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Post by Renkon on Aug 28, 2022 22:19:06 GMT -8
With the river in sight, Renkon smiled a bit more. The feeling of the wind whipping through his hair, the speed of everything. It was very close to how it once felt while he was flying through the air with his energy. He didn't understand why he couldn't use his energy, but he knew he was slowly growing in strength once more. Feeling his energy returning slowly as he explored this world, learned of the survivors of his people, what happened, where they went, and what life on this world was like. He couldn't help but smile when they finally stopped and parked, hopping off the bike and looking across the landscape, taking in everything quickly when she asked her question on how they should proceed. That was a good question, and he quickly pondered several answer. "It all depends on if we are killing them, or simply wounding them to get them to stop. Saiyan bandits would often lick their wounds, heal up, and restrike in months, stronger than before. I am unsure how it is on this planet. If we are wounding them, I have several simple suggestions. If we are killing them, it is an even split and we can see about dealing with all of them at once." He offered, trying to keep it simple and somewhat straight forwards. He did recall how dangerous those bandit groups could be, how much it always pained him to put down fellow Saiyans. It never felt as bad when dealing with the Tuffles, as... Frustrating as their machines could be, it never felt like an issue to end their lives, as horrible as some would think that is. Looking at the small group currently causing terror by simply being there, he rubbed his chin a moment. "Though, scaring the first batch and making them get all their friends, then making it so they didn't do anything like this again would be a good general tactic. Pull them all out at once, make them stop what they are doing in a public way so the villagers no longer have to be fearful of them..." He said, trying to think around this issue. "Does public shaming someone here work? I have seen people do it behind closed doors, when I was dealing with some poachers, there was someone who was trying to shame another. It did not end well for the one who did the shaming." He said, thinking back to that fateful night in the Northlands after he arrived. Simply shaking his head to clear his mind, he looked at the young Saiyan woman, the one who carried so much power and strength in herself, and still, after all of this time, had hope for the Saiyan Empire. The fondness in his voice stirred his heart in a number of ways he had nearly forgotten during his isolation. The fire of the heart and the willingness to see her people succeed no matter the odds stacked against them. He wasn't sure if this world had those who could or would cause them problems, but he suspected a number of groups might not of had their best interest in mind. If many of the Aliens in the PTO were any example, many of these people might not see them in a good light unless they made the effort. Taking a long moment to think, he gave a nod. "Alright, I have a plan. We attack the four by the bridge. Break bones and injure, but don't kill. We stand on the bridge and let them retreat, telling them to not come back. If they are anything like most alien races, it will wound their pride and steal what honor they might cling to. They should escape to find their friends, and a force is mustered to deal with us. We can decide then on if they live or die." He said, giving a nod and waiting for her reaction to this. 660 Konja of Clan Korm
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Post by Konja of Clan Korm on Aug 30, 2022 6:19:38 GMT -8
"I do believe shame is a powerful force, depending on your race and standing. Humans tend to take poorly to it, but if they're strong enough, they become bolder." A Saiyan or Demon was more likely to eschew embarrassment at the cashier, but they didn't always. There was one time Konja could remember a particularly angry human of relatively impressive power level causing trouble and necessitating a more physical approach. She came back the next day for more, apparently basking in the undue attention she was getting. Her coworkers had explained... well it was quite difficult to process. But from she could understand, this woman was from a clan called "Karen", and that they were part of a nation called "trolls", who had no shame and actually reveled in provocation. The solution, they said, was to "not feed her", figuratively speaking, that is, to not give in to her provocation, and simply ignore her. True enough, on the third day, the Trollian woman from Clan Karen gave up after Konja simply stopped entertaining her and went to deal with the other customers. Oh sure, she continued to egg on for a while and demand to see the manager. But after about ten more fulfilled orders, she made one last infuriated remark, threatened to give Taco King a 1-star review on some restaurant-focused social media platform, and stormed out the front door, power level of 9001 flaring before flying off into the distance. At least that was what Chad said his scouter was reading. That Chad. Always full of pleasant surprises, he was. "So long as they're no stronger than the villagers and their numbers, I think they'll break with enough shame," If anything, Konja could also get those sharks more honest work. Perhaps they could be retrained to do something more productive. Like coast guard steeds...? Some of the animals on this planet were a lot smarter than one would first realise. The Hire Dragons, for example, made excellent companions. Loyal, powerful for an animal, and flexible. So why not let these sharks turn a new leaf? Renkon relayed his plan. It was a simple way to decide between the various options. First, use shame. And if that didn't work, then they could figure out whether to shame the entire crime ring, or just put them out of commission for good. There was no honour in assaulting the weak. But what if the weak harassed each other? They both knew what it was like to defend against bandits, though. In which case they understood the plight of the weaker, who could not even protect themselves with a militia. Far be it to become their responsibility to protect this otherwise peaceful village. However, they could always give them the opportunity to grow stronger, by eliminating an obstacle to that path. In this case, they could even teach them a thing or two about standing up for themselves. Maybe someday, they too could form a militia, given their own chance. "Sounds like an effective plan. Covers all the bases. We'll shame them first, and if that isn't enough... As they say on this planet, we'll cross that bridge when we get there."To be fair, Konja didn't learn to fly until she arrived here. Her father would have taught her, but then she got swept up in the war. So she could somewhat understand the thoughts that might go through one's head when standing at the beginning of a bridge. Though what that had to do with making decisions later on, was still a mystery to her. [595/595] Renkon
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Post by Renkon on Sept 1, 2022 18:02:21 GMT -8
He nodded at her assessment as well, thinking about how to deal with the people while she spoke up about how shame could be used as a weapon. Rolling his shoulders, Renkon let his energy loose. While he wasn't the most powerful Saiyan, he was clearly a lot stronger than he looked. He took a deep breath, crouching down some before leaping towards the group on the jet skis. He knew he couldn't fly, but he had a better way of dealing with this. As he came down to land on the back of the jet ski, his powerful legs curled and he jumped, bleeding all that momentum into the machine itself. It was more than enough to off balance it, sending the rider into the water as he sprang into the air, landing on the edge of the bridge and looking down at the fools who remained.
"Attention bandits. As your friend has just rediscovered the joys of swimming, it would be in your best interest to stop harassing this town. Failure..." He was cut off by a shot from one of the men, they had a weapon of some kind and he slapped the bolt of energy into the water, causing much of it to turn into steam. "It doesn't need to be this way... If you fire a second shot you will not like it..." He warned, looking at the men as they all pulled small arms. This simply made them more annoyed, when Renkon jumped down, avoiding the fire of ammo with a barrier of energy around himself. The first person he got his hands on, the sound of bones breaks echoed for a moment, causing all of them to panic now. There was fear and terror quickly being sewn in them, and Renkon looked to the other group who he had missed before, six others on sharks that swam lazy circles until his landing on the jet ski. They had weapons primed and ready, but had not seen Konja yet, instead focused fully on Renkon and his antics.
Renkon let the broken arm go, looking at the men around him who regarded him with fear and panic. The man with the broken arm looked down right terrified. Renkon was this looming monster at this point, feet on the jet ski to prevent escape on this one, and his friends were trying to grab him, pull him away from the Saiyan who had no fear of causing physical pain and trauma in these people. "It would be... In your best interest... To take your friend and run." He said, his tone cold, one of someone who could easily turn this into wanton death if he wanted to. At the moment he was relaxed, his energy was peaked, but his stance was one of someone who didn't carry a worry in the world about this fight itself. He looked at the ones he had been confronting, hoping their overall resolve would break as he shifted his weight, breaking the jet ski under his feet.
507/1167
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Post by Konja of Clan Korm on Sept 3, 2022 2:33:19 GMT -8
The encapsulation was quick. With the purchase of a Capsule Beacon and its integration into the bike, gone were the days of having to carefully place the capsule on a spot where the encapsulation field would completely capture the machine's mass. That had led to a number of accidents in Konja's earlier days of using Capsules for her bike. Accidents that could be repaired, but were ugly nonetheless. The Beacon took a bit out of her paycheck a few months back, but it was worth it. And now, the cashier plopped the filled Capsule into one of her vest pockets, zipping it up before she took Renkon's signal and dove into the water. The plan was a simple one, and its success banked on how well they could execute it. Although it technically could not fail, since the last resort was killing everyone, she pictured a greater satisfaction from scaring everyone off for good. They managed to win a world war against the sheer technological supremacy and military discipline of the Tuffles. How could a proud Saiyan like her, with this recent knowledge, look herself in the mirror if she couldn't even scare away bandits riding jetskis and sharks who had neither of those qualities? It sounded like such a feat meant that Saiyans were worthy of a fearsome reputation. In which case, she could not possibly let her kin down now. She swam quickly beneath the surface, equaling a torpedo even while holding back to avoid overshooting the sharks swimming in circles. When she burst out in the centre of the formation, she quickly grabbed the closest bandit, lifting him off his shark and taking his saddle instead. The blaster gun fell into the water. It helped, of course, that their attention was focusing on Renkon, whose declarations her superior hearing could pick up even underwater. The animal almost instinctively slowed down, as if it could sense it would be useless to thrash against this stowaway. Of course it could. In that way, animals might have lacked the intelligence of sentients, but their sharp instincts knew better at keeping them alive. Even a Saiyan with their vaunted power and senses would rush into a death battle if it meant they could get an enjoyable fight out of it. Perhaps that was the problem with being the apex predator. Your instincts change, veer away from survival - taking food and avoiding trouble you can't beat - and entertainment instead. Be it an Earther's TV, a Tuffle's obsession with slicing open and meddling with the organs of conscious creatures that could turn them into paste if they were the slightest bit careless. And yes, a Saiyan who didn't care about dying in battle because first off, it was their greatest pleasure, and second, on the off chance that they somehow survived, the zenkai would make them ever more powerful. Alas, these bandits didn't have the wisdom of the shark's instincts. The one in her hand did the thrashing. Her arm kept its place and her grip around his shoulder tightened, as if to tell him to stop. He didn't. At least, not until she squeezed so tight she felt a pop as his shoulder dislocated. The bandit shrieked like a piglet in a slaughterhouse. Konja grabbed the reins with her free hand, and looked around. The one in the opposite spot on the circle was now aiming at her. "Oh, you thought you were at a safe distance to be shooting at my friend?" She put on the most menacing laugh she could muster. The kind you saw villains on TV do. Inside, though, she was reeling from the embarrassment of having to make do with a cartoon villain laugh. Because surely that couldn't have been scary... right? That one dislocated bandit's shrieking from being held up by his dislocated shoulder might have been more terrifying, and maybe she ruined that terror by making it seam cartoonishly surreal...? "You don't want to be next, do you? I'm right here. We could grind you into burrito meat if we wanted."The bandit fired, as the others were too busy trying to choose between her or Renkon in the distance. Annoyed, she knocked the bolt off into the sky, leaving holes in a few clouds before dispersing. This wasn't even comparable to Tuffle guns in output. Konja didn't give him time to get another shot out. She hurled the still shrieking bandit at her aggressor, chest first. It knocked him off his shark and both of them into the water. It seemed there was some sense of camaraderie, as instead of swimming off for himself, he somehow managed to hold on to his dislocated associate and then try to get away, treading in the opposite direction. "Anyone else want to go at it?"[798/1393] Renkon
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Post by Renkon on Sept 3, 2022 17:55:17 GMT -8
Renkon had been glad that Konja was working with him. He had missed the second crew until she said something, until she had come out of the water like a Ocean Hunter, smashing into the second group and laughing like a super villain. A smile was on his face now, and the fact it was so quickly coming together with the plan. He stood on the cracking and slowly sinking jet ski. He looked at the ones who were grabbing their friends, threatening him with their weapons to try to keep him warded off. Mikan smiled a bit more, watching as the fear filled their eyes and the way they acted.
"This isn't the end of us! W-we will get the rest of the gang! We will kill you and that bitch back there too!" The man shouted, trying to get some level of confidence in his voice, but Mikan had not lost his smile at all. With a gentle push off the sinking boat, he leaped into the air, landing softly on the edge of the bridge once more, looking over the men who were backing off, trying to get away from the monster that was Renkon in their eyes. He was a beast who had slapped them backwards onto their asses in such an easy way.
Standing on the edge of the bridge, Renkon pondered simply ending them now... It would be easy... So much easier than letting them run off quickly and come back stronger. He leveled his hand towards them and shot a simple energy ball. It missed, going wide and landing in the water, causing an explosion and a massive spray of water to wash over them. Missing them first was the best way to really ensure the fear had sink into them. They would get everyone, this wouldn't be a simple threat of getting most people, but everyone now. They would show up with their beasts, their best weapons and armor, and bring with them a battle worthy of a Saiyan. Renkon made sure to unfurl his tail, letting it flick in the air and looking across the retreating bandits.
A smile on his face, he walked to the other side of the bridge, seeing how Konja had knocked away the energy bolt, sending it to the sky and seeing how it worked. It was a simple affair now, to wait and prepare. His eyes cast to several of the on lookers before wrapping his tail back around himself and jumping towards them. When he landed, he stood up to his full height and then bowed his head softly. "Anyone with a boat or any kind of moveable property should get it off the water or take it to a safe place. We are going to be dealing with the bandits once and for all, and with any luck, it should send a message that this village is not one that is easy prey."
"You have to be careful with this stuff! You should have talked to us about it!" One person protested, and it was a good point, before an older lady hit him over the head with an umbrella. "You moron, we put out a call for help weeks ago! If you got more involved in the town hall meetings you would know this. Get inside and get these two some towels, and something to eat. Bring me some tea too!" She said, the man seeming cowed at this point, perhaps it was his mother? Even on Earth, parents didn't change.
"We offer our thanks for your kindness." He gave a soft bow of his head once more before turning back to where Konja was. "Send them off, it seems the locals are willing to give us a quick lunch!" He called out, walking towards the edge of the bridge again to see what the Saiyan was doing, how they could work all of this to their advantage and make it so the gang brings everyone and everything like he was planning. The threat of an energy attack was one thing, but if Renkon really went all out... No, now was not yet the time for such a thing. He would wait until they arrived with their gang, and then he could cut loose. If that resulted in deaths, it would be deemed a needed thing by him, and if people disliked him for it then... Well that would be the fate of his actions.
He had killed so many in the war, so many more upon various worlds, so it was only a matter of time before he slipped up, and ended up lashing in a way that got someone killed. He had nearly lashed out against Waka, almost attacking with her the energy blade he could make. He didn't want to do that again, make a mistake like that again. He needed to find a way to control himself and his abilities in a way he could safely spar without causing anyone harm while he was able to cut loose.
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Post by Konja of Clan Korm on Sept 7, 2022 7:05:40 GMT -8
Konja had to hold back the excitement of the bandits all running off, proverbial tails between their legs. She had to keep playing the part of terrifying Saturday morning villain, if it was working. "Bring them all! Then we can teach every last one of you the meaning of pain!" She yelled back, holding two sharks in one hand by their saddles. Soon, they were a twinkle in the distance, and the Taco King cashier sighed in relief. Being theatrically bombastic like Cayle wasn't her style. She more preferred to get the job done. And if her opponent was of admirable power, maybe compliment them on that a few times. More out of honest appreciation for their skill and ability, rather than some sort of obligation. A strong opponent was one of the few things that could get excited enough to drop her timidity. Although she would still end up speaking in an awkwardly stilted manner, simply from lack of extensive experience talking. She looked down at the sharks she held. It was probably a strange sight for villages like this one to see a pair of sharks frantically trying to swim away from a person. But there they were, as horrified as the masters she had taken them from. It's too bad they still had most of their sharks in tow. Konja was really looking forward to putting collars on them and towing them back to Ensalada Island. Well maybe when they came back, she'd be able to do that to the rest of the sharks. For now, though, she had to settle with collaring the two that had their riders thrown off, and... She looked around. Where could she tie them up for now? There were a number of wooden piers. But they likely wouldn't hold. Well, it seemed she had to make preparations if that were the case. Konja unzipped a pocket on the right side of her vest and tossed a capsule to the far side of the bay after pushing down on the button. In a smoky blast, a mooring buoy now floated in the distance, its anchor rapidly sinking to the bottom of the bay to keep it in place. The Taco King cashier who served as a scout in King Vegeta's army placed flexible collars around the sharks, and then dragged them across the bay, to be moored at the buoy. That done, she could now attend to the more important matter. Keeping track of Renkon's signal and listening with an open ear, she leapt out of the water and landed right next to him at the bridge's edge just in time to cheer with a fist in the air at the utterance of "quick lunch". At the sight of all the villagers, though, she quickly quieted down. That was deeply embarrassing. She took a deep bow and focused on the immediate concern. "Thank you for your generous provision. May Yamoshi bless your waters with bounty."It didn't matter of course that these Earther villagers knew nothing of Yamoshi or the other ancient spirits. One did not need to know the details of his deity to experience his blessings if invoked by the faithful for the right purposes. And this was certainly one of them. While Saiyan society wasn't necessarily the most gentle, nor did it emphasise the importance of caring for the weak, it upheld tenets of honour. Everybody understood what that was, right? Even those who would act without it did so in defiance or disregard for it, rather than out of ignorance. And the honourable thing was to wish blessings in return for generosity. Konja turned to her comrade, one simultaneously erstwhile and new. Truly, these circumstances were bewildering, that one could be a comrade in battle both previously, and yet newly so. But that was truth. Both fought in King Vegeta's army. Both came from humble Saiyan villages, if in different parts of the Vegeta Kingdom. And now, both were here on this foreign world, with ultimate goals that differed, but at present coincided rather well. The resolution of an all too familiar problem that their villages both faced in those days. "I'm assuming the next step is to break bones on all of them once they return?" She cracked her knuckles and did some stretches, something to wind down before the quick lunch. "I'm reminded of how much fun it is to prey on the dishonourable... It has a certain satisfaction about it."[745/2138] Renkon
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Post by Renkon on Sept 7, 2022 18:12:27 GMT -8
Konja seemed to have a plan of some kind as well. Not just for what was happening now, but planning beyond what she was doing now. She collared these sharks, perhaps a way to make them obedient to her, or maybe to simply keep them in an area for later retrieval. A good plan, maybe she was going to take them back to the land of their people, use them as water based work horses. He would ask about that in a moment. He turned to their hosts, offering them a soft nod of his head as they slowly returned with a bit of food for them. Her cheer was one that told him she was very food motivated, which wasn't a bad thing at all. He smiled a bit more, nodding to the old woman and then thinking back to something he had said before, and hearing Konja offering them a blessing of Yamoshi, it reminded him of a promise, but that would have to wait for a moment. "We wait for them to arrive and then we break the bones of those who show up and seek to do battle. Don't be fearful of harming them, as they are not fearful of harming us."
Now he looked to the older woman who seemed to be the spokesperson to the group that had been arriving with food. "Honored elder, perhaps you can help me with something as well." When she looked at him, he pondered how to describe what he was after. "I am in need of some small plants. I do not know it's name for this area, but it... Hmm..." He moved over to a patch of dirt, quickly drawing it out, and the woman seemed to know what he was after for each of the plants. "In this area, young man, they known lavender, star anise, and allspice. They are fairly common here. I have some in my kitchen. I don't know why you need them, but I have them." She said, turning away to gather the plants for him. "Konja, while she gathers these, will you find a small stone, no bigger than your open hand, with a slight concave shape to it. If you cannot find one, we can shape one as needed." He said, turning back to her. "Once with have these in hand, I will lead you onto the next part. No eating until we have these in hand, that part is important."
While it might not make sense now, perhaps it would in a few moments. She said she wasn't well versed in the old ways, so now he could take the moment that was being offered to teach her something. She had asked to learn things after all. He didn't want to impose upon the kindness she had shown him up to this point. He wanted to simply teach her of their shared people, their shared heritage, and make sure the ancient ways were not lost, but simply preserved for all those of their kind. He was far from a true shaman among the people, but he knew enough to make it so he could teach. Perhaps he should brush off what he knew, help out others who follow Yamoshi and the other Saiyan Ancients. When the old woman returned, she had small glass containers of each, and he took out what he needed of the dried items, and held the best of the fresh ones she offered, bowing his head deeply. "Thank you honored Elder. I shall make sure these are not wasted." He gave a bow of his head once more, and the old woman seemed confused, but shrugged and walked to the others.
All of this in this in hand, he waited for Konja to return, the smell of food luring his mind but his spirit remaining strong against the temptations of the items they had been offered in tribute. They were taking care of a big problem for them, so them being willing and able to do this, for the simple price of some food, well... That saved them all a lot of effort. He chuckled a bit, holding up the flowers known as lavender, and starting to warm it in his hand with his energy. The goal was to dry it out, and prepare it to be crushed by hand, and the ritual could be preformed. It was a simple thing, but perhaps, making offerings like this, could help ease the heart of Konja, and maybe change it so her body would be able to regrow her tail.
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Post by Konja of Clan Korm on Sept 9, 2022 1:50:23 GMT -8
"That sounds like something my father would have said," Konja noted at Renkon's instructions on how to approach them next. Her old man was not someone prone to deep philosophical musings, so much as he was making simple and honest observations about the world around them. Back then, her world was... small, compared to this one. The Tuberosum River and the valley through which it ran was a small fertile region along the outskirts of Vegeta's Kingdom, one end terminating in a lake along the border with Queen Koriandr's. By Earther standards, it wasn't lush, but crops grew well even where the soil wasn't always wet. Clan Korm grew hardy yams. And in the patient moons between planting and harvest, as well as the fallow moons between harvest and the next year's planting, they would hunt and fish. It went without saying that the fishing was in the river and lake. The hunts could be anywhere from the bottom of the valley by the river bank, to the badlands stretching far beyond the valley's peaks. And whenever the bandits came, her father, Yakku of Clan Korm, would remind her to hold nothing back against such dishonourable filth. As it looked today, even with far smaller power levels, the filth was still filthy. And now, they could much more easily be scrubbed out from beneath the soles of her boots. "If the bandits were this weak, at any rate. Yes, I'll be sure to trample on more filth when it returns."Konja watched with quiet interest as Renkon conversed with the elderly woman, requesting certain plants. What did he have in mind, exactly. Were they for the meal? The plan? Maybe this was a preparation for later on, when he would teach her how to offer a proper sacrifice? She would have to find out later, as he had instructions for her as well. A small, specially shaped stone, either made so by nature, or by hand, if nature did not provide. "I understand. Consider that stone found!... or made..." Preferably found. While she was flexible enough to switch to plan B's, there was of course a special satisfaction when plan A worked out. She skipped down to a rocky portion of the bayshore, where the tides of waters left many stones smoothed and fitting to the hands. The Taco King cashier glanced briefly at the mooring buoy in the distance, bobbing ever so slightly as the sharks swam around within their limits. Yes, soon Ensalada would have more beasts of burden... Konja's father had only occasionally taught her of the old ways. Not because he thought her unable yet to appreciate them. She certainly enjoyed the smell of incense, and watching the smoke waft up to the stars as she imagined the spirits would sniff with approval. Yamoshi was chief among them, he would say. A god among Saiyans who achieved an ultimate power, far back on the ancestral world Sadala. The homeworld before the homeworld. He transcended to the stars soon after laying waste to his dishonourable foes, a gratitude the spirits bestowed upon seeing his resolve to better their people. Apart from passing on the oral traditions and teaching the basic prayers, however, Yakku was more concerned with raising a daughter who could finish what he started, and accomplish what he could not. His discharge from the King's Army was a practical one. Although he was capable of fighting to an extent, his last mission, where Konja's mother and a number of older kinsmen perished, left him crippled beyond effective duty. And so he trained her to fight. And though his body was not what it used to be, missing an arm and sporting a limp in the opposite leg, his experience made him more than a match for the most able youths left in the village. Together, they raised a militia, intending to one day succeed their fallen kinsmen and elevate the clan out of poverty and the low class. And the bells of war had been the perfect opportunity. What fate befell the clan afterward? She knew not... As she inspected each little stone for a little stone for a concave shape, Konja thought she should ask Renkon if he had heard of her kin. If they did well even without her, then perhaps they would have gone on to realise her father's dream. The House of Vegeta, from what she understood of Cayle's words when first meeting Renkon, had been standing for three generations before the fourth came to leave his mark on this world. His reasons, she did not yet know. Perhaps in those three or four generations, the clan had elevated itself to a higher station. Maybe in the first generation, some of her cousins had already distinguished themselves during the war in some way or another. Her heart beat stronger at the thought... just around the time she found a stone that matched the instructions almost perfectly. It was somewhat concave, and was slightly smaller than her open palm. With a smile, Konja made her way back to where Renkon stood watch. The food would have to wait, he said. While it was generally a bad idea to fight on a completely full stomach, against such weaklings, even a little indigestion was no barrier to a Saiyan's might. Had they been Tuffles, she would have thought his instructions completely practical. But now, she wondered if it had anything to do with the plants and the stone... "Will this do?" She asked, showing the stone within her hand, her palm quite visible beneath it, if not overwhelmingly so. She could always go back if not. [942/3080] Renkon
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Post by Renkon on Sept 9, 2022 19:36:05 GMT -8
Renkon had been very careful with the herbs, making sure they were dried out just enough to be useful for what they needed them for. His reasons for doing what he was were simple, but it might take a moment for her to understand. He looked across the offerings of food they had been given, set on a picnic table for them to go through at their leisure and he walked to pick something out for himself. It was a simple meat dish, but he moved it to one side. When she returned, he nodded softly, picking up a small stone that was near by and using his energy to heat it, to reshape it into a small grinding device. "Use this. Take all the flowers off the stem, and then the leaves. Crush them into a fine powder and mix it all together in the bowl. There isn't much so it should all fit. Once that it done, select a dish that is your favorite from the ones that are all offered." He said, looking out over the water and smiling a bit. It was nice to be able to offer a small teaching to Konja. Someone wishing to learn from him was already a rare feeling, but he was not going to let the chance slide away at the moment.
When she got to work, he recalled doing rituals like this before. To ask for the use of his arm back, to make sure it all healed enough so he wasn't going to have to have it removed. He placed a hand upon the metal that armored his shoulder. He took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. For a moment, he was back on Planet Vegeta, soaking in the feeling of the world, the way his body felt, the density of his muscles, the strength in his body, the way the sky seemed to burn like a ruby when the sun was in the sky. The feeling of the sands under his feet shifting a bit as he adjusted his weight and aimed to make his place stable so he could make his offerings. He exhaled slowly and opened his eyes. "When you are done mixing those, and selecting your meal, place the herbs upon it, whisper your desire of healing to the ancients, and consume the food in their honor. If they see it as a worthy cause, they will start the process. It could take time, years like I did for my arm to heal, but it is not impossible. A small ritual like this, maybe once a week, or more if you find the time and have the extra resources, shows your dedication to the cause and wish for it to be true."
Really, he wasn't sure if it was only the natural healing and raw resiliency of the Saiyan people, the spirits answering, the call for hope, or all of it in some degrees, but it helped so many of them in darker times. Who was he to deny the abilities of others, the feelings of what they experienced, and the reality that had lived in this moment. Renkon looked at them for a moment. He waited for Konja to do this, if she would at all, and then smiled regardless, he could see the smoke in the distance of all the machines starting up. "I do suggest you do this, and quickly before they arrive. I can see the smoke on the horizon. It won't be long before they arrive. Look for leaders among them as well. Most of these appear to be kids, at least when we slapped them and scared them away. If we take out the leaders, the rest will break and run. I'm sure you did this back when attacking the Tuffles. Terminate the leaders and move forward."
640/3410
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Post by Konja of Clan Korm on Sept 11, 2022 0:42:19 GMT -8
Konja watched as Renkon picked up another stone from the wayside and, using his energy, shaped it into a quick mortar and pestle for her use. She listened to his instructions on what to do with the plants that had been brought by the village elder for their use. Was this for a kind of seasoning? Certainly their people made use of seasoning, between salt mining and other spices one could pick from the garden. But there was something different from how she learned to grind spices in the kitchen. For one, the villagers had already brought cooked meals, and as far as she could remember, seasoning went on either before or while the heat was being applied. Maybe if the result wasn't salty enough, you'd sprinkle salt, but the other spices, not quite... The only explanation, then, was that this was part of the old ways, the offerings and rituals meant to commune with the ancient spirits and beseech them for favour. Looking back, her father did the offerings himself, but would occasionally ask for similar plants. Konja never actually saw the preparations made, but she always enjoyed the smells that resulted from the process. Taking the device and following the senior war veteran's instructions on the handling of the plants, the militia scout turned fast food cashier carefully ground them into a powder and mixed them in her bowl. With caution, she set the stone vessel by the side of the table and went over what the village had brought to them for offerings. There was a variety to choose from. Between vegetables grown in their home gardens and nearby fields, to what bounties they could catch from the bay despite the bandit raids. From the tropical fruits of trees growing along the shores, to small and medium game that frolicked in the island's woods. Meat from domesticated fodder creatures. There was even a spit roasted crocodile - not something you could prepare on short notice, but if it was meant for a feast, then they were willing to part with it in their gratitude. Hopefully it was not fear. With such great power at their disposal, and a great number of Saiyans she had heard of with more banditry in their blood than honour, it was easy to cause misunderstandings. But they were of course careful to make their intentions clear. And to speak with such politeness and respect as Renkon, the worst that really seemed to happen was that one youth complaining about how their work was somewhat sloppy. If they had inadvertently destroyed some important village implement, then it was a problem, yes. But if it meant the bandits would stop, then they would at least have less things to worry about. Konja would even happily help them repair what had been damaged, or rebuild what was destroyed. A new period of peace for the village would be useful for improving their lot as well. She thought back to what Renkon had said about the end of the war. Though the land and seas were ruined, King Vegeta had a plan to fix everything. The peace in their time would mean there had to have been much time to rebuild. Konja set her eyes on the one leg of boar ham, reminding her of those times they went hunting for the great roabs. The Earthers' boar was much smaller, but tasted surprisingly similar. You couldn't have a whole hunting party ride on its back, but it was good enough game for a planet filled with such lightweight... well... everything. Everything was so light here. Even the food and water. But the taste of game ham brought her back. Nodding at Renkon's further instructions, she carefully picked up the plate of ham, sprinkled the ritual herbs upon it, and raised it to the sky. Konja bowed her head and whispered a prayer to the spirits. For a rightful opportunity to regain her honour. For the healing of her wounds, both of the body and soul. And, if they so deemed her worthy of this redemption, that they allow her tail to grow back. These words having left her lips and flown off into the ether, she grabbed the exposed bone of the ham and dug in. Saiyan table manners and all. She could almost feel the phantom tail wag in excitement. She could afford a weekly offering. Maybe more, if she got promoted or finally got started on that yam farm. Despite her exposure to all these strange, technological ways, from the Tuffles to TV, Konja still had that child's faith in the old ways. Be them teachings and stories from her father, or instruction in how to offer a sacrifice to the spirits by Renkon. They were her people's communion with those who had gone before them. Perhaps her parents were some of the spirits who were listening. Maybe they would see her continuing dedication to the great ancient traditions. It didn't even matter to her how Renkon knew this much. Maybe if she had not been captured, her father would have taught her more with time. So she had really assumed all this time, that everyone in the village was slated to learn the old ways. It was only fair, that every Saiyan be allowed to commune with the ancestors, the older and wiser spirits who had gone on before them. And of course, the unrivaled transcendent Yamoshi. That was all she had to think about where Renkon got that knowledge. It never occurred to her that maybe, Shamans held the deepest of those rituals and preserved them for the future... Konja gulped down the last scrap of meat from the bone once Renkon warned the bandits were returning. A quick licking of her palms, and she was as clean as needed. She never thought too much about bathing. After all, there had always been the river on Planet Plant. And with the springs deeper inland on Ensalada, there was not going to be a shortage of bathwater. His advice was solid, and she could only concur. "The veterans with greater age and wisdom then. And the ones yelling out orders." Konja smirked. "Yes, it will be almost like with the Tuffles. But these bandits will not have the Tuffle army's armour to protect their bones!"[1051/4131] Renkon
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Post by Renkon on Sept 16, 2022 13:31:54 GMT -8
Konja was quick to catch onto things, and seeing how fast she worked the herbs into things, and didn't even complain at the alterations to the taste, was good as well. Renkon was pleased by all of this, rather happy that she so quickly able to understand the reason for the rituals as well made him smile a bit. Now came the final part of it all. He reached to his back, pulling the knife that rested there and looking at the blade. It was not a silver color like many metal blades would be, but instead a deep red in color. Depending on Konja had seen while still on Plant, this was native metal, the iron of the world had a red color to it thanks to the lattice work of precious stones within it. The energy tempering used for the metal was something the Saiyans got good at VERY quickly, and the fact that Renkon had one that was stylized as well might speak volumes to her if she understood it.
With her quickly eating the meat, Renkon made his own offering as well once he finished eating. It was a light meal, as to not weigh him down too much before the battled started. He undid the leather bindings on his hand and arm, several scars of various battles rested on his arm. The blade was carefully run across his scars, not cutting them, but seeming like an old ritual he did. He spoke in their native language now, taking a slow breath as he spoke. "I call to the spirits of battle, the warriors in my line and the warriors yet to come. I seek protection in the battle that is to come, I seek victory and honor among my peers." He said, bowing his head for a moment. Having a silent moment before battle was something that was nice, but all to rare for most rituals to be considered useful or even needed. So many warriors forgot them so quickly when they went to space.
Renkon looked to Konja, setting the blade upon the picnic table, he smiled a bit. "There are many rituals I can teach you in the old ways, but only so many of them are for groups of people. Most teachings are personal, given bits of wisdom and understanding while being able to gleam from it what you will. Truth is truth, but knowledge is something that is not always shared for it's understanding." He offered, looking at the bandits got closer. He looked to the sky for a moment, closing his eyes and pulling his energy to himself, letting it increase his power to it's limit before quickly resetting the leather straps on his arm, lifting the blade a moment later to let it rest against his arm. "Also, if you wish to learn another ritual, acquire a bit of metal from this battle. It does not need to be much, but a small memento will do." He motioned to the small bits of metal all over his armor and clothing. "Battles won, battles survived. The plate on my shoulder is reforged from a Tuffle Tank plate. The belt buckle was made from the melted barrel of a Tuffle rifle. Each marker is a battle."
He smiled at the memories of won battles over the years. "When I find my crew, I will learn of their battles and what they have been through, I will forge something in their honor as well." He said, trying to remain positive about finding them. He didn't need to explain any more, at least at the moment, as the bandits had arrived, the leader of the crew climbing onto the shore and looking hatefully at the duo.
"So you two are the punks who drove my crew away. You should have known better." He said, setting a weapon on his shoulder. Renkon didn't recognize a shotgun when he saw one, at least on Earth, but the Saiyan couldn't help but smile. "Oh, you think it's funny!?" He shouted at Renkon. "It won't be so funny when I kill you and use your corpse as a message to these morons here!" He was clearly pissed off, and Renkon had not yet shifted his stance yet, his eyes locked on the man, but a smile on his lips none the less. The man who clearly getting aggravated by the lack of response from the Saiyan. Renkon waited for only a moment more before bursting forwards at full speed, slamming a punch into the man's cheek and sending him back to the water. The splash followed a moment later, and the remaining crew started to pull weapons, aiming them at Renkon, ready to shoot him, but giving her quite the opening to flank and attack them in her own way. Renkon was good as pulling attention away.
810/4220
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Post by Konja of Clan Korm on Sept 27, 2022 4:54:17 GMT -8
Although the taste was different from what hams Konja had had both here and on Planet Plant, she never was a picky eater. The Saiyan appetite, and her clan's reliance on hunting, fishing, and subsistence meant that whatever was cooked on the table was going into her mouth. Certainly, there were favourites. Usually parts of whatever she had helped hunt, or what big fish she managed to pull out of the lake. In a way, having it cooked and served for dinner was a point of pride. And while Achido did love those Taco King packs, she always looked forward the most to finishing an early shift, when she could catch her own dinner, be it in the bush, or the water. She didn't know everything that went into the Taco King products, and she would be the first to admit that if it was just about taste, those would win out over her own spit roasted meat or fish. But there was something special to her about getting your own food. Renkon pulled out a knife, gleaming crimson unlike the pale metals on Earth or whatever synthetic metal was used by the Tuffles. It was untarnished mountain iron, forged by hand in its blood red splendour. Where most clans learned to forge their own tools and weapons, although she had heard that King Vegeta's capital, Cornucopia, had "smiths". Those who forged metal for a living, for those who were too busy to do their own work. Konja thought back to her own hoe, knife, and spear... Long gone by now. Far from perfect, riddled with the imperfections of a child's handiwork. But her father made sure she made them workable, despite their flaws. She had hoped to be able to make new tools, but the World Police were quick to inform her that you couldn't just blast a hole in a mountain side and take out the ore. There were things called mining permits, and so on. Still, she couldn't complain about the hoe from the hardware store. It worked perfectly once she got used to the feather-like weight. But she had no pride in it, for it was not her handiwork. The Taco King cashier watched as the veteran traced his scars, praying in Saiyan as he did so. Nothing she had ever seen before, but no doubt another ritual with its own deeper meaning and significance. She nodded at the offer made after this. "I must admit to being no good with... groups... of people. So please, teach me these personal rituals."As they made their way to the approaching bandits and Renkon explained the tradition of acquiring metal pieces as memories of battle. That did explain this one mystery of why the soldiers in the King's army who she saw had quite a few metal decorations. Why her father had also worn his share. They were trophies. It made sense. In which case, she would be sure to get one for herself today. Perhaps turn it into... well, there would be plenty of time to think about it. "Then let us see what new mementos you can show your friends once you find them."They stopped in front of the assembly of bandits, a truly ragtag crew. And none with any particularly impressive power levels she could sense. Yes, this was definitely going to be a game. The irritation of the leader made her smirk in a predatory fashion. Yes, these were not even enemies, which the Tuffles could at least say for themselves. The advanced weapons that spewed energy beams and even the grunt's rifle that shot bullets much faster and more painful than anything the Earthers could muster. Even the gauntlets of their armour, augmented with machinery that allowed a desperate punch from a disarmed soldier to actually sting slightly... All of those were legitimate threats. The Tuffles had earned the title of "enemy". But these? She scoffed. They were playthings. Renkon made the first move, one so bold as to directly send the bandit leader flying off into the bay. Everybody was now focused on him, for obvious reasons. And because of that, their backs were completely open to her. Konja's power flared. Not that anyone would notice the little stones beside her slowly rising into the air. No, they were perfectly distracted by Renkon's brash display. And since they could neither sense ki, nor did they have scouters equipped, they simply were her prey. The militia scout was in a split second, right behind a pair of bandits. She grabbed their heads from behind and pushed their faces down into the smooth stoned beach. Enough force to break their noses and some facial bones, but not enough to crack their skulls open. Dazed, they could do nothing but scream as she tugged on either of their arms, popping them out of the sockets without rending flesh any flesh. She had learned much about close quarters, and although she had fought a war to kill, there was much precision if she chose only to maim. And that was the plan. Another turned around with his rifle pointed at her. Konja opened her palm and the energy blast melted the weapon in his hands. Even before he could let go to draw a sidearm, she had already grabbed his forearms and broken them with a satisfying crunch. A simple backhand to the face sent him flying into the water after his leader. Not so deep that he would drown, but he certainly had some other reason to be shouting at the moment... If he did end up drowning, his bones would make for good soup stock, at least. Though it was probably best to bring that back to Ensalada rather than do it here. The Earthers might have been grateful... but they were tame. Certainly not "savages" as Clan Korm, who very much enjoyed eating the remains of enemies. Why let a perfectly edible body go to waste, after all? [996/5127] Renkon
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Post by Renkon on Mar 7, 2023 23:13:50 GMT -8
Renkon listened as she worked out as well, the way she moved was fluid, graceful. It reminded him of many others he had trained with in the past, seeing battle. It was... Honestly a nice, refreshing thing to see again. He smiled a bit, popping his neck as he waited for the man to surface. It didn't take long to hear the sounds of breaking bones, of shattering pride, and the feeling of so much frustration of so many people all at once floating around. He smiled a bit more, looking at the water as the leader surfaced, sputtering and furious, but still very much alive and well. Renkon was probably going to need to deal with that, but... For now, he was going to just soak everything in. He looked up as the leader fully rose to his feet, hissing and spitting.
Still unworried, he caught the punch that was being sent at him, smiling as he did so. "Not many people would challenge me directly like this. I might be very diminished in power, but I am no less threatening than I was before..." Renkon said, shifting with the gripped hand and pulling the man forward. Anyone who could sense energy knew he was holding back, but the headbutt was still painful for the human. Renkon had caught the hand in a way that a simple twist, and a strike to the under arm, resulted in a broken bone. The feeling of the bone snapping with like that of dry firewood. A smile formed on his face as he let the man go, seeing him crumble to the ground, in pain and very confused. They had been in this town before, where did such powerful people come from.
Overall, Renkon didn't seem to care about much at all with these fools. Removing them from life was a simple enough endeavor, but he wanted to send a message to them. "Attention to all gang members. My name is Renkon. Your leader challenged me, and is broken on the ground..." He motioned to the bleeding man and then looked across to the others. Renkon reached down, picking the man up and holding him by the back of the neck. The townsfolk seemed terrified of them, fearful even. Renkon shifted, igniting his energy and reducing the man he was carrying to little more than charred bones. Renkon let the body go as someone shouted out, a scream of rage and fury. He managed to turn just enough to catch the strike thrown at him. He wasn't sure how Konja might react, but the armored suit that was burning energy to try to strike him was right there. "Finally... I wondered..." The machine wasn't that advanced, at least not like the one he had dealt with a while ago, but it was still something to need to defend himself on a higher stage now.
"What have you brought me? A new toy to break? This some kind of science to throw at me and hope it sticks? It won't work!" He called out, grabbing the arm and throwing the being to the ground. "Come on then! Let's see what your shiny machine lets you do! Don't let me down now!" He called out, aiming to keep it a real one on one fight. He was going to make sure that Konja had an opening enough to take care of the others while he played around with this fool. A smile was still plastered on his face, ready to finally cut loose once more and show what he can do. There was no reason to hold back if this one really wanted his blood, but the person would have to earn it. Renkon wasn't one who would let anyone have something easily, and he was going to remind this universe of that.
Shifting his stance, he smiled as the man rose up, energy burning from the thrusters and electricity arching down the gauntlets. Based how it looked, it was likely was a hand to hand model. Not a lot of people liked to sit back and blast was his opinion, rush down and smash people was his way, and the more preferred way of most of the galaxy. The machine once more rushed him, pulling back it's arm and swinging hard at the Saiyan. With an almost practiced ease, he side stepped the strike, avoiding the punch and landing his own counter to it, hitting the body of the robot. He felt the frame start to bend, allowing him to judge the level of strength of the metal used in this. Earth metal seemed so... Light... Compared to that on Planet Vegeta, but with the low gravity, it was to be expected. He took the next punch, allowing it to connect to let him get a new show in as well, swinging hard at the joint now, hitting it and sending the arm swing wide. He shifted in now, launching a flurry of strikes to the most heavily armored sections of the body, denting it hard in several places.
Damage caused to the body didn't seem that intense, like he wasn't trying to kill the man at first, but Renkon chuckled as the movements slowed, the thrusters started to sputter and not work as needed. "It's almost like you steel shell will fail you. Here... Let me help you breathe." He said, reaching up and grabbing the helmet and landing a hard kick in the middle of the chest. The helmet was ripped free as the person flew across the landscape, the fire and fury in their eyes had been replaced now with fear, and when they landed, it was on their back, bloody and their armored limbs not responding as well as they should be.
He was looking at Konja, terror in his words. "He... He's gonna kill me..." He man whispered.
"And how many begged you for mercy as you and this gang descended on them? How many of them cried out in pain and terror? Think you are worthy of mercy?" Renkon asked, crossing his arms, allowing Konja now to decide this man's fate.
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Post by Konja of Clan Korm on Mar 17, 2023 7:29:52 GMT -8
A battle was where two opposing sides posing a threat to each other engaged with the intent to defeat. Be it a rout, retreat, or a complete massacre, it didn't matter. Both sides were mutually dangerous, and the full extent of intelligence, skill, and power was necessary to achieve victory. A hunt was where one party pursued another, with the intent to capture or kill. Depending on whether the quarry was a person or animal, the specifics of the goal varied. Animals could be killed for food and other bodily resources like bone and hide. They could also be captured for domestication. People were usually fugitives on the run. Depending on the laws of the land and their own capabilities, they might not be allowed to be killed at all. Some places put more value on their live capture. Others were so threatening their death was considered just as acceptable. A game was a matter of artifice. An activity based on a set of rules, determined arbitrarily, but generally for the purpose of ensuring the experience was entertaining. If there was any opposition between players, the only threats posed by one side to the other were defined by the rules. Power levels didn't matter. Of course, that didn't mean that nobody was going to die. The thing about games was that they weren't exclusively for entertainment. Konja had played many games that her father had meant to teach valuable skills. They were both entertaining and educational. She had played games that were purely for fun. Those were what she and the other children came up with. Although looking back, contests about who could wrestle the biggest fish or who could get first blood on a roab hunt encouraged a competitive spirit that pushed them to excellence. They were still fun though. This game was at the highest level, just what they discussed. Getting a message across to these bandits. The restriction was to keep them alive, so they could actually receive the said message. Konja snapped someone's dominant wrist as she flipped him overhead and sent him flying off back into the water. On the practical side, it helped her with precision and self control. It took more effort to merely maim than to kill. Especially with such a fragile species. It still amused her to this day. Barring their lack of tails, humans looked almost identical to Saiyans. And because her own tail had been taken, she was frequently mistaken for one. There was some debate over whether the Tuffles had a closer resemblance. But humans, at least, didn't all have that colourful fruit-like tinge to their hair. Some did. But not all. As Renkon humiliated the bandit leader, she stopped to watch, floating idly above the water. Someone tried to shoot her from behind, but seeing as none of them could manipulate their power levels, he had telegraphed himself by noticeably getting close to her. She casually tilted her head out of the line of fire and caught the bullet with her hand, briefly turning around to flick it back at the shooter's dominant arm. That should give him something to chew on for a while. As Renkon lifted the boss up into everyone's view, Konja made her way to the beach to get a better look. The gang's reaction to witnessing their leader reduced to nothing but a charred skeleton was a mixture of fear and outrage. One particular ruffian fully decked out in some form of power armour lunged at Renkon. How did she miss that one before? For a moment, an old sight flashed across her eyes: a Tuffle in a fully encased suit of power armour throwing his fist into her face. She had fought her share of the armoured soldiers. They were physically and experientially superior to the ones that were partially exposed. They even lasted quite a bit, depending on who was fighting them. Their skill in close combat was on another level as well. Konja would have been lying if she said they didn't give her difficulty. Especially when she was dealing with the bulkier suits. They were tougher. And most of the guards watching over her in the lab were clad in those things. She shook her head. Renkon was toying with this one now. Having his own good time. There was no doubt that someone who fought the war all the way to the end was mostly safe. Not even counting the blatant fact that this power suit was vastly inferior to the ones employed by the Tuffle Army, he was clearly dealing with a mere bandit. There was no discipline in his style. No technique. He was relying entirely on the suit, instead of using it to amplify any skills he had. Even the least armoured Tuffle displayed greater skill and discipline. And so it was no surprise that after Renkon took things up a notch, the suit quickly wore down from his assault. The next thing she knew, she was staring down at this man, relieved of his suit's helmet, eyes now bare for her to see. The fear was so palpable you could pluck it out along with his eyeballs. His posture was completely vulnerable. He was out. As his hoarse confession of fear entered Konja's ears, her arms remained crossed. How many unarmed villagers did he put in a similar situation? Not that the Tuffles were any better, given the kinds of fellow captives she met during her time in the laboratory. But at least none of the soldiers she ever fought ever showed a moment of fear. They fought and died with a warrior's dignity. Which was only understandable. They were soldiers, not thugs. "You must be the big bad armoured bandit. And now that your suit has been made useless you grovel? Is that broken machine the sole foundation of your strength?""P... please..." "I've killed plenty of men clad in less than you. They all greeted death with pride and defiance." Konja shook her head. "It is utterly shameful that you meet yours with neither."He did not deserve the dignity of a crushed skull, or even incineration with an energy blast. The Saiyan picked the armoured bandit up by the scruff of his chest piece and dragged him to the water's edge. The tide was rising. With one smooth motion, she flipped him over and dunked his face into the water with her boot. He struggled. Or perhaps twitched. Both? It was hard to tell, given how badly his suit's limbs were damaged. Maybe his arms were trying to move, but they simply couldn't work as well as they could have without the cumbersome armour in the way. Either way, his struggle didn't last too long, and soon enough, he went limp. She looked up, first to Renkon to gauge his reaction, then to the rest of the bandits. "If you decide to come again, you should be prepared to die with honour! Not like vermin squirming in the filth!"[1169/6296] Renkon
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Post by Renkon on Mar 27, 2023 16:33:45 GMT -8
Renkon watched on with a cold stare. It was not a lot in terms of what the others could see, but if she recalled how Saiyans expressed themselves, the small upturn of his lips told more of a story. He was proud to see her pointing out the fact that you died with honor, or died in shame. There was no middle ground. Only the strong deserved this honor, and the fact that so many of the bandits were starting to panic like this made him smirk even more. He landed next to Konja now, looking at the man being drowned and waiting for him to slowly go limp, to die in the same that he did. "Don't let this body slip under the waves..." He instructed. He didn't really have any authority here, but he had an idea, and needed the armor at least intact. He looked at the others who had broken, starting to run now and race off. The sheer number of them who had joined up was boggling to him. They must have banded together under a strong voice, a strong leader type, and hoped they could survive under their rule. The fact it was already falling apart so easily told him that most of these people would either tear themselves apart, or drift away and go home. They hardly had the cohesion to remain as a unit. He rolled his shoulders and reached down when the others seemed to really be running now, this fight was done.
He was sure the main bulk of the fighting was over. The townspeople had seen that people could stand before the bandits and they were emboldened. Shots of guns and lasers chased those who were retreating. It wasn't much, but it was enough to cause them to race faster, run with more vigor. Renkon could catch them if he wished to, and he suspected that Konja could as well, that she was hiding a lot of power and skill, but he was unsure. From what he had seen of her, she was a beast in battle, and he wasn't sure he could win if they faced off. Still, he was happy to have her on his side, and he was going to run with it while he could. She was teaching him much about this world, and allowing him to reawaken his powers, his lost strength, and to push himself to a new level when he was fully awakened. He hated the amount of power he had lost, but this still told him that he was in the running on this planet, based on what he had seen with the others, and the way many of them reacted to the level of power he had. Basic humans seemed to be on the lower end of power, but technology helped to boost them back up, to push them to useful levels for battle. He wondered if perhaps this suit was poorly reverse engineered Tuffle armor, or it was of their own design.
Picking up the body, he looked at the armor, looking for any method to disengage it and open the armor up. "Now... Where oh where did they get this armor from?" He asked, finding the seem of the armor and then the latch to open it from the outside. When it did hiss open, water escaped from her victim, pouring onto the ground, and flowing back into the river. Renkon pulled the body free, tossing it to the ground with a level of disregard and lack of care only a long term soldier could have when dealing with an alien body. He had beaten something like this before, and from his side pouch, he pulled a damaged bit of metal, a stamp of an ancient Tuffle manufactory on it. He seemed to be searching for something that matched it. "Tell me, do you know why I am seeking out where this armor came from?" He asked, wondering if the woman knew the reason he was doing this. It was a simple thing, but it was something that many soldiers often overlooked. In the waning days of the Saiyan-Tuffle war, they had to pin down the manufactory locations, so they could stop the flow of weapons and purge the last of the Tuffles. The sooner they shut it down, the sooner the war itself would be over. The number of times he delved into the Tuffle bases, the underground facilities made in secret before the war, was a stark reminder of the war.
Shaking his head, he looked to Konja, waiting for her answer or for her to find the marking on it that showed where it was made. Renkon didn't know any of the planets production places, so Konja would be his main source on this. She was here for far longer than he had been, and she might know if she saw anything. Renkon looked at armor, the damage he had caused it. There was a part of him that still boiled within, hating seeing such technology, such crutches to lift up the weakest of those. He understood the reason for it, but it still bothered him a lot. He had seen so many using this kind of technology when he did go to space, it made him wonder if people wanted to do things the lazy way, have their powers made by a machine, and not by the blood and sweat of true effort, of fighting against the odds, and building yourself up to a high standing within your people, within your own mind. He shook his head, looking at the armor again, waiting to hear answers and waiting for the truth to come out about the armor itself. If they found a marker like the one he carried, but neither of them knew it, it would simply set the armor on his shoulder and prepare for the next phase of his plan, and perhaps, get ready to deal out a lot more pain to those who might be deserving.
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