Here's Chapter 80! Thanks to Haseltine, Diosa de la muerte, CeciliamarianaMenezes ,Ryo-chan-wolfgirl, Scimitar X, Dark Domination, UltimateGoham, Zuki, 15songoku79, Dragon1157 and Hoshi124 for all the reviews on chapter 79. Thanks also to Aleaster for all the reviews on chapters 4, 6, 14, 32 and 50. An additional thanks to 15songoku for all the reviews on chapters 60,63, 65. 67, 68, 70, 72, 73, 76 and 77.
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of its characters, Akira Toriyama does!
…..
Gohan tossed and turned in his bed unable to sleep. He'd had a disturbing dream that he could only vaguely remember but it was enough to keep him from closing his eyes anytime soon. Zailora still had awful dreams fairly often, she'd told him to feel free to come and talk to her if one kept him from his slumber and not to worry if it meant waking her.
The little half-blood grimaced it was entirely possible that Zailora was still awake. He knew the Kabochan female didn't sleep well since the loss of Daiz. Such thoughts made him sad. Then Gohan brightened as he thought of the silly tales the nobleman's daughter enjoyed sharing with him. A little time spent with the she-pirate and he'd be snuggled back in his bed before it was the hour to awaken for the day.
"Sounds like a plan," Gohan giggled.
The Earth-raised child was careful to walk the hall quietly. Zailora might not mind being awakened but Turles and Gartoas would not appreciate it in the least. Gohan quickly typed in the code to deactivate the locking mechanism to Zailora's door. He covered his eyes as he entered.
"Zailora, can I uncover my eyes now?"
Empty silence greeted him. He cautiously peeked through his fingers. To his surprise the dark green-haired female was not in her room. The demi-Saiyan sighed. This meant he had to trudge over to the training room at the other end of the hall.
Gohan scratched his head in puzzlement as he found the training room empty as well. Where was Zailora?
…
Gartoas slid out of his bunk. There was a piece of Gnartian kriler cake in the refrigeration unit that was calling his name. He'd best get to the luscious confection before Turles discovered it. Damned Saiyan and his sweet tooth- you couldn't bring any treats aboard the ship without him finding them and usually devouring every last tasty morsel. The bearded pirate smacked his lips and dressed quickly. Then he hurried out into the hall.
The Kardanagan reached into the refrigeration unit and pulled out the container that held his treat. A growl of disgust rumbled through the pirate as he noticed how light the container had become. Sure enough nothing but crumbs remained of his prize.
"Damn Turles!"
He heard footsteps behind him and rapidly straightened thinking the Saiyan was right behind him. Gartoas smacked his head into the top of the refrigeration unit as he did so causing him to curse loudly.
The little half-breed was standing there eyeing him curiously. Gartoas snorted irritably.
"Now ah gotta empty stomach an' ah knot on muh head. Whatta ah even get up fer?" the beefy pirate fumed under his breath.
"Whatta ya doin' outta bed, Brat?" Gartos huffed.
"I was looking for Zailora," Gohan answered.
"Mebbe she's in er' bed sleepin like ya oughta be!"
"No she's not. I checked,"
Gartoas stared at the youngster blankly for a moment.
"An ah'm supposi' ya got er' permission ta be checkin' so?"
Gohan nodded quickly much to the Kardanagan's amazement.
"Ya know she goes ta trainin' ifn' she can't sleep," the pirate argued.
"She wasn't there either!"
Gartoas got quiet. Surely the woman wasn't out roaming around in the night at this hour? But if she wasn't in her own room or in the training room and she wasn't with him and the brat…
The massive Kardanagan felt a blush sweeping over his bronzed skin. Surely the woman wasn't with….
"Ahm sure Zailora jus' tooka short walk ta clear er' mind. She kin' more n' look out fer erself," Gartoas spoke up quickly. He wasn't about to consider the alternative.
"Okay! I'll wait for her to come back," Gohan declared as he took his usual seat.
"Ya best be gettin' yerself ta bed," the shaggy black= haired pirate advised.
"I want to speak to Zailora," the son of Goku pressed stubbornly.
"An' it can't wait 'til ah decen' our?"
"She said I could talk to her if I had trouble sleeping," Gohan explained.
"Well Ah can't sleep so ah'm guessin' we could talk ah bit," Gartoas relented.
The youngster thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
Several awkward moments passed with the pair simply staring at each other. Neither could think of anything to say.
Finally the seven-year-old broke the silence," Gartoas, how did you get to be on Turles's crew?"
The hefty pirate sighed ," Ah doubt ya wanna ear bout that, boy."
"Sure I do," Gohan insisted.
"Ah'll tell ya ah bit then," the Kardanagan mused….
….
(Flashback)
"Ahm tellin' ya Ah ain't stole nothin'!" a shaggy black haired humanoid figure protested.
His bronzed face was partially concealed by a thick untrimmed black beard. He wore a garment made of some sort of furry brown animal skin giving him a wild appearance.
The Galactic Police officer crossed his arms over his red and blue uniformed chest. Perhaps trying to prominently display the lieutenant's rank he had recently been awarded. He shook his pale green amphibious head," I see, so part of Princess Trillia's crown jewels just happened to hitch a ride with you on your ship?"
"Mebbe she nagged em' inta escapin'!"
Another officer, an enormous orange bovine, chuckled at that suggestion. It was well-known that the princess in question was famous for her sharp tongue, "You're just a barrel of laughs aren't you, Gartoas?"
"Ah try!" the burly bearded male shrugged.
"Now we want to know where the rest of the jewels are," the lieutenant pressed.
"Mebbe she ate em'. Blasted female'll eat anythin' thet won'eat er' firs!" Gartoas chortled.
The bovine guffawed at the remark. Princess Trillia's more than considerable girth existed for a reason. His fellow officer gave him a sour look. Grabbing the hefty thief by the neckline of his clothing, the amphibian officer tried to intimidate him.
"Listen, you thieving piece of Kardanagan garbage! You are going to tell us where to recover the princess's property or…"
In a blur of speed, the Kardanagan employed his large right fist into an upper-cut that took the stunned frog-being off of his feet. The bovine gaped in disbelief that someone so huge could move so rapidly.
"Merthas! I thought you had him restrained!" the lieutenant screamed to his comrade as the one known as Gartoas sped off into the bustling crowd of Darnerzar, capital of planet Brizimor.
"I thought I did too, Lieutenant Varcoy!"
The crafty thief had removed his restraints right under the noses of the Galactic Police.
"Call in some back-up!"
"Right….Calling all units of Sector 428….we have an officer down…I repeat …we have.."
"You moron! JUST REQUEST BACK-UP!"
…..
Gartoas ducked into a dive that no self-respecting member of the Galactic Police was likely to set foot in. The seedy bar was known for being a den of cutthroats and thieves. He was right at home as he was a legendary thief in the Northwestern Quadrant. It would take more than two bungling law enforcement officers to bring him to their so-called justice.
Laughter rumbled in the massive thief's chest as he imagined the frantic police trying to explain how they'd let such a wanted criminal slip from their grasp. And here he was with a full stomach and leisurely imbibing the most exorbitantly priced vintage this dump had to offer. His ill-gotten gains from the sale of half of the stolen jewels had him set for weeks before he would have to pull off another heist.
Since he had involuntarily left Frieza's forces, Gartoas made a splendid living off of what he could steal. Plenty of the best food and wine and the occasional woman's company suited him quite well. Why would he bother with any other occupation?
"Course ah gotta be replacin' muh ship now," the burly bandit grumbled.
A wicked grin crossed the Kardanagan's face, even that purchase would scarcely put a dent in his present finances. He surveyed the motley assortment of life-forms seated at the bar. No one appeared to be suspicious. But it would best to lay low for a bit. Trying to get off-planet too soon would be a sure way to get arrested. Damned law enforcers would be waiting for him at every known port.
The notion of taking it easy for a few days greatly appealed to the beefy thief. Gartoas suddenly noticed a vision in a diaphanous pale blue dress gliding up to the bar. Long silver hair flowed past delicate sea-foam colored shoulders with a pair of slim legs encased in tiny silver sandals that were visible due to the thigh-high cut of the garment. Amethyst- colored eyes peered out from her perfect oval-shaped face.
An Aorlite, the woman drew plenty of glances as her kind were rarely seen away from her home-world that was mostly formed of bodies of water.
"Time ta be puttin' on tha charm," Gartoas whispered to himself.
Swaggering over to the bar, the huge Kardanagan easily caught the attention of the silver-haired female.
"It's considered rude to stare you know," the object of the thief's interest said curtly.
"Ah, but when ah goddess be walkin' ah bout Ya can't help ifn' ya be starin," Gartoas stated.
The pretty female burst into laughter, "That's the worst line I've ever heard."
"Mebbe. Ah'd be willin' ta buy' ya any drink ya want."
"Any drink? Okay, I'll have a glass of Traylerian sari-berry wine ," the Aorlite challenged. She had requested one of the most extravagantly priced beverages available.
"Ah'll get ya ah bottle so ya kin' ave all ya might be wantin," Gartoas offered.
"You can afford a WHOLE bottle?" the woman gasped.
"Yep!" the Kardanagan answered with a wolfish grin.
"Well I think I'll accept your generous offer. By the way, I'm Katayla," the amethyst-eyed female simpered.
"Muh names's Gartoas," the black-bearded male declared with as dramatic a bow as he could manage.
Gartoas ordered the expensive intoxicant causing the purple avian bar-keep to break out a huge smile as he rushed to fill the order. He'd made more profit from two sales to the unkempt bearded fellow than he had overall for months!
Katayla allowed herself to be escorted to a table by the shaggy-haired stranger. Once he was seated across from her she eagerly waited to sample the wine he had promised. Gartoas smirked as she gave a sigh of pure pleasure as she slowly sipped the pink liquid from the glass he was only too happy to fill for her.
'Things er goin muh way fer ah change,' he thought.
The massive bandit was thoroughly enjoying the luscious wine and his charming company. Suddenly Katayla held up a strange silver device in her right hand. Gartoas felt as if an electric current had passed through him….
(End of Flashback)
….
"Then what happened?" Gohan asked excitedly.
"Get ta bed afore' Turles as muh hide fer havin' yuh up sa late!" Gartoas growled.
" But you didn't finish…" the disappointed youth began.
"Ah'll tell ya tomorrow!"
"That's a promise?"
"Get ta bed er Ahm tellin ya nuthin!"
The little half-blood raced to his room.
…..
Daiz waited an hour after the lights had been turned out for the night before he hoisted himself up to the second floor of the whitewashed stone building that was the home of Agalaki. The Kabochan's eyes narrowed as thoughts of the Dayogien guard's cruelty came to mind. It would end tonight as he planned on spiriting Agalaki's intended out of the village in just a few moments. The former prince smirked as he easily forced open a window and cautiously entered the building. No lock would bar his way, he had learned well from the Saiyan pirate.
Dropping silently onto his feet, Daiz kept close to the wall and began to count. Markelia had informed him she was kept in the fourth room on the right of the second floor. Fate had smiled on her and gave her the afternoon duty of bringing water to the herd guards. No sooner had she delivered that information than the desert viper that had spawned Agalaki had dragged the poor girl away by her hair.
Akalia had smugly announced that the next time the young female was allowed outside she would be Agalaki's mate. The fear in Markelia's eyes had made Daiz swear he would not fail her.
Daiz quickly dispatched two guards that had been posted by slipping up behind them and slamming their heads together. He had no wish to kill them.
He had found the room that held the granddaughter of Cronos. Of course it was locked. It took the dark green-haired male three minutes to pry the door open. He grinned ruefully, Turles would have scolded him for taking so much time.
Daiz discovered Markelia lying asleep on the bare floor. She wore a ragged green shift that barely came to her knees. He wanted to voice his disgust but kept silent. The pale-skinned pirate covered the woman's mouth when he awoke her lest she should cry out.
Markelia shrunk back but relaxed as she realized her freedom was at hand. Daiz carefully assisted her out of the window. Putting an arm around her he carefully floated to the ground with his feather-light burden.
The pale green reptile known as a Zlaasskew stood patiently waiting as Daiz swung the golden-skinned female up onto its back. He climbed up in front of her, his eyes went wide as she wrapped her arms about his waist and nestled her head into his shoulder. Daiz hoped Markelia wasn't entertaining any romantic notions about him. He was taken as far as he was concerned. Digging his heels into the sides of his mount, the former royal coaxed it into a run. The pair began their journey out into the night...
...
Zailora awoke with a start as her eyes took in a room that was clearly not her own. The sumptuous bed arrayed in black silk coverings she found herself lying in made that plainly apparent. As did the slumbering dark-skinned figure that lay beside her. One sculpted muscular arm was wrapped around her waist along with a brownish-black furred tail...Turles! Her face flushed as she remembered the Saiyan whisking her from the training room to his own quarters.
The Kabochan female would have given practically anything for the Saiyan's attention before she fell for the former prince of her own race. But Daiz was gone now.
Surely Daiz would have understood that she had chosen to move on, wouldn't he?...
...
Gartoas groaned as Gohan literally bounced into the bridge area.
"You're gonna finish your story today, right?"...
...
More to come in the next chapter! Please review!
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