Post by Emperor Ticoga on Nov 9, 2023 13:48:31 GMT -5
Ticoga's Supernova fell upon Gandigan - and Ticoga's eyes widen! Gandigan was attempting to catch his attack?! The act completely catches Ticoga off guard - he had expected the Mazoku King to gather his power, and blast back against the Supernova; instead, Gandigan was trying to weather the blast! The blast stops for a moment, and then presses down to the ground. In that instant, the Supernova brightens even more, and explodes in a ground quaking blast!
The concussion of the blast blew away the nearby clouds, and several tall rock pillars and narrow plateaus shatter and crumble away, thrown to the winds by the explosion! When it finally fades, much of the surrounding island is aflame, and a deep hole now exists where there had once been land, allowing water to fill its new depths.
Ticoga rushes into the smoking, water filling hole, searching for Gandigan. At first, Ticoga thought he had gone too far - but he HAD warned the Mazoku of the potential power of the blast, and still he chose to oppose it and test the limits of his body. But Ticoga does find Gandigan - wedged against a rocky outcropping. He takes Gandigan by the waist, and flies the both of them out of the giant hole and back into the light of day. Ticoga finds a nearby island, and sets Gandigan down, settling him in a sitting position against a large stone.
"...I feel a pulse, so he isn't dead..." Ticoga says, checking the Namekian. Ticoga places his hand against Gandigan's chest, and sends a surge of energy into the Mazoku King, hoping to revive him!
Ticoga had surprised Gandigan. Some were capable of producing attacks much greater than their own power, but he never expected that the Arcosian would be able to produce something that powerful. How was that possible? Was that something Gandigan was capable of? In the past he had attempted to develop techniques of his own that could do something similar, but he had never come close to be able to produce something like what Ticoga had just done. Perhaps now it was too late to try.
When Gandigan opened his eyes, he wondered if he were dead. The world around him looked shattered... until he saw Ticoga standing near him. The Emperor had his hand raised over Gandigan's chest; with most he would fear a killing blow was about to be delivered, but with Ticoga he felt as though something else must have just transpired. Despite still being alive his body felt like Hell, and he was definitely in need of some outside healing.
The Namekian slowly sat up, his face scrunched up in pain the whole time, before scooting over to a nearby rock to lean against. The damage done to Namek wouldn't heal for some time, but as Ticoga had promised he had managed to control it enough to leave the planet in tact so he was glad for that. "I guess you win. You did well to overcome the deficit in power. You are most definitely a more intelligent fighter than Lottus, even if you lack the... ferocity and brutality that make him so dangerous."
Post by Emperor Ticoga on Nov 9, 2023 17:48:01 GMT -5
Ticoga smirks at Gandigan's assessment.
"Won? No - you and I both know how this would have ended if we were fighting to the death. You had me well outmatched." Ticoga replies. "Had you chosen to oppose my attack, I have little doubt that you would have overcome it, or at the very least, significantly weakened it. You chose to take the attack head on instead."
Ticoga regards Gandigan - the Namekian was severely injured now.
"I have healing chambers aboard my ship - but if you would prefer your own healers, then that will be fine as well." Ticoga says. He turns away from Gandigan, and his eyes glow with a soft red. He raises his right hand, fingers curling like talons, and a large boulder tears out of the ground. Ticoga points two fingers at the boulder with his free hand, and begins making seemingly wild swiping gestures. Crimson lines carve through the boulder, some straight, others curving, and bits and chunks of stone fall away. What remains is a curving, smooth concave stone. It resembles the hover stretchers used in Imperial space to move the injured out of battlefields. Ticoga sets the stone down next to Gandigan. "This wont be the most comfortable thing, but lay here. I can bring us to your healers."
As Gandigan would choose, Ticoga's body glows, and he shrinks. When the light fades, he has returned to his weakest form. He gestures, and after a few seconds, his scouter and battle jacket hurtle through the air, stopping before him. Ticoga slips the battle jacket on, and sets his scouter back in place over his left ear and eye.
"You asked me something earlier." Ticoga states. "About taking a more nurturing stance with Plant and the Saiyans and Tuffles. I would like to hear more of what you have to say on that matter, as I am not wholly convinced that occupying Plant will be as easy as we hope."
Ticoga transforms down to his base form! New PL: 114,343 WC: 324
There was definitely some truth in Ticoga's words. "If I could do it all over again I would, but does that really count? If you kill an enemy in battle who choose to act foolishly, would you not still be the winner?" Gandigan slowly crawled over as Ticoga suggested, laying atop the stone and trying his best to relax. As Ticoga powered down so did Gandigan, understanding that there would be no battling for him any time soon. Hopefully his body learnt as much as his mind did today.
"There's a... small village off in that direction." Gandigan brought his arm up and pointed east. "You can probably sense their energy if you try right now; I've been there once before. A man named Hoza lives in those parts; he's quite skilled when it comes to healing. He should have these wounds taken care off in no time at all."
Their journey to the village would give the two enough time to talk. "Yes... I understand your concerns, and I agree that occupying Plant won't come easily. Obviously we would have to take out the leadership first. I know of a few names; Taori, Vocado, Cato... you probably have more information on that. I can handle Taori on my own though. The older generation of Saiyan soldiers will be tough; they're so stuck in their ways they may as well be stone. If anyone must be... culled, I suppose it would be them."
Gandigan didn't really like the taste of that on his tongue, but he had to meet Ticoga somewhere. "The younger ones can be raised in a different path though, and my Mazoku warriors are just as powerful as any Saiyan. For some of the cave people, the disputed lands may actually be an improvement on their conditions. They'll breed quickly, and we Namekians grow much faster than Saiyans do."
WC: 310 TWC: 6597
Last Edit: Nov 9, 2023 18:08:06 GMT -5 by Gandigan
Post by Emperor Ticoga on Nov 9, 2023 21:48:48 GMT -5
"Actually, no - I am not capable of sensing energy signatures. It is a skill I never learned, in truth." Ticoga replies, instead reaching up to activate his scouter. "Those are the nearest energy readings, so I assume we go that way."
Ticoga hovers off the ground, and the stone carrying Gandigan follows after. As they fly, Gandigan further explains his thoughts on the idea of occupying Plant.
"That would be a standard occupation method, yes." Ticoga replies. The Empire held four hundred planets under its banner. Many of them had to be occupied and re-educated in much the same way Gandigan was suggesting. Theoretically, if it worked on two hundred worlds, it should work on Plant as well. The problem wasn't the raising of young Saiyans to accept the Empire - the problem was the Super Saiyans. "It is a tried and true method, one that works and has worked many times before. Eliminating the leadership is where the danger lay, certainly. We know of Vocado, one of Taori's commanding officers. Cato's loyalty is to Plant; but she seems often conflicted in her calling in life."
Ticoga looks at Gandigan.
"I have already met Cato. She and I have a good relationship - when I sought to dismantle the dysfunctional Imperial Triumvirate, and solidify power under a single Emperor, it was Cato who stood with me, ready to protect my people from potential harm." Ticoga explains. "It is thanks to her that I was able to begin taking the Empire in a new direction, and she has sworn to help me defend Arcose should it ever come under attack, even from her own people. She is an ally; but can easily be made an enemy if we attack Plant."
Ticoga looks ahead of them as they fly.
"It may be possible to get Cato, and maybe that other Super Saiyan that defeated Lottus the first time - Nasu, my spies tell me is his name - to help. They would not join us, but they may listen if we approach them on the matter." Ticoga's eyes slightly narrow. "The problem though, is that both Cato and Nasu have been missing for some time. At the very least, we do not know where they are."
Ticoga looks again at Gandigan.
"Do you think it possible to approach Taori and convince him to abdicate the Kingdom?" Ticoga asks carefully. "If we wish to deal the least amount of damage, we should consider attempting to bring Plant under Arcose's control without destroying the Kingdom, if possible. Or do you believe that Taori is too complicit, and need be destroyed?"
WC: 432
Last Edit: Nov 10, 2023 17:34:47 GMT -5 by Emperor Ticoga
Cato was only a name he had briefly of, and his source was hardly someone he trusted: Cato. Ticoga explained that he was on good terms with her, and feared that an invasion of Plant may put that in jeopardy. "Though I can't say I know Cato all too well, I would expect that she'd likely defend Plant as well. But you should know that I bring with me others who I rely on. Marimba, Cello, Cabasa and others. They might not have the strength of a Super Saiyan by themselves, but combined I expect they'll be a strong match."
He hadn't gone over any of these ideas with his own allies, but he expected that one he explained himself to them they would all be onboard. He wouldn't rely on Nero for an off world invasion, but he could trust the Guru to keep an eye on Namek while he was gone. When it came down to Nasu the Namekian was almost completely unaware of who he was at all, so he stayed silent on the matter.
When it came to discussing Taori again, Gandigan had to lay all his cards on the table. "My war is about more than practically and pragmatism. It's about bringing justice to those who have committed sins. I believe that Taori is as responsible for the worlds that Lottus destroys as the madman is himself, which is why I come to you with this offer. Perhaps he could be brought in and somehow convinced to work beneath us, but I would not have it that way. He needs to be dealt with."
Post by Emperor Ticoga on Nov 10, 2023 15:09:29 GMT -5
"Marimba, Cabasa, and Cello." Ticoga repeats, committing the names to memory. One of the names, Ticoga already knew - Marimba. Once Gandigan was finished with his explanation, Ticoga found himself nodding. While they may not agree wholly on the necessity, Ticoga had to agree on a pragmatic level. Taori did let Lottus live, and so did the others. The blood the Saiyan spilled is on their hands. But the question was - whose hands would be the ones washing? Theirs? Or would it be the Empire that it falls to? "Then we are largely in agreement, for the most part."
Ticoga casts his eyes towards Gandigan.
"Two matters first, but they are their own." Ticoga says. "I know the name Marimba - whether you have been told or not, that name has come up in our databases before. During the first assault on Hatchi that this Lottus started, he had many more allies. Among them was a Pirate lord named Fukushu - whom was attempting to make power plays across multiple worlds. We became aware of an organization he led called Clan Bitterbones - your ally, Marimba, was once one of these pirates. He participated in Lottus' first attack against Hatchi as an underling of Fukushu, and an ally to Lottus."
There was probably more context to it than that, but that was all Ticoga currently knew of it.
WC: 223
Last Edit: Nov 10, 2023 19:05:38 GMT -5 by Emperor Ticoga
Marimba's history was not fully known to Gandigan, but the connection to Fukushu was one of the things that the Mazoku had informed him of. "Yes, I know of what you speak of but I can assure you that Marimba is no ally of Lottus, nor is he a pirate any longer. Fukushu's desires for destruction extended beyond attacking Hatchi. Marimba has told me that Fukushu made hints of potentially conquering Namek one day, which is why he decided to join up with him."
It was an understandable position given the situation. Marimba, though still powerful was far from what he is today, and would have been easily crushed by Fukushu if the Heran's strength was anything like what he had heard. "If or when Fukushu made these moves, Marimba wanted to be in a position to protect Namek from a full blown attack. He believed he may have been able to diplomatically conquer many areas and rule them himself, keeping them away from the Heran as much as possible. He was in a lose-lose situation and made the best decision he thought he could at the time. To stand against Fukushu with his strength would have meant certain death, and a worse fate for Namek."
It was unfortunate that Marimba had to participate in that attack, but he was certainly not aligned with Lottus any more. "Now, what was the second issue you mentioned?"
WC: 235 TWC: 7101
Last Edit: Nov 10, 2023 19:09:19 GMT -5 by Gandigan
Post by Emperor Ticoga on Nov 10, 2023 19:20:11 GMT -5
Ticoga listens to Gandigan's explanation of Marimba's involvement. Perhaps because he grew up around and hearing of the duplicity and shadow dealings of his own people, Ticoga was still wary - it was easy to claim these things after the fact. Marimba may very well have just been covering his own skin when asked about his dealings with the Heran. Ticoga too had almost been taken in by Fukushu's machinations - but he'd gotten wise to them, and kept his distance. He was no stranger to Fukushu's ability to convince, and chose to let the matter go.
"The second issue is more of a matter of communication." Ticoga tells Gandigan. "You and I can make any manner of agreements - but those agreements are contingent upon the cooperation of others as well. If the worst case scenario happens - if you are killed in your battle - how would our agreement to pacify Plant be handled?"
Ticoga looks meaningfully at Gandigan.
"Lord Mint and I are powerful - but we are fairly even in power. Neither of us has the strength to defeat a Super Saiyan." Ticoga tells Gandigan. "How can you ensure that this agreement to invade and pacify Plant and the Saiyans is upheld by your Mazoku? They could decide that it is too much of a risk to aid in the invasion if something were to happen to you."
The Empire was only so strong in these new days of Super Saiyans, Earthling warriors, and Fauxbian speedsters. The most exceptional of the Empire aside from Ticoga and Mint included Verst, Raiya, Ginko, and some others - but their powers were also only so great. And from the sound of things, the Mazoku were stronger than them for all intents and purposes. If the Mazoku pulled out of the operation, the Empire could lose far more than a battle.
Ticoga was worried about the Mazoku's ability to keep up their end of the deal, to which Gandigan didn't have much to say in response to. His fears were well founded, and he was unable to assure him of much. "To be blunt, Ticoga, if I die there isn't much of a deal left here, and so I can give you no assurances on the matter. My people will elect a new King, most likely Marimba, and you would have to forge the same deal with him, and I can make no promises for what he might want."
Probably not what the Arcosian wanted to hear, but he was being honest. Would Marimba have the same interest in bringing justice to Plant? He didn't think so. It all likelihood Marimba would probably prefer to invade Konats so he could get revenge on the Kashvar. "But know this: while I am still alive my word is law within my home. I understand that on Arcose there is a lot of backdoor politics, but things are different here. If I ask my allies to join me they will. It's as simple as that."
Gandigan didn't want to think of his potential death too much. He was quite confident that he could defeat Lottus, and even if he failed there were other options. "Lottus has been killed before, but managed to escape from Hell. Should I fall in battle then I will return, and I can promise you my own strength then, and maybe I'll still hold enough sway to bring some allies with me."
Post by Emperor Ticoga on Nov 13, 2023 17:44:55 GMT -5
"I appreciate your honesty, Gandigan." Ticoga says. His own people constantly dealt in double speak and veiled statements, never wanting to show their hands if it could put them in a weaker position. With this Mazoku King, that didn't seem to be a necessary concern. Still, if Marimba was the next likely in line if Gandigan should die, then Ticoga would take to observing Marimba before deciding whether or not to contact them. "It is good to know those possibilities. As for if you should fall - all I can say is that I hope it does not come to that."
Ticoga's scouter bleats, drawing the Arcosian's attention forward. Over the horizon, Ticoga could just make out a large land mass, and as they drew rapidly closer, the semblances of a small town or village began to appear.
"Ah, I see that we are almost there." Ticoga comments. He looks at Gandigan. "I believe it would be best to leave the talking to you - I can be rather blunt, or monotone as some have told me. You speaking first would be best."
With that said, Ticoga brings the both of them finally over the village. Using his telekinesis, Ticoga settles Gandigan and the rock slab down gingerly, so not to exacerbate Gandigan's wounds. Hopefully, the healers would be able to regenerate Ticoga's tail; he could regrow it himself fairly easily - switching to his other forms would enable that flesh regeneration rather quickly, but that would expend more of his energy. For now, Ticoga would leave the healing to Gandigan's people.
When they got to the village, Gandigan asked for Hoza to see them. The old Namekian was always a bit grumpy, but with Gandigan waiting he hurried along to them. Though he was not a Mazoku, he had a fairly good relationship with the Daimyō. "You're looking pretty bad. Trying to get yourself killed again? Come on; bring him inside. You coming too? Hurry up then." A group of Namekians came and picked Gandigan up off the rock, carrying him into a nearby home.
After being lain down on a bed, several of the Namekians got to work looking over Gandigan's wounds, applying ointments and then bandaging them up. "You expecting some magic, were you? Well you should have sent a message first. I spent up most of my energy today already; you'll have to wait until tomorrow, but those wraps should keep you okay overnight. I'll come check on your in the morning."
Another group of Namekians were looking over Ticoga's tail. "Same goes for you, but you can take this." Hoza passed over a small flash to the Arcosian. "It accelerates cell growth. Your tail won't come back instantly but it'll help." After that Hoza took his Namekians and left, leaving the two of them alone. "I guess maybe I won't be out of here as quick as I thought, which means it's probably best that I get some rest. Was there anything else to discuss or is it time to part?"
Post by Emperor Ticoga on Nov 13, 2023 19:24:50 GMT -5
Ticoga follows the Namekian healers as they carry Gandigan. He could have levitated Gandigan over instead - but that could be misinterpreted as an act of superiority, so the Arcosian Emperor simply stayed quiet, and nodded when the older Namekian asked if he was here for healing along with Gandigan. Ticoga observes as the Namekians apply rather archaic methods to treat Gandigan's wounds. He had in fact expected magic to be used - in his studies of the Namekian, it had come up that they possessed strange abilities besides regeneration. It was implied that Namekian healers could heal wounds faster than even the rejuvenation chambers of Arcosian make could.
And considering it only took a few hours to heal even terrible wounds, that was saying something. But Ticoga got his answer without ever having to ask - they were tired already. Ticoga merely nods again at the explanation - that at least the Empire held the advantage in; there was no shortage of rejuvenation fluids, and wait times were significantly small, depending on the severity of the wounds.
Ticoga graciously accepts the tonic offered to him, and waits for the team of Namekians to leave before turning to Gandigan, who spoke first.
"It would seem so." Ticoga smiles pleasantly. "When next we train - don't try to catch my attack. I'm sure you are more than capable of opposing it. But, that is a later consideration now."
Ticoga downs the tonic's contents, grimacing at the taste, and sets the empty bottle down on the nearby shelf.
"No, I think we've said all we need to for now." Ticoga answers after a moment. "I hope that we will meet again soon. Rest easy, Gandigan."
Ticoga turns away, and leaves the building. He had his own things to prepare for now.