Here's Chapter 34! Thanks to Red Chimera, SSJ2 Silven, Vic The Super Saiyan, mskiki 1219, Gohandominates, icewolf and Ryo-chan wolfgirl for all the reviews on chapter 33.
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of its characters, Akira Toriyama does!
A/N: This is a bit shorter than the last chapter but I won't always have time for lengthy ones!
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When Turles had turned on his heel and left the bridge area. Daiz and Gartoas were still in absolute shock that Zailora hadn't been blasted to oblivion for speaking to Turles in the manner which she had. The Kabochan female leaned against the far wall of the bridge for support. She released the breath she had been holding when the Saiyan pirate had stepped in front of her with his onyx eyes blazing with anger.
"AVE' YA GONE COMPLETELY DAFT WOMAN?" Gartoas shouted.
"I have to agree for once, Zailora. What were you thinking talking to Turles like that?" Daiz scolded.
"I was THINKING that we'd all end up getting killed if the commander didn't get a grip on his temper!" Zailora shot back.
She never let on that she had seriously feared that Turles would have ended her life because of her insolence.
"Ah' hate ta say it but she's kinda makin' sense. Ah woman makin' sense ain't somethin' ya hear ofin' ya know," the burly Kardanagan declared.
"Go pick the fleas out of your beard, Gartoas!" the dark green-haired female growled.
The bearded pirate put his hand to his shaggy black beard and managed to look offended.
"No self- respecting flea would even attempt to crawl into THAT!" Daiz snickered.
"Ya two whelps need ta be respectin' yer elders! Ahm' gonna go find somethin' ta do sides' gettin' harassed" Gartoas huffed.
"You could count your age spots but I seriously doubt you can count that high, you old fart!" Zailora teased.
Daiz burst into laughter. Gartoas slunk off muttering to himself.
…
Gohan looked a bit apprehensive as he entered the training room where Turles awaited him. Still, he squared back his small shoulders and walked over to where the Saiyan stood. The pirate commander could feel the nervous fluctuations of the boy's ki despite his brave stance.
"No need to be nervous, Gohan. We'll take things slower today. I should not have tried to rush you into a technique of such importance. It must be mastered properly to be of any use," Turles informed the seven year old. He received a nod and a smile from the boy.
Daiz couldn't help but overhear as he was conducting his own training across the room. His eyes went wide in disbelief. Zailora had told him of the incident involving Turles and the little half-blood. It seemed that the feisty female had gotten through to the stubborn dark-skinned Saiyan after all.
….
Turles chuckled as he received a transmission from planet Tezeria. His crew eyed him curiously.
"It seems that we're invited to a celebration. King Gardas has finally managed to find a mate for the last of his brood of daughters," the Saiyan announced with a smirk.
"Shoulda thought o' that a fer' e' wentn' had fourteen o'em, aye Master Turles?" Gartoas snorted.
"Indeed," Turles agreed.
"Fourteen of the most hideous females I've ever laid eyes on," Daiz said with a shudder.
"That's a cruel thing to say!" Zailora protested. Even so her mind reeled at the thought of fourteen children.
"If you see the 'blushing bride' you'll see our point," the former prince insisted.
"Wonder how mucha is' fortune ol' Gardas hadda fork oer' ta unload this last one," the Kardangan wondered aloud.
He received a glare from Zailora and a few snickers from his commander and fellow crewman.
Gohan wasn't sure just what was being discussed other than an impending celebration. He kept his mind on flying the ship.
"Maybe a celebratory event would be good for all of us," Zailora pressed.
"On Tezeria there'd be some excellent food and even better wine!" Daiz sighed.
"Ain't that tha truth!" Gartoas cut in. "Mebbe even a few pretty faces."
"Careful, it wouldn't take much to outshine the bride," the dark green-haired male pirate added.
"You two are just awful!" Zailora snapped.
"Are ya acceptin' tha invitation, Master Turles?" Gartoas wanted to know.
"We have no pressing engagements at the moment….Why not? Gohan, Set your course for planet Tezeria!"
…..
"I had no idea that it would take three days to get here!" Bulma exclaimed.
"We might have gotten here sooner but we took the safest route to Tezeria. Lord Cooler would not have appreciated us going through his territory without permission," Artruay informed her.
The former heiress of Capsule Corps didn't have an inkling of who this 'Lord Cooler' might be but she was too intent on the impending event and taking in everything she saw than to concern herself with such minor details. Brilliant lavender skies with three suns composed a canopy above the shimmering silver grass of planet Tezeria. A regal palace of burnished granite loomed before them. She happily took her employer's proffered arm and walked into the heavily guarded entrance.
Bulma could hardly contain her excitement as she observed the glittering assemblage that mingled around her. It seemed there were beings of every hue and form imaginable. Elaborate clothing and jewelry appeared to be the norm. Artruay seemed to be in his element as he greeted several important-looking personages.
Suddenly the gray reptile looked pale and distraught. Bulma sucked in her breath as she followed his gaze.
'G-Goku?' the startled blue-haired beauty thought.
No. The dark-skinned creature that stood before them was certainly NOT Goku! From his perfectly combed spiky black hair, gleaming silver and black armor to his impeccably polished black boots, he gave off an air of pure arrogance. The glossy blackish-brown furred tail wrapped around his waist affirmed that he was a Saiyan. Bulma couldn't imagine the gentle Goku displaying such a cruel smirk on his face.
"L-Lord T-Turles!" Artruay gasped.
A burly figure stepped up beside the Saiyan. The bronze-skinned black shaggy haired male bared a malicious snarl on his bearded face.
"Ya be tha one that set Salsir afta Master Turles. Didn' ya?" he hissed.
"P-Please L-Lord Turles I-I had no choice!" the frightened reptile insisted.
"Aw, yer blubberin' s not gonna stop Master Turles from…."
"Gartoas! When I want you to involve yourself in my affairs I will instruct you to do so. Go amuse yourself elsewhere!" Turles snapped.
The one known as Gartoas gave sigh of disgust and a scowl directed at Artruay. A low growl from the Saiyan had the huge warrior give a hasty salute and he swiftly went on his way.
"Lord Turles, I was attacked by Salsir and…" the gray reptilian being began.
"I would not expect you to be able to oppose Salsir, Artruay. It's quite surprising that you could even survive an encounter with the Sarhassan considering how weak you are," the Saiyan interrupted in an icy tone.
Bulma was about to retort when Artruay gently squeezed her hand and his eyes implored her to stay silent.
"Yes, Lord Turles. I was no match for Salsir. I have my dear friend Bulma here to thank for enabling me to survive his attack," Artruay declared.
"I'm to believe that this lovely delicate creature bested Salsir? " Turles chuckled.
Bulma blushed and was secretly pleased at the compliment.
"Bulma's skill saved my life after I was critically wounded by that serpentine monster"," the gray reptile remarked.
"Ah, beauty and intelligence. Where have you been hiding such a prize?," Turles taunted.
The former heiress found herself blushing once more as the Saiyan stepped forward and lightly brushed his lips across her right hand.
When she looked up into his obsidian eyes, the azure –haired scientist suddenly knew how a fly felt at the moment it was snared in a spider's web…
…
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