A Warrior's Broadcast (ALL CHANNELS, ALL RESPONDERS)

Mimikku was sitting nursing her injured leg within a bath of salted water and specially designed extract of a senzu bean when her small radio broke the midst of a song she was enjoying with an announcement from the Queen of the Solar Empire. Listening to her words Mimikku felt a sickening feeling well up within her gut. It slowly filled her and her goddess with disgust as it brought up a saying within Earth Culture at the moment that fit perfectly. “Absolute Power corrupts absolutely.” Standing she looked down at her leg as she looked at the scar on her leg that had little time to heal. :: This is going to have to do… I am going to need to train myself more and more. We will need everyone to go after this Queen and her insanity that will no doubt enclose our homeworld in her madness just as I thought it would. Me and Emer need to begin training now. We need to get strong as we have been in the past and even farther to catch up to and stand before her. You most certainly do Mimi. Do everything that you can think of to try and get stronger as fast as possibly can. ::

Flexing her leg one final time the Kagami turned off the radio and turned to pull the armor back onto herself. Piece by piece she girded herself back up for war which was coming. If those who claimed to defend the earth would stand with her she did not know but she knew full well that she was going to stand before all of this and she was going to train and become stronger to defend this planet and then was going to reclaim her homeworld. This was no longer a shade in the distance this had to be a crystal clear goal of hers.

316: Post WC

Val himself had been called when the broadcast had been picked up by the patched together transceiver in the town hall. Crossing arms over broad chest, the old Saiyan grunted in a lack of amusement. Fingers scratching at a graying beard in thought. "Well. We're boned." He grunted, lips twisting in a foul sneer. So this was what his race had devolved into after his little vanishing act so long ago.

"What are the chances the Saiyans are even interested in Earth?" Serena asked, arm looping through her husbands; tugging him down to distract the gloom that had settled over usually jovial face. "There's plenty of warriors here far stronger then me. She'll hit this world the moment any scouter reads a Power Level worth the effort. And plenty of them are."

"Any ideas?" Icy optics looked the aging warrior over; everyone in town knew Val had never been an Elite Saiyan. Barely passing into the Lower Class back when he'd been born. He himself was the first to admit he wasn't worth the dirt on the Queen's boot; so he turned away and started the trek back to the forest.

"I train. And hope we can all last long enough to find a home far away from here."

The light of the computer display flickered across the walls of the cavern as Hyoza sat cross-legged atop his rock, tail coiling tighter about himself as he eagerly flicked through the news feeds. The political stage of the galaxy was undergoing major upheavals, and in such times many displaced soldiers could be bought into his crew, many worlds could be plundered without fear of reprisal, and best of all; many leaders would be seeking mercenaries to bolster their forces in such troubled times. He absorbed information from the headlines, picking and choosing those which grabbed his interest. Civil unrest, toppled governments and worlds ruined by war - to many this might have been a source of unease or sadness - but to the would-be pirate captain, they were opportunities. It was a good time to be a mercenary.

Refreshing the list, the red pinpricks of his eyes flicked to a new item, rapidly gaining views and marked as majorly significant. His fingertip brushed the surface of the screen, and the display shifted, bringing an image to the fore. Ships fell from a curiously familiar sky as the lights of fires pulsated below, pillars of smoke beginning to rise into the atmosphere. Hyoza's eyes narrowed as the scene changed, and suddenly the unmistakable forms of Saiyan Great Apes dominated the image. They obliterated squadrons of troopers with ease; and thanks to fleeting glimpses of the surrounding buildings, it began to dawn on Hyoza what was happening. And yet, as he watched the messy demise of one of his own kind he felt no revulsion, no anger, only intrigue. He wondered if his suspicions were true.

The next image confirmed, as the ashen ruin of the Arcosian Capital lay collapsing into rubble at the feet of some vast tree. Hyoza's eyes widened as he bore witness to something that had once seemed impossible. Arcose - the crown jewel of the greatest empire the universe had ever known - was lost. Political upheaval was certainly about to occur. Hyoza's grip on the frame of the screen tightened slightly and he leaned in closer, excitement coursing through him at the possibilities this created.

The image flickered once more, revealing a woman, perhaps attractive by the standards of so-called baseline humanoids, but her features were not what interested him. She sat in a command throne aboard some vessel, her feet resting on the back of a cowering alien. And her hair was golden, standing impossibly straight despite its length and apparent lack of grooming. She was, he knew, Zuccetta, Queen of Vegeta. He'd heard rumours of some transformation discovered among the Saiyans, but he'd never seen a Super Saiyan before. He tapped the screen, freezing the image as he looked into those blue-green eyes. Was this the so-called legend?

Pondering for a moment, he allowed the recording to resume playing. She boasted of the destruction of Arcose as she idly toyed with the severed head of an Arcosian - Empress Wyntre herself. Hyoza was impressed by the audacity and the evident power of the Saiyans. He listened with half-interest as she rattled off some spiel about how doomed the Arcosian race was; his mind abuzz with possibilities. But then, he heard something that ensnared his interest once again.

Raisu walked through the city streets, people all around him walking, talking, and just generally going about their business. Life seemed so simple in that moment, even among the sounds of the cityscape. Their was a certain beauty to it, as there was to all things. People were capable of just as much beauty as nature, or at least Raisu thought so. It was only natural.

Raisu smiled as he passed a woman with a child hanging from her shoulder. She smiled back. A wordless exchange between two strangers, but both knew the other meant goodwill. Amid the chaos of life, amid the tumulous universe, there was peace. And he wouldn’t have it any other way. At any given moment, there was war raging somewhere out there in the universe. And Raisu’s heart ached for the victims, the bystanders, those who had the pale horse of death and war brought up to their homes. They hadn’t made that choice. Someone else had made it for them. And surely this decider, this man or woman who the deaths of thousands and millions could be laid at the feet of, justified it somehow. Land, resources, pride. All these things were simply words in the wind, blown along with the black smoke of destruction. Disgusting, really. How people desired and made war. He could feel the fire burning in his blood, calling him a hypocrite. He had the blood of raiders and murderers in him. Not that Raisu had chosen this life, but still he could not chase whatever small influence the blood of father had on him from his mind. It set his heart to pounding like a great drum and a set a certain elation in his mind. Disgusting, really. Yes, that ugly part of Raisu’s mind was just plain grotesque.

But at least he was living mostly in peace. Yes, war and conflict raged even on Earth, but it seemed so distant. People could go about their lives without worry, making their own little sanctuaries against the tides of battle. Raisu found himself in one such sanctuary today. His sanctuary was comprised of regular people living their lives. The normalcy was like a shield, bulwark against the chaos. But he knew it could be shattered in an instant.

Across the street, a large building mounted screen crackled to a different channel. Odd, he thought, it was normally left of the news. And then he saw it as the image flickered to clarity. A woman with golden hair and a metallic arm. The arm was clutching something. A head? Oh Kais, it was a head. And her feet seemed to be planted on a body. Raisu swallowed, his heart growing heavy. This could not be good tidings. No, very few things were accompanied by such imagery and meant well.

The woman spoke, introducing herself as Zucceta. The Queen of Saiyans, it seemed. The name struck a bell within Raisu’s mind. He’d heard it before, but where? Not that it mattered at the moment. There were more pressing matters at the moment. Such as the fact that she had apparently defeated Arcosian Empire. Her and her ilk… What was a Super Saiyan? He thought back to an encounter he’d had. Someone had told him about what a Super Saiyan was. And now, looking at the golden woman on screen, he knew exactly what he was looking at: a Super Saiyan. It put a fear in his heart. To defeat an entire planet singlehandedly? Was that the might of these warriors? His knees shook with awe. How could that be? How could one person have all that power? And there were more? Raisu’s mind reeled at the thought. These kinds of people existed, as crazy as it seemed. And they’d exercised their wrath on an entire empire. Raisu said a quick prayer for the departed. They’d need it.
And then Zucetta dropped a real bomb: she was intending to pursue the rest of the worlds. Did that mean Earth? Surely it meant Earth. What other goal was there? Earth had to be the most appealing target. But what an ultimatum. Surrender or die? No beating around the bush there. At least she’d kept it simple. And then she bid the people farewell, and her image flickered from the screen. The people in the streets around him looked at the now blank screen with shock and fear.

In the distance, he heard crying. People began to whisper, speaking to one another.

“No way…” Came a voice.
“We’re done for…” Came another.

So, this is what was coming. A Saiyan Invasion. Raisu’ tail tightened around his waist. Never before had he been so conscious of it. It truly was a curse. The blood of his ancestors’ mark. He grimaced. He hadn’t asked to be born with it. If he had a choice, he’d cast his heritage aside. But that was the hand Raisu had been dealt. And now he had to live with it, like it or not. Maybe there would come a day he could take pride in his heritage, but not this day. On this day, his cousins among the stars had reared their ugly heads and showed their true nature. Evil was the name of the game, and they played it well.

The voice around him grew ever louder. People were upset. Not that it surprised him. It wasn’t easy to take such news. In fact, he was impressed some people were managing not to cry or scream. He wished he could be so stoic, as tears began to well in his eyes. Raisu loved his home. It was a beautiful place. His only family was here. His family. His mind turned to his mother. How was she taking this? The hole in his heart grew as Raisu considered what fate might await her. And then he thought of Tsu Kini. She might not be family by blood, but she was family in his heart. He owed her everything.

And then images of Sam and his family flashed in his mind. They’d had nothing but kindness for him. And here they were, about to have their lives invaded and maybe taken away. Snapshots of everyone he knew flashed through his mind. People he loved, people he didn’t… All were in danger. And here he was, standing slack jawed with tears in his eyes.

No, he thought.He’d not make it easy. He’d defend his home. He may not be a match for a “Super Saiyan”, but damn him he could try. Raisu wiped the tears from his eyes. One week? Not a lot of time. But he’d try and be ready.

---

(Zeni, please and thank you.)

(Current PL: 3187)

Lost in some city of no importance, Nitra wandered amongst the bustling crowds. He gathered that Arcosians weren't too common within this small shopping district, given the odd looks he received from a variety of civilians. Nonetheless, the streets were far too crowded for many people to take notice. He came to a large opening, shops and stalls surrounding him on all sides. Various buildings had television screens protruding from their exterior walls, news channels being broadcast across all of them.

He heard a faint beeping call out from his belt, and he glanced down to investigate. The sound grew louder and louder, almost screaming at him, as he reached for the small Holo-Communicator emitting these noises. Nitra frowned in confusion, staring at the screen that read “--INCOMING TRANSMISSION--”. He still wasn't sure how to use this small device, still working out the kinks of the small rectangular piece of machinery.

The Arcosian hesitantly tapped the screen of the Holo-Communicator, frowning even more when it responded with... nothing. Just the same two words glued to the screen. Then he noticed the crowd – they'd stop swimming across the streets and by the stalls, now they were at a stand-still. Nitra looked up, confused at the sudden stop, and saw the same two words plastered onto all of the televisions surrounding the square. The mumbles and mutterings of the civilians within the area combined and echoed out in a jumble of voices. He glanced around him to see the confusion and concern on many of their faces, but then the sound of sharp static stabbed the air.

All of the television screens flickered into life, even the screen of the Holo-Communicator, as they received the transmission. The broadcast showed a planet on fire and giant apes destroying everything in their path, some of the civilians embraced one another in concern. Nitra's stomach twisted as the shots cut to what looked like the aftermath of the battle – a planet in disrepair and ruin. He knew this planet, knew the people who lived there. It was his rightful home, the place he had devoted to protecting through most of his current life; Planet Arcose had been reduced to almost nothing.

His eyes widened and pupils dilated, his grip on the Holo-Communicator tightened and his breathing shallowed. What had he just seen? His people... His home... The one thing he had protected for so many years had been... destroyed. And that's when he saw her face; that cocky grin amidst the pulsating yellow hair. The form a Saiyan achieves when they reach power beyond any normal Saiyan – a Super Saiyan. And in her cold, metal hand she held the head of Empress Wyntre. Nitra's mind was all over the place, mixed emotions of turmoil and anger sweeping over him. The ki within his body burst into life as he propelled himself up into the air, coming face to face with the woman on the screen. He hadn't taken a moments notice of the citizens below whom he may have knocked aside, for he was too distracted by his internal struggle to remotely care. He hovered there, swallowing the words of this “Lady of Death”, this “Zucetta”.

She mocked his race, spat on her Brenchian footstool and toyed with the head of their fallen Empress. How had she been so easily defeated? She had been significantly more powerful than his father, General Kryo, yet she was bested and defiled by this golden-haired ape? His empty fist clenched as hard as it possibly could before the other hand attached the small computer device to his belt. Without a moments hesitation, the ki within his body burst into life once more and he left the area. Her face was etched into his memory as his eyes burnt with tears of anguish.

His father had failed his job, something he had seemed to care so much about. The Empire had fallen and his home was destroyed. He may not have had much respect for his species or his planet, but there was always the sense of pride from being born an Arcosian. He could remember all too well putting his Empire first and foremost – he had done so when he lived within the military, and he had done so when he aimed to fall into a more political role. He had always contributed to his Empire and his home, he had always aimed to serve to the best of his abilities even when unhappy with the treatment he had received from his peers. A home was a home, and this felt as if he had been cut deep with a knife.

And then came the rage. Nitra was far too weak to even consider seeking revenge for his people, he was weaker than his father and far weaker than the fallen Empress. He couldn't stand feeling so pathetic and incapable, and for once he finally felt as if he could understand why his father strode for him to become stronger. Power was everything in this world, and without power you could achieve nothing. Whilst he had been aimlessly searching for a purpose on this godforsaken planet, his people and his own home were burning and being destroyed by a Saiyan invasion.

Trapped within the whirlwind of his thoughts, Nitra lost control of his ki manipulation and he tumbled down towards the dirt below him. He tried to regain control of his flight, but he was too blinded by bitter rage to raise himself back into the sky. Crashing into the dirt and leaving a trail of dust clinging to the air, he let out a cry. It wasn't a cry of physical pain, for his armoured skin was more than capable of taking the impact on such soft ground, but it was a cry of internal agony. The conflict of anguish and rage clashed with one another and left him shaking in the dirt. He hadn't given much care for his species or his Empire before the televised broadcast, but something about seeing all that you've come from and all that you've strived hard in your life to protect reduced to almost nothing had hit home.

He would have to become stronger, and he would have to do so fast. He would achieve levels of power that his father could not, and he would represent the Arcosian people for as long as he lived.

He was Nitra of the Blackstar Raiders, son of the great General Kryo. And he mourned for his fallen race.

(PL please)