Through My Eyes

Turles left Capsule Corp and West City far behind him, all the useless confusion of what Earthlings considered to be civilization. So many people and talking were more more exhausting than any combat ever could be, and for him too great a price for the trivial conveniences without which they would be lost. That his scouter was broken disturbed him not, seeing as the Earth Saiyans' ki could change at will to unmeasurable levels.

He flew for a great distance until he found a large, nameless forest that suited him well. Its plush, woodsy scented verdure was rich, the diverse fauna and flora around a modest stream promising enough food and water to live on with a small cave nearby for shelter. He paused at the source of the spring to drink, its fresh, crystalline taste convincing him to stay, then helped himself to a red and white-striped fruit.

He decided to explore the area for available game. It was best to start hunting now so that the meat be prepared in time for dinner. Along the way he picked various fruits and mushrooms, which he stored in a pouch fixed at his belt.

À few miles later he spotted a curious, rectangular sign posted on a tree. NO TRESSPASSING, it read, carrying several menacing-looking symbols. What the hell? A few meters onward there was a similar sign that warned, TRESSPASSERS WILL BE SHOT, and a third, PRIVATE PROPERTY. They encircled a small, hidden sector and appeared to be recent, though faded by exposure to rain and sunlight, and he frowned indignantly. Who did this character think they were? Such virgin land could not 'belong' to anyone at all.

Turles' sharp vision caught sight of a young doe and he instinctively crouched behind a large fir tree, carefully aiming his ki. They'd had similar-looking animals on the old planet and this one would do nicely. He was distracted by a loud, close rifle shot that rang painfully in his ears, and something bounced off the side of his armor.

He looked down in surprise at the bullet shell at his feet, then up at its source. The shot had frightened the doe, but a second lightening-quick reloaded shot stopped it in its tracks and it fell to the ground in a heap, not even knowing what had hit it.

"Move a muscle and die," the rifle's owner warned. Turles looked around to see its long barrel aimed straight at his heart and the voice asked in confusion, "Goku?"

"No, you're mistaken." Turles studied the young man curiously, sensing no ki at all from him. Though he'd never seen him before, he looked familiar. It was his face, he decided, with slanted, steely blue eyes as sharp as his shooting, exactly like the blonde female cyborg at Capsule Corp.

"Well, you're obviously illiterate," he retorted dryly, his voice as unwavering as his steady aim.

Turles' tail uncoiled from his waist and switched angrily. "Who do you think you're dealing with, kid? I dislike your arrogance."

"I live here," the younger man declared firmly, "And you almost made me lose my hunt."

"Your hunt? That's my dinner you shot! The only reason you aren't dead is because I don't want to go back to Hell." Turles realized too late that he'd said too much.

"Back to Hell?" That seemed to amuse him. "What's a Saiyan doing here?" He disengaged his rifle and slid it into his side strap.

Turles ignored the question. "I see who you are. Number 18's brother? Why do you live out here?"

"Juunana-gou, yeah. Those are our names, not our ages," he informed him, watching him suspiciously, "You didn't answer my question."

"Nor you mine, and you could've fooled me," Turles countered in irritation, "But not to think you own a forest in the middle of nowhere."

"I don't, but I live here," 17 said simply, his eyes widening suddenly. "Oh jeez Kami, your tail!"

Turles glanced down at it, frowning. "What about it?"

"They didn't tell you?" 17 exclaimed incredulously. Turles shook his head. "Tonight is the full moon. I know because my hunting is always best then. So, you either have to cut off your tail or stay inside with the curtains shut."

"There's no way I'm cutting off my tail!" Turles said, horrified, "I thought Piccolo blew up your moon."

"He did, but it had to be wished back cuz it caused too many problems," 17 explained, "There were tsunami everywhere without its gravitation."

"Then if we all transform into oozaru, we'll kill everyone and be sent back to Hell," Turles concluded.

"Earth isn't perfect, but it beats the hell out of Hell," 17 commented, thinking quickly, "Wait, there are more of you?"

"Yeah, the others are at Capsule Corp," Turles replied, "Your full moon occurs every month if I recall?"

17 nodded. "I'm not used to guests, but you'll have to stay at my place tonight. I gotta call my sister about the rest of you… great. I can't believe nobody thought of that." He considered Turles doubtfully. "You can give me a hand with the meat, then, we can share it. I don't eat ten times my weight in food. Let's get finished before it gets dark."

Apathetically Turles followed 17. He was a solitary type like himself, so the arrangement should be tolerable for one night. Not that he had the choice. At least he would not be affected by the full moon… would he?
*
TBC in chapter 4…