Will there be War?

Now. Why now of all times.

Why did that giant damned craft have to enter the atomsphere now?

Jagaimo had been, on this rare occasion, in the quarters gifted to her by Vocado on her elevation from the rank and file, into the ranks of the Shredder Corps. While not in the palace themselves they were close enough that they were considered to be part of the palace district. She rarely liked to spend much time here, it didn't feel like home, it felt clean and sterile with none of her stuff stored here. The only reason she'd even bothered to return was to find the armour that had been produced to go with her promotion, a new variant to the older model she had been sometimes known to sport. Tougher and more flexible it had taken some getting used to but there was no denying it fitted her perfectly. Say what you will about Saiyan's but the armourers knew their craft. With no one sure what had happened with Vocado and even Cato or whether they would be coming back she found more and more that people who knew of her promotion were asking questions of her that in all honesty she didn't really have any idea how to respond too. This wasn't what she had signed up for...Vocado had made promises and without him...they had evaoprated into the ether and left her floating adrift as she searched for a purpose.

The sudden fading of the light outside had cast a shade through her window which paused her train of thought and drawn her to the opening to glance out, eyes widening at the sight of the massive vessel in the sky that moved slowly above the spires of the Saiyan capital. The young woman grabbed a scouter and cycled through the channels that she had access to, picking out chatter, something about the Arcosian's...tracking a ship...Oh Kai's...the Emperor was here?!

-----

The vast doors to the landing pad opened and Jagaimo marched out, accompanied by a contingent of Saiyan palace guard who marched in step to flank the doors on either side. There were perhaps no more than two dozen of them, the ones Jagaimo had been able to corral and motivate into acting on her rush through the palace. When they'd failed to move she'd resorted to a skill she had learnt that worked wonders on stubborn recruits back int he academy. Threats. In short order she'd been able to bully these few into following her while others ran off to find more senior staff from the palace. With Taori gone and no new ruler things were all up in the air...Jagimo was under no illusions she wasn't in charge...but by the Kai's why was everyone else reacting so slowly?

She tried to ignore all the soldiers their guest seemed to have brought with him as they lined the walk from the ships and formed up in ranks. Barking at the palace guard to stand their ground at the gates and hold any advance...She was not about to start a war because a Saiyan got jumpy...Jagaimo walked slowly out towards their uninvited guests, her gaze ahead, studying the Arcosian as much as she could, even reaching out to touch against him with her senses, feeling his power radiating off him. Thankfully the guard in the palace had slowly been upgrading their scouters to cope with greater powers after the rise of Super Saiyan's so she gave a sigh when none of them exploded behind her. Thats was all she needed when tensions were suddenly running so high.

Damn he's strong...

Was Lottus even this strong? It was hard to tell in this moment.

Her steps had brought her far enough away from the other Saiyans, still some 20 feet from where the Arcosian stood casually with his hands behind his back, arms at her sides, letting her gaze move from the central figure over the troops behind him. Not a body guard then...he didn't seem like the type to need it...This Shield of Arcose that she'd heard a few stories about. So a show of strength from the Empire then perhaps.

How in the Hells did you address an Emperor without starting a war?

Her voice rang out,

"Greetings Shield."

Her eyes remained on his, head never bowing, Hells she hadn't bowed to her own rulers she wasn't about to nod her head to him.

"If you've come expecting us to kneel, then i feel your going to have a wasted visit. You'll find us a stubborn bunch."

She let her voice call out so that everyone could hear her,

"What brings you and your...retinue...to our doors?"

Jagaimo was quietly impressed, although she made sure that she hid almost everything except a slight up turn smirk at the corner of her mouth that disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. She'd met a few Arcosian's in her time but she rarely met anyone that she couldn't at least get a read from. Ticoga's face gave her nothing to work with but the way he moved and spoke to her, gave her the impression he was a person of great confidence...something she knew first hand was a trait that many of his kind displayed openly. But then he was Emperor and he did have one hell of power pool to pull from...if what he was showing was only a fraction like she suspected then he had many reasons to be confident. But then it was always hard to tell with the Lizards...they had so many forms she didn't know if he was already at his strongest or if what she was seeing was simply something in the middle...the young woman doubted there was a catalogue of Arcosian forms she could just compare him to...they were more varied than any species she'd encountered on her travels. 

Even if it was dismissed as quickly as it had happened, the fact that their guest even looked away for a moment to glance at his scouter when it finished reading her power gave her a small kernel of pride. Without having seen him in combat it was hard to say...maybe she'd hold her own for a few moments...but she knew there was no one behind him, or behind her right now that was her match. It was a strange feeling to the young fighter to not be the weakest in an encounter, especially when so many were in attendance.

"The universe is a big place, why would it care what happens on a backwater wasteland like Plant?"

Jagaimo held her ground as the smaller figured walked to within an arms length of her. But despite herself she still felt a shift in one foot as her toes bunched inside her boot, finding purchase...that instinct to act pulled to the surface by his presence. While it was never as overpowering as it had once been to her, being near to someone that extruded so much strength was still disconcerting.

"It is not my palace to invite you into however I won't have it said that we are unable to receive a guest of your grandeur...I'm certain we can find somewhere more comfortable to discuss matters if they are truly as dangerous as you imply."

She took a step to the side, making a conscious effort not to turn her back to the Arcosian. She was uncouth but she wasn't a complete idiot, she had no reason to offer any insult. Her arm waved towards the door,

"There is a terrace in the tower above that overlooks the city, it should serve a purpose today...but your men will need to remain here...there's no room for all of them on the balcony."

As they passed the Saiyan guard she quelled any concerns with her best Vocado stern look,

"You will remain here, but if even one of these...guests... is harmed on our return, you will all answer to me. Is that clear?"

"Relax," Zuci says to Jagaimo without breaking eye contact with Ticoga, "you should know me well enough from that brief encounter we had to know I wouldn't ignore something like this. I've nothing to do with Plant or its politics...for the time being. Possibly. So I entered myself in this conversation just in case. Now go on." She urged the emperor to detail his plans and ideas in full, which he did so succinctly. She closed her eyes and listened to his every word, the only movement she made being to turn her head in Jagaimo's direction as she gave her rebuttal of sorts.

It was a few seconds afterwards that Zuci cleared her throat.

"Unlike my companion here," Zuci gesetured softly to Jagaimo, "I can understand the perspective, especially from an outsider- Twenty-seven-billion, you say? All from just one Super Saiyan who just so happens to be a stubborn asshole. The one man's death toll combined with a sudden gap in Plant's leadership, and seeing as how you're leading your people you're scared- Ah, worried for your planet's safety as well as those of others. Hopefully." Zuci tacks on near the end to imply that she's not entirely convinced of the man's motive, but she's not actively calling him out either.

"But, if I'm being honest? Hearing your first resort be going to genocide has me doubting this...partnership you intend on offering us. Hear me out, will you? One - One man from an entire populated planet with two different species on it is an evil son of a bitch. And you were going to kill us all to prevent another from spawning. That's a dangerous mindset, 'Emperor Ticoga'." She says his title and his name almost like she finds the idea of him being the leader of Arcose entertaining, but holds her tongue from going any further than that.

"Why, just the other day I took in a wayward Arcosian to our bounty office- Wiped out a small town on some planet named... I don't know, Urath? I'm a stronger than average Saiyan, hopefully to be sporting blonde locs soon, but even I had to admit fighting that man was harder than I would've liked. Would I have suggested to our previous monarch to kill or subdue all Arcosians because of that? Better yet. if anyone from any race did the same as Lottus, should we take that course of action every time just to save ourselves the trouble? And before you say 'That's why I come to you offering a partnership' or whatever, I'm condemning the fact you thought about doing this."

Zuci puts her hands up as she slides off the balcony.

"Of course I'm just one woman. Shoot me if you'd like, that's just my thoughts on that part of your deal. Maybe the rest of Plant will capitulate- Tuffles included who, though I suppose they may technically have been under Saiyan rule due to lacking a proper ruler at the time, I'd like to point out that we are as well. Perhaps the next will separate us into equal governments again? I understand being sc- ahem, concerned over us Saiyans, but they've surely done nothing wrong. We're not strong enough to handle 'our' problem yet...as are you. Right?"

Zuci lets the question hang in the air as she thinks of her next words.

"Based on the Arcosians I've fought in the past, this is your...restricted form, right? Whenever I've pushed those guys around their true forms had about a...six times increase from your lowest form? But given that you're the emperor, if I was to be generous I'd say you can go far past that I'd say you get a..." Zuci put a finger to her lip as she stared at Ticoga. "Fourteen, fifteen times increase? A substantial increase truly befitting one of the galaxy's strongest warriors. Yet the Super Saiyan still lives."

She takes some small pride in her analysis, but continues despite her heartrate picking up from the adrenaline pumping through her body.

"My point in saying all this? I'm ignoring the benefits of your deal right now, but I'll get to it in a moment. You say putting an end to us will have the madness end with Lottus? You can't even end him." Her mouth subtly quirks into a smirk that she forces back into a neutral expression.

"Pray tell, would blowing up our planet ruin that man? He'd probably just call us failures and come at you directly to prove that Saiyans aren't so weak to lose to...well, anyone. You'd be putting a target on your back bigger than the suns that revolve Namek. You can tell the others who intend on coming here that same line too if you're in contact with them. And thank you for the offer- We could really use that to help our planet, genuinely. But let me guess?"

Zuci clears her throat and puts her arms behind her back, straightening out her posture while seeming to be impersonating a person in a position of royalty.

"'Why, my dutiful Saiyan Monarch whose planet I've saved, surely you'll aid me in combating this unspecified enemy that threatens my empire! Oh Saiyan Emperor, would you help me wipe out this planet that goes against me? Little Monarch, my armor's a tad dusty- Do you mind'?" Zuci removes her arms and leans against the balcony. "We feel indebted to you. We can't go against you on any topic without having our support withdrawn or held over our holds. I..." Zuci catches herself. "We will not let future generations of Plant have to regret their ancestors signing away their future because we were afraid of death. So, though I am but one voice, allow me to offer you a counter-offer, one I hope you won't dismiss as the ramblings of a young woman in over her head." 

Zuci's tone almost becomes something resembling respect as she glances at Jagaimo and back to Ticoga.

"Let's get rid of the problem we all have to begin with: We will deal with Lottus. Not after a year, not after half of one, but soon- You've the ability to spread word throughout the galaxy with ease due to your position, right? I'll give the man a deadline. We'll call him out as a disgrace to his Saiyan heritage and to come to Plant on a specific date- It'll be a battle between Super Saiyans, and I swear I will be on the front lines against him. If he wins he's likely to kill us, or we'll bite our own tongues and choke on our own blood. No one controls a real Saiyan, not even one of our own. He'll be asked to refrain from destroying and he'll comply. Why?"

Zuci gestures to the Saiyans below.

"Because no Saiyan could resist the challenge of fighting the best of our race. I'll say that if he refuses the condition, then we won't put up a fight against him or you. And he'll lose out on the greatest challenge that any being in the universe could ever hope to go against- Most of the Super Saiyans in the galaxy against him. But I have to ask you something else too."

"You've got great technology, right? Share that with the Tuffle Scientists- Death does not stop a Saiyan, as he's clearly demonstrated. He forsaked his right to a trial and to be treated with common decency a long time ago. Working together, we could probably find a way to physically incapacitate him for good. It's not a full-proof plan, but when the enemy is someone I doubt even the Kais could properly deal with I say to get over any apprehensions and take the risk. After all, whether he wins or loses is your gain, no? He kills us, your hands are blood-free and no one in the galaxy has to worry about your morals. He loses, well, I shouldn't have to explain the benefits there. ...Your turn."

She had spouted all of that off the top of her head, and truth be told she wasn't even fully convinced she had said the right thing. Almost hastily (though she played it off otherwise) she quickly added:

"Oh, and just so you know, Gandigan of Namek has apparently made contact with his Saiyan student from the Otherworld. Wants her to become the next ruler of the Saiyans and pacify us- A similar goal to yours, though less...intrusive on my life and well-being. With that man's tenacity, perhaps he'll find a way to cheat death too? Let me tell you from personal experience, the Mazoku do not take kindly to their own being attacked, and that girl certainly wouldn't abandon us. Would you risk angering a man who can die and potentially be back within the year? You should consider what I've offered. Say yes, even."

Zuci realized that she might have been playing with fire, and hell, if he killed her right here for lacking manners at least she could laugh about it in hell. Or heaven Kais forbid she was considered good enough to be up there. It'd be pretty funny, but for right now she hid any amusement she found in the situation by forcing a stone cold expression on her sharp facial features.

...Oh, right, she wasn't just talking to one person-

"Say," Zuci gestured to Jagaimo, "what do you think? I can feel it looking at you- You start training with me and a few others, maybe get pushed to the point you think you're dying, I'm sure we can both get to a level worthy of the battle I've envisioned. I'm close, I can feel it. By my estimate we'll have three Super Saiyans at a minimum if you don't, possibly...four or five if I branch out a bit. You manage it, we'll make six. Oh, and if you're gonna voice the concern of 'Well what happens when there's more Super Saiyans' Emperor of Arcose, I'm going to remind you that every action we could take here is risky. I've got nothing other than my word and my strength, and all I can ask is that you accept it for what it is. ...Now it's your turn, sorry about that."

There was so much talking. So much information and back and forth to follow it was making Jagaimo's head hurt. She squeezed the bridge of her nose without realising she was doing it as she watched the two of them converse while she held her tongue, finding herself shifting her gaze between the two of them from time to time and nodding along as things were said. Zuci seemed to be...oh for Kai's sake...she was arguing with the Emperor of Arcose about the merits of having Plant blown up and what it would likely mean for the Empire. While Lottus clearly didn't care for Plant of the Saiyan's he likely wouldn;t take kindly to someone else taking out the Tuffles when he'd failed to do so twice himself...it was also possibly that what Zuci was saying was true...that taking out the Saiyan race would just paint a big target on anyone in the Empire involved with the attack...She knew the man didn't shy from a fight and if it was against another world breaker then he'd likely revel in the chance.

But maybe Zuci shouldn't be telling the Emperor that blowing up the planet was even an option?

Jagaimo shook her head, more to herself than anyone else, shifting and leaning back against the railing that kept her from toppling off the balcony to the city below. For all that was being said Ticoga stood quietly, letting them both say their piece without any interruption. What she said about the Empire calling on the Saiyan's once they'd been helped out with rejuvenating their planet was likely a truth as well...it was well known that the Empire incorporated hundreds of worlds and many of them supplied the Imperial armies with troops...an army that would likely be bolstered by the addition for Saiyan Kingdom and its military forces. Could their generals or rulers really refuse a demand from Ticoga if they became reliant on the technology and trade any kind of subservience would bring? While many would grumble...more would look to keep their power and do the Emperor's bidding without question. Power often made people do crazy things and Saiyan's like many other races had their corrupt officials, men and women who did whatever it took to keep themselves at the top of the pile.

What was that?

"Wait, wait a minute, you want to do what? You want to issue a challenge to Lottus to face us? You realise it's taken more power than most systems can muster to take him down? What are you planning to do? Talk him to death? You fight him here and Ticoga won't need to destroy Plant, Lottus will do it for him!"

Jagaimo had moved from the rail and was looking at Zuci as she paced back and forth, tail flicking about in agitation. Dammit. It was the good plan...it wasn't a great one but it could work. But could they do it...neither of them had shown any indication of being able to summon that kind of power so far, was it even possible for them to ascend to that level? She'd felt the kind of power they would be dealing with up close and it was incredible...the very thought of it sent a chill down her spine...and set her pulse racing...the idea of facing someone so powerful, testing and possibly breaking all limits...it was enticing to say the least.

"Train with you?"

She shook her head briefly,

"Training...I just don't think that would cut it...it can't just be that easy, just an issue of building up enough power and getting stronger? Something triggered Lottus...something triggered most of the others I'm sure. I've not spoken to any about it but if it were just a case of training and learning a new technique then surely we would have a whole regiment of Super Saiyan's by now wouldn't we?"

Was it all really just that simple?

Ticoga was speaking now, pulling the young woman out of her train of thought and bringing her back to the present, pleased it seemed that despite the gap in their strength they had still chosen to treat with him here alone...

"The cults will follow Lottus regardless of whether he wants them to or not. As for the rest of us...well...the ones that could be intimidated that easily don't last long..."

She smirked and bit back a chuckle,

"You Arcosian's must have a different meaning for the word bullying than we do here in Salada...i'm not the slightest bit bruised yet!"

Her eyes flicked over the holoprojector, hiding her surprise at the scale of what was being shown. The level of destruction was something she'd only seen in her nightmares, and even then it was magnitudes larger than the flashes she could remember.

Oh Lottus...what have you done?

"One man...and the Empire watched this whole time and did nothing to try and save those worlds? Billions in an Empire that spans the stars yet a few thousand of us survive here and you expected us to be able to deal with that?"

She waved a hand at the projection they were being shown to draw attention to the vastness of Imperial space. Jagaimo then raised both hands, fingers open. She wasn't trying to pick a fight but if the Empire and the Emperor were truely this concerned with Lottus and his path of destruction then why wait for the Saiyan's to do anything, why not elimante him and then punish them. She wasn't angry with the Arcosian, he was right, they should have dealt with Lottus somehow...something should have been done to try and reign him in but how do you hold back an ocean with some twigs? The Saiyan's that could stand up to him seemed to scatter to the winds whenever they had the chance and she'd heard little about beings from other races that could even stand up to Lottus...even this Namekian king seemed to have failed in this regards...

"If this Gandigan come's, then we will deal with him somehow...if we don't have the strength left in our blood then maybe the Saiyan's deserve to be wiped from the universe. If we can't even defend our own home then what good are we as warriors?"

She chuckled openly at last, the weight seemingly lifting from her shoulders as things became clearer in her mind, listening to them both talk at length, helping her come to some decision or at least help her decide on a path to take. Nodding towards the Emperor, she held his gaze and smiled, finally offering a hand to the smaller alien

"I’ll make sure they know of your offer. If they last more than a few days on that block of stone I'm sure you'll be first on their list to call."

"Good day to you both. I look forward to being contacted once a new monarch has been selected. They and I shall have much to discuss." he says, and leaves them. He returns to his ship, and within minutes, the massive vessel rises back into the air, and vanishes through the atmosphere...

"...I guess there really are merits to listening to other perspectives. Personally, regardless of whether Lottus was allied with the Saiyan Kingdom or not- He isn't- I would've struck regardless in the middle of his attack. Kill a Super Saiyan and deal with the potential consequences later; no matter what happens in the aftermath, from your perspective I think one less Super Saiyan in the universe would only be beneficial for you. ...But it's a risk, I agree."

Not that she didn't still think a little less of Ticoga for admitting to sitting on his laurels during the attack; she acknowledged his reasoning, she just didn't care for it. Plus she was a fairly big fan of preventative measures, that way you'd be able to deal with a lot less annoying things in your life...

"And we appreciate the attempt, Emperor Ticoga! You've definitely lit a fire under us; believe me, I'll... We will be more than happy to deal with the problem." She said with confidence before perking up at Ticoga directing his attention to her. "Oh, thank you for the advice! That was genuine by the way- I know sometimes my tone of speech conveys otherwise!" Zuci says with a big smile.

"Though, personally? If someone were to try and pursue an alliance with me only to back out because of some mild dramatics from Yours Truly, I doubt they would've contributed much. That wasn't targeted at you, of course. ...Seriously, it wasn't. I'd much rather continue fighting on my own than dealing with someone weak like that."

Her expression grew a bit more serious when Ticoga mentioned the disappearances of powerful fighters. She hadn't seen that general Vocado in a while, true... "I'll be sure to keep that in mind. If there is a force behind this, it'll certainly come and try to claim me... I welcome the challenge then, I suppose. In the meantime, farewell Emperor! I'll be seeing you soon!" She waves off the Arcosian as he returns to his ship. She watches with a casual smirk as he leaves before turning back to Jagaimo.

"Eh, true..." Zuci says in response to Jagaimo's suggestion. "Much as I'd love to have one of the biggest battles of my life on Plant, there'd probably be too much collateral. That's if we can even get him to leave... I wonder if Super Saiyans can be fine in space? ...Thought experiment for later." She mentally jots down a note in her mind for later.

"And trust me, I care! Hm... We'll have to get moving cameras set up on a planet with no inhabitants in order to record it properly I suppose. Actually, we'd need some top of the line equipment to capture the movements of Super Saiyans... Hey, like I said, we'll workshop it! And because I did in fact catch the implication- I'm not just in it for the glory! Personal enjoyment and punishment are the only things I care about when it comes to a battle like this! How dare he use his Super Saiyan might on those unworthy of it... It's annoyingly pathetic, and someone needs to put him in his place."

"I mean, it's kind of a threat. Not incredibly overt like it was to us, but still. And yes, I do know that! Good thing Plant's future Emperor will be just what this planet needs to finally come together! ...If I choose to, I mean. Then again, there's some good choices in mind for the planet's future on the off chance I decide to not lay claim to it. We'll just have to see!"

Zuci returns Jagaimo's smile and cackles as Ticoga's ship finally leaves her sight. She looks out over the Saiyan Capital with a sneer and waves her hand over the air above them. "An accurate assessment! No matter what happens, you and I are going to be bruised, battered and beaten by the end of this. Just as it should be! Ohohoho!"

Zuci smoothly leans back over the railing and flips over it, floating just in front of Jagaimo and the balcony. "My friend, perhaps I'll be seeing you at your establishment sometime this week! If you don't see me though, assume I'm training like a madwoman to turn into the legend! Next time I see you, I'll be hoping your hair is a beautiful, golden blonde just like mine will be! See you when I'm ruling the planet byeeeeeeeeeee!"

Zuci waves goodbye to Jagaimo as she flies off at top speed with no particular destination in mind. Honestly she was excited, and she needed to get rid of this excitement. Maybe some isolated training for the whole day would do it for her... Time to find out!