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Post by Ronin Sashouka on Feb 20, 2018 14:39:23 GMT -6
"Drink." Sashouka grunted as he shoved the water bottle back into the hands of his still-recovering rescue-ee. And, yet again, she pushed it back and rolled away, her face flushed red and her eyes winced close as she groaned back.
"N-No... n-not... helping..."
Feeble as her voice was, the huge-haired Saiyan's words and all the fighting for the past few minutes had returned a sigh from Ronin. Her fever had come back, even if she recovered from the waterlogging... and now she refused to drink when offered it, despite burning up and panting anytime she thought she was alone. It was like trying to argue with a child, as if the young woman had no idea that staying hydrated was necessary to try and combat the fever setting in. For most of his life in the village, sweating a fever out was almost always the best solution. But she had likely had access to some level of medicine based on the fact she had a ship fall from the skies and carried her through space. Setting the bottle down beside the bedding, Sashouka turned his gaze over to the chest where he stored the few things he needed in the modern world. Zeni and an older phone that allowed him to call the village. There was also the gravity generator he had acquired, but that was kept outside.
Popping it open and retrieving his phone, he knew he would need to call for medicine. The village wasn't too far and a few members of the tribe knew how to fly... they could deliver anything that would be needed in time. Placing the call and raising it to his head, Sashouka moved a hand to tug the blanket up over the Saiyan female before pushing himself to his feet and turning to leave. It was best to leave the water with her and try to let her rest, at the very least. The line buzzed, Sashouka letting the tent flaps close as he plopped down beside the fire and waited. And waited. Genuinely, it seemed to be one of the most unnerving and equally annoying minute and a half that had ever been placed before him. But at last, the line picked up, the familiar voice of his mother picking up rather than the elder.
"Sa-shou-ka!" The teasing trio of syllables brought back her sing-song greeting anytime a much younger Ronin got back home from the Elder's hut. "It's so rare for you to call home, what do you need?"
"I need medicine, mother. I rescued a woman and-"
"A GIRLFRIEND? OOOOO~!" Her response ensured Sashouka knew he had made a grave mistake, putting the phone down and letting her ooze with excitement and blabber. This was in particular why going back home was hard, knowing that there were those like his mother who wanted him back more than anything. A life in the village was nice on paper, but exploring and perfecting his style was paramount above all. It was why the dojo had been established in the first place and why Ronin had pushed the rumors around to get students! Raising the phone, he caught the end of his mother coming down from her excitement. "-o where do I have it sent?"
"I'll text the coordinates from the phone. So just... get it out here as soon as you can."
Ending the call, although he knew that it'd require repaying his mother later, he punched the send coordinates button and tapped the only contact in the phone. It was received and an angry emoji was replied back... but the thumbs up had him sigh and put the phone down. This was a slow morning, but perhaps that was for the best. No students showing up meant that his attention could be solely on helping the still-non-named Saiyan girl recover. That massive hairdo she had certainly got annoying, bumping and brushing him anytime she turned in her sleep. And that was with him sitting some distance away! But it was his duty, as the one who saved her from the sinking pod and drowning, to get the female back in decent enough health to at least leave on her own two legs. It was definitely starting to make him feel weird, having someone else living in his tent. Being a nomad for the last few years had often meant he was alone... yet here he was, having spent the last week or so taking care of this mysterious woman. No matter what he did, it was like the journey to get stronger and perfect any of his techniques and fighting skills was always meant to be hindered.
Here we go =3=/
PL: 5,000
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Post by Vegia on Feb 20, 2018 15:22:32 GMT -6
Vegia had not slept particularly well since her arrival on the planet, excluding the time that she had spent unconscious. The strain was starting to show on the young woman, but she wasn’t allowing it to slow her down. There were a million things that she had to do, so many corners of this planet left unexplored. Even a slight variation in pod variation, speed, or weight could result in a drastically different entry trajectory to the planet. They had no way of knowing how many space pods had made planetfall in the past few days, and it was likely that there’d be even more in coming days and weeks.
This had not been any unified and coordinated evacuation. This was a chaotic fall-back from a planet that had been overwhelmed in a frighteningly swift time. The only advantage that they had was that the World Trade Fleet didn’t seem to be acting openly just yet. As soon as they lost that? They were going to be scrambling all over again, because they did not have even a fraction of the power that they were going to need to present any kind of coordinated and notable defence against the kind of force that had hit Vegeta.
So, she could rest later. For now, she searched.
She did her best to keep a low profile, staying close to the ground, using what cover she could where she could; in open stretches she often stayed just below the cloud cover, using the stratosphere itself as her cloaking agent. She suspected that the World Trade Fleet would already have people in orbit searching for signs of Saiyan agents. She really wished that she knew more about counter-espionage tactics and guerrilla warfare… but those were not skills that one needed when one’s primary day to day activity was to stand around looking ceremonially impressive.
And despite the fact that stealth was a concern, she still refused to wear anything other than her ceremonial armour. There were reasonable compromises, and then there were lines which simply could not be crossed.
When she came across the tent from the air, though, Vegia descended rapidly. Her first thought was that such temporary dwellings were a common trapping for refugees. That thought in mind, there was no need for a second one. She landed next to the fire, and found herself face to face with Ronin.
The teenager’s entrance was dramatic. One moment, there was nobody there; the next, she was right next to the fire, dust swirling about her feet and her cape billowing dramatically behind her. Vegia’s gaze swept the camp critically before landing on the apparent owner of this camp, the twenty-something man.
Purple hair. Small eyes. No tail, and the cut of the clothes was all wrong; definitely a local.
“Sorry.” Vegia said, sketching out a quick bow, hands clasped before her and head dipping low in a formal greeting. “I didn’t mean to disturb your camp. I’m looking for … friends of mine. I don’t suppose you’ve seen any shooting stars or similar recently?”
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Post by Ronin Sashouka on Feb 20, 2018 16:01:31 GMT -6
And just like that, today became a not-so-quiet day. It was a growing trend for weirdos to pop up, especially after his encounter with Misuji, but a cape-wearing one was new. Sashouka didn't hesitate to get up, almost initially preparing for a fight... but a few seconds allowed the teenager to properly pop into view to the narrow-eyed male, the fight jumping out almost instantly from his posture. Someone this young was looking for their friends... and what was she wearing? The hair on her reminded him a lot of his current charge, even if it wasn't as utterly massive. It was possible that this was a Saiyan standing before him. And before there was even a chance to form an inquiry, she spoke quite bluntly about friends and shooting stars.
"I... have not." The lie wasn't a very well-spoken one, based on his own judgment of the hesitation he'd used. "Tell me, what would your friends look like? Perhaps I met them when I met my students and a few other special cases the other day. And, while you're at it... I'd like a name."
No move was made to offer his own, especially given that this might be what the World Trade Fleet looked like. The armor was similar, but without knowledge of how space was, it was impossible for Ronin to gauge anything on Saiyan armor versus WTF armor. And there was also the fact that, aside from not knowing them, his abilities lacked the capacity to sense the strength of his opponents. Others seemed to have such a gift, but Sashouka had no clue how they did so. In this sort of situation, it would be advisable to go full-out if things turned bad. The sensation of fear was a driving force to a well-trained Earthling, to the point they could draw out more power. That much he knew from facing two opponents before. But even if he drew it out, someone who seemed on a similar off-worlder boat could be far stronger.
"So... hot..."
Sashouka froze, sash growing still as it hung. The lack of motion and tension shot up across his body, knowing that the situation even without the potential off-world conflict mixed in didn't look good. Both of his hands squeezed into fists, eyes opening nice and wide so that the pale green emeralds were fully focused on the new arrival. And when the purple-haired fighter spoke, it was through clenched teeth.
"I would appreciate it, too, if you were quick about it. I'm expecting help for my companion."
Fuel for the misunderstanding fire :O
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Post by Vegia on Feb 21, 2018 1:59:39 GMT -6
Vegia couldn’t escape the feeling that this man was trying to hide something from her. Perhaps it was just how suspicious he seemed of her, which made her think that he must have something to hide himself. Most people hadn’t been suspicious of her thus far, excluding one town’s shopkeep; though to be fair, the few Earthlings she’d dealt with to date were perhaps not the best yardstick by which to judge the rest of the population.
She didn’t like it, though, and she liked it even less when she heard the weak voice coming from within the tent. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and she turned to face him. Well. She was a Royal Guard, not some thuggish Low Class warrior, or even a common Elite bully to brashly force her way through these situations.
She had a reputation to uphold, and she took that duty very seriously.
“My name is Vegia, of the Line of Karo.” She said, formally. “I am a Royal Guard from Vegeta. As far as I know, I’m the only one to have escaped the planet’s invasion. I am seeking other Saiyans who may have fled here in the aftermath of the attack. Earth was our designated fall-back position.”
Her tail uncoiled from about her waist, before wrapping tight back around it.
“They’ll look like me. Tails. Dark hair, usually.”
She’d thrown her cards onto the table, then she turned to face him more fully. Her stance was shifting subtly; no doubt a martial artist like Sashouka would notice it almost immediately. Her feet were planted solidly, her arms deceptive in the fact that they were just a little raised; ready to respond to a threat at a moment’s notice. Her full attention was focused on him, dark eyes piercing as she tried to peel back the mask the man was wearing and see what was really going on here.
Despite that obvious intensity, her words were much calmer and her voice much more relaxed than his. She wasn’t afraid of him. It wasn’t that she underestimated Humans – she was very aware that, with the proper training and determination, a Human could definitely match a Saiyan. It was rare, very rare, but from what she’d seen that seemed to be because of the culture that the Earthlings had built for themselves on this planet, rather than because of any innate trait of humanity.
But he wasn’t an Arcosian, and unless his colleague was just doing a very good impression of a dying person, he was alone here. She was confident in her ability to fight off any non-Arcosian one on one, or at least last long enough to make an escape if it seemed like she was going to be overwhelmed.
“If your friend is in trouble, I can get her to one of the big cities.” She said, “I’m faster than any of the air vehicles I’ve seen your people using. If you don’t mind it being a little undignified, I could even bring you with us, if it’d set your mind at ease.”
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Post by Ronin Sashouka on Feb 21, 2018 2:32:42 GMT -6
A Saiyan spouting a name that held no value to the tribalman did little to calm his nerves. The World Trade Fleet was an entity fairly unknown to him, such as if there were Saiyans among them that had the capacity to disguise themselves. And the subtle shifting of her stance had certainly not eluded the young man, Sashouka all but shifting back and into his combat stance with a flurry of motion that had the sash whisking about after his hips.
"Even if you speak of aiding me, your posture suggests you're expecting a fight." His fists squeezed tight enough so that the clasping strain was audible across the campfire between the pair. "I cannot take you at your word alone, Vegia of Karo's Line. I, Ronin Sashouka, the master of the Scorpion Dojo, saved her from a wreck... I will not endanger her after mending her wounds and helping improve her health with trusting someone who could potentially be an enemy!"
The campsite exploded with the force of his ki expelling, the anger and growing tension in his posture drawing out his deeper strength. There was no way to detect the Saiyan's strength, but based on his experiences so far with others that were also Earthlings, going weak out the gate wasn't an option. Especially with some near his level having fear of the WTF. The surging flow of fiery ki filled the campsite, billowing the loose sections of the tent and the doorway venting open in brief spurts to show the massive-haired Saiyan female laying on her back and the hairdo. Her face was still flushed red, sweat beading her skin. And, of course, the bottle of water beside her. The dampened rags scattered at the bedside told a brief story that Sashouka had no intent of sharing with this Vegia. To him, this was someone who could endanger the female... and that was enough to earn one of the first few scowls he'd given in years.
"My village is sending medicine... even if I wanted to go with you, I have no idea what sort of doctors you would provide. Even if you aren't with those World Trade Fleet people I've heard about and who you say you actually are, how can I trust that it will see her treated!?"
Things were growing more and more taut, the Earthling feeling every pore readying for the opening strike. Part of creating the dojo had been to prepare himself... but presenting a front against those who would deceive and bring their conflicts to Earth and interrupt his peaceful life were just as worth readying to combat. This close to the tent, however, was keeping him from lunging in. Even if the fighting didn't directly involve the injured Saiyan, the collateral damage that could likely ensue would potentially harm her! Sashouka was stuck between cautious distrust, his eagerness to drive off the strangely dressed female, and the fact that it was possible the woman before him was genuinely here to help. The frustration of this even earned a slight shiver across his body, his eyes still glaring back with the colorful iris staring down for any trace of movement.
Activated Intense Struggle (x2T)
PL: 5,000 -> 10,000
The informed versus the uninformed :OOOO knowledge is power, and the uninformed grow fearful and struggle even if the intent is good! Unreasonable Earthlings are a thing too!
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Post by Vegia on Feb 21, 2018 7:32:14 GMT -6
“You think I’m part of the World Trade Fleet?”
Of everything else, there was little concern. Even the revelation that – yes – he was in fact hiding one of her people paled into insignificance compared to the slight on her honour that he just threw at her.
Maybe if the girl had been well-rested, she would have been able to bear the slight with her usual calm. Maybe if the emotional wounds had healed as well as the physical ones, it wouldn’t boil in her so hotly. Even compared to the insensitive patting she’d been subjected to by these Earthlings, though, the accusation that she was one of her hated enemies brought out a fire in her like she had never felt before.
“You… dare accuse me of working with THEM?!”
His ki was impressive, but hers answered in kind. A brilliant cerulean wave of power erupted around her, the girl suddenly bathed in sapphire fire which extinguished the campfire in an instant. The pain and suffering of her comrade, the arrogance of this Human who dared to impugn her honour… it was too much for her to deal with. It was as though a thundercloud passed over the girl’s expression. She had tried to be civil. She had tried to be reasonable.
She was done with it.
Vegia usually focused on a more defensive style; she preferred long-range engagements where her slender form and smaller reach couldn’t work against her too much. Usually, she relied heavily upon her energy techniques to take on bigger opponents.
Usually, she wasn’t filled with such an urge to pound sense into someone, though. Usually, she didn’t take fights personally. But Ronin had succeeded in pressing that button.
“TAKE IT BACK!”
Those three words were all the warning that he was going to get. She didn’t care if he was stronger than her or not, in that instant, all she cared about was soothing her wounded pride. She erupted from her carefully-controlled stance in a sudden blur of violent movement, streaking across the camp and causing a terrifying wave of wind to whip up in her wake.
There was little subtly in her movements, the girl simply hurtled towards Ronin at full speed, tiny fists balled and intent on violence. Her aim was simple; to smash her fist into Ronin’s gut as hard as she could, before bringing her knee up to meet his chin, and smash her leg around in a wide, sweeping arc to take his legs out from underneath him.
If all went according to plan, he’d be on the ground before her, most likely dazed and confused, with Vegia’s hair still waving wildly around her, aura still blazing as ferocious as the noonday sun.
She wasn’t going to kill him – not deliberately, anyway – but she wasn’t playing around, either. She was tired, emotionally drained, and the enormous pressure of the past week was starting to catch up with her. She wanted her apology, or things were only going to get worse from here on out.
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Post by Ronin Sashouka on Feb 21, 2018 13:10:21 GMT -6
Shit, here she comes!
The defensive stance of his fighting style was perfect for the incoming attack, even if Sashouka wasn't prepare for the speed. The punch aimed at his gut was side-stepped, the force of it through the air shaking the tent harder still. Once her second strike came up, her speed was too much to outright just outsmart. Fist colliding with his chin, Sashouka felt the blow through his entire skull as it just about knocked his vision into a blur and his teeth connected with just a bit of too much force so that it drew blood from the core of his mouth. It had made his third necessary dodge hard, the sweeping kick impacting one of his two legs and causing him to topple. Were it anyone else, perhaps they'd have fallen to the ground entirely... but Sashouka caught himself in the air, sash dangling form his nearly thirty-degree angle from the ground. The Earthling parted his lips enough so that the blood could spill out and leave him, the dojo master planting his right hand on the ground before kicking off from the ground. Arcing away in an aerial cartwheel, Sashouka turned his body enough before forming the ki at his lips and let out a challenging yell. Of course, Vegia likely hadn't run into someone who screamed beams of ki at them. Not once had Ronin met an opponent expecting his unorthodox attack method, the sound of his yell turning into a monstrous scream as the beam of ki tore through the air toward the Saiyan.
Thudding with a stagger thanks to the growing pain in his leg, his mind was racing on why she had taken such offense anyway. Who were these alien powers that seemed to so viciously hate one another? If she was right, why were the Saiyans and this WTF at war anyway? All of it made little sense to an Earthling who had never even thought of the idea of leaving the planet, despite knowing star-bound ships existed. With his sash falling still, both of his hands form more regular balls of ki as he pushed the thought to the back of his head. For all of his training and experience, there was something that Sashouka had grown skilled in by now. And that was facing difficult situations like some raging stereotypical princess-type. If all Saiyans were so quick to anger, perhaps it was for the best that the female who landed was too weak to do more than complain and eat his food. If the weeks stayed so productive and informing, then his growth was only going to continue exploding... but if he couldn't push past his barrier, then it was all for naught. Both of the hands reached back and then swung ahead, the orbs of fiery ki flying outward in curving arcs as they came flying back in just behind his Ki Shout. Gauging how effective his attacks were would be necessary... if his technique was too weak, it might be better to just use his hands. Facing both Mal and Misuji had taught him that the best method wasn't always to rely on one's attacks alone, but even with the raging and powered up female before him that defensive strategy seemed poor-thought. Not being able to sense her power made this much harder, but the level of strength that had blurred his vision and drawn blood from one punch definitely made one thing clear.
"Take... euch... what back? You're the one attacking me! From what I've heard, that's how they handle things! Through violence!"
This Vegia of Karo was strong. At least as strong as him, if not much stronger. A battle this close was one bound to go poorly... but just as she lunged from pride, Sashouka had another reason to fight. Giving up just because someone was strong was not going to become a trend. If he could at least hold out and pray her rage subsided, he could keep his dignity as an Earthling, as a Dojo Master, and as a warrior. Only now, however, did he look down and notice why the leg had been growing painful. The pants themselves had a groove cut away from the sheer force she'd thrown her strike at, a bruise and even some fairly bad scratches marking the point of impact. Dodging her attacks might actually be the only way to prevent getting utterly destroyed. As the situation with Mal and Misuji had gone, he had avoided the worst by surrendering... but the anger fueling his opponent now was unpredictable.
[N1] Ki Shout: Focusing his Ki toward the center of his lips and using proper Ki Manipulation, Ronin opens his mouth and shouts to fire a red beam of Ki from the center of his mouth.
33% of PL: 3,300 PL (so basically like an itch scratch u kno)
6/7 KP left. Vegia has a mean hook :O hopefully she doesn't break the scorpion!
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Post by Vegia on Feb 22, 2018 2:13:07 GMT -6
The blast of energy did catch Vegia by surprise, and she only had an instant to decide how to deal with it. Her blood was pumping now, and she was angry. Turning, she brought her fist around in a powerful arc and slammed it into the wave of energy. There was a moment of struggle against the impact, and she was forced to bring her other hand to bear as well, literally grappling with the power, grinding her teeth as the ground shook before she threw it upwards into the air. Her hands were a little sore and aching, and the two follow-up blasts hit her square on. She barely had time for her eyes to widen in surprise before they slammed home.
She was used to paying dearly for her mistakes – she expected that there would be agony and possibly serious injury, and she was already cursing herself internally when she realised that it wasn’t as bad as all that.
Those stung, but she was still standing. More annoying than deadly; her cloak was singed from the blasts, and that would take time to put back together, but she was still very much in the fight.
He was blathering at her, and the man’s words just made her angrier and angrier. She struggled to control it, and in the end let out a loud shout.
”Enough.”
Stalking forward, Vegia’s power continued to burn around her like a beacon. Her eyes dark and dangerous as she stared the Human down.
“The World Trade Fleet killed my family. They burned my world. They took away my reason for living. They butchered thousands, and have enslaved the rest. Do you understand that? Can you possibly begin to imagine what that is like?”
She walked forward slowly, forcing exaggerated calm into her steps. It was hard, but she made herself take slow, steady breaths.
“I am a Saiyan Elite. My whole life was dedicated to the defence of my King and my world. Both are gone because of them. And you, ignorant, bastard, dare to accuse me of working with them, then you get offended when I hit you? Are you a warrior, or a weakling?”
There wasn’t much distance between them now; the formal, ritualised space she would usually leave when challenging another Elite to a duel; just out of arm’s reach. Her hand raised, palm open, and power coalesced into her hand as she stared him down. Bright blue energy shone bright enough to make shadows dance madly across the camp.
“I’m not playing around. One last chance. Apologise, one warrior to another, for your disrespect. Otherwise, I’m taking you out, and taking the refugee to her people. We’ll look after our own.”
It was always dangerous to play with energy in a non-lethal fight. Despite her wounded pride, she didn’t think he was a bad person, just an ignorant one, and she didn’t want to kill him. But, if he wasn’t going to back down, she was going to put an end to this as quickly as possible, even if that meant she had to drop two people off at a hospital rather than one.
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Post by Ronin Sashouka on Feb 22, 2018 3:44:44 GMT -6
Two direct hits after his initial attack was thrown away! Sashouka smirked, knowing that his follow-up attack strategy was viable at the very least. That might help against future fights!
But that celebration was very short and immediately followed by disbelief. Aside from some clothing damage, his opponent was completely fine. Even Mal and Misuji had recognized his damage! Just how powerful was this Saiyan, her command of enough instantly sapping some of the readiness from Sashouka. The way she walked alone spoke of how deep her memories cut and the belief behind the recollection of the World Trade Fleet. There was no possible way for Sashouka to imagine such numbers or degrees of loss within the small world he had grown up in. Before besting the elder, he had not made much contact at all with even the outside world from the sheer amount of preparation he underwent to ready to become a warrior. Battle lust had been refined and honed into a tool that led Sashouka to shaking in enjoyment when put to the challenge... yet that familiar shake found itself vanishing as his eyes lowered to break their gaze.
The light filled his gaze, no acknowledgement of being insulted as a weakling even met. The idea that he was anything but a warrior because he reacted harshly to someone who snapped against him in anger was not one that needed debating. Sashouka had grown to protect as much as to fight... and in the instant she came at him, all he could think was that perhaps he had been right. Her cutting tone of taking the Saiyan only sourly reminded Sashouka of that as his right arm raised to rest against the blooded lips before spitting the last remnants of her harmful punch's damage from his mouth. Coppery and bitter, it and the stinging pain were a reminder that she very easily had more power and could fulfill every word she spoke. It was all too clear that even if Ronin hadn't believed a word of the spiel, the offer seemed to at the very least leave his companion free to continue being treated. Taking her to a hospital, to him, was just as risky as having to depend on his little knowledge of medicine and treatment. After all, if the World Trade Fleet arrived and assaulted, towns would be the most likely areas hit in the chaos and destruction.
"... I apologize for associating you with them." His power did not rescind yet, the flow of ki making that quite obvious. It was his time to turn his gaze from the face of Vegia and look toward the tent, left hand motioning toward it.
"I've spent most of my life either in my village, away from the world, or roaming these wastes in my tent. I am not by any means stupid or willfully ignorant... but I do not know of things like your kind beyond name and legends. The one I rescued... she was the first time I had to understand that such things weren't just wise-tales. These World Trade folk have been nothing more than a name warned to me by the more inexperienced and the childish. " Those green eyes at last returned to their more casual and almost closed position, his head dipping momentarily as his ki finally slipped and his strength left him with the release of his struggling intent. "So I yet again... apologize." The purple-bunned head dipped forward, no sort of lowering himself needed to bow his head in a traditional apology. "There is little hope I could have faced you and won, so all I can hope is that you will trust my words and accept them. I am weak, but that woman and my village's style cannot be lost from an error on my part by trusting someone too easily. And you are the only one who seems to have the information I need to truly identify just what to make of these people."
Sash-pology :O
Returned to base form. PL: 10,000 -> 5,000
6/7 KP -> 0/3 KP.
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Post by Vegia on Feb 22, 2018 12:16:52 GMT -6
There was a part of Vegia which really wished that this human had continued to insult her; that he had given her an excuse to beat him into the dirt. Maybe then she would feel better about herself, let some of that frustration out on some deserving target, and just take what she wanted. But, he went and disappointed her again.
The power died away from around her hand, and she lowered her arms. Her stance was still tight, ready to respond at a moment’s notice if this was another feint or bluff. More likely, though, he was being genuine. There was no missing the fact that his blasts of power had not fazed her all that deeply; no doubt he was intimidated. She would be, if it was her on the other end of that.
“Apology accepted.” She said, gruffly, as she moved to crouch down next to the injured Saiyan and give her a long look over.
She wasn’t a medic. To see one of her fellows in such a poor state, though, was heart-wrenching. They didn’t have the luxury of losing people right now. There weren’t enough Saiyans to muster a decent resistance, and every single one of them needed to be whipped into shape if they were going to have even the slightest chance of rebuffing the World Trade Fleet and their inexorable advance across the galaxy.
“You’re not weak, though.” She said, looking back to the man now that she had reached the limit of her medical knowledge – yup, that Saiyan sure was suffering from some kind of fever. “You managed to dodge one of my attacks, and you’re still standing. Not to mention, that trick with the shouting was impressive. Compared to most humans, you’re head and shoulders above. Heck. You could probably mop the floor with most low-class Saiyans.”
She sighed as she stood, then, and pinched the bridge of her nose. She was tired. Every part of her ached, her hands more than most, and this was not making her feel better.
“As for the World Trade Fleet… if you think I’m strong, they make me look like an amateur. Even the weakest Arcosian could kill me without breaking a sweat, and they usually bring waves of expandable soldiers with them. Those aren’t a problem individually… but try fighting ten, or twenty, or more…”
Her voice trailed off as she looked to the sky, as though half-expecting that merely talking about the real threat here was going to bring it down on top of their heads. She hadn’t exactly been subtle about her power, after all, and she was starting to grow uncomfortably aware of the fact that anyone who still had a scouter could probably find her pretty easily since her zenkai kicked in.
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Post by Ronin Sashouka on Feb 22, 2018 21:52:31 GMT -6
"Then they would threaten myself and others greatly."
Sashouka had taken much of the explanation in stride, although when she had moved to the tent and been checking over his companion, there was unease on his part. After all, it had been his job to keep the woman safe while she recovered... even now, against someone so vastly above him, that instinct to leap in still tugged at his instincts. But her own interest had changed and moved away from the massive haired Saiyan and onto the subject of the WTF. So of course, it had all come back to his original statement and the one coming right on its heels as Sashouka lowered his gaze in thought and dropped to sit on his knees beside the now-extinguished campfire. A simple ki blast into the tinders returned the flame to life.
"Flattering me as someone capable is a misunderstanding of the capabilities of other humans. Though I consider myself a master among my new dojo... there are those who I teach that outshine me. I do not intend to fall behind, however, but want you to know that as long as they may try, then those who chased you here will find only anger from locals."
Even though there was company on the way, with one of the villagers bringing medicine, Sashouka looked to the tattered cape hanging from the young Vegia's back. It was something that drew some parts of a smile, looking to the tent's entrance. Inside, of course, were the tools he used to repair his sash and clothing. Without the skill of a somewhat decent tailor, the nomad would have gone nude a long time ago from the types of damage his clothing sustained. Just days ago, he had to mend much of his clothing after the duel with both Misuji and Mal. It was also an approriate thing that he had been storing sliced meat for his traditional trading with nearby towns, meaning there was plenty of meat to cook up from hunting yesterday that had been cooked and wrapped. Even without proper temperature control, cooking and sealing the food helped maintain it for the short life-span necessary in his trading with local restaurants and travelers.
"There is food and I can fix your cape, Vegia of Karo. If the resting Saiyan is anything to base my knowledge of your kind off-of, I assume you must be hungry." Extending his left hand to the fire's side, his gaze turned fully to her. "I will not ask for you to tell me anymore. Your discomfort, what I have heard... all of it means that I will have to caution my students against this World Trade Fleet. I would be unwise to fully trust your words at face value, regardless of the emotion behind them. However, do not think I will insult you again. Openly facing a group that threatens even you, with other potential elites and such numbers... I have no intent to fold nor allow them to inflict harm upon Earth. Or the that big-haired brat, no matter how many times she curses at me for caring for her. This group is coming, from what I have heard... when, no one has any clue. This is also the first time I have truly heard about them beyond name... and that alone speaks to the degree of how little I truly know."
Both of his eyes opened fully, the emerald gaze of the plum-haired martial artist setting on her with recognition. This woman would be the tool to teaching him what he needed to know. This would be the weapon that prepared Sashouka for whatever may lay in the future.
"If you know any names or you need assistance, I will offer my dojo in exchange. We will not openly fight, until I know more or am confident that we are both needed and ready. But training members of your alliance, both in tactics or in strength, I can provide easily enough. Should the time come that we must choose, I find it easier to trust those that I work with than those that distance themselves."
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Post by Vegia on Feb 23, 2018 2:31:51 GMT -6
Vegia considered the offer. It was a difficult one for her. On the one hand, she could see that Ronin was trying to make amends. On the other, she’d always fixed her own cape. In a strange kind of way, though, allowing him to fix the garment would help repair the damage that their actions had caused. As much as she was loathe to admit it, she probably could have handled her anger more gracefully.
She pulled the cloak from her shoulders, and tossed it easily across the space. It wasn’t quite as it seemed, as Ronin would soon find. The outside was simple red fabric, yes, but between the outer and inner layers of fabric there was a complex weave of filament wires; heating elements for cold conditions, though at the moment they were off. The fabric must be similarly heat-resistant, then. The garb of a Royal Guard needed to have certain extra benefits.
“Don’t worry about repairing the wiring.” She said, “I’ll take care of that myself later on. Thank you. And I’d be happy to eat with you.”
He was an interesting one; certain of his people’s ability to resist the World Trade Fleet, or at least try, but humble about his own abilities. He was young for a teacher, but he had a world-weariness about him that spoke to the truth of it; instructors were rarely the strongest warriors themselves. There was a very different skill between knowing how to impart lessons to another, and being a master of those talents oneself.
She settled herself down next to the injured Saiyan, so that the large-haired woman would at least see another of her race when her eyes opened again. She was comfortable cross-legged, and the teenager looked back to the stars as she considered what to say next.
“As a Royal Guard, it was part of my duties to know about the old enemies that we faced as well as the new threats out there in the galaxy.” She said, “Even so, we don’t know much about the World Trade Fleet, really. We don’t know who leads them now, or what drove them to attack us if it was anything other than opportunism, but…”
She sighed heavily.
“I’ll tell you what I know. Long before the formation of the Saiyan Kingdom, back when we were still an expanding Empire, our legendary warriors destroyed the Arcosian homeworld. We broke the back of their empire, and drove them to the furthest reaches of the galaxy. We weren’t much better than them, back then. We were all monsters who burned down worlds, enslaved populations, and destroyed civilisations because we were the strongest and we thought that gave us that right.”
Vegia did her best to keep her tone steady through the explanation of her people’s past sins. They had come on since then, of course, but the fact that they had destroyed another empire doing similar things was not, in itself, enough to wipe the slate clean for their own transgressions.
“Over time, we changed our view. We listened to other races, and we learned that it wasn’t just strength that determined a person’s worth. The Empire became the Kingdom, and the Arcosians became a bedtime story used to frighten unruly children… or spur them on. ‘Train harder, or the Arcosians will come and get you’.”
She smiled thinly at that.
“I guess in the end, we didn’t train hard enough.” She continued, “Apparently, out on the fringes of the galaxy, whilst we spent the past two hundred years learning to be better people, they spent it learning to be better warriors. You could say it is our past catching up to us…”
Her eyes lowered to meet Ronin’s again, then.
“But we’ve moved on. They’re still going by the old ways. They can conquer planets, so they have the right to do that, and to take anything that people aren’t strong enough to hold onto themselves. They started with us because they held a grudge, but it won’t end there.”
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Post by Ronin Sashouka on Feb 23, 2018 11:02:16 GMT -6
With the cape in-hand, and an obvious bit of confusion even after being told to ignore the wires, Sashouka moved to grab the small kit and bundle it within the cape for ease of carrying. The tent and campfire were close, but thankfully spaced enough to prevent the smoke from potentially flooding and killing anyone inside. It was placed in a way to provide warmth, the tell-tale positioning of a survivor who was used to cold nights in the wastes. That position had another benefit, however, that became clear a moment later as Sashouka pulled the wrapped bundle of meat open, the cooked scent of charred-right hams and beefs from various beats and dinosaurs flooding the tent. About twenty cuts of meat, all piled onto a simple, clay plate were prepared with some great amount of ease. The stack was almost comically high, a hazard in its own right as Sashouka navigated the tent once more to Vegia's side. It was a symbol of how little his eyes appearing closed actually messed with his ability to see.
"You should understand mentioning old ways against new ways is a bit... counter-productive with me." The plate was plunked down beside her and the sick saiyan, his attention shifting to Vegia briefly. "My village has... customs. Some that have been upheld for well beyond hundreds of years. My sash is but one example of that culture."
Moving and setting himself down not too far, the bundle was unwrapped and the kit was placed beside him. The cape was finally rolled out once more, this time across his lap as Sashouka grasped his sash firmly in his left hand while the right pinched and brought the cape closer. The shades were similar enough that it would do for a patch job. With the female resting, it was wise to avoid making much more noise than they already had. This was a meeting between them that was best left not involving someone trying to recover. The small mending kit of a needle with the red thread was quickly prepared, running through the material carefully to avoid messing up any of the wiring as he opted to simply stitch the opening strand-by-strand. All the times he had torn away the sash's ends, fraying it on a branch, had prepared him for even the largest of holes in material. Both eyes kept close watch on his work, trying to fill the hole with many strands to form a simple sheet. Only then would he tighten it in, so that it would seal and tug supportingly to form a more proper patch than pulling it taught with each and every completion.
"I doubt, however, that you did not train enough. I think, rather, they trained harder or had an advantage in being ready. Even the strongest can be slain by the weakest, if they have the exact moment and the proper tool. That's part of the reason I do not fear them. I only need to be strong enough to endure. If I can do that long enough and strike at the right moment... then they lose."
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Post by Vegia on Feb 24, 2018 2:15:20 GMT -6
“Tradition is important.” Vegia agreed, as she took the first hunk of meat and hungrily began to devour it. “The Line of Karo has teachings going back to the first Saiyan to take that name, hundreds of years ago. I understand duty and honour.”
It seemed that Ronin was well aware of the legendary Saiyan appetite, and Vegia was no exception in that regard. What might surprise him, though, was the fact that she was more than capable of continuing a conversation whilst simultaneously stuffing her face. If she wasn’t, then she’d barely have been able to say two words to her family over the course of the years.
“But, those teachings evolved with our people. When we started, we were as bloodthirsty as the rest. As our leaders softened, so did we. We serve the throne, that has never changed, but how we serve it, that’s, an important thing. Once we conquered aliens. Now we defend them from racists who would dishonour our people with their impulsiveness.”
She didn’t reflect on the fact that she had just been quite impulsive herself. Hot blood would always run under the surface of any true Saiyan, and in her tired and frustrated state, she’d let it get the better of her. But, she could hide that shame underneath the fact that he had insulted her so greatly and wounded her honour. Perhaps, in time, she would come to regret that initial meeting. For now, the irony of her own words was lost on her.
There was also a loose wave given as regards training, with the second steak, now that the first had been consumed completely.
“It isn’t always down to strength, that’s true.” She said, “If you’ve poisoned this meat, for instance, I’m probably dead. But I have to look at you and think that a true warrior, which I think you are, wouldn’t stoop to such lows.”
Though she’d never trust an Arcosian in a similar position. They weren’t warriors. They were just thugs with pretentions.
“But, back when we were more violent, when we were conquering the galaxy? We had Super Saiyans. Warriors who had managed to harness power somehow which made them even greater than the Oozaru, if you can believe that!”
She sighed again, and looked down, shaking her head.
“We’ve lost that. I don’t even know where you’d begin to start looking for it. But if the price of being a Super Saiyan is that you have to grind other worlds beneath your heel? … I’d rather stay weak. We’ll just have to find that opening of yours.”
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Post by Ronin Sashouka on Feb 24, 2018 2:53:35 GMT -6
"Mmm... an Oozaru?"
The needle had stopped working, listening up as she spoke of Super Saiyans and the strange Oozaru. The Super thing, he figured was just some sort of Saiyan wearing a cape or of recognized strength. Part of Sashouka wanted to believe that Vegia likely could have been one. But hearing of the Saiyans did provide some context that had Sashouka turning his gaze to the cape. Earth had heroes that, while only in name to him, had made such change and recognition. But Earth had never been some sort of space-conquering planet. It was always dragged into the conflicts of other worlds, much as it seemed to be heading toward now. The needle tugged through another patching strand, his gaze raising to affix on the progress of her devouring. At least, like the sleeping one, Vegia was capable of devouring food no differently. For all Ronin knew, the gluttony of Saiyans must have been genetic. But whether he believed her to be a Super Saiyan, despite their supposed loss, did not matter. The thing that mattered above all was the Earthling taking the time to look to one corner where the patches of his dojo were piled up.
"Your continued assumptions and poking fun that I may not be a warrior wounds me somewhat, Vegia of Karo. Unlike your kind, Earth has never... truly had some average person to look up to. There are old legends, but nothing beyond stories that sound and likely are fake." The tent filled with a brrrrt-noise, the threads pulled taught to complete one side of the patching. The red was a bit more pale, but fairly close to that of the color of the cape's material. "Earth has never been kind. The elder mentions that previous warriors have been killed in occasional scuffles, always cut down in their prime. Even if I had no idea what aliens were, we have enough knowledge that I wasn't even shocked when I saved that woman."
Gently turning the cape over in his lap, Sashouka ran the needle back through the patch and through a new end, making a seamless and therefore more strong and intertwined start for the opposite side of the first hole. The idea of seeing others of her kind, meeting these legends... was it some inner call of the warrior that somehow yearned to face this Oozaru and Super Saiyan? Even with his dojo to enthuse over and to be excited about, there was little to hide the smile hugging those lips. Every swish of the needle and thread was met with a vision within that mind, racing over how each blow could come across. This was something that had always driven through his body, a lust for battle that sat dormant beneath a thirst to perfect the techniques to face those foes.
"Even knowing so little... I found myself almost hopeful to face you, thinking you were potentially one of those World Trade Fleet members. It all ties in to knowing history... the thirst and dream of finding someone to push me beyond and tap the potential within me. The Elder always spoke of Earthlings who would transcend into powers unlike others, legendary warriors who protected Earth... the idea of that kind of power laying dormant? That is something I can relate to you and that idea of Super Saiyans and your Oozaru you speak of. But..."
The needlework slowed, the fire crackling as Sashouka's eyes rose and looked over at Vegia. There wasn't a ending statement following, however, the male seeming uncertain on whether or not to speak. Angling the gaze back toward the fire, the male raised one hand and gently pushed the finger into his mouth and rubbed the last traces of blood from her punch, spitting what little didn't come out on his finger to the flames. The stains were wiped away at his sash, the patch of blood doing little to darken the material as the man's gaze turned and the bloodied hand grabbed hold of the sash to finish wiping it down.
"I am willing to face foes, regardless of their strength, to hope that I can break the wall holding me back. An opponent strong enough to propel me through and on to gaining the strength that would unite my dojo and make me strong enough to protect this world, my friends, and my family. Warriors choose to grow stronger to either protect or destroy, after all... so I might as well be willing to destroy to protect. That mindset will do you well to consider, Vegia of Karo. An enemy left alive could become an ally, but they could also come back far worse than before if allowed to escape."
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