Cold Hearth [Kraktus]

---

Thoughts and contemplation in solidarity soon turned to cautious reproach. He had felt a presence nearby, an energy signature strong and dark emanating from the east—from behind him. He paid it no attention for the moment. It wasn’t until it was getting closer to him at a brisk speed did he begin to care for it. When the person landed in front of him, his gaze still did not shift from where the flames were, now blocked by a large humanoid body.

As the figure spoke, Saizomaru’s eyes glanced upwards, peering from behind the strands of hair that framed the corners of his eyes. A purple squid-like humanoid with piercing crimson eyes, clad in black and green armor that was of standard saiyan design. He had felt this energy before yet did not recognize the figure before him. He had sensed this person so many months ago at the Battle of Central City. It was the same energy that banshee had gone after to confront. It was at that point that her life had been lost.

This must have been the person who defeated her. Killed the android’s comrade. Murdered his friend.

And yet he had nothing to show or feel from it. There was no rage nor anger nor sorrow to be directed to this creature. There was no sense of justice, retaliation or retribution to lash out with. There wasn’t even a sense of disgust, to turn away from them and leave. He had only had a sense of self-reflection and self-pity.

”You’re blocking my fire,” was all Saizomaru had to say to him. He paused for a moment, then glanced back down to where the flames had once been in sight of him. He lifted himself from the log and shuffled himself down. ”Sit. Then, we’ll talk.”

He waited for Kraktus to do as he was told, or to at least move out of the way of the campfire. If he was not capable of a low-effort task, then he was not deserving of the android’s speech. He would continue, ”I was not here for the fight. I was seeking other things.” He raised his head and leaned back. His head turned to glance around at the sold, desolate surrounds. They were just like him—barren, empty and cold. ”I’m no hero. I’m just a soldier.”

---

It seemed that word of the android’s name got around on Earth, even for the enemy. He had at least got that part right. The more evil knew of him, he hoped that there was less of a chance they would bother attacking the planet. At least this person was of the correct train of thought to not want to create animosity and further enmity towards themselves. He kept his sight upon the flickering orange flames as Kraktus decided to take a seat beside him. The alien was tall, even when seated, though only a smidgen shorter than the android. He was imposing at first but now with some perspective he wasn’t all that in stature.

Saizomaru pondered for a moment. It was an interesting question to be poised with. What exactly was he searching for? ”God knows,” was his answer. At the moment he was just seeking to be alone with his thoughts. It had always been a go-to for him whenever he was having some form of crisis, material or spiritual. Perhaps what he needed was someone to bounce off of, an ear to hear his troubles and turmoil. ”A lot of things, I guess. Seeking power. Seeking retribution. Justice. Answers. But, most importantly…” He paused. He could see something in the fire, faint and shimmering only to his eyes that were playing tricks on him with aid of his guilt-ridden conscience. ”… I just want my son back.”

He never knew who, how nor why. Never knew who had killed Tarch, how it happened, or even why someone would have the twisted sense to kill a kid barely into his teen years. His knew his son was strong, probably as strong as himself. Saizomaru even humoured the good possibility that his son was stronger than him. It only meant that the person who took the boy’s life was not someone to be taken lightly. Saizomaru had hoped to train in solitude, to seek power whatever way he could even if it meant tearing it piece by piece from another. But now it felt as though he was going down some sort of dark path, following the footsteps of the one who had betrayed his family and their legacy. He didn’t know if it was the right thing to do or even if would work. Where was the point of no return if he did?

His thoughts muffled the sound of the alien’s voice as they continued to speak. For someone who fought on the side of evil, they had a rather philosophical outlook on things. His words were almost similar to Saizomaru’s own views. People like to think they stand on the side of good, holding themselves upon the golden pedestal of morality and virtue, and yet everyone had a dark side to themselves whether they cared to admit it or not. Perhaps the same could be said for those who follow the wrong path—Sensoa immediately cropped into the android’s mind.

And where did Saizomaru stand upon this gradient of white knights and dark horses? He thought he knew. Now, he was second-guessing himself. ”I fight for the Earth. Nothing more, nothing less.” He hummed without emotion or emphasis. ”I’m just a soldier,” he repeated. He had always been a soldier. It was all he ever knew. He never did good to seek advantage or to be a hero. He did good because it was the human thing to do. To do good without hope, without witness, without reward.

---

They always said that people came in two types: strength of body or strength of mind. It appeared as though this alien was the former. He was under the impression that Saizomaru was being literal in his mention of god. A part of the android inwardly rolled his eyes as his stupidity. The other half of him wanted to drive a fist into that dumb, tentacled face of his. Reliance of another was not a bad thing, not when it was all part of a collective, cohesive effort. That was what teamwork was.

Saizomaru was one step behind, that much was true. However, it wasn’t because of reliance. If was because of defiance. Defiance to face his problems head on, to be proactive.

”You mean like how you rode on the backs of Sensoa and the Stargoons in the Battle for Central City?” snapped the android back in retort of Kraktus’ ignorance and dismissal. ”Your strength wasn’t exactly much of a deciding factor in that battle. You barely even took part in it. While the rest of us fought on the ground, you spent all your time in your little ship, letting your allies do the busy work. If we’re one step behind, then you’re an entire mile behind us.”

The alien wasn’t the only one who could dole out his share of harsh realisms.

Regardless, the android was prepared only for a battle of words, not fists. He hunched over as the general continued, leaning over to grab a piece of desiccated wood that hasn’t caught alight from the camp flames. With the end of the branch, he prodded and shifted at the pyre, getting some of the half-burnt pieces into the fire proper to keep the flames stoked.

”You make it sound like I’m a pacifist,” responded Saizomaru as he continued to shift more of the wood onto the pile. ”I’ve killed many people in my time. That’s what a good soldier does, after all. I’ve killed people because I was told to. I’ve killed people because they’ve had a bounty on their heads. I’ve killed people… simply because they needed killing.”

He leaned back once he was done. The alien had mentioned themselves along with Sensoa when it came to that very latter part of the android’s speech—people that just needed killing. Saizomaru paused for a moment in thought. Then, he articulated them as he spoke once more, ”The only reason you’re still alive is because I was too busy beating the crap out of that big, grey, puffy bastard Mumbo. Sensoa only walked away because of his unconditional surrender. If that weren’t the case, he’d be wrapped up in a body bag and thrown into the sea.” He sighed and shook his head. His hand swept across the bangs of his hair. ”No. No, I couldn’t do it. I would have been met with opposition if I tried. The last thing we needed was infighting amongst ourselves. So, I let it slide and kept tabs on Sensoa afterwards. It was the next best thing I could have done.”

Yet, despite everything that they disagreed on, the android found some truth to Kraktus’ words. Heroes were meant to save everyone. It was what Saizomaru strongly believed, strongly thought possible. Now that he was part of it all, he found that it wasn’t if only because he hadn’t been vigilant enough.

”I always thought fighting for the Earth was the most important thing for me,” he spoke, his voice soft, quiet and calm beneath the anguish and doubt. ”Now, I’ve realized that my family is more important. A lot more important.” He dared not speak any further on the matter. It was too fresh, too raw in his mind for him to talk about it, especially to one that he considered an enemy.

”Heroes do what they can, I guess,” the android digressed as he rolled his shoulders slightly. He knew that Tarch never went off on his own to begin with. He knew he was with others trying to do what they could. Saizomaru himself knew the fruitlessness of running into trouble head-on against numerous foes. Not every battle could be won. ”Same with villains. Morality, virtue and righteousness isn’t what wins battles or saves people. It’s all about strength and conviction to do what needs to be done. And, sometimes, even that isn’t enough.”

---

Saizomaru couldn’t help but glance off to the side once the alien started talking again. He reached into the inside pocket of his robes and took out the electric cigarette that he always carried around with him. A press of the button made the fruit-flavoured oil inside fizz. Then, he took a drag from the nozzle, the whistling sound of inhaled air drowning out some of Kraktus’ words, though the android kept his ears open to hear what they had to say.

”So you’ve proved my point,” he responded once the creature beside him finished, some of the vapour pouring from his lips and nostrils as he spoke. He blew out the rest of it into the air above and in front of him. ”Sitting back in your chair, playing with others like pieces on a chessboard, letting others do the majority of the work while you take on the small fry. Sounds like riding on the backs of others to me.”

The truth of the matter was that Saizomaru, at that time, could have killed anyone that he wished to in the Battle for Central City. The only person who put up any sense of threat was Sensoa, and that was the only reason he joined that battle. Everyone else was effectively beneath his notice, even Mumbo. The majin had a good deal of defense and gluttony for punishment but he was never considered an important target. That was the only reason why he let the majin go.

And yet Kraktus seem to think himself as a major piece on the board. ”Don’t kid yourself,” retorted the android with a smirk and a half-hearted chuckle. He took another drag of the vape and let the vapour flow from his mouth as he continued, ”You only lived because others willed it, not because you’re playing some sort of 4D chess game with a three-digit IQ. You were a speck on the scouters of everyone there who mattered. If you were a worthy piece on the board, it would have been me fighting you and not Banshee.”

His eyes shifted towards the alien, narrowed and stern. ”It would have been you that would have died that day. If I willed it, you’d be dead right now.”

He kept his glare on the alien for a moment. Then, a smile sprawled across his lips as he flicked his head back, leaning on the log on his hands as he leaned back to look at the stars above. ”Ehhhh but that doesn’t matter right now. Let’s not turn this conversation into hostilities. It’s bad for your health.” It was in jest, true, yet there was truth to those words.

The conversation did not turn much favourable as the general continued. Saizomaru had always heard the names of Sensoa and Kayen being thrown around. Sensoa was understandable—he had played quite the major role in recent Earth history. This Kayen person, however, was someone that the android had yet to meet. He had pondered why people were talking about her so much—was she a big deal to this planet and its people? Was she supposed to be some sort of under-the-radar benefactor? All he knew from Kohlra was that she was the queen of the Saiyan Kingdom. The problem was that he had no idea what exactly the queen’s stake to claim was in regards to a completely different planet. He’d have to figure that out at some point. A little chat with her wouldn’t hurt.

”Sensoa… Always going off the diving board and into the deep end, isn’t he?” he mused for a moment. The last he saw of the demon was him being some sort of labourer in a village not too far from this mountain. He was wanted to make amends, to build a new life amongst the humans here. Now, apparently, he was off on some sort of one-man galactic conquest.

It didn’t bother the android much. So long as Sensoa left Earth alone, he didn’t care.

Kraktus seemed to have other ideas. He was of the belief that because things had gotten sour for the android in recent times it had been the fault of the planet. ”No. No, you seem to be under the wrong impression,” replied Saizomaru, dispelling any assumptions the general had. He hummed for a moment before placing the nozzle of his vape to his lips for another puff. ”I said my family was more important, that’s true. I never said the Earth wasn’t important anymore. It still is.”

He turned to look over to the left side, peering over the cliff edge, past the snow-capped forest, to a small area just beyond. ”See those lights over there?” He gestured with a flick of his head. Frostfall Village was always so brightly lit during the night. It was like East City with its neon lights and awake-all-hours population, just smaller in size. ”When I left home to join the army of Earth, that was my first station. We didn’t have much to live on save a couple months’ worth of rations and whatever we could buy or hunt. The people in that village looked after us well. In turn, we did what we could to help them… especially after the Frostfall.”

He tapped the butt of the vape on his knee as he gave a soft hum. ”I was always raised to be the next protector of Earth. It’s what my family have done for generations now. I’ve done what I can to help and protect these people not because I was told to, not because I’m trying to win anything—Hell, I’m certainly not doing it because it’s easy. I do it because it’s the right thing to do… because it’s the kind thing to do.”

He paused for a moment. For what was only a few seconds felt like a day to get his thoughts in check. ”I can’t blame my misfortune on the people of this planet. They’ve done nothing wrong. So, to answer your question… I just need to get back to training, drink my milk and eat my veggies, and then rid the Earth of villainous filth. All in a day’s work and all that.”

---

It was an interesting turn to the conversation. For a while Saizomaru had been without much of anyone to talk to and, now, not only did he have someone to converse with but also pit a battle of wits, psychology and philosophy. He couldn’t help but keep that smile on his face as the two of them continued to talk, matching point for point and trading idle blows of tainted words at one-another.

”Well it’s not exactly my fault if there is more good in the world than there is evil,” responded the android as he twirled the electric cigarette about his finger. ”I know all about the World Trade Fleet. I have a few connections on higher up giving me the sitrep on them. A bunch of galactic, space-faring conquerors who found themselves on the wrong side of the Saiyan Kingdom. Now, you’re all pretty much done and dusted, buried within the dirt of history.”

Yet, despite that, Kraktus seemed to be unperturbed or have any sense of reduced arrogance. He still fancied himself one of the bigger pieces in the war games. Saizomaru, however, wasn’t buying it in the least. He tapped the butt of the vape on his knee almost in the same vein as a literal knee slap. The alien’s arrogance was quite humorous to the android, if for nothing else then because it would end up being the general’s undoing.

”I think your problem is that you still think yourself as the king piece when you’re only the front man—the pawn, one of many—on the board. Ehhh… maybe a knight, riding on your dark horse and moving erratically to set up the plays for the others.” There was no denying that the general had a good brain in that octopus-like head on his shoulders; it was the reason he was given that title, after all.

Saizomaru took the moment to take another drag while his erstwhile conversational partner continued. He was glad to know that Banshee had managed to sleight him in some way before she had fallen. It was only a shame that the alien eked out a victory in the end. ”Well she was a Pride Trooper, after all. Heroics are what we do best, I suppose.” He paused for a moment. In the end, she was truly gone. He always thought that he would see her again at some point. She always came back when it mattered. Not anymore though. He regretted that he never got the chance to really talk to her. It was a tough pill to swallow. ”At the end of the day… she did what all of us had to do that day: save our world. On that day, our victory condition wasn’t to claim checkmate. It was just to save the Earth and we achieved that. At the end of the day… she helped us win that game. She’s still as much of a hero as the rest of us.”

The android could not be perturbed by her sudden disappearance. He was a soldier. He saw others like him die in the line of duty—he was numb to the sensation of death where it was at the cause of virtue and righteousness, as hollow as those notions sounded in his head right now. People fought with their very lives for a cause they believed in; that was war.

”Carro was too busy fighting the actual king on the board, Kraktus,” he began once more as his head slightly turned to the alien, blue eyes shining in the mist-veiled air. ”Y’know, the guy who was actually a threat. Y’know, the one who, as soon as he lost, the rest of the pieces fell with him? You may think yourself the most important piece of the game but history and reality say otherwise.” He couldn’t help but chuckle to himself at the notion. And yet, when he took another puff at the vape, they weren’t too different in that regard. ”And that is where we’re both alike. We were only the proverbial ‘players’. We gathered the pieces and lined them up. I gathered the forces of good, and you the forces of evil, perhaps. The only difference is that my pieces were hardier than yours.”

He continued, ”When we lost Banshee, we did not falter. We continued, our retribution driving us to fight further. When Sensoa gave up, that was when the king was toppled. Checkmate.”

The day was saved. The world was saved on that moment. Threats have come and gone since then but nothing that couldn’t be handled by the rest of Earth’s protectors. Soon, he would have to decide how he was going to play his role in all of this. The seventh heir to a lineage vowed to defend this world shouldn’t be spending his time moping around on a snow-capped mountain top for so long.

”My loyalties lay with Earth and Earth alone,” responded the android as he tapped the nozzle of the vape against his lip. ”Even if I did… what would that change? Life will go on as it would here. People will still die in wars they believe in. Then, at some point, that planet would be threatened too. The only thing that would change would be the change of scenery, nothing else.

”As for why I do what I do?” The android took a brief pause to take one final drag as the strawberry oil within the vape’s tank. He held it into his lung for a moment, then let out a sighed breath, letting the vapour flow in a dense cloud in front of him. ”Because it’s the right thing to do. Nothing more than that. Even if I’m not remembered, that doesn’t give me the excuse to not care about anything and everything. Even if everything I worked to protect is gone in a hundred years, at least it lived to see that long. Who knows—without me, maybe this place wouldn’t last to see half of that time.”

Then, a smirk crept across his lips. ”I made peace with the fact that I may not be remembered, but… what about you? What are you prepared to die for, Kraktus? What do you want to be remembered for? For me, I want to be remembered by my descendants as one who did the family proud and nothing else.”

He hummed as he peered down into the snow. His hands laced together, fingers threaded with the electric cigarette cupped in his palms. ” ’Goodness is not goodness that seeks advantage. Good is good in the final hour, in the deepest pit, without hope, without witness, without reward’ ” He hummed a humorous gesture. Then, he reclined back, straightening upright. ”My father always said those words whenever I got fed up with things. He always did have a way with words.”

---

The android raised his eyebrows a little at hearing that even the general admitted that the World Trade Fleet was a lost cause. They couldn’t have been that much of a dire threat considering Saizomaru had hardly heard much about them. It was around a year ago that the galactic conquerors were up against Ledinjin’s Federation of Planet Rebels. He had stayed out of that small conflict—he had grievances against both of those groups; the former for taking over Satan City, the latter for ‘reclaiming’ it because the warriors of Earth were ‘unworthy’. He had hoped they’d have killed each other. At least one side fell. That was better than nothing.

”Didn’t think you would speak so lowly of your own group,” remarked Saizomaru, letting his inner thoughts be known aloud. He gave the electric cigarette a twirl around his fingers. ”But, true enough, groups can come and go and fall at a moment’s notice without warning. The Pride Troopers are in a similar state but we tend to go about our own business doing what needs to be done anyways. We tend to not have issues like lack of group co-ordination and the like.”

In another respect, both he and Kraktus had another opinion in common: their importance. The two of them thought of their place in the world with vitality, value and distinction. The difference stopped there, however. The android was aware that, despite his family being from a long line of protectors for the planet, he was still just another number amongst the countless others who shared the same goal as him. If he died, he would not be missed. He would be replaced. The alien beside him, however, maintained his eminence with high regard. Perhaps it was only because there was not many other villainous individuals beyond the Stargoons, theorized the android.

”So… I guess that makes you the pawn that managed to reach the other side of the board to get kinged,” humoured Saizomaru with a small smirk on the corner of his lips. He hummed softly at the musing of such an event, then took a small puff from the vape. ”Take comfort in what praise I give you this day. Tomorrow, we may very well be enemies on opposite sides of the battlefield. You can never be too certain to what tomorrow will bring. Enjoy the present while it’s still freshly unwrapped.”

The talk of Banshee, a fallen Pride Trooper, brought memories with those last words Saizomaru spoke. They too were once enemies a long, long time ago before they were part of the group. It was the first time they had met. It was also the last time they had met.

The topic continued as the general continued to talk about her. The android continued to listen, head down, vape gripped in both hands as his arms rested on his knees. It felt strange to hear that Banshee’s killer had missed her, strange in the sense that he found the notion both insulting and comforting at once. For now, he’d take solace in the latter. ”She died fighting for what she believed was right. That, to me, makes her a hero more than anyone else.” His fingers tightened around the base of the cigarette. Then, he sighed. ”I miss her too…”

Yet, despite all that happened, the “heroes” won it out in the end. Reliving those moments, the android found solace that he had now figured out why Sensoa had done what he had done. The revelation that he was guided by the general allowed the pieces to fall into place. ”Well, that explains everything,” he replied as he leaned back again. ”I began to wonder why Sensoa would go from “I’ma make a good life” to “I’ma blow everything up”. Now I’m pondering whether to chastise you for being the piece of trash for convincing him… or, belittling him for having a weak will. Eh, maybe I’ll do both later.”

It was from those culminating events that the Battle for Central City went underway. Still, Kraktus had no inkling to accept its origins. ”You’re free to doubt what I say but that doesn’t suddenly change the truth of the matter,” retorted Saizomaru before taking another drag. ”The very powerful and the very stupid have at least one thing in common—they do not alter their views to fit the facts, but alter the facts to fit their views. I wonder which of those two groups you belong in.” He couldn’t help but smirk with that last line.

But the fact of the matter remained that Saizomaru’s efforts here and now may not be around for generations to come. Part of him was pained at the notion. Part of him also didn’t care. After he was gone and buried, it would no longer be his problem. He’d leave it to his successor and the next generation of Earth’s heroes. ”Stupid or not, it beats sitting in a boring office or flipping burgers at McBaonalds. I mean, could you honestly see me in a suit or in a stupid apron? Nah, I don’t think so.”

The cycles would continue but at least Saizomaru found peace in having his purpose. But when the day comes that he would leave this mortal coil, what was it he would be remembered for? The alien found peace in the fact that he planned to be forgotten about, his only goal to die in glorious battle. The android had heard tales of a powerful demon who sought the same thing and yet he could not understand the motivation or reason behind it. Perhaps, in time, he would understand.

He sat still, fingers fidgeting in his lap. His eyes shifted to the dark sky again, gazing north. He couldn’t see the North Star this night. It made him ponder on his significance for a moment. The proudful side of him wanted to be remembered as the man who gave his life protecting the Earth from those who would destroy it; to be given some sort of mass, global funeral with the whole world in mourning; to be immortalized with a huge gold statue and a holiday named after him; all of it like what had happened to the global icon of old Mr. Satan. Yet, the more zen, wiser side of him didn’t want him to be remembered at all. He had done his duty in the name of Mushou-Ryuu and in the name of the Earth. Him being forgotten would never change the good he had done while he was alive. Also, dead men don’t care.

”Then may we never be remembered as we are laid to rest in our eternal beds,” mused Saizomaru. ”Perhaps, in the Afterlife, we will share a drink—a toast to our forgettable lives.”