Here is Chapter 100! Thanks to mtthw8198, Ryo-chan wolfgirl, Ceciliamarianamenezes, Uub God of destruction and MalikJamesTimberlake for reviewing Chapter 99.

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

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Turles knelt beside the fallen woman. Daiz gasped at the expression that appeared on the face of the cold-hearted Saiyan. Could it be?

Gartoas had responded immediately to the message that Daiz had sent over the scouter he had just happened to have with him. Gohan was right as his heels.

After a practiced eye told him there was no hope for the fallen gentle- natured medic. The Kardanagan held back the grief-stricken demi-Saiyan as he tried to bolt to the slain nobleman's daughter.

"Ahm sorry, ya can' do nothin' fer her, Brat," the burly pirate said softly. Daiz didn't miss the hitch in his voice.

Faint flickers of gold began to filter through the youngster's hair.

'What tha Hell?' the bearded behemoth wondered.

Daiz didn't miss the strange phenomena either as the half-ling sobbed uncontrollably at the sight of the she-pirate that breathed no more.

When Gartoas and Gohan had literally flown out of the kitchen where they were attempting to wheedle a snack out of Chi-Chi; Bulma and Chi-Chi had followed out of pure curiosity.

The nefarious pirate bowed his head. He reached over and closed her eyes with his fingers. Brushing back the woman's hair, the Saiyan gently stroked her face. Leaning in, Turles lightly kissed her cheek. As he pressed his forehead to hers it was apparent that her skin was already becoming cold to the touch.

Chi-Chi gasped softly. Bulma was speechless. She'd suspected something between the two but this?

A realization suddenly occurred to the infamous pirate commander. Its finality slammed into him with such a force that a blow from the evil Ice-jin overlord himself would have paled in comparison. The one being in the entire universe that had tolerated his mercurial moods, his arrogant self-importance, lay with a heart that was forever stilled. That heart had foolishly allowed itself to truly care for him.

Turles sighed heavily. Care wasn't the word. The woman had demonstrated quite far more than that. He admitted it to himself now. Zailora had loved him, even though his cold dark heart certainly wasn't worthy of it. Despite the fact that he had made his initial resentment and anger at the emotion he vehemently despised quite clear. Turles couldn't help but begin to respond as the sweet-natured Kabochan continued to express her affection for him.

The nobleman's daughter wasn't blatantly demanding and totally insistent on having her way as Raychalla had been. It seemed he had merely been a trophy for the pirate queen to display for her own vainglorious ego. And the dark-skinned Saiyan had responded in kind.

Perhaps her heart had actually softened as her sister had claimed following the snow-haired woman's demise. Turles had taken Raychalla's loss hard as he had actually felt a shred of affection for her. But it was too little, too late.

Eventually the deserter of Frieza's forces and his crew had truly believed that Daiz had lost his life at the hands of the emerald-haired changeling. Turles began to act on the attraction he had started to feel but dared not express out of respect for his second-in-command. What harm could possibly have come of it then?

The Destroyer of Worlds was startled as he felt the strangest sensation…moisture was slowly trickling from his eyes and trailing down his face. He stared down at the motionless woman lying before him. She'd never again roll her emerald eyes at his inane antics and dark twisted humor. There would be no sweet kisses anytime he desired them. The warmth the Saiyan had taken for granted…he'd never feel again. Silver peals of laughter that lightened his surly disposition were lost to him for the remainder of his existence.

Turles sucked in a breath that literally seemed to cause the sensation of pain. A crushing weight had settled in his chest, drawing in air had become increasingly difficult. His fists clenched in helpless fury as the cold hard reality dawned on him that the presence he treasured beyond any possession was beyond his reach for all eternity. An agonized howl that terrified his crew as well the women of Earth emanated from the tortured soul of a creature that had never allowed himself to truly feel…love.

"Well whatta ya know," Gartoas said softly

Daiz shook his head in utter disbelief. As incredible as it was, Turles seemed to actually be emotionally affected by the female pirate's demise. He'd never imagined such a reaction from the Saiyan. There was no telling what fate was going to befall the rest of them.

Turles sighed morosely as emptiness threatened to consume him. Hindsight was far crueler than he ever supposed. Now he truly understood Nappa's pain and grief those many years ago. No wonder every word he'd used to taunt the elite had sent his fellow Saiyan into a killing rage.

In one last desperate attempt, the pirate commander slowly passed his scouter across the form of the once fiery Kabochan. To his amazement, the scouter picked up evidence of a life force….it was faint but steady. His eyes widened and he passed the scouter over the nobleman's daughter once again.

Daiz was battling his emotions trying to keep from visibly reacting to the death of the woman he had loved and was still very fond of. He stiffened at the sudden sound. Turles's scouter had picked up evidence of a life force. But how?

"C-Commander, I-I don't understand. Zailora's gone!" the former Kabochan prince choked out.

"Get her to the new ship's tank NOW!" Turles demanded.

"With all due respect, Commander, what's the use? Zailora's dead!"

"That may be the case, but the child she carries is NOT. It still lives!"Turles barked.

Daiz jerked up his head to face his commander in utter shock, "Ch-Child?"

"Mine! Daiz, get her to the ship now or die by my hand!" the dark-skinned Saiyan snarled.

"Better move, Daiz!" Gartoas warned.

Turles's second-in-command scooped up the lifeless Kabochan woman into his arms. Then he sped as swiftly as he could manage to the launching bay. Daiz had been half-numb with surprise at the Saiyan's declaration. Guess he could thank his hefty crewmate that he hadn't been blasted to oblivion by very own commander.

Gohan struggled to escape the enormous pirate's grip.

"Not now, brat!" he warned.

(Flashback)

"Planthorr! Malaka! Be advised that General Nappa's on his way to recovery! No telling what he'll do when he gets there! He's out of his mind!"

The Garletras mission had gone horribly wrong. Sheer willpower enabled the Saiyan female to survive her extensive injuries. Sent out on a suicide mission by the reptilian Ice-lord she and her crew had faced far greater foes than expected. Nappa's mate arrived taking in her last breath as she landed on Vegeta-sei. Lahtece had instinctively sought to preserve the innocent life she carried. The frantic general had torn the hatch off her pod with his bare hands and fought to get her lifeless body to recovery. Nothing was going to prevent him from preserving the life of the infant his mate had given her all to protect.

The desperate struggle the Saiyan elite had endured resulted in fate having a twisted sense of humor. Nappa had been beyond disgust as his elite brat turned out to be Shugesh.

A very young neglected Turles had not understood the devastation that had forever marked the commander of the Saiyan army. Cruelty replaced devotion as far as Nappa was concerned. So life was difficult for the lower-class son of elites but the fierce determination his race was infamous for kept the dark-skinned youngster standing his ground. Years later, the very mention of his name struck terror in the hearts of beings throughout the known galaxy… the fierce pirate commander-Turles!

The story continues…in the next chapter!

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