A.N. Again, thank you for the encouraging hits, reviews and favourites!
Sorry for dropping all the cliff-hangers, but I promise all will be wrapped up! Eventually. *Evil grin… attempt* As a treat, I just kept writing this time, so this chapter might just be a teeeeny bit longer. At least compared to the last.
Oh and just a minor side note, to prepare for what's to become a major character promotion for my beloved OC. Please imagine 'Kari' to be pronounced as 'Ka'-'Rye.'
Enjoy.
Chapter 5: Status Quo
Kari's tidal wave bombshell hit each of the four others Saiyans, one by one. In their own individual paces; their expressions changed accordingly, as they recognised the seriousness of the female's brave suggestion.
"Onna!" Radditz found his feet first, eyes wide as his own realisation glared back, immediately challenging the decision-making and overall sanity of his trusted mate. "Have you lost your senses?"
Both Kakarot and his son were selectively speechless. Though there was sincere truth in the failure of words to reach their tongues, they also knew how it was fruitless to speak against the woman. Meanwhile Nappa just scratched the side of his head, wondering if he'd heard and understood correctly.
"So we're …. not killing it?"
Kari rolled her eyes at the entire spectacle. There was stupidity, and then there was Nappa. Ignoring his idiotic question, she returned the glare of her mate. "Must I repeat myself?" Following her condescending tone, was the arrogance of her closed eyelids with the upward tilt of her pointed chin.
"I'm taking over the project. There is nothing else to discuss."
"There is no project, woman! There hasn't been for over a decade." A stubby-nailed finger pointedly gestured down at Gohan. "Not since that abomin -"
Before he could even finish the obvious insult, Kakarot had leapt from his chair in the blink of an eye, to end the single breath that carried the word. As he drew his fist from Radditz's gut, and eyed the keeling forwards man, he spat his rebuke proudly.
"Remember brother," his own finger replaced Radditz's, but defensively rather than shamefully. "That abomination shares my blood. Your blood."
The 'brother' straightened with the vague wincing of his twitching brows, re-casting his eyes down to the nephew he could only ever half approve of. The Saiyan half. Kakarot meanwhile, addressed the matter of his brother's mate. She watched with her usual, attentive amusement. Even tucked stray strands of light chestnut behind the curve of her ear. There were certain details about her that always bothered Kakarot, such as why she had chosen his brother as her mate, especially considering her rank. Without outwardly insulting his own family, it was somewhat of a downgrade. Radditz may have been an Elite, but as far as his power level went, he was still only the runt of the litter. Why now, did she suddenly also possess an interest in his own son's property?
"I won't argue with your decision. But I will request your full terms."
"Request denied." She smirked, responding immediately with the casually lifting of her left brow to his slightly out of bound demands. Won't argue? Couldn't more like. She preyed on that fact alone. She always had, for as long as Kakarot had the 'pleasure' of knowing her on this closer level. He huffed a frustrated breath that suppressed a growl, and snapped back with his base assumptions.
"Then the charges against my son are cleared."
"No."
His eyes widened at her short frankness, and not a single one of the men could even begin to comprehend her motives. A far more audible growl rumbled in his chest, as his eyes danced back and forth from his son, to the calm and completely in-control woman. Rather than feed the fire further, Kari turned her attention to the most silent Saiyan of all. For one who had previously expressed so much determination to study the human, he certainly wasn't putting up the fight she'd expected. But the fact was; she needed him just as much as he would need her.
"These are the only terms you will ever need to know." At last, she addressed them all, aware of the demi-Saiyans subtle interest, as she finally considered his name important enough to speak. "Gohan's Elite Trials will be suspended, in light of his request. Let's just call it, a minor diversion. Under my supervision, naturally."
A bated breath erupted, but the owner was not permitted the time to speak. Kari only had to lift her palm, and raise her voice ever so slightly.
"My order is final, Kakarot. Considering the charges, I'd say it's more than fair. Besides, if your son really values his own honour, then this time, he won't be taking any chances. There will no fucking up. Not on my watch." Kari caught the sound of her requested partner-in-crime, harshly swallowing back, but she only raised her voice in determined and final declaration.
"I'm taking full ownership of the Earthling. It is no longer any of your concern." Her eyes bore deeply into Gohan's, as a refreshed smile lifted her stern pout. "Do I make myself clear?"
Perfect silence filled the room, save for the ship's digital protesting. Listening to the entire conversation so far, Videl could only endure the cramps of her kneeling position, with nothing significant to add. How could she even fathom her own defence, in a room filled with these monkeys? She could only listen and try to understand the compilation of sentences and phrases passing overhead. Of projects and blood and abominations. Of crimes and ownership and subordination. It was easy to gather the military structure of their alien ranks, but what did they mean by this dedication to study her? Why did it suddenly feel like she'd received a promotion into a far more important asset? Or did this just mean that they were they finally prepared to cut her open, like all the human UFO theories would expect?
The sudden sharp tug at her scalp answered that question, and forced her to lean backwards, headfirst, as her weight transferred back to her knees. But Videl's initial yelping thought, was drowned out by the 'swoosh' of Kari's razor energy beam. It vertically sliced through the middle of the raven-black hair she'd relentlessly gripped, freeing the human's scalp of the additional weight. Prying digits instantly inspected the irreversible damage in a flurry of tugging and scratching. Videl could've instantly cried. Her hair. Her beautiful hair; she could feel that it now barely fell past her ears in a sharp but mostly even, no doubt unattractive and unstylish neat cut. It had been her secret pride, despite her more obvious failure to follow the latest fashions and Earth trends. Regardless, it had been hers, a part of both her body and memories. Ever since she could remember, she'd nurtured it every night before she went to bed. Always with fifty strokes of her softly bristled brush.
As her gaping, entirely shocked face lifted, she met the attention of the four males. Each inwardly winced at the foul stench of humiliation that now filled the room. Even Gohan, who had tormented Videl most of all, viewed her with an odd sympathy in his eyes. Only Radditz wore a light smirk, while Kari just inspected the handful of waving hair she now gripped, with a simple 'humph' sound in her throat.
"There." Even though her arm relaxed by her side, she refused to lessen her possessive hold over her newest treasure. "It's done."
At last, Gohan dared to lift his attention in his father's direction, only to meet a scolding glare that easily spoke with a 'now you've done it' accusation. He didn't even think about arguing back.
"So uh," the deep voice owned by Nappa finally rose to attention again, fully updated with the situation. Apart from one, minor little detail that had clearly been all he'd cared about from the moment he'd stepped into the room. "Kari gets to babysit?"
For a moment, Videl was wondering if they'd changed the topic altogether, until the lust-filled eyes of the Saiyan switched to none other, than herself. When she stared back, his shoulders shook with his own amused and hopeful thoughts, and his large hands rubbed together.
"That will remain within Gohan's prerogative, starting effective immediately." Kari of course exercised the use of big words on purpose; silently relishing in the large man's confused look. "The rest is none of your concern." She pointedly glared at the gulping Nappa. He'd understood that.
"We're done now." Kari's word was final and yet, no one seemed intent on moving anywhere very fast. After all, the female was rarely ever, truly finished. There was always something else, since her own ideals of perfection had clearly been made unattainable. It was a trait she shared with another, and the pair of them, both together and alone, were impossible to deny. Yet Videl felt the Saiyan start the ball rolling herself, using the human as an example. Her arm was tugged, encouraging her to stand instantly, only to be immediately shoved forwards into the full view of the still kneeling Gohan. He looked up expectantly, brows twitching in the transfer of status.
"Get it out of my sight," came the lowly spoken order, and with minor struggles, the demi-teen stood. But as he reached to grab for one of Videl's arms, he instead felt the slapping sting of Kari's palm against the offending hand. "Gently. I don't want you breaking anymore of its' bones."
Gohan knew it then, as he met with the unstable woman's eyes. Kari was going to enjoy teasing him with her authority and public displays of example making. But most of all, she was slowly but surely inflicting her special brand of punishment. Like gradually pinching at a thorn or pulling a tooth out, always almost getting it out, but never quite. Oh yes, she was going to make him regret the day he ever thought he could abuse the laws of freethinking. For in his rank, there was no such thing. So as he turned to face the astonished human, he bitterly bit the bullet, and finally did as he was told.
"Oh, and Gohan." Now that his back faced the owner of the tormenting voice, Gohan closed his eyes in disobedient wanting. "We can't have it stinking out the ship now, can we. Fix it."
Feeling various sets of eyes burn holes through her stiff body, Videl didn't care to question why the Saiyan wasn't grabbing or shoving or just throwing her over his shoulder like the caveman he'd previously been. Or why he had smoothed his voice into a low but calmly-levelled, mildly youthful pitch.
"Follow."
He treated her as Kari had; just walking ahead already, without a single glance to be sure she was following. To just follow without question, seemed just expectant. Part of who she was. Fear controls the body in strange ways, and yet so does Hope. Videl happened to just be proof of that fact now, as she sub-consciously took her place as his shadow. Or perhaps it was just the seductive manipulation Kari weaved in transparent webbing around all of her victims; regardless of species. Behind her, the fleeing Earthling heard the remaining four Saiyans begin to converse like nothing had happened. Kari's voice demanded to know the statistics of the journey, and how many more days until they reached the 'Orbit of Vegetasei.' But the door closed Videl's ears out of the answers before Kakarot or Radditz could offer them.
At the end of the curving corridor, a familiar door opened into a very familiar room. Despite all that had happened; it appeared she was just back to where she'd started. Gohan patiently waited, save for the clear contrast of his opposing glare. As soon as she cleared the doorway, Videl heard the familiar lock behind her. He hadn't followed her through, just locked her in from the other side. Her ears pricked to sound of the new, changed code; a series of toneless digits. All she dared to do now that she was finally alone, was take the time to memorise the layout of the room. The room where she'd been starved, beaten, suffered dreamless nights, and reduced to almost cold-blooded murder. It resembled the same shape and layout as Kari's did; a mostly square but defined, curve-edged bed, King-Size by human standards, and a single lounge chair, only with blue leather cushioning rather than red. That was it. Just the bare minimum needed, and with it, absolutely no signs of individual personality. Save for one colour choice in addition to the standard white.
'No wonder I couldn't sleep well,' Videl told herself light-heartedly. Aside from the obvious fact of being in a strange and unknown place. She had always found pleasure in the interior design of her own bedroom. Music, art and film posters covered every space of one wall, while she'd painted the remaining three in a pretty shade of calming, lilac and azure. She'd mixed the paint by accident, but ultimately found she rather liked the combination. Though her room had always been far too big for one person alone, she'd made it her own, safe nesting place. As for this room though, it occurred to her that there was no way she could ever relax and unwind in with its' blank and sterile décor. So when the door clicked open behind her, and the returning Saiyan just brushed right past her, Videl decided to test the water a little.
"I want another room."
Gohan's ears pricked to words he was sure he would never hear, but kept walked as planned, until his feet planted his stature in the dead centre of the room. Freezing there a moment, he finally turned to face her, dead on, like a deranged, mirroring image. Sure enough, the human still stood by the door; fists planted on her hips. Since she'd undeniably gained his attention, Videl pressed further.
"There's no way I'm staying here. It sucks."
"Is that so." There wasn't even the vaguest hint of a question in his tone. Just the swift change of subject, as if her words had never existed. "Get rid of your clothing."
Touché. Now it was her turn to blink incredulously at words she thought she hadn't heard right. But as he just stared back in cold and silent expectance, her vocal reaction expelled as a nervous squeak.
"What!"
"You're not just violating my pod, with your retched stomach acids." 'Among other things.' He spoke matter-of-factly in a dangerously even levelled voice. Again it took Videl a moment of blank blinking to understand his formal, even scientific lingo. "Your clothes," he repeated without fail, but with an added ounce of extra authority. "Get rid of them."
"I heard you the first time!" She shot back instantly, voice raised as her hands clutched over her stomach. When she realised he wasn't even going to turn around though, or even offer her a replacement to wear, she adjusted her plan. For a brief moment, she plucked at the un-dyed, paper-like texture of the cotton, short-sleeved and straight cut patient-gown. Rather than lift the gown, Videl just craned her neck, over-emphasising her self-sniffing sound. Gohan narrowed his eyes, as her eyes returned to his, and she obnoxiously lifted her chin a notch.
"I don't smell anything." Clearly she was lying. Her last meal still clung to the material, and besides that, she couldn't even remember the last time she'd washed. When he just stared back in clear knowledge of her lies, she felt compelled to defend herself further.
"Besides, there's no way I'm changing with you gawping right at me. And… what am I supposed to change into? Huh?"
"Until you're washed properly, nothing." As much as she liked the sound of finally washing herself, the fact that he stressed her naked state, overwrote any of the added bonuses to come from it.
"Wash where? I don't even see a bathroom here!" Just to be sure, her eyes momentarily flickered to the empty and smooth walls of the room. No doors. Not even framed pictures, or rotating bookcases disguised as a hidden passageway! Nothing. "You expect me to walk around, bare-butt naked? What does any of this have to do with -"
"When you can prove yourself capable of one task, then maybe we can try the next." If she was going to continue acting like a baby, then he'd just treat her like one. "And it's nothing I haven't seen before." The Saiyan's far more amused voice, accompanied by the stubborn and content crossing of his arms, struck another nerve with the human. 'Is he talking in general? Or did he actually…' Videl stopped the thought before it enraged her any further. Not very much to his surprise, she just pushed further.
"Aren't you meant to be treating me with a little more respect? I thought I didn't … belong to you anymore. Didn't that…Kee-rye, or whatever her name is. Didn't she make that clear enough for your thick skull?" As she bit back with her snarling words, he didn't move an inch, until it was her turn to strike a nerve with a far more poignant insult. "You don't own me. You never did."
"I see." She actually thought she'd finally convinced him to do his job properly, as he unfolded his arms. Defeated, or so she thought. "So you're incapable of undressing yourself then."
"Without privacy, yes!" But it only provoked the entirely opposite and very much unwelcome analysis.
"Then you should've asked for assistance."
"Well… Wait. What? No! That's not what I -"
"Then you'd better prove it. Before I make it my duty to find an extra pair of hands."
Watching in silent, last-chance patience, Gohan noted the reward of the human's drooping shoulders at long last. Even after the public embarrassment he'd been inflicted with, the Saiyan had barely relented with his treatment of her. Videl frowned at the harsh lesson learnt. He may have been restricted from resulting to raw and impatient displays of violence, but he didn't even need to. The superiority factor remained, and a part of her felt like despite a change in apparent ownership by name, it made no difference to her own, ultimate status.
"You're seriously not even going to turn around?" It might as well have just been a statement, rather than stressing herself over the questioning lift of her tone. The way he stood there, arms folded on his imaginary pedestal, was answer enough.
"I've got to make sure you don't break anymore bones," he casually offered the explanation, as if it were officially written down in stone and signed. Copying her inflexion of voice, to offer a matter-of-fact meaning. "Can't have you pulling a precious muscle."
"Jerk," she hissed back. He'd left her with only one other choice, besides throwing a useless hissy- fit. So she simply turned her back to him, and worked on getting these awkward few seconds over and done with. If he was so adamant on standing there and watching her, then she wasn't about to give him the VIP, front row ticket. Digits nervously bunched up the material, and in one swoop, she attempted to lift the one-piece 'dress,' straight over her head…
Gohan of course, had meant exactly what she'd feared. He'd already seen her naked form before, numerous times even, and in several stages. Why was she so flustered about her own, natural form? Was this true of all humans? She obviously hadn't been born wearing clothes. If she were even able to turn Oozaru, she'd surely realise the beauty of just accepting the beast within? Maybe that was the sole reason behind it. But the truth was, her old ruined and blood-stained clothes had been thrown straight down the garbage Shute, without a second thought on his part. Once he'd access the recovery room, Gohan had immediately stripped and fitted the human inside the rejuvenation tank. She'd been a gory sight of disjointed limbs, burns, scratches and swollen bruises, but he'd watched her body heal back to the normal, perfect state she'd find it in now. But back then, he'd viewed her with an almost entirely scientific brain. The lack of a tail had intrigued him beyond anything else, as he'd compared Saiyan and humanoid physiques quite rigorously. They both shared one heart, though the heart rate lightly differed. Two lungs provided oxygen, and although their digestive systems matched, it seemed she required less nutrients to sustain herself with, and a far longer period to heal in, even in the tank. These were all of course just base assumptions and values. He still had to test the theories in practice. The skeletal scans though, had turned out almost identical: They shared the exact same bone structure, and at the very end of the spine, the suggestion of a tailbone! It excited all kinds of questions from him, such as; had humans once possessed tails? If so, how long ago? Did it mean they, too, could transform into the Oozaru, once upon a time? It was just so hard to answer all his questions from that scan alone. He needed her co-operation. He needed to pick at her brain.
Gohan realised that with a little shove, he'd now begun to secure both, if only a small taste of what she had to offer. But this time, as she stripped herself down to her natural form, he found himself cocking his head to the side in a very non-studious manner. That prolonged moment as she'd lifted her arms and struggled to lift the dress over her head; did she even realise how she'd enhanced the shape of her back? Following the length of her spine, he eyed the empty spot where her tail should have been, to the two dimple-like dents that introduced the definition of her plum shaped rear. The combination of extra flesh and taut muscle, had him realising that the missing, furry appendage just granted a more, interesting view. Different, and certainly not something he thought he'd ever felt attracted to. Apparently, his own assumptions were making an ass out of him, as he caught his own, irregular and heavier breath. And then, as she'd quickly pressed the clothing against her more modest chest, he saw how her waist slightly twisted to aid the unnoticed glance, stolen over her shoulder.
'Ugh…is he seriously staring at my ass?' As though he'd heard the disgruntled thought, Gohan lifted his observational stare, but couldn't quite stop the lop-sided smirk, from lifting the right side of his lightly pouted lips. 'He was! Fucking pervert.' Videl turned to face him, preferring to gift him with the innuendo and mystery of the unfitted garment pressed close against every private aspect her front side had to offer. It didn't exactly help. He could still see the milky skin, and remembered how he'd touched it. Felt the softness of her cheek and neck with his tongue and lips, and craved the exploration of so much more. There was no hiding curve of her arm muscles, the matching shape of her legs and even the delicate moulding of the modest chest which she pressed her arms so firmly against.
"Well?" Her snappy, unimpressed voice was lost on him entirely. "I did what you asked. So tell me where the damn bath is."
Her feeble attempts at issuing orders were just amusing, but she'd just about repaid him enough, for the strangling scenario at least. For a moment, her anger swelled, as he walked to the door and she, in her already boiling state of mind, just naturally assumed this was all just a cruel joke. Now he was going to leave her standing there, with the realisation that the smelly dress was all she had.
But he didn't. After he'd pressed a single digit on the keypad, the central, white floor tiles that his feet had previously occupied, clicked as they lowered several inches. Very fluidly, tehy then just slotted beneath the top layer of flooring. A steel staircase journeyed south, down into the inner bowels of the ship. It was, rather unexpected, and quite ingeniously hidden, in all honesty. She would never of found it on her own, and it had never even occurred to her that the ship might have more than just one level to it. Videl had prepared a whole defensive speech about how 'he better not be planning on watching her bathe too' and how unlike him 'she was more than capable of washing herself.' But by the time she'd recollected herself, the Saiyan had already, silently left the cage. The sterile silence of these unknown space charters, descended upon her...
...To be continued...