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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2020 17:29:58 GMT -8
Tobias's objections were lost amid the crash of rubble and debris.
A startled cry reached Barlei's ears yet before the consequences of his actions could sink in, Grisha was on the move.
The big Saiyan moved like a wraith through fog, barely stirring the cloud of dust that lingered. It was an astonishing movement speed; he could hardly trail Grisha with his eyes—eyes long accustomed to the frantic pace of hectic battle.
An overwhelming urge to fight Grisha slid over him. Barlei clenched a fist at this side. His heart thumped in his chest—a drum beating the tempo of war.
It wasn't the first time he'd seen astonishing physical feats from Grisha, but it was the first time Barlei understood the nature of this mysterious warrior.
He was a true apex predator.
But he couldn't fight Grisha. Grisha, as well as the others, had treated him like family since the moment he woke up in their cabin. This new life was hard. He was an old war dog with no war. A soldier with no orders to follow. Kingless. Homeless. Directionless.
It built and stirred within him in an tidal wave of anxiety that caused him to do impulsive things.
Grisha was angry at him for almost harming Lena. He stood a silent sentinel, his hard stare boring into Barlei's own. Tobias seemed beside himself for the disrespect shown at the temple, citing that the monks provided services for free and such a mess was going to complicate things.
Barlei raised his hands in an innocent gesture. "Sorry... sometimes I just get a little... worked up. I'll help fix the place up... I swear."
He turned his attention to Okora.
She was a Saiyan alright—her clenched fists were proof enough of that. She did not run or cower at the unexpected calamity, but stood ready to fight defend herself. A woman of action, a warrior, maybe a soldier.
He had to know if it was her.
"What happened to your tail?" His question sounded innocent enough but it was far from casual. His eyes drifted to where her tail should be easily seen, but it was hidden beneath the robe she had been given. "Don't tell me you tried to cut it off. Maybe... running from someone?"
He stalked closer to her, dark eyes filled with suspicion.
"I remember being told by my superior officers about a powerful female warrior. Problem was she was difficult to control. Rumor has it she bolted one day and escaped her commanding officers. My platoon, like everyone else's, was told to capture and detain said target on sight. So all I want to know is... are you that warrior? Are you the soldier who betrayed an entire army?"
It was a dark topic to spring on the newly revived woman but he had to know the truth.
[476 of 1,808] words
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Post by Grisha on Oct 11, 2020 1:12:41 GMT -8
“Worked up? Is that what you call it?” Tobias scoffed before he turned away from Barlei to check on his daughter, and any residual damage. She, thank Kami, was fine. If anything had happened to her, Barlei would not have only had to deal with an enraged Grisha, but a furious father. He stood by Lena and observed the interactions between Barlei and Okora. At the mention of Okora’s tail, all three of their heads tilted downward as they gazed upon the nub. Grisha’s brows immediately shot up to his hairline, and his grey eyes shrank in horror. “AH! NO TAIL? TAIL LOST?” He seemed to ask Lena since she had been in the bath with her. Lena blushed and smiled sheepishly. “Sorry; Grisha, I didn’t notice. I don’t know if she had a tail before or if it was damaged when we removed her from the ice.” Tobias held his arm out to the two and hushed them. He was trying to listen to Barlei to learn more about what was going on. Barlei and Okora are soldiers? Lena thought in surprise. She looked up at Grisha. Was Grisha a soldier too?The tension Barlei was laying on in the room made Tobias’s throat go dry. Did they just thaw a Saiyan just for Barlei to want to exact some revenge? Okora looked like an innocent girl and was perhaps around Lena’s age. What made things even more complicated was Tobias didn’t know how long ago this happened, or if the army Barlei was referring to still existed. Regardless, he didn’t want there to be any violence. “Hold on a second,” Tobias interjected. “You and Okora are soldiers? Of what army, and does this army still exist? I don’t know how long she’s been frozen or how long he’s (pointing at Grisha) been frozen. What if her crime is outdated? Who cares at this point if she was a traitor or not? If history has moved on, then does it matter?” WC: 332 Tagging: Okora @null
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Post by Okora on Oct 11, 2020 4:38:29 GMT -8
"I remember being told by my superior officers about a powerful female warrior. Problem was she was difficult to control. Rumor has it she bolted one day and escaped her commanding officers. My platoon, like everyone else's, was told to capture and detain said target on sight. So all I want to know is... are you that warrior? Are you the soldier who betrayed an entire army?"
Okora looked at the ground and refused to meet anyone's eyes for a moment. It figured that even here someone would know about her.
"I wasn't a solder." She said quietly as she still stared at the ground. Her voice grew soft enough that it was barely audible.
"I was a victim."
Her gaze turned from the floor to Barlei and the others. Her voice was hoarse with emotion and her eyes were filled with a mix of despair and a hint of anger as she walked slowly towards Barlei. "I didn't want to fight. I didn't want to kill. I wasn't even that strong of a warrior at first, It was after years of being forced to fight and train that they considered me an above average warrior. I was forced to fight. They attached a device to my tail!" Her voice growing louder and louder as the memories continued to flood back. She was practically in Barlei's face now. "Do you know what it's like?!" She nearly screamed at him, "To know that if I refused to fight, I was caused nearly unimaginable pain?! I resisted for as long as I could but I...I was afraid." She said quietly.
She turned away from Barlei and turned to Lena and Tobias and Grisha and tears began to form in her eyes. "I helped exterminate the populations of three planets. I hated myself. I loathed myself. I couldn't live with myself. I knew they would keep forcing me to fight until eventually I either died or became like the rest of them." She felt the nub where her tail had once been twitch. "I...I cut off my own tail with a knife. To set myself free and to keep people safe from me. I ran away to seek redemption or to live out the rest of my days alone. I didn't care." She turned to look back at Barlei and shook her head and stared directly into his eyes. Her eyes were filled with sorrow and the memories of many atrocities. "I am the solder who betrayed an entire army. And if given the chance I would do it again." She said quietly. Tagging Grisha @null Word count 438
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2020 9:43:34 GMT -8
No one seemed to notice the lack of Okora's tail. Grisha was astonished at this fact, checking with Lena who confirmed Barlei's theory. Everyone looked and discovered that what he said was true.
Her tail was gone.
His own tail twitched and settled around his waist. Most people who didn't have such an appendage didn't understand that a tail wasn't an add-on; a Saiyan's tail was an extension of their physical body, but it symbolized much.
It caused a Saiyan to stand out, distinguishing them as part of an elite race who fought tooth and nail to carve out a bloody niche within the universe. There was pride involved—not everyone could possess their unique anatomy. Their tail was instrumental in the Oozaru transformation, yet it also symbolized their greatest weakness.
A tail wasn't just some part of the body. It was a piece of their soul.
Okora voluntarily removed her tail. He had little doubt the woman felt far from whole without it.
Tobias felt the need to interject himself into Barlei's conversation. He didn't understand this notion of them being soldiers in their past life, arguing that Okora's crime—if any—would have long been obsolete at this point. If history had moved on, did it matter any longer?
His jaw tensed, eyes narrowing at Tobias.
"History's moved on, huh? Then what do you make of me and Okora? What do you make of Grisha? Do we look like relics to you?" Barlei took a step toward the man, jabbing a thumb into his own chest. "In case you missed the memo, I'm a living, breathing Saiyan. I used to be a soldier, and I shed blood for a noble and powerful dynasty.
All of that was stolen from me. You couldn't dare count the cost."
He clenched a fist. Punching the old guy was a bad move. He struggled to keep his anger in check.
"I get what you're saying, old timer. You're not wrong. But there's much you can't understand about us. So just shut up—I'd rather hear it from her."
Barlei leveled an accusatory finger at Okora. He asked her a question, and now he wanted an answer.
The young woman did not disappoint.
She revealed the truth—she was the traitor that abandoned King Vegeta's army, instigating a large scale manhunt. But there was much more to the story than that. Okora stepped closer to him, meeting his challenge with a bold challenge of her own.
She wasn't just a warrior. She claimed she was a victim. They attached a device to her tail that caused unimaginable pain. She was forced to make a decision that Okora understood branded her a traitor for the rest of her life. She turned herself into a criminal on purpose.
And if given the chance, she would do so again.
Barlei glanced down at his own tail, tucked safely around his waist. Some of his bravado had faded.
So... there were plenty of details that he and his men weren't given.
"I... didn't know." He met her gaze, his own eyes reflecting his own conviction. "You were the enemy—the one who betrayed your king and your people. To me, you were space scum and I was more than happy to be the one to bring you in and force you to face your crimes."
He took a cautious step toward Okora. Barlei reached out, placing a gentle hand against her shoulder.
"If there's one thing I understand it's not being given a choice. I got kidnapped by Tuffles. They locked me in cryostasis and thawed me out to experiment on me. Made me fight some of my own people. They stole my hair and my blood, and turned me into some freaky science experiment. I hate to admit it but I'm not even sure how much of me is still Saiyan blood."
It was a hard truth to admit aloud. He didn't like this vulnerability, but in that moment, he wanted Okora and the others to understand him.
"So you'd pick being a traitor again, if given the choice? At least it'd be your own choice. I can't fault you for that." A grin broke out on his lips. "You've got some guts betraying an army. That tells me you're a tough one. And those are the sort of people I want around me. So... sorry for giving ya the third degree, but I want you to know that you can count on me.
If anyone's stupid enough to come after you, they'll have to deal with me. Oh, and that big guy over there."
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Post by Grisha on Oct 11, 2020 10:31:44 GMT -8
Tobias leaned back a little when Barlei was in his face angrily sharing some pain and history that he was unable to relate to. Like any person, he didn’t like when someone got in his face, and even he with his average human strength felt the urge to lay hands on him if only to push him back. Grisha’s tail unraveled from around his waist as voices started to rise in volume. He stepped behind Tobias and crouched, glowering over Tobias’s shoulder at Barlei as though to silently say I dare you as he watched the other Saiyan restrain himself. Grisha’s tail was swaying back and forth like a riled cat. When Barlei made a wise decision not really because of Grisha but because he probably contemplated the consequences of punching such a vulnerable creature, Grisha straightened back to his full height. As Barlei directed his attention back to Okora, Tobias exhaled a breath, deflating as though he might have been holding it all in. Grisha startled the man when he dropped a heavy hand on his shoulder and gave him a reassuring pat. A large grin was on the taller Saiyan’s face as he giggled. Tobias was brave. Tobias slapped Grisha’s hand aside and growled, “You don’t exactly have a gentle woman’s touch. Are you trying to break my shoulder?!” Lena had felt deeply for Okora. She felt her pain and hearing her outburst had brought tears to her eyes. The poor girl! After Barlei was able to say his peace, Lena rushed over to Okora and embraced the other female. “You don’t have to worry anymore. There are no Saiyan armies here and no one is going to force you to have to fight. You’re safe here in this village and you can stay with Tobias and I for as long as you like.” “WHAT!?” Tobias exploded. His blue eyes were wide as his head snapped in all directions at the THREE Saiyans. Grisha rested his hands upon his stomach as he tossed his head back and laughed. Tobias’s reaction had been priceless. He knew how much he disliked having his family around and Lena had just added another to the family. “We barely have enough space for this behemoth (Grisha)! Then we have the loose cannon (Barlei) and now you want to add her? Look; I’m sorry about what happened to you, but maybe you can stay here at the temple or something?” “She can stay with me in my room,” Lena said. “Lena; come on. I don’t think the house can take anymore abuse. I rebuild it just about every day!” “Grisha help!” he chimed in. “Dad; you act like Grisha and Barlei don’t help hunt. Ever since Barlei arrived, we have enough food to feed everyone. They also repair what they break and they keep predators away. As long as they are capable of feeding themselves, the only thing we’re doing is giving them a place to sleep,” she reasoned. Tobias sighed and brought a hand to his face. He was making excuses. He just didn’t want the Saiyans around, but he wasn’t going to say it. He knew how close Lena was with Grisha, and if ever he was to insinuate them all leaving, she would never forgive him. Tobias turned and started for the exit with a moan. “Oh Kami…” Before he left, he pointed at the hole. “And fix that hole! I’ll be outside. I need some fresh air.” Grisha grinned triumphantly as Tobias left. When Barlei was reassuring Okora that he would deal with any bad guys that tried to harm her, his mention of Grisha had the giant raising his fists and excitedly barking, “AOO!” Lena wiped some tears from her eyes and grinned in delight. She was so happy to see the three Saiyans united, but she had to ask. “Um…Since both of you were in the military some time ago, do you think you both would know if Grisha was a soldier too? I don’t know what his name is and he can’t remember, so we call him Grisha. He was like you, Okora, found frozen in the ice. You might all be around the same time period. Oh!” She dropped her fist in her palm as she remembered, “He has a strange tattoo on the back of his neck. Maybe that’s something too.” Grisha raised a hand and rubbed at the back of his neck. He didn’t know what to make about the discussion. It seemed Lena wanted to try and help him remember some things, but he was content with the present. Although, he did feel distanced from Barlei and Okora. Barlei was the first Saiyan he encountered. Okora was the second. Barlei seemed to know of Okora even though he hadn’t met her, but Barlei never admitted knowing anything about him. Maybe Grisha hadn’t been a soldier. It could have been coincidence that he was found in the ice as well. WC: 826 Tagging: Okora @null
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Post by Okora on Oct 15, 2020 6:28:36 GMT -8
Okora was prepared to have to deal with a loyalist to the King after hearing what Barlei had to say but she was pleasantly surprised when both Grisha and Barlei and lena seemingly welcomed her into their little group. It appeared that one of the natives of this world and the owner of the house where she was staying seemingly had an issue with her staying. "Just for the record, I have no issues cleaning or helping out. If you are letting me stay with you the least I can do is help out as best I can." “Um…Since both of you were in the military some time ago, do you think you both would know if Grisha was a soldier too? I don’t know what his name is and he can’t remember, so we call him Grisha. He was like you, Okora, found frozen in the ice. You might all be around the same time period. Oh!” She dropped her fist in her palm as she remembered, “He has a strange tattoo on the back of his neck. Maybe that’s something too.”
The female Saiyan took a closer look at Grisha and seemingly examined him from head to foot with her eyes. "I was familiar with a number of Saiyans and I've never even heard of anyone matching Grisha's description. Sorry I can't help, but I've never seen Grisha before."
Tagging Grisha @null Word count: 241
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2020 19:23:24 GMT -8
His hand slipped from Okora's shoulder. A warm smile touched his lips.
He knew what it felt like to be lost—abandoned in a life chosen for him and robbed of a singular important choice. It was a tragedy that they did not get to choose, and for the first time, he began to feel as if he'd met someone who could understand.
Lena felt the same way. She embraced Okora and assured her she would have a place where she could belong. At her offer for Okora to join them in their home, Tobias lost the bit of composure he had. The thought of all three Saiyans living with them seemed to horrify him. Despite his protests, Lena was confident that Okora's addition to their home was nothing but beneficial.
The older man relented beneath the barrage of her reasoning. After a moment of grim resignation, Tobias announced he was going to step outside and declared the hole in the wall needed to be fix.
Barlei chuckled, rubbing a hand along the back of his head.
It was a battle of a different sort, and as far as he could tell, Lena had knocked the old bastard flat on his ass. Tobias liked to act as if he were in control, but the real queen of the castle stood nearby, comforting Okora.
He could see why Grisha liked her so much. She was a strong woman, and Saiyans were drawn to strength.
"Well, I guess that settles it. Welcome to this weird little family, Okora." He flashed her a thumbs up, turning to look at the shattered wall. "Man. I really did a number on this thing, didn't I? Worse part is I don't have a clue how to fix it."
He was a soldier, not a repair man. Was it his fault he was only ever taught how to bring harm and not to mend?
Lena drew his attention again. She wanted to know if it were possible that Barlei or Okora might know something about Grisha's past. They found him in the ice—same as Okora—and had little luck discerning anything about the mysterious giant's past.
She mentioned a mark he had on the back of his neck—some sort of tattoo. Lena believed if one of them perhaps recognized such a mark, they could learn something new that might aid in clearing the fog of mystery that surrounded Grisha.
Grisha rubbed the back of his neck at the mention of the tattoo, no doubt an unconscious reflex now that the topic had switched to him.Barlei raised an eyebrow, catching a glimpse of the dark mark printed against the solid, dense muscles surrounding the nape of Grisha's neck.
He'd never heard of any sort of mark like the one he saw there. It wasn't uncommon for soldiers to get such markings to distinguish themselves between squads and clans.
But it wasn't limited to just the soldiers: tribal markings upon the skin also distinguished between the different castes of their society. They were more than just warriors—they were farmers, they were traders, they were ranchers, they were artisans. They toiled their fields by the sweat of their brow. They crafted pottery, jewelry, and the like.
Some cooked. Some fished. Some hunted and scavenged. They had been a diverse people who were capable of working together for the greater good, but no one bothered to learn about that.
They assumed the Saiyans were little more than heartless monsters. The sad part was that observation wasn't entirely wrong. Try as he might, Barlei couldn't place where the insignia on Grisha's neck might have come from.
It just didn't ring a bell at all.
"I'm sorry, big guy." Barlei folded his arms, frowning as he cast his gaze toward the ground. "I'd like nothin' more than to tell you something about your past. Truth is, I don't have a clue." He nodded at Okora. "Even with her, it was just a good hunch that turned out to be more than coincidence. But maybe we can take a look around the area the villagers found you? Might be a clue that was missed—I think it's worth a shot."
Maybe it was wishful thinking. Maybe there was nothing left to discover. But Barlei felt bad about endangering Lena—someone Grisha cared a great deal for, judging by his protective nature of her.
If helping him rediscover his past became some form of penance, he was glad to assist.
He looked to Okora but she wasn't able to place the origin of his markings, either. She remarked she knew a number of soldiers but none that fit Grisha's description. Barlei had known some big bastards in his day, but Grisha took the cake. He was easily the largest Saiyan that Barlei ever encountered, and not for the first time, he was grateful the big man seemed on his side.
"That settles it. Let's get this wall patched up and head back to the village. If Grisha wants, maybe we can find some sort of trail to follow. See if we can turn up some answers."
It seemed like a solid plan to him.
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Post by Grisha on Oct 15, 2020 22:17:30 GMT -8
The Saiyans who he had so innocently referred to as family had never heard of him. The dumb giant just continued to wear his smile as though he was oblivious to what any of their confessions meant because he wasn’t expected to understand. He was the special case, but even his broken and damaged mind comprehended what they had said, and it was news that brought on a maturing reality. Most of the beings who he had related with had tails, and those tails did not mean they were related. Just like the humans in the village. Not all of them were related. They were all different. Barlei and Okora were not his family. Lena was just as disappointed to learn that Barlei and Okora had no recollection of Grisha. She felt sorry for him. She watched as Grisha simply nodded and raised a fist at Barlei’s declaration to fix the hole. “FIX HOLE!” he echoed. Lena continued to stare at him while she meditated over what Grisha could be feeling. She knew Grisha was unique, but he was also smarter than others realized. She regretted bringing it up. She had no business asking. It should have been him, but would he have? Was he content with just not knowing than finding out the truth? “We can go outside and find some rocks to plug it up with. The monks I’m sure will cover it up with plaster. We can do the hard part at least,” she shared. Grisha walked up to the hole and rested his hands on his hips. He seemed to frown at it as though he was actually doing some sort of calculation in his head. “Hmm…Grisha find big rock,” he thought aloud. He had searched the island. He had even searched the mountains for any clues. There weren’t any traces. In his mind, he felt as though he were on another planet separate from Earth. He had never felt so alone. WC: 326 Tagging: @null Okora
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