Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ A Saiyan's First Purge ❯ One-Shot

Proving Ground

 

Tomic's First Purge

By Trynia Merin

 

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of this except for the fan fiction characters, Tomic, Bharbera, Chablis Cabernet and other Saiyans that aren't part of the cannon! This story takes place on Alvegasei, a secondary home world that the Saiyans took over after Vegetasei exploded. This is AU where most of the saiyans survived because Bardock was able to warn enough of the saiyans in time before Freiza's attack.

 

Before the deep space mission left, a month of preliminary training was called for. Bardock and Nappa had been incorrect in their information that their mission had to leave right away. Brolly had to give his consent after all. That meant Paragus had to pick apart the whole mission and see if it was profitable. The front was collecting on past debts and establishing ties with the Mantissans. Paragus was still meeting with Brecchus via scouterlink, which meant that Nappa had taken his team to a small place near Central to forge his team into class A purgers.

 

Tomic grumbled as she stood by Cabernet. The last few days had been intense, rife with more training then she could care. A whole training range had been set up, and Nappa was barking orders to the other three members of his team. Tomic hurled a series of spheres at the base of a building, knocking out the supports rather then blasting it with a mere megaton hurl.

 

"Cute, but a little too smart," Nappa glanced as Tomic darted out of the huge structure. It fell and imploded in on itself.

 

"I don't like wasting energy, sir, with all due respect," she shivered, shaking out her hair.

 

"Well, it'll work. Not everyone has to make big messes. No doubt she's neater then you are, you lummox," Cabernet glanced up. Raditz hid his mirth, and then coughed as Nappa glared at him.

 

"What are YOU looking at, whelp?" he glared at him. "Okay girl, that's enough fireworks. You'll get more fun after you get something to eat."

 

"Thanks," she said, wiping sweat off her face. So far their work had only been smashing buildings or other structures along with target practice. Although she knew the significance she was biding her time learning just how they operated.

 

"You're doing okay kid," said Cabernet, whapping her on the shoulders as she threw a cloth at Tomic. "You're getting the hang of this. Tomorrow we'll use live targets."

 

Tomic blinked for a moment in an effort to comprehend. A chill ran down her spine to the tip of her tail. What disturbed her was she couldn't differentiate between disgust and desire. A huge part of her wanted to prove herself to Nappa's mate. After years of feeling weak and helpless she felt as if she belonged to these Saiyans. For so long she had sought a place, that she would accept any community, even one of predators. She said sternly, "Live targets?"

 

"Destroyers," said Cabernet. "You remember them?"

 

"Are they the ones that attacked in the other dimension?" asked Tomic. Her heart filled with anger and hatred, and she let it have free reign. Instead of bottling it up she let it flow freely, feeling the crackling ki flare through her fingers and hair.

 

"You're anxious to find out, aren't you?" Nappa snickered, nodding in approval of Tomic's boost in ki.

 

"The very ones. I'm sure YOU of all people would love a chance for payback," Cabernet said, giving Tomic's shoulders a rough friendly shake.

 

"Do I blow them up, or what?" she asked.

 

"Any way you like," Nappa said, standing as he poured a pitcher of water over his face. "Just make sure you do the job."

 

"Be creative," said Cabernet. "Now go with that loudmouthed long haired whelp of yours and get some food. Report back here in two maxims."

 

"Right," she saluted, seeing the approval although grudging on Nappa's face.

 

"You worry about stupid shit too much, girl," Nappa looked down at her. "We won't always have TIME to be fancy. You need to cut LOOSE one in a while?"

 

"Like this?" she asked, raising her palm up. Energy crackled on her palm, and she generated a basketball-sized sphere. Cabernet nodded slowly.

 

"Saturday CRUSH!" she shrilled, using one of her mate's signature attacks.

 

"That's more like it," Nappa said, watching her cock back her hand and throw the sphere towards a nearby building. With a gesture of her flattened palm she directed the ball to slam into the side of a two-story target. A white-hot purple blast smashed clumsily into the wall, fracturing it as it burned its way through.

 

"You're a bad influence on my mate," Raditz mumbled. Despite this he glowed with pride that she had chosen one of HIS attacks to prove her growing power before their commanding officers.

 

"Nicely done, kiddo," said Cabernet. "Though you ARE allowed to come up with your own names."

 

"Who cares? That wasn't so hard was it? You think too damn much, like that old man father in law of yours. Keep it simple, and no farting around, and you'll get noticed," Nappa grunted, slugging her hard enough on the back that she almost toppled over. The impact of his flattened hand knocked the wind out of her.

 

"Are you done tormenting the whelps, or can we go hunt. I'm starving," Cabernet glared at him.

 

"See what you have to look forwards too, boy," Nappa winked at Raditz. Rolling his eyes he walked over to rest a hand on his mate's shoulder.

 

"Later kids," Cabernet waved. Both blasted off leaving Raditz alone with his mate. His strong arms snaked around her so he could draw her close to his armored chest. A low purring rumbled in his throat. Tomic pushed away the sad sober waves of guilt by catching herself up in the sensations of his fingers.

 

"You are doing quite well, precious one," he murmured.

 

"I have no choice, do I?" she asked, glancing up at him. "I wish there was some other way."

 

"You know there isn't," Raditz said softly, his eyes soft and dark with something that was akin to sympathy. "You are only doing what you must do for the both of us. Now is not the time to question."

 

"I hate this," she mumbled, pressing her face to his chest to hide her tears. Raditz grew use to her need for physical comfort. It boded well that she turned to him for such needs because she was fully accepting their union. Love of Saiyankind in favor of other lesser species. A small portion of him felt a loss for what she once was.

 

"You are giving up much of what you once were. But don't you see that you're becoming more and more powerful. Why someday you and I will be the ones giving orders, and THEN we'll see what happens," he soothed, pulling her up into his arms. Seizing handfuls of hair she shut him up with a deep kiss. Eagerly he devoured the amorous display, slowly levitating them both upwards over the training area. Still kissing her he mainly flew under his own energies. When they surfaced for breath, she felt him playfully push her from his arms.

 

"Catch me if you can, love," he laughed.

 

"Jerk!" she growled, outdistanced. Focusing her ki she urged herself after him. Wind slashed through her hair while she trained her scouter on his distant trace. Her body surged with the almighty rush of purple ki crackling over every inch to envelope her. Very few Saiyans could fly as fast as Nappa and Cabernet. Pouring more energy in she struggled to focus on closing the gap. Raditz glanced over his shoulder to see her gaining on him. Forest rattled under them as they traveled halfway over two hundred miles. Fifty yards, then twenty, then ten she saw his huge cascade of hair surging behind him. With a last burst she reached out and yanked a shock of spiky hair before she lost her lead.

 

"Better, but we still need to work on your speed," he chided lightly. Tomic threaded her fingers in his hair, pulling hard enough so she latched a ride on her mate's back. It amused him how she loved to play with his mass of spiky black locks. Her own hair was far shorter in comparison, but had a similar spiky texture. While not truly black it was dark brown, with sable highlights matching the fur on her tail.

 

"How the hell do you do it?" she muttered as he coursed down towards Central. They touched down in the wide courtyard of the main plaza. Slave leashes jingled while their masters urged them on. Halfblooded with their blue streaks walked along with full-blooded Idsarjin.

 

"Superior training naturally," he laughed. His arm held her possessively by his hip while she slid hers underneath his fall of hair. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the tip of his tail twitching freely behind him. Twin shadows burned down cast by their bodies. He towered head, shoulders over her, much like many of the second, and third class did. Most females she saw were a good head and shoulders shorter, and she guessed she was average height for most full-blooded Saiyan females.

 

As he strode by, others saluted or moved out of their way, staring at the couple strolling along. "What's their problem," she mumbled.

 

"Not for you to concern yourself with," he whispered. "Other then the fact they know better then to meddle with their superiors."

 

"Rank has its privileges, ne," she murmured.

 

"You occupy the level that I once did," he explained. "And I'm your superior. Don't forget that."

 

"How many of us are there?" she asked.

 

"Nappa's team is one of the few full scale hostile takeover units. The others are merely scouts. Anything you or I do is the bulk of the heavy demolition. They don't call on you or me unless they want serious clearing done. Smaller scale operations are left to those like Father. You know this well by now," he said.

 

Tomic was still getting used to her bare shapely legs feeling the heat of the sun. Still she was large busted and wide hipped, but filling out with muscle, not as slender as some of the other full blooded females, but quite strong physically for a third. The realization was that her mate's power level now doubled hers since their little spat, and she wondered how she rated with the ones who had once trained her.

 

"Let's find out," he said.

 

"It's silly," she shrugged.

 

"The practice range will be of good sport. I see a few of father's co workers trying their luck," he pointed to the public third class target range. The three population centers had one, and they were various ranges with moving targets that a warrior could use for ki practice. Soaring up out of one of the ranges force field barriers was a familiar shorthaired female and her identical twin.

 

"Fasha and Seripa," she muttered. "I thought they weren't on your… I mean Father's team anymore…"

 

Raditz nodded, "One never knows. But doubtless we'll find out because they've noticed us."

 

"Well well, look at you two," commented a deep voice that made her start. "Quite a sight she is."

 

"Er," she gasped, seeing the statuesque Toma down on one knee in a salute. "Funny seeing you here!"

 

"Toma," Raditz nodded, as he inclined his head. "I see you can't keep her away from the center. She's addicted to this place as much as ever."

 

"Mated life, you should know, boy," Toma nodded up at him. "And look at you both, some change. She looks better in that then you ever did."

 

"Thank you I think," she said, as he rose to his feet.

 

"Glad you turned out okay. Where's that father of yours? I heard about the little blow up," said Toma.

 

"Father is always overemphasizing things. I decided I needed my own place," Raditz said abruptly. "Why has he complained of my aberrant…"

 

"Ask him yourself. You know how stubborn you both are. Do me a favor pretty and get these two to talk. I can't stand my CO bitching and moaning," Toma glanced at her.

 

"You were terrorizing my mate again?" Seripa asked, wandering out of the range with her sister behind her. Fasha gave a smile when she saw Tomic standing there looking up at the warrior who was almost Nappa's height.

 

"Ma'am," Raditz inclined his head.

 

"Showing her off are we? You look damn sharp in that," Fasha whistled. "I'd heard but to see you in THAT outfit."

 

"Rub that in your CO's face, sis," Seripa laughed. "Well done girl. And you keep getting kicked upstairs, don't you?"

 

"If you'll excuse me, I'll procure food," Raditz inclined his head. "Would you mind remaining here. My mate is interested in learning about the range."

 

"You mean you want to hang out with us scum?" Toma joked.

 

"If you don't mind, I was wondering just WHAT benefit you got from the public range. I'm used to the independent units and moving targets," she said.

 

"C'mon in, and find out."

 

"I'll take your mate's example and get food. Later love," Toma waved. Fasha's mate Totep also leaned down to nip his mates ear as they walked off.

 

"Man oh man that's ironic," Seripa said, lifting Tomic's hair and pushing it aside. "You've come a long way kid."

 

"Knock it off," Tomic grumbled. "I just am wearing his stupid armor."

 

"Don't knock it. Technically you outrank us now, kiddo," Seripa said soberly. "Are you blind to notice that you're what he once was?"

 

"Yes and no," she shrugged. "Who gives a damn, I just want to take a break."

 

"C'mon, and shoot a few rounds with us. Before the Pain in my tail comes back," Fasha said, grabbing Tomic's gauntleted wrist and leading her after them into the range.

 

Bardock had sent Bharbera to get him several tomes from the central repository. It was a few days after the Rutting ended, and a few days after Bardock had kicked Raditz out of the house. Despite her best efforts to convince him otherwise, Bardock sternly refused to broach the subject. So she let it go, figuring when he was ready he would reconcile. Otherwise Raditz would make the first move.

 

Bardock worshipped the old religion, as did Raditz and others. Nappa only used it for his own purpose, and it was rumored that Cabernet was the true power behind her strong mate. Talk spread like wildfire around the City after word reached the ranks about who was promoted after the rutting. Indeed Pepper had been made a Concubine, having resigned her commission to be Broly's newest consort. Luki had been rejected, and stewed in agony over that slight. Her aggression was channeled into her team, which now had taken Fasha, Seripa's sister. Bardock had gotten Seripa back for his team after a hue and cry. His team was gearing up for a separate survey of more planets for Tulles trees. Ones that were devoid of intelligent life, or were on the edge of extinction.

 

How was Tomic taking it, Bharbera wanted to know? Fortunately she knew Bardock's anger did not prevent her from associating with his daughter in law. Bardock would often travel for briefings with Minister Caulif. This particular day was no exception, so Bharbera was given some Aurites to go buy them lunch at the Plaza, where many prepared foods from other planets in the Paragus collective were available. The tentative alliance Paragus had hammered out with King Cold kept them from retribution. His own hand had stopped Freiza, and slain him. Now he was all but a surrogate son to the Changelings, provided Saiyans were not used to purge life without the selling of slaves. At least Brolly valued the enslavement of inferior forms rather then slaughtering them like King Vegeta the 13th had. The Legendary had saved them, but many doubted if he were the true Legendary. Most of the splinter group preferred to worship Father Oorazu, the old religion. Others worshipped Broly as a living god, those that survived. Paragus permitted both religions to be practiced, to their desire. That and the worship of Catra, the deity of Idsarsei that many half bloods had taken since they mated with Saiyan males.

 

Nearby several female members of Bardock's team were practicing Ki shots. Two armored vests indicated Scout class, while a female with brown epaulettes and bare legs nervously looked on next to a third who had a light green vest herself. Ever since the promotion, Tomic felt as if the others were giving her a wide birth. Why the hell did Raditz see fit to give her HIS Armor anyhow? Not many third classes wore the same style, and it seemed to get her a variety of responses. Namely the attention of one of her fellow recruits named Zucchini, and a tall thin male named Mandrake who was setting up targets.

 

"Get away you clown," Zucchini stuck her tongue out at him.

 

"Hmm I've been called worse, ladies," he laughed.

 

"Don't even try it, whelp," Fasha rolled her eyes at him. "Go back over there before you further embarrass yourself."

 

"Spoilsport," Mandrake mumbled. His gleaming third class armor was black with brown straps connecting the breastplates together. He had a style similar to Toma and the other males in Bardock's squad. Tomic glared at Mandrake as he wandered over.

 

"Give me a break, you could wipe up the drool with a sponge," she commented audibly to Zucchini.

 

The Saiyan female darted around to hide behind Tomic. Zucchini growled, "I said NO!"

 

"Can it, will you," Fasha barked at him. Her young admirer quailed and stepped away under the piercing gaze of the older female. Young males knew better then to piss off a battle seasoned one such as she.

 

"Now can we get back to practice?" Tomic wondered. "I'm wondering how you can even train if you're always chasing my friend!"

 

"Um well, hehe," he laughed, before Seripa's glare sent him running in the opposite direction. He suddenly stopped, and turned back.

 

"What?" Tomic glared at him.

 

"Someone's mixing it up over there at the Plaza ladies," he mumbled. Fasha and Seripa flickered their heads in the direction of the shouts.

 

"What the heck is that?" Seripa mumbled.

 

"Sounds like someone's having a big fight," Tomic mumbled, craning her neck as she peered past Mandrake's shoulder.

 

"Stay here, whelp. Don't get your ass dragged into this," said Fasha.

 

"I'm checking it out. Don't get involved, girl," Seripa warned her.

 

"But it sounds like Bharbera!" Tomic growled as she heard another screaming hiss. Green lightening crackled over the entire area, followed by a loud scream.

 

"Stay with her! Don't interrupt unless I call for backup! Mandrake, find Bardock NOW!" Seripa shouted.

 

"Will do! C'mon," he said grabbing Zucchini's hand and whisking her after him before she could protest. There was no room for new recruits. Tomic nudged the other out of her way, and Fasha stepped aside as if she'd been stung.

 

"I don't like this," Tomic mumbled. Fasha glanced from where her sister had run to Raditz new mate. Perhaps the youth had no clue of her true status.

 

"Tomic, how well have you been practicing your signature moves?" she asked.

 

"Well enough," said Tomic. "We'd better make sure your sister is okay."

 

"I agree. Just stay with me. Don't move unless she's in over her head," mumbled Fasha.

 

"What the HELL is going on here?" Seripa gasped as she rushed up, seeing Luki rubbing her hands. Other Saiyans and slaves had gathered in a ring to watch the two figures zipping in and out. Lima and Cellulose stood nearby. A hand dropped before her, stopping her.

 

"You've been asking for this idblood bitch, " Lima laughed. Bharbera's cheek slammed against the pavement. She pushed herself up off the pad of concrete.

 

"Fourth class scum," Lima continued to jeer. She kicked her hard in the ribcage. Bharbera rolled over, laying still. As Lima approached, the cat girl rolled over, hissing as she drew her claws. Green ki crackled around her. Lima chuckled as the ki force crackled over her body, stinging her.

 

"Get LOST," Bharbera growled. "Fire tongue!"

 

A blast of hot plasma slammed into Lima, knocking her backwards. Surprised the Elite barely managed to regain her footing. "Surprisingly powerful for a drek eater. No doubt the old MAN taught you that one!"

 

"Don't you DARE call him old!" Bharbera growled, leaping onto Lima with claws drawn. A quick shift later and the Saiyan elite first class slammed her fist into the cat woman's gut, then slammed her elbow down.

 

"Pepperspray!" she laughed, hurling a series of tiny ki balls into her face. Bharbera barely managed to cross her wrists before another sphere of ki slammed her backwards. She crashed into the far wall of the Saiyan marketplex.

 

"Stay back third class. This is not your affair!" said Luki.

 

"The HELL it isn't! What the FUCK does she think she's doing!" Seripa growled, seeing Bardock's new mate getting smacked around.

 

"Stay OUT of this, lower class scum!" Luki glared at her. She hurled Seripa backwards, only to find the tough female warrior rolling over with her fangs bared.

 

"That was UNCALLED for!" Seripa glared at her. Shortly two other Third class landed near the circle of observers, seeing Seripa glaring angrily at Luki.

 

"Sister, what's going on… hey!" Fasha yelled, hearing screams and shouts.

 

"Merely a rite of satisfaction," said Luki. "You're under direct orders NOT to interfere. Got it?"

 

"Drek," Tomic mumbled as she stumbled up from the arena. She heard the yowling noise of combat.

 

"That's BHARBERA!" Seripa realized, seeing the clouds of dust dissipate. "How can you just STAND there and let her get knocked around, you KNOW it's an uneven fight!"

 

"Mind your place! You interfere at your own peril!" Luki snarled, shoving Seripa back towards Fasha.

 

"The hell she is!" Tomic suddenly burst out. "Who the HELL do you think you are? If you think we're just going to stand by and let my FRIEND get massacred!"

 

"Oh, well what have we here? Drekface got a promotion did she?" Luki snickered as she saw Tomic push her way between her friends.

 

"Go help her, and I'll take care of this!" Tomic growled.

 

"Are you NUTS?" Seripa glanced at her.

 

"You really think you can take me, child?" Luki laughed.

 

"Either let us through or we'll find OUT!" Tomic glared at her, standing in a defensive position. "Call off your pet or else I'll go in there MYSELF!"

 

"You can't order her around," said Seripa, glancing at Luki.

 

"All right you stupid bitch, go ahead. You think you purger primes are so fucking smart, you get yourself killed!" Luki laughed, letting Tomic past. The other third class and slaves parted to let Tomic through, glaring at her armor warily as if she was going to pound them. A few other third class with similar configuration blinked at her.

 

"Huh, you're newly promoted," said one of them, named Parsnip. "Come for the fun?"

 

"Shut up," Tomic glared at him, and pushed her way to the front. Her eyes tracked the two females exchanging rapid-fire blows. Angrily she zipped out, then shot in front of Bharbera crumpled on the ground. Her crossed wrists intercepted the energy blast surging towards her. A blinding flash blew Tomic's hair back at the same time pushing her backward with its force.

 

Seripa zipped out of Luki's sight range to crouch next to Bharbera. Carefully she picked up Bardock's made who lay in a heap broken like a cheap doll. A second later she blasted off towards the nearest regeneration tank facility while Tomic provided a much-needed diversion. Eyes focused on Luki's prime recruit and second in command, the young Lima.

 

"Who dares!" she growled.

 

"Are you INSANE? What's SHE ever done to you?" Tomic glared at her.

 

"Oh give me a break. A Purger Third class thinking she stands a chance against an Elite palace guard?" laughed Lima, shaking long black braids out of her face.

 

"Oh hell, so that's what it means," she grumbled, kicking herself for her stupidity.

 

"Better not spoil yourself on drek like that idblood. IF you have any sense you won't interfere. This is between me and that genetic trash," Lima laughed.

 

"Some big warrior. Picking on someone who can't fight back. You're really mighty, you know," Tomic snorted at her.

 

"You shouldn't mess around. If Nappa finds out you damaged his newest recruit," called out Chablis, who suddenly pushed her way to the front of the circle. "Tomic, what are you doing girl, stay out of this!"

 

"Don't say I didn't warn you, Purger Third Class. You're one of Nappa's little recruits, huh? Stupid fool thinks he can make himself…"

 

"Don't you dare mock my father, space trash," Chablis snarled.

 

"One at a time," said Luki, shoving her way to block Chablis. "If the newbie Purger wants to get smeared, why should you stop her from defending your sire's honor?"

 

"I'll enjoy wiping that smirk off your face! Third Class Purger primes may be the top of the caste, but you're still scum!"

 

"Just shut up and fight me if you're going to, before I fall asleep," Tomic mumbled. Both warriors circled, Tomic keeping both arms raised at her sides while Lima crouched with one hand held before her head and the other held back.

 

"YEAHHH!" Lima shouted, vanishing. Tomic levitated up, then rolled to the side, blindly punching as the Elite shot forwards. Her hand managed to smash into the newer armor, diverting the punch that would have doubled her over. She'd seen Nappa do that basic move, and rolled out of the way of the second blow, a fist to the face. Another shift from the side caught her vision as Lima shot out with another vicious kick. Tomic ducked under that then swept her leg under to knock Lima off balance with both hands pressed to the pavement. She leapt back, hands raised.

 

"Venom blast!" Lima shrieked, hurling a ki ball towards her.

 

Raising her palm Tomic forged a sphere of glowing purple light. She shouted, "Saturday CRUSH!" Tomic hurled on of her own, exploding the low-grade blast in a flash of light. Clearly from the flickering scouter readings the Elite was just toying with her. Heart pounding she realized that she might well end up half dead with the levels of power radiating of the other warrior.

 

"Not bad, for a Third Class. I've seen that move before, but can't remember it," mumbled Lima.

 

"I'll be damned. That's one of Sgt. Raditz' moves," Luki mused tapping her chin. "But can she do anything herself?"

 

"Hey drekface, can you counter this?" laughed Lima. "Now see if you can follow t his…"

 

"Firefly!"

 

"Atomic Flux," she gasped, summoning three small spheres. They spun around her body, whizzing in small orbits along the X, Y and Z-axes. Small blasts peppered her, but each independent arc stopped them.

 

"Cute, very cute for a Third Class. But that doesn't mean drek!" Lima laughed at her. One of the small ki balls whizzed out, flashing right into the Elite's face. Tomic sent the others past her then struggled to bring them back. Soon they were whirling around the Elite to distract her concentration. Angrily she zipped out, then aimed a kick at Tomic's torso. She rolled back, wheezing as Raditz armor yielded but didn't crack under the strain. Lima laughed watching the warrior crash into a nearby wall.

 

"Whoa," gasped Chablis.

 

She lay there, stunned and shaking her head with the eruption of fire in her belly. "Tomic, get up!" voices yelled.

 

"Get up, get up and stand!" Seripa shouted, as Fasha held her back. "You're a Purger! Show this bitch us Third Class aren't pushovers!"

 

"C'mon, get up!" hollered Fasha. "You can do it!"

 

"Wait for it, Lima. Let the drekface get up and see if she's standing," Luki shouted. Lima waited, surging power along her long braid as she watched the third Class purger push herself to a leaning position. Tomic felt anger and humiliation surging through her. At that moment she rolled painfully into a defensive crouch. Lima was lanky and tall, while she was compact and sturdier. Most Third Class females were of smaller stature but larger muscle mass.

 

"I'll give you a little moment to regain your strength," Lima said.

 

"RAAAAHH!" Tomic snarled, deciding to risk a direct attack. She zipped out, and then saw Lima jump aside. She sloppily yanked Lima's braid and slammed her elbow into the other Saiyan's face. Grabbing the long braid she played crack the whip and swung the astonished girl around.

 

"You BITCH!" yowled Lima, crashing into the far wall. A chorus of laughter echoed from the third class contingent.

 

"How the hell am I supposed to take this," Tomic wondered. Then it hit her. Why play around when she had a perfectly good move that might do the work then and there. She rolled painfully to her feet, struggling to gain her energies. Brown hair crackled with the power that she gathered.

 

"Oh, we're going to charge up are we? I'll play. This next attack will end this now. No matter what you try, I'm going to wipe the floor with you!" Lima taunted. A loud hissing from her throat emanated like steam from a kettle. Lightening crackled over her body, drawing the energies from around her. Tomic crouched just as she had seen Nappa do, desperately pulling as much purple ki towards her. It would be hardly enough, but it might just save her butt long enough till someone stopped this.

 

"Don't waste it all, kid!" came Chablis' voice in her mind.

 

"I can't run and hide. I know I can do this," said Tomic.

 

"Be careful," Chablis nodded, suddenly realizing what the third class was doing.

 

"Tidal… flux…" growled Lima, gathering energy in waves. They began to swirl and circulate as she gathered them in whirlpool like rings. Angrily she threw her arms in a scissors motion, sending them in ever-increasing ripples. "WAVE!"

 

"Oh crap," mumbled Cellulose.

 

"Wait," mumbled Chablis, looking at Tomic. She raised her gauntlet, standing her ground against the first crash. Raditz armor dissipated the brunt of it, as she struggled to continue to build up her power. Crouching under the area of effect she realized she had to act as the bombardment increased. Liquid fire slammed into her with the force of concrete, making it impossible to stand. Pain crackled over her, and she suppressed the scream. Fortunately her greater mass was making it harder for the waves to push her off her feet.

 

"Disintegrate!" Tomic screamed, flicking two fingers upwards. Lightening crackled, crashing down near the tidal force. Caught in the black warp, Lima gasped as the energy snaked over hers. One of her waves slammed into Tomic full force, hurtling her towards the wall. The next second everyone heard the loud outraged scream of Lima surging with sizzling lightening similar to Nappa's trademark attack.

 

"She didn't," Cellulose blinked.

 

"Rough, but enough to stop her," Chablis nodded grimly. Standing there panting Lima saw her armor fall off in tiny pieces. She let out another scream, seeing her body under the scrutiny of the laughing gathered throng.

 

"You, BITCH! That was my BEST armor! I'll KILL YOU!" she ranted. Tomic glanced through a red miasma of pain, feeling her ribs possibly cracked. Breath wheezed, and she was glad to be coherent enough to see the half-naked Elite screaming and ranting at her.

 

"Enough!" Chablis yelled. "Luki, she's proved her point."

 

"Pathetic. Is THAT all you can do?" Luki rolled her eyes.

 

"I'm going to KILL you!" Lima ranted, cupping her palms to gather a gleaming sphere of ki. She hurled it towards Tomic, who barely held up her arm to block it. At the same time Raditz materialized before Tomic. She glanced up into his frowning face. His one hand extended as he gathered his force to block.

 

Lima's blast slammed into Raditz's hands, but he surged his own beam to block it. Sweat poured down his forehead as he pitted his Double Sundae against the second class' beam.

 

"You will share her fate," Lima snapped.

 

"Don't make me LAUGH. I'm far better then you!" Raditz shouted.

 

"Get him, knock him down!" Luki yelled. Her hand blazed with a sphere of energy that she hurled towards Raditz.

 

"That's not fair!" shouted Seripa. "You cheated!"

 

"Riot Javelin!" someone grunted. A green sphere slammed into Luki's blast, diverting its course over the heads of the crowd. Simultaneously Bardock zipped in front of Luki, his hands raised in a defensive gesture. Another green sphere shot out, hitting Luki in the breadbasket. She shot backwards with the force of the blow into the gathered crowd.

 

"Did I break your mate, bitch boy?" Lima mumbled. "Too bad!"

 

"Why you…" Raditz snarled, his hair standing on end like a porcupine. "RRRAAAGH!" Raditz snarled, shoving Lima back with his beam so she was knocked off balance. The other second class crumpled to the ground.

 

"Easy love I'm here," Raditz whispered softly, gathering Tomic close to him. He knelt on one knee, supporting her head and shoulders. Blood dribbled down her cheeks coughed up in hacking wheezes.

 

Meanwhile Luki was shoved to her feet, facing off against Bardock. Spitting out blood she glared at him meanly, "What the fuck are you doing here, you old man?"

 

"Don't even start with me you worthless bitch," Bardock shouted back.

 

"Stand down, Luki. You didn't play fair," said Chablis, moving towards her. Red ki flared around Luki's fist, matching Bardock's in intensity.

 

"Oh shit, you're in trouble now," Seripa smirked at Luki. He glared towards Luki and the others that stared in his direction. "Who's responsible for this! Answer me!" he snarled.

 

"She is," Tomic coughed, as Raditz gently gathered her onto his bent knee.

 

"What do you think you were doing, idiot!" Raditz whispered fiercely. "You could have been KILLED!"

 

"They were hurting Bharbera! Was I just supposed to watch Father's mate get killed?" she glared up at him.

 

"Is that so? Was what she said true?" Raditz blinked, astonished at the situation.

 

A quiet murmur of assent came through the crowd. Chablis glanced around anxiously. "It's true, Raditz. She was just defending her friend."

 

"You damn bet on it!" Seripa shouted. "And I'll stand in line to kick this bitch's ASS!"

 

"Let me handle this, boy," Bardock growled, throwing his hand backwards. "For once listen and stay down!"

 

"Call them off, Lu. This is not helping you," Chablis shouted, flashing to life before Luki. Only ten feet separated them. Biting her lip Luki shook her head once more.

 

"I told them not to get involved. And I suppose now you're going to call your Father to bail your ass out," Luki mumbled.

 

"You're in trouble. Lima's going to get seriously in over her head. Since Tomic's the newest member of my father's team!" Chablis snapped at her.

 

"Is she now? I had wondered why a Third Class Purger dared try a higher echelon move," Luki rubbed her chin. Peering over Chablis shoulder she saw Raditz carefully help his mate to his feet. Tomic coughed up more blood, amazed she could still think coherently. Every bone in her body screamed out in pain. Protectively her mate slid an arm around her hips, catching her when she tried to step forwards.

 

"Your bitch of a daughter in law stepped into it! Don't' blame me! I warned her it wasn't her business, and it isn't yours, old man!" Lima shrilled, accepting a large animal pelt to wrap around her body. The rest of her armor disintegrated into black dust, landing at her feet. Several Saiyans hid chuckles behind gauntlet hands pressed to their mouths. Limping over, she raised her fist to generate a glowing ki ball aimed at Bardock. Dark eyes glared from under brows knit beneath the dark red headband.

 

"I'll say this only once. After what you did to Bharbera you're should thank Great Father Oorazu that I don't fry your ass here and now. And as for Tomic, you'd best leave her alone, bitch," Bardock glared at Lima. She held her top together with her hands overtop her breasts, panting and glaring at Luki.

 

"I demand he stay out of this!" Lima shrilled.

 

"This is pointless. Get your ass out of here, Lieutenant," Luki snorted. "Go report to the armory and get a suitable replacement. This bet's off."

 

"Thank you," Chablis called out to her.

 

"How dare you let this bitch hurt my Bharbera," Bardock growled, staring acidly in Luki's direction. "Whatever happened you shouldn't have let it go this far!"

 

"The concerns of Idbloods are not my realm," said Luki, calmly looking at her long nails. "She insulted Lima, Lima demanded Satisfaction. You should be glad they didn't transform. Besides, your whelp's idiot mate saved her ass. And I suppose you're going to help them both, old man?"

 

"Is this your idea of a JOKE? I'm sure Commander Turles won't be too happy if he finds out," Bardock glared at the unfazed and irritated Lieutenant Commander. "But if it's a fight you want, I'll be HAPPY to give you one."

 

"Like you could take me!" laughed Luki.

 

"He will have a little help," Seripa said firmly, striding over and standing next to her leader. Several other members of his team zipped into view as well.

 

"You really are pissing me off," Luki panted.

 

"This is not going to look good on your record," said Raditz with a mean grin. He assisted Tomic in moving to stand near Chablis.

 

"Now what the hell is all this noise, huh?" cut the harsh voice of Nappa through the crowd. He suddenly materialized next to where Raditz stood with Tomic.

 

"Father, some people getting out of hand," Chablis murmured, finding her way to his side.

 

"This Drekface harmed Tomic," said Raditz quickly.

 

"You picked a fight with one of my squad, is that it? Can't you keep your little cat fights out of our way?" Nappa glared at Luki.

 

"Commander I can explain!" Luki gasped. "Your soldier got in a private matter. I said so to the old man, and I'm saying to you. If she hadn't…"

 

"You're an honery little thing, aren't you?" Nappa laughed harshly, striding up to Luki. "Hey, get lost! Shows over! SCRAM!"

 

"You heard him, MOVE!" Raditz snarled, raising one hand. A purple sphere exploded harmlessly to punctuate his point. Saiyan observers either flew or strode away.

 

"Commander, with all due respect, I protest this!" Luki glared at him. "Your soldier interrupted my rite of Satisfaction."

 

"I'm sure you'll love to tell the whole story of how your bitch fight almost stopped a prime mission for the Master," Nappa grinned, leering down into her face. Luki swallowed hard, backing up a bit from the seasoned warrior whose hand crackled at his side.

 

"But… I…" she gasped.

 

"Don't mess with me little girl. You wanna play, I'll play," Nappa grinned evilly. "Just stay the fuck away from my squad and we'll forget this, won't we?"

 

"Yes sir," she nodded, seeing the lightening snaking over his form.

 

"Boo," Nappa laughed, stamping his foot. Luki shot backwards, screaming to her squad.

 

"Get the hell back to training! Show's over ladies!" she whistled. Seripa and Fasha gave one another a same look.

 

"Later, sis," Fasha nodded, falling into line after Luki's brigade. When they were alone, Nappa turned to face the livid Bardock and his eldest son. Both wore identical expressions of fury on their faces.

 

"Father, I didn't expect you to step in," Raditz said quietly.

 

"Well, you'd be bitching and moaning for the next ten revs," Bardock snorted. "Make sure you keep a better watch on your mate."

 

"Thanks for saving her ass, old man," said Nappa, glancing at him. "You okay, girl?"

 

"What the fuck was all this about," Tomic spat blood into her hand.

 

"You dumb broad, you trying to get yourself killed before the real fun starts, eh?" Nappa laughed down at her. "Nice little trick. But next time know what the fuck you're doing before you try one of my moves, got it?"

 

"You saw?" she asked.

 

"Couldn't miss it. Not nearly as big as one of mine, but you learn fast. Pretty ambitious for a third class. You put her up to this, old man?" Nappa asked, whacking Bardock on the back.

 

"I have NO responsibility. Now if you two blowhards don't mind I'm making sure my mate is all right since that worthless sod beat the shit out of her. Damn I swear I'll kill that bitch, elite or not!" Bardock snarled, baring his teeth.

 

"Easy there, Bard," mumbled Seripa. "She's not worth it. C'mon, let's see to Barb."

 

"I'll make sure there are no more accidents, Professor. Just you make sure you don't screw with our training, hear?" said Nappa to Bardock.

 

"Don't give me a reason to. And you take care of your mate, kid. I'm not going to pull her ass out of the fire if she's stupid enough to take on an elite," Bardock glared at him. "Honestly, what are you two teaching her?"

 

"Sorry," Tomic mumbled, spitting out more blood.

 

"Don't be," Bardock said, moving over and wiping blood off her face. "I guess I should thank you. Stupid or not, I owe you one."

 

"I thought you were pissed at me," she said.

 

"Never mind that. Just go train with your commander. Enough time's been wasted," Bardock snorted derisively.

 

"Father," Raditz grunted, holding Tomic close to his hip.

 

"Stay safe, girl," Bardock said, glancing back and forth. When he was sure Nappa wasn't looking because he started talking to his daughter, Bardock leaned down and kissed Tomic on the forehead. His dark eyes held the gratitude his gruff voice did not.

 

"You're a lucky girl," said Seripa, glancing at her. "Don't be so foolhardy again. You didn't see she had a power of 18,000?"

 

"I wasn't looking at the scouter," said Tomic quietly.

 

"You could have transformed," said Bardock. "Didn't I teach you my latest little trick? I know you saw me do it at least once."

 

"I hadn't thought of it," she muttered.

 

"Remember it," he said.

 

"C'mon you slugs, lets GO!" Nappa barked. "We're due at the training course NOW!"

 

"What about Tomic?" asked Raditz.

 

"Get her a tank. That mess should only take an hour. Not bad timing cause you'll get a bit stronger girl," he leered down at her.

 

"You actually were 2,500 for a moment," Raditz said as he helped Tomic to walk beside him. She stumbled, dragging heavily on his hip. Grunting he leaned down and picked her up in his arms effortlessly. They turned their backs to Bardock and Seripa who stood with worried frowns covering amusement.

 

"She's unusually stupid and brave," Seripa mumbled.

 

"Humph, she's as foolish as that useless son of mine," Bardock grunted. He blasted off quickly in the direction of the regeneration center, followed by his subordinate female team member.

In the local regeneration center, several Saiyans were being tended to in the massive ward of regeneration tanks. Those not badly hurt as others had to wait in line as many had suffered injuries from the round of basic training. Elite and Second class had priority over Third, but thanks to Bardock's clout in the Science division, his mate had easily gotten time. Considering Turles was his commander, which did not hurt either. Plus the minister in charge of that particular ward was a Royalist loyal to the house of Vejitasei, something that was considered a secret society.

 

Two other Royalists waited for a tank in the Third Class area. Raditz fussed over his mate Tomic, sitting near her on a narrow examination cot. He had basic field medicine as many Purgers did, and had taken the role of judging if she needed the tank time or not. Both of them whispered quietly, hoping that Bardock's mate would pull through.

 

"What WERE you thinking?" Raditz grumbled, as he leaned over Tomic. She grumbled as he stripped off the pieces of her armor.

 

"Excuse me for caring, sheesh!" she glared up at him.

 

"You should have called me," Raditz said sternly, leaning over her as he grabbed her chin. "I would have handled it."

 

"What and by then Bharbera would be DEAD," she spat.

 

"True," Raditz sighed. He sat down next to her on the small bed, then helped pull the armored breastplate off. He examined her bruised side, slowly feeling the bones.

 

"OWW!" she growled. Opening a vial of paste he started to rub it into the welts, then pulled off the tights that covered her chest. Fortunately the limited coverage gave him ready access to the welts and scrapes on her arms and thighs.

 

"Shut up and let me clean this. There will only be a few scars, but you're fortunate she didn't break more bones. She was three times your power," Raditz mumbled.

 

"She's still a bitch," said Tomic, hissing under her breath at the stinging qualities of the cream tingling. Raditz surged golden ki all over her, channeling it into her body to accelerate the healing compounds.

 

"Still this will benefit you. I can see you added 400 to your level," he mumbled, checking the numbers on his scouter.

 

"You said I needed a tank," she mumbled.

 

"This way," he said, walking her over and then levitating her in. She felt the liquid surge around her as he attached electrodes and shoved a mask over her face.

 

"Thank your fortunes I know how to set this up," he mumbled. "Stupid medics are patching up other idiots."

 

"Sir, you can let me do that!" said Cellulose as he walked over.

 

"Mind your own damn business, fool," Raditz snarled. Cellulose darted off, tail between his legs.

 

"What?" Tomic glanced at him as he closed the lid.

 

"I don't want him around you. He can't keep his mind on his own mate," mumbled Raditz. He pulled up a chair and sat down, folding his knees.

 

"You don't need to wait."

 

"I want to make sure this damn thing works. And We won't always have this time together," he said, resting his hand on the glass. She lifted her hand to touch his, eyes slowly shutting as she succumbed to the liquid.

"Not bad. This added 400 to her rating," mumbled a voice. She blinked, glancing up into the faces of her mate and commanding officers. A tall white cloaked figure stood nearby, his eyes dark and familiar. For a moment it seemed like Bardock, but then she realized it was Turles.

 

"I will see that she's reprimanded. I don't like it when my team is caught between hers," Turles grumbled as he started up at Tomic.

 

"Still, Luki did us a favor. The girl's on the outer limit of a female third class. She's at 2000 now," said Nappa, punching buttons on his scouter.

 

"Hmm, that's only 1000 below your resting state," Turles glanced at Raditz.

 

"I think that she'll be able to do what will be asked of her, sir," Raditz inclined his head.

 

"I heard about your Father's mate. How is she doing?" asked Turles.

 

"We don't know," Raditz mumbled. He glanced over at the regeneration tank next to them where Bardock sat with his back resting against it. His eyes were shut, head bowed down on his chest as he slumbered. Bharbera floated in the sea of regen fluid, her life force flickering at 300.

 

"Sloppy. Luki is playing with fire. If you'll excuse me I'll take care of this matter. Will she be ready to leave in a week?" asked Turles.

 

"You got clearance?" asked Nappa.

 

"Today, Lord Paragus approved the contract. I'll transport you as far as the west quadrant. The space pods are equipped to take the rest of the trip while I take your father's team for survey," said Turles.

 

"Good," Nappa nodded.

 

"I think she's ready to come out," said one of the technicians.

 

"You're a tough little thing," Turles said as he rested a hand on the glass.

 

"There's a good reason for it, considering you share a common element," Raditz said quietly as he looked at his superior.

 

"I was not remiss in making sure that Tomoku lived on in some manner. Don't look so surprised, small one. We're all one happy family here," Turles said as he snapped his fingers. Fluid surged down as the tank drained. Tomic grabbed at the mask, pounding on the glass. The technician quickly pulled open the tank and she landed in her mate's arms.

 

"What the HELL does that mean?" Tomic coughed.

 

"Merely that you and I have much in common," Turles said as he leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Don't disappoint your mate."

 

"I don't see…"

 

"Shall I tell them or shall you?" asked Turles.

 

"Tell me what? Is Bharbera okay?"

 

"She'll be well I hope," Turles said, laying his arm on her shoulders. "And I heard that you had quite a time with Bharbera's tormentor. Though you could have asked your mate or myself for help. But you did well for a third class."

 

"And what has that to do with you sir?"

 

"Merely that Luki will have quite a problem considering that her subordinate harmed you. Considering that you and I share blood and genes," Turles said smoothly.

 

"What?"

 

"Where do you think your 'father' found your tail, love? I was not remiss in thinking you worthy of that which was once my sister's," he whispered.

 

"OH hell," she swooned, dropping into a chair. He leaned over her, resting a hand on her shoulder, then swiping a piece of hair from her face.

 

"Make sure she's rested enough. We leave shortly," he glanced at all of them. With a last look at Tomic he strode out of the regeneration ward. Still Bardock pressed his face into his hands, green ki crackling around his fist pressed to one knee.

 

Tomic climbed up and wandered over in just her AE spandex. Crouching near him she touched his shoulder. "I'm sorry," she said.

 

"What for?" he mumbled, rubbing his face.

 

"I hope it works out," she said, squeezing his hand. The others blinked at the unfamiliar gesture.

 

"Don't worry about her or me. Worry about what that bitch is going to look like when the Commander gets hold of her," Bardock said, gently brushing her hand away. "Now go to your mate woman, and get back to your training."

 

"Are you sure…"

 

"Don't fuss," he said firmly, though his dark eyes gleamed with gratitude. Nodding, she rose to her feet and wandered over to stand next to where Raditz stood with her armor neatly cleaned and repaired.

 

"Come woman, let's go get some food," he urged. Holding out the armor to her, he waited. She took it from him, then reached for his extended hand. Not knowing what else to do in the silence she let Raditz lead her away from the center.

 

"Did I step on a duck," she asked.

 

"There is no need to show such trifles. Though your concern is appreciated, and not unexpected since you're a female, it's wasted on upper class," he said.

 

"Oh, so I should have been a cold bitch?" she asked. Raditz lifted a brow.

 

"Perhaps there will always be part of you that is sentimental. But in time you should learn to keep that to yourself," he murmured, giving her hand a squeeze.

 

"What I act like off the job is my business. I'll smash or trash and act like a bitch during the missions, but don't expect me to forget basic manners," she said. "Or do you want me to be a brainless bitch version of our fearless leader?"

 

"Hmm, I'd rather not," he said, reaching down and sweeping her up into his arms. A cracking swat landed against her backside after he balanced her on one shouldered of his armor.

 

"HEY you ass!" she growled as another playful slap cracked against her spandex covered backside.

 

"Food and clothes, you've been VERY naughty getting your tail into trouble. Honestly what did I teach you about fighting battles beyond you?" Raditz scolded. He was mainly doing this for effect of the other Saiyans that walked by, showing his dominance. Tomic bit her tongue knowing that to such an action females were expected to be silent.

 

"Fine, whatever," she mumbled, letting him carry her off like a caveman. This wasn't too far off because Saiyans DID live in caves as she saw from Bardock's history tapes of the building of their previous home world.

 

He finally did sit her down on a bench, and she managed to put on the newly repaired armor. He knelt before her, affectionately batting her hands away from the straps so he could fasten them. "I can do this in my sleep. You're supposed to let ME care for you as you finish healing!"

 

"I can dress myself, dork," she mumbled. A low growl slipped into her voice, and it shivered her with horror and surprise. A fuzzy haze had slipped over whatever source to the emotions, and a hot impulse replaced it. Images and impulses once alien seemed to make much more sense to her brain.

 

"What's wrong?" Raditz asked gruffly. "Look at me, what's going on in that head of yours, female?"

 

"Usually women ask men what they're thinking," she mumbled, leaping off the bench. Aches and pains were gone, and she felt reasonably normal. It dawned on her she had hardly spent much time in a regeneration tank, and this was the first major injury since training, that had assaulted her in her transformed state.

 

"You did add a considerable amount to your battle power," Raditz nodded, grasping her hip with his hand and giving it a squeeze. "Perhaps some good DID come of that."

 

Grabbing up the white headpiece he slid it over her ear and adjusted the settings. His own resting state assumed an easy 3200 to her shock, while she saw a bleeping number flicker to rest on a number that shocked her. "2200," she mumbled, looking at her scouter.

 

"Your body's still strengthening after the healing. Doubtless you feel much better now?" Raditz asked. "But we must be wary because regeneration tanks will be few and far between where we're going. Only the med kits will be available."

 

"Fasha and Seripa are barely half of what I am. What gives," she mused. "And your dad."

 

"Father was hit far too many times. But fully powered up his strength equals 10000 easily," said Raditz quietly.

 

"So what was that shit about you being more powerful then him?" she asked.

 

"I've learned a technique to suppress my true power level," Raditz whispered. Her eyes widened.

 

"That's right. A trick from the Prince," said Raditz, taking her hand in his and squeezing it tightly. "I'll show you. And when you see him I'm certain he will deign to…"

 

"You know him very well don't you? The Prince?"

 

Raditz nodded. "And you will as well. I'll brief you as to keep from angering him…"

 

"He doesn't suffer fools gladly and he hates weakness," she said. Raditz nodded.

 

"Just do as I say and you'll be fine, love," Raditz promised. "Now let's go back to the training after we get food."

 

Hours later after a hard day of training, Raditz and Tomic stopped in one of the local mess halls with a few of the other ones of their station. Music pulsed through the joint, and she saw the typical Idsarjin women dancing with their striped bodies and swaying tails. Normal slaves wouldn't be of any use on Alvegasei. Only Destroyers had a shot at it. Tomic felt like she wanted to get staggering drunk, but the Saiyan metabolism wasn't making it easy. Tomic blinked at the cracked bones piled on the plates before her.

 

Males and females sat together, swapping battle tales. She sat on her mate's knee, as he nudged her, "So, tell them of your victory."

 

"C'mon, tell them how you kicked tail," Seripa slurred, leaning heavily on Toma's shoulder. Other members of Bardock's team along with Chablis and Cellulose all sat at a long table. Although it was mainly a third class establishment, a few Seconds moved from one section to another with an Idsarjin pleasure girl on their arm or for the female Saiyans a tall Idsarjin male.

 

"What will it be, ma'am?" asked a tall specimen with black and silver streaks in his hair.

 

"More of this stuff," she held up her goblet. Nodding he filled it from the pitcher, and she swigged most of it down before clearing her throat. Tomic felt the liberation of her tongue, and began to tell the small incident that grew into a blow by blow added by Seripa's imagination.

 

"22 fucking hundred, do you get it? She's fucking twenty two hundred!" Seripa laughed, grabbing Tomic's arm and shaking it.

 

"Not under the moonlight," she said. Everyone else was continuing to gorge and pour vast amounts of beverage down their throats. A buzz settled in Tomic's mind as the haze of intoxication caught up. The grog was highly concentrated stuff like beer, and it was slamming her through and through.

 

"One more!" called Raditz, waving to the bartender. Cellulose slammed face first into a bowl of Tanzanian blood pudding. Chablis groaned, shaking her head.

 

"How's that for an id… idblood?" Tomic laughed.

 

"You, no fucking way," Seripa laughed, giggling like a schoolgirl. Her sister wandered in, holding her mate's arm. They settled around the long table, joining the general melee as the party continued on.

 

"If you think this is fun, you should take her to Mr. Zocolotto's Emporium on Orchydsei," Toma said to Raditz.

 

"That's a reward if you pass training love," he said.

 

"Best pleasure girls this side of… no wait, you're mated," laughed Fasha. "Whoops."

 

"I'm intoxicated," Tomic giggled, rubbing her blood-flushed face. Raditz slammed down his twentieth grog and let out an inelegant belch like the others had several minutes ago.

 

"Let's go love," he said, pushing Tomic off his lap and then dragging her along with him. Giggling still she stumbled next to her mate out into the cool of the encroaching night.

 

"Am I sozzled or are we smashed?" she asked.

 

"Mmm, a bit. But we'll see how straight we can fly before going home," Raditz whispered.

 

"Do I have to drive?" Tomic asked.

 

"Eh?" Raditz snickered.

 

"The designated flyer," she hiccupped.

 

“How amusing love,” he chuffed.

 

Raditz leaned down and swept her up, then levitated a bit haphazardly into the air. Silvery stars gleamed like a field of stellar daisies. Under them the lights of the population centers dropped into constellations of their own. Vast tracts of jungle spread like black patches as they shot forwards. Raditz was having a deuce of a time, and Tomic dropped off him to fly alongside of him. Both of them were giddy and drunk, pushing all worries out of their minds before the next day's departure.

 

"Are you happy precious one?" Raditz laughed, dropping down on Bardock's front platform.

 

"Where are we… hic… I thought Daddy dearest was angry with us," she hiccupped.

 

"I don't think… he'd like to be called that," Raditz chuckled, grabbing her against him as she dizzily stumbled along.

 

They entered the force field, Tomic singing some strange song at the top of her lungs. Raditz marveled at the words that were in some language that wasn't Saiyanese but the lost language of her old world. "Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never…

 

"Who's old enzyme?" Raditz asked.

 

"It's Auld lang synne," she said, leaning against him as they tripped over the nearest pile of books. Both of them tumbled headlong on the floor, Raditz under her.

 

"What the fuck is a lang sine?" he chuckled.

 

"I don' the hell know!" she giggled, laughing so hard she found it hard to breath. Raditz shoved her down, nipping her ear and nuzzling her neck. Tomic reached up and kissed him hard.

 

"Mmm," he purred, rolling her over under his armored weight. Giddy and drunk on sensation as well, she parted her knees to let Raditz shift his armored groin against hers. Fingers gripped and scratched exposed skin. Shoving her hair back he bit hard along her shoulder and nape of her neck by her pulse. Doing the same, Tomic worked her way to the scab that seemed familiar. A sharp pain in her neck alerted her to what he was doing, and she did the same, drinking heavily of the blood spurting into her lips.

 

"So sweet," she whispered.

 

"I love… this…" he growled, squeezing her breasts through the side of the armor.

 

Before long he found the hidden clasps and pulled it up off her. Soon he pulled her hands to help him, and they were topless before one another. Armor lay scattered except for their wrist guards and boots. Tomic looked up into his dark eyes suddenly feeling his hand slide down and grip the base of her tail. She felt a sudden spasm of pain that rendered her with a wash of sensation, trembling as wetness moved through her system. He thrust hard as she parted her legs, slamming her down into the ground with hard pushes of his hips.

 

Tomic shrilled his name, slamming up as she scratched long furrows on his back. Uninhibited she felt the sparks of energy in his hair like static electricity. Gold and purple ki surged in a strange indoor aurora casting its ribbons along the ceiling and walls. A burst of it slammed in her groin as she clenched on his pulsing member. Both of them trembled as one, and she heard Raditz roars mingle with her own. Bleeding and sweaty she lay under her mate, panting with joy.

 

"I love you," she whispered, kissing his ear. Raditz laid his head between her breasts, nipping them lightly.

 

"I know," he whispered. "You and I are one. Don't forget that. Are you happy love?"

 

"Yes," she nodded, realizing that she seemed to have forgotten the cold twists of dread. Tomic nuzzled him and Raditz shifted his hips inside her again.

 

"Shall we continue here, or in bed?"

 

"I don't give a damn, just take me," she whispered. Raditz rolled her over so she was on top and began to pound up into her. Tomic threw back her head and let Raditz show her how much satisfaction they could bring one another.

 

A week later, the first purging operation of Tomic was underway. It was not going according to her expectations. They had all met their employers, the Mantissans who wanted several worlds cleared. Since Tomic had not been sent off world as a whelp, she had done her service in other manners. Now she had to prove her worth.

 

As brassy suns beamed overhead on her world, Tomic could smell the iron scent of blood. Frightened faces as a strange illness mottled the skins of the Delphinians on Quetzal 2.  Within her stomach Tomic felt the swimming as she inhaled hot brassy sun blaring down.  All around her feet cracked the vast grounds of an arid plain.  Smoke rose up in the distance from a small gleaming metal monstrosity training its vast muzzle forwards.  Hot blinding sun blasted with white-hot intensity, sweeping the arc of an already smoldering city.  

“Help us, the Aridians are attacking again!” screamed the local inhabitants.

“Who… what…” Tomic blinked.  She was there again, on that training mission.  To show what she was made of.  A small planet once blue with oceans was now becoming desert at a fast pace.  Two factions warred, the Aridians who were surface dwellers, and the Delphinians, the sentient air breathing mammals that inhabited the small pools of saline water still surviving on the planet's surface.  Dessert brush and tumbleweeds flourished with large spiny cacti.

For years the spots had speckled the Delphinians.  Tomic within days of arriving had sat back to observe the two races.  Knowing that their fate was sealed the instant she touched down.  They had let her craft sit in the dunes and kept tabs on her from afar, too worried about the next heat ray burning.

“Please help us!” called another voice.  “You're the most powerful, starfaller!”

“You don't want my help,” Tomic said as small children huddled behind her.  She sat in the shelter of a huge ruined wall.  Heat rays fizzled the charred flesh from around her.  Growling, she levitated up into full view of the war machines.  Large lenses focused the rays of the twin suns with decimating strength.  Like a child frying ants with a simple magnifier the Aridians used their solar power well.  

“You there!” Tomic shouted as she hurtled forwards.  “Prepare to be exterminated like the fools you are!”

“As if a weak mammal like you possessed the power to destroy us,” echoed the laughter through a loudspeaker.

“Atomic BLAST!” Tomic growled.  She spanned wide her arms, gathering the surging crackling energies into a small sphere.  Raising one finger, she aimed her opposite hand, clutching the energies with her left.  Through her arm the ki channeled, surging in a purple cone that aimed its beam forwards.  One machine after the other melted like hot wax in the sun.  The cries and screams of the soldiers in each vehicle overpowered that of the dying in the Delphinium capitol city.

“You wiped them out,” said a frightened voice.  

“This planet is dying,” Tomic said as she crouched down at the quivering creatures sidling up to her.  Around her lay the bodies of the Delphian shock troops, flash fried.  Her scouter beeped with only pitifully small traces.  She examined the mottled skin on the shiny creatures blue bodies, noting the varying degrees of skin lesions.

“Please help us,” whispered another.

“Are you the only ones here?” Tomic asked, dropping to one knee.  

“The big people are gone.  They got sick, like us,” said another braver youth, fixing gold eyes into hers.  They were all large as saucers.

“You fell from the sky in the desert.  You blew up the bad guys before, I saw you,” said a third youth, brushing wet tendrils of scant hair from his speckled forehead.

“How long have the spots… been on you?” Tomic asked.

“We were born with them,” said the first youth, a girl, hugging Tomic's leg.  “You're the only big person left.  The others are all there…”

“Dead, won't wake up,  you big baby,” snorted the gold eyed one.  “Daddy said it was a weapon.  A weapon in our water.”

“Show me,” Tomic said.  Little hands grasped hers, shepherding her towards the large shimmering pool swirling under the light to the twin suns.  Another Aridian attack had been wiped away.  Yet row upon row of adults lay scattered in their gleaming mother of pearl armor.  Some lay over walls while others were charred cinders, indicating the swaths of heat burning them.  In a matter of minutes she reached the vast expanse of pool shimmering.  Steps lead down, and across the expanse she saw a ruined statue arching up with its fins raised.

“Where we swim.  We live on the shores, but we swim most of the day.  But if we swim too much, the spots grow worse,” the gold eyed child snorted.

Tomic adjusted her scouter.  Lights flickered with feeble results, indicating no intelligent life.  Only the movements of native fish.  Buildings ringed the opposite shore, barely discernible even to Saiyan eyes.  Descending the marbled stairs slick with water, she crouched.  One gauntlet hand dipped in the water, raising a small handful to her nose.  An acrid smell ponged into her nostrils, and she tasted the water.  Something odd drifted across her tongue before she spat it out.  

“Poison.  Some bio agent,” she mumbled, glimpsing her scouter's energy readings.  Not to mention the bitter taste of the slimy waters that were hardly fit for bathing in.  One could drink them, but not for long.  

“Every pool is like this,” one of her other small companions said.  Their robes hung around their bodies, gleaming opalescent in the twin suns overhead. Other traces flickered in the distance, barely moving.  Then her scouter pinged with a shrill beeping.

“Traces of 50, and there are at least ten of them,” she mumbled.  Gentle waves undulated in the surface of the `bathing' pool, growing choppy in tiny ripples.  Through her dark boots she felt the vibrations of heavy machinery, guessing another wave of attackers were on their way.

“How long?” she glanced down at the three youths pulling and tugging on her boots.  “Has this happened?”

“It's always been this way,” said the oldest of the children.  “Can't remember when it wasn't.”

“I've seen enough,” Tomic said quietly.  “There is no more water. Just these lakes in every city.”

Three pairs of eyes glanced up at her scouter covered one, wide and afraid.  Lips quivered, whimpering as one of them sank down and huddled up to the male with scant hair.  The lavender haired one turned her gaze up to Tomic, her eyes asking millions of questions she dared not ask.

“Do you miss your parents?  Are they gone?” Tomic asked.

“Yes,” they murmured.

“Stand close with me. You'll see them soon,” Tomic said as she crouched.  Slowly she enfolded them in her arms, then drew her power to her.  A soft chi buzzed through each of them, and they closed their eyes with tiny sighs.  Little arms wrapped around her neck, and Tomic exhaled with a soft hiss.

“Disintegrate,” Tomic whispered.  She flipped her fingers up, focusing on one gleaming atom.  From one to another the molecular bonds disintegrated.  Three lives shimmered like new stars, clinging close before they disintegrated into black dust.  Wind whipped her hair as Tomic swallowed hard, and leveled her gaze on the entire city.  All the bodies piled up from successive attacks.  Another flick of her wrist and she let out a loud cry, letting the shimmering spread from her hands stretched out to their widest expanse.

“ATOMIC BLITZ!” she yelled.  Scorching heat shot from her skin, tearing over the heaps of death.  Black dust shimmered as the atoms decomposed to their base elements.  Heaps of dust whipped in the lonely air, while the water lapped at her toes.  A purple blaze dropped to nothingness, and the female Saiyan stood alone in a scorched circle.

“You'll see them now,” she whispered, letting the dust sift through her fingers.  “And now, the others to deal with.  Let this planet be free of these two factions forever.”

Black boots lifted off the steps.  Gracefully Tomic launched into the air, scanning the source of her alert.  There on the horizon were the sources of the Aridians.  She blasted forwards in the hot brassy air, seeing the circles of distant lakes with ruined cities around them.  Sunlight gleamed off the herds of metal machines kicking up dust on the planes.  From their source she flew, to the greatest life readings simmering on her scouter.

Dunes ringed the sea of small upturned boxes.  Fires blazed as the lizard like inhabitants let out cries and laughs.  Smoke filled her nostrils, and she smelled burning flesh.  Metal tanks whizzed with heat rays blasting into the distance.  Some of the larger vehicles trundled up through the massive metal gates, thundering into the heart of the metropolis.

Tomic descended, dropping with a whoosh of air into the midst of the Town Square.  A grinding wheeze indicated the hatch on the side of one of the larger machines had opened.  Rolling down the ramp were bodies.  Gleaming blue with mottled black spots.  Behind them were Aridians prodding with long poles and looks of glee?  Bodies were poked and spat on, and rolled into heaps.

“What in Duenna's name is THAT ugly thing!” one of the nearest columns of Aridian shock troops asked. Their bodies were robed in long cloaks that girded over one shoulder.  Large feathery crests crowned their heads, while gold eyes similar to the Delphians fixed onto the newcomer.  She towered over them all, although their tails whisked back and forth while wrinkled scaly skin folded over bared teeth.

“It's HIDIEOUS!  You, what are you!” one of them snarled, trudging up to poke Tomic with the pole.

“Your Armageddon,” Tomic said quietly.  “Enjoy your last moments alive.  Because that is what they truly are.”

“As if a hideous hairy thing like YOU could scare us.  Drachma, kill this noisy thing that dares interrupt our glory fest!” hooted another, with a tall red cock's comb.

“Atomic flux,” she said. Tomic lifted her hand, facing the palm upwards.  In the heart of it glittered a purple ball.  She let it fly, then summoned another, and a third to orbit her body.  In whizzing arcs they spun and glittered, startling and fascinating the troops turning on her.  As one hit the long pole, it sizzled the end of the stick to dust.

“Wha…” the bemused holder mumbled.  Tomic hissed again, narrowing her eyes as each sphere shot out.  As the three balls of energy collided with various targets, searing purple flashes blinded every eye nearby.  Black dust fluttered in tiny heaps where each ball hit.  

Dumfounded eyes turned gleaming gold with anger.  Tails shook, rattling their scaly ends like thousands of rattlesnakes.  One after the other, the Aridians charged forward with their long poles headed towards the new enemy.  Others scuttled into their large vehicles, firing them up with a clatter and roar that drowned out the hissing snarls.  Tomic hurled purple blobs of energy left and right, leaping over the arching stabs of the long sharpened poles.  Apparently most of the robed Aridians carried them, using them for skewering Delphinians or their pray from the large pools of water at the heart of many a Delphinium water temple.

A sharp scrape scratched a line of crimson blood across Tomic's cheek.  Licking it off, she grabbed the end of the staff.  Levering it up, she flicked it hard, sending the startled holder of the staff in a blurred arc over her head. He crashed into a dozen of his fellow soldiers.  Shouts and cries filled the air.  Small crystals gleamed with captured energy from the twin suns.  Sizzling beams hissed and sponged against Tomic's black third class armor.  So these beings could focus solar power on a small level.  Her heart pounded with the quick bursts of adrenaline, sparking an excitement that flushed out everything else.  It was fun to grab the ends of the prodding poles and flick their owners to and fro.  IT wasn't her fault if they were stupid enough to hang on till she sent them flying.

Levitating up, she held two Aridians in either hand.  Power flickered and surged through her fingers, charring them to dust with a flash of her ki.  IT was clean and painless, instant vaporization with the heat of an atomic bomb.  Far too many of them swarmed the streets, looking like ants raiding a picnic.  A sharp burning slammed into her back, knocking her forwards so the shouts and cries turned to amber streaks.  Next she felt a cracking behind her as a bui8lding broke her fall, and she saw the sky turn into ground, and the ground sky.  Her head rang with a gong when it collided with something hard and metallic.  

Hoots and shouts surrounded her.  Sharp pricks stabbed at her skin, barely causing pinpricks. She peered up into the faces of the gold-eyed lizard Aridians spitting and licking their lips.  Dust swirled over them, through a blinding hole ringed with more troops further up.  Dry hands slid around her, pulling at her armor and hair as they leapt on her.  Tomic snarled, kicking and punching.  Wet smacking sounds like watermelons smashing filled her ears.  Simultaneous with sticky goo was coating her fingers.  Leaping to her feet she saw broken and twisted bodies laying around her in a semicircle.  Other uninjured figures were backing away with fear in their wrinkled faces covered by hoods.

Her hands dripped with blood and gore.  In horrid fascination Tomic swung at one pole wielding Aridian who came too close.  Right through him her hand passed, hitting something hard that snapped like a twig of raw petrite.  The body slid off her wrist with a dull thump.  Green ichor spurted against her armor, and she smelled an acrid pong of acid.  “Yuck, they're so… fragile,” Tomic shivered.  

“Slay the beast! Slay it!  Kill the hairy monster!” they cried. Tomic rocketed up through a ruined roof of a domed structure, till the city below faded to the size of a small dinner plate.  Tiny mites swarmed too and fro around the boxlike shapes on tank treads aiming muzzles skywards to her.  Stopping abruptly, Tomic spanned her hands wide.  She hissed with incoming breath as twin spheres of purple plasma crackled on her palms.  It was difficult to generate packets of Atomic flux at such heat when a simple beam would cause more destruction, she found herself rationalizing.

“Atomic FORCE! HYAAAYYY!” she snarled, snapping her wrists down.  Twin purple beams surged like rays of death, instantly crashing into the city far below.  Anything under them shattered with the force of their impact. Fires erupted from the heat of the blast, exploding one tank vehicle after another in a deadly relay.  Dust shot upwards and cracks snaked across the landscape for a half-mile before the energy dissipated.  Peering down through her boots, Tomic saw little but bellowing smoke.

Suddenly she felt very weary. Tomic shot out over the desert, heading towards the place she had first seen the Delphinians.  Dropping to the marbled pavement, she landed.  Dust swirled around her, rife with the smell of charred flesh.  Bones lay scattered, and she realized she had missed the outer fringes of the city when she had first burned the bodies of the Delphians killed by the Aridian attacks.  With one shaking finger she punched her scouter, setting it for its widest scan.  All that answered were faint pings.

“Is that all,” she wondered, sitting in the whistling winds.  Dust rose from the city that she had decimated, reaching her across a half mile of desert.  Still the smoke belched up from the ruin of the Aridian capital city.  An emptiness filled Tomic as she sat there, starving from the use of ki.  

She strode through the ruined city, purged of life from her Atomic Flux. It only targeted carbon-based molecules, leaving inorganic things intact.  Now the Ghost City had no more children to cry for the loss of their parents, along with no more enemies to worry about conquering it.

For a time she wandered aimlessly, wondering if there was anything worth saving.  Distant life forms surged; indicating there was some non-intelligent life alive.  Air was clean despite the smell of death and war, while the water surged and lapped in each pool she had seen from the air.  Tomic trudged through the streets towards the ruined bit of wall where she had last seen the three children. Out and beyond the gates of the Delphinium city was the stretch of desert and the small grove where she had concealed her only way of getting off this world.

Her knees gave out, and she pitched forwards.  Tomic suddenly felt a strange numbness lift, and the images of the children's trust filled her with a sudden flare of defiance.  How dare they trust her, to save them?  She was here to take their world and clear it for a more deserving life form, the Mantissans.  All that needed to be done now was to activate the homing beacon and climb into her pod.  Yet she knew that she had foolishly not eaten and the work that she feared would take forever was only done in a matter of hours.

Tomic fought the tears, gritting her teeth and curling up.  It was kill or be killed.  She was fool to think they would let her go without purging one planet at least to prove her loyalty.  The one last test of her skills was live game, and she was firmly sent here not two days ago with orders from Nappa to make them proud.  A planet where war had all but reduced the world to shambles, and she could dispose of them any way she wished.  There were only ten million on this world, and most were sick and diseased Delphinians struggling to fight off the attacks of the robust millions of Aridians.

Sleep flashed over Tomic.  She felt consciousness leave her till she finally felt and heard voices around her.  Blinking she saw someone looming over her, and felt someone reaching down to help her up.  “Precious one, are you all right?”

“She's forgotten to eat, the stupid girl!” snorted the voice of Cabernet.  “Wake up girl! Eat something!”

“Let me help her, damn it,” Raditz gritted.  Tomic blinked up at him through the tears flowing through her eyes, seeing the concern in his dark gaze focused on her.  On one knee he bent, his hands sliding under her knees and back to lift her up.

“What the hell,” she muttered.

“Not bad work, kid, but you were a bit too clean. You didn't have to waste energy cleaning up the bodies, you know.  The Mantissans said it wasn't necessary,” Nappa chuffed. She smelled fire and heard embers crackling.  A delicious smell of cooked meat drifted past her nostrils, and Tomic buried her head in Raditz' chest.

“Are you all right, are you hurt?” Raditz whispered, gently shaking her.  “You didn't eat enough did you?”

“Everything turned my stomach,” Tomic gasped.  Suddenly she started to heave, and Raditz turned her head to the side.  

“Huh, don't blame the pup, she's right,” Cabernet said as Nappa's harsh laugh cut through.  “There's not a damn thing on here fit to eat.  About the only thing here worth saving is the air and water.”

“There's at least two million Aurites worth of Rhinidium deposits here!  And argentium!” Raditz snorted, picking Tomic up in his arms with ease.  “We WILL get our three million for the job.  She did what she was told to.”

“She's too worried about being neat.  How the hell am I supposed to count how many she killed with no bodies?” Nappa snorted.

“I'm sorry, it was the only way,” she muttered, finally climbing to her feet.

“Don't worry, you did very well,” Raditz reassured her, striding over to sit on a ring of rocks close to a blazing fire.  Roast carcasses dripped with juices, fried on spits improvised from the poles of the Aridian soldiers.

“What DID you find to eat?” asked Cabernet, glaring at Nappa. He was stuffing his face with something that he spit out to the side.  

“Well the Aridian lizards are a bit tough, but they're the only thing worth eating. At least you kept a few alive girl in those large tin boxes.  I gotta give you credit for providing the victory feast,” Nappa chuckled, settling down to sit on the far side of the blazing campfire.  He seized one of the long spits, tearing off one of the carcasses.  Next to him, Cabernet crouched, grabbing a huge haunch of the meat from another pole to nibble on.

“I've had better,” she mumbled.  “But it's better then starving.”

“Next time, EAT something even if you have to eat it raw!” Nappa said through mouthfuls. Tomic managed to sit up, balanced across Raditz' strong thighs.  She rested her head on his shoulder, feeling his arm gently rubbing her back while his hand reached down to stroke her cheek.

“I think she could start with the marrow, it's still pretty good,” said Cabernet, tossing a large shinbone of some beast towards Raditz.  He cracked it with a quick bite in his jaws, and slurped the contents down.  Leaning over Tomic he pressed his lips over hers, gently urging her to eat what he'd chewed up. Still heaving she took the mouthful and swallowed the marrow softened with his saliva.  Power returned to her body and she was well enough to straighten up and sit on his thigh.  

“Catch,” said Cabernet, throwing her a drumstick.  Reaching up a gloved hand she grabbed it out of the air.  She didn't bother to question what it was before tearing into it with eager bites.  Soon it was followed by another piece of meat that Raditz grabbed off a large spit close to his knee.  Still he kept her sitting on his knee, holding her down from getting up with his tail loosely twining around her waist.  

“Easy now, we're here.  You need to rest and regain your strength.  You should be proud,” he cooed.

“I did what you wanted,” she muttered.  

“I'm proud of you, precious one. You've exceeded my expectations, and proved your worth.  There should be no question now that you were an asset, not a liability,” Raditz reassured her.  His cheek pressed to hers, and she found herself craving the comfort of a warm body.  Slowly she unhitched her tail from her waist, to snake her tail around his opposite muscled thigh.  

“Ten million,” said Cabernet suddenly, swallowing her latest mouthful.

“What?” Nappa asked.

“Ten million.  That's what the estimates were.  And I don't see any other life traces,” said Cabernet, glancing at Tomic.  “Nice work.  But you could have gone a bit faster.”

“I saw you playing with the natives. There's no harm in amusing them,” Raditz said quietly.  “Besides, how else would you know where the natural resources were?”

“Pile the bodies in fives, girl.  That way I don't have to waste time listening to my woman bitch when she's trying to count,” Nappa laughed.  Burning copper bands spread across the eastern sky by now, and Tomic saw a pale disc slowly rising in the east.

“She could have used the moon,” Cabernet said.  “Did you forget?”

“Wrong phase,” Tomic mumbled.

“You can show her now, Raditz,” said Nappa as he stood up and stretched.  “She needs to learn how to master it.  And that's one thing that tightwad commander Turles never let us do.”

“I've transformed only twice before,” Tomic shuddered.  “I can't remember…”

“Basic training.  I told you we should have put her through it but you HAD to wait!” Raditz glared at Nappa.

“Well just do what your old man does, and make one, smartass,” said Cabernet angrily.  

“Fine, whatever!” Raditz glared at her.  “How much time do we have?”

“Two more revolutions.  Let's let the whelps play and train.  We can't have the girl looking like an ass in front of the Prince,” said  Cabernet.

“Let's go.  Have fun,” Nappa said.  “And remember leave SOMETHING will you?”