Here's Chapter 115! A big thanks to TheItchyCocoon, The Rocha and 15sonGoku for the reviews on chapter 114!

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

…..

Gartoas flipped on the auto-pilot and eased out of the pilot's chair. Turles would surely reprimand him for allowing the automated system to handle the imminent landing but his protesting stomach overruled whatever rebuke the Saiyan would deliver. After all as light-headed as he was becoming there was the very real chance he could lose focus and fly Turles's craft right into a star or sun or something that would send everyone aboard to oblivion! WHERE WAS DAIZ? He should have relieved him some time ago for the noon meal. As the behemoth stepped away a strange humming reached his ears. Something flitted around the Kardanagan staying just out of reach.

"One o' yer fleas decidn' ta git feisty, ay Daiz?" Gartoas snorted.

After a few fruitless swats, the famished pirate stretched out his right arm and remained motionless. He ignored the loud rumbles now emanating from his midsection as the noisome insect lighted on the bare flesh of his hand. It was some monstrous form of wasp and it began to slowly reveal a wicked looking stinger. Possessing remarkable speed for all his bulk, the former thief brought up the opposite hand and ended the pest with a satisfying smack.

"Nasty lil' bugger! Wonder if yer tha cause o' Gohan's troubles? Ah'll go see AFTER ah eat! Firs, ah gotta find somethin' ta put ya in. Gonna be a wonder ifn' ah don't STARVE ta death!" Gartoas grumbled.

…

"Entering Kquaralan airspace. Landing procedure initiating!" a metallic voice declared. It was apparent that the autopilot was engaged.

Turles snarled. Gartoas was supposed to be piloting the ship! All too soon the landing finalized….

…..

Bulma shook her head and gasped as she felt the back of her skull. She could feel the neat row of tiny stitches that were now in place.

"You did it! You actually took it on yourself to…"

"I did what was necessary! Don't you realize what would have occurred if you continued to bleed out?" Daiz asked sternly.

Bulma lowered her head and mumbled an apology.

"I know you're used to everything being handled by 'proper procedures' but out here survival comes first. I'd hate for anything to happen to you, Bulma."

The young genius wobbled uncertainly as she tried to sit up. A strong arm wrapped around her holding her steady. She looked up to see the Kabochan pirate just inches away. He leaned in closer, Bulma could see the silvery flecks in his gray colored eyes. Her own eyes widened as the desert-born warrior drew nearer…

"AHEM!"

Bulma turned crimson and huddled into a ball on the bed as Daiz immediately released her. The burly Kardanagan stood in the room glaring accusingly at the pair.

"Seems AH got ere' afore' ya could pull any shenanigans, eh Daiz? "

Before Daiz could fire off an angry retort Gartoas held up a clear container containing a partially pulverized insect.

"Ah figger this ere' pest might be tha cause o' what's wrong with tha brat."

"WHERE did you find that?" Daiz asked.

"E was buzzin' round tha commander's seat tryin' ta sting me.:'

Bulma managed to sit up. She gasped at the sheer size of the wicked-looking creature contained in a glass jar. If it was this huge partially squished…..

"That's a Grilorian sand wasp! But what would one be doing here? They're only found in the deserts of Delicos in the Southwest Quadrant!" the dark green-haired pirate shouted.

Garoas whistled," Long way from ere'!"

"But it's just a wasp right?" Bulma asked.

"You would think that to be true. But the unique venom that's released by this particular wasp can do some seriously nasty things depending on the biology of the lifeform it attacks. With Gohan being a product of two different species there's no telling what damage it could inflict," Daiz explained.

"So the microbes that kept mutating were a product of venom?" the bluenette asked in amazement.

"To put it bluntly it introduces a new pathogen in every being," Daiz declared.

"But the wasp itself would have to be infected with a pathogen to even…." Bulma began.

"No, Bulma. The venom itself reacts as a pathogen to anything that isn't a Grilorian sand wasp."

…

Turles quickened his pace as he picked up the scent of the Earth-raised youngster. Gohan wasn't too far from the ship's exit. Hopefully he would reach the half-blood before…

The scent of molten metal suddenly informed the pirate commander of what had occurred before he even arrived at the exit. Turles growled at gaping chasm that used to be the exit doors for his ship. It was apparent that Gohan still possessed the mental capability to fire ki-blasts.

Turles tapped his scouter.

"Yes, Commander Turles?" Kosho piped up."

"Proceed to the exit. Gohan has left the confines of the ship. We're going to track him."

"Right away, Master Turles!"

Turles rolled his eyes. For some reason the female half-ling was strangely amused by addressing him in a different manner each time she spoke.

"He's my son! I'M GOING TOO!" Chi-Chi announced….

….

Until the next chapter!

daughterofrisingsun