The rising sun was warm against her tanned skin, the red sand swirling around her ankles, and her black hair whipping about her face. Eyes, black as midnight, trembled in longing for the freedom the desert presented. There was more to life than the fields and crops provided; if only her father would agree to the academy. She snorted in bitter amusement; hell would freeze over before he would give her his consent.
Her father was often away, leaving the small Saiya-jin to fend for herself. She smiled in sorrow. Turles, twin brother to Bardock, refused to allow his daughter to train or to fight, but he knew nothing of the dangers and hatred she faced daily. Lema, raised her head defiantly. 'I'll do it!' Her father no longer possessed the power to determine her future.
Thankfully, her cousin had never told their secret. If Bardock had discovered that his son was teaching her combatives and military tactics... She refused to think about the consequences. First, she needed to enter the trials and win. No one would expect her to make it past the preliminary rounds; it wouldn't be the first time her enemies had underestimated her power, cunning, and strength.
Shorter than the average Saiya-jin, she was often targeted by larger males. Lema had to be stronger and faster. Had she ever known a peaceful moment? Her eyes flashed a deep red. She would never submit herself to the obedience of a male. 'I refuse to be a mindless slave, never to have a destiny or future of my own.'
Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the fields, having no regrets about the path she had chosen. 'Never again will I work until my hands bleed, my back torn by the field master's razor, sharp whips. My only regret is Ringo, my one and only friend in this cruel place.' Ringo was of average height with short black hair. Before anyone would miss her, Lema took off across the desert, leaving behind her life as a slave.
Ringo knelt at the tracks, already vanishing with the desert winds. "Lema, why do you insist on angering the field masters!" Ringo would be protected from punishment, mainly because of her father. Upon accountability, Lema had been among the missing. Assigned to find and retrieve her friend, Ringo easily followed her trail until she reached the desert sands. Lema was attractive, despite her size, with waist length hair, matching the color of her eyes and tail.
She had noticed a sudden withdrawal in Lema, especially after her cousin had left for the castle several months ago. The trials would begin within four months, determining his status and place in the academy should he be accepted. Considering whom his father was, Ringo had no doubts that Lema's older cousin would succeed. "Oh, Lema. Why won't you talk to me anymore?"
They would come after her. Pausing, Lema wiped away the sweat forming upon her brow, breathing heavily from the smothering heat. The sun burned her tanned skin, but she ignored the pain and focused on the tunnels that would be a little further north. Her father would be furious, but Lema's only desire was to follow her heart. She wished to become the strongest Saiya-jin on the planet.
She didn't hate her father; on the contrary, Lema loved him very much. Lema couldn't help but feel that he resented her. Her mother had died giving birth to Cyan and herself. His father truly believed there was no place on the battle field for a female. Lema couldn't recall a time when she had seen him so angry as the time he discovered Raditz training her.
Lema knew who would be the one to track her; Ringo. The shy Saiya-jin was known for her tracking abilities, her skills close to the levels of Bardock and King Vegeta. She refused to be caught so easily this time, and even if she was found, Lema would refuse to return. "Dammit, where is it? I saw it two days ago!" Hearing the sound of water, Lema broke into a swift run, laughing in triumph as she found the entrance to the water tunnels.
Without hesitation, she dived into the cold water and swam, pulling herself under the caged tunnel. There was barely enough room for her to squeeze her small body through. As she resurfaced, she heard the pounding of feet, knowing it was her tracker. Lema snorted; "Let her search. She'll never look nor find me here."
She shivered, swimming deeper into the darkness. Surely there had to be another way out. "I can't see anything in here." Minutes passed before Lema realized her deadly mistake. She could find no other entrance to her watery tomb, her feet having no bottom to rest upon. Her fingers and toes were going numb, her body demanding rest. If she stopped, she would die. Gritting her teeth, Lema continued her struggle, defying death's call.
Ringo had never been so terrified in her life. After losing Lema's trail at the water, she retraced the tracks back to the grass. The stars twinkling overhead, she decided that enough was enough; "Lema, where are you! Please come home!" *No answer.*
After ten minutes, she ran back to Lema's house, hoping that she was there. Not expecting her father to be home, Ringo slammed the door open and skidded to a halt in front of the table, trembling in fear. 'He's furious.' Turles had always been intimidating to her, never having to say much to get what he wanted. "Where's Lema and why was she absent from the fields?"
"I can't find her!"
Ringo was hysterical, making it difficult for Turles to interpret anything she said. Gritting his teeth, he closed the distance between them, "What happened?" he growled.
"She didn't show up to the fields and father sent me to search for her."
He closed his eyes, forcing himself to remain calm. Ringo could see the simmering rage beneath his blank expression, his black eyes having a red glow to them. "Where did you lose her?"
"At the edge of the river."
Turles walked outside, his tail breaking the wood as it smashed heavily against its frame. "Go home, Ringo."
"But..." Ringo feared for her friend, but the rage in her father's eyes quieted any further protests she may have had. Submissively, she lowered her head and retreated, knowing better than to challenge the space fighter.
Turles had no difficulty finding and following his daughter's trail. As Ringo had said, it ended at the river, the angry father frowning. "Where are you, brat?" His eyes studied the strong current, following it the tunnels. Turles suddenly knew how Lema had evaded Ringo, his eyes wide. In a single leap, he was swimming towards the bottom, finding the caged entrance that was far too small for him to crawl beneath.
He cursed, resurfacing and pounding his fists into the ground. To follow Lema was suicide. The tunnels extended for miles, and would not re-open before she would die from hypothermia. "Lema!" He roared in agony, his heart clenching from past memories brought suddenly to the surface. "LEMA!!!!!!"
Lema paused, a cry breaking past her mental barriers. "Daddy!" She was so cold, wishing for her father. They had always been linked, and for the first time, all his barriers had dropped, revealing his grief and betrayal. Lema had caused his pain, and it nearly destroyed the remaining will power she had left to fight.
Her decision had seemed so perfect. Now she wished she had talked to her father first. Why did one have to die before realizing that their parent only wished to protect them? It wasn't Turles fault that she never spoke of the daily attacks, nor that she had almost died six months ago. "Daddy, I... Have to keep going..."
Lema lost track of the time, wandering slowly down forgotten tunnels. She dared not to close her eyes, not until she could go no further. As she sank, it took several minutes for her to comprehend that her feet were touching solid ground. "I can't feel anything..." The water slapped against a hard surface, and a small point of light reflected off the walls. Lifting her head, she noticed a ladder.
"I have no strength left, but I can't quit." Gasping for breath, Lema grabbed the metal bars, screaming at the burning pain. It was so cold that her hands bled when she pulled them away to climb to the next rung. "I won't give up! I mustn't!"
Reaching a grate above her head, she shoved it opened and yanked herself into a large room. Her body rested against a deep, purple and black carpet and her muscles cramped and spasmed. Lema whimpered; "Have to..."
Inch-by-inch, she crawled to the door, pulled herself up by using the wall and walked into a long hallway. Blood oozed from several cuts, leaving a trail of crimson. Lema was dying.