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Post by Legume on Feb 22, 2019 15:34:56 GMT -5
Abbayor was, to Legume, a very odd duck. Before he had arrived to the distant past and gotten stuck here, he had never even heard of the name "Abbayor" before - perhaps it was still a name somewhere on the Galactic map, but Legume never needed to memorize the entire map of the Federation before and thus wouldn't know. The point is, if it even existed forty thousand years later, it was decisively a backwater, so overshadowed by the megalopolis of thre Galactic Core that the Saiyan had never even heard of it before. At least Earth was actually a name he remembered, if not for the jokes and anecdotes about Earthlings being backwards and unable to understand modern technology. Abbayor was a complete mystery. But here, in this distant past, it was a behemoth - one of the most populous planets in the Galaxy, the center of many trade routes, the heartland of a powerful nation-state, of the First Galactic Empire, and one of the places most resembling the home he has since lost, even including all the wounds of war scattered across the planet. And the wounds of war were aplenty. Reconstruction works were still taking place, many locales still needed to be rebuilt and looked like a gaping wound to any outsiders stumbling upon them. Things were moving, but much work still needed to be done. What happened during those forty thousand years to turn Abbayor into a complete backwater? Legume had no clue. He never had a clue. Too much time has passed to give any sort of answer, it could be anything at this point - millenia of stagnation, interplanetary conflicts, invasions, emigration, some sort of stench rising from the ground, all of them were valid options. And besides, even if he did know anything about Abbayor's fate, it might not mean anything anyway. Legume was still not aware how his leap to the past works - whether all which he has done in the past and will do from this point onward has already happened and will inevitably lead to the exact same Galactic Federation he once lived in, or if this multiverse operates on butterfly effect and anything which happens since his appearance is a completely new timeline. And, considering the vast scale of time between the current day and the future, he's likely to never find out. Until he starts fading into dust one day or something. Until then, Legume was just sitting by a table at one of the cafes scattered across Abbayor, this particular one naming itself "Caif Cafe", enjoying a cup of coffee, one of the few things which managed, or will manage, to survive the millennia past. The Saiyan's massive greatsword, Vanity, was resting at the wall nearby, attracting the attention of any visitor passing by his table, and the warrior himself stared through the window into the busy street in front of the building. Waiting for someone, and getting slightly nervous already. Did he inform Genesis correctly? It's almost time... Legume pulled out his communicator and checked his text messages from one week ago, finding the same conversation he had checked a few hours ago:
Hey, it's Genesis.
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Remember how you promised to tell me about that technique of yours? Well, let's meet up.
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Also... I wanted to talk to you about something else, if you got the time.
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Sure thing.
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We can meet up at Caif Cafe on Abbayor, talk it out over a cup of coffee.
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Next Thursday at 3 PM should be good, I'll see you there.
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There shouldn't be any ambiguity over that response. Hopefully. By the gods, it's still so awkward lugging these bricks around. And typing into them, too. Not gonna lie, I prefer the chip integration of the future.(631 words, total 631)
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Alt Character🔸
I have nothing to say.
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Post by Genesis on Feb 22, 2019 21:28:11 GMT -5
Galactic Avenger WC: 1,439 TAGS: Legume
Abbayor, Western Entertainment District
The worst part about Abbayor?
Returning to it.
Riley didn't have a lot of money. In fact, he had just managed to scrape together enough change to afford fuel for his vessel on the way home. He had used what little winnings he had to follow investigative leads. His latest brought him to the sin-filled world of Space Vegas. There he had tracked down Sly (Sly ) attempt to apprehend him. Only to fail.
A mere week before that, he had an encounter with a robotic clone of Dain Sincara (Dain Sincara ) on Arcose and also saw Tora (Tora ) released from the healing bays at Abbayor Central Hospital. It had been a lot of travel, back and forth, a lot of fighting. And, mind you, a lot of accomplishing nothing.
After three hours in a queue to find a spaceport landing pad, he ws given final clearance and his auto-pilot took over the descent. The AI traffic controller for Abbayor had been finally restored, after it was destroyed during the Saiyan Dominion invasion. Things were finally orderly, organized. His first time arriving on the planet had been nothing short of pure chaos. People had been parking their ships atop roofs, in abandoned lots, anywhere they could find.
No doubt the Abbayor Security Forces had already made a killing in collecting fines.
This was the big time, the big city. Indigo Prime in comparison to Abbayor was a tiny outpots. But, he missed it and all its quiet moments. His also yearned for big house, nice bed, and his swimming pool. But, he couldn't go back. He was marooned, trapped out here with the rest of the universe. Hell, he hadn't met a single person who heard of Indigo Prime.Not a single data-bank contained information about it. Not a single star map indicated it location. It was like his home-world was a ghost. The thing his, he never realized the extend of his people's isolation until now. They feared the Frieza Force, feared being conquered and made themselves invisible, left no trace behind. It seemed impossible. Hell, he had even read recently about another planet called Hollow, which had been a legend for centuries surfacing out of the blue and joining the Empire.
Indigo Prime would too someday, if he ever could make his way back there. Evening attempting to find his way back would cost an astronomical amount of money. It would be a veritable space expedition.
That's why he choose to handle it his fate differently, rather than taking the proactive rout. Sure, it wasn't feasible for him to find home again, but maybe home could find him. If he made a big enough splash, the entire galaxy would hear about it. If Genesis was famous, word would reach the fringes eventually. His planet had received delayed feeds of the Galactic Hypernet, captured by strategically placed beacons. They were often delayed and most of the information was outdated by the time it was extracted. He realized after arriving, that most of the information he knew was at least half a year old.
Still, those few becons were how he learned about the Galactic Empire, and about Polaris's efforts to unite the galaxy. That had inspired him and his world's leadership to launch the mission that sent him away. He was supposed to be an emissary. But, things were all messed up. Hell, even the Emperor he was posed to meet with was was dead. Although, he did hear rumors that his son had been been crowned. Perhaps he could salvage that at some point.
His ship glided down onto rest on its landing skids upon rickety platform at the edge of an inlet harbor. Most of the other spacecraft parked here were beat up and ragged look freighters from the outer reaches of the galaxy. There were clusters some grimy xeno folk gathered beneath the shaded overhangs, conversing and bartering. They glared with envy at the sleek vessel he piloted.
The ship was unique, stood out like a sore thumb among the rust buckets surrounding it. It was a wedge-shaped matte black patroller, more of interceptor and blockade runner than an actual war or supply vessel. It's crew size was two, maybe four if you took shifts. There were a twin set bunks and just enough cargo space to stash supplies for a month long expedition. He found it cramped and lonely, but the zippy craft allowed him to get around the galaxy in record times. In fact, he was sure the hyperdrive on it outperformed even the latest Capsule Corp models by a long shot. That was quite the feat, one he was immensely proud of. The synth engineers of his home-world were amazing at what they did. The model was produced only on Indigo Prime too.
Riley had been surviving off the rations he still had aboard, as it saved him some money, Although, he had treated himself a handful of times. Protein cakes and vitamin paste weren't that enjoyable after a few days. He needed flavor.
The ramp extended and crashed against the dock with a loud bang. Maintenance drones buzzed in overhead, hooking up refueling lines and going about the general check-ups. These were the sort of things that the port-authority took care of, a small amenity for the price. There would also be a mandatory inspection. He had signed off on it, so he didn't have to stick around and wait. If they found contraband, his ship would be impounded, so there was some risk.
But, lucky for him wasn't anything illegal aboard. He had checked.
Despite dirty looks, no one bothered with him as he walked along pier with a bag travel bag stuffed under one arm and his suit jacket slung over his shoulder. The sun was out, the sky azure and clear. Abbayor really was a beautiful world, pristine and decadent. It almost made the horrible traffic jam worth it.
Almost.
He managed to find a private nook between two automated warehouses where he removed his disguise and stashed his stuff. Without a place to live, he had little choice but to make due. He didn't want to be seen leaving and coming back to the planet as Genesis either. It was better that he keep the man's location a secret, an enigma.
***
Dressed now in his familiar cozy blue black uniform, he took to the skies, soaring over the silver spires and sprawling web of civilization. A few people on balconies and sky-walks waved at him, and he smiled--returning the gesture. His efforts in the Abbayor Open against Legume and also in the cleanup of the Galactic Peace Accords had given him a little favor and recognition with the locals. He couldn't complain about that.
Speaking of Legume, he checked the time on his comm. He was running a few minutes late, and cursed. He felt bad, hopefully the man would wait a few.
His sudden landing outside of Caif Cafe sparked a shriek from a passerby, an elderly woman. Waving both hands in a frantic attempt to assuage her, he said, "I am so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you."
"Damn flying robots," she muttered, carrying on, cane tapping on the duracrete.
"I-I'm not a r-robot."
Wearing a grimace, he stepped inside and the door jingled. There was no missing Legume sitting there. The man had with his massive sword against the wall, and looked casual as could be, sipping coffee. The aroma of the Earthling drink filled the air and brought instant comfort. It was earthy and pleasant. Gen had heard of it, but never tried the substance.
"Legume! Thanks for waiting for me. Sorry about the tardiness," Gen said, slipping into the chair across from him. "Traffic was a nightmare. I just got back from an off-world trip. This week has been quite the whirlwind, to say the least."
Despite his cheerful demeanor, there was a hint of discontent on his face. He ran a gloved hand through the spiky dark rows on his head and loosed a sigh.
"Man. Too bad this isn't a bar. I don't like to drink booze often. But, man it's seeming like a good idea right now."
The waitress was a short feline Earthling in a frilly dress, her fur white as snow. She winked and set a pawed hand on Gen's forearm.
"Honey, you're right. This is not a bar, but we do have beer."
Gen nodded. "Yeah. I'll take a cold one, please."
Glancing back at Legume, he managed a weak smirk. "So... uhh how's thing been for you?"
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Post by Legume on Feb 23, 2019 12:20:07 GMT -5
Genesis's arrival to the Caif Cafe was anything but easy to miss. The half-Saiyan landed right in front of the entrance of the cafe, startling a random passersby, the shriek being loud enough that Legume turned his eyes towards the entrance and finally released a sigh. Judging from the way Genesis landed so suddenly, he was in a hurry - perhaps he saw that he was already running late a few minutes and thus opted not to simply walk up to the cafe.
Which, honestly, struck Legume as quite odd. Surely, the half-Saiyan doesn't believe that he is going to lynch Genesis for being late for a few minutes, right? There is such a concept called "fashionably late", after all, and being late a few minutes perfectly fits in that category. Perhaps Genesis grew up in a very punctual family, or he had something really important to tell his Saiyan peer. Either way, as soon as the muscular superhero began to make his way towards the table, speaking about being late and the nightmare traffic he had to go through, Legume waved a bit with his hand and soon replied:
"It's no problem, Gen. I didn't even get to finish my cup by the time you arrived."
Does it really count as being late, then? Either way, Legume wouldn't have had a problem waiting for Genesis to arrive even if he finished his cup in time. He was too interesting of a person to simply pass a chance to get to meet him again, when they are not trying to punch each other out. Or, more accurately, Genesis trying to punch Legume out while Legume is leaping around and trying to not get hit by the muscular warrior's punches. And was surely on the streak to victory had he not slipped up at the last second and received a blow straight in the face... something which Legume was still slightly bitter about. No problem, though, the Saiyan had been drastically improving his fighting style during the last weeks and Genesis surely would not say no to a rematch sometime in the future.
Oh, god, is he going to become the Dain to Genesis's Legume? Constantly trying to surpass him for little to no reason with various new techniques and constantly failing? ...let's hope the answer is no.
Legume took a sip from his cup of coffee as Genesis complained about wishing to go for a beer right now, and promptly ordering one upon the advice of the waitress. That was enough for the Saiyan to raise an eyebrow, especially at the way how Genesis rationalized it. 'I don't drink booze often, but it's seeming like a good idea' usually does not hint towards... good things. To utterly slaughter the Galactic Basic vocabulary.
Legume did not get to immediately point that out, however, as Genesis promptly turned to him, offering a question, in response to which the Saiyan put down his cup in the center of its plate and replied:
"Well. I'm still kicking, that's got to be something."
His mind immediately went to all the events which had happened since the Abbayor Open and that tournament's climactic finish. For the most part, it was just interacting with Dain one way or another - their dual mission to stop a conflict between two planetary empires and their brief second spar. There was also a chance meeting with... a really weird fellow Saiyan teenager who suddenly popped down in front of him, supposedly to interrogate him, then did not interrogate him at all and instead had a spar together. And, finally, a tournament on Space Vegas where he got to fight against Majin Ala in the finals. Really, it was a time of constant fighting, training and travels.
"It has been both intense and yet completely mundane, if that is even possible. I've been spending my time training and searching for various tournaments, almost to the point of necessity - there isn't really any other way of making money for me by now."
If he had any sort of documentation with him, things could be a lot easier. He could go back to his previous job as a diplomatic mission escort and attendant, and in these chaotic times of the past, it would be an even more lucrative job position than in the future. But even if he brought his ID and other documentation with him, it simply wouldn't make up for the fact that he did not exist in any records anywhere. Tournaments with their rather loose documentation protocols were one of the few options still available to him, like a homeless martial artist of sorts.
Legume leaned back to his seat, picking up his cup of coffee and glancing through the window, then continued:
"Aside from that, I've been spending a lot of time just simply looking around and getting to know this society better. The geopolitical system here is actually a lot more volatile than I initially anticipated. This 'First Galactic Empire' which seems to occupy much the the Galactic core, for example, it has existed for less than two years and has already gone through two monarchs. And they say that the new monarch shows promise, too, so..."
He'll have to see the direction in which this nation develops. Legume took a sip from his cup of tea and continued, dropping a hint:
"You know, where I am from, if someone orders beer when the other side offered to get coffee, it's usually seen as a sign that something has gone horribly wrong."
(932 words, total 1563)
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Alt Character🔸
I have nothing to say.
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Post by Genesis on Feb 23, 2019 13:35:50 GMT -5
Galactic Avenger WC: 607 | WC: 2,046 TAGS: Legume The feline waitress returned with the beer, using one of her sharp claws to pop the cap off of it. She set it down on a rubberized coaster. Gen picked it up, turning the bottle in his fingers as he studied the label. And then he simply took a long pull from the bottle.
The flavor was good, a little more bitter than the beer he was used to on Indigo Prime. But, that wasn't a bad thing. It definitely had way more alcohol content. He set it down and eased back in his chair, trying to relax for a minute.
Key word trying. It had always been an issue for Gen. He was a busy man. His idle time was typically filled with training and preparation. If he wasn't doing those two things, he was often helping others with their training or on a mission.
Since arriving here, he had been spending his moments in between writing. His blog was getting some traction, but he still needed more if he wanted to get the attention of Galaxy News and land a job with them. He wouldn't bring that up to Legume. He truly wanted to keep his Riley Slate persona separate from Genesis. Riley allowed him to understand the underpinnings of the galaxy around him, to really explore the mindset of its people. Also, to learn about the evils and woes that were present. All without the baggage of Genesis.
People wouldn't speak frankly to Genesis, as they would afraid of his power. Much like Sly had, they would skirt him. Riley could get the dirt, get the evidence necessary to ensure they were imprisoned or condemned at the very least.
"I haven't fought in the tournament scene since our match, actually. I've been busy with... other things."
Another gulp of beer.
"You two want anything to eat?" the waitress asked.
"Maybe a ham sandwich. Do you got sandwiches here?"
"We do hun," she scribbled down his order and turned to Legume, asking him.
After Legume's order was settled, she shuffled off. Gen remained quiet for a minute or so, formulating his thoughts. He wanted to come out and ask for help from Legume, but it also seemed intrusive to do so so early in their conversation. He felt there needed to be some context first. He was nervous, actually.
"You're not from around here either, right?" Gen said. "It's been a huge change for me. My home--Indigo Prime--was mostly a peaceful, orderly world. This galaxy is a vile mess. It's filled with decadence, violence, and fear. Places like this are pretty and quiet, but they're just a veneer atop of a very ugly mess. The Empire has some hope of bringing peace and order, but it's also filled with the same folks that have profited and benefit from the chaos for so long. Even if this new Emperor is a true idealist, and a peace-bringer--he will struggle to really get there."
He tipped the bottle back again, this time taking a shorter sip.
"I'm trapped here. My nav-computer on my ship was fried. I don't know the way back home. It would take a veritable expedition to find my home-world again. I thought maybe, if I could make a difference here, if I could bring people hope, maybe my people would hear that I'm still alive and well, then come for me."
He hated talking about depressing things, and managed a smirk to lighten the tone. His circumstance was unfortunate, but he wanted to assure Legume that it wasn't a big deal.
"Why did end up here?"
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Post by Legume on Feb 24, 2019 5:06:33 GMT -5
It didn't take long for the waitress to return, giving Genesis the beer he so desired and promptly pulling out a notebook to ask for any orders they might have. Genesis chose to have a ham sandwich - Legume, on the other hand, deliberated on his choice for a bit longer, until he finally spoke:
"Just bring me an another cup of coffee, please."
Most of the names and meals listed in the menu were completely alien to him, after all, and he was in no rush to test new things right now. Leave it to the times when he is not discussing important matters with Genesis. The waitress raised her eyebrow at the decision, but accepted the choice regardless and promptly departed from the table, leaving the half-Saiyan to continue the conversation, explaining that he had been busy during the past few weeks and finally detailing the thing weighing on his mind - that he is stuck here, outside of his home planet, and desperately searching for a way to get back.
That...
Isn't that almost exactly the same as Legume's story? Or, at least, the made up story which he created to not let the average person know that he is from the distant future and thus not barrage himself with unnecessary questions. The one which Shroomy created for him and he promptly explained more in detail to Kuueru, that he hails from a distant planet in the Galactic Rim separated from the rest of civilization by a thick intraversible nebula which he managed to break through and cannot go back through anymore. If that was not a coincidence to beat all coincidences, then he didn't even know what is.
"I see..." Legume muttered, glancing into his cup after Genesis's explanation. So his choice to become a hero for others was an attempt to signal to his people, right? That... puts it in a very interesting perspective. A hero not just for the right thing, but a hero to find a way to return home. "And there's no way you can find Indigo Prime again? No maps, or someone who knows where that planet is? I... certainly do not, at least, sorry about that."
Nope, nit, nada. Indigo Prime was not a name he had ever heard of, and if he had to guess, he would have assumed it's the name of a Federation colonial outpost, rather than an inhabited planet somewhere in this galaxy. The 'Prime' in the name certainly hinted towards that.
Soon enough, the expected question on Legume's origin arrived. The Saiyan leaned back, taking a sigh, and spoke:
"It's funny - much of what you said about yourself can also apply to me. We're similar in that regard - I..."
Dammit, he can't just bring himself to lie to Genesis, though? If he explained his future identity to someone as untrustworthy as Dain Sincara, then why should he want to fool a real hero like the half-Saiyan? Maybe... maybe there is a some sort of compromise. He still doesn't know how his time jump works, after all, and Legume certainly did not want to end up causing the end of civilization through the butterfly effect or something like that.
"...I can't explain it to you, Gen, it's a very long story. But, what I can explain is that until about a few months ago, I did not exist in this Universe, and I have no way of returning back to where I've came from. And I highly doubt that I will ever find a way."
Legume's eyes drifted through the window yet again and the Saiyan took one more sip, finishing off his cup of coffee and placing it back in its plate.
"You're right, this Galaxy is in the worst possible state it could possibly be in. It's the complete opposite of what I've been used to for most of my life - I lived in a Galaxy in peace and order, where thousands of species can live together in harmony and the rule of law is respected - in comparison to that, this galaxy is a dystopia. Since I don't have a way of returning home regardless, I figured that the best I can do is help repair this brave new world I've ended up with to make it a better place to live for myself and others."
(730 words, total 2293)
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Alt Character🔸
I have nothing to say.
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Post by Genesis on Feb 26, 2019 7:37:16 GMT -5
Galactic Avenger WC: 661 | WC: 2,707 TAGS: Legume The sandwich was promptly delivered. Gen took a huge bite, washing it down with a gulp of beer. He was beginning to feel better already. Just talking to another living breathing being, sharing his thoughts and frustrations, that was nice. But, it was even better meeting someone who was going through the same thing as him. Legume got it. That was rare, and for the first time Gen felt rather lucky to have met this guy.
Before leaving to the galaxy at large, most of Gen's friendships didn't start with punching. But, so far he had met both Tora and Legume in a battle of some sort. Legume and him had beaten each other to a bloody pulp, but were sitting here like that didn't matter. Neither of them took it personal. There was no vendetta, at least not in the sinister way. No doubt that Legume wanted to face Gen again as rival, someday. Gen bet that he was interested in seeing if the tides could turn. If that day came, Gen would welcome the rematch.
"I was hired recently to serve as a body guard," Gen said, cleaning his lips with a napkin. "A man named Doctor Gray reached out to to me, a scientist in the Empire. He was studying a construct known as the Neo Gete Star, a massive machine like moon, a conglomerate of mechanical parts. It was really astounding, I never imagined something like that was possible. The entire thing was ran by an artificial intelligence.
"He brought me and Tora No Seishin aboard. The reason for it was that he was being hunted by a man named Dain Sincara. Dain eventually found the place and attacked it with two very powerful allies of his. One of them was stronger than me, a lizard woman. The other was a loud mouth fur-ball named Sly. They grievously injured Dr. Gray and Tora. I was only able to evacuate Tora from the scene, saved his life. Dain got his hands on the construct, however. Being that his is a war mongering violent bully, I don't feel very good about that.
"I confronted Sly recently, on Space Vegas, and tried to apprehend him but he escaped. During our brawl, he told me that he killed Dr. Grey. The little bastard executed the man in cold blood. Both him and Dain try to justify their actions, said they only killed for money. I don't believe it. They're cruel and violent, only care for themselves. They get to choose who lives and dies, because they have power. It doesn't sit right with me.
"There's no one out there that can stop them. I've fought both, and let me tell you the Imperial Patrol wouldn't stand a chance. Unless they have an ace up their sleeve that I don't know about. Emperor Polaris isn't exactly around anymore to take on fiends like them.
"This whole thing doesn't sit right with me. I can't let it go. There needs to be justice, they need to be rotting in a jail cell somewhere for what they did. Individually, they're not much of a problem for me. But, together I am afraid even I don't think I can win.
"Tora has agreed to help me take them down. But, we're going to need all the back up we can get. I was wondering, if you would be interested in helping us."
Genesis took a bite out of his sandwich, but suddenly wasn't as hungry anymore. Just the thought of Dain and Sly made him sick to his stomach. He swallowed hard and leaned back in his chair, both of his eyes lingering at the tranquil scenery outside of the window. So surreal, so calm. Yet--it could all end in a flash, in a conflagration. Because there were creatures out there that could care less about letting people live their lives, about peace.
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Post by Legume on Feb 27, 2019 4:37:50 GMT -5
Not long after Legume's, admittedly, abstract explanation of his origin story, Genesis nodded along and quickly moved on to something else, starting out with the statement that he had been hired as a bodyguard. Right, the security business, that was also a potential career path which the Saiyan could reasonably take - it's just too bad that the types of people who would hire without the necessary background checks are also usually the shady and not very trustworthy types...
What Genesis explained afterwards, however, immediately sparked Legume's interest. The man was tasked to defend a doctor, named Doctor Grey, studying a some sort of gigantic artificial intelligence contraption, from a team of bounty hunters, including a one particular man named Dain Sincara, as well as two of his allies, a demon woman whose name Genesis did not state, and a some other bounty hunter named Sly. Fighting alongside Tora no Seishin - an another man Legume was familiar with, this time as an ally rather than an opponent - Genesis was forced to retreat and save the Tiger Style martial artist instead of all three of them perishing against the insurmountable odds.
Now Doctor Grey is dead, Sly escaped Genesis trying to apprehend him, and the half-Saiyan was searching for allies, fearing that he has no chance against them all by himself. Genesis, one of the most powerful warriors in this Galaxy, was searching for help against the two bounty hunters.
Before Legume could respond and express his surprise, the waitress arrived by their table yet again, putting down the Saiyan's cup of coffee in front of him and picking up the empty cup in its stead.
"Thank you very much," Legume spoke and the waitress responded with a brief nod and a smile before moving on, then took a sip from his cup. Ahhh, that's great. "Interesting."
Glancing through the window next to the table, Legume recalled his experience with the Saiyan bounty hunter in the crux of the conflict. "I've actually met Dain Sincara a number of times before - first when I was trying to put a stop to him hijacking a transport ship, and later in numerous fights against one another. He's just as terrible as you describe him as, but he can fold under pressure - I managed to force him into putting a stop to the war he had been profiteering from when we first met, even with a no killing rule enforced. I don't know who Sly or that demon woman you mention are, but if they are in Dain's company, then I presume they're no better."
Legume took an another sip from his mug. "If you want to put a stop to their heartless actions, then I can only accept the invitation. They're a threat to peace and order, they're outlaws no matter how they try to justify their actions. I've fought Dain numerous times, I know how to take him down if necessary - and if you need to contact him easily, I can help with that as well. For some reason or another, Dain cannot live down losing to me and continues challenging me for more and more matches - if I were to call him up on my phone and offer a spar, he'd come barreling towards me in an instant.
The problem, though, is that he is probably the hardest person to keep down once the battle is over. The man is more powerful than any prison guards, the man is able to teleport, and, most importantly, he is immortal. Not even the Other World could contain him. But if you have an idea how to get past all that... then I'm all ears."
(619 words, total 2912)
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Alt Character🔸
I have nothing to say.
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Post by Genesis on Mar 1, 2019 8:43:41 GMT -5
Galactic Avenger WC: 364 | WC: 3,071 TAGS: Legume
Gen smirked when Legume agreed to help him take down Dain. There was little resistance from the sword-toting warrior, except for his concerns about actually imprisoning Dain. Gen had thought about that too. Figuring out a way to hold someone as strong as that wasn't an easy task. But, there had to be a way. He would just need to talk to someone a hell of a lot smarter than him.
That part wasn't as important as actually confronting Dain and defeating him. Dain thought he was beyond reproach. He figured himself untouchable, above people. If he knew that his business and methods would be disrupted around every turn, how would he react? Would he get more desperate and ruthless? Or would he run and hide. Gen was betting on the latter. If his reputation was ruined and he could no longer operate with the same effectiveness, cowardice would more than likely set in. It was just the selfish type of man he was, or so Gen thought.
"I appreciate your willingness. But, there's bound to be a way. I hate to say it but... worse case scenario we may need to figure out a way to destroy him."
The words felt wrong to say, but Gen wasn't idealistic to a fault. If an enemy was relentless, careless, and dangerous--sometimes eliminating them was the only way to find peace.
"I see that as a last resort, of course. We have to try to either change his ways, or force him to flee. If we act like him and his ruffian friends, if we're ruthless--then we become them. I won't do that."
Gen took the final bite out of his sandwich, swallowing it whole. He scanned the little node on the table that rang him out, digitally transacting his items from his thinning account. He would need to figure out a way to make money, sooner rather than later. He couldn't even afford fuel for his ship.
"Maybe someone has was to suppress his ki or bind him. Maybe there's a way he can me made weak and detainable. I'm not sure..."
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Post by Legume on Mar 1, 2019 14:05:07 GMT -5
Much like Legume had assumed, Genesis was just as lost on what their plans for Dain and Sly should be, especially for the former. Indeed, how are you supposed to detain people who are strong enough to destroy planets, and how are you supposed to destroy someone who is presumably immortal? That is, if Dain's statement about his immortality is to be believed. Legume was not the type to believe in such mystical superstitions, however, the Saiyan bounty hunter seemed genuine, especially in the way he asked to know about his existence forty thousand years down the line.
Speaking of destroying Dain, Genesis apparently considered that choice, but only as a last resort if the two bounty hunters cannot either be detained for good or forced to change his ways. It was both surprising and yet was not. Genesis did not seem the type to go out and do extrajudicial killings to Legume - however, this was a situation in which he seemed to have few other choices available. The technology is not there yet to safely detain such powerful ki wielders and the two madmen are clearly stuck to their ways and will not even consider an alternate, less destructive path.
And yet...
"I could not bring myself to just execute someone even in the worst case scenario, myself." Legume replied, took a sip from his cup of tea and leaned back into his chair, folding his arms. "I know that this is a naive and idealistic way of thinking in the Galaxy I just ended up in, but I've always been a man of the law and I could not imagine myself acting as judge, jury and executioner no matter what. What's right and what is not should be objective and universal, not something a few individuals with power decide and enforce."
Thankfully, Genesis only thought of murder as a last resort. That was good enough for Legume here, especially when compared to some other people he has met in this Galaxy already. Even Dain comes in mind there.
"Where I came from, this would not be a dilemma at all, we had the technology to depower and detain super-powered criminals without difficulty." Though it always ran the risk of said criminals regaining their powers one way or another, usually through energy suppressors being shut down for some reason, and thus wrecking havor, which would always be followed by drama in Federation press about the need for more law enforcement funding or whatever. "Unfortunately, the technology in this Galaxy does not seem to be there yet. I'd offer sending the two on a one way trip to a deserted planet somewhere inside a thick nebula with no transport out... but you wouldn't really be able to keep track of them there, could you?"
Taking a yet another sip from his mug, Legume cracked a smile. "We'll answer that question when we get there. Anything else you might want to discuss?"
(501 words, total 3413)
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Alt Character🔸
I have nothing to say.
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Post by Genesis on Mar 1, 2019 16:10:49 GMT -5
Galactic Avenger WC: 427 | WC: 3,498 TAGS: Legume
Isolation.
Not a half bad idea. A cage from which they could never return. But, if Dain was immortal... truly in the sense, it was only a matter of time before someone stumbled upon him. No doubt he would hijack their ship and escape back into the rest of the galaxy and his old ways. But, that could be thousands upon thousand of years later. Even so, countless lives would be saved by such an exile.
There wasn't much use in worrying about it. There was still a lot of legwork to do in confronting and stopping the man. That alone would be a monumental task. It just had an easier conclusion and much more direct approach.
"I was going to ask you about your technique, actually. The one that makes you disappear from sight, without motion. But, on my way here I couldn't help but think that would ruin the mystery. It's far more entertaining for me to guess and try to figure it out myself. I've been brainstorming, quite a bit about it. I have a theory, so tell me if I'm right or not."
Gen smirked. He had been learning about various ki powers ever since his arrival to the galaxy at large. Telepathic and psychic powers among them were powerful and very useful. That had to be it, it was the only thing that made sense.
"You're not actually disappearing at all. You're using my own mind against me, attacking my thoughts and erasing your presence. It only works for a short moment, as my sense calibrate and realize you really still exist."
Gen had been focused on him, staring right at him and he had been gone. In that same moment, Legume then arrived to launch a counter attack. That wasn't plain speed, there was a trick to it, a ploy. It couldn't just be an illusion, because he lost track of Legume in all of his senses and it was near instant. It also wasn't short range teleportation either. Teleportation was too obvious and would leave behind residual effects on the environment. Plus, there would have been some hint of him moving through whatever portal, rift, or gateway that was opened up.
If the memory erasure theory wasn't correct, then it was back to the drawing board. It was far more interesting to Gen to figure it out than to have Legume simply tell him straight out. He had a feeling Legume would too. Knowing what something is and knowing HOW to do something were two differen't things.
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Post by Legume on Mar 1, 2019 17:29:05 GMT -5
Ah, moving on to talking about Legume's Time Skip, which had caught Genesis's attention during their match in the Abbayor Open. This was the original reason why the two of them decided to meet today, wasn't it? As soon as the half-Saiyan brought it up, Legume raised his finger, ready to speak up, mention the technique by name and start explaining how it works, but Genesis suddenly added more terms. He wanted to uncover the mystery behind the Saiyan's fighting style by himself, instead of just being told what he had been fighting against.
A reasonable approach. After all, how else would one were to learn on how to fight against the technique in future battles if not by thoroughly analyzing it to uncover how it works? And while, on one hand, Genesis was a friendly rival of his, on the other, he was also an ally. There is no harm in playing a little guessing game with him, is there?
"Alright, Gen, shoot."
Genesis's first guess was that he was not teleporting or vanishing at all - instead, the warrior suggested that Legume was using a some sort of telepathic technique to attack his thoughts and temporarily erase his presence from his senses, at least until Genesis's mind catches up to what is going on.
It was... not a terrible first guess for someone unfamiliar with time manipulation techniques. And Legume did have some psionic powers, though he had never relied upon them in battle before. The Saiyan folded his arms, thinking over the idea, and replied:
"If you go back to our battle in the Abbayor Open, then you might remember that during the bout, I had been using my technique not just to attack you, but also to get out of the way of incoming attacks."
Indeed, Time Skip was a technique with applications both offensively and defensively, and the reason why Legume picked it up in the end. This was something which, say, telepathic mind trickery would not be able to repeat - trick Genesis's mind all you want, his punch is still going to fly at the same speed and it's still going to be flying towards you.
"Your guess accounts for those offensive applications, but not for the defensive ones. So, no, it's not the correct answer."
(391 words, total 3804)
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Alt Character🔸
I have nothing to say.
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Post by Genesis on Mar 2, 2019 9:43:48 GMT -5
Galactic Avenger WC: 614 | WC: 4,112 TAGS: Legume
Gen cupped his chin and thought about it for a long moment. Legume had a point. And admitted that it wasn't the telepathic theory. Still, if someone had the power to alter memory, they could change where you "thought" they were. That would be very deadly. It was a form of illusion, but directly within the mind. For all intents and purposes, the target wasn't there, never was. But, they you thought they were and thus would attack nothing more than empty air.
"Imagine though, if you could use such a power defensively. That would be... interesting."
He chuckled and then leaned back, stretching out his arm out above his head. He really wanted to train now that lunch was over. Even though Legume hadn't said much, just getting some off that off his chest had made Gen feel better. Friends were important. He was glad to have a new one, especially someone who really understood the loneliness of being lost and having no way home.
It was hard for others to really sympathize about that. Most people still had their homes, or had left willingly.
Then again, it could be worse though. He imagined what if his home planet had been destroyed or his parents killed by some murderous freak. That would have changed his entire outlook on the world, no doubt. Good thing his parents were still very alive, as far as he knew, and he had plenty of people that loved him waiting for him back home.
"Someday I'll find my way back home Legume. I want you to come visit with me. I think you would really like it there. It's peaceful, quiet and everyone treats each other right. We got our problems, like every society has, but it's nothing like the mess we're surrounded with now."
He stood from his chair and reached out for a fist bump.
"If you ever want to train, you know where to find me. Thanks for coming here and meeting with me. Most of all, thanks for your help. I'm glad we're both like of mind. Between me you and Tora, there's nothing that can stop us. Not Dain. Not his furry little friend. Especially not the big ol mean lizard lady they brought with them. That thing was... gross and frightening."
Not wanting to take much more of Legume's time, Gen strode out of the cafe. He waved to a few passerby's and launched himself into the air, rocketing over the glittering metropolis.
Wind in his hair and howling in his ears, he smiled a broad smile. Hope filled him. That was good, as lately he had been feeling a bit down. Just the notion that two strong fighters, and good men, were backing him up set him straight. The future would hold good things, and this galaxy was in for an era of peace and prosperity. They just had to be vigilant and prepared.
He would finish his article and publish it. Getting those final words out would be hard, but if he put his heart into it, he knew it would turn out just fine. After that, Gen planned to apply at Galaxy News. It was a bit of a long-shot, but he hoped that Riley Slate would impress. He had read some of their articles, must were lack luster. Too few journalists working there seemed to push at the real problems facing people. They played it safe. Probably because they were scared. Riley would be fearless, tenacious, and honest.
That was something he hoped would breath fresh life into the news-media. Plus, controversy was something that sold.
And the Galaxy News happened to be a business, after all.
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Post by Legume on Mar 2, 2019 16:06:12 GMT -5
"It might be possible if one were to stretch the definition a little. Creating some sort of illusions within your opponent's mind to trick him on where you really are and thus have him hit nothing but thin air. Fighting such a technique... would be far from easy, I agree."
However, it was not what Legume was using against Genesis and everyone else in this Galaxy of the distant past - and the half-Saiyan seemingly got the point, immersed in thought to reconsider his guess. Will he be able to eventually find out the nature behind his Time Skip all on his own? Almost certainly. Legume considered Genesis to be a talented enough martial artist to figure it out by himself given enough time and interest. Even if Time Skip was, for all intents and purposes, a basically nonexistent technique at this point in history.
With that taken care of, Genesis stood up, offering Legume to visit his planet one day as soon as he makes contact with it once again, and then stood up to offer a fist bump. Oh, they've reached that level of camaraderie, then?
"Of course. Just hit me up and I'll come down there for a cup of coffee any day of the week. You'll have to give me a tour of all of the sights, too."
The Saiyan promptly accepted the fist bump and snickered.
If that world is just as peaceful and beautiful as Genesis attests it is, then Legume would certainly enjoy it. Maybe even strike it down as one of the few places in this Galaxy he could recognize as somewhat familiar to the home he has since lost. Anyway. After offering the two of them to train later on - something which Legume would certainly have to keep in mind from now on - and then thanking the Saiyan for his support, Genesis departed from the cafe and, after waving his goodbyes to a few passengers, flew off into the sky.
Legume remained seated for a few more minutes, opting to finish his mug of coffee as he glanced into the bright blue sky of Abbayor outside of the window.
This might be exactly the type of thing he had been searching for ever since he made his time leap. A team of people with goals similar to his, with a similar dedication to ideals and peace.
If there is a way to rescue this dystopia he's fallen into, it might be through them.
(421 words, total 4225)
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