Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Errant Exile ❯ The Bitter Part of Valor ( Chapter 10 )

Errant Exile

Chapter 9: "The Bitter Part of Valor"

A/N: This is a BIG chapter! It was a struggle in the brain pan that even cream of mushroom soup couldn't calm down (joke borrowed from Brett Butler!). Hope you enjoy it!

"If you...want to help...go find...the son of a bitch...that shot me. I want him...alive." - Khri

Piccolo crouched low in front of Khri, his sharp eyes taking in the extent of Khri's injuries. Glass shards had sliced through her clothing and embedded themselves in her arms and legs, leaving too many bleeding wounds to count. A nasty gash sliced across her right cheekbone, marring her pretty face, and a pool of amber blood was forming on the floor beside her left leg. "Just...just go!" she rasped, her eyes full of pain as she clutched her side, dropping her weapon. "Help is...coming."

Gritting his teeth, Piccolo gave a curt nod and instantly left the room and house behind.

Speed had always been one of his strong points, a fact for which he was grateful as he came to a halt and hovered over the beach. It had only been a handful of minutes since he'd heard the gunshots so the shooter couldn't have gotten very far on foot, and there were no signs or sounds of other vehicles on either the land or the water.

The weather and the waves were both calm that evening. The gentle background noise of the surf didn't impair Piccolo's acute hearing in the least as he listened for signs of the intruder.

For the second time that day he cursed Khri's lack of chi. It made finding her difficult after she'd checked out of the hotel, even with the map and photograph she'd taped to the balcony window. Now his inability to sense her life signs had made it impossible to know how badly she was injured. If she dies while I'm out here, she's really going to piss me off, he growled to himself as he searched the shoreline.

Earlier Piccolo had been flying slowly along the beach, enjoying the sea breezes while searching for Khri's house, when he'd heard the gunshots. There was no mistaking the sounds of semi-automatic gunfire; the Royal Army had attacked Cell with similar weapons while Piccolo had been in the android's clutches. When he heard glass shatter his gut had twisted, somehow knowing who was in danger. He tracked the noise to Khri's house, but by the time he landed the shooter was nowhere to be seen. He had, however, conveniently left footprints and a trail. Light from Khri's living room reflected off spent shell casings that lay strewn across the beach. When Piccolo finally reached her he had hoped to find her still alive, but had been unprepared to find her so badly hurt. The memory rekindled his anger. Damn! I should've just told her to shut up and transported her to the Lookout! She could be dead by now, for all I know...

He frowned when he noticed a glow seeping up from the ocean beneath his feet. The waxing moon gave the surf a silver cast but just offshore in the deeper water, far beneath the surface, a blue-green light emanated up through the depths. At first he wondered if the underwater plant life in the area could be responsible for the eerie glow, but as he pulled back he could see the light was contained to two nearly perfect circles. Sneaky bastards, he thought, throwing off his turban and weighted cloak. He took a deep breath and plunged into the waves.

Piccolo used just enough chi to propel himself downward faster than he could swim, past flittering schools of tropical fish and long streamers of seaweed. Namekians were natural swimmers and could hold their breath for nearly a quarter of an hour, so he took the time to approach the artificial lights cautiously. His hearing was impaired under water and the buildup of pressure against his eardrums was bordering on painful, but beneath the natural roar of the ocean he thought he could make out a steady mechanical thrum. The lights slowly brightened and sharpened as he drew closer, then finally revealed themselves to be the blazing exhaust from two idling engines.

Huddled on the ocean floor, partially camouflaged by a bed of large boulders and coral, was what could only be a spaceship. Small yellow lights flickered along the sides and thin streams of bubbles boiled out from beneath its landing gear. A shadow passed between Piccolo and the light of the engines, taking the shape of swimmer and the outlines of scuba gear. From one hand dangled what looked like a harpoon gun, loaded and ready to fire.

Piccolo came to a stop and used a bit more chi to keep himself from floating upward, then focused his senses on the swimmer. Like Khri, the assassin had absolutely no chi signature. The cowardly son of a bitch is one of her own people! He put two fingers to his forehead, letting his rage grow.This would be so much easier if she didn't want him alive, he growled to himself.

Fish scattered as two shafts of light, one spiraling around the other, shot through the water and struck the submerged spacecraft. The surrounding ocean lit up as the ship exploded with the intensity of a small sun, sending a billowing cloud of rock and debris swirling outward. Thanks to his chi shield Piccolo was able to hold himself steady, but the shock wave sent the swimming assassin tumbling backward and upward into darkness. Cursing silently, Piccolo sped off after him, right fist tight and glowing with a low powered chi blast ready and waiting.

Through the cloudy water he saw movement that could only be his target. He lowered his chi shield and was about to fire when pain burned through the muscle of his upper left arm. It hadn't been an energy attack, or "blackfire" as Khri called it; he'd seen the short, barbed harpoon right before it grazed him. It was attached to a tether which Piccolo grabbed, wrapped it once around his hand, then used the tension in the line to snap the weapon out of the assassin's grip. Barely containing his fury, Piccolo brought up his right fist and let the chi blast fly. It hit the attacker in the center of his chest, hard enough to stun him without inflicting serious injury. Damn! Now I don't have an excuse to kill him.

Feeling his lungs begin to burn for want of fresh air, Piccolo ignored his injured arm and propelled himself towards the assassin. He grabbed him by the back the neck and ripped the scuba mask from his face. A pair of unfocused green eyes glowed back at him. He slammed the side of his hand down on the back of the man's neck, knocking him out. The residual glow from the destroyed ship faded away as Piccolo hauled his captive towards the surface, where the light of the moon sparkled through the warmer water. He broke through the waves and shot into the sky, finally free to take deep breaths of clean, fresh air.

It took only a moment for Piccolo to get his bearings, especially since new lights pierced through the trees surrounding Khri's house. "She'd better still be alive after all the trouble she's caused me," he muttered, trying to ignore the feelings of worry hammering at his resolve. His sopping wet gi made the mild night air feel cold as he retraced his flight.

Just before he reached the shore a blinding light flashed in his face. He threw up an arm to shield his eyes, straining to see beyond the glare. "Pull that light! It's the Namek!" a voice on the beach shouted. The light disappeared instantly, and Piccolo had to blink several times to clear the spots from his vision. "I have had just about enough of this," he rumbled as he set down, his wet shoes sinking into the soft sand.

Four figures in black armor rushed to meet him, their faces hidden behind masks and eye shields. They appeared unarmed but Piccolo knew better. "I have a little 'gift' for Khri," he said, raising his arm and letting the dripping, unconscious assassin dangle from it.

One of the figures executed a short, polite bow. "Please, follow me," a male voice said quietly.

The soldiers kept a respectful distance as Piccolo followed the speaker away from the water's edge. Looming in the dark on the beach to the south were three identical space craft, their exterior lights fglowing like giant phosphorescent insects patiently waiting for prey. Piccolo casually let the assassin drag along the ground, disregarding the occasional rocky patch and the rough cobblestones in the path that led through Khri's now well-lit yard. At least a dozen soldiers had positioned themselves around the house; Piccolo noticed at least two stationed on the roof, three tucked into the greenery and four others in front of the windows that hadn't been shot out. Others were no doubt watching the front and sides of the house as well.

"Commander Sai!"

Khri's living room housed so many standing soldiers that Piccolo couldn't see her. One man detached himself from a group stationed near the fireplace and walked through the broken windows toward them. He was covered in body armor, but instead of a helmet he wore a headset that sprouted spiky wires that curved upward like an unfolded fan. Tall and lean, his red hair was cropped short except for a thin braid that fell across one shoulder. If the light hadn't been so bright, his golden eyes would have glowed as he gave Piccolo a slight bow. "Battle Commander Khri informed us you'd be coming." His eyes narrowed as he looked down at the unconscious man still suspended in Piccolo's tight grip. "I'm glad your hunt was successful. Please come with me. You can show her your prize yourself." He turned and led the way back inside the house.

Piccolo dragged the assassin over the broken window frames and shattered glass. He was relieved to know that Khri was still alive but wanted to find out for himself just how bad her injuries really were. He stopped abruptly when he saw a familiar figure standing in the middle of the room. He blinked in surprise, not quite believing what his eyes were seeing.

Khri was on her feet. Not only was she standing, her fists were clenched at her sides and the expression on her face was one of cold fury. Her eyes were narrowed to slits and glowed even with all the lights on, her jaw set tight and head lowered in tightly controlled wrath. Her uniform was shredded and she still bled from numerous points, but they either weren't bothering her or she chose to ignore them. Soldiers stood at attention on either side and those clustering in the middle cleared the way for Piccolo.

"Go ahead," Sai whispered behind him. "You don't have anything to worry about."

Glaring at the armored figures, Piccolo walked up to Khri and dumped the assassin at her feet. "As you can see, its still alive," he said gruffly.

Sai came forward to stand at her side. "Battle Commander, scans show there was a Tigradi ship hiding under water just off the coast. Scans also show its been completely destroyed. There are no life signs."

Khri continued to focus her baleful glare at the pathetic bundle at her feet. "Wake him up."

Piccolo took a position on Khri's other side as two soldiers stepped forward and activated their diacha, one dagger shaped and glowing green, the other a light lavender. They hauled the assassin upright so he sat on his knees, his head lolled back and his eyes opened. He ignored the water dripping from his black hair into his green eyes, coughed several times and smiled. "The infamous Battle Commander Khri. Feh."

Khri held out her hand to Sai, who placed her own diacha in it. Piccolo noticed that someone had thought to wipe away the blood.

"Battle Commander, don't waste a Confrontation on this vermin," Sai hissed. "He's not worth it."

Remaining silent, Khri leaned forward and thrust one business end of her diacha into the assassin's neck just below his fluttering larynx. She slowly ran it up the stubbled skin, forcing his chin up. Sweat mingled with the blood and water droplets on his cheeks as he looked at her weapon, then up into her eyes. "Battle Commander Cydanis sent you" she said quietly.

When the response didn't come fast enough, one of the soldiers jabbed his elbow into his shoulder. "Answer her."

The assassin grinned, baring his fangs. "Battle Commander Cydanis sends her regards."

Khri held her diacha underneath his chin several more seconds. Suddenly she snapped her weapon away from his face, stood straight and smiled tightly. "Then you can send Cydanis a message for me." Her eyes glowed a bit brighter. "Tell her, 'you missed'." She looked up at Sai. "Clean him up and send him back to Cydanis' cruiser. With my regards, of course."

The assassin gasped and went pale, all defiance gone. The soldiers tightened their grip on him but he didn't struggle, seemingly paralyzed with fear. Khri started to turn away when her would-be assassin took a deep breath, then shouted a long stream of words in a language Piccolo couldn't recognize. He didn't need to; Sai's outraged expression told him enough.

The guards flanking Khri went into immediate action. Diacha of all colors flared to life and they closed in. One of the armored figures holding the assassin threw him to the floor and pressed a knee into the back of his neck while others pinned his legs. Both arms were wrenched behind him, almost pulling them out of their shoulder sockets.

"Hold!"

Khri's voice cut like a knife through the angry growls and hisses. The guards instantly obeyed and slowly backed away except for the two holding the assassin. The Tigradi lay cowering on the floor, his breath coming in loud pants. "He's going back to Cydanis alive," she said harshly. "Now get this vermin out of my sight." She turned away and folded her arms, signaling an end to the matter.

Piccolo watched as the man was given another ride through the glass shards and hauled out into the night. "You should have killed him. Or better yet, let me kill him," he told Khri's back.

Sai answered for her. "That would have been merciful. Khri isn't known for showing mercy to vermin." When Piccolo glanced at him, one eye ridge raised, Sai continued. "The Tigradi Battle Commander has a different method than Khri for enforcing discipline. That assassin is already dead, but Cydanis herself will make sure he doesn't go quietly and sets a nice example for other would-be failures." Sai suddenly frowned and took a small step in Khri's direction. "Battle Commander...?

Piccolo turned in time to see Khri's knees buckle. Both he and Sai jumped to catch her as she slumped over, as did about four other soldiers. "Dammit, Khri, I did what you asked, now let me take you to see Dende," Piccolo growled at her as he helped Sai ease her to the floor.

The intense glow had left Khri's eyes as she looked up at him, a half-hearted smile on her face. "Sai, this...is Piccolo. He is...a friend."

The announcement seemed to catch the man off guard. He arched an eyebrow at Piccolo - oddly reminiscent of one of Khri's expressions - then gestured to a crew of green-suited men and women that had been waiting anxiously in one corner. "Friend, eh? Well, Piccolo, stand aside with me and you'll see the difference between Clan and High Clan."

Piccolo reluctantly took a couple of steps back as the green suits converged on Khri. She sat on her knees, doubled over, and dropped her diacha on the floor beside her. "They're medical techs," Sai told him. "They're going to deal with the minor wounds, but Khri has to take care of the big ones herself. She's still got three bullets lodged in her kidney."

"What?" He watched as one of the techs opened up one of the tears on Khri's sleeve and pressed a syringe against undamaged skin. "Can she regenerate?"

Sai snorted. "I wish, but no. She uses what we call 'close-range TK.' It's a form of telekinesis done on a very small scale. High Clan, such as the Battle Commander, can repair shattered bone, broken blood vessels and other nasty injuries. The tech just injected a fortifier, which is nothing more than a big dose of vitamins, trace metals, proteins and other components that are needed for the repairs. Right now there's nothing else they can do until she gets those bullets out. Its dangerous to move her." He grimaced. "I tried to tell her that earlier, but there are times she won't listen."

Piccolo looked around and for the first time noticed all the activity in the room. One crew worked on cleaning up all the glass and empty shell casings. Two technicians were studying the damage the bullets had done to surrounding walls and furniture, while others appeared to be measuring the windows. The most urgent activity was centered around Khri. The faces that weren't hidden behind armor were tense and pale, but Sai seemed less worried and acted as if things well under control.

Finally one of the med-techs stood up and presented Sai with a small, clear container. Three bullets, coated with an amber fluid Piccolo now knew to be Khri's blood, clattered in the bottom. "She got all of them out, Sir. We've given her an antibiotic for possible infection. I'll evaluate her again once we've got all the smaller wounds cleaned up, but I see no need to transport her back to the Aughenai."

"I disagree, Tendri, but I'll wait for your eval."

Piccolo's eyes narrowed and he looked at Sai. "You're planning on leaving with her."

"If I can get the Council to agree to it in an emergency session and she doesn't countermand me, yes. She has no business being on Earth, and we need her on the Aughenai more than ever." His voice lowered so only Piccolo's sensitive ears could hear it. "We are in a lot of trouble, Piccolo. I don't know how much Khri has told you about why she's here, but we need her experience and skill now more than we ever have. Things have gotten worse just in the past few days, so I don't think she yet knows how bad it is."

The medical crew suddenly stood up and backed away, two of them helping Khri to her feet. There were new gaping holes in her uniform and the fabric covering her lower left ribcage had been torn away, revealing fresh scars and a lot of nasty bruising. She gave Piccolo and Sai a reassuring grin before letting the crew help her down the hall and into a distant room. "Sir, we're going to take care of the rest of her wounds and do the eval someplace a little less busy, if you don't mind."

"Go ahead, Tendri. Keep me updated."

Sai led Piccolo to a corner that was quiet only in a sense it wasn't being poked, prodded and cleaned. "I want to thank you, Piccolo, for catching the assassin. We were quick getting here but I don't think we could have been fast enough to catch him."

"I just wish she would've let me kill him in the first place."

"The fact that he made it to Earth at all shows just how dangerous the situation is for Khri." Sai gave the container holding the bullets a brief shake, then folded his arms and took in the damage done to the house. "The sheer audacity Tigradi showed in even attempting such an assassination, using an Earth weapon, trying to make it look like they weren't involved...it was unthinkable until a short time ago. The sooner I can get her off Earth, the better."

Watching the cleanup, Piccolo considered the idea of Khri leaving and was surprised to find he resented it and even angered by it. He barely knew her and wasn't even sure if he really wanted to yet, but her leaving so quickly would deny him the chance to decide for himself. Feh. Who am I trying to fool? She's made me curious. She's different and I want to know more about her, and that won't happen if she leaves. He glanced back at Sai's determined face and a new thought struck him. Is he her mate? Is that why he's so protective of her and wants to take her with him? Khri had never mentioned she had one, but then their brief conversations had never touched on personal issues.

Sai must have felt the change in Piccolo's expression towards him. "Piccolo, if you have other business, please don't feel as if you need to stay. Khri is out of danger and should mend quickly and completely."

Piccolo's face furrowed into his most intimidating scowl as he stared down the hall. "I'll see for myself that she's ok, if that's all right with you," he replied with an edge to his voice.

"As you wish. It shouldn't be long. I certainly wouldn't want to deny you the opportunity to say farewell, after all your help."

I'd just like to see you try it. Piccolo used a bit of chi to dry out his still dripping clothes, then summoned his weighed cloak and turban. He knew they made him look even more imposing than he already was, and they quickly produced the desired effect. Sai backed off a bit, his face less certain than it had been a moment before.

A short time later a door down the hall opened, spilling soft light and shadows. The guards snapped to immediate attention as two med techs followed Khri back to the living room. As she approached Piccolo studied her carefully, noticing the gash on her face had been treated and covered with a clear bandage. She'd been cleaned up and her shredded black suit and jacket replaced. She walked very slowly, but there were no signs of pain on her face as she surveyed the activity in her living room.

Tendri stepped up to Sai. "Sir, she'll be very sore for a couple of days, but she mended the shattered bone completely and repaired the significant damage done by the bullets. All she needs is fluids and food right now, plus some additional rest. I stand by my original evaluation, Commander Sai."

"You see, old friend?" Khri said, gracing him with half smile. "It wasn't that bad."

Sai took hold of the back of the big wooden chair and turned it around so it faced the living room. He repositioned the footrest in front of it, shaking his head at the tufts of stuffing poking through the battered leather like a pod gone to seed. "The sofa is full of glass or I'd put you there. We've brought a few provisions for you, including a bedroll. We'll set it up in the big bedroom."

She called him 'old friend.' Definitely not something you'd call your mate. Piccolo felt a sense of relief when Khri flashed him a small smile. "I told you I'd be fine."

"Humph. I'd hate to see what you look like when you're not fine. You look terrible."

"You pull three bullets out of your kidney and one out of your lung..." Khri winced as she sat carefully lowered herself into the chair, "...and then we'll talk about how you look." She didn't object when Sai gently picked up her feet and put them on the ottoman. He saluted, which she acknowledged with an irritated nod, then sat down on the ottoman next to her feet.

"Battle Commander, there is an issue I need to bring to your attention now."

"Go ahead."

Piccolo noticed Sai tensed before continuing. "Due to the events of this evening, I would like to send an emergency missive to the Council and request that you formally be returned to duty on the Aughenai."

Khri's face was very still as she studied her former Second. "You expected this would happen. I thought the strike team got here a little too fast."

"I did, and the seriousness of the situation is why Ahtai put me in charge of the strike team." His voice lowered. Piccolo sensed Sai didn't want him to hear this part of the conversation but he listened anyway. "Khri, you are needed on the Aughenai, and you know this situation is far too dangerous, especially after tonight. I'm sure the Council will override Eldest and rule in favor of your return. You didn't want to come back to Earth, and now's your best opportunity to get off this rock."

Khri propped her elbows on the chair's armrests and steepled her fingers in front of her face. Piccolo watched her for any sign as to what she could be thinking. I've got to warn Dende to never play poker with her, he thought. She's too damn skilled at keeping her feelings to herself. I didn't know women could do that!

Her reply took both men by surprise. "No, Sai."

"C...Commander?"

"There's more going on here than we know," she told him sternly. "I've been here only a couple of days - very eventful days, too - and I've come to the conclusion I need to stay. It would be easy to return to the Aughenai, but then I'd have that a nagging feeling I'd left something incomplete. And you know how I hate leaving things unresolved and incomplete, Sai." She'd placed a lot of weight on her last remark, Piccolo noticed, and wondered why.

Sai's jaw tightened but he didn't argue. "Check, Battle Commander. With your approval, I'll have the tech team replace your windows with something a bit stronger than glass. I'd also like to make a few additional security upgrades."

"As long as it doesn't include armed babysitters, Sai."

Defeated, Sai exhaled in exasperation and stood up. "Check. Right now I'm going to follow Tendri's recommendation and see what I can find in the way of food." He ignored Piccolo and stalked off towards the kitchen.

"This could be bad," Khri said softly to Piccolo, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. "There's not much in my pantry at the moment. I've pissed Sai off and now I'm giving him an opportunity for revenge." She cocked her head and looked up at him. "Would you please sit down? I'm too tired to endure a sore neck and looking up at you is giving me one. Let me move my feet..."

"Don't you dare move," he growled, his eyes hard. To prove his point he simply assumed his favorite meditative position, arms and legs folded and floating a few feet above the ground beside her chair. "You shouldn't even be sitting up. Hell, you shouldn't even be alive."

"Don't tell me you're disappointed?" Khri asked, her tone subtly teasing. "I know you've lived on Earth all your life and are used to human frailties, but don't assume Leonids suffer the same weaknesses. I've lived through worse injuries than this one."

Sai reappeared moments later, carrying a clear plastic cup. The stuff in the cup, however, was far from clear and threatened to crawl out on its own. Large chunks floated on the top of a dark brown liquid. "Drink up, Battle Commander," he said, unable to hide a smug smile as he handed it to her.

The expression on Khri's face was nearly as venomous as the one Piccolo had seen her level at the assassin. "Sai, is this what I think it is?"

"I found a few bottles of what smells like beer in the back of your refrigerator, and thought it could only improve the texture and taste. That ration bar is the new formula ordered by Ahtai. You're one of the first privileged few to try it."

"You're a cold bastard, Sai. I should bump you down to ensign for this."

"I'm always at your service, Battle Commander."

"Then be of service and retrieve my slimpad. I think I left it in the kitchen, too. And take this swill with you!"

As soon as Sai had left the room and taken the offending mess with him, Khri looked around and appeared to be counting. "It looks like the med techs are clearing out as well as the bulk of the initial strike team. Hmmm, looks like twenty or so crew still on the ground..." Sai returned with the slimpad, which she activated and started poking with the stylus. "There," she said with one final tap. "Food is on the way. I'm not sure what I ordered, but it should be delivered in twenty marks...er...minutes or so. And Sai?"

"Yes, Battle Commander?"

"You get to answer the door when it arrives. Do not scare the delivery boy; he's the son of the restaurant owner in town. I'd like to be able to use the service again."

Sai merely nodded, excused himself to check on the strike team's departure, and disappeared out the back.

Piccolo noticed that Khri, temporarily free from having to exert her authority, had sagged back in the chair and closed her eyes. She looked pale and tired, maybe even a little vulnerable, especially with the medical tape on her cheek. He wondered if arriving just a few minutes earlier would have prevented the attempted assassination, then decided such a debate was pointless. What was important was that Khri wasn't fatally injured and would recover, and he'd caught the bastard who caused it. She's also decided not to leave Earth even though she's got an excuse. Guess I have to respect her for that too. Piccolo scowled. I should leave. I don't have a reason to stick around. Its not as if there's nobody else watching out for her right now...

"What is it, Piccolo?" Khri asked quietly. He looked up to find her watching him, a grin teasing the corners of her mouth. "Surely the floor hasn't done anything to deserve that glare?"

"Maybe you should go back to your ship," he said gruffly. "Your flunkey Sai seems to think you'd be safer there."

Khri suddenly gripped the arms of her chair and leaned forward. "Sai is anything but a 'flunkey,' and his thoughts regarding my life differ greatly from mine" The steel was back in her voice, the spark in her eyes, and Piccolo knew he'd crossed a line. "In this situation its my thoughts that matter, Piccolo. This decision rests with me, and there's only a handful of people who can countermand it. Sai isn't one of them and he's damn well aware of it." She relaxed and leaned back, her face softening. "If you're concerned for my welfare, don't be. A few security modifications will be made to the house that will prevent this from happening again."

I don't trust your so-called security, he wanted to say, but just muttered "its your decision, as you said" instead.

When the food was finally delivered the troops, with Khri's blessing, passed shares first to the guards on duty, then the clean-up crew. Included in the boxes of sushi and spring rolls were many bottles of tea and water. Piccolo and Sai encouraged her to eat more than she wanted, which made her irritated with both of them as well as sleepy. It was then Piccolo learned that she had a grin that could mean trouble.

"Sai?"

Seated on the ottoman next to her feet, polishing off the last of a piece of yellowfin, Sai looked up. "Yes, Commander?"

Khri cryptically tapped her left wrist, then looked meaningfully at Piccolo through half-closed eyes. The corners of her mouth were curled up in a mischievous smile.

Both men looked at her in confusion. Khri watched Sai expectantly, then actually nodded at the Namekian,

"Whahh..." Sai's eyes flew wide open and he gagged on the sushi he'd been chewing on. He managed to hack it down, staring wild-eyed at Piccolo. He swallowed a couple of times, then shook his head. "Aw....shit! Commander, why didn't you tell me who he was earlier?"

Piccolo abruptly stood up and glowered down furiously at Khri. He felt justified when she started laughing, but then her face contorted in pain. "Piccolo, Sai would have...figured it out...sooner or later," she gasped, clasping her left side and trying to control her breathing. "I felt he...deserved and explanation...for my allowing you through security."

"I never imagined I'd see you again," Sai huffed as he glared at Piccolo, more embarrassed at being caught off guard than angry. "Especially here and now."

"I can guarantee my face will be the last you see, if that's what you want," Piccolo growled, taking a step forward.

Khri had collapsed against the back of the chair, struggling not to breathe too deeply. "If you two want to have a pointless pissing contest about who did or said what, take it outside. What's in the past stays there - understood, Sai? - and that includes names. I won't have this conversation again."

Piccolo's anger turned into alarm when Khri suddenly wilted, her head falling forward onto her chest. Sai caught her before she could slump to the side and hit her head on the armrest. "She's all right, she's just asleep. The med techs added a slow-acting sleep agent to the injection they gave her earlier and it finally kicked in." With fluid movements that could only come from practice, Sai pulled her out of the chair and carefully picked her up, his arms supporting her knees and back. "She'll be out at least until morning."

The master bedroom was spacious by any definition, but without furniture it echoed like an empty cathedral. Sai's boots clicked across the polished wood floor as he walked towards a bedroll that had been spread in a corner, far away from the big windows. He knelt and gently stretched out Khri's slack body so she lay on her back, arms and braid at her sides, and covered her with a blanket. Piccolo knelt on the opposite side just long enough to make sure for himself that Khri was actually sleeping and not unconscious. Her breathing was soft and regular, her skin pale but not so much that it worried him. If the damned woman actually had chi I wouldn't need to bother, he grumbled, fighting the urge to brush the stray hairs from her cheek. I'd be able to see her signature and not have to take the word of this ass that she's all right.

Sai's amber eyes stared into Piccolo's black ones. "Now that she's asleep, we can talk freely."

"About what? If you're so sure she's going to be fine, there's nothing to discuss."

"That's bullshit, and you and I both know it."

Piccolo raised one eye ridge in surprise. Sai was spoiling for a fight but it didn't seem to be a physical one. Khri said she'd pissed him off and seemed to be right, but Piccolo sensed it wasn't just because she'd refused to leave with him.

Sai went on, eyes glowing a bit too brightly. "Khri is stubborn, as you've already been witness to. Neither Khri nor myself know why she's been sent here, but it was originally against her will. Now she tells me she's going to stay and won't say why. I don't know what changed her mind, but it had to be pretty significant because she doesn't do that often."

"So what does this have to do with me?" Piccolo asked, folding his arms.

"She named you 'friend.' It took me years to earn that honorific." His voice lowered into an angry hiss. "It means she trusts you! You don't know how few people I can say that about. There used to be more but after they tried to have her murdered they lost that privilege."

"I barely even know her! Why would she think I'm her friend?"

"Dammit, I don't know." Sai ran his fingers through his short hair, an exasperated gesture Piccolo had seen others use. "Maybe its because of what happened years ago." He glanced back down at Khri, who was still sleeping peacefully. When he looked back up, all signs of anger were gone.

"There's something I'm going to tell you, Piccolo, and she'd probably kill me to stop me if she knew what I'm about to say. During all those years since our last visit to Earth, Khri has been bothered by a regret she was never able to let go. It seems there was a very young Namekian she left behind to fend on his own. She offered to take him to Namek but when he refused, she respected his wishes. She didn't forget about him, though, and over the past thirty years she thought of him often, wondering if he'd survived, if he was happy and if he was still alone. Well, now she knows, and she calls him her friend."

Piccolo stared at the man who had been with Khri for untold years and tried to hide his shock. He thought back to the day when Khri had left him standing on the little hill overlooking the park, and tried to remember how he felt as he watched her turtle-like ship lift over the trees and disappear into the sky. After that day his life had been one tortuous struggle after another. Trials were followed by torment, then humiliation and continual defeat. Just the battle to live and fulfill the terrible legacy inflicted on him by his sire had wiped out all memory of Khri, and the moments of compassion she'd shown him. He felt his face start to flush and hoped Sai wouldn't figure out what it meant. How can I feel guilt and shame over forgetting someone I met as a kid and knew less than a day? I suppose its one of the things that Gohan accidentally taught me when he showed me what friendship was.

His gaze drifted back down to sleeping figure that lay between Sai and himself. She was trying to roll to her left side as she slept, but she cringed in pain and went back to lying on her back. Her face relaxed and he marveled at how much younger she seemed. Sighing in resignation, Piccolo closed his eyes. "What do you want me to do?"

"Keep an eye on her. You can try to be discreet about it if you want, but she'll catch you anyway. She looks innocent now but don't let her fool you; she's smarter and sneakier than you think. I'd prefer you not tell her we concocted this little plan but she'll probably figure it out and make us both pay." Sai walked around his sleeping superior officer to stand beside Piccolo. "I'm grateful for this. I'll worry a little less knowing someone is watching out for her. I'll be able to focus on the problems we're facing on the Aughenai. If it makes a difference, you'll be helping ease a lot of minds."

Piccolo shook his head. "Good for you, because I think I've finally lost mine."

To Be Continued...