Chapter 2: An Old Friend

She could remember a time when all she felt was pain, and the horrid cold-heat of a fever. How many times did she kick off the blankets in her tiny bed in the barracks? She wept in desperation to sleep and for the pain in her body to leave her in peace…Then he would come. Hands to lift her up, and to carry her to a warm safe place she had not known since infanthood.
“…Father…”
As always he would quieten her, and stroke her hot forehead with a cool flannel, whispering soft words to her, words of encouragement as she fought the infection. Six days and six nights she lay in his bed, fighting the darkness, fighting the monsters…fighting…

“Commander…?”
Zora stirred.
“Commander…Zora…?”
“Wake her up, Mekon.” Gormac said softly.
“I don’t want to…whenever her brow’s furrowed like that, it usually means that there’s something wrong. Wherever she is, I don’t want to bring her back yet. Zora…I’ve known her since I was a fledgling. She’s my…big sister…”
“Mekon…”
“Gormac, she’s a Shi’nah. You know what they’re like…”
“They’re our Shamans, yes, but right now…I think we should wake her up, hmm?”

They came when the light was at it’s brightest. In the haze of heat she saw them looking down at her…
“Zora…?”
“Shh, Carbaj. Her ears are very sensitive right now.”
The Saiyan boy whimpered.
“Is she…going to wake up soon?”
“…I don’t know.”
“Commander Zarbon!” The boy cried. “She’s gonna be okay right?!”
“Shh…”
“Shut up, Carbaj.” The red headed girl snapped.
“Shut up yourself, Celry.”
“Kids, if you’re going to start fighting, then please leave. Zora doesn’t need this right now…”
“Sorry sir.” Both Saiyan children chimed, and left the room.
Zarbon watched them leave and shook his head wearily. “Don’t know about you, baby, but sleeping on floors is starting to hurt.” He lay down beside her…ah, the sweet scent of familiar maleness, the feeling of strength and security…she snuggled into his arms, seeking protection from the monsters that plagued her mind…”Poor little Zora.” He whispered in her ears.
Yes. She thought. Poor little Zora.
Poor little me.

“Zora…!” Mekon shook her. “Zora!”
“…I’m up…I’m up…” Zora opened her eyes and focused on part of her crew. “What time is it.?”
“That doesn’t matter. We…uh…have a problem.”
“What?” She asked suspiciously following him to the bridge.
“Two battleships came out of a wormhole just ahead of us, beyond the Tellic system. I’m thinking maybe it’s a few of you-know-who’s mob.”
“Sounds like him.”
“They’re tracking us, Zora. They mean business.”
Zora smiled grimly. “Well. So do we.”

Pinjo frowned at the monitor, and took a bite of the arlian leg he was holding. The insect’s carapace cracked beneath his jaws, the sweet fluid sliding deliciously down his throat.
“They’re on radar, sir.”
“…I knew she would rest. She’s been running on empty for the last few months, with her little plans, and resistance movements…speaking of movements…” He lifted one side of his enormous arse and let off, causing the poor technician behind him to fall clutching his nose.
“Ah-hhh.
Contact Lord Freiza, and tell him we have the traitor in our range.”
“Yes sir.”
He chewed some more and smiled to himself, then placed the dripping appendage onto a plate. The view screen lit up and Freiza came into view.
“Commander Pinjo.” He said softly. “How very pleased I am with the developments. You are a fine commander.”
“Thankyou sir.”
“There will be a reward…”
“A reward?!”
“Yes…” Freiza chuckled softly to himself. “Indeed, young Zora has been a thorn in my side, and obviously in your side too…for quite some time. I understand that she has continually ignored your advances…”
“Sir I…”
“I’m not against inter-racial dating. But that’s not what you want, is it?”
“…She has insulted me.”
“If you catch her, she is yours, to with what you will. There would be no satisfaction in having her killed. After all, death is more honourable to them than slavery…”
“Oh…Thankyou sir!!” He turned to his pilot. “Get them!! NOW!!!”
Pinjo had never experienced the pleasure of this little thing called ‘sex’. It interested him greatly…his kind only ever mated to create new beings…but…Zora…

The girl stands on the grassy hillock her hands on her hips, her eyes glinting in the sun.
“You must never forget who you are”
“No father.”
“We are Shi’nah. We are the only ones capable of controlling the power.”
“But…”
“Never train, Daughter. The Chi will go elsewhere, and not to your heart and mind, where it can be united with the Spirit. I have hidden my power from Freiza. If he knew…”
“Yes Father.”
“If you return to this place, stay in the mountains. It’s the only place where we are safe…” The Male pauses, and looks to the sky. “Show me your gift, daughter.”
Golden light…
The music…
The power…

The screen was suddenly filled with light as the Star Wolf was attacked by the huge warship.
As the crew yelped with pain, Zora roused herself from the vision and stood up.
“Had enough, bitch?” Screamed the pink face of Pinjo.
She shivered slightly as the energy filled her body, skittering down her spine, gathering at her fingertips…
“No.”
“Whut?”
“It has just begun…”
There is a legend, almost as old as the Super Saiyan myth.
Thousands of years ago, the planet Anniria was lashed by a cataclysmic event - an immense solar flare. Many died. But out of the ashes rose too castes of Annirian - the normal ones…and the Shi’nah. The Shi’nah, forever frail from the outside, but with the Gift, the power to control their Chi energy to change themselves and their surroundings. As time passed, the normal Annirians hunted down their gifted brethren, and started to use them as machines, and not the living creatures that they were. They began to die out…until they were moved to the mountains…They disappeared, but now and then the Mark would show, and that poor soul would be taken to the cities to work in the Machines to heal the sick and the stupid.
Until He was born.
Hidden from sight, he grew as they all did, slowly, and served as the local Shaman…until Freiza came to destroy their world. Without a whimper, Zarbon went with him, and trained, therefore losing the Gift…
The Gift…Power beyond your wildest dreams…

Gold light filled the ship, and surrounded the Guts, making it spin. On the bridge of the Wolf The Being stood, it’s skin glowing from within, the golden halo around it throbbing. Perhaps it was Shen Long who stood on the bridge, without any dragon balls at his feet, but it was not.
It was a Shi’nah.
The beautiful side of the cursed half Demons.
It moved an elongated talon, and sent the ship was cast away, into the sea of stars.
The Shi’nah trembled, and started to fall, and hit the cold metal floor hard. As it breathed out, it transformed back into the slender form of the Annirian Commander. Zora lay still, unable to move.
“Commander!” Mekon ran to her and cradled her head, starting to cry. Her face was so serene, the only thing betraying her fragility was the dribble of blue blood from the corner of her mouth. Her lips moved, and Mekon bent closer, desperate to hear her words.
“Co-ordinates…B23 H78…class B planet…Find…Carbaj…please…” Her last word was desperate and she trembled, before finally giving into the dark haven of unconsciousness.
Well…at least there was no pain.

Night fell over Bingle…a terribly named planet that was one of the seediest dives in the universe. Currently, someone was trying to get pissed in the bar…but you can talk to Goku and Vegeta if you don’t believe me about the fact Saiyans can’t get drunk easily.
“Oh bugger this for a game of soldiers.” Growled the tall muscle bound warrior. He was 19 years old, an absolute honey, and by Saiyan standards a bit of a wuss. His name was…Carbaj.
“Want another one?”
“No. There is no alcoholic content whatsoever.”
“Dude, are you really a Saiyan?”
“I have a tail, don’t I?” Carbaj frowned. “You want me to transform or something? Why the heck to you think I’m staying indoors? Turning into a giant monkey really puts a cramp on your social life.”
“Uh…What about your home planet?”
“S’gone. Good ole’ Lord Freiza destroyed it. Bastard. There was a hot chick waiting for me down there. Ah well…”
“So…what are ya going to do now?”
“Apart from get laid? Uh…probably hitch a ride somewhere, I don’t know. I hate being a mercenary. You get the chicks, but they don’t stay too long…”
There was a roar, and the bar disintegrated beneath the sleek hull of an Annirian war cruiser.
“Holy shit.” Said Carbaj, and peered at it. This looked familiar…
“Um…excuse me…?” Said a small voice. “Is this Bingle?”
“No.” growled the barman, waving a tentacle. “And this isn’t the Mos Eisley cantina either. If you start spewing ‘May the Force be with you ‘ crap then I’m going to have to get nasty.”
“Oh.” The green skinned boy tried again. “Um…where am I?”
“It’s a bar called the Chicks’ Nicks kid. Look, how old are you? You’re a bloody minor!! You can piss off, ‘cos I don’t serve minors!” “Uh…but…”
“Do you want me to get fined?!”
“Shut up man. In case you haven’t noticed a battle cruiser has just taken out most of your roof and the wall. This kid has probably got a bump on his head the size of a Buckob’s belly.” Carbaj grinned at the kid. “You can have a lemonade if you like. I’ll pay.”
“Are you a Saiyan?”
“Well, last time I checked…”
The boy’s face lit up. “Carbaj? Is your name Carbaj?”
Carbaj went pale. “I didn’t do nothing!” He gasped. “ It’s a lie! All a lie!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m Mekon. We have a sick Commander on board who says that she needs your help-”
“I’M NOT THE FATHER!!!”
“What?”
The boy was pushed aside, and a familiar face looked down at him.
“Well I’ll be…” Carbaj whispered. “Zora?”
“The one…and only…” Gods she was pale. “I’m calling in…that favour…”
“Uh oh.”
“I need your…help.”

~To be continued.