Finding Destiny

Part One: Unwanted Visitors (Tora's POV)

I manage a few hours of sleep before there is knocking on my door. Groggily, I sit up and it takes a minute for me to get my body to respond without feeling like I'd been turned into a ball. Once I stop aching so badly, I head for the door before opening it. Outside my door are three Saiyans I have NEVER seen before...which meant that they probably knew the male in my bed. The one at my door, a woman with short brown hair gazes at me a little suspiciously. "Can I help you?" I finally ask deciding that it would be up to me to start off the conversation.

"We were told Bardock was here."

"Perhaps. What's it to you?" I return.

"He's our Commander," she tells me with some amount of annoyance. I was almost amused. Almost.

"Oh, really?" I drawl, "Then care to tell me HOW he ends up in some trash heap looking like someone had used him as a punching bag in addition to their own personal TOY?" It was low of me, but I couldn't help it.

The woman's mouth curls into a snarl. "You SONOFABITCH!" she seethes, "WE didn't HURT him!"

"Well, then PLEASE explain to me how someone EIGHT months PREGNANT ends up on the WRONG side of some sadistic FUCK and NO ONE knows!" I snap back at her. I don't know WHY I was getting so damn hostile about all of this because he was NOT my business.

"Fasha," one of the males behind her says, "Calm down. You're not helping the situation and HE is not going to talk to us if you push the wrong buttons." At least ONE of them had an IQ above four.

"Then YOU talk to him, Sugesh!" the woman snaps, "Because I just want to DECK him!"

"You have to forgive, Fasha," the male comments to me, "This isn't easy for her...or any of us. Bardock very rarely lets anyone in on his personal life. We knew...that he was having some troubles with the father of his child...but he never chose to divulge what they were...or WHO it was. Of course, we have our suspicion...but without proof we have no way of making the male pay."

"Some troubles doesn't equal having the shit beaten out of him and being raped," I retort testily, "The male meant to KILL him." The sight of them flinching fills me with a dark sense of satisfaction. It was petty of me but I figured I had a right to be annoyed. The male was stuck in MY bed until the whelp he carried popped out.

"I realize that," Sugesh tells me, "Just...how badly hurt is he?"

"He can't be moved...not until the child is born," I reply tersely, "Which just annoys me since he's stuck in MY bed."

"My apologies for the inconvenience," Fasha cuts in sarcastically, "Because I am sure it'll thrill our Commander to know that he got housed with some snarky Elite prick."

"Would you like me to ban you from the premise?" I demand harshly, "Because I don't particularly like your attitude."

"Fasha," Sugesh warns, "Keep your comments to YOURSELF."

The female glares at me but goes silent which was good because I was one nasty word from sending all three of them away. "Look, the bottom line is that he's stuck here until his condition improves. While I dislike the fact that my routine is going to be ruined because of it, I can't just turn a blind eye to the fact that he's in no condition to move very far. Which means that in the interim...I guess I have to put up with the three of you coming occassionally to see him. However...that being the case...you'd BEST contact me before you come traipsing up to my door because I don't like Saiyans randomly showing up on my doorstep. It tends to make me testy...that and if the male is as desperate as I fear to silence Bardock...you all coming here might tip him off to the fact that Bardock is still alive and I do NOT want to have to worry about some idiot Elite coming to MY home trying to finish what he started because I will bleed him across the lawn."

"Agreed," Sugesh says before taking Fasha by her arm, "Come on, we've taken up enough of his time."

Fasha sends me an unreadible expression before saying softly, dangerously, "You hurt him...and I'll skin you alive. Do you understand me?"

I give her a bored look. "Sure, I'll remember that when the desire to harm a helpless, vulnerable adversary rises. Go home, get some rest, whatever but remember to contact me before you traipse over to my house. Oh...and the name is Tora, by the way. It might behoove you to remember that when trying to do so...or you can go through the medic who spoke to you. He'll know how to get ahold of me."

The trio leaves and I lean against the doorframe sighing again. This was a mess of epic proportions and I had a feeling that it wasn't over yet. 'You are a sentimental idiot,' I think to myself before withdrawing into my home and wondering if I was going to have anymore unwelcome visitors to my home.

However, I find once I close the door that there are more important things to worry about when a low groan is issued from the direction of my bedroom. I hurry for the doorway in time to watch Bardock's eyes flutter open before another sound of pain escapes him. "Easy," I tell him as I slowly approach, "You're banged up pretty bad...and your pregnancy doesn't need any more stress put on it. So...just calm down." I was pretty sure that it wasn't exactly comforting but I watch him stop trying to sit up in favor of looking at me. "I'm Tora," I tell him, "I...sort of found you."

"Wh-what..." he struggles to speak.

"Not right now," I interrupt, "You need to just rest. Once you feel better you can interrogate me." He gives me an annoyed look which definitely tells me that he was far more used to giving orders than taking them. It was almost...cute in a way or would be if not for the split lip, bloody nose, and black eye he was sporting. I was pretty sure that when he was whole, he wasn't too bad to look at not that I had been checking him out. I have more class than that. Besides the difference in ranks between us made me out of his league. It wasn't my ego, merely truth.

He finally decides to take my advice and closes his eyes. "You're going to take it easy," I tell him, "because at this late stage of your pregnancy...you risk miscarrying." I watch his eyes open at that and a look of disbelief appears. "Yes, you heard me right; your child is still alive...but how long that remains the situation hinges on YOU just resting and letting yourself heal."

He finally falls back asleep after I change a few bandages re-applying the salves left. Once finished, I head to the kitchen to make something for myself to eat. I was still exhausted but some sleep had restored some of my energy back. I was sure I'd need all I could summon forth to deal with the male upstairs.

I've managed a few bites when there is a loud rap on the door. I was pretty sure I knew who was standing at my door and make haste to the door. Opening it, I try for a neutral expression. "Sire."

"How is he?"

"In a lot of pain...but I am trying to keep him comfortable so that he doesn't do anymore damage to himself or the child he carries."

"Have his comrades been by?"

"Yes," I admit, "and I think at least one of them, Sugesh, seems to have an idea of who is responsible for his woeful condition."

"I will definitely stop and talk to them...because this is inexcusable."

"I thoroughly agree, sire," I tell him.

"Keep an eye on him as much as you can...and if you notice anything suspicious let me know."

"I will, sire."

Once the male leaves and I close the door, I realize that he really had to be something if the king made a personal visit to ask about his status. It was obvious that I was going to have to tred carefully with the male. Shaking my head, I head back for my food hoping that it would be the last interruption until I was ready to deal with more people at my residence. I knew that tongues would be wagging when it got out that the king made a visit to me. I wasn't sure how to dispel the rumors...or even if I wanted to. I really needed to stop giving a damn. It might allow me to have a life.