Here's chapter 52!

Thanks to Diosa de la muerte, Majin Candy, Dark Domination, icewolf, Ryo-chan wolfgirl, humancygrax, Bojack667, Hoshi124, Perfect Carnage and Apope for all the reviews on chapter 51.

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

...

Vegeta was furious as he watched the Kabochan female drop a reddish-orange something into Turles's hand. He knew immediately that it was a piece of the fruit from the legendary Tree. The Saiyan prince phased in and gave the woman a backhand with his massive fist to the left side of her face that sent her flying.

Daiz just managed to catch her "Going my way?"

Zailora laughed softly as Daiz wrapped his arms around her. He immediately sped off carrying her away from the two warring Saiyans.

The female pirate gingerly touched her left cheek where Vegeta's Oozaru form had struck her. Luckily he'd only managed a glancing blow. Any more than that and her cheekbone would have shattered or worse. It was already swelling and quite tender no doubt it would soon sport a nasty bruise.

"Are you alright?" the former prince asked his female crewmate as he gently set her down at a safe distance.

"I'm fine."

The dark green-haired male pirate frowned. Zailora's left cheek was puffy and beginning to turn purplish-black. Her eye socket was an angry red.

"You don't look fine. That Saiyan gave you quite a wallop," Daiz complained.

"Don't act like I've never took a punch before, Daiz!" Zailora hissed.

"Hey, calm down! I'm just a little concerned here. How often have you taken a punch from a monster like that?" the male Kabochan murmured.

Daiz wrapped an arm around her, brushed back her hair and lightly kissed her forehead. Zailora lifted her head leaned in and kissed his lips.

"Glad ya two got nothin' ta do but kiss n' make up but Turles still be facin' Vegeta!" Gartoas cut in.

The embracing couple quickly turned their attention back to the ensuing battle before them.

Vegeta cursed under his breath. The meddlesome female had provided Turles with assistance once again. He could only hope that he had at least inflicted some damage to her person.

That damned fruit!...

The eyes of the Saiyan prince widened as he observed his fellow Oozaru dramatically increase in pure overall size and strength.

"Did'n think e' coulda gottin' bigger! "Gartoas choked out.

Daiz and Zailora were speechless.

Gohan stared in disbelief at the great Oozaru that now dwarfed that of Vegeta. He wondered just how angry Turles was going to be with him over the loss of his tail and for sparing the life of Vegeta. What would his punishment be? If they all survived this that is. The seven-year-old wanted to help but he could barely even breathe much less move. Not to mention his vision was impaired by the immense swelling to his badly fractured jaw.

Turles smirked down at the Saiyan royal as his armor stretched to allow the incredible shift in his form. He no longer felt any weariness. An incredible burst of refreshing energy coursed through his being.

Vegeta quickly found himself on the defensive. He gasped as the great fists of Turles impacted with his ribs. Were he not an Oozaru as well, the violent punches would have immediately incapacitated him. A swift kick took Vegeta's legs out from under him. Only his years of training allowed him to escape the enormous boot that would have connected with his spine.

Vegeta tried to respond with a flurry of his own punches but to no avail. Turles barely seemed to react when the former heir to Vegeta-sei landed a blow.

"What's he doing?" Daiz grumbled." He could have blasted Vegeta to nothing by now!"

"Ya don' know by now? Turles be playin' wi im' wearin' im down," Gartoas sighed.

"So Gohan's mercy was useless, Turles plans to kill him?" Zailora asked.

"I'd say he sealed his fate when he took Gohan's tail," Daiz declared.

Exhaustion was beginning to take its toll on Vegeta. He had been battling for hours now and his opponent was as good as fresh to the fight. He stumbled and crashed to the ground. Turles was on him in a flash. His senses reeling, the flame-haired warrior struggled to regain his footing but found himself pinned down by the notorious pirate. Excruciating pain shot through him, suddenly the great form holding him down released him.

Why did he feel so strange? Somehow the agony he'd endured seconds ago still remained…

"DID YOU LOSE SOMETHING?" Turles boomed out in mockery as he waved about the severed tail of the Saiyan prince.

"M-MY TAIL!" Vegeta gasped in horror.

He began to slowly revert back to his original form. The prince of all Saiyans realized the danger he was now in with Turles still in his transformed state. Vegeta leapt out of the way as Turles stomped down where he had stood just seconds before. In a blur of movement the Saiyan pirate commander caught Vegeta in his gigantic fist.

"WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH YOU NOW? HMMM?" Turles laughed coldly.

"Should I bite off your head? No, you probably taste revolting. Squeeze you until you pop like a grape? Decisions, decisions," the giant Oozaru chuckled.

The mortified Saiyan elite fought vainly to free himself.

"Ah, I know just the thing," Turles announced as he slowly began to crush his helpless prey.

Vegeta grit his teeth trying not to give the low-level scum the pleasure of hearing him gasp for air. He bit back a scream as his ribs began to crumble….

'MASTER TURLES! NO! PLEASE!' Gohan sent over his mental link with Turles.

'Stay out of this! He will pay for taking your tail!' Turles shot back.

'My tail can grow back! It just might take a little while….Vegeta is a Saiyan! Don't kill ANOTHER of our own' Gohan pleaded. 'PLEASE, COMMANDER! THERE'S JUST US NOW!'

The dark-skinned Saiyan tried to ignore the demi-Saiyan's request. Vegeta had willingly attacked them and intentionally took the little half-blood's tail. How could he just release him? Had Gohan not learned his lesson when he had disobeyed a direct order to take the prince's life?

'I lost my tail once before! It'll grow back! I promise! PLEASE MASTER TURLES!'

Turles growled and cursed under his breath. The damned brat was making him soft. He would allow the misbegotten royal to live….for now. He flung the hapless flame-haired warrior to the rocky ground.

"What a weak pitiful excuse for a Saiyan warrior! You should have killed me when you had the chance!" Vegeta snarled.

An evil smirk lit the face of the Saiyan prince. He shot shakily into the air. It would drain all the last reserves of his power but he would annihilate these fools who dared to oppose him. His pride demanded that they pay for the humiliation of the loss of his tail.

"NOW ALL OF YOU AND THIS DAMNED EXCUSE OF A PLANET SHALL BE NO MORE!" Vegeta roared.

He began to power up, Turles had begun to power up as well. Cries from both of the straining Saiyan warriors filled the air. Purple energy began to surround Vegeta. Chilling laughter echoed from the prince of all Saiyans….

"GALICK GUN!" Vegeta bellowed as an enormous purple beam shot from him to the planet below.

The gigantic Oozaru was ready for him "CHOU MAKOUHOU!"

A great white beam of energy shot out from the mouth of Turles.

Turles's crew watched in amazement as the great mouth blast began to push back the purple beam wielded by the now exasperated prince.

"NO! This is impossible! His blast is even in power with my Galick Gun…."

With a roar of outrage Vegeta found himself enveloped in his own attack….

…

"I hope that's the last of him," Daiz said with a sigh of relief.

"He lives yet. I can still feel his ki. I just doubt he's in a sociable mood at the moment. We'll be seeing him again," Turles rumbled.

'It just figures! Why didn't you just kill him?" Daiz thought to himself.

He knew Gohan felt the prince should have been spared but the little demi-Saiyan still had a lot to learn about combating enemies.

The twin suns of Tarcadia took their place in the sky. Zailora watched in amazement as Turles reverted back to his original form. What a sight he was! Burns and bruises covered him his left side had a great dent in his armor along with several visible cracks.

Zailora was too stunned to move when Turles walked over and traced the injury to her left cheek with a feather-light touch with the tip of his finger.

"DO take the time to heal that," the dark-skinned Saiyan said in a voice almost as soft as his touch. Then he slowly walked away.

The Kabochan female stared after him for a moment. She could still feel the warmth from Turles's touch.

What was all that about?

'When did ya start worryin' bout justa bruise, Turles?' Gartoas wondered.

Daiz grit his teeth but said nothing.

Turles had turned his attention to Gohan. The little half-Saiyan had taken quite a beating. It galled the elder Saiyan that the youngster no longer possessed his tail.

"Let's get back to the ship, Gohan," the pirate commander said wearily.

He gently picked up the injured child and took to the sky. Zailora protested only briefly when Daiz scooped her up in his arms before taking flight. Gartoas ached everywhere but he was grateful that they were finally leaving!

…

A badly injured Saiyan prince lay on the rocky surface of planet Tarcadia. He burned with absolute fury. How could he have been bested by a half-breed and a bunch of low-levels? If Turles hadn't had possession of that cursed Fruit….

His wounded pride would only be healed when he felt that brat's skull crush under his heel and he completely destroyed Turles and those fools who served him. He would especially enjoy the demise of the woman whose interference had cost him so dearly. As much as it humiliated him at the present moment, he would have his revenge! He pulled out a small remote device from his waist. Punching in an encrypted code, he summoned his pod to get him off this blasted planet…..

…

A dazed Gohan could swear he heard his father's voice.

"Gohan. You did the right thing. I'm proud of you, son."

…..

Gohan didn't miss the sigh of disappointment from Turles as he emerged from the rejuvenation tank and he remained tailless.

"Master Turles, I know you're angry with me. I'm ready for my punishment for disobeying your order," the seven-year-old said softly.

The little demi-Saiyan stood with his head bowed before the scowling Saiyan.

"The loss of your tail will suffice for a punishment for now. But DO NOT refuse an order again, Gohan!" Turles growled in warning.

Gohan shivered at the pirate commander's words. What would happen to him if he deliberately disobeyed Turles's order again? He had the distinct feeling that he didn't want to find out…..

…

Gartoas exited from the rejuvenation tank happy to be able to move again without aching from head to toe. His shattered ribs were but a memory now. He'd have to notify Zailora to take her turn now. The Kardanagan snorted at the very idea of using a tank for a mere bruise! If she'd gotten her face smashed in or something… But for a bruise?

Oh well, it was Turles's order. He wouldn't take too kindly to anyone disputing him. The brat was lucky to get off as easily as he did.

…

Daiz broke into a bright smile as he caught sight of a fully-healed Zailora. Her beauty was no longer marred by the horrible bruise caused by the Saiyan prince. He soon found he wasn't the only one to notice.

Turles stepped in front of her as Zailora walked into the bridge area. To her surprise he reached out and lifted her chin up with his right hand. A genuine smile lit the Saiyan male's face.

"Much better!" he said in almost a whisper.

The Kabochan female thought her eyes would pop out of their sockets when Turles's fingers released her chin and lightly brushed her left cheek. Then he turned and strode away.

Daiz folded his arms over his chest and let out an exasperated sigh.

What the hell was Turles up to?

…

So what did you think? Please let me know!

daughterofrisingsun