Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Saiyans Return ❯ Kwanzaa ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own DBZ… or any of its characters.

Author notes: This is the sequel to Forbidden Encounter started by Gokusgirl!!!!!! I liked FE so much that I took over and have written the last five chapters with more on the way!!!!!!!! Yes this is an AU, but NO Jenna is not a Mary Sue, so I don't even want to hear it. You should definitely read Forbidden Encounter or you won't understand why Goku isn't with Chichi, trust me, it's justified Gokusgirl did an awesome job setting up FE, so it makes sense, and it is pretty damn realistic too!!!!!! The new Saiyans are also not going to be true Mary Sue characters. None of them will be as strong as the Z-fighters, and none of them will ever save the universe instead of our Z-warriors… believe me that's Goku and Veggie-chan territory there, and I guard it VERY jealously in all of my writing.

Saiyans Return

The slave markets were all but deserted, the warriors who once purged planets, and captured slaves by the hundreds of thousands during Frieza's reign now sold their services to the various petty warlords, enjoying the easier work and better pay. No one noticed the arrival of a slender cloaked figure, to old the slave blocks. The rundown platforms stood like the lonely, crumbling battlements of fortresses that had outlived their time. Rain poured down over their unattended bulk, and lightning flickered restlessly across the sky. Up the street, the lithe figure scampered, unmindful of the puddles in the path, but never straying from the safety of the shadows.

Looming directly ahead was a massive circle of black stone and steel. Rising far above the shadowy world of the streets, the structure was Arena Darkskull. The roar of the huge crowd was boisterous and deafening inside of the arena, but from the shadows around it, it was muted by thunder and the low growls of the patrolling Citana warriors. The cloaked figure reached an abandoned sentry box whose door had long since fallen away and dashed inside, throwing back the hood of the cloak. Four small pairs of eyes watched fearfully from the darkness, until an unruly mop of yellow hair and violet eyes appeared.

" Where were you, Ariel? " Demanded a smaller version of the new arrival, as she crept out of her hiding place. " You were supposed to have been back hours ago. "

" I found food. " The older offered apologetically, she took the loaf of bread out of her cloak and gave it to her. Three other small children emerged from various corners and helped her eat it. " But I'm sorry if I scared you. The hunters are out in force tonight. "

" T-they are? "

" Yes. There was a revolt in one of the pens last night and a gladiator escaped. "

The younger children gathered around her and Ariel smiled, remembering how frightened she had been the first time the Citana had been called out to look for an escaped slave. Her little sister hadn't been born yet, for back then, her parents had still been alive…

" W-who escaped? Who was it, Ariel? "

" A Terracon, named Blacktooth. "

" What? A Terracon? " Hawk asked, as the only boy in their group he was always trying to be the toughest and bravest. " The average power level on one of them is 7300. The Citana won't even have to power up to… " When she realized he had fallen silent, Ariel turned slowly to follow Hawk's terrified stare.

There, silhouetted by the lightning in the doorway, was a huge, heavily muscled figure. Over seven and a half feet tall and covered from the waist up in deadly sharp barbs and full grown blades, was a Citana Warrior. His red eyes glowed like hot coals against the dark gray of his skin and he stood motionless for a long time, peering at them as if to assess a threat. The massive creature began to lumber inside, the huge talons that formed his hands flexing slowly. Ariel and the terrified children whimpered quietly as the hunter took another step, and then turned his head back to the door.

A low, angry snarl rumbled out of the dark slit that formed the creature's mouth, and he glanced back to the children only once more before an explosion of ki seemed to rock the sentry box to its floor and Ariel threw herself onto the ground, covering her sister and her friends with her own body. If she had watched the Citana she would've seen him assume a defensive crouch and watch the wall behind her, but she didn't dare. The thick stonewall of their home exploded inward with a deafening groan as stone rumbled to the ground. The ceiling and the walls of the structure were no match for the falling 20 ton two legged lizard that had plowed into it. The scent of blood and rain mixed with a sudden rush that seemed to have been timed with the thunderstorm itself, for the Terracon's roar as it fell chilled Ariel to the bone. She had been afraid of storms when she was little, but the thunder had never sounded so frightening as the desperate creature that had bulldozed their home.

In the heavy silence that followed the building's collapse, everything seemed to happen in slow motion. The Citana Alpha snarled, regrouping his pack as Ariel dared to lift her head to glance at the huge green skinned scaly monster lying in front of her. Slited amber eyes blinked a couple of times in pain as the lone creature struggled to put weight on its injured leg and thrashed angrily as four shadowy Citana hunters threw themselves at the creature, knocking it over once more.

The Terracon shook his head and batted the smaller attackers away with a swipe of his thick tail, snapping his jaws at the Alpha he reared back on his haunches and summoned his ki for another blast from his mouth. The Alpha growled at the others who quickly regrouped and thrust their deadly poisoned elbow spikes deep into the Terracon's already wounded leg. Furious and weakening badly the creature flared the hood on the back of his neck and released his fire breath at the Alpha.

Sensing that they were too close to survive the blast if they stayed still, Ariel took a gamble and rolled away from the fight, toward what little remained of one of the other walls and dragged the children with her. Only when she had forced the third over the pile of brick did she realize there was one missing… She saw the fear in her sister's violet eyes for only an instant before a huge shadow of charcoal gray moved into the way, but it was something Ariel knew she could never forget. As huge as he was, the Citana warrior disappeared behind the wall of fire that erupted from the Terracon's jaws, and Ariel tore her eyes from the scene, knowing that her sister had no chance of surviving the terrible blast. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she wondered how she could've grabbed the others and missed her own sister.

Finally, with a desperate cry, she surged out of her place in the rain soaked rubble. Not even caring that the Citana pack was still there dragging away the Terracon, she scrambled to the pile of rubble where she had last seen her sister and searched franticly for her.

" A-ariel! " Cried Hawk, pointing at what remained of the shadowed corner of the far walls. " Look! "

Through her tears, Ariel crawled over there, and gasped as her hand brushed a dirty, blackened tuft of soft hair. As Ariel stared in disbelief, two soft amethyst eyes fluttered open and she could only cry as she hugged her sister. " I'm so sorry Tessa… "

" He saved me. " She whispered against her neck, hugging her back as tight as she could.

" Who did? " Ariel choked out through her tears of relief, and realized Tessa was pointing at something.

" He did. " There, in the shadows of a nearby building, were the fierce, glowing eyes of the Citana Alpha. " He picked me up and tossed me here. Too bad there wasn't one around to save mama and papa… huh? "

As the five orphans huddled in the rain, the growls of the hunters faded into the storm, and so did the view of the huge carcass of their prey. All she could do was nod, too relieved that everyone was still alive to tell her sister that it had been a pack of angry Citana warriors that had been standing over the mutilated bodies of their parents when they died three years earlier. She could still see the purplish poison mixed with the crimson blood of her family on their blades and talons, and the unholy fire in their eyes as they had locked on hers… Squeezing her eyes shut against the memory, she had to wonder why the Alpha had bothered to save her sister. They were just street rats, begging for food… stealing for it occasionally, she admitted to herself with shame. She sighed knowing it was only a matter of time before their luck ran out, but for now, Ariel pushed her exhausted body upright and looked down at the fearful eyes of the kids who depended on her. She forced herself to smile. " Come on. We can't stay here anymore. "

" That was a pack of Citana Captain! I really don't think this is a good night to be out sight seeing in Shadowveil! " Hissed a tall, pale rose skinned female with soft blue eyes and bright peach colored hair drawn up into a high ponytail. Her taller companion peered around the corner watching the retreating figure of the Alpha Citana until he disappeared completely into the shadows across the old slave yards and down the alley. " You know how I feel about slave markets and I can't believe I agreed to follow you out in the rain when we know there are packs out hunting tonight. If you think I left a perfectly good game of poker for this damn it, not to mention that hunk of a Saurian that's been flirting with me all evening to wander through the… "

" Take it easy Kiara… we're almost there. " Her muscular companion shrugged evenly, trotting off into the rain, leaving her to follow or not. He was dressed in soldier's armor and a black bodysuit that complimented his dark blue hair, cool aqua eyes and pale blue skin. Kiara was dressed for a night on the town, though and now her brand new dress was ruined… or at least it would be by the time they got back to the ship.

" Oh, No! You've got to be joking Captain! " She stopped dead in her tracks realizing they were headed straight for Arena Darkskull. " Last time you came near this place it took Prince Vegeta himself to pull your ass out of the fire, and you know, last I heard he's been missing for over 20 years!! "

" Shh!! A friend of mine told me to go see this next fight in person. He said it'd be worth it. "

" And who is this friend? " Kiara asked, crossing her arms over her chest stubbornly refusing to be quiet. " It better not be the same friend that offered to pay our tab at Red Devil Tavern or the one who told you to bet on the Tamisaur because the Zarovian had a headache. Or how about the time that he told you… "

" No! Shut up you wann'a get us caught? This friend is always on the level, Ki. And, you're supposed to be my first mate. Don't you trust me? "

She growled something under her breath but he smirked as she followed him anyway. " I'm going to regret this, aren't I? "

The Captain chuckled as he put an arm around her narrow waist and led her up to the gates of the arena. The guards drooled predictably, and much to Kiara's annoyance. She forced herself to smile as she felt one of them lightly slap her on the rump on their way past. Once they were out of sight, the Allurian stopped clinging to the Captain and looked around. Yep. Same old Durmast these halls were filthy, filled with trash, and there were stains of everything from food and beverages to urine and blood on the floor and walls and they weren't even to the disgusting seating area yet.

Down a service corridor, Kiara heard a familiar voice and a slap. Muffled cries from a female followed and Kiara's eyes narrowed. Taking a blaster off of the concealed holster she wore on her thigh, she moved toward the sounds she had heard. Cautiously she crept around the corner and licked her lips, Durmast had his back to her, holding a girl on her knees in front of him. After everything she had suffered in his bed she was fully prepared to shoot…

" Hello, my lovely. What are you doing, this evening? " Purred a mischievous, very sexy voice behind her. Kiara never got a chance to answer, or even turn around as pain erupted at the back of her skull, and darkness seemed to close in all around her.

Captain Maxwell couldn't stop staring at the two fighters in the ring. The battle was a fierce one, and seemed to be an even contest. The smaller figure was graceful and fast, but strong enough to take a punch from the heavily muscled champion and shake it off with a smirk. It couldn't be happening. The female warrior couldn't be a Saiyan! And yet… he knew what he was seeing, and only a Saiyan could be strong enough to take on a full-grown Hammer-fist without weapons.

Looking at the wild-haired little female he could only stare in disbelief. Over and over the little female showed her cunning, evading the clumsy punches of the stone monster while attacking its knees. Already the Hammer-fist was unable to walk, soon it would be unable to stand. She wasn't dressed like any Saiyan he'd ever seen, but she looked like one, and that fighting style was a dead ringer for a female version of Vegeta himself.

She wore only a short white linen tunic and bracers on her wrists and ankles, and sandals on her feet that laced up to her knees and kept her tail wrapped neatly around her waist. She was young but her obsidian eyes never left her opponant, showing a lot more discipline and training than most of the fighters that came through the arena doors. She was careful, and highly skilled, rare for a Saiyan to show that much respect to an opponant they were defeating with such ease.

" If I wasn't seeing this I wouldn't believe it. A female Saiyan? Where did you come from? " He asked under his breath.

" I was beginning to wonder if you would show. " Said a low voice from the shadows behind him.

Max swore softly, realizing that Kiara wasn't standing behind him, it was the Saurian she had been flirting with all night at the poker game. He was completely surrounded. Several guards he knew from previous visits to Darkskull and the rest of this city were aiming blasters at him and then there was the Saurian, and Durmast himself. The former slave handler was obviously getting older, but from the expanse of his chest and shoulders, Maxwell was pretty sure he was still strong enough to take on one pirate unfortunate enough to get caught in his trap.

" I'm surprised, Durmast. I guess I underestimated you. How much did you have to pay Grover to get him to go along with you? "

" Your friend wasn't willing to help, so we had him replaced. "

" What do you mean? "

" Say hello to Raja… or should I say Grover? " Durmast gestured over his shoulder to a small lizard-like creature with smooth, glossy green skin and amber eyes. The creature stuck out it's long forked tongue and then morphed into the likeness of the tavern owner that had been one of his oldest contacts.

" You bastard. What have you done with Kiara? "

" You stole her from me, in case you have forgotten. I have merely taken back what was mine. Dakon here tells me she was about to shoot me in the back. It appears she has found some fighting spirit in the time that she has been with you. I hope you didn't teach her too many bad habits, or I will be forced to… remind her what she is. "

" And what exactly is she, do you think? "

" An Allurian Pleasure Slave, and a very expensive one at that. Kiara and the rest of the females you stole from me are on their way back to the slave quarters where they belong. "

" You can't treat them that way. They're people, not property… "

" I believe that's the second time you and I have had this discussion. And let me tell you, I still fail to see how you managed to elude me for over forty years. You always were too curious for your own good, but I never thought this plan would actually work. You must tell me, did you come to see the Saiyan girl, or did you just feel bad about stealing my favorite bed warmer and want to giver her back? "

" I think if you knew what would get me here that you have already answered your own question. "

" Indeed. " Durmast raised a black gloved hand and a couple of guards came forward and threw the girl he had seen in the ring on the floor in front of him. " Her name is Lima. And yes, she is a Saiyan. "

She was about twenty, and presently very dirty and unconscious. Up close he would have to say she was beautiful, in a wild, untamed sort of way. It was unfortunate that he hadn't gotten to see the rest of her fight, but he was certain that she had won. " Where did you get her? Saiyans aren't exactly a dime a dozen. "

" A friend of mine bought her direct from the owner of the planet she came from. He didn't want to sell her, but he didn't get much of a choice. "

" That has always been your specialty."

" Amusing sentiment from a famous space pirate, you know. He had a few other pet monkeys and damn if I didn't end up with them too. But this one, she is my favorite. "

" And I know you wouldn't bring me here to brag about your new fighters if you didn't want something bigger than my congratulations. "

" Right again, Captain. I happen to have it on excellent authority that you know the whereabouts of someone else I'd like to see again. "

" Who would that be? "

" Oh come now, you wouldn't come all the way here to see a Saiyan if you didn't know exactly where Prince Vegeta is hiding. "

" Actually I did, I thought I would see him in the ring. "

" I warn you, don't lie to me. "

" I'm serious. " Maxwell shrugged, but didn't sound as confident as he was hoping.

" You will help me if you want to see your friends and your crew alive again. I just want you to get him for me. The Saiyan Prince is still worth a great deal of money and would be a huge draw were he to fight again. Now that we have other Saiyans perhaps we can lure him back? "

" He's not stupid, Durmast, he'll know it's a trap. "

" But you're his friend, you wouldn't deceive him. "

" You're an idiot. Since he was five he was one of Frieza's best and most intelligent warriors. He doesn't trust me or anyone else, and he certainly isn't going to trust you. Besides, do you really think you're going to be able to handle a Super Saiyan? All the Citana Warriors on this planet couldn't protect you. You would be better off forgetting about him."

" Actually, I'm not worried. The other Skulls are the ones who want him. They control the Citana, and they brought you and Kiara to me easily enough. They told me to capture you and imprison your crew and let you rot in the pens or set you loose in your ship and let you bring him to us. Either way we will find him eventually, but if you don't at least consider my offer, you will never leave this planet alive. "

" If I find him for you, what assurance do I get that you will keep your word? "

"You have my word of honor as the Slave master of Shadowveil, 4th Council member of the Seven Skulls, and as a former champion in the Games" He grinned mockingly. "Oh yes… and just so that you don't get any ideas about backing out of our deal, and disappearing… I am sending Raja and Dakon along with you. Tell the Saiyan Prince whatever you wish… just bring him here. "

" You honestly expect me to just waltz down there and tell him there are still Saiyans out there? That there are Saiyans here, on Kwanzaa?? He won't believe me if I tell him and it's only going to convince him it's a trap if you send one of them with us. "

"One of them? Oh no, I'm sending all six of them with you. Do you think, if we send six that it will be enough to convince him that there are more? "

" Vegeta is familiar with my crew, and Kiara in particular, he will be curious about your Saiyans, but he will still know it's a trap. I keep trying to tell you he's not stupid. "

" Raja can imitate the female form with astonishing accuracy, as you will find out. And the other Skulls don't really care why he shows up… they just want him here. "

" And what about your other lackey? "

" Dakon? You'll think of something I'm sure. Take the good Captain back to his ship and have my other pet monkeys brought up and put on the Atlantis as well. Give him enough of the females to give a reasonable looking crew of his regulars. "

" You are a fool Durmast. Underestimating Vegeta is a mistake you will pay for with your life. "

" Get him out of here. I have other engagements awaiting me. One of them ought to be waking up in my room right about now. One shouldn't keep a lady waiting, you know. "

" No… You touch her and I will kill you. "