Post by Ticoga on Aug 14, 2020 2:05:22 GMT -6
Run... This word is all that ran through the mind of a youthful girl as she sprints through alleyways through the backwater parts of Suplex City. Night had fallen, and the dim overhead lights serve little in the way of usefulness as the girl still trips over random debris in the streets. Her breath is ragged, clothes torn in places, and her bleach white skin shows signs of bruising on her face and arms.
She had only so much time to get away now. Those people had followed her to Beppa, sending their repossession soldiers to take her back there. Six of them had suddenly burst into her meager dwelling, and there had been immediate consequences. Several Beppans had been caught up in the sudden combat between herself and the soldiers, unfortunately resulting in numerous deaths. The glow of the hotel complex's fire is still visible over the rooftops as the girl desperately weaves her way to escape.
Those soldiers... they must have been like her. Their strength was nothing terrible on their own, but outnumbered as she was, the girl could not prevent herself from being overwhelmed. The girl's glassy eyes widen as she comes to a stop - she'd gone down an alley that had no outlet. Without enough strength to fly, she would have to double back and take another route. She turns, and bleats in horror as several large beings step around the corner. Their hands and feet are covered by white gloves and boots, their bodies covered by form fitting dark green unitards, and their heads covered by egg-shaped helmets with wide green glass visors hiding their faces.
"End of the road, Em-cee Seven." one of the beings growls with a mechanical voice through the helmet. "You either surrender, and come back to the Lab, or we take you apart and bring you back in pieces."
The girl takes a step back, gripping her injured left arm with her right palm, glaring at the slowly approaching soldiers. She grits her teeth, and roars as she runs at the soldiers head on...
Ticoga exits a large shop, looking pleased as he reviews a long list. This list was, in fact, actually a receipt. Not only was his currency good on Beppa, it enabled Ticoga to purchase at least half a standard year of rations and other supplies. He was even able to locate an armorer who would be able to not only replicate his World Trade Fleet battle jacket, but upgrade the jacket's durability without sacrificing its elasticity.
"This went well," Ticoga muses to himself, grinning. "This didn't cost much at all, since most of my funds were meant to purchase that ship. It seems that my meeting with Courge ended up benefiting my goal here greatly. I should still have enough to pay for at least half a full operational crew."
Ticoga folds up the long receipt and places it into his satchel as he starts down the road that would take him back to the outskirts of Suplex City. However, his Scouter bleats in warning, causing Ticoga to stop. Not but a second later, an explosion two streets away makes the ground shudder and glass to crack or shatter. Surprised, Ticoga turns towards the now billowing smoke rising past nearby buildings. There is another explosion, this time closer, and Ticoga decides to investigate. Rising into the air, Ticoga races over the fleeing civilians as they yell in panic.
Ticoga only lands once the mass of beings is behind him, and he searches around with his scouter. Suddenly, a body is flung over flames, landing hard against the pavement and rolling several times before stopping.
Right at Ticoga's feet.
The crimson skinned Arcosian looks down to see a young girl, battered and singed by combat. She lays face down, quivering, and her eyes are half closed, but still fluttering. Ticoga lowers himself to one knee, and places a hand on the girl's exposed shoulder. She seems to wince, but she doesn't seem able to move.
"Beat it, lizard." a mechanical voice calls out to Ticoga, prompting him to pull his attention off the girl. A short ways away, walking through the flames and debris, are four... no, six by Ticoga's count. All of them wear the same white and green uniforms. "This isn't any of your business."
Ticoga tilts his head to the left, and stands back up. They weren't wrong, really. This situation had nothing to do with him. For all he knew, these were some sort of security force for the planet. Shrugging, Ticoga starts to turn away... but a soft touch on his foot makes the Arcosian stop. Looking down, Ticoga sees that the girl's right hand was resting on his left foot, and her glassy eyes were gazing up at him through dirty, tousled white hair.
"Hey, you had the right idea, get going." one of the other soldiers warns with an irritable hiss in their tone. "That property is not for you to handle."
Ticoga's crimson eyes, staring into the girl's eyes, suddenly snap up to look at the soldiers before him.
"Property, you say?" Ticoga replies. Something felt weird. There was a burning in his chest... but why? "Are you saying this girl is a slave?"
"Slave, product, it doesn't matter. She belongs to our organization." one of the closer soldiers replies. "Back away and leave."
"Hmmm..." Tigoca hums to himself, looking back down at the girl. "Hm..?"
The girl was moving her mouth, but Ticoga couldn't hear her. He kneels down again, causing the soldiers to angrily shout, but Ticoga ignores them, trying to hear what the girl was saying. She was trying to speak to him, but she'd been beaten so badly that her sounds came out more like tiny groans.
"...H...p.... plea..." the girl whispers with whatever strength she can. "...Pl...se... help... me..."
Ticoga's eyes widen slowly, and it feels as though a lightning bolt had shot down his spine. At a loss for words, Ticoga stares at the girl. Her eyes glaze and close, leaving Ticoga in stunned silence.
No one had ever asked him for help. Never once. He had always either been told what to do, or been challenged. But this...
"Hey!! Last warning!!" the closest soldier barks angrily. "Beat it, or we'll kill you!!"
Ticoga's crimson eyes narrow, and he rises to stand straight.
"Could I by chance pay for this girl's contract, or debt she has to you?" Ticoga inquires, making the soldiers grunt in confusion. "I have more than enough, I believe. Surely this-"
"You don't seem all that good at listening, lizard." one of the soldiers growls. "We've given you enough chances to go unharmed."
With that, the soldiers each clench their hands to fists, and Ticoga leers at them in response. Oh well, he'd at least tried a more peaceful alternative. Zriracha would understand, surely, that this was a hopeless situation. These soldiers were going to attack, and he would need to defend the girl.
Why do I care? Ticoga finds himself wondering, surprised at his own consideration. Ticoga steps around the girl, placing himself between her and the soldiers. It doesn't make sense. Why do I feel like this? Why am I so angry about this??
One of the soldiers fires a Ki blast from their outstretched hand, and Ticoga's mind goes blank. Now moving on instinct, the Arcosian rushes forward, batting the ki shot away with one hand and suddenly disappearing. He reappears behind the attacker, and wraps his arms under the chin and on top of the helmet, applying a harsh grip. Without a word, Ticoga wrenches his hands in opposite directions, and there is a loud SNAP, and the soldier slumps to the ground.
The nearest two soldiers are the first to recover from the shock of what had just happened, and they attempt to flank Ticoga. But the Arcosian jumps up, legs tucked in, and suddenly snapping outwards in a split, catching both soldiers square on the glass visors. Their heads twist away as the visors shatter, and their bodies spin twice before they hit the ground, unmoving. Ticoga lands on the ground at the same time their bodies do, and the remaining three soldiers all fire dozens of Ki blasts as they leap away to catch him in a crossfire.
Ticoga, however, has already moved. He appears above one of the soldiers, his hands clasped together overhead, and brings them rushing down on top of the soldier's head, crushing the helmet and shattering bone in an instant. The force of the blow crushes the soldier into the pavement, creating a spider web of far reaching cracks, with the soldier's body seemingly embedded in place. Flying fast, Ticoga catches the nearest soldier unprotected. He holds his fingers straight and together, driving it straight through the chest of the soldier before they could register he had already reached them.
Ticoga pulls his blood covered arm out of the soldier, letting them fall to the ground in a heap as he turns his attention to the last one. Horrified at the carnage, the last soldier screeched and turns away, flying as fast as it can. Ticoga, still silent, raises his bloodied right hand, fingers splayed wide, and forms a ball of crackling red Ki in front of the palm. His eyes narrow, and the ball rockets after the fleeing soldier. It catches up to them within moments, and the sky is briefly lit up in crimson light, ending with the ashes of the soldier blowing away with the smoke.
The Arcosian whips his arm to rid it of most of the blood that threatened to coagulate on him, and lands on the street below. Ticoga walks silently over to the girl, and observes her. She had fallen unconscious. Wordlessly, and still confused by his own actions, Ticoga bends over and lifts the girl in his arms. His chest still burning, and now suffering with a strange headache, Ticoga flies back to his ship...
The ground seemed... oddly soft. And warm. Why was that, the girl wonders? Suddenly alert, the girl's eyes snap open, and she sits up suddenly. She quickly looks around, terrified that she may have ended back in that horrible lab. But... no, this place is different. Clean like the lab, but the technology, even the very walls were wrong.
"Where..?" the girl wonders, letting her shoulders dip. She looks around, and sees a set of clothing neatly folded and resting on what appears to be a low shelf. Nervously, the girl gets out of what she had realized was a bed, and retrieves the clothes. Ten minutes later, the girl walks through the automatic doorway, and starts down the hall.
A faint smell of food greets her nose, and draws the girl further down the winding hallway. Unlike the streets, or the hotel for that matter, wherever she was, is well lit. A bit too bright, but definitely better. She passes several bubble-like windows, and realizes that, wherever she is, is outside of Suplex City, though still within view of it. As the smell grows stronger, the girl finally finds herself standing at the entrance of a cafeteria.
The wall to her left curves, marked with several more bubble-like windows, and lined with numerous long tables and stationary seating. It was clear that the upholstery was recently replaced though. The center of the room hosts several circular tables, each lined with six individual seats. It was relatively narrow, but not uncomfortably so. The sound of hissing draws the girl's attention, as well as the strong smell of food. Following her nose, the girl approaches a door... that swings open!
Staggering backwards, the girl is met with the odd sight of a small alien with red skin, black horns, devilish red eyes, wearing black and purple armor. But, clashing with that vicious appearance, is a small white apron that is utterly covered with stains. Not old stains, either, these were fresh. The being looks surprised, but his expression softens.
"So you're awake then?" the being says, grinning friendlily. In his hands is a tray, covered with several different tasty smelling foods. "The physician said you would be waking soon, so I decided to prepare a meal for you."
"...Who...?" the girl manages, still nervous. "Who are you..?"
"Hm? Oh, my apologies." he replies. "I am called Ticoga. I encountered you three days ago. You were being attacked, and asked for my help."
He sets the tray down, and gestures at the girl to sit. She hesitates, prompting Ticoga to grin sheepishly.
"You're quite safe here." he assures the girl. "Those people that were attacking you have been disposed of."
Her eyes widen, stunned. Ticoga had just suggested so casually that those brutes had been eliminated? She takes a moment, but finally sits down at the table. Ticoga places cutlery next to the tray of food, and walks over to a machine with a large glass cup.
"...You said three days?" the girl asks croakily. Several days without food or water had dried her throat. Ticoga returns with a sweet smelling drink, and sets it down in front of the girl.
"Yes, you were badly hurt." Ticoga tells her, setting the apron on the back of a chair. "I brought you here, to my ship, so you could recover in my medbay. I felt that whoever was after you, may just attack again if I brought you to a hospital. But they'd be fools to come here. Go on, eat up, before it gets cold."
This is still strange. Ticoga thinks privately to himself. Why in the galaxy was he so... relaxed?? He watches briefly as the girl starts on her food, but looks away to be polite. He takes a seat across from the girl.
"May I ask your name?" Ticoga inquires. The girl hesitates, but finally concedes after some thought.
"My name is Marma, sir." she replies, speaking very politely. "I... I don't know what to say... except thank you for saving me."
Ticoga felt odd. He wasn't used to gratitude, least of all towards him. It was... nice?
"Of course. I couldn't leave you to those people after you pleaded for help." Ticoga says, waving a hand dismissively. "At any rate, I think you should stay on my ship for a while. At least until we can find you somewhere safe to be."
The girl nods, and takes a sip of her drink. She blinks at the taste. It was good!
"Right, well then, Miss Marma, I will leave you to your meal." Ticoga tells the girl, smiling. She seemed to like his cooking, at least. "If you need me for anything, I will be on the bridge. I have things to figure out, so we won't be leaving Beppa just yet. Please, enjoy and relax. Again, you are safe here."
With that, Ticoga offers a polite bow of his head, and walks away. He still needed to plot out where in the galaxy he should go next. He hadn't planned on encountering the Saiyans, never mind Queen Kayen herself. But still, he needed to get back to tracking remnants of the World Trade Fleet. There had to still be hold outs somewhere. But bound to Kayen as he is, Ticoga hadn't decided yet whether he even could side with his former compatriots. If he did find them... would he end up in battle against them?
Several hours pass, and eventually Ticoga hears the sliding automatic door hiss open. Turning to the sound, Ticoga is greeted by Marma entering. She wears the clothes he had purchased - not that she could put back on the tattered clothes she had before. He'd had the physician throw them away, and made sure to buy something new. He had to guess though, since he wasn't about to measure an unconscious person for their specific dimensions. But the embroidered black bodysuit, gloves, shoes, and dark red jacket seemed to fit her well. She'd also taken the time to clean up, if the distant flowery scent was any indication.
Marma pushes some of her white hair back, and approaches Ticoga.
"...So... you said I could stay aboard for a while?" she asks tentatively.
"So long as you are comfortable doing so." Ticoga replies politely. Marma smiles and nods.
"Well then, I can help out with piloting if you like." Marma informs Ticoga. "I'm confident in that, at least! After all... you uh, don't seem to have much of a crew around."
Ticoga smiles.
"I hope to correct that soon." he replies. "But before I decide on that, why don't you show me how well you can pilot? This is a large vessel, and harder to manage manually."
Marma smiles back, and heads to the control console. Neither Ticoga nor Marma quite knew where this path would lead them; but Ticoga knew that if nothing else, he had this odd feeling of protectiveness towards a complete stranger. If only he understood why.
She had only so much time to get away now. Those people had followed her to Beppa, sending their repossession soldiers to take her back there. Six of them had suddenly burst into her meager dwelling, and there had been immediate consequences. Several Beppans had been caught up in the sudden combat between herself and the soldiers, unfortunately resulting in numerous deaths. The glow of the hotel complex's fire is still visible over the rooftops as the girl desperately weaves her way to escape.
Those soldiers... they must have been like her. Their strength was nothing terrible on their own, but outnumbered as she was, the girl could not prevent herself from being overwhelmed. The girl's glassy eyes widen as she comes to a stop - she'd gone down an alley that had no outlet. Without enough strength to fly, she would have to double back and take another route. She turns, and bleats in horror as several large beings step around the corner. Their hands and feet are covered by white gloves and boots, their bodies covered by form fitting dark green unitards, and their heads covered by egg-shaped helmets with wide green glass visors hiding their faces.
"End of the road, Em-cee Seven." one of the beings growls with a mechanical voice through the helmet. "You either surrender, and come back to the Lab, or we take you apart and bring you back in pieces."
The girl takes a step back, gripping her injured left arm with her right palm, glaring at the slowly approaching soldiers. She grits her teeth, and roars as she runs at the soldiers head on...
Ticoga exits a large shop, looking pleased as he reviews a long list. This list was, in fact, actually a receipt. Not only was his currency good on Beppa, it enabled Ticoga to purchase at least half a standard year of rations and other supplies. He was even able to locate an armorer who would be able to not only replicate his World Trade Fleet battle jacket, but upgrade the jacket's durability without sacrificing its elasticity.
"This went well," Ticoga muses to himself, grinning. "This didn't cost much at all, since most of my funds were meant to purchase that ship. It seems that my meeting with Courge ended up benefiting my goal here greatly. I should still have enough to pay for at least half a full operational crew."
Ticoga folds up the long receipt and places it into his satchel as he starts down the road that would take him back to the outskirts of Suplex City. However, his Scouter bleats in warning, causing Ticoga to stop. Not but a second later, an explosion two streets away makes the ground shudder and glass to crack or shatter. Surprised, Ticoga turns towards the now billowing smoke rising past nearby buildings. There is another explosion, this time closer, and Ticoga decides to investigate. Rising into the air, Ticoga races over the fleeing civilians as they yell in panic.
Ticoga only lands once the mass of beings is behind him, and he searches around with his scouter. Suddenly, a body is flung over flames, landing hard against the pavement and rolling several times before stopping.
Right at Ticoga's feet.
The crimson skinned Arcosian looks down to see a young girl, battered and singed by combat. She lays face down, quivering, and her eyes are half closed, but still fluttering. Ticoga lowers himself to one knee, and places a hand on the girl's exposed shoulder. She seems to wince, but she doesn't seem able to move.
"Beat it, lizard." a mechanical voice calls out to Ticoga, prompting him to pull his attention off the girl. A short ways away, walking through the flames and debris, are four... no, six by Ticoga's count. All of them wear the same white and green uniforms. "This isn't any of your business."
Ticoga tilts his head to the left, and stands back up. They weren't wrong, really. This situation had nothing to do with him. For all he knew, these were some sort of security force for the planet. Shrugging, Ticoga starts to turn away... but a soft touch on his foot makes the Arcosian stop. Looking down, Ticoga sees that the girl's right hand was resting on his left foot, and her glassy eyes were gazing up at him through dirty, tousled white hair.
"Hey, you had the right idea, get going." one of the other soldiers warns with an irritable hiss in their tone. "That property is not for you to handle."
Ticoga's crimson eyes, staring into the girl's eyes, suddenly snap up to look at the soldiers before him.
"Property, you say?" Ticoga replies. Something felt weird. There was a burning in his chest... but why? "Are you saying this girl is a slave?"
"Slave, product, it doesn't matter. She belongs to our organization." one of the closer soldiers replies. "Back away and leave."
"Hmmm..." Tigoca hums to himself, looking back down at the girl. "Hm..?"
The girl was moving her mouth, but Ticoga couldn't hear her. He kneels down again, causing the soldiers to angrily shout, but Ticoga ignores them, trying to hear what the girl was saying. She was trying to speak to him, but she'd been beaten so badly that her sounds came out more like tiny groans.
"...H...p.... plea..." the girl whispers with whatever strength she can. "...Pl...se... help... me..."
Ticoga's eyes widen slowly, and it feels as though a lightning bolt had shot down his spine. At a loss for words, Ticoga stares at the girl. Her eyes glaze and close, leaving Ticoga in stunned silence.
No one had ever asked him for help. Never once. He had always either been told what to do, or been challenged. But this...
"Hey!! Last warning!!" the closest soldier barks angrily. "Beat it, or we'll kill you!!"
Ticoga's crimson eyes narrow, and he rises to stand straight.
"Could I by chance pay for this girl's contract, or debt she has to you?" Ticoga inquires, making the soldiers grunt in confusion. "I have more than enough, I believe. Surely this-"
"You don't seem all that good at listening, lizard." one of the soldiers growls. "We've given you enough chances to go unharmed."
With that, the soldiers each clench their hands to fists, and Ticoga leers at them in response. Oh well, he'd at least tried a more peaceful alternative. Zriracha would understand, surely, that this was a hopeless situation. These soldiers were going to attack, and he would need to defend the girl.
Why do I care? Ticoga finds himself wondering, surprised at his own consideration. Ticoga steps around the girl, placing himself between her and the soldiers. It doesn't make sense. Why do I feel like this? Why am I so angry about this??
One of the soldiers fires a Ki blast from their outstretched hand, and Ticoga's mind goes blank. Now moving on instinct, the Arcosian rushes forward, batting the ki shot away with one hand and suddenly disappearing. He reappears behind the attacker, and wraps his arms under the chin and on top of the helmet, applying a harsh grip. Without a word, Ticoga wrenches his hands in opposite directions, and there is a loud SNAP, and the soldier slumps to the ground.
The nearest two soldiers are the first to recover from the shock of what had just happened, and they attempt to flank Ticoga. But the Arcosian jumps up, legs tucked in, and suddenly snapping outwards in a split, catching both soldiers square on the glass visors. Their heads twist away as the visors shatter, and their bodies spin twice before they hit the ground, unmoving. Ticoga lands on the ground at the same time their bodies do, and the remaining three soldiers all fire dozens of Ki blasts as they leap away to catch him in a crossfire.
Ticoga, however, has already moved. He appears above one of the soldiers, his hands clasped together overhead, and brings them rushing down on top of the soldier's head, crushing the helmet and shattering bone in an instant. The force of the blow crushes the soldier into the pavement, creating a spider web of far reaching cracks, with the soldier's body seemingly embedded in place. Flying fast, Ticoga catches the nearest soldier unprotected. He holds his fingers straight and together, driving it straight through the chest of the soldier before they could register he had already reached them.
Ticoga pulls his blood covered arm out of the soldier, letting them fall to the ground in a heap as he turns his attention to the last one. Horrified at the carnage, the last soldier screeched and turns away, flying as fast as it can. Ticoga, still silent, raises his bloodied right hand, fingers splayed wide, and forms a ball of crackling red Ki in front of the palm. His eyes narrow, and the ball rockets after the fleeing soldier. It catches up to them within moments, and the sky is briefly lit up in crimson light, ending with the ashes of the soldier blowing away with the smoke.
The Arcosian whips his arm to rid it of most of the blood that threatened to coagulate on him, and lands on the street below. Ticoga walks silently over to the girl, and observes her. She had fallen unconscious. Wordlessly, and still confused by his own actions, Ticoga bends over and lifts the girl in his arms. His chest still burning, and now suffering with a strange headache, Ticoga flies back to his ship...
The ground seemed... oddly soft. And warm. Why was that, the girl wonders? Suddenly alert, the girl's eyes snap open, and she sits up suddenly. She quickly looks around, terrified that she may have ended back in that horrible lab. But... no, this place is different. Clean like the lab, but the technology, even the very walls were wrong.
"Where..?" the girl wonders, letting her shoulders dip. She looks around, and sees a set of clothing neatly folded and resting on what appears to be a low shelf. Nervously, the girl gets out of what she had realized was a bed, and retrieves the clothes. Ten minutes later, the girl walks through the automatic doorway, and starts down the hall.
A faint smell of food greets her nose, and draws the girl further down the winding hallway. Unlike the streets, or the hotel for that matter, wherever she was, is well lit. A bit too bright, but definitely better. She passes several bubble-like windows, and realizes that, wherever she is, is outside of Suplex City, though still within view of it. As the smell grows stronger, the girl finally finds herself standing at the entrance of a cafeteria.
The wall to her left curves, marked with several more bubble-like windows, and lined with numerous long tables and stationary seating. It was clear that the upholstery was recently replaced though. The center of the room hosts several circular tables, each lined with six individual seats. It was relatively narrow, but not uncomfortably so. The sound of hissing draws the girl's attention, as well as the strong smell of food. Following her nose, the girl approaches a door... that swings open!
Staggering backwards, the girl is met with the odd sight of a small alien with red skin, black horns, devilish red eyes, wearing black and purple armor. But, clashing with that vicious appearance, is a small white apron that is utterly covered with stains. Not old stains, either, these were fresh. The being looks surprised, but his expression softens.
"So you're awake then?" the being says, grinning friendlily. In his hands is a tray, covered with several different tasty smelling foods. "The physician said you would be waking soon, so I decided to prepare a meal for you."
"...Who...?" the girl manages, still nervous. "Who are you..?"
"Hm? Oh, my apologies." he replies. "I am called Ticoga. I encountered you three days ago. You were being attacked, and asked for my help."
He sets the tray down, and gestures at the girl to sit. She hesitates, prompting Ticoga to grin sheepishly.
"You're quite safe here." he assures the girl. "Those people that were attacking you have been disposed of."
Her eyes widen, stunned. Ticoga had just suggested so casually that those brutes had been eliminated? She takes a moment, but finally sits down at the table. Ticoga places cutlery next to the tray of food, and walks over to a machine with a large glass cup.
"...You said three days?" the girl asks croakily. Several days without food or water had dried her throat. Ticoga returns with a sweet smelling drink, and sets it down in front of the girl.
"Yes, you were badly hurt." Ticoga tells her, setting the apron on the back of a chair. "I brought you here, to my ship, so you could recover in my medbay. I felt that whoever was after you, may just attack again if I brought you to a hospital. But they'd be fools to come here. Go on, eat up, before it gets cold."
This is still strange. Ticoga thinks privately to himself. Why in the galaxy was he so... relaxed?? He watches briefly as the girl starts on her food, but looks away to be polite. He takes a seat across from the girl.
"May I ask your name?" Ticoga inquires. The girl hesitates, but finally concedes after some thought.
"My name is Marma, sir." she replies, speaking very politely. "I... I don't know what to say... except thank you for saving me."
Ticoga felt odd. He wasn't used to gratitude, least of all towards him. It was... nice?
"Of course. I couldn't leave you to those people after you pleaded for help." Ticoga says, waving a hand dismissively. "At any rate, I think you should stay on my ship for a while. At least until we can find you somewhere safe to be."
The girl nods, and takes a sip of her drink. She blinks at the taste. It was good!
"Right, well then, Miss Marma, I will leave you to your meal." Ticoga tells the girl, smiling. She seemed to like his cooking, at least. "If you need me for anything, I will be on the bridge. I have things to figure out, so we won't be leaving Beppa just yet. Please, enjoy and relax. Again, you are safe here."
With that, Ticoga offers a polite bow of his head, and walks away. He still needed to plot out where in the galaxy he should go next. He hadn't planned on encountering the Saiyans, never mind Queen Kayen herself. But still, he needed to get back to tracking remnants of the World Trade Fleet. There had to still be hold outs somewhere. But bound to Kayen as he is, Ticoga hadn't decided yet whether he even could side with his former compatriots. If he did find them... would he end up in battle against them?
Several hours pass, and eventually Ticoga hears the sliding automatic door hiss open. Turning to the sound, Ticoga is greeted by Marma entering. She wears the clothes he had purchased - not that she could put back on the tattered clothes she had before. He'd had the physician throw them away, and made sure to buy something new. He had to guess though, since he wasn't about to measure an unconscious person for their specific dimensions. But the embroidered black bodysuit, gloves, shoes, and dark red jacket seemed to fit her well. She'd also taken the time to clean up, if the distant flowery scent was any indication.
Marma pushes some of her white hair back, and approaches Ticoga.
"...So... you said I could stay aboard for a while?" she asks tentatively.
"So long as you are comfortable doing so." Ticoga replies politely. Marma smiles and nods.
"Well then, I can help out with piloting if you like." Marma informs Ticoga. "I'm confident in that, at least! After all... you uh, don't seem to have much of a crew around."
Ticoga smiles.
"I hope to correct that soon." he replies. "But before I decide on that, why don't you show me how well you can pilot? This is a large vessel, and harder to manage manually."
Marma smiles back, and heads to the control console. Neither Ticoga nor Marma quite knew where this path would lead them; but Ticoga knew that if nothing else, he had this odd feeling of protectiveness towards a complete stranger. If only he understood why.
