Here's Chapter 112! Thanks to KagariAsuha, Uub God of Destruction, 15songoku, DarkReina and DingleberryDovah for all the reviews on Chapter 111.
Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or any of its characters, Akira Toriyama does!
...
Daiz raised an eyebrow as Taimaz practically danced into the portion of Turles's ship that served as a makeshift dining area when the crew took their meals onboard rather than at an eatery of the Saiyan commander's choosing. Something had certainly lifted her spirits. Maybe she was over whatever it was that had made her so moody and irritable. At least the Kabochan pirate hoped that was the case.
Chi-Chi's lips were set in a tight line as she placed each meal tray in front of the intended recipient. It was taking every bit of her willpower not to slam the meals down and shove each pirate's face into the steaming edibles. Turles had made a pointed remark about the entire crew almost expiring from hunger since she had taken such an inordinate time in preparing the noon meal. Whatever had kept her from being on schedule?
Taimaz leaned forward in excitement as the Earth female set down the tray before Daiz . He nodded his head and thanked Chi-Chi for the meal and received a snort in return. Shaking his head at the brunette's response Daiz lifted his eating utensil. In mere seconds the royal traitor would be in his death throes...
Chi-Chi screamed as a flash of crimson and yellow fur covered in white foam burst into the room. Some sort of bizarre beast bounded up to Daiz. Taimaz dropped her jaw in abject disbelief as the tray she'd so cunningly poisoned clattered to the floor spilling its contents.
The furious former barkeep threw up her right hand to power a blast...
"Taimaz!" Turles barked.
Taimaz turned to face the Saiyan.
"Singe one inch of that animal's fur and your pain will be unimaginable!," the pirate commander snarled.
The angry dark green-haired female dropped her hand and returned to her seat.
"Down Ember! DOWN!" Daiz laughingly shouted as the brilliant red and yellow canine licked his face and pawed his shoulders.
Kosho and Gohan came racing into the meal area. Both of their faces were flushed with embarrassment.
"S-S orry Daiz! We were giving Ember a bath and she got away from us!" Gohan explained sheepishly. Kosho nodded.
"NEXT TIME MAKE SURE THE DOOR IS SECURE!" Turles thundered but amusement was plainly visible on his face.
"YES, MASTER TURLES!" the two half-Saiyan youngsters chorused.
Fastening a lead to the struggling Charladon they half pulled and half pushed the unwilling creature through the exit.
Chi-Chi was furious about the ruined food she'd now wasted hours preparing. She faced Turles with her hands on her hips.
"YOU'VE ALLOWED Gohan to have a PET? That beast is unsanitary, a completely useless distraction..."
"AND NONE OF YOUR CONCERN!" Turles growled.
"Make yourself useful and replace the meal for Daiz immediately!"
Wisely biting back a retort Chi-Chi stomped from the room.
An evil grin lit the pirate commander's face as he tapped his scouter.
'Uh now whatta ya up ta?' Gartoas wondered. He'd seen that look far too many times before.
"Yes, Commander Turles?" the Namekian's voice came over the communication device.
"DO inform Chi-Chi that she left a rather deplorable mess in the dining area. Tell her to try to deliver a fresh meal in reasonable time and to not make a habit of leaving the facility in such an unsanitary condition!" Turles chortled.
Daiz and Gartoas rolled their eyes at the dig the Saiyan had just made at the Earth female.
Taimaz literally stabbed at her food with the implement in her hand. She had missed a perfect opportunity because of a stupid beast she wasn't even aware of being aboard the ship!
"Daiz, what was that creature that came in here just now?"
Daiz chuckled, "That was a Charladon. Ember belongs to Gohan. He's supposed to keep her out of this part of the ship."
'So the half-ling brat's the cause of justice not being meted out this day. He'll answer for that' Taimaz thought.
Shaking his head Daiz wiped at the foam that dripped from his chest and shoulders.
"I gotta get cleaned up or I'll smell like that Charladon all day."
Taimaz pasted a fake smile on her face and merely nodded though she was seething inwardly.
…
Malako rubbed his temples hoping his head would stop throbbing soon. It was an absolute miracle that his delicate eardrums had not been irreparably damaged from the howl of outrage emitting from Chi-Chi when she arrived at the food prep area and was informed of the pirate commander's needling comments. Thankfully Daiz had stopped by and politely declined having a replacement meal prepared. Turles's crewman was leaving the ship shortly making such preparation unnecessary.
The Namek had vainly offered to clean the area the Charladon soiled but Chi-Chi insisted on handling the task personally. She went as far to say that if Turles discovered she'd had assistance then he'd immediately assign some other horrendous chore to her.
'Come to think of it that's exactly what that devious Saiyan would do!" Malako thought.
….
Bulma gave an exasperated sigh as she looked up to see Daiz standing before her with an impish grin on his face.
"What does "Master Turles" wish to torment me with today?" the bluenette muttered.
"Careful, Turles has a habit of hearing what he shouldn't" the Kabochan warned.
"Give me my "orders" and then leave me in peace, " Bulma grumbled.
"Now don't be so touchy! I have the singular honor of escorting a beautiful lady while she purchases the needed supplies for her creations of scientific genius."
The former heiress snapped her head up and glared at the smiling pirate," I don't appreciate you making fun of me!"
"I wasn't mocking you I was merely stating a fact I also thought that you would enjoy some time away from the ship but if you'd prefer Gartoas to…."
"LET'S GO!" Bulma interrupted.
'Thought you might see it my way," Daiz snickered.
…
Bulma was doing her best to ignore the stream of jokes and humorous tales the Kabochan pirate regaled her with but she was failing miserably. The once royal was honestly hilarious! Peals of laughter erupted against her will but it felt so good to have some actual belly laughs. But what was the real reason behind his levity?
"What are you up to, Daiz?" the aquamarine-eyed woman huffed.
The former denizen of a desert planet's jovial mood evaporated instantly.
"I thought you'd like to have some fun for a change my mistake!" Daiz sighed.
After paying for their meals the pirate turned his back to her and started walking away at a brisk pace.
Bulma suddenly regretted her outburst. Daiz had been so pleasant on the shuttle ride over to planet Negliss. The beautiful world reminded her of tropical getaways she'd often enjoyed while still on Earth and the meal had been exquisite.
"Daiz, wait! I'm sorry to be so blunt but I have to wonder why you're going out of your way when I'm just supposed to be getting supplies for the lab."
"No reason you can't mix business with pleasure. Turles does it all the time why do you think we frequent the places we do? I also thought you could use a friend Bulma. Kami knows I sure could as well," Daiz said softly.
"Don't you have two 'friends' back on the ship?"
Daiz gave a snort at that.
"Gartoas would turn in his own flesh and blood if he could get a decent enough profit from it and Turles…Turles is a whole different story altogether."
"What about Taimaz?" the daughter of Dr. Brief questioned.
The dark green-haired warrior shook his head.
"I'm not sure what is going on with Taimaz. She's certainly not the same woman I met on Arturay."
For a moment Bulma was tempted to reveal the Kabochan female's threat but fear kept her tongue silent.
"Let's say we forget about the ship for the moment and enjoy a little of what this planet has to offer," Daiz suggested as he held out his arm to Bulma. After a moment's hesitation Bulma set off with Turles's second-in-command.
'What am I getting myself into?' Bulma wondered.
….
Taimaz cursed as she fought with the locking mechanism of the door that belonged to Gohan's personal quarters. It shouldn't have been so difficult to override. A satisfied smile replaced her scowl as the door finally slid open. Her elation quickly turned to resentment as she took in the appearance of the half-Saiyan's living space. A sumptuously appointed bed took up one entire wall. Another wall held shelf after shelf of expensively bound books. She seriously doubted that the Kabochan Royal Family had possessed such blatant displays of privilege that were evident throughout the room. Turles certainly believed in spoiling the brat! Well he wasn't going to relax in his posh surroundings tonight!
Pulling back the silken royal blue coverlet Taimaz shook a wicked-looking insect from a tube. The Grilorian wasp was in hibernation but the warm surroundings would soon rouse it from its slumber. And when it fully awakened the Earth-born mongrel would find himself the victim of its hellish stings. There was a good chance he'd not survive the venom the ill-tempered insect would unleash. Replacing the coverlet Taimaz slipped out of the room…..
….
Daiz pushed open a great wooden door to a mysterious building that seemed to be constructed of some otherworldly coral. He smiled and motioned for Bulma to enter said edifice. The bluenette apprehensively stepped through the entrance and gave a squeal of absolute delight! A dimly lit room held tank after illuminated tank of aquatic denizens she had never seen the like of!
"This is the Neglissian Aquarium. Specimens of aquatic life from all over the galaxy are here and the collection is added to continuously. I thought you might like to see it," the Kabochan warrior informed her.
"When did you discover this?"
"A few moments ago at the restaurant," Daiz quipped.
"You've never been here before?"
"Nope," the pirate admitted.
"Then let's go explore it!" Bulma gushed as she grabbed his right hand and raced off to the next row of tanks.
"If you insist!"
Daiz broke into a wide smile as he went along...
...
Until the next chapter!
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