Sen had heard rumors of Marimba being on Earth, and considering that the Cyborg knew of Maxsuz's presence it only made sense that the Namekian would be near by. They were two peas in a pod, and Sen knew that they were up to something. They were both savages, and no doubt that had something in store for the empire. Sen and Marimba didn't exactly have a great relationship; Sen had once slaughtered a Mazoku village, though the two recognized the value in teamwork to defeat a common foe. Maybe the two could do so again.
The strange thing was that Sen remained unsure of his current standing with the empire. He had interacted with a member, and yet they did not seem to recognize him. Was there no bounty on his head? A part of him was insulted. He was sure that Ticoga had something in store for him, and no doubt the same was true for Maxsuz, Marimba and the rest of them.
Once he knew that the remnants of the attackers were located somewhere up north, it was only a matter of time until Sen ran into them. Eventually he came across the Mazoku Lord's power emanating from what the locals called the Cave of Darkness. Sen stepped forward, announcing himself to whoever was within. "Marimba!? Approach and face your fate. The scourge of Arcose has come to pay you a visit."
During his visit to Saiyagirl Tower to sign up for the Tournament of Glory, Marimba examined the listed entries and found a recently registered one under the name "Sen" with a crudely drawn yet undeniable picture of him attached to it. After the Mazoku finished his affairs there, he went North toward Earth's Orchestra Hideout. He went into a meditative trance, attempting to scour the planet for his specific energy signature, but ultimately found nothing. Likely, the madman was still on Earth, but his power was too well hidden.
But there was one more method Marimba was willing to try. Raising his power level to 50,000, the Daimao set out a beacon, an aura large enough to be sensed from across the northern region or far farther by someone more familiar and focused on finding it. Hardly 15 minutes later, the Namekian heard the mechanized footsteps of his pursuer.
"Marimba!? Approach and face your fate. The scourge of Arcose has come to pay you a visit."
A short moment later, the lumbering Namekian Mutant emerged from the cavern's darkness, a victorious grin splayed across his smug face.
Marimba proceeded toward the psychopathic automaton. The warrior's power lowered to a mere 500 as he approached but prepared to spike back up at the first sign of danger.
"Like a fly to honey, so you have come, Sen"
"Soulless as you always were, I didn't think you could persist with your life force completely snuffed out."
"Well, I'm pleased you showed up, regardless of whether it was to talk or to die by my hand."
"Now, Can you assure me that you're the same fiendish cur I knew from before? Prove to me that you've not been rewired into a puppet of that conniving lizard?"
The Demon King did not fail to observe that the now-android had the remainder of its flesh replaced with shoddy-looking scrap metal hydraulics—evidence that his current state was not the work of the empire. Still, the Daimao wanted to see if Sen would freely give away any additional information in an attempt to prove his autonomy.
"Not the first time you've underestimated me I bet. Escaping death was is rather simple in the end. All I had to do was give up life. The mechanical body you see in front of you is far greater than what any Tuffle is capable of." Marimba was outputting less power than he was back on Arcose or Namek; either he was severely weakened or suppressing his strength. Sen was hoping for the latter. "The King of the Mazoku is what they called you? Yet you've been chased from your home. For a proud warrior that must be a bitter pill to swallow."
Sen couldn't sense anybody else in the cave, but the Cyborg knew to be careful. Whatever Marimba was, he had proven to be capable of gathering allies. "If Ticoga had gotten his hands on me then trust me: you wouldn't ever have seen me again. After what we did on Arcose... the two of us are bound in blood, Marimba. I've not sought you out to kill you; at least not yet. One day we'll settle out differences as true warriors, but today is not that day. I've sought you out because we still have a common enemy: the Empire."
Sen was not strong enough to take on Ticoga by himself yet, but neither was Marimba or any of his other followers. "We made a deal in the past because we needed each other. We still do. Neither of us will ever be safe so long as Ticoga lives, so the question is what are we going to do about it?"
"The King of the Mazoku is what they called you? Yet you've been chased from your home. For a proud warrior that must be a bitter pill to swallow."
The grimacing Namekian barked in anger.
"I ERRED NOT!" "The likes of Empire, Kingdom, and Nova Corps all deemed the Hoken great enough of a threat to unite against us, and even then, their combined might WOULD STILL have fallen short!"
"Had it not been for the treachery of Guru and his Super Saiyan alliance or the foolishness of the Ryugan Gang, Arcose would have fallen to our machinations, and the rest of their wretched Empire would have followed it!"
"But just as we failed to defeat them, they, too, have failed to defeat us! Saxon will rise again, and with your return, our adversaries have succeeded only in delaying the inevitable!"
"We made a deal in the past because we needed each other. We still do. Neither of us will ever be safe so long as Ticoga lives, so the question is what are we going to do about it?"
"Come with me, and I will show you."
Marimba waved his hand and beckoned the droid to follow before turning and departing into the darkness of the cave. The cave soon led down through the earth into a well-lit, heated, and furnished complex. The two conspirators eventually reached a room with a large round table.
Despite being unsure if what he was about to do would work on a purely mechanical being, the Mazoku King turned to the former Tuffle, lifted his finger, and moved without malice to touch Sen on his forehead.
Marimba was right about one thing: he had managed to gather a force powerful enough to make the galaxy's greatest warriors quake. Too bad it had all been for naught. "You should have done away with Nero alone, and before you took on Arcose. He regarded you warmly at your coronation if I recall; there would have been an opportunity to take him unaware I'm sure of it. I suppose there's no point in lingering on that now though." Nero and Zhalla were high on Sen's list, and no doubt Marimba felt the same.
Marimba invited Sen into the darkness of the cave, to which he followed. Eventually the two reached a home of sorts within, before the Cyborg was taken off guard when Marimba reached out and touched him on the forehead. He might have reached up and snapped the bastard's finger off, until visions into his mind explaining what had happened since he had arrived on Earth.
Visions of warriors reached him: Maxsuz, Caraway, Rhuba, Vale, Chimchurri. These were the warriors that Marimba spoke of. Did they carry enough strength between them to stop the Empire? Once the visions were over Sen took a step back and gathered himself. "Those warriors... different faces than what I recall fighting alongside. What happened to the Mazoku? How do these ones stack up compared to the warriors of old?"
"Those warriors... different faces than what I recall fighting alongside. What happened to the Mazoku? How do these ones stack up compared to the warriors of old?"
"Maestro has refined his powers even further, putting the power of the Super Saiyan to shame, and his cunning exceeds theirs as well. I doubt even the likes of that wretched Lottus sympathizer, Saiyan Queen Zuqetta, could compare."
"If that pit-dweller Lyre's boasting to believed, he will be more than capable of putting down one of the golden fleabags on their own."
"Mandolin has shown to be adept in his wizardry, choosing a slow and complicated path to power. I'd put him on the level of an Armored Squadron member with a deeper bag of tricks."
"The monkey in the room, "Violin," is pursuing the golden glow and is on the fast track by my estimation."
"Our Kai, Theremin, is a wildcard. By their admission, he is not much of a fighter, but he is uniquely resourceful, well-connected, and seems like the type that's good at pulling strings."
"I'd love to see the look on Ticoga's face when all his greatest enemies appear out of thin air in the middle of his throne room! That is the kind of utility he offers us, and more still!"
"We also have more members now than in that initial meeting."
"Saxon has been getting ever stronger within the otherworld and is working with Lyre and some other high-level Oni called "Tsuya" to bring about his revival."
"I also hear he has left us quite the Android, one that was found worthy of a seat in the Orchestra. It was dubbed "Cymbal."
"Harp. Who apparently fought with us on Arcose is another player, although I know as little about them as I do Cymbal."
"Lastly, there's Piano, our Nanotech specialist. If you join, you should arrange a meeting with him, as he can certainly improve the sorry state of your cybernetics."
"It's also worth mentioning that the prolific Heran Pirate Salvo has survived and likely will join in on our next raid."
"By my assessment, with your return, our forces are now mightier and more diverse in talent than ever!"
"The potential to achieve our goals is all there; now we just need to play it out! The downfall of the Arcose Empire, The Saiyan Kingdom, and Lottus alike will be ours to enjoy! And when all is said and done, we can finally have our fated deathmatch for our crimes against the other!"
"I could call Maestro over and have you sworn in within the hour! Solidify your stake in this, and make it official!"
"How about it? Is that good enough for the likes of you?"
Maestro? Mandolin? Were these cut-throat warriors or wannabe power rangers? Unfortunately in Sen's position he didn't have many options in his choice of allies. "Easy. Sounds like you've gathered a cadre of killers, but let's not pretend like you're ready to take on Ticoga. Even if you could somehow get him alone that bastard has plenty of tricks up his sleeve. It's possible that his own list of allies has grown since we attacked Arcose. At least you've been busy in my absence though. Perhaps my initial estimations of you were wrong."
Sen hadn't though much of Marimba during the Mazoku's coronation, but he did have an ability that Sen lacked: leadership. The former Tuffle had always been a rogue who preferred working on his own, and doing his dirty work in the shadows. But now his enemies were much greater than they had ever been before, and if he wanted to stay alive he needed warriors like Marimba by his side. "How much sway do you still hold on Namek? Could we gather more warriors there?" What could was a crown if you couldn't throw it's weight around.
"Good enough to count me into your plans, but I won't be bending my knee or swearing any oaths if that's what you mean. At the very least I need to meet these members in person, to know you aren't just boasting to sucker me in. I've already met with Maxsuz, and his power is impressive... but the others? They're nothing more than words to me. I'll also be needing to know what our first move is."
"Easy. Sounds like you've gathered a cadre of killers, but let's not pretend like you're ready to take on Ticoga. Even if you could somehow get him alone that bastard has plenty of tricks up his sleeve. It's possible that his own list of allies has grown since we attacked Arcose. At least you've been busy in my absence though. Perhaps my initial estimations of you were wrong."
The Namekian scrunched his face, sneering at the idea of him being unable to beat Ticoga.
"Let him pull his little bag of tricks he's come to rely on, and may his hope ebb away as they are exhausted one by one until nothing remains between him and his painful demise!"
"How much sway do you still hold on Namek? Could we gather more warriors there?"
"The only tribe left in the Scarlands that's both loyal to me and still retains enough Mazoku worth their salt to be worth the visit is the Reos clan. But i'm using them to keep an eye on the affairs of Namek. "
"On Arcose, we disengaged early, and none of the enemy champions interfered with our retreat, so I still retain the majority of my numbers from before. "
"I've also made alliances with a few prolific pirate bands, like the Meteor Jacks and Stardust Corsairs."
"Good enough to count me into your plans, but I won't be bending my knee or swearing any oaths if that's what you mean. At the very least I need to meet these members in person, to know you aren't just boasting to sucker me in. I've already met with Maxsuz, and his power is impressive... but the others? They're nothing more than words to me. I'll also be needing to know what our first move is."
"No. As much as the idea amuses me, you will not be made to bend over, prostrate yourself and swear oaths while I root around your mind to ensure your sincerity. That fate is destined for vetting those "new subjects" of the worlds we conquer, not our members, not our allies."
"What it will mean is greater cooperation and transparency between us. We will share in full our plans, you will have a say in them, and you will receive our protection. Our only stipulation is that you use a given alias during our operations."
"Otherwise, if you deny joining us, you will be informed of only our invasion plans only when the time has come to set them in motion, and your only say will be of your participation."
"But if you must know, I will share this much with you. The Orchestra has their eyes set on launching a surprise coup against one of the major world governments to gain more fodder and resources for the greater battle."
Sen was disappointed to hear how little sway Marimba had on Namek; what good was the title of King if he couldn't use it? "A shame. I don't suppose your relationship with Nero or Zhalla has repaired at all? Not that I would ever suggest working alongside those bastards, but visiting Namek to reinforce your authority over the Mazoku is completely out of the question? If that's the case I might suggest giving up your title, if only in name only. Pass it on to someone who you trust; someone who can operate out of the Guru's gaze."
Sen wasn't sure if any such person existed, but best to try all avenues. "I will join you, so long as we continue to share the same goals. I would assume that as you are operating out of Earth that this will be your first target? I'll get to work organizing a list of potential targets that might pose a threat once we launch our attack. As I'm sure you know I prefer to work alone until necessary. If I need assistance I'll contact you, and if for some reason you really need to speak to me again then I have a home not to far from here."
Sen produced a map to Marimba, detailing how to travel from the Cave to where his igloo was located. "Until we meet again." The Android turned and begun his exit.
"A shame. I don't suppose your relationship with Nero or Zhalla has repaired at all? Not that I would ever suggest working alongside those bastards, but visiting Namek to reinforce your authority over the Mazoku is completely out of the question? If that's the case I might suggest giving up your title, if only in name only. Pass it on to someone who you trust; someone who can operate out of the Guru's gaze."
The mutant warlord retorts, his mounting annoyance apparent in the tone of his voice.
"Did I ask for your input on what to do with MY title and MY people?!"
"NO."
"There has been no "repairing" my relationship with those Saiyans. If I were to go back to Namek seeking to conscript those less than willing, it would be those two who would show up to banish me. My authority over the rest will be reinforced ONLY when Guru is humbled beneath me or otherwise removed from the picture."
"At this stage, another sudden influx of Mazoku will make the logistics of hiding and supplying them even more of a headache for me."
"Even if I were to succeed, it isn't going to be that extra fodder that wins this war. Sound tactics and the efficient coordinated might of our champions are the key to our victory."
"I will join you, so long as we continue to share the same goals. I would assume that as you are operating out of Earth that this will be your first target? I'll get to work organizing a list of potential targets that might pose a threat once we launch our attack. As I'm sure you know I prefer to work alone until necessary. If I need assistance I'll contact you, and if for some reason you really need to speak to me again then I have a home not to far from here."
Sen produced a map to Marimba, detailing how to travel from the Cave to where his igloo was located. "Until we meet again." The Android turned and begun his exit.
"As long as our goals continue to align, then that's fine by me."
Marimba studies the map as it's held up, making a mental note of the location. He will soon copy it onto his tablet and send it to Maestro after Sen departs.
"I see..."
"Until we meet again, Scourge."
The crimes of the Tuffle Terrorist stuck like tar in Marimba's mind. His flesh may not have been there, but his violent mind and devious nature still lived on within his processors and heard every time he spoke. As far as the Mazoku was concerned, the android was a scourge to the Mazoku just as he was to Arcose. Had times not been so desperate, he would have gladly torn the cyborg to scrap before his treacherous habits could rear its ugly head. But, given how much his forces were on the back foot, risks need to be taken, and Sen would have to be one of them.
Simply put, The Orchestra needed all the champions it could get.
Thread Exit.
WC: 316. TWC: 1620.
Last Edit: Sept 11, 2024 8:16:56 GMT -5 by Marimba