Here's chapter 94! Thanks to Dark Domination, Bardock's Other Son, SuperSaiyanKnight, Ryo-chan Wolfgirl, The Zelos Wilder, TheItchyCocoon and halay for all the reviews on Chapter 93 and to molotovsarsonist for the comments on Chapter 1. .

Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or any of its characters, Akira Toriyama does!

…..

Zailora slowly shook her head and closed her eyes. All those hours of work and patiently waiting to coax the scant amount of juice from the fruit from the Tree of Might were for naught. Gartoas was still lifeless as before. The she-pirate wiped a tear from the corner of her left eye.

"Sorry ya big lug, we tried," she whispered softly.

Explaining that their efforts had failed was not going to be easy, Turles would be none too pleased at the results…..

…..

Daiz felt a bit guilty enjoying laughter and conversation with the pretty Kabochan female that sat across from him in the small eatery that still had its doors open at such a late hour. The food surprisingly turned out to be simple but tasty. His crewmates had been through quite an ordeal and here he was stuffing his face and actually enjoying himself. Then the former prince realized there was nothing he could do to rectify the situation. Being miserable wouldn't bring back his slain shipmate. A pair of gray eyes framed by forest green hair and a mischievous smile occupied most of his attention and he didn't mind in the least.

Taimaz yawned," I'm going to have to get some sleep or I won't be working later today,"

"Is it that late?" Daiz asked.

"Yes, it's almost dawn."

He'd been out the whole night? He might get some flak for that but oh well…..

….

Gartoas sighed as he brought up the rear of the long line that slowly made its way to what appeared to be an enormous desk of highly polished wood. With his long practiced bandit's eye the burly pirate realized the massive desk was entirely comprised of burnished mahogany. What a price such an item would have brought during his lifetime.

A blue-skinned white uniformed being with horns stepped up to him," You're next, you big lummox! Move along! DO stop holding up the line!"

"Ah bin' standin' ere' so long Ah've grown roots!" Gartoas complained.

"Obnoxious oaf!" the attendant muttered under his breath.

The Kardanagan swallowed hard as he looked up to see a great red hued creature glaring down at him. No doubt it was the Judge of the Dead, King Yemma himself. Clearing his throat with a loud rumble the giant officiant prepared to pronounce his sentence….

King Yemma stared at the empty space where the pirate had once stood. He rubbed at his eyes and looked again.

"Now WHERE did he go?"

…

Zailora leaned over the deceased Kardanagan intending a light kiss on his forehead as a final farewell. Her eyes went wide in shock when he suddenly sat up! A feminine scream rent the air.

The bearded pirate clapped his hands over his ears as he shouted,"Jus' figgers! Ah bin sent ta' tha deepest pits o' Hell wi' tha Queen o' tha devils erself' howlin lika ah fiend!"

"They sent you BACK! Even Hell wouldn't claim your worthless hide!" the Kabochan female snarled.

Gartoas looked about he was back on the treacherous lizard's planet but how?

"Wha' kinda sorcery Ya bin' pullin? Ah knew Ah wuz right peggin' Ya fer ah witch!" the former bandit barked.

"Turles brought you back!" the nobleman's daughter hissed.

Gartoas sighed,"Mighta known! No tellin' wha deviltry es' bin up ta. Ahm aimin' ta find out…after Ah git somethin' ta eat!"

Zailora raced off to report to Turles….

…

Chi-Chi scowled as she watched the door to the entrance of the kitchen slide open. It was almost certainly one of Turles's miscreants arriving to demand that their morning meals be prepared. When she caught sight of the hefty pirate Goku's widow turned ashen and crumpled to the floor.

"Ah'm starvin' an' tha blasted woman's takin' ah nap!" Gartoas grumbled.

….

Turles snapped awake as someone entered the medical ward. He didn't pick up the Kabochan female's signature scent. The smell of sweat and leather didn't belong to Zailora…..

An energy blast struck the bed just mere seconds after the Saiyan pirate commander sprang out of it. The acrid smell of burnt fabric filled the air.

"HOW DID YOU MISS? I thought you said he was BLIND!" a male voice shouted.

"I WAS TOLD HE WAS BLIND!" another masculine voice bellowed.

Turles felt the heat of the ki-blast heading in his direction and vaulted out of the way causing it strike the wall behind him. He could barely make out two shadowy silhouettes in the room.

The dark-skinned Saiyan blocked the punch aimed for his face but caught the full impact of the kick to his midsection. Staggering backwards the onyx-eyed warrior found a pair of beefy arms trying to crush his ribs. Turles flung his head back violently and managed to connect with his would-be assailant's skull.

Whipping around the Destroyer of Worlds landed a kick of his own and noted with a smirk that it was followed by a most satisfying crunch. A horrified scream echoed through the room.

"FILTHY SAIYAN! You crushed my brother's spine!"

"So easy when you announce where you are!" Turles scolded as his fist made contact with a bare chest and kept on going. He shook the lifeless form from his hand.

"TURLES!"

The Saiyan pirate grinned as he instantly recognized Zailora's scent and voice. She gasped at the sight of the two obvious assassins. After assuring that the two were no longer a threat Zailora turned her attention to Turles.

"Are you all right? Look at you! Blessed Kami you could have been killed!"

"Stop fussing over me Woman. I'm NOT helpless!" Turles growled.

"Of course not, you're the indestructible Turles!" the she-pirate huffed.

"Don't push your luck, Woman!"

"You can threaten me later! Let's get you cleaned up. Your forehead's bleeding…"

"Why didn't I let them KILL me?" Turles snarled.

"You'd miss tormenting ME!" Zailora shot back.

"By the way your little 'experiment' worked. Gartoas has revived," she said wearily.

"Of course it did."

"Oh, you're just perfect aren't you?" the Kabochan snorted.

"Precisely glad you're getting it now…"

…

Daiz took one look at the carnage in the medical ward and rushed to Zailora's quarters to be sure of her safety before checking on Gohan whose room was next down the hall. His eyes went wide at the sight of the sleeping Kabochan female. She wasn't alone. A muscular dark-skinned arm was wrapped around her waist. Turles. The dark green-haired pirate couldn't help but still feel a twinge of resentment finding his rival for the woman's affection in her room.

Turles's left hand interlaced with Zailora's. Her head was tucked under his chin. She shifted in her sleep and the Saiyan lightly brushed his lips across her forehead. A sad smile crossed the former prince's face. Maybe Turles really felt something for her after all.

…..

Makalo dropped the bowl of fruit he was carrying when he saw Chi-Chi lying on the floor with the huge Kardanagan pirate standing a few feet away. Had the Earth woman finally pressed too far and met her doom at the hands of Turles's crewman? Would it be his fate as well? No, she was still breathing.

The burly bearded pirate shrugged his shoulders as he noticed the Namekian.

"Ah'm guessin' tha woman wuz thinkin' she saw ah ghost," Gartoas chortled.

The Namek's brow knit in confusion at his comment. Then he slowly realized the man before him was the one Chi-Chi had described. The man who was supposed to be deceased!

….

Gohan yawned and rolled over to see brilliant sunlight streaming through the window of his room. He leapt from his bed quickly showered and practically sprang into his clothing. Now that he knew Turles was alive and well, the youngster couldn't wait to see him. The thought of Turles's survival took away a bit of the sadness that still remained after the loss of his brawny crewmate.

Stepping into the hall, Gohan gasped at an unbelievable sight. Was that really Gartoas? Was he dreaming? The son of Goku rubbed his eyes and looked again. Gartoas was still there. With a whoop of sheer happiness, the little demi-Saiyan flung himself at the former bandit.

Chi-Chi rushed out into the hall at the commotion. She was still quite rattled by the disturbing apparition she knew she had seen earlier. The brunette screamed in absolute horror as she found a giggling Gohan clinging to the bearded monstrosity.

"GOHAN! GET AWAY FROM HIM! He has to be some sort of evil monster or a demon! He can't possibly be alive!" the Ox-King's daughter shrieked.

"Ah don' know why but Ahm jus' as livin as YOU!" Gartoas retorted.

"GOHAN! I am your mother! I DEMAND THAT YOU GET AWAY FROM HIM THIS INSTANT!" Chi-Chi persisted.

"Mom, listen! I know…" Gohan began.

"I KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU…"

"Mom, I can THINK for MYSELF!" the little half-blood interrupted.

Chi-Chi flushed with anger and embarrassment "How DARE you speak to me like that?"

"This conversation's going nowhere," Gohan muttered as he turned on his heel and walked away.

Gartoas shrugged his massive shoulders," Kids today, huh?"

"My baby's become a disrespectful delinquent!" Chi-Chi wailed.

…..

Zailora woke up with a smile on her face as she felt feather-light kiss nibbles trace from her left ear to her shoulder. She panicked as she opened her eyes realizing that she had slept long past her usual appointed hour.

"It's already midday! You must be starving!" the Kabochan female moaned apologetically.

"Indeed, I'm absolutely ravenous," Turles responded.

"I'll get the kitchen staff to…" Zailora squealed as she was suddenly pulled back into the bed as she tried to arise.

"I'm not referring to food," the Saiyan purred.

…

Until the next chapter!

daughterofrisingsun