Unloading the Swag

[Tanken]

Tanken put down just as soon as he reached the city edge.  It took less energy than flying and would draw less attention.  The latter reason was paramount, flying through the city with extra materials in ones possession was a good way to have others vying for the chance to take said materials away from a low class Saiyan like himself, and even though he could make an excellent accounting for himself he could win three or even four fights only to lose his gains through attrition or being mugged by a fast flier while trying to fend off a brute.  Not to mention the enemies such a public fight would earn him.  No, ignoble though it might be, it was far wiser to hoof it through the streets.  Most of the others at that altitude would take one look at him through a scouter and move on to easier prey.

Walking had other benefits, as well.  It allowed him to reflect on the materials he'd grabbed.  The scouter was getting traded as his was more advanced but the armor he'd taken off the other guy was a simpler set.  It would favor his fighting style just a bit more than the full plate he had on even though it still had shoulder extensions.  It didn't have the thigh plates and Tanken favored speed over the ability to absorb punishment.  Though there came a power level where the armor became merely a fashion statement and Tanken was right at the border of that.  The black body glove was short sleeved, which he didn't like, but it -was- black which Tanken found appealing for the moment.  He'd keep the armor and body glove for the moment, trade the scouter for a couple of meager meals until he decided which way to jump with the rest.  If he needed more time he could manage another meal by trading the guy's boots.

Tanken was about four blocks in when he glanced to his left sharply and made two unarmored members of his species skitter back into the darkness of an alley.  They weren't gone but they'd given up on him as a victim.  Tanken snorted and kept walking.  Seven blocks turned into twelve and Tanken went up the steps to his room, dropped off everything but the old model scouter, secured his door and headed back out.  Old Jacom's 'shop' was a place of business only in that old Jacom did business there when the mood suited him.  People used him as a middle man because he had the two features that were rare, desirable, and yet nearly unattainable amongst the Saiyan species: Patience and Accountability.  He worked credit and would follow through every single time, nor would he take it personally when somebody got their ego on though he wouldn't bend to it either.  He'd been one of the more dangerous warriors amongst the species, proven by the fact he'd managed the rare feat of growing old.

He moved to the door, found it standing open, and knew that was as good as a welcome mat.  He shouldered through and smirked. "Ah, you're still alive.  Dusty with age but alive." The old man cursed him, hemmed and hawed about how many meals the scouter was worth (Tanken ultimately let the old man short change him a little bit), and then started cooking while Tanken settled into an extra chair.  Three full meals, now that was something to feel good about on a shard of a world.

[Vox]

Blood hit the ground in soft splatters, the brunette Saiyan spitting out a rather large wad of it from her mouth as she cursed herself. Somehow she had been foolish enough to allow two other brutish Saiyan's get the jump on her, not an unusual encounter but she detested losing. They were a warrior race and while they lived and fought together, they didn't really have much care for one another, the weak died and the strong survived. It was the way of life, their life. Vox was more than aware of that and she gladly accepted it, but to be taken by surprise by two other low class warriors? Despicable, she was no elite by any means, but she was like the others. Pride had been wounded and now she sought either a source to take it out on, or a drink to wash away the metallic taste of her own blood in her mouth. She dusted herself off as she rose from the ground, snarling as the other two Saiyan had walked away laughing, counting a few coins in their hand. Lucky for her, she kept a few spare pieces in her armor where it wouldn't be as easily taken from her. She began to walk, ignoring the glances from the other Saiyan's in the city, none of them really cared about her well being, more interested in the story and the brawl than anything.

"Quit gawking you baffoons! Haven't you ever seen blood before?" She snapped at a few younger Saiyan warriors, not many had survived but they made the best of it. Hell, if they could have, they would have hunted down the Changeling long ago. Until then, they trained. Throwing one of the doors open, she entered a small building known for its trading, food, and drink. Sitting down at one of the tables she barked at the keeper. "Get me a drink, and whatever meat you're serving today. The man nodded as Vox clicked tapped her scouter a few times, turning it on and scanning some of the power levels. Should another brawl break out, she didn't want any surprises. She went from person to person until it started beeping on one of the male Saiyan's in the room. Almost a 2000 power level. She crossed her arms and glared at him, even as her drink and meat were placed in front of her. He was strong, unusually so, at least for this part of the city. He was no Vegeta, but he was the biggest threat in the room and she really didn't feel like having her ass handed to her a second time.

[Tanken]

The old warrior grumbled at her, cursed her even, as she made demands without offering payment or even negotiating. He worked credit but it wasn't that sort of credit, it was the kind where he owed the other person. The proprietor made not a move to so much as warm a hunk of meat, merely placing a cup of water in front of her while he waited for her to make a payment decision.

Meanwhile, Tanken watched. Jacom was passed his prime, by a long shot, but he was no slouch even so. He could handle most rowdy youth and he had more than a few people in the neighborhood who were heavily invested in him. If somebody got out of hand they could expect to be dogpiled by at least one Saiyan more powerful than them. Tanken was one of them. Still, it just looked like the female was having a bad day. She took to crossing her arms and glaring back and Tanken grinned. Not in amusement or lasciviously, merely an in-born reaction. "Got mugged huh? It's about time for another round of raids out into the galaxy, things are getting too tight around here."

[Vox]

The young Saiyan growled and sneered in response to the old keepers stubborness, all she wanted was some food and a little drink but all he seemed to care about was the money up front. Reaching into her armor she pulled out the remaining coins and threw them down on the table. "There, its all I got left. Ya happy now?" She made a 'tch' noise and turned her gaze back to the male saiyan with a higher than average power level, who now spoke in her direction, obviously taking notice of her own staring. She narrowed her eyes in response and shook her head, no, they didn't need to raid. They needed war. She took a quick swig of the water before providing a response of her own.

"No, we don't need no damn raids. We need to go hunt down that stupid changeling and beat him into a bloody pulp! If Frieza and his goons think they can get away with trying to wipe us, a WARRIOR race, out from existence, he's got another thing comin'." She personally would not stand by, and while completely loyal to King Vegeta, she would hunt Frieza down no matter his orders. She knew there were others that agreed with her so rounding up a group to do so would be no trouble, it was finding him, and getting there. They lost a good chunk of their spacecraft in the explosion, and while rebuilding, it would be awhile before they could send out fleets. "Don't you agree? Don't YOU want to hunt down that bastard and blow him into a million bloody chunks?!" As far as she knew, no one disagreed with her.

[Tanken]

Jacom swept up the coins without answering her question. Of course he wasn't happy. He was old, living on the burnt out husk of his home world, and surviving as a merchant. It was pretty much the trifecta of Saiyan unhappiness. Still, he was as good as his deals and without hesitation he put another hunk of meat over the fire while getting her the drink she required and thumping it down beside her on the table. The old warrior then grumbled his way back to his kitchen to keep working.

Tanken smiled just a little more broadly at his opposite's response. "It's a nice thought, keeps many a warrior warm on a cold night, but it would just get us killed if we faced Frieza now." He tapped a finger on his armor in silent thought before responding to her impassioned question. "You appeal to my pride, and the answer is yes. I'm just not fool enough to believe I have even a ghost of a chance at making it happen yet. King Vegeta and all of his elites couldn't stop Frieza from destroying our world, a dozen of us jumping him on some other world would just be toy soldiers for his amusement and may very well lead him to the knowledge the rest of us exist." He held out his hands as he shrugged, letting her fill in the blanks as to how that would work out.

[Vox]

He was right, of course, and she knew that. As much as she hated to admit it, it would be foolish to try and fight him as is, they would be wiped out within minutes. Even if they did manage to cut through all his goons, by then they would be out of energy and Freiza would still have full reserves, which meant they would be brushed away like flies. It was frustrating to know the truth, she wished it was as easy done, as it was to say. She glanced down to her newly acquired drink, and took a long deep swig of it before focusing her attention back to the male, her determination shown very clearly on her face. "You're right but I can't just sit here and do nothing while that idiot runs around, probably bragging that he wiped the Saiyans out. I have every intention of getting strong enough to destroy him..." She spaced out for a moment, remembering tales about the 'super saiyan' she heard as a child. It was a simple bed time story, to glorify their proud and strong race, but she believed in it whole heartedly, and knew that somewhere out there, he did exist.

But that wasn't enough. "You've heard tale of the super saiyan, right? How his power was something never seen before, unmatched in strength? I want that. I'm sure a lot of us want that, but I want it. I will train, I will become stronger, and I will become a thing of legend. Then, when I've done all that, I'll find Frieza and crush him without a second thought. He'll be no match!" Vox was grasping at straws, she wasn't even sure if it was truly possible to get that strong, but if she didn't try she wouldn't have the right to call herself a Saiyan. They didn't just roll over and give up, no, they fought until their lungs stopped working, until their heart no longer pumped blood. Only then would she give up on her dream.