Here's chapter 73! Thanks to Diosa de la muerte, Ryo-chan wolfgirl, Dark Domination, The Darkest Wizard, icewolf, SCStaff, Scimitar X, Hoshi124 and friha for the reviews on chapter 72.

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

A/N: Sorry for the late update! Foul weather, Internet havoc and life in general has kept me occupied. With this storyline Bulma would have to have SERIOUS issues to be involved romantically with Turles which will not occur in this fic. The format was off in the first post of this chapter thanks to Diosa de la muerte for alerting me to that.

….

Zailora looked over at the empty seat beside her and gave a long sigh as she bowed her head. Had six whole months truly gone by without Daiz? Gohan grimaced at the Kabochan female's forlorn expression and then turned his attention back to piloting the ship. He knew without asking what troubled the dark green-haired woman.

Gartoas shook his head. It was quite clear that the she-pirate still pined for Daiz. He missed their constant verbal spars but he'd put a ki blast to his own foot before he'd admit it. The Kardangan suddenly watched with his full attention when Turles came to stand directly beside Zailora.

"The time's come for you to make your decision. Zailora, do you wish to remain a member of this crew or would you prefer to move on?" the dark-skinned pirate commander questioned.

Gohan was absolutely horrified at the idea. The little half-blood held his breath not even daring to turn around. Would Zailora actually leave them?

"I…I wish to stay," Zailora said softly.

A long sigh of relief came from the seven-year-old earning him a snort from the burly bearded pirate.

"So be it then," Turles replied. His right hand rested on hers for just a moment before he walked away. She stared after him in curiosity for a moment then shrugged her shoulders and put the Saiyan's action behind her.

Gartoas had missed nothing. He muttered under his breath. "What er ya up ta, Turles?

…

Gohan ran his fingers over Ember's brilliant red and yellow coat. He could practically dig them into her thick pelt now. Her once puny tail was now a magnificent plume of fur. She was no longer a pup but a fully grown Charladon. Two large tusk-like fangs hung at either side of her jaws. Ember retained her gentle nature but she was now a constant companion when Gohan and Turles would hunt. The well-trained animal could easily bring down creatures several times her size with ease.

Ember thoroughly sniffed the demi-Saiyan's hands making absolutely sure she hadn't missed a single tidbit of the scraps Gohan had brought her from his noon meal. After giving them an extensive lick-over she padded over next to his usual seat and promptly began a nap.

"Yer still spoilin' that mutt!" Gartoas huffed.

"Perhaps he does. But she could assist you in learning table manners," Turles teased.

Gohan and Zailora burst into laughter at the pirate commander's comment. Gartoas glowered but said not a word in response.

…..

The mercilessly arid climate of the Klarzathian desert of planet Darathazer was an inhospitable place for most sentient beings but the Daygoyien considered it home. Their small villages dotted the landscape all were governed by a council of twelve appointed elders as had been the custom as long as the members of their race could recall.

A young female of the Daygoyien sat on her mount looking out a rare patch of greenery among the blistering sand. The thin flat bladed grass-like vegetation managed to support the small herd of bovine creatures that kept her village supplied with a most welcome source of meat. Docile and small framed with useless curled horns on their heads the smooth-skinned chestnut colored beasts were easy to manage. Their hides provided most of the clothing worn by the hardy desert dwellers.

Pulling her long blue-black hair into a braid, Markeila tugged at the leathern rope that served to control the pale green reptilian life-form that served as a beast of burden and handy form of transport. Her golden skin stood out against the rich brown of the soft tanned leather garment she wore. The knee-length shift enabled her to stay astride her Zlaaskew quite easily. Her amber eyes sparkled as she observed one of the herd's guards keeping a watchful eye out for desert predators and the elusive Greaysis a rodent race who tried to steal the highly prized animals as often as they could succeed in doing so.

Markelia raised her arm and gaily waved her arm in greeting offering a bright smile as well to hopefully garner the guard's attention. A braid of dark-green hair hung down past the muscular pale-skinned shoulders of the object of her interest. The guard's gray eyes sparkled with amusement as he returned her greeting.

"Markelia, You pay too much attention to that …that… whatever he is!" a young male of her own race complained.

Putting her nose into the air and folding her arms over her chest, Markelia turned away from her fellow villager who also served as a guard for the herd. He had made his interest in her quite apparent on several occasions. Unfortunately for him she had no interest in him.

"There's no need to be rude, Agalaki! Jazaien has been very helpful to our village since he arrived," the annoyed young female scolded.

"Ah, yes. He drove away the Greaysis with that strange burning light from his hands. It's unnatural for a being short of a god to wield such power," Agalaki warned.

Markelia gasped at the thought. It would certainly explain the strange power and strength of their guest of several months now.

"You….you think he's a god?

"Of course not, for you to even be entertaining that thought is all the more reason the strange one should leave our village immediately!" Agalaki growled.

"I think you're just JEALOUS!"

"Of that pale- skinned, green-haired FREAK? Not hardly! Mark my words you are going to regret bringing him here."

"What was I supposed to do? Just leave him to die?" the irate ebony-haired female demanded.

"If that was his fate then you shouldn't have interfered. You had no business prowling about the Gorge putting yourself in unnecessary danger. Who knows what could have happened to you?" Agalaki snorted.

"I can take care of myself quite well thank you very much! Besides, there's all sorts of wonderful places to explore beyond the Gorge and…"

"Markelia, what lies beyond the Gorge is not any of our concern. Our people, our homes, the herds and our way of life should be all that encompasses our thoughts and actions. Your father filled your head with too much nonsense of the world outside of our own. I feel for your poor grandfather trying to train you properly after you've been exposed to so much foolishness," the male guard chided.

"But surely you are curious about what lies beyond our.."

"Enough! Being a productive citizen of our race is our duty and purpose for our allotted lifespan. When you finally realize that you'll settle down and be caring for a home and family of your own instead of living with your head in the clouds and dreaming of pointless adventure," Agalaki interrupted.

"I'll NEVER settle down with YOU!" Markeila hissed.

The male guard's face flushed with embarrassment, "Nevertheless, the stranger is healed now and soon the elders themselves will insist that the pale barbarian goes back from whence he came."

He dug his heels into his mount's sides and rode away scowling.

"But he doesn't even know where he came from!" Markelia protested.

She thought of the day she found the stranger that presently helped guard the village herd…

(Flashback)

The earth no longer trembled and the plumes of smoke and ash had dissipated over the great mountain. Surely it was safe to go exploring now. A young golden-skinned female could hardly contain her excitement as she slipped down from her reptilian mount and raced over to the place known to her people simply as the Gorge. Huge rocky slopes and deep chasms had been created by the constant volcanic activity in the area. She quickly pulled the loose strands of her midnight tresses back into her long braid to keep them from blocking her vision. One misstep could send her tumbling down a craggy precipice to her certain end. Glittering stones created by the intense heat often caught her fancy but her amber eyes gleamed with the hope that she would find something truly exciting today.

The young female known as Markelia had fled one of her grandfather's lectures about becoming a useful member of her village. She had no interest in having a mate and children to look after at the present time. Listening to the tales her sire had told her about places beyond her village made her crave excitement. She explored places considered dangerous with reckless abandon. A habit her grandfather did his best to dissuade without success.

Spectacular sunsets could be viewed from the highest point of the Gorge and strange small creatures occasionally crawled out from the numerous crevices. What would she discover today? Markelia froze as a strange sound reached her ears. Was it one of the desert predators on the hunt? She heard it again a sound that seemed to be a moan not a growl. Could there be a wounded creature that would lash out in pain and anger when she made her presence known? The feisty female wiped her palms on the leather garment she wore. There was only one way to find out…

….

Markelia scrambled to discover the source of the now plainly audible sounds of distress. She slid down the chasm from whence the sounds came. The young female gasped at the sight before her. A muscular male figure in ruined dull green and black armor writhed in agony on the blood-streaked sand. Blood was flowing profusely from a large gash on his pale-skinned forehead. Severe burns and blisters covered his hands and arms. He must have injured his legs as he was desperately trying to drag himself across the ground. Sweat drenched his dark green hair. She had never seen such a being!

"I'll go get help!" Markelia promised. She literally flew to her mount and raced for the village.

…

Cronos sighed in relief as his granddaughter burst into the stone dwelling they shared. At least he knew she was safe. For the moment that is. He was getting too old to contend with her constant exploits. If she didn't choose a mate soon…..

"Grandfather, I've found a man!"

The elderly Daygoyien face literally shone with delight "FINALLY! KAMI BE PRAISED! I'm sure the elders will allow a joining ceremo…"

"UUGGHH! THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT! SERIOUSLY! I found a stranger at the Gorge, he needs help!" Markelia shouted in disgust.

'I KNEW IT! It was just the foolish wishful thinking of a poor old man,' Cronos thought bitterly.

"Grandfather, I'm going to ask the herdsmen for help!..."

(End of Flashback)

...

Gohan wearily brought up his fists to block the ki blast fired off by Turles. They'd been training for hours, his small muscles ached and his empty stomach was beginning to make its lack of nourishment audible. The Saiyan pirate phased in behind the little half-blood but before he could even pull back his fist a boot slammed into his chin. Zailora did a backflip mid-air in order to miss the golden ring of ki that was Turles's response to her interference. It exploded harmlessly in the space the Kabochan female had occupied just moments before.

Gartoas whirled around and stared at his commander in disbelief. If the woman hadn't moved in time she would have sustained serious injuries if she wasn't killed outright.

"Zarbon will not make allowances for her, Gartoas. She should not expect them now," Turles said flatly.

Zailora was occupied with trying to duplicate the attack she had just witnessed. She placed her hands apart but strain as she might a ring never appeared only a weak flash of energy that fizzled away. The dark-skinned Saiyan seemed amused by her efforts.

"You're dismissed, Gohan," Turles informed the exhausted demi-Saiyan.

With a sigh of relief Gohan hurried from the training room. Zailora assumed a fighting stance as Turles sauntered over in her direction. He stopped just in front of her.

"Position your hands the same as I do," the Saiyan ordered.

The dark green-haired female quickly complied holding hers hands up just inches apart emulating the position Turles had assumed. She tried to follow his subsequent movements but failed to make the elusive energy ring appear.

Zailora stifled a gasp as she realized the Saiyan pirate stood behind her only after his calloused hands touched hers.

"Summon the energy you possess and envision the form in which it will appear. A smooth concentrated effort that is not forced," Turles instructed.

Zailora fought not to shiver as she felt the spiky-haired warrior's warm breath on the back of her neck. She concentrated on her ki and did her best to ignore the powerful hands that held her wrists. Turles guided the movements of her hands and to her amazement and utter delight a golden ring of shimmering ki emanated from her palms. When it safely dispersed, the she-pirate squealed with excitement. In her exuberance, Zailora kissed the startled Saiyan on the right cheek.

She clapped her hand over her mouth and squeaked in horror as she considered her sudden rash behavior.

"I-I D-DID'NT MEAN TO…COMMANDER!"

The nobleman's daughter's face flushed with color as she bolted from the training room. A trace of color streaked the Saiyan's face as well. Gartoas stood with his arms crossed over his burly chest and a raised eyebrow.

"One word from you and I'll toss you out the airlock!" Turles snarled as he left the room.

…..

Markelia had discovered the stranger that now resided in her village six months ago. She imagined the soft-spoken pale-skinned male had been a soldier of some sort judging by the garments he had once worn. But he had no memory of his former existence. Fuzzy images of once battling a powerful foe and falling into the chasm was the best he could recall. Markelia called him "Jazaien" which meant "gray eyes." She found the color of his complexion, his eyes and hair to be a source of never ending fascination. There had never been such a being in her village.

The village healer believed something would eventually trigger his memories to return and he could return to his former life. Her grandfather constantly grilled the stranger with questions hoping he could speed along the process and send him on his way. The raven-haired female had become quite fond of him and guiltily hoped his memory wouldn't return too quickly. She smiled as she remembered the Greaysis swooping down on the village herd one afternoon and Jazaien had hurled rays of light from his hands and obliterated most of the desert raiders. The rest fled for their lives in fear. Jazaien could not explain his ability other than it being an instinctive action when he felt threatened.

In gratitude the wise council of elders granted the dark green-haired male permission to take shelter in the village until he regained his memory. The problem was Markelia didn't want him to leave…..

…

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