Here's Chapter 27! Thanks to Ali, icewolf, Gohandominates, Ryo-chan wolfgirl, Nimarrin Driggen, firelifeblizzard, Red Chimera, Airgo, and humancygrax for all the reviews on chapter 26.
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of its' characters, Akira Toriyama does!
A/N: Saiyansweetheart is posting my chapters for the moment. I hope to have my internet access in another week or so. Please excuse any typos!
…..
Gohan managed a flawless landing on planet Arturay. He looked to Turles for approval. Gartoas snorted as Turles gave a nod and ruffled the boy's hair. The commander was definitely going soft to his opinion. Not to mention he certainly spoiled the brat.
Daiz suppressed a grin. Despite Turles's cold demeanor the half-Saiyan child managed to bring out a different side of the Saiyan pirate at times.
The burly Kardanagan mumbled under his breath as Zailora walked into view. An icy stare was the Kabochan female's only response.
A soft bark brought a smile to Gohan's face. The Charladon pup was pawing at him, her silly tail wagging furiously.
"You're right, Ember! I need to feed you before we leave the ship….."
…
"Remember Chi-Chi! Everything has to be absolutely perfect this morning! Artruay is expecting someone very important to arrive shortly," Kqarsayla declared.
The Ox-king's daughter wondered whose impending arrival had the rotund four-armed orange being worked up into such a nervous fervor.
"Relax! We have everything in order….." Chi-Chi began.
" You don't understand ! This person is an absolute nightmare of a perfectionist! He's literally impossible to please!" Kqarasayla interrupted.
Beads of sweat were appearing on the jittery bald female's head.
"Calm down! Chi-Chi is right! Everything will go smoothly. I assure you!" a gruff voice resounded behind her.
Chi-Chi smiled at the sight of the yellow uniformed Namek who was her assistant in the kitchen. Makalo had proved himself to be an invaluable aide even though she had initially balked at working with him. She had never fully trusted Piccolo and working with a mirror-image of him had been disconcerting at the least.
She should actually be his assistant. After all he knew how to operate the complex devices used to prepare the restaurant meals as well as how to properly incorporate the myriad of strange ingredients Chi-Chi had never seen before. The gravely-voiced Namek had turned out to be a gentle soul who enjoyed his work immensely. He cared not a whit about having an important title and he never consumed a single morsel of the foods he helped prepare.
Artruay was pacing nervously himself as he waited for a certain personage to arrive at his restaurant. The thin gray reptile drew in a shaky breath and walked forward.
"Lord Turles! So good to see you again…!"
….
Turles curled his lip in disdain as the golden-robed gray reptile fawned over him. Curiosity made Gohan blurt out a question.
"Sir, This planet is named Arturay and your name is Artruay. Are you named after the planet, Sir?"
Daiz waited for Turles to scold the boy for speaking out of turn but the Saiyan allowed the question.
Artruay smiled," Yes. How astute of you to notice. My ancestors settled this world so my name is a slight variation on that of our lovely home."
The reptilian businessman wondered if the youngster belonged to Turles but he dared not ask. Considering the Saiyan's reputation, he wouldn't be surprised if that were the case. Seeing the furry tail wrapped tightly around the boy's waist and the similarities in their appearance he was almost certain that the Saiyan pirate was indeed the boy's sire.
"We'll discuss business later, Artruay. I expect a meal before we expire from hunger!" Turles barked.
"Yes! Yes! Of course!" the reptile quickly summoned a serving girl to escort Turles and his crew to their table.
Gohan's eyes went wide as he sampled the first bite of the dish he had chosen. He tried yet another bite, surely he was mistaken.
'THIS TASTES JUST LIKE MOM'S FOOD DID!' the startled youth realized.
But that was impossible the boy realized. His mother no longer existed nor did the planet he had once called home. He struggled to recall his mother's appearance. Why was it so hard to do now?
"Is the food not to your liking, Brat?" Turles's voice brought him back to the present.
"It's just fine, Commander!" the little half-blood spoke up quickly.
Everything Gohan ate made him wonder at the eerie similarity of the foods with those that he had once enjoyed on Earth.
Turles was pleased, the fare was far superior than that he had sampled at a previous visit to the establishment.
….
Chi-Chi found herself to be extremely curious over the identity of the "guest" that had even Artruay acting as if his life depended on pleasing whoever the 'perfectionist' was. She decided to slip out of the kitchen for a quick peep. A quick glance and no one would be the wiser.
The slim brunette scanned the patrons that were seating in the dining area. She sucked in her breath at the sight of a most imposing figure. A Saiyan stood speaking to Artruay.
"G-Goku?" Chi-Chi gasped as she took in the spiky black hair and familiar appearance.
But her husband's doppelganger had a much darker complexion and his cold cruel gaze would never have appeared on gentle Goku's face. The Saiyan had an almost arrogant air about him. Instead of a orange gi, he wore gleaming black and silver armor. Expensive- looking polished black boots encased his feet. Not a hair was out of place and a thick furry blackish-brown tail encircled his waist.
"He's certainly NOT Goku," Chi-Chi whispered sadly to herself.
She was about to step back into the kitchen when a child walked over to the Saiyan. Goku's widow dug her fingers into the doorway at the sight of him.
"GOHAN!" Chi-Chi choked out.
She rubbed her eyes and looked again. It really was Gohan! Her son's appearance had drastically changed. His hair was much longer and his soft pudgy body was now defined with muscle. A light tan had replaced his former pale skin. He wore armor identical to that of the Saiyan only it was red and black. His small feet wore gleaming black boots and his tail was wrapped around his waist.
"MY BABY! GOHAN!" Chi-Chi cried.
Three others besides her son accompanied the Saiyan, a humanoid male with long dark green hair and pale skin wearing green and gold armor. A massive bronze-skinned being with bushy brown hair and a matching beard who wore brown and black armor. Surprisingly, the third was a female who resembled the dark green-haired male. She was garbed in ice-blue and black armor.
The group began to head for the exit. They were taking her son with them!
"NO! NO!" Chi-Chi screamed as she tried to make her way through the noisy throng of restaurant patrons.
But it was too late, Gohan was gone! She sank into a sobbing heap on the restaurant floor…..
…
Bulma knew something was amiss the moment Chi-Chi entered their quarters. Her friend's eyes were swollen and her cheeks were stained with tears.
"ChiChi! What happened? Are you all right?" the blue-haired scientist asked worriedly.
"I-I saw him! I SAW GOHAN!" ChiChI screeched.
"WHAT? ARE YOU SURE?" Bulma gasped.
"I SAW HIM! AND THAT MONSTER HAS HIM!" the Ox-King's daughter sobbed.
"What are you talking about? WHO has him?" Bulma pressed.
"A-A S-SAIYAN HAS GOHAN!" Chi-Chi wailed.
Bulma wrapped her arms around her weeping brunette companion.
"Shh! ChiChi! We know Gohan's alive! We'll find him! I promise you! We'll find him!" the azure-haired scientist promised.
…..
"Looks like I have an assignment on my own when we land again," Zailora mused.
"Oh? And what might that be?" Daiz inquired.
Before she could reply, the bearded Kardanagan shuffled into the room.
"What er' tha two of ya schemin' about?" Gartoas huffed.
"It's a big DARK secret!" the dark green-haired female snickered.
"Keep sassin' me woman and Ah'll be teachin' ya a lesson ya won't soon be forgettin!" the burly male pirate snarled.
"Anytime you're ready, Big Boy!" Zailora taunted.
"Careful, Gartoas. Zailora's been training quite a bit with Turles lately," Daiz cautioned as the green-haired female walked away.
"Two of em' bin' spendin' a bit too much time together ifn' ya ask me," Gartoas mumbled.
"I didn't mean to make you feel left out. Report to the training room, Gartoas!" Turles snickered.
…
"Ah'm getting' too old fer' this!" Gartoas groaned as he sat down painfully in his seat.
"If you want to get OLDER then watch that mouth of yours," Zailora advised.
The Kabochan female laughed at the nasty look the Kardanagan gave her.
"Ah'm gonna probly' freeze ta death! How do ya keep warm wearin' armor?" Gartoas complained.
"Well at least you'll die smelling better than you did in that rag you were wearing," Daiz teased.
"Havin' ta toss a right good piece o' clothin fer shame!" the burly pirate huffed.
"Yep! A shame Turles didn't make you do it sooner!" the former prince chortled.
Gartoas glowered as Daiz and Zailora shared a laugh at his expense.
Gohan put down his book and wondered what was so funny.
…
Artruay sighed and shook his head as Bulma informed him of Chi-Chi's desperate plight.
"The situation is truly unfortunate, Bulma dear. But I'm afraid there's nothing I can do. Our planet is under Lord Turles's control for the time being."
"What do you mean 'for the time being'?" Bulma asked.
"Well, I am hoping that your inventions will interest someone that is far more powerful than the Saiyan," the thin gray reptile informed her.
…..
Zailora walked into the bridge area wearing a short light green silken garment that stopped mid-thigh. Matching shoes were on her feet. Instead of the usual braid, her long dark green hair was piled into an upsweep on her head. Both Daiz and Gartoas gaped at her appearance.
"Turles not payin' ya enough? Ya gonna be workin' tonight?" Gartoas hooted.
The stunned Kardanagan found himself flat on his back on the ship's cold floor. A small steely blade was at his throat.
"When you're ready to die make a suggestion like that again!" Zailora hissed.
Neither male pirate said a word as she exited the ship.
Daiz wondered what Turles's reaction to Zailora's behavior would have been. But Turles and Gohan were out somewhere on planet Meros. The Kabochan male was now very curious about his female counterpart's assignment.
…
Salsir grit his fangs in outrage as he realized that his quarry had departed planet Arturay shortly before his arrival.
"Master Artruay, Turles will be most disappointed that our paths crossed. He would surely be gratified if I were still able to meet him somewhere," the Sarhassan simpered.
'Must be more of his pirate ilk' Artruay thought to himself.
"I'm not sure if Lord Turles would…."
The serpent being had his fangs bared at the terrified restaurant owner. Sickly green fluid dripped onto the plush royal blue carpet in Artruay's private office.
"One bite will end your life. I require only a simple location in order to spare your miserable existence," Salsir hissed.
"M-Meros! T-Turles went to Meros!" Artruay admitted fearfully.
….
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