles will respect the boy for being able to strike him," Daiz whispered back.
"Get cleaned up, Gohan," Turles ordered. He ruffled the youngster's damp hair as he did so.
"Yes, Master Turles!" Gohan replied racing off to do as he was told.
"Brat's softnin' im 'up fer' sure!" Gartoas snorted.
Turles turned to face the two adult members of his crew. The Kardanagan swallowed hard as an evil smirk appeared on the Saiyan's face.
"Get to the training room, Gartoas! Let's just see how 'soft' I've gotten!" the pirate commander snarled.
"Me an' muh' big mouth!" Gartoas sighed.
"Better you than me," Daiz snickered.
"What's so amusing, Daiz? YOU'RE NEXT!" Turles chuckled.
All traces of amusement faded from the Kabochan's face.
….
Gohan looked up from the book he was reading and gasped as Gartoas and Daiz dragged themselves into the bridge area. Bruises, cuts and burns covered the two pirate crewmen. Turles appeared a moment later, not a mark marred the Saiyan's appearance except for the bruise left by Gohan's small fist.
"Set a course for planet Dealdrios, Brat!" Turles commanded.
"Yes, Master Turles!" the little half-blood responded as he dropped his book to the floor and raced to the pilot's seat. Switching off the auto-pilot, Gohan set the course and took over the ship's controls.
"Turles be trustin' tha runt ta' be stayin' on course?" Gartoas choked out as Turles headed to his own quarters.
"He certainly does," Daiz answered wiping at his split lip.
The former prince couldn't help but notice the concerned look on Gohan's face.
"Nothing to worrying about, Squirt. Turles reminds us just who's in charge now and then. Especially when one of us runs off at the mouth," Daiz assured him.
"How'd ya like a boot in yer mouth?" Gartoas threatened.
"Can you even raise one of your drumsticks up that high?" the dark-green-haired pirate taunted.
Gartoas slammed into Daiz like a charging bull. The Kabochan warrior responded by punching the burly Kardanagan in the stomach. Blows flew back and forth with neither pirate having the advantage.
"GARTOAS! DAIZ! " Turles bellowed.
The pirate commander stood glaring at the pair of crewmen who stopped their scuffle immediately.
"Just ah bit of ah misunderstandin', Master Turles. All's settled now, eh Daiz?" Gartoas spoke up quickly.
"Yeah, we're good," Daiz affirmed.
Shaking his head, Turles walked over and took Gohan's place. Retrieving his book, the six-year-old returned to his reading.
"Yer' lucky Turles showed up. But ah'll get ya' next time!" Gartoas hissed.
"Anytime you're ready!" the former royal shot back.
….
"We'll be planting the Tree of Might on Dealdrios," Turles announced.
Gohan's face fell at the Saiyan's words. He would be personally responsible for the lives lost on that world. What was he thinking when he saved the Fruit from the flames? But the boy already knew the answer, he had wanted Turles's approval. Why did it matter so much to him now?
"There is no civilization on Dealdrios, Brat," the full-blood Saiyan declared as if he could read the boy's thoughts.
"Dealdrios is an agricultural base for supplying meat for Frieza's soldiers. Twice a month livestock is harvested from the planet but otherwise no one sets foot on the planet. We can take the planet's energy to make our own harvest and deplete some of Frieza's supplies at the same time," Turles continued.
A look of relief appeared on Gohan's face. The Saiyan gave a wicked grin,"I see you approve, Brat. That's good because you're going to join us on Dealdrios."
Gohan suddenly felt a bit guilty for the animals that would pay with their lives for the tree to grow but they did belong to Frieza.
Daiz and Gartoas exchanged glances. Since when did Turles care whether a planet was inhabited or not?
…
"Ah'll be tha first ta' admit ah've not been' 'ere long but Master Turles…somethin's just not tha same 'bout 'im," the massive bearded pirate insisted.
Daiz looked over and was surprised to see that Gohan was standing next to Turles. The pair spoke the Saiyan language in hushed tones. Something the boy said actually made the Saiyan warrior laugh. Strange that Turles had the patience to instruct the child in the ancient tongue.
"Something's definitely different," the dark-green haired pirate mused.
"Ain't that so? Turles wouldna'cared a whit iffa' planet hadda' bloomin' nursery fulla' wee babes on it," Gartoas huffed.
"Turles may have some fondness for the boy but I'm sure he'll be back to his old tricks soon. Gohan seeks Turles's approval and he'll eventually do whatever he's commanded to," Daiz sighed.
"So Turles's just easin' 'im inta' it, eh?" the Kardanagan queried.
"Precisely. That's how Turles works," the former Kabochan prince sighed.
….
Gohan headed off to his room to get another book. When the six-year-old left the bridge area, Turles turned to his two crewmen.
"There's a small force on Dealdrios meant to guard Frieza's stock. I'll give you the coordinates to their base. You're to dispose of them and then meet me and the brat at the following coordinates," Turles informed Gartoas and Daiz.
"Gohan has no knowledge of this, Commander?" Daiz questioned.
"I truthfully told him there is no civilization on Dealdrios. The guards are not his concern. Follow your orders," the dark-skinned Saiyan said coldly.
"Of course, Master Turles," Daiz replied.
'Now why is Turles hiding the fact that someone IS on Dealdrios? Does it really matter to him how Gohan would feel knowing that?' the Kabochan pirate wondered.
…..
Dealdrios was a lush green planet with one massive sun. Great herds of gray deer-like creatures lumbered about. Several flocks of strange, bulky yellow- feathered birds flapped about. Gohan doubted that their small wings were capable of supporting their enormous bodies in flight. Groups of grossly overfed blue hog-like beasts dug into the soil seeking tasty roots.
Turles planted the seed for the tree immediately after landing. Now they would have to wait. Gohan wondered where Daiz and Gartoas had taken themselves.
….
In no time at all, the Tree of Might sprouted from the ground and its' monstrous roots began to spread across the planet's surface. Within hours all life would wither away on the hapless planet. Gohan tried to keep his mind on how furious Frieza would be to learn of the planet's destruction. He desperately tried not to think of how his own world had met the same fate as Dealdrios now faced. Soon the Tree would bear fruit. Suddenly Gartoas and Daiz appeared as if out of nowhere.
…..
Turles took out four of the gray deer-like life-forms. Daiz quickly joined him in preparing the animals for an afternoon meal. Gohan located several fruit-bearing trees and carried an ample supply of the fruit back to the rough campsite that Gartoas had prepared. The Kardanagan grimaced as he saw Turles take several bites of raw meat.
"It's been a while since I've had a fresh kill," the pirate commander snickered as he licked the blood dripping from his fingers. Gartoas gave a shudder much to the Saiyan's amusement.
Gohan stood back watching with wide eyes as Turles tore another hunk of raw flesh away. The Saiyan held out a piece of bloody meat," Care for a taste, Brat?"
It seemed to Gohan as if Turles was daring him. Could he really stomach raw meat? He gingerly took the proffered meat and took a small bite. He never could have imagined the sweet, salty taste. It was so good! The boy wolfed down the entire portion.
"Commander, Can I have a little more?" Gohan requested.
"Ya gotta be kiddin' me," Gartoas groaned. Daiz winced and shook his head.
"You'll be a real Saiyan yet, Brat!" Turles laughed as he tossed a large slab of raw meat to the child.
The burly bearded pirate watched totally aghast as Gohan devoured every morsel. Daiz felt his stomach lurch as the six-year-old eagerly sucked his fingers clean.
….
A green feline predator snatched one of the bulky yellow birds and disappeared into the trees.
"There are predators and prey throughout all nature, Gohan. It's the natural order of things. When you realize that, life will be simpler for you,"Turles stated.
"Yes, Master Turles," the little half-Saiyan spoke up quickly.
'Is that really how things are?' the son of Goku wondered.
….
It didn't take long for Dealdrios to become a mere husk of the bountiful planet it once was. The entire crew began loading the fruit from the Tree of Might onto Turles's ship. Gohan felt a little sad for the creatures that had once roamed the lush fields. They now contained nothing but withered grass and shriveled trees. As soon as they boarded the ship, Turles blasted the planet to oblivion. The Saiyan pirate chuckled as he thought about the Ice-jin's reaction when he received news of Dealdrios.
"Commander Turles! Commander Turles!" a voice shouted out over Turles's scouter.
"This is Turles. Who are you and what business do you have with me?" Turles demanded.
"This is Parchec,…..scientist on Krazlzdor….Frieza forces attacked…I..." the voice suddenly faded.
"Parchec! Are you still there?" the pirate commander pressed but he could only hear a crackling sound and then nothing. Frieza had attacked Krazlzdor?
' Katchia! ' Turles thought immediately.
The Saiyan warrior balled up his fists in absolute fury as he strode over to the pilot's seat.
"WE'RE GOING TO KRAZLZDOR NOW!" Turles roared. His crew rushed to their seats.
…
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