Something Something Radishes (Open)

With a grunt, Rukkora took a seat beside Radasha, her large body looking quite odd on the relatively small seat. She took a quick look around. A few months away from civilization made her feel somewhat uneasy now, and she realized that she'd need to readjust to everything. Ordering a quick drink, something hard, the like of which she hadn't had in a good while, she rubbed at her eyes a little bit.

Letting out a deep sigh, Rukkora looked to her new friend and noticed that she looked distracted. From what she understood, some psychopath almost blew up the planet. "Almost" being the operative term. Of course he didn't succeed; this planet was home to the toughest sons of bitches in the universe. To Rukkora, it wasn't a genocide attempt, it was a suicide attempt, what kind of idiot, even one powerful enough to waste a planet, would think that trying to waste this one could possibly be a good idea? Even insanity had to have its limits, right?

Nevertheless, Rukkora took an interest in what was on Radasha's mind. She pouted a bit and lifted a brow, "Something wrong? You look like someone served you a mug full of piss, which wouldn't be too far off." With that, she shot the bartender a look, as though daring him to say something. Her eyes trailed back to Radasha and she cracked a friendly smile, hoping to look a bit more open.

Rukkora's brows raised as she listened to the older Saiyan, but furrowed when she questioned the need for conquest. Still, the woman's empathy for the conquered wasn't entirely unfamiliar to her, but Rukkora had her own ideals. The idea that the galaxy would simply grow tired of them and wipe them out, however, that resonated with Rukkora for a moment.

To her own surprise, and perhaps to Radasha's as well, she couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "You're a smart woman, you know that?" Rukkora asked, actually impressed with her for having this level of introspection. "Only fools and beasts can go their whole lives without giving the way of things a second thought. So here's my response, and try not to be too disappointed..."

"I think you're right, at least part-way. Saiyan supremacy? Maybe in terms of our innate advantages, sure, but overall? It's just a silly concept. We're no better or worse, on a fundamental level, than anyone else. We don't have any more right to live than them. So why do we conquer? Why do we kill?" She took a moment to drink from her cup, a big grin appearing on her face, "It's because that's what we are. It's instinct, it's the primal urge, it's survival of the fittest. The strong feed on the weak, and then they become food for the weak when they die. That's just how life is. Saiyans are just high up on the food chain.

"But I agree about busting planets, that's stupid, wasteful... Why destroy worlds and wipe out peoples when you can inspire them? We Saiyans are some of the most powerful warriors in the galaxy - that's why this Walker bastard didn't win out - so why not use our power to spread out. I think, if we'd put the idea that we're better than everyone else aside, things could probably be better for everyone. Sure, the people who'd resist would probably have to be crushed - or could crush us - but that just routes back to my whole 'survival of the fittest' point. Through conquest, we could probably make this galaxy better, but instead we waste it on ruining lives instead of saving them from their own, pitifully weak, boring existences.

"There's no real, deep, hidden purpose in this universe. We take what we can, and build what we can with the time we have. We create our own purpose in this life before we head off to hell or wherever. If we're lucky, maybe we'll be remembered, but you probably only get to live one life." Rukkora held up an index finger and smirked.

"So I kill because it's what I'm good at, and it's what I like to do. I conquer because I like a test, a challenge. If I get killed doing what I love, then that's fine too - I just refuse go down gently.

"And the same goes for our world. Nothing stays forever and everything dies, so why worry about a little thing like our world blowing up? If they conquer Vegeta and life sucks, then they conquer Vegeta and life sucks. If they destroy Vegeta, then Vegeta's destroyed. The universe keeps moving. It doesn't care, why should I?"

A harsh laugh escaped her throat, "I'm rambling."

Turning her head to Radasha, Rukkora smiled and listened to the story. Appropriately violent, she seemed to like the little tale and laughed as Radasha imitated the gruesome death of her enemy.

The larger Saiyan went quiet again for a few moments folding her arms and furrowing her brows a bit. Taking another drink, Rukkora looked down into the mug and swirled the remaining liquid around. After a minute or two, she shrugged and admitted, "To be honest, we'd probably gain more by allying with Earth than we would by fighting it." She almost seemed ashamed to admit that thought, but she felt comfortable enough to say it to Radasha.

"When I took on my dad, it wasn't alone - there were a bunch of allies I'd made as a gladiator backing me against his forces. Since there were a lot of different races enslaved there, we had a lot of different skills. One strengths compensated for the other's weaknesses, you know?"


She cleared her throat for a bit, paused, and averted her eyes, "I just think that, maybe, Vegeta could do the same thing. Command legions of powerful soldiers from across the galaxy, make diversity our strength. The Arcosians may not have won, but they had more than a few fallbacks in the event of their planet getting wasted by us."

Rukkora shrugged at the question. "I don't know, I'm no philosopher or psychologist or whatever." Her eyes widened as Radasha claimed she was planning to quit the military, "Woah, wait, really? I mean, I don't blame you, but that's surprising to hear." As she recounted her experiences on Earth, Rukkora nodded attentively and clutched her glass a bit tighter in hand.


When she mentioned almost killing herself against a giant robot, Rukkora's fist clenched and broke the glass, sending what remained of her beverage spilling over the counter with broken glass failing to cut into her bare hand. A look of concern came across her face, "Damn good that she did! I'm all for a challenge, but if that's the kind of thing you're gonna try, maybe you've got the right idea leaving."


Rukkora looked to her wet palm full of broken glass and sighed, covering her face with her other palm and groaning, "Shit, well, whatever... It's none of my business anyway. I didn't even go to Earth, anyway."

Rukkora scoffed, smelling a bit like alcohol, "Well, when you said it, it came off like you were just trying to get hurt - or killed - because you were feeling miserable. I guess that wasn't the case, but there's a difference between that and testing yourself against someone stronger." She absently licked the alcohol off her hand after shaking the broken glass from it, "Besides, my attitude isn't 'no-care'. My point was that dying or killing's not a big deal when you think about it, so we do what we do just to please ourselves. It's not like I'm saying 'life's trash so just try to get yourself killed'."

In truth, she realized the hypocrisy; she honestly believed what she said when it applied to herself, yet she felt uncomfortable hearing that Radasha did something that reckless, regardless of the circumstances. She thought Radasha was good company, and she hated the thought of losing good company.

"I mean, we're talking about a war, right? You weren't alone, so there was no real reason to do something like that... But, like I said, if that's how you feel, then go ahead and move on. It's not that big a deal. Just do it without regrets, alright?"

Rukkora smiled at Radasha, "That's the better way to do it, yeah. At least then you keep some measure of honor and pride." She grimaced a bit, "So this Natto guy left or something? Was he the one with the scars on his face from that meeting we went to? That sucks. He seemed strong, if nothing else. Could've helped." She rolled her eyes, smirking and shrugging, "Oh well! Not my problem, since I wasn't there, but I'll tell him to screw himself if I ever see him again." She thought for a moment, then asked, "Anyone else from back then die in battle? You told me about your daughter, what about the, uh... that other girl... the thing she brought?"

Rukkora nodded in agreement at her assessment of the bio-android. Something about Reikiko just felt unnatural to Rukkora, and being told to follow "its" orders definitely infuriated Rukkora a few months ago. All the same, knowing that both it and Kaula were on Earth's side brought her no measure of relief. Two more of the most powerful fighters in the galaxy on Earth's side. She let out a long sigh and swirled the little bit of liquid in her glass and finished it off in an almost reluctant manner.

Looking over to Radasha, she listened to her assessment of and feelings about the damage she called. For Rukkora's part, she not only knew the damage she caused when she ruined a civilization, she practically reveled in it. She almost felt bad about it. The only exception was the first time, when she was little, and she'd been all but abandoned on the world she was to destroy. Its people took her in, they took to her, and she still destroyed them. Even now, the way things turned out back then made Rukkora's stomach feel uneasy.

"Well," she huffed, "like I said before, you do what's best for you. But, as long as you're off the battlefield and not planning anything else, I do have something I want to ask..." Turning to Radasha, she stiffened her lips and took a deep breath.

"Train me," she said, swallowing her pride, asking for help with her tanned face turning a bit red. "I... want to learn from you. And I want to grow stronger. And I think you can help me. So... go on... say yes."