The Lizard and the Monkey (Kombu)

Frozen winced as the illusion in his head had begun to darken, his focus wavering as the distant roar of flowing water... SUDDENLY FELL OVER HIM! His eyes opened JUST IN TIME for what amounted to a small rain-storm's-worth of water to SPLASH over him, The Arcosian's eyes narrowing as he glanced up at the sky. Still clear... then that could only mean that someone was being careless in... whatever they were doing. Taking a moment to let the water drip-dry off of himself, Frozen would slowly, but stiffly make his way towards the local river, his face, a well-practiced and patient smile... Despite what he was feeling inside, he need not let his emotions get the better of him. For all he knew, this could have been some sort of accident, perhaps a child with remarkable power just splashing about in (what was left of) the river. It would not be form-fitting for someone was regal and high-class of himself to blow-up over an inconvenience. 

Entering into a small clearing where the river-bed lay, Frozen would spot a young man (by the looks of things), his hand punching into of a large fish as it thrashed! How... brutal. Indeed, Frozen could see the pulsating insides beneath its scaly hide, its movements growing weaker and weaker with each jolt of its' body. All the while, the man appeared all giddy and happy at having taken a life. 

Savage... at the very least. 

Innocent? Potentially. 

Wait... Frozen's eyes honed in on the man, from the sharpness of his features to the tail above his rear. Was this a Sayain, this-part-of-the-universe' warrior-race? He wasn't exactly portraying himself as such... If anything, he looked like a starving man who had finally caught and killed his meal... Perhaps the sayains had a failure employed as their PR-assistant or, perhaps, this man did not represent his race well... Either way, he was in for a talking too. 

"Young man." Frozen exclaimed, his hands placed upon his hips as he displayed himself before the sayain! "...Your actions have disrupted my exercise. I do implore you to take a moment and make amends." At this moment, Frozen would reach up a hand to his scouter (which avoided short-circuiting) and touched the scan-button, Kombu's power reading out roughly at 1000. Hardly a threat, even in his first form. A more genuine smile would touch his lips upon discovering a warrior he was stronger than for the first time. Finally... he wasn't bargaining from a weak position.

WC: 432
TWC: 839

As warm and cuddly as Kombu's smile might've been, squishy and friendly enough to warm even the coldest and deadest of hearts, Frozen was a politician so, by the accounts of many, he did not have one to warm. It did, however, only affirm what the sayain's power already suggested: that he wasn't much of a threat. Very well, he needn't keep his posture so back-breakingly straight then. The Arcosian would relax just a bit as the boy offered his forgiveness to the Duke,  stating that he was TOO HUNGRY to think to sense the nearby surroundings!

Wait... Sense...? 

Frozen's eyes flicked to the ear of Kombu, just now noticing he wasn't wearing a scouter! How odd... In fact, now that he thought about it, everyone on EARTH that he met before now didn't have one! Could it be that this planet was one of those rare worlds that produced races that could naturally sense energy!? The Arcosian's eyes narrowed in contemplation. What a world that was... and IMAGINE the budget-cuts he could make to his military if none of them required a scouter! He might have... like... roughly 100,000,000 CURRENCY at least to divert to other systems! ...He simply had to obtain this power for himself... or at least, for his empire! Ah, then he would finally be able to complete the infrastructure on one of his newest acquisitions or would be able to, once he rent Chille's horns from his head. Kombu would, surprisingly, introduce himself with some manner of dignity and respect, Kombu extending his hand out to the Duke as he did so! 

...What manner of gesture was this...? Frozen stared at Kombu's hand quizzically, then his gaze would flick up to him as if asking a question. The Duke tentatively extended his own and clasping the sayain's firmly. This was how it worked, right? He was only just now learning the odd idiosyncrasies of this world and doing it PERSONALLY, which was another first. Usually he had his right-hands all over this place, absorbing their culture long before he made any personal appearances... It felt so odd now... as if he had to play diplomat 24/7.

"You, my friend, have the pleasure of speaking to Lord Frozen, Duke of the Froza Empire." He paused, his gaze flashing with preemptive irritation. "...And before you ask: No, it has nothing to do with Azoth's empire." His seriousness would fade away, if only slightly, the Arcosian taking his hand back and folding them behind his back. "Now... Your carelessness caused me quite the inconvenience and I, as a Lord, require reparations." His tone, while possessing somewhat of a serious edge, had something of a playful curl at the end of each sentence, as if subtly implying his true mood. "...What can you offer me, my good sayain?" A game, perhaps... he wanted to know what he'd say.


WC: 472
TWC:  1311

Ah, how refreshing it was for someone, even a mere country-boy from the looks of him, to acknowledge his royalty and address him as such. It hurt the Arcosian to admit this, but he was starting to get used to being "just-another-one-of-the-guys" on this planet. No matter how he introduced himself or in what form he did-so in, he was either considered, at first glance, as a vassal of the local Arcosian Empire or merely just a rogue arcosian going about his business like any other citizen upon this world. It was odd... frustrating, even, when he wasn't considered with the proper respect! And, while Kombu did not bow before him, as was to be expected of those with such a significant difference in social-class, he did refer to him properly. That alone was worthy of a genuine, thankful smile on Frozen's part. It was good to know that there were some on this world that still respected the old ways of Monarchy.

"Why, I will take all three, of course." Frozen would state with a laugh relaxing himself even more before this sayain creature. He was a kind enough sort and his power was less than considerable so the lord could afford to be playful. After all, he needn't enforce his role upon the poor boy if he continued to keep up the respect Frozen was owed! "That is, if you would be so kind, my Sayain-friend. The power-sensing would not be for me in particular, but for my troops. In the event they lose their scouters, being able to detect energy will be quite-the-backup in a pinch. As for the food, I could, possibly, be persuaded to partake in the local cuisine... After all I may yet be here for some time. As for the spar, I would gladly trade blows with such a strapping young lad. No doubt you are more mighty than you let on, yes? Your physique, after all, does not suggest a meager power of 1000!"

Frozen would chuckle once more before walking up to the MASSIVE fish Kombu had caught, the Duke running his hands along its scales. Such a pity Kombu had to kill this fine specimen of life. The lord himself never had to personally end another creature's existence merely to consume its flesh... He had PEOPLE for that, as well as several layers of separation in the shipping, cooking and preparing of the meal. By the time it was delivered to him, one would barely be able to tell it was an animal at one point...

...It almost made Frozen uncomfortable knowing that this was, effectively, how it was done.

"What say you then, Kombu?" Frozen would ask, turning back to him. "Do you agree to these conditions?"

WC: 459
TWC: 1770

"It is good to hear that there is a proper procedure regarding the order of presentation on this world." Frozen would state with notable pleasure in his voice. "To fight first would have us too distracted by our hunger and to learn a skill as rare as energy-sensing while our stomachs protest would leave the results wanting. You are quite a smart lad, are you not?" 

Kombu would then demonstrate his intelligence further (or at least, that of Earth's technicians) by pulling out a small device and, with only a click of its button, a cook's utensils will appear on the ground before him! The Arcosian was... speechless. What sort of device was THIS!? It was physically impossible to store various wooden and metal cooking-tools in a pod smaller than a finger-bone! What was this device...? He caught the logo on the side of the pill-like device before it was activated...

"Capsule..." He muttered, stroking his chin with his hand. "What a useful little tool..." So THIS was what Capsule-Corp constructed! The branding was inescapable, from the houses out in the country to the cars filling the city-streets. Its 'Double-C' logo was on billboards, on food-stands, on factory-signs and stores. It was on light-bulbs and car-parts and concrete-mix and more! Just about everything was Capsule-corp... and now they had a way to store it all in a room no larger than your pantry... This technology would REVOLUTIONIZE the resource-management conundrum of his Empire! Before, finding place to put things, from garbage to resources, was a chore. Space was unacceptable as, to do so, was like dumping live ammunition in one's roads so that left either Dump-worlds... or designating spaces on his OWN, populated worlds to serve as landfills. 

...Having this technology, though, would render such issues at least 100-years obsolete! ...And if a mere boy had access to such revolutionary technololgy... at what quantity could a lord acquire them...?

Frozen would turn his oggling eyes from Kombu's capsule-pack to the fish Kombu was fixing, the Arcosian shifting his gaze quickly once more... as he covered his mouth with the back of his hand. Ugh... The sight and smell of a fish being gutted was... not a happy, nor delicious one.. Were those... ENTRAILS he was pulling out of the creature!? Revolting.... And the LOOK on Kombu's face... It was as if this were merely a part of the job! He might as well have been working on the railroad all the live-long day for as much as he's affected! Frozen would turn away from the process swiftly, clearing his throat with GUSTO of the open-fish stench that had wormed its way down it. 

The smell of it cooking, though... that caught the Duke's attention, Frozen looking over his shoulder only to see the creature IMPAILED upon a spit over a fire! 

...Frozen had taken for granted how his food was prepared, how... out-of-sight the procedure was... Never again after seeing how Earth did its preparation...

The Duke's uneasy stare would break as Kombu drew his attention, stating how he could teach him how to sense energy while their food cooked. 

"Ah... Y-yes..." Frozen would gulp, trying to surpress the green-shade that had started to bloom over his cheeks. "P....perhaps that would be best. How... How do we proceed?"

WC: 550
TWC: 2320

Kombu would begin his lesson, starting at the VERY BARE BASICS of hand-to-hand combat. Yes, every creature in the universe had energy like this. It was as much a part of common science as gravity or motion within the bounds of his empire. The mention of SOULS, though... and this spiritual hoo-doo... that somewhat fell deafly upon the emperor's ears. There was no such thing as a 'soul' or an 'afterlife' no matter how hard some might believe it. All there was in this universe were the people and materials that make it up... and the alternate dimensions through which demons and other such magical abominations worm there way through. The skepticism of Frozen was clear on his face with the look he gave Kombu, not at all buying his explanation beyond the physical. Still, he would not stop to interrupt the boy, no matter how ludicrous his beliefs, instead, choosing to nod along and let the meaningless ideological drivel float on past so he can get to the practical exercises. 

Kombu would explain how sensing... basically worked like a scouter. One would be able to detect energy with the only exception being those of an exceptionally rare stripe that could hide their powers away from prying eyes. Yes, this, once more, was basic technical and military-training within Frozen's empire. Every soldier had to learn how to operate a scouter and, in relevance to this situation, how and when the device would work. There were species that, like chameleons, could reduce their energy signature to the point of being nearly indistinguishable amongst other powers. There were those, as well, capable of physical transformations which, unlike those with hidden reserves, actually altered their physical appearance to tap into vast reserves of power. This was basic Xeno-Biology 101.

...Perhaps in this world, only the rich, the powerful or the adventurous had access to this information...

This part of the galaxy needed him more than he had thought, if so. 

Regardless, Kombu would instruct him to... "reach out" (suitably vague) and concentrate on something non-descript! Frozen would cock an eyebrow at the boy, seemingly not convinced. Was it truly this simple...? 

"...Very well." Frozen would sigh, crossing his arms over his chest and closing his eyes. The Arcosian would allow his mind to stretch out across the landscape, his senses to spread and touch all around him. From his hearing to his sense of touch, to his even the smell of the seared fish-flesh, Frozen would allow it all to come in consciously and enter his mind...

"And now...?" He would question, his focus steadily deepening by the minute. "Is there... more to this trick?"

WC: 442
TWC: 2762

How very spiritual.

Frozen had been expecting something of a technical manual, a practical, physical exercise that would easily be explained and allow him to practice! Energy sensing was, after all, a very physical and tangible technique, yes? From what small amounts of data he had scanned on the topic back home, it was as if one was feeling the presence of another under their skin, pulling at them, their energy nearly manifesting within their sight, even if it wasn't active just yet. The way Kombu described it, energy-sensing was more akin to some kind of internal dialogue with oneself, somehow connecting with the world on a mental plane and translating that information back into something useful. He would even suggest meditation, that Frozen clearing his mind might be the trick he needed to make contact with the surrounding forces. 

...Frozen was starting to grow exasperated with such tripe... Kombu spoke as if souls existed, as if the planet, the trees, the rocks, they ALL had souls! He acted as if there was a plane of existence beyond this one or, even layered with this one... but Frozen would not let his feeling show on his face... He needn't, after all, vex a native of this planet while he was humbly learning one of the most useful technique available. No, he would just do as this spiritually in-tune monkey beckoned... Who knows, perhaps something might come of this.

Frozen would allow his mind to focus and expand ever further, choosing to increase his attention within the immediate area rather than merely extend his reach. It was like piling layers upon layers of microscopes on top of one another, ensuring that not one speck of anything would escape his sensory notice. Most barely had the mental discipline to hold themselves together during a fight, let alone dig down deep inside their own heads and withdrawing true, meaningful focus. Meditation was a means of honing mental discipline, controlling one's wandering thoughts, pinning everything down to an exact, focused point. Kombu would confirm this (with his own spiritual flare), asking Frozen to tell him what he "saw" without opening his eyes!

Letting out a soft sigh, the lord would do as he was beckoned, closing his eyes and lowering his head. He didn't expect much of anything to come of this. How could it? T'was merely meditat-

Frozen... well... froze as an odd feeling crept up the front of his body! It was unlike anything he had felt before, some kind of... tingling beneath his skin as if he had been prodded with a live low-voltage electrical wire! The feeling would envelop this form and, behind his eye lids... Frozen COULD start to make out things! It was... just faded outlines at first, as if he had been blinded and his sight were only now just returning! Shifting his head in Kombu's direction, he could make out the boy's form... his shape shining more brightly than the grass, rocks and trees around them! Somehow... even BEHIND him the Arcosian was aware, as if he had sprouted eyes in the back of his head!

...Was this... Energy-sensing...?

"I see you most prominently." Frozen stated slowly, putting a cap on his excitement. "You... are brighter than everything else... My surroundings are faded but... still there... You, however, are quite... pronounced."

WC: 555
TWC: 3317