Korado was out in the Saiba-Breeding pits to collect some samples. He had decided that it would be a good area to focus his research. The Saibaman were a species he didn't fully understand and it be good to study them. Plus other creatures that were in the area and fauna. The main goal of this was not for a weapon though. How did these species, and the saibaman in particular survived out here. That was what he wanted to understand. There had to be some sort of useful inventions with that. Maybe it even get him somewhere with trying to revive Amara. Though that had hit a wall, he couldn't really understand how he could bring someone back to life. But he was going to try and do just that. Make sure she came back to life. So still studying such a durability species could give him some of his answers. He would pick up a Saibaman Corpse off the ground. Sickle bounced at his bag and formed around the body of the Saibaman to pull out any of the nutrients he could. Sickle needed to keep feed and strong. To make him get stronger if they needed to fight. "Now I can use this body though Sickle jeez." he take some scrap off the saibaman to give it a look.
It wasn't too far away from the pair of them. That distinct energy surges as a battle draw near. The large horned beast of a saibaman thought they got the upper hand on the Saiyan, blindsiding him with his first strike. Ever so perspective, Dark was more than able to keep them at bay though. Widdling away any vitality in the creature with a pelting of ki blasts. it was perhaps the cries of the saibaman that caught anyone's attention.
"Keeeeeeee!" At this point, the hulking figure had lost an arm. Easily eight feet tall, nearly doubling the height of the short saiyan warrior that just blasted it. Those beady red eyes narrow down on the saiyan as it suddenly rushes him! Too slow, as he managed another quick slash of his hand through the thing's side. Nearly bisecting the thing in one motion. That weird blood that made Dark's nose recoil from the smell was more worrisome now than any sort of retaliation the slowly falling beast offered.
"Think it's about time I stop playing with these things. Hardly a challenge to me now." The worst ones were honestly the ones that decided to kamikaze. And they were surprisingly not as common as he'd like. Even the real big mutant ones weren't that much of a staple. In his teens this was the place to be for him, to grow outside the ire of higher class warriors and away from the low caste that was equally as bumbling. Ego aside, he'd clean off his hand and step back from his kill. Trying to sense out any other presences past the thick rank air that hung around this part of the wastes.
"Mmm..." There was certainly something to the sound of him. A couple of somethings. Guess since he was in the mood he'd start wondering on over. Either they were really strong alphas that he's NEVER seen before, or it's someone else snooping around for the saibamen. Here's hoping it's not another weird blue creature. Thread PL: 7,000 WC: 341
Korado kept walking along looking for other Saibaman he could study. But he didn't see anymore. In fact, as he walked his scouter beeped. They were a ton of power level arrive but all were out of sight. Saibaman perhaps? But one was a lot higher. It was a power level of <7,000> way above the strongest saibaman he had ever seen. He heard saibaman could only reach power at max output around <1,200> maybe a bit higher given the circumstances. So either this was some super powerful Saibaman or something else.
"Sickle be close." The Slime bounced up landing on Koraod's shoulder. he kept walking ahead towards the higher power level. He was quite sure that it is not much of an issue. Though it could possibly be hiding its true strength. It could also just be someone hunting the saibaman. That would make sense. But he could not be for sure so he and Sickle needed to be on guard, regardless of what circumstance was in front of them. "Hello is anyone out there?" Sickle called out hoping to get an answer. That would hopefully prove if it was a Saibaman or something else. If it was a saibaman he was probably gonna get attacked. If it was someone else maybe they answer back and he could have someone to chat with. Honestly, regardless of the situation for him, it was a win-win. Either a nice chat, or a nice creature to study.
Whatever great power this mutant saibaman had was quickly fading from any readings or sensing measures. Crumpling onto the ground in a desperate attempt to keep itself from bleeding out. It'd be a mercy to put the thing out right then and there but those two presences he felt before made themselves aware of their approach. Even as the cat tried to reach an outstretched palm to blast the thing away. Alright, whatever it was that wanted to play would get to see what he was doing out here.
He'd sniff them out a bit before hearing the call. A strange couple that seemed to move in sync. he wasn't sure exactly what that'd be without looking at it, so he started to walk a half-measure to meet this voice. Eventually cresting over one of the many waste hills that were to the south of him. Donning full saiyan gear with oddly zoan features... Messy hair, ears, and tail. The latter two feline in nature. There were a lot of assumptions to be made as to why he was out here. Those auburn eyes catch glimpse of the pair as Dark crosses his arms.
"Maybe. Who's asking?" He'd repeat back to the slime, who he wasn't sure was the one who spoke. A toothy smirk with sharp fangs crossing his face as his snide remark was evidence to his good mood. He just downed another beast by himself, of course. That one extra spicy. WC: 248 TWC: 589
When he walked over he could eventually see who he was looking for. It was a Saiyan but he didn't have the normal features. He had feline-like features. Maybe Dark was some sort of Saiyan hybrid. Or it was a rare part of the Saiyan genome. He couldn't say for sure, it was something he was curious about. Maybe he'd ask Dark about his non-Saiyan features. Either way, it was not a saibaman. So Korado took a less worried stance.
"Who asking? What a nice response." Korado sarcastically noted. "But yes, I am Korado. I see you are hunting for saibaman. Well, I am doing the same. Of course, I think we are doing it for different reasons. I am a scientist. I am hoping to learn about the culture, biology, and other facets of saibaman. It is an area we don't really fully understand. If you are out here hunting them then I think we have a somewhat common goal. So we can work together. If not that is fine I'll keep going on my way." He was not going to get in the way of Dark. If he wanted to hunt then he'd let her keep hunting. But if the two of them had a common goal then why didn't they work together. Dark could keep hunting and Korado would have someone to talk too why studying. So he didn't see there was any reason why they didn't work together.
Nice to know this stranger didn't take his chiding too seriously. The toothy grin lightened up to look less aggressive once this guy explained himself with no more fussing. Was a good litmus test to see how people approached and reacted to him being an obtuse dick sometimes. Especially with a person, Saiyan or not, who looked fairly normal. Slime buddy aside. It didn't seem like the worst idea to tag along for a saibamen hunt. Even if he needed no one for such an endeavor.
"Let's say I am down for working together. I can only really help with one aspect, and that's getting a body. And it's not like these things are so sturdy that I need some stranger to help me." He'd half admit, still cleaning some weird acidic blood from his glove. Something that didn't even seem to harm his open handed fingers as he was far in a way strong enough to deal with that last mutated one.
"So what's really in it for me? I can hunt with or without you, as I always have." But, just letting the man follow him? Ehh. He wasn't even sure why anyone with a brain would want to pick apart these strange things. Only being able to speak in keks and hisses didn't lend to their lowly nature. Most saw them as just powerful wildlife. WC: 232 TWC: 821
Korado nodded as Dark explained that he could only help in one aspect which was getting a saibaman body. And he didn't really need help from Korado to do just that. Korado also really didn't need Dark's help for that either. So now Korado would need to give a reason why he and Dark should work together that would be a bit more convincing. That was fine with him, he could do just that. "Well, you could go and hunt by yourself. It would not be too much harder. But your out here alone and seemed to be out here alone for a while. I imagine hunting by yourself can get a bit boring. And you can get a lot of insight for someone else. Plus you don't get much to lose. You still kill the ones you wanna kill and I get some chance to study them. I guess if you don't want to talk to anyone and want to be yourself that is a reason to reject this offer but I don't think you the type. If you were you of moved off when you saw me or probably told me to leave in the first place as opposed to opening up some dialogue." Not the best argument but hopefully it is enough to convince Dark to let him stay.
That's rough. The cat doesn't usually like getting called out for something so obvious as showing mild interest in the conversation. Yeah, why would he even bother approaching when that voice called out to bug him? he could have just stayed put or walked away without so much as coming close. Korado would see the boy's left eye twitch and tail lower before turning his head away sharp in a scoff.
"Tch... I was fine being alone." There was more to it though. A quick think-over would be all that was needed to convince himself that it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for someone to tag him. Not as confident as he was that he could handle anything should things go south.
"Whatever. You can tag along I guess. Just don't go around scaring them all off with that strong presence around you and your strange slime thing." He'd have to put it in his own words, turning back to face him a moment. Just long enough to point at the buddy Korado had before spinning around and taking a lead... elsewhere. Deciding it was better to start off on a new track since that last saibaman back where he came probably wasn't the easiest site to take in for the faint of heart. Perhaps taking off closer to their breeding grounds near that strange forward was in order. He didn't bother taking off in flight or anything just yet either, curiously. Just lifted a head to the skies and sniffed the dry and honestly unpleasant waste airs.
"Say, what even is that thing you got? You said you were some scientist, is it one of your weird science-y things?" He'd break up a bit of the scouting with a mild question. Might as well make Korado useful by getting some knowledge from him. WC: 311 TWC: 1132
Seems that subtle manipulation of the conversation had worked out. Dark seemed fine with him joining on this little saibaman hunt. At long as his power didn't cause the saibaman to scatter. "Can Saibaman sense ki? That was something I didn't know was possible? That is already good information if that was the case." Korado nodded and began to follow Dark. Sure he could use hi scouter to find them but this seemed more interesting. Plus that give them a chance to talk. He did look around and keep his eyes out for any saibaman if he could see them nearby. But so far he didn't see any.
As for Dark's question about Sickle he smiled. "Yes, you can say it is one of those science-y things. This is my partner Sickle. I left this planet once and landed in a foreign world. With a viral infection that well..infected me. Sickle is the result of that after I was able to cure and remove that virus from my body." He knew this sounded farfetched but that was what had happened. "Now he gained sentience as a result of that. He is basically a blob that can absorb the information of things he eats and add it to his own Dna. Honestly, that Part I don't fully understand but it could be really useful for research. I don't like using it though. Got to worry he will one day eat something that will change him for the worst."
It wasn't exactly as easy as 'sensing' the ki of other living beings. Honestly, it seems a lot of people forget the natural flight and fight response some animals have. If Dark was to equate it in any way, it'd be like that. Just an instinct. A lot of the time, it could be wrong or give false flags. The cat saiyan just shook his head as he kept the lead between the two. Slowly descending down some rocky hills and closing in towards some plateaued and, in the far distance, a forest.
"Not quite that refined. More a natural instinct. The things know when to run from a well-off Saiyan more often than not. Can sort of sus out that confidence and charisma. Otherwise, they'd be extinct by now jumping every single one that stepped out of Sadala." He wanted to clarify, suddenly turning a little off-course towards some bigger cliff faces. Seems he picked up something much more distinct above 'general breeding pits'. At least a few were lurking around the crevices of the wastes.
He had no better option than to listen to how that weird blob got together with Korado. It looked like at first he was just ignoring it and going about tracking, but he was making some confused faces at the mention of 'virus from my body' and 'eating things to add to his DNA'. He didn't understand at all how a Virus gets sentient or friendly, but he also wasn't the scientist here. Rather than face him and demand more answers than the confusing origin, he instead lowered his ears and lowered his graceful stalking stance some. Closer to the ground. Taking a moment stop to eye the place again.
"That's a weird story you have there for the snot ball. Don't ever remember any diseases or viruses growing a brain, if I remember how sentience works." He wasn't really buying it currently. Not even caring enough to pull attention away from the hunt. That strange scent most of the Saibamen had about them wasn't hard to follow. No scouter or trained ki sensing is required. Just good wild senses.
"Of course, I've seen and heard about weirder. Majins are a thing. Stretches like taffy, smells like bubblegum." yeah, that's one way to describe them. WC: 386 TWC: 1518
Korado nodded as Dark explained it was not Ki sense. Rather they just had very good senses. They know where to go when being hunted by the Saiyans. They get the feel of who is weak and who is strong. Attack the weak and retreat against the strong. Korado gave another nod. "I see that is very intriguing." He would write this down as he walked with Dark. So they certainly from that information more akin to wild animals. The ability to feel out the dangerousness of a creature before them. Yet, Saiba-Ban stood on two legs and had some sort of communication language between them. So he was really not sure what they were. More reason to get a look at them for study.
As for the story, Dark pointed out that diseases and viruses don't just get a brain. Korado nodded. "Very true. You are correct. That was what the steps I more glossed over. That was my doing. When I was removing him from my body I created compounds that would remove him. A side effect of which was the creation of sentient life. A marvel if I do say so myself. And something I can't say I understand fully." But if he could understand it fully. It would be open to an assortment of possibilities. But he kept walking after that. He didn't wanna be too loud. Dark was looking for the Saibaman to hunt. Based on what Dark said them chatting like this with how strong they seemed to be would scare off the saibaman.
Dark hasn't really met an intelligent one of these creatures. Not that it's really affecting all that much about his attitude. A unique specimen is just that. Unique. Speaking of, Korado just mentioning making unique sentience in off-hand was pretty funny. He'd smirk, something which the other hybrid probably didn't know what for as he continued down and past the start of this crevasse here. If Korado had any senses about him he'd feel it too. A small band of creatures lurking around in search of food. Of meat, in particular. When they got bored of their forest.
"Do you see them?" He'd step on over to one of the short cliff face edges and look down into this crevice. Crouching down while pointing out a ridge along near the bottom of this scar in the land. An assortment of green bodies, specks to most at this distance, could be seen moving about. Somewhat camouflaged by the many rocks surrounding them. There's a couple of big ones like the one Dark was fighting just before having met him.
"Think that's a good sample size, 'professor'?" He'd mock a little with a laugh through his nose. Eyeing him with those sharp auburn pupils before hopping down from the edge here. Using his hands behind him to gracefully slow fall down the cliff face onto another bit of flat relief. Repeating it a few times on his way down further into the ravine. He wasn't going to be slowing down for Korado, and he didn't even care if the man had simple flight or not. They'd find a way, surely. Leading them closer to them on foot would make them stick out less though. WC: 286 TWC: 1804
Korado scouter beeped slightly but he turned off the noise. He could see them nearby after the beeping but he didn't wanna scare them off with the noise. He should maybe invest in some soundproofed Scouters. So only he could hear their noise. That would be a safe way to not get caught by anyone when trying to use the device. It's too late now for that idea but they seemed to be fine. Korado looked down to look over the Saibaman. He could see them down below they were a good amount of them. Even if he could not get the exact count he knew that they were more than enough for Dark to get his fill and he could get some saibaman to study.
"This is enough yes don't get to call me professor though. Korado is fine." Korado would down towards the Saibaman. But it didn't take long for Dark to come down sneaking down the rockface. It seemed that be the best way to get to them without alerting the Saibaman. Flying downwards would only make them scatter. So Korado nodded "Let's go sickle." The two began to climb down the landscape. Much slower than Dark despite their power. They were nowhere near as experienced with stuff like this. Nor did they wanna make a mistake and alert the saibaman. So they took as slow as they could. Slowly creeping to follow Dark in order to not be spotted.
Dark could only laugh in a hushed snickering as the 'professor' seemed to work its charm in annoying him a little. All in good fun, the cat boy was going to assure the Tuffle. But maybe leaving him hanging a bit and making him keep guessing how he felt was a more entertaining way to go. Especially since he was trying to keep quiet right now. They'd be upon the creatures within moments, even as Korado trailed on by behind him.
"Say, how intact do you need them. I'll try my best to not get too carried away with blasting them." He wondered aloud, slowing his pace as the two quickly started approaching the group. The seven - no, eight saibamen were actually en route coming towards them in their travels. To further sneak upon the caravan, the cat lowered itself into a crouch and pulled up along some rocks. Peeking over them with flattened ears to see only what he needed and to conceal the approaching mass. Five of your standard ones, keking away into the ravine while two hulking beasts seem to keep a vigilant eye over them. Pretty organized a pack for them. Korado should probably take notes, but that wasn't Dark's problem.
His first priority was to get them riled up. With the pair skulking now right beside them, the cat vaults over the rock. At the same time chucking a wild ki blast at one of the smaller saibamen. Blowing its hand off in a spray of acid, all in one go. The poor soul has a fit and screeches before going to hide behind his bodyguards. A cacophony of hisses ring out as the saiyan made his entrance.
"KEEEEEEEEEE!" He'd only stand there and offer an open palm to the things. Smirking with some sharp teeth.
"Come on then! Show me what you got!" The coaxing was very immediate. The big guys really couldn't help themselves but lash out against a perceived threat. The pair are the first to take any action, barreling straight at the cat. This was going to get chaotic quick! WC: 353 TWC: 2157
"You do as you please. I won't stop you. If you go wild and destroy them then that is on me for coming along." Korado nodded. Even if he didn't like it that much he was not gonna stop Dark from doing what was best for him. If he needed to utterly destroy them for his hunting then that was what he had to do. Korado just hoped he could get some good combat data if that turned out to be the case. Korado would arrive down and observe the Saibaman. His scouter picked up eight of them but he could only see seven. Five of them seemed to be standard enough, but then they were two hulking ones. That seemed to be an example of genetic differences. Maybe from their environment or life experiences. Korado didn't exactly have the answer but it was something to take a look at. If he understands why this occurred it could be a great avenue of research.
He would watch as Dark came flying in afterward as he came rushing in to attack. He watched as Dark did that, he seemed to be fighting like a wild beast more than a man. It was very odd, to say the least. He blasted one with a ki blast blowing it hands-off but leaving it alive. The two larger ones then seemed to charge at him. Korado would keep taking notes. "Sickle if you wish." Sickle would slingshot forward. He would slam into one of the bodyguards to knock it over. "I hope you don't mind. Combat Data is also pretty useful." Korado kept taking notes as Sickle came ready to fight in the chaos with Dark. Though the large saibaman sent Sickle flying into the roof of the cave the slime stuck to it after the impact. An opening for Dark to attack perhaps?