Here's chapter 71! Thanks to Diosa de la muerte, Ryo-chan wolfgirl, Scimitar X, Dark Domination, icewolf and Caedus Vitiate for the reviews on chapter 70.
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of its characters, Akira Toriyama does!
….
Gohan heard the door to his room slide open, he sat up and quickly wiped at his eyes fearing it was Turles. The Saiyan would not approve of his tearful countenance. But it wasn't the pirate commander, it was Zailora. Red, puffy eyes stood out quite noticeably against her pale complexion. She had been weeping also obviously.
Zailora sat at the edge of the seven-year-old's bunk. Her heart clenched at the sight of the child's tear-stricken face. When she held out her arms the little half-blood flew into them. Gohan poured out his pain and anguish as the dark green-haired female wrapped her arms around him. As she gently rocked him, the son of Goku seemed to sob even harder. No one had held him in such a way since the loss of his mother.
The she-pirate wondered how the absence of the former prince was going to affect the relationship of Turles and Gohan. Although he could be a fierce planet-decimating pirate in his own right, there was a distinct difference between the mischievous, gentle Daiz and the cold-natured Saiyan. The once royal had never forgotten that the little half-ling was still a child. But then the citizens of Kabocha had never sent their infants out on missions of genocide. She could only wonder about the brutal upbringing Turles had endured.
There were times she was certain that the Saiyan pirate felt some affection for the little demi-Saiyan. And other times Zailora thought surely there simply was no heart beating inside of Turles's chest. An almost palpable darkness seemed to permeate the very soul of the survivor of Vegeta-sei's destruction.
Whispering softly and stroking his hair as she rocked him, Zailora continued to try to comfort the grieving youth. When his mournful cries had abated to sniffles and small hiccups, she lifted his face up by his chin with her right thumb.
"Hey kiddo, are you going to be okay?" the Kabochan female asked softly.
"Yeah," Gohan sniffled. "I….I just can't believe Daiz is gone."
Zailora gave a long sigh," I know. Sometimes I wake up and think it's all just been a bad dream and then I realize it isn't. I miss him SO much!"
Ember whimpered and pawed at the little demi-Saiyan. Gohan stroked her fur and noticed how easily he could feel her ribs.
"Has Ember been sick?" he asked worriedly.
"She was pining away for you. Poor pup barely ate a thing!" the nobleman's daughter explained.
Your absence affected all of us! Turles broke into Frieza's communication systems to find you and didn't sleep a wink until you returned. Gartoas just won't admit it but even he was worried. Grouchy old fart!
The half-Saiyan youngster snickered in spite of his tears. Zailora gave him a hug and wiped at her own eyes.
"We'll get through this….it just won't be easy."
…
Zarbon nervously made his way over to where Frieza was lazily leaning back in his hover-chair enjoying a glass of his most favored red wine.
"Zarbon, has Cui returned from his little errand?" the Ice-jin demanded.
"No, Lord Frieza. We lost contact with Cui some time ago and…."
"Of course that arrogant imbecile would botch a perfectly simple assignment. Send in another team to complete the purge of Oarshatier.
The teal-changeling swallowed hard," T-There is no planet Oarshatier, my lord. It appears to have been destroyed."
"WHAT? What am I supposed to tell the Trilathiun buyers when they arrive?" the lizard-tyrant bellowed.
"I-I don't know Lord Frieza," Zarbon stammered.
"No doubt that little half-breed miscreant had something to do with this. I will be offering thirty thousand zeni for the live capture of that despicable mongrel and nine hundred thousand zeni for that pirate from Hell's head!" Frieza snarled.
"A most generous offer, Sir," the emerald-haired officer affirmed.
"Yes, that should make it a little more difficult for those insufferable apes to conceal themselves," Frieza simpered.
The youngest progeny of King Cold chuckled to himself. Every bounty hunter in the North Sector was going to be salivating over the promised reward.
…
Zailora found herself kneeling at the edge of a rocky cliff. She was stretching out her hand vainly trying to reach the figure in black and green armor that dangled from the precipice by his fingertips. Daiz! A yawning chasm filled with molten magma waited below. The dark green-haired female reached out but her fingers closed on nothing more than air. A scream tore from her throat as she helplessly watched Daiz fall to his death….
Looking frantically about, Zailora realized she was safe in her personal quarters aboard Turles's ship. She'd been awakened by the sound of her own screams. The dream had seemed so real. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she tried to force away the awful images her nightmare had instilled in her mind. When would the awful dreams stop? It seemed the horrible visions had become her nighty companions.
At any rate, her room suddenly felt stifling. Zailora headed for the bridge where she found Gartoas piloting the ship.
"Rough night eh'?" he murmured as he stole a glance at the distraught Kabochan female.
"Yeah," Zailora managed to choke out.
"It takes a while before the dreams stop," Turles declared as he stepped out of the shadows that surrounded the observation window. Turning on his heel the dark-skinned Saiyan headed for his quarters without another word.
Gartoas and Zailora stared at each other in disbelief.
….
Turles had given no verbal acknowledgment that he noticed that Gohan had regained his tail. But the little half-Saiyan hadn't missed the startled glance and following smirk when the Saiyan had carried him to his pod. He'd not allowed Gohan to put any weight on his leg until the wound from the wasp-being had been treated. In some strange way Turles was concerned for his welfare though the stubborn pirate would tear off his own tail before he admitted to it.
Gohan managed a sad smile as he noticed the morning meal just happened to contain all of his favorites. He could have sworn that Turles had given a wink in his direction. It was so strange not to have Daiz seated at his right. He'd give anything to hear the Kabochan call him "squirt" again.
….
Zailora slammed her fist down on the armrest of her seat startling Gohan and Gartoas Ember gave a little frightened bark.
"HE'S GOING TO PAY! " she snarled.
"Whatta ya blatherin' bout'?" Gartoas huffed.
"Zarbon! I'm going to personally make him accountable for ….."
"Ave' ya gone daft , Woman? Ya wouldn' stand ah chance gainst im'!" the Kardanagan protested.
"We'll have to work on that then won't we?" Turles declared with an ominous smile.
….
Zailora stumbled into the bridge area breathing heavily. She collapsed into her seat out of pure exhaustion. Her long green braid was soaked with perspiration, cuts burns and bruises covered her face as well as her arms and legs.
"Ah see ya' enjoyin' yer firs' bit ah trainin' wi' Turles," Gartoas needled.
"Shut up you overfed Ganera hog! Oooohh! Even my hair hurts!" the Kabochan female moaned.
What had she gotten herself into?
…
Please let me know your thoughts on this chapter!
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