She sat atop an examining table with a grey towel wrapped around her, hair still dripping slightly with water from the lake. Bura didn’t recall falling in, she just remembered a rush of icy coldness enclose around her and the feeling of floating gently. Nappa and Raditz were standing near the table but were doing their best to stay out of Ruta’s path. She was rummaging through a few drawers and seemed quite angry while doing it. The power to her facility was currently automated and wouldn’t turn on for a few more minutes. She had to do her search in dim lighting. She was quite organized for it being so early in the morning; the sun wasn’t even up yet. She was dressed only in her under clothes, a black tank top and shorts; she didn’t find it necessary to put on her armor when her only patient was brought in unexpectedly sopping wet and unconscious. She pulled out what looked like a clear stick.
“Ok, open up Bura” she sighed. Bura opened her mouth obediently and held the thermometer in her mouth. After a few moments, the mercury center rose to 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Hmm…this isn’t good but I guess it could be worse. I have some medication that will boost your immunity and will fight your virus, so you’ll be fine in a day or so. You’ll just need some proper rest and a good meal for now”
“HA! So the brat was just being a drama queen. I knew she was faking it!” barked Nappa. Ruta turned her head sharply in the direction of the two male saiyans; this act alone caused Raditz to flinch. Nappa returned her icy glare with an arrogant one,
“You got a problem, woman?” Her eyes narrowed and her hands were balled into fists at her side, yet she managed a pleasant smile and kept her voice steady as she walked toward them and spoke casually,
“I understand you guys have responsibility of teaching her the basics of combat and you know nothing of anything else, but I was wondering if you could enlighten me on something”. Nappa blinked, unsure if Ruta had asked him a question or not,
“…what?” She continued and her voice gradually rose as she spoke,
“At what point…did it seem like a…good idea…to throw her…INTO A FUCKING LAKE!!?” Nappa almost took a step back he was so startled. Raditz swallowed hard. He had fought various enemies and had faced certain death many times but somehow, this enraged female saiyan seemed to be more intimidating than anything he had encountered before. He uneasily glanced at Nappa, it was his idea after all and he should be the one to explain. Ruta saw this and focused on Nappa.
“WELL?!” Nappa narrowed his eyes and then answered,
“The brat had a fever like a fire, there’s no better way to bring it down than by dunking it in cold water! Every great soldier would tell you that!”
“You’re anything but a ‘great soldier’!” she yelled at him, “You’re supposed to treat just her head! Not submerge her completely underwater!”
“It got the job done! And what difference does it make?! You got the meds to make her all better so what are you bitching about?!”
“I’m BITCHING because your moronic actions could have killed her! And you know DAMN WELL that if she dies for any reason under our supervision that all three of us would have to answer to the king! And then he’d kill US!”
“I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about what would happen to you! All I know is that the best way to make a saiyan tough is to put them at the brink of death and then bring ‘em back! THAT’S how she’s going to be able to survive and THAT’S how she’s going to keep ME alive!”
“YOU’RE AN IDIOT! Saiyans evolve stronger by surviving severe battles not crippling the health of their bodies! A simple viral infection could kill you faster than any opponent if your immune system is unable to function properly!” Nappa opened his mouth then closed it. It seemed he ran out of argument material and was gritting his teeth. Ruta turned away from Nappa and walked toward Bura,
“You shouldn’t have gotten sick like this, Bura. I showed you the leaves to use to make a wrap for your self, that would have been sufficient enough to keep you warm and the leaves themselves gave off a natural vapor that helps you sleep. Were you not able to make one?” Raditz glanced at Nappa again. He had stopped gritting his teeth. His lower jaw was jutted out and it looked like he was biting his lower lip. This was most likely not going to be good. Bura shook her head; her voice was a bit weak,
“No…I made one…but…” her eyes shifted toward Nappa. Ruta turned around again and glared at him.
“What did he do?” she hissed. Ruta’s eyes were almost glowing with anger and it was directed at Nappa. Raditz actually took a step away from him just to be safe.
“He burned it up” she answered. Ruta had started to walk slowly back to where Raditz and Nappa where standing,
“…little stool pigeon…”
“I can’t BELIEVE that you two could be so callous that you wouldn’t let her keep herself warm! YOU’RE BOTH BASTARDS!” Somehow Raditz found himself pulled back into the conflict, he didn’t like that.
“But Ruta, Raditz didn’t do anything” said Bura.
“That’s right, he didn’t do anything. He didn’t even try and stop this dumb-ass from leaving you alone”.
“But he let me sleep under his hair. It was actually really warm”
“Oh,” Ruta looked at Raditz, “did he now?” She reached toward him and grabbed the lining of his armor going across his chest and pulled him forward then pushed him toward the table where Bura was sitting. Nappa was now standing by himself; he almost seemed outnumbered three to one. A dark angry scowl crept onto his face,
“You’ll let that weak-ass Raditz slide by just because he treated that brat like a baby?!”
“At least he’s not threatening her life by being an IDIOT!”
“IF YOU CALL ME AN ‘IDIOT’ ONE MORE TIME, I’M GONNA-“
“YOU’RE GONNA WHAT, MORON?!!” She hadn’t called him an “idiot” but he still understood she was calling him stupid. In all his years, he could not remember one time a being, other than Prince Vegeta, having the guts to insult his intelligence. His brawn had always ended his disputes in his favor, why shouldn’t it work now? Nappa swung his massive right fist at Ruta. She was no longer in front of him. For a split second, Nappa thought he had struck the frail female with such a force that she simply dissolved before him. Then he saw her. She was crouched on the floor, glowing slightly with white energy around her, eyes bright with fury. She retaliated, landing a solid right upper cut to his chin. He caught a glimpse of the ceiling and wall behind him before landing heavily on his back on the floor.
“I may not be a ‘combat specialist’, but I do know a few moves that no female should be without”, she kicked up the middle flap of armor around Nappa’s waist, “Pay close attention, Bura” she called out. Bura pulled the towel around her head down to go across her shoulders and sat up to get a better view. Raditz could only cringe in dread as he looked on; he knew what she was going to do but didn’t dare to interfere.
“It’s important to know that all males share one major weakness and it’s located right…HERE!” Ruta slammed her right heel down on Nappa’s crotch and he responded with a loud howl of agony. Bura watched in amazement as he withered in pain on the floor. Each time he attempted to move away, Ruta increased the pressure of her foot keeping him in place.
“Now, when you’ve encountered a male that has given you trouble, like this one, it is most appropriate to give him extra punishment. Simply give your foot a sharp twist in any direction, like so…” as she did, Nappa let out one last gurgled scream before falling unconscious.
“And now a male that was a possible threat has been incapacitated, ripe for disposal by any means you feel fit”.
“Wow…he’s not even moving!” said Bura in admiration.
“Yup! It’s a sign that you’ve executed the assault efficiently. It’s easier to use if your opponent is overly sure of himself and has his guard down. Of course, practice makes perfect” Ruta said with a sly smile, “So be sure and try it out the next time you have a sparing session, okay?” Bura smiled,
“Ok”
“Now, you stay there and dry off while I take care of this lummox” Ruta grabbed Nappa’s jaw and squeezed his mouth open. She then dropped a light grey gel pill into his mouth and forced it down his throat.
“What did you just give him?” Raditz asked uneasily.
“Oh nothing much really,” she grinned, “just a dose from one of my experimental concoctions that affect one’s memory. I don’t need him giving Bura a hard time once he wakes up. Give me a hand getting him out of here won’t you?”
“Uh…sure…” Raditz hesitantly walked toward the out cold Nappa on the floor.
“Grab his feet and follow me, Bura, stay right there okay?” Ruta led Raditz out of her medical room and out into the hallway with him dragging Nappa behind him.