Here's chapter 69! Thanks to Dark Domination, Dragon1157, Scimitar X, SCstaff, Ryo-chan wolfgirl, diosa de la muerte, Xtreme End, icewolf and Hoshi124 for all the reviews for chapter 68. Thanks also to Humancyrax for the review on chapter 61

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

…

It suddenly occurred to Gohan that he could toss away the offensive smelling armor he'd worn since escaping Frieza's ship. He groaned as he realized the scent still clung to the bodysuit worn beneath it. But at least he could breathe now! The youngster raked his lower back with his fingernails. Why was he so itchy?

'I won't be surprised if I have a rash from that nasty armor,' Gohan thought ruefully.

Actually a simple rash was the least of his concern, a quick glance at his left thigh revealed it to be an angry red and swollen. The wasp-like life-form had savagely stung him before attempting to contact the base ship. There was no doubt in his mind that the report had gone through before he had succeeded in disposing of the vile insect. Well any treatment was going to have to wait as there were more pressing concerns to handle. He had to prevent this world from being destroyed.

As he flew over the planet's surface, the son of Goku balled up his fists in anger as he took in the destruction his two "crewmates" had wrought on the unsuspecting citizens of planet Oarshatier. Flames licked at crumbling walls which were all that remained of what must have once been homes and other structures. Bodies were flung about in a horrific display of the cruelty of Frieza's soldiers. Large areas of scorched earth dotted the landscape.

Slender humanoid blue-skinned beings with yellow hair, both male and female, lay where they had taken their final breath. The demi-Saiyan growled as he noticed several children scattered among the lifeless white-robed forms.

"Jolpas! Where ya at? Yer missin' all tha fun!" a voice snickered over the little half-blood's scouter.

Gohan grimly noted the coordinates of the squad leader. His 'fun' was about to end….

….

Turles's ship awaited the shuttle from planet Kagerish on one of the world's small moons. The Saiyan pirate stood with his arms crossed over his chest as the small craft landed. Kerlis stood beside him nervously chewing her lower lip.

"Go to the life you deserve," Turles declared.

With tears in her eyes, the Daznicosian female kissed the Saiyan's cheek and for just a moment his arm encircled her waist. Kerlis started walking to the shuttle.

"I'll never forget you!" the raven-haired woman called out as she looked back.

"Of course you won't," the dark-skinned Saiyan said smugly.

"Of all the conceited, egotistical…!"

"Should I change my decision?" Turles warned.

Kerlis hurried to the shuttle without a single backwards glance.

"Aw, Ya know ya liked that one, Commander!" Gartoas huffed.

"A pleasant distraction when needed nothing more," the pirate commander stated flatly.

Zailora shook her head at the comment. Would Turles ever change?

…

Gohan landed directly in front of Quarnag. The olive-green crustacean blinked a few times in disbelief.

"Whaddaya want wi' me, Saiyan?"

"You're going to pay for what you've done to the people of this planet," Gohan snarled.

"Ahm jus' followin' orders an'…..Wait! Yer tha one that took out poor Zerius! E'managed to tip off Frieza so yer gonna get what's comin' to ya!" the crab-ling sneered.

"Is that a fact?"

"Ah oughta hang ya by yer tail in one o'tha trees fer' em' ta come fetch ya!" Quarnag taunted.

Tail? Sure enough, a brownish-black tail suddenly wrapped around the surprised youth's waist. When had that grown back?

"You're welcome to try!" Gohan said as he sank into a fighting stance.

"Ya aint gotta prayer, Monkey!" the crustacean declared as he raised four pairs of menacing claws…..

…

Zailora ran her fingers along the backrest of the seat Daiz had always used. Every day without fail, she would desperately check the bridge computer for any message that could have possibly been transmitted by the former prince. She was crushed with disappointment each and every time. The Kabochan female quickly wiped away the tear that slid slowly down her face before her teammates could notice.

Gartoas shook his head as he watched the dark green-haired woman's actions. She was taking the loss of Daiz hard. He wondered how much more patience Turles would have with her grieving. But then at times it seemed as if the Saiyan himself was grieving. The Kardanagan hadn't missed the pirate commander's vigils at the observation window. He always faced in the direction of the home planet of that white-haired witch.

The dark skinned Saiyan had been strangely quiet since Kerlis's departure. His arrogant demeanor and constant wisecracks had ended. Suddenly the sullen former leader of the Crusher Corps came to life with an evil smirk.

"There's a tribute ship headed for planet Gelios. What do you say we save King Kradas the exhausting task of having to find room in his treasury for the riches it contains?"

"Aye, Ah reckon e'd appreciate bein' spared tha headache, Commander," Gartoas snickered.

"Aren't we just SO considerate?" Zailora mumbled sarcastically under her breath.

"Exactly! And we 're so underappreciated!" Turles chortled.

….

Gohan ducked as a razor-sharp claw slashed at his head. He was starting to think keeping the malodorous armor would have been a wise decision.

The crustacean was faster than one would envision him to be. Gohan had two gashes across his chest from the cruel claws. Quarnag was not unscathed one of his eye-stalks were missing and his armor's chest-plate was damaged.

A roundhouse kick knocked the crab-ling off his feet but he retaliated by giving the little half-blood a savage punch in the midsection. Gohan gasped for breath as the wind was knocked out of him. Quarnag regained his footing and rushed at the demi-Saiyan. Vaulting into the air, Gohan made contact with the fragile cartilage that was supporting the crustacean's head. As he twisted his body in mid-air, there was an audible cracking sound.

The youngest member of Turles's crew bounced the grisly trophy from one hand to the other for a few moments.

"Whatta you know? Heads! I win!"

Gohan stood staring up at the deep blue sky. Should he contact Turles or take the pod and risk Frieza's forces tracking him? If he eluded Frieza he would be free...he could go...

"I'm going back where I belong!" the little half-Saiyan tapped his scouter...

…..

"Turles said not to stack the crates more than two high!" Zailora scolded.

"As ifn' e's ard at work helpin' with tha stackin'!" Gartoas huffed as he dragged yet another heavy crate into Turles's ship.

"He's making sure there's no survivors left on the Geliosian ship," the Kabochan female informed him.

"Sure e' is, e' don' feel like hearin' ya carryin' on!" the burly pirate complained.

"If you'd listen, I wouldn't have to keep going on!" Zailora shot back.

"Ahm lettin' yer harpin' go in one ear n' out tha other!" the Kardanagan declared.

"Of course you are! There's nothing in between them!" the female pirate shouted.

"Woman, yer on muh las' nerve!" Gartoas bellowed.

Turles chuckled as he took in the exchange between his crew. At least some things stayed the same.

….

"MasterTurles? Am I getting through?"

"It's Gohan!" Zailora squealed in delight.

"Where are ya, Brat? Be makin' it quick, Frieza's techs 'll pick ya up right fast!" Gartoas spoke up.

"I'm on planet Oarshatier and Frieza already knows I'm here!"

"Hang on, Brat! We're on the way!" Turles barked.

Zailora and Gartoas raced for their seats. They barely had time to strap themselves in as Turles whipped the ship around and headed off at top speed….

….

An attack pod crashed into the surface of planet Oarshatier. Cui hurriedly pulled himself out of the small craft.

'I'm supposed to bring the Saiyan whelp in alive if possible…I'll just say it WASN'T possible!' the fish-faced minion of Frieza thought to himself….

…

Please let me know your thoughts on this chapter!

daughterofrisingsun