Here's Chapter 78! Thanks to Ryo-chan wolfgirl, Diosa de la muerte, Dark Domination, SuperSaiyanKnight, UltimateGoham, Scimitar X and Dragon1157 for all the reviews on chapter 77.
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of its characters, Akira Toriyama does!
….
Daiz dismally walked up to the rather imposing white-washed stone building that the youth accompanying him insisted was the home of the commander of the village guard. The Kabochan had actually felt quite comfortable in the residence belonging to the Dayogien elder, Cronos.
A tall young Dayogien in a gray leathern garment with matching knee-high boots stepped out of the dwelling, he wore a wide smile.
"Ah, you must be the one Cronos sent! I am Karzir and most pleased to meet the man that saved my sister's daughter. I'm a little surprised you can take to the sky like the winged ones but then the gods dole out their gifts as they choose do they not? "
Daiz nodded with a smile. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad here after all….
…
Artruay slammed his fist down on the polished white marble table as he took in Bulma's report of the disaster at the gathering of the Southern Quadrant Alliance.
"How could Turles even know that the Alliance was going to convene?" the gray reptilian being sputtered.
"I don't know! That monster seems to know about everything!" Bulma fumed.
"Well he has spies everywhere," Artruay's assistant spoke up glumly.
"It seems we 're going to have to find a way to lure that Ape from Hell here so we can present him with a little parting gift from you, Bulma dear," Artruay mused.
"I can't wait to deliver the last "tribute" that Saiyan abomination will ever receive," the aquamarine-haired scientist affirmed.
"It's about time!" Chi-Chi declared.
….
Markelia struggled with yet another huge load of clothing she had washed and dried. She had lost count of just how many she done since being put to the task at first light.
"You were to be out with the gatherers an hour ago! I would expect the granddaughter of Cronos not to be so slow at her work," scowled an elegantly dressed middle-aged Dayogien female with ebony hair swept up on her head on one side.
Markelia had never seen the like of the luxurious purple garment the woman wore nor the ornate gold ornaments that sparkled on her neck and wrists. Obviously Agalaki's mother was quite wealthy.
"I was told to…"
"Don't you dare give me excuses you spoiled brat! You're not fit to run my son's household but you will learn. I'll personally make sure of that!" Akalia informed the granddaughter of Cronos.
A shiver went through the young female as she caught the cruel smirk the elder woman gave her. What was going to become of her?
…
Zailora cringed at the idea of facing Turles after what had transpired the night before. Would he be angry with her or worse make some crass comment in front of Gartoas? There was only one way to find out but it didn't make her dread it any less. She cautiously made her way to the bridge.
"'Bout ' time ya come draggin' out! Ah bin' sittin' ere' listnin' ta muh belly growlin' wi' ya gittin' yer beauty sleep. Did'n help ya ah bit none either!" Gartoas barked.
"Who's your friend? Oh, excuse me I just realized that's the other half of your backside!" Zailora quipped.
Gohan giggled but went silent at a glare from the Kardanagan.
"Zailora is precisely on time, Gartoas. It's probably just the parasites in your teeth carrying on not your stomach," Turles teased.
"E's bewitched by tha wench Ahm tellin' ya!" Gartoas whispered to Gohan. The little demi-Saiyan rolled his eyes.
"Maybe I am," the Saiyan said just loud enough for the burly bearded pirate to hear.
Gohan pounded Gartoas on the back as he suddenly went into a coughing fit.
'Now why the Hell did I say that?' Turles wondered.
...
Zailora begged Gohan to sit between her and the Saiyan pirate. The hungry youngster could hardly wait to dig into the food served in the elegant eatery Turles had chosen on planet Plaris. With a shrug of his small shoulders Gohan plopped into the space between the pair with his heavily laden plate. Turles looked annoyed but he said not a word. The Kabochan female kept her eyes glued to her plate. Gartoas stole several glances at the dark-skinned Saiyan. Each time he caught the pirate commander's obsidian gaze straying to regard the dark green-haired woman in their midst.
'Better ope' ya didn' catch is' eye, Woman,' the beefy warrior thought to himself.
Turles did not like being completely ignored. Zailora grit her teeth when she felt something warm and furry curl around her ankle. A wicked smirk crossed Turles's face as the she-pirate stubbornly pretended not to notice the presence of his tail.
Allowing the blackish-brown furred appendage to slide up the woman's mid-thigh caused her to squeal and knock over her wine goblet.
"Is something wrong, Zailora?" the Saiyan asked coolly.
'He has some nerve!' the nobleman's daughter fumed mentally. But he hadn't won just yet.
"Gohan just surprised me when he bumped me with his tail," Zailora said airily.
"But I..."the little half-blood began.
The murderous glare he was sent from the woman beside him made the boy end his protest immediately.
"S-Sorry, Z-Zailora!" Gohan spoke up quickly.
Not to be defeated so easily, Turles sent his tail coiling about Zailora's waist. She 'd had enough of this foolishness...
Turles suddenly knocked his plate from the table as the lone female in his crew chose that moment to sink the long fingernails of her left hand into his tail. She bit back her laughter as the tail shot away from her.
"Is ther somethin' Ah should know?" Gartoas grumbled.
"NO!" Zailora and Turles chorused.
The Saiyan pirate fumed inwardly as he observed several crimson crescent-shaped marks gouged into his tail. He narrowed his eyes at the seemingly innocent look given to him by the woman seated across from him.
"Something amiss, Commander?" Zailora asked in a syrupy voice.
"Nothing, nothing at all," Turles growled.
"Somethin' ain't right," Gartoas huffed under his breath.
...
A week had gone by and Daiz was quite comfortably settled in his new home. Images flashed in his mind occasionally but he still could not piece them together. He would guard the village herd from dawn until the planet's two suns began to set. The delicious scent of the hearty evening meal prepared by his host's mate would waft through the air as he entered his present dwelling at day's end. It wasn't a bad existence but Daiz longed to know of his previous existence.
As fate would have it, one morning Daiz was assigned to watch the Katala fruit gatherers. He soon noticed a familiar face but oh how changed it was!
Markelia's golden-skinned face was pinched and thin. Hollows showed in her cheeks and dark circles were plainly visible beneath her downcast eyes. She wore a shabby faded blue garment of some sort of fabric. The former prince was totally taken aback by the young Dayogien's appearance. Crono's granddaughter strained to balance two baskets that were heavily laden with the prized deep-blue berries. One of the girls who worked with her carelessly shoved into Markelia. The weight from the baskets sent the hapless female crashing to the ground.
"Clumsy fool! Pick up that fruit immediately! And don't you crush any if you know what's good for you!" an older woman in a flowing green gown yelled out in a shrill voice. Her heavily ornamented hand struck Markelia across the face as she scolded her.
Daiz slid from his mount and would have went to assist the granddaughter of Cronos had his fellow guard not moved to stop him.
"Stay back, you'll accomplish nothing and it will be all the worse for her!" his companion insisted despite the protests of Daiz.
"The girl is to be bonded to Agalaki. His family has influence in the council. That woman in the green garment is his mother and sadly she has the power to "train" her son's prospective mate as she chooses."
The Kabochan shook his head at the young short pudgy guard who was assigned to work with him," Such behavior should not be allowed, Garleus."
"True, but that family does as they wish," Garieus sighed.
Markelia caught the dark green-haired warrior's eye as she rose up from the ground. She mouthed the words 'help me.'
A weak smile crossed her face as Daiz formed the words 'I promise to.'
...
Anger still welled up in Daiz as he mulled over Markelia's mistreatment hours later.
'Zailora would have NEVER tolerated such treatment' he thought.
ZAILORA?
Suddenly the image of a dark green-haired pale-skinned woman came to mind...she was his woman...he remembered now...Gohan...the brooding Saiyan Turles...Gartoas...and most of all Zailora.
"I remember now! I REMEMBER!" Daiz shouted with absolute joy.
Karzir clapped him on the shoulder," I am most pleased that you have regained your memories, my friend. What say we celebrate with an evening meal that hasn't grown cold?"
The son of Kabocha couldn't wait to contact his crew but there was another matter he had to attend first...
...
"Ya bin' walkin' on eggshells round' Turles fer ' days somethin' goin on?" Gartoas pressed.
"NO!" Zailora snarled.
"Ah think ya protest ta much!" the Kardanagan snorted.
"I think YOU should SHUT UP!" the Kabochan female hissed as she stomped out of the bridge area.
'Are ya up ta yer ol' tricks, Turles?' the massive pirate wondered.
...
"I can't do it, Master Artruay...I just can't!" Kqarsayla insisted. Her immense orange form quaked with terror.
"I'm not sure if it's fear or misguided loyalty that prevents you from contacting Turles," Artruay snapped.
"This planet as well as my home-world is at stake if I were to be so foolish as to betray Lord Turles," the bald four-armed female declared.
"We can end Turles with your assistance!" the gray reptile tried to sway her decision.
"I won't be a party to murder!"
"What murder? It will be a grand liberation!" Artruay announced.
...
Zailora was curled up into a ball of misery in her seat in the bridge area. After a brief respite her horrific dreams had returned with a vengeance. Her arms were wrapped tightly around her body vainly trying to dispel the chill that seemed to have seeped into her soul. The only audible sound was the steady hum of the auto-pilot and her muffled sobs. A powerful arm suddenly encircled her waist. There was no mistaking the Saiyan's presence.
"I-I don't feel like f-fighting you!" she groaned.
"Good. I had something more enjoyable in mind."
Before the Kabochan female could voice a protest a second arm enveloped her. Strong hands massaged her shoulders, she found herself unable to resist huddling into the warmth radiating from the pirate commander. He pulled her closer still. Zailora snuggled into his chest. She gasped and started to pull away when she discovered she was in the Saiyan's lap! Turles held her fast whispering softly and gently stroking her hair. The she-pirate accepted his embrace once more and lay her head on his warm armor-less chest. Her eyes began to grow heavy...
Zailora woke with a start. She was lying on Turles's chest! How long had she been there? Evidently quite a while. The Saiyan had his chin resting on the top of her head. His arms and tail wrapped snugly about her. Kami help her he was asleep!
"Now what do I do?" she mumbled under her breath.
"So you're asking for suggestions, hmm?" Turles purred as he lowered his head.
Zailora's face flushed as she realized just where she was now seated. Her face colored even more at the sensation of the Saiyan's teeth and lips performing a kiss-nibble of her throat that threatened to make her positively melt.
"This isn't fair!" the dark green-haired female murmured.
"I never fight fair," Turles chuckled.
Zailora pulled back to argue but found herself snared by the pirate's kiss.
"Th-this isn't right! D-Daiz..."
"Woman, I believe we've both mourned long enough," the dark-skinned Saiyan interrupted before he captured her lips once again.
She put her hands out to push him away but found her arms encircling his neck instead. A low rumble emanated from the Saiyan's chest as she fully surrendered to his kiss...
Zailora managed to pull away absolutely furious with herself. Turles smirked wickedly as she fled to her quarters.
"I can wait, Woman. You'll come around soon."
...
Zailora was walking through the Faleshian Market when she recognized an emerald-haired, teal-skinned being from her nightmares. Turles spun her around before she could make a move.
"Are you ready to face him?" the Saiyan demanded.
"I'm MORE than ready to face ZARBON!"
Turles nodded and released his hold.
"Commander, Ya sure 'bout this?" Gartoas questioned as Zailora began to swiftly stalk her prey.
"It's her fight, Gartoas."
Frieza's right-hand man couldn't shake the feeling he was being followed. A dark green-haired woman in ice blue and black armor came into his line of vision.
" And what do YOU want?" Zarbon huffed disdainfully.
"Your death," Zailora replied licking her lips...
...
Until the next chapter...Please review!
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