Here's Chapter 111! Thanks to Guest, DarkReina, Owen Barraclough and 15songoku for all the reviews on Chapter 110. Thanks also to 15songoku for all the reviews for chapters 104, 105, 107,108 and 109!
Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or any of its characters, Akira Toriyama does!
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Turles's ship: Food preparation area
Chi-Chi narrowed her eyes as she thought about the latest addition to Turles's crew. A green Saiyan? Where had the insufferable brute found such a creature? She absolutely did not like the attention Gohan paid to the newcomer. It seemed that every time she looked up the two had their heads together whispering something in a language she couldn't begin to understand. For the last three days when Gohan arrived to put in the meal orders for Turles and his crew the emerald hued young girl was his literal shadow.
"Gohan is spending entirely too much time with that..that green girl!"
"Give Gohan a break, Chi-Chi! He finally has someone to spend time with as a friend," Bulma reasoned.
"She'd better not get any ideas about being too friendly!" the Ox-King's daughter snapped.
"Lighten up! They're adorable together!"
"You're really not helping matters," Malako huffed in Bulma's direction.
Before Bulma could respond Gohan entered the room and all conversation ceased immediately. The demi-Saiyan looked about curiously as he relayed instructions from Turles concerning the noon meal. Had he just missed something? Shrugging his small shoulders Gohan left the room.
"At least he didn't bring that strange girl with him this time!" Chi-Chi declared with an air of obvious relief.
As if on cue the female half Saiyan walked in. Bulma covered her mouth to suppress a snicker at the sight of her.
"May I help you?" Chi-Chi huffed.
"Commander Turles wishes an Artelian fruit tart be prepared to tide him over until the noon meal."
"He'll have to choose something else we're all out of Artelia fruit!" the brunette said smugly.
"I see…" Kosho tapped her scouter and uttered something unintelligible to Chi-Chi.
Within seconds Gartoas burst into the food prep area. He lumbered over to Goku's widow , "Let's go woman! Ya got some shoppin ta' do! "
Pursing her lips in irritation the Ox-princess stomped out of the room following the hefty bandit.
"She's going to be in a mood when she comes back," the Namek sighed shaking his head ruefully.
"Right!" Bulma whistled.
Malako's remark was an understatement if there ever was one. Chi-Chi was undoubtedly outraged at being forced once again to cater to the whims of the spoiled Saiyan pirate.
…..
Chi-Chi was beyond livid as she placed the golden brown Artelian fruit tart on a tray to deliver to the spawn of her nightmares. It had taken a miserable flight with that obnoxious oaf Gartoas to the Karquarsan market to purchase the elusive fruit the detested Saiyan was set on having. Two hours of relentless searching enduring the surging crowd that bustled about every inch of the popular market while she was being hounded by the overfed pirate the entire time.
After procuring the fruit, the Ox-king's daughter had to break open the tough black shell surrounding the tender blue pulp. Then the minute seeds had to be strained from the pulp itself. After all that preparation a delicate crust had to be made of pastry and Kelia butter and the fruit carefully sweetened as it could be quite bitter if not properly handled. At last the task was complete.
Chi-Chi carried the result of her efforts to the bridge where Turles was leaning back in his usual seat.
"That took some time and as a result I've changed my mind. You may give that to Gohan and Kosho and prepare me a bit of grilled Gania fruit," Turles announced.
It took all of Chi-Chi's already severely strained self-control to contain herself as she set the tray down in front of the two eager half-Saiyans. Gohan thanked her and even generously offered a slice to an enthusiastic Gartoas.
A few moments later the tired Earth female carried in a tray of juicy Gania fruit grilled to perfection to the thoughtless pirate commander.
"Excellent! Now DO see that the noon meal is prepared soon. Your time management is a bit lacking today!" Turles scolded.
…
Taimaz scowled as she racked her brain for a way to bring about the demise of the traitorous prince without implicating herself. Just then she heard the brunette Earth female grumbling under her breath as she carried meal trays back to the food preparation area. An evil smile lit the Kabochan female's face as she began to formulate a malicious plan. It wouldn't be too difficult to add an extra ingredient to be served to Daiz and the blame for his expiration would fall squarely on the shoulders of the hapless human and her so called assistant. Why was a creature who never consumed food even allowed to prepare it?
Clapping her hands in sudden glee Taimaz knew exactly how she was going to end the life of Daiz and she'd relish every moment of the agony he'd suffer until his last breath…..
…
Daiz slowly made his way to the bridge where Turles was actually piloting the ship for a change. The Kabochan was curious as to why Gohan was not seated in front of the ship's controls but he thought better of asking. He cleared his throat and proceeded to speak.
"Commander, I was completely at fault for the unseemly remark I made previously. There was no reason to bring up Zailora in such a manner."
"You were not at fault, Daiz. The 'unseemly' remarks were my own. I should not have made the suggestion I proposed and I know exactly how Zailora would have reacted, " Turles replied.
Daiz was completely dumbfounded by the Saiyan's reaction. Turles never gave so much as a hint of an admission of wrongdoing.
"Whatever did she ever see in me?" the pirate commander sighed.
The words were uttered so quietly Daiz wondered if he'd been meant to hear them at all.
"Obviously she saw someone that she loved," the once royal blurted out.
The Saiyan visibly stiffened making the Kabochan pirate wonder if he should have kept his thoughts to himself.
"Is that all, Daiz?" Turles growled.
"Yes, Master Turles!"
"Inform Gohan his break is over!"
Daiz spun on his heel and left the bridge. He knew he's been dismissed and that was as close to an apology as he was ever going to receive from the likes of Turles.
Turles bitterly stared out into space. What good was love if the one you felt it for had ceased to exist? He cursed the day he'd discovered the now useless emotion…..
….
Bulma looked up to see Daiz standing in front of her. What was he doing in the lab? Did Turles send him to give her some obnoxious task his devilish mind had concocted?
"I brought you something that may be of assistance if you get into trouble. I mean really in trouble," Daiz informed her.
The Kabochan held out what appeared to be a slim delicately beaded bracelet
"Lovely. And just what can that do? " Bulma snorted.
"This."
An impossibly tiny blade appeared from the seemingly innocent adornment.
"It contains Zatherian spider venom it could bring someone of Gartoas's size down in seconds," Daiz stated. He tapped the bracelet again and the blade disappeared.
"I could replicate this and we could escape."
Bulma smacked her forehead in exasperation. She'd not meant to say that out loud.
The dark green-haired pirate chuckled ," I have no doubt you could replicate this but believe me escape wouldn't prove so easy. I wanted you to have something in case you got in a situation where a few defensive moves wouldn't help."
"I'm already in a situation where nothing is going to help!" the bluenette shouted.
"Let me know what's going on and maybe I can help!"
Bulma burst into tears. Fear, anger and embarrassment plagued her all at once. She was humiliated and angry at herself for tearing up in front of Turles's crewman, terrified of the threat from Taimaz and she didn't dare reveal her plight to the man who hailed from the same planet as her nemesis. Daiz would never believe her over Taimaz.
Dr Brief's daughter gulped in surprise as a pair of strong arms wrapped around her. She fought for self-control but the tears fell even harder. Her cheek suddenly rested against a broad chest.
"I'm….I'm stronger than this!" the once heiress protested.
"Get it out, Bulma. Cry as long as you have to," Daiz whispered into her ear.
The floodgates opened at that. Bulma wept for her precarious situation, the loss of her family, friends and planet, for the treatment she'd endured at the hands of Turles…..everything.
When her sobs faded into hiccup's Daiz stepped back. He placed the bracelet around her right wrist and planted a light kiss on her forehead.
"When you're ready to let me help you I'll be there."
The Kabochan gave her a smile and a wink and with that Daiz turned and walked out of the lab. Bulma plopped into her seat in consternation. What had just happened?
…..
Malako clamped his hands over his sensitive ears as Chi-Chi slammed cooking implements about in fury as she went about preparing the final meal of the day. Turles certainly knew which buttons to push to drive the Earth female into a frenzy. He only hoped his sense of hearing would survive it.
Suddenly a piercing scream came from Chi-Chi. The Namek raced over to see what had caused her to react so. A pink furry rodent was scuttling about one of the counters.
"I REFUSE TO MAKE ONE MORE THING UNTIL THAT VERMIN IS OUT OF HERE!" Chi-Chi screeched as she practically flew out of the kitchen.
With a sigh Malako immediately exterminated the hapless rodent and sterilized the counter. Then he went to inform Chi-Chi that the pest was disposed of.
A snickering Taimaz slipped into the food preparation room as soon as the Namekian departed. It was simple enough to find the tray meant for Daiz. She knew enough of his habits to single it out from the others. Pulling a vial from a pouch at her waist she shook out a few drops of liquid into the steaming food. Now the prince would meet his untimely end and the Earth female and Namekian would take the blame!...
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Until the next chapter!
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