Here's Chapter 109! An enormous THANKS to Uub God of Destruction for being kind enough to take the time out to review Chapter 108!
Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or any of its characters, Akira Toriyama does!
A/N: A little saddened by the lack of response to the last chapter but the story continues!
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Daiz gave a long sigh and crossed his arms over his chest before addressing Goku's angry widow.
"With all due respect, ma'am I would like to discuss a rather personal matter with Bulma if you don't mind."
Chi-Chi wasn't at all prepared for such a calm polite response. She stood staring blankly for a moment unsure of just how to react. Bulma opened her door just then, "It's alright Chi-Chi. I'll handle this."
"Are you sure?" the miffed brunette pressed.
"I'm sure," the young genius replied.
"Fine then," Chi-Chi grumbled giving Daiz a baleful glare as she passed by.
"I appreciate you coming to my rescue," Daiz teased.
"That's not funny!" Bulma huffed.
"Look I didn't mean to cross the line. I was only trying to help…. You just looked so miserable…. I wanted to say I'm sorry if I just made you feel worse," the Kabochan said softly.
"How did YOU ever end up working with Turles? It's like you're his complete opposite."
The former royal shook his head ruefully, "We have more in common than you think."
"Somehow I doubt that. Thanks for coming to talk to me. I just have to figure out this problem on my own," Bulma sighed.
"If you insist, but if I can be of any help feel free to ask."
"And why would you care to help me?" the once heiress queried.
"It's just what we dashing, gallant Kabochans do" Daiz chortled.
"Ahm gonna lose muh breakfast!" Gartoas snorted.
The burly Kardanagan looked as if a disagreeable odor had suddenly wafted under his nose.
"What's the matter? Catch a direct look at your reflection?" the dark green-haired warrior countered.
Before the bearded pirate could respond Daiz let loose another barb," By the way, that disgusting smell that you just noticed…IT'S YOU!"
"Ah'd slap some respect inta ya..if'n ya were worth the bother!" Gartoas barked
Rolling her eyes at the pair's comments Bulma hurried back into her quarters. She didn't want to be caught in the middle when those two started…..
…
Taimaz shuddered in revulsion as she took in the sight of the Kabochan female that floated lifelessly in the rejuvenation tank. Beeps and hums assured that the abomination formed by an unspeakable union between the Saiyan that destroyed her home planet and a member of her own race continued to thrive. How could Zailora have willingly betrayed her own kind in such a manner? Somehow she had to destroy the creature that never should have come to be but how? Hearing a sound she shrank back into the shadows. No one must know she was here.
The former barkeep balled her fists up in anger as she caught sight of Turles entering the room. He was probably checking when his filthy spawn would leave its watery home. It would never draw a single breath if she could do anything in about it. Stopping directly in front of the tank the Saiyan placed his right hand on the glass. A ragged sigh came from the black and silver armored form. His head bowed and his shoulders drooped. Taimaz widened her eyes in utter disbelief. Tears were streaming down the pirate commander's face. Was the monster actually grieving?
It didn't matter if the hellish ape was mourning his loss. It felt good to watch Turles suffer. He deserved this after all he'd done to her people, her planet. And whatever fate had befallen Zailora it was her just reward for consorting with him. If only the misbegotten being she bore could be eradicated….just imagine the agony the cursed Saiyan would endure….
Turles suddenly straightened. His eyes narrowed as he appeared to search the room. Taimaz panicked did he know she was here?
"Entering Quotigon airspace landing will commence immediately," a metallic voice announced.
The hidden Kabochan let out the breath she'd been holding as the Saiyan abruptly left the room. That was too close!
….
A morose Bulma walked beside Gartoas as Turles and Gohan strode just ahead. The pirate commander always made certain that either she, Chi-Chi or Malako left the ship when landing was necessary. He knew none of them would risk an escape attempt as long as at least one of their number was in his line of sight.
At least Daiz would have been pleasant to be around. The coarse Kardanagan felt free to let out loud belches continuously and to bark at her whenever he felt she wasn't making a sincere effort to keep up with his pace.
Taimaz walked across from the bearded pirate with an unreadable expression on her face. Bulma noticed the Kabochan female made it a rule to keep a distance from Turles. If only she could trust that Turles would believe her if she revealed what Taimaz held over her.
Poor Malako was purchasing needed supplies for the food preparation area in Turles's ship. He was being escorted by Daiz while Chi-Chi remained behind confined aboard the Saiyan's craft. It was Chi-Chi's private hell to be forced to prepare meals for her husband's murderer and his crew.
Bulma wondered about the mysterious transmission that had Gohan all excited when he received it earlier. When he relayed it to Turles the pirate commander had immediately changed his original course. What had piqued the interest of both Saiyans and did she really want to know?
Quotigan was a rocky windswept planet with steel gray skies and a surface that seemed just dull in color. The area they traversed was a far cry from the more elegant places Turles made a habit to frequent. Seedy- looking barely lit buildings seemed to be the norm. Most were in various states of disrepair. Curses and raucous laughter filled the air. Bulma gagged and pinched her nose as they passed one especially decrepit edifice.
"Aw quit bein' suh uppity!" Gartoas grumbled.
Turles came to a halt at a questionable structure and entered therein followed by Gohan. Taimaz grimaced then followed suit.
"Move along! Ah aint' got all day!" the alien behemoth growled at Bulma.
Putting her nose in the air Bulma walked into the dismal setting. Myriad disagreeable odors permeated the air of the 'establishment'. The daughter of Dr Brief wondered how many of the countless beings milling about the dive were in desperate need of a cleansing unit -probably ALL of them!
'Cleansing unit? I've been stuck out here with Turles for too long!' the aquamarine-haired scientist thought.
A purple feline being motioned to Turles and pointed out an empty table to the rear when the group was seated and no orders were placed the cat-ling snorted and stomped away. Bulma had gingerly sat down doing her best to avoid a green stain of unknown origin on the ripped seat cushion. But when Gartoas shoved his way in she was seated right on top of it! Before she could utter a complaint her eyes widened in horror as she took in the enormous blue-green beetle that was crawling across the table in her direction!
Turles calmly reached over, slammed down his fist and the hapless insect was no more. Then the Saiyan wiped the ichor from his black gauntlet on the sleeve of the undergarment Gartoas wore under his black and brown armor. The Kardanagan gave Turles a look of utter disbelief for a moment.
"Is there a problem, Gartoas?"
"No, Commander. No problem at all," Gartoas mumbled glaring at Bulma as everything was her fault.
A diminutive green life-form that reminded Bulma of a sewer rat walked up to the table with blazing eyes and his 'hands' on his hips.
"What do you want now Turles? You took three of my clubs! THREE! All I have left is this dump! Can't you just leave me in peace?"
"Now Bergis, the first rule in games of chance is to NEVER bet anything you can't stand to LOSE!" Turles snickered.
"YOU bet your ship and three of your crew!" Bergis shot back.
"I was confident of my chances," the Saiyan replied smugly.
"Three o'…." Gartoas sputtered.
"WHICH THREE O' US? " the indignant Kardangan shouted.
"Stand down, Gartoas!" Turles growled.
Bergis burst into laughter," I was just pulling yer leg Gartoas, ya cantankerous old thief! Turles just went along. Least one of ya has a sense of humor!"
Gartoas replied with an angry snort.
"Bergis, I could be somewhere that actually meets my standards enjoying a fine libation and an exquisite meal right now instead I'm here. Why?" the pirate commander thundered.
"Didn' you get my message?"
"Yes, but I'm not entirely inclined to believe it," Turles answered.
"Kosho! Come here!" the rat creature called out.
A slim young emerald-skinned being stepped from the shadows, except for the hue of her skin 'Kosho' appeared to be …..a Saiyan!
….
Until the next chapter!
daughterofrisingsun