An Encounter of the Casual Kind

Espara opened the door to his room and walked inside, closing the door behind him. He took off his scouter and placed it on the table.

“How’d it go?” Nich asked through the gaping hole from his room next door.

“It was… interesting.” Espara replied, turning to look at Nich and putting extra emphasis on his final word.

“Really?” Nich asked with a tone of mock surprise.

“Yeah, the guy… the, er… doctor, he’s unlike most other Saiyan’s.” Espara continued.

“Another man.” Nich said, “How could you?!” Nich shouted, clutching his chest with his left hand.

Espara laughed, “No, I’m serious. He doesn’t act like most other Saiyan’s, he jokes around a lot, and some of the things he comes out with… and then there was this girl…..” Espara’s words trailed off.

“Oh.” Nich said coyly “I see.”

“No its not… I… oh shut up.” Espara said, laughing, he threw his pillow at Nich, who caught it as it hit his chest.

“So then, this… girl. What’s she like?” Nich asked, “Is she beautiful? Are you madly in love?” He asked, raising his arm with an open hand, beckoning the sky, his other arm with an open hand before his chest, beckoning his heart in jest. Then, he stopped. Nich gasped loudly, “Does she know about us? Does she know about our forbidden love?”

Espara laughed.

“No but seriously, what’s this mysterious young lady like?” Nich asked, returning to a sitting position on his bed.

“I didn’t mention she was young.” Espara replied.

“Oh, so she’s old then?” Nich asked, “I didn’t know you were into that sort of thing.”

“Well.” Espara said, flicking his head a little, “There’s a lot of stuff you don’t know about me.”

Nich smiled.

“So, this mysterious young lady?” Nich asked again.

Espara pulled up a chair and sat down before Nich. “She seems really friendly.” Espara thought about how she had climbed on top of him, he thought he’d keep that to himself… as well as the part where she started shouting about a husband. “She also has this… thing.”

“Ahh yes a thing, I know all about those things I do.” Nich said smiling, then, Nich stopped smiling, “Wait, you don’t mean a... thing?” Nich said, gesturing.

“What do you… No? What?... No?” Espara replied.

Nich chuckled, “So, anyway, this… thing.” Nich prompted.

“Well, it’s like a… fluffy Oozaru…..” Espara tried to explain.

“She has a fluffy Oozaru?” Nich asked confused.

“Yeah.” Espara said.

“A… live one?” Nich asked.

“What? No. It’s like… a… toy. Like a squishy, Oozaru, toy.” Espara said, elaborating as best he could.

“Squishy how?” Nich asked, “Like a… jelly?” Nich was pretty lost with this concept of a squishy, fluffy, dead Oozaru.

“No, no, squishy like…” Espara looked around the room for a comparison, “Like a pillow!” Espara said, pointing toward his pillow that Nich was still holding in his lap, “I’ve seen her hugging it, and it seems a bit like a pillow.”

“So, this… thing.” Nich said, still struggling to comprehend this strange concept, “It’s a fluffy, squishy, pillow like, Oozaru toy that this girl… hugs?” Nich asked.

“Yes, exactly.” Espara said, smiling a little at the bizarre conversation the two were currently engaged in.

“And you… have feelings for this girl?” Nich asked.

“Who said anything about that?” Espara responded.

“You’ve been talking about her for ages.” Nich replied.

“No, I’ve been trying to explain the situation of this Oozaru thing she has.” Espara said.

“Well, I’ve never heard of anything like that.” Nich replied. Nich picked up Espara’s pillow, he looked at it intently, turning the pillow in all manner of ways, Nich then pulled the pillow close and hugged it. Before pulling it away from him and looking at it again. “Why would you want to hug a pillow?” Nich asked, looking at Espara.

“I don’t know, but do you mind not hugging mine?” Espara replied.

Nich looked at the pillow, then looked at the one on his bed, “Ahh… yes….. This is yours isn’t it?” Nich placed the pillow beside him on the bed, “Sorry about that.” He said looking at Espara.

They both laughed.

“Anyway, let’s go and gets those drinks we spoke about. I couldn’t get any pizza… nor could I find any drinks that I would trust actually drinking.” Espara said standing.

Both Espara and Nich left their rooms, in search of whatever passed as drinks on the ship.

Another long training session. Celeria felt as if her head was about to explode. What with everything that took place on that forsaken rock and with the subsequent spartan training regimen she subjected herself to, the commander felt as if she was wearing herself out a little too much. So for one evening, she decided to leave the papers, training weights and planning and just try and relax for a little while. It occurred to her that she has barely left her chambers since she first awoke and that the training machines had been her only companions. Realizing that the importance of spending time, even passively, with her fellow warriors could only help in strengthening the bonds of the colony and thus, it's military prowess.

She slowly rose from her console, flexing her muscles in the process. She sashayed to the door, casually flinging her cape over her armor and proceeded out of the chamber, locking the door with a special key card. With slow and heavy steps, she passed through winding narrow corridors of the complex until she finally reached a large, circular chamber that served as both dining area and lounge to their little settlement. When she appeared on the doorway, she was met with many pairs of surprised eyes. The facial expressions were mixed, gravitating somewhere between surprise and apprehension. Immediately, Celeria cracked a welcoming smirk:

"Can't a woman get a drink around here?" - she spoke out playfully and much of the crowd either erupted into a relieved laughter or returned to their previous banter. However, Celeria's smirk faded as soon as she approached the bar. The new recruits were in charge of provisions, and one of them immediately placed a tankard filled with wine-like fluid in front of her. Celeria seated herself at the bar, staring blankly into her tankard, taking small sips as time went by.

Around 5 days had pasted. 5 days since Mokra had awaken. He felt renewed. Like he had took a long sleep. Which to him, no matter how other people putted it, was what happened. The doctors gave him tough words to understand, so Mokra wouldn't be sitting around them all too much. On the contrary. Those past 5 days had been only about training, and remaining mentally distant from most of all the other colony inhabitants. He had actually yet to talk to any other saiyan. He simply tried to avoid them. And everyone else. To both not be pissed by anything, nor have to blast someone through a wall.

As for being in the lounge, that was a big exception. He wasn't talking to anyone, and was simply leaning against one of the walls, hearing all the conversations. When a female saiyan came in, Mokra did raise his head to acknowledge her. Celeria. The highest ranking officer on the colony. Everybody seemed to have respect for her. And although Mokra didn't show it, he did also have quite a bit of respect for the woman. He could be hot headed, but who didn't like Celeria as both a captain and a woman.

Mokra did want to at least great woman, but decided against it. He wasn't just gonna spend his time leaning on a wall either. He made his way to the bar, and was presented with a mug of what was likely to be some sort of beverage. Mokra couldn't identify it just by looking at it though. He picked the can up, and sat, casually, beside Celeria. Taking big sips from his drink, he was able to spit out a few words. "How are you enjoying the view miss Celeria? Nice little thing for a lounge." Commented Mokra. He had been warned Celeria wasn't the happiest person in the world. But personally, that's what he needed at the moment. Someone who wasn't smiling like they just got a present. All saiyans thought they were short tempered, but that's because they didn't know how Mokra really was. Celeria seemed like someone who would not piss him off. At least not like the others.

Espara and Nich entered the circular room, the room was filled with noisy patrons, many of them drunk. The air was stale, a mix of alcohol and sweat. Espara noticed that his shoes stuck to the floor ever so slightly with each step.

"Nice place we got here, remind me to wipe my feet on the way out." Nich said, smiling at Espara.

"Just like home." Espara said smiling back.

Then, Espara noticed her, it was Celeria, sitting at the bar.

Espara waved his hand back and forth before Nich, he had been attempting to tap him.

Nich looked at Espara's hand, flapping at thin air before him, then looked at Espara, "What the hell are you doing?" He asked him with a puzzled look.

Espara looked at Nich, "Do you see what I see?" He asked him.

Nich looked over at the bar, "Is that Celeria?" Nich asked.

"I'm gonna go talk to her." Espara said.

"What? No. Are you crazy?" Nich replied.

"I haven't had the pleasure of meeting her yet." Espara said.

"Yeah and from what I hear that's a good thing, you should only ever talk to Celeria if you need to." Nich replied.

Espara started toward the bar.

"I'll be over here, bring me a drink... if you survive that is." Nich said smirking and pointing to a nearby table that was not currently occupied.

As Espara approached the bar, he noticed a Saiyan say something to Celeria. Espara took an empty seat, leaving a space between him and Celeria. As he took his seat, a tankard was slid in front of him which he received with his right hand before taking a swig.

Waiting just a moment for whatever the hell he just drank to slowly slide down his throat and into his stomach, he turned to Celeria, "Hey, nice place we got here, I haven't yet had the pleasure."

Celeria was downing her second tankard when one of the soldiers approached her, taking a seat by her side. His manner was little too relaxed for her taste, but she didn't mind it much. Let's see... this one was... Mokra, right. The stubborn one. She was certain they all knew her, but even more certain they had no idea she knew all of them. Celeria knew everything about her warriors, it was part of the job. She needed to keep them motivated and alive, and that required a great deal of insight.

"It's Commander Celeria, by the way, soldier." - she muttered to Mokra in a low tone, but with a friendly expression on her face. "And it's great, better than that cramped up capsule I have to call my chambers. Hope you lot have got better accommodation." - she chuckled a little.

She soon noticed another soldier approach, this one was lieutenant Espara. "Lieutenant." - Celeria gave a courteous nod. "It's good to see you."

Socializing and conversing felt unusual; it's been ages since she last communicated properly, with someone other than a doctor or a mainframe console. She was adamant in flexing her interpersonal skills to the limit.

"So, how are you two holding up? I hope you've got everything you need. If there's anything you'd like to know about the current situation, you're always free to ask." - she said, looking straight at the bartender, who was already hard at work making sure the commander always had a full tankard.

Mokra chuckled upon hearing his commander. But she was indeed right. But he wasn't gonna make an habit of calling Celeria Commander. And then again, why should he? Celeria didn't need that to survive. "Sure thing...Commander!" Said Mokra, with a hint of sarcasm. "Hmp...my chambers aren't the best either." Mokra had not been living anywhere in particular. He once fell asleep in front of the training console.

Mokra watched as Lieutenant arrived at the bar. "Hello Lieutenant Espara. This is indeed quite the little something we've got going."

He said, finishing his beverage, only to have it refilled by the bartender. He glared at the man, in a matter most inappropriate. But then again, Mokra didn't like the guy. Always hanging around drinks. Didn't seem to train half as hard. Or even train. Celeria seemed to train a lot, although Mokra didn't know about Espara. As with Commander Celeria, he had yet only know talked to Lieutenant Espara.

"I'm fine." Mokra said, taking a very big sip from his beverage. Wasn't like of him to talk about his feelings. He never did, and never would. Although his feelings weren't the best ones either. "How many Saiyans are in here again? I've forgotten. Remind me." Said Mokra, with quite a devious smile. He was just asking that out of leisure. Since he just didn't down right care for the colony. But this Celeria, she was intriguingly fascinating. For now, however, Mokra would hold his tongue and be sure not to mention that out loud.

"Yes, it's good to meet you." Espara replied to the Commander.

"Holding up pretty well." Espara said to the Commander, "Considering the circumstances." He added, downing the rest of his tankard, the taste was getting better. His tankard was quickly refilled.

"I don't believe I have many questions." Espara continued, looking intently at his drink. "Anything you feel we should be briefed on?" He asked, turning his attention back to the Commander.

"Hello Lieutenant Espara. This is indeed quite the little something we've got going."

Espara looked across the Commander at the Saiyan, he had not seen him before.

"Hello." Espara replied, raising his tankard, before taking yet another swig, "Yes it is." He replied smiling slightly, "It seems very relaxed in here..." Espara said looking at the drunk Saiyan's around him.

"How many Saiyans, huh?" - Celeria repeated Mokra's question, not looking at either of them, but instead focusing on a dot somewhere in the distance.

"Some two hundred. Half of that awake, the other half in cryo. The awakening process slowed down recently, but it's not something we have any real control of. Bodies react differently to cryo-stasis."

Celeria downed her drink in one deep gulp and there was a full tankard in front of her within seconds. She slid the empty one down the counter where a young recruit caught it and got straight to cleaning it.

"Relaxed? Well, this is pretty much the only place where one can be somewhat relaxed. That is, if you manage to adapt to the mental state of your life being one big question mark. Ours are. I won't lie to you, boys - the situation is a lot tougher than you think." - Celeria let out one long, tired sigh.

"But heck, we should get whatever respite we can while we can. After that, I have no doubts there'll be blood. Actually, I'm hoping there'll be."- the corners of Celeria's lips drew into a grin. It was moments like these when her saiyan nature surfaced. One after another, Celeria hoped for one more intense battle to come their way. Admittedly, like any other saiyan, she enjoyed nothing less than stomping the faces of her enemies right into the ground.

"Two hundred huh?" Said Mokra, taking a sip of his drink. He tilted the glass around, looking at what was left. Many saiyans only cared about booze. Of course they still trained, but people like Mokra, who lived to train, would outclass them all easily.

"Taken note of that...Wonder how many of us were there on planet Vegeta..." Mokra thought out loud. On the planet, they were all about a million or a bit less of Saiyans. He couldn't believe that only two hundred were picked to be part of the colony. He actually thought Prince Vegeta would be part of the colony, but he guessed wrong. As he found out when they were all sent to Planet Delta NW-74.

"Tougher?" Asked Mokra, curiously. Everything seemed, rather...normal. As much as it possibly could. Since they were pretty much separated from the rest of their kind forever.

"Why do you think things will get tougher? Is there a problem on the horizon?"- Mokra's neck cracked. It seemed as though, it had done that on its own. If a big battle was coming, Mokra had to be a part of it. A truly big way of training would be destroying some intruder. Not using weighted clothes, like idiots. What kind of training could that give you. To Mokra, that could only make people faster.

Mokra looked around, at all the drunken saiyans, who had nothing else to do but get drunk. Maybe because their life wasn't the best. Hell, no saiyan life was the best, but those drunks exaggerated it. Some of them approached, asking Mokra for a drink. But Mokra, simply punched one off slightly. Those vegetables couldn't even understand when someone was hitting them. Another trait of an idiot.

Mokra drank his drink, and placed the glass on the counter. Somehow, he was extremely lucid. His body could handle those kinds of drinks. He looked around, disappointed at the saiyans that couldn't resist being "happy". He sighed, looking back at Celeria. "There's nothing to do..." He said. I wanna fight... He then thought. Splitting the sentence in half.

'Tougher?' Espara thought to himself, "I thought things seemed pretty calm around here... for now." Espara said, looking around at the drunken Saiyan's. If they were to be attacked now, they probably wouldn't stand a chance, especially not in the state they were in now.

"I won't lie to you Commander, I've been dying to get some action ever since I woke." Espara said.

Espara couldn't deny that he had enjoyed his time in this place, he'd met some interesting people, including his new friend Nich. He could not deny though, that he really wanted to get stuck into some sort of battle. He thirsted for blood.

"So... something's happening. Anything you want to tell us?" Espara said, looking at the Commander, "Should we stop drinking?" Espara asked her, raising his drink.

Espara then motioned the Saiyan serving drinks, "A drink for my friend." he said, pointing back to Nich sitting at a table alone, he didn't want Nich missing out on the fun. "Something special, the strongest drink you got. With compliments." Espara said, smiling. "I think he's gonna need it." He added, talking to himself, as the Saiyan left with some full tankards.

Espara turned his attention back to his own drink, finishing the last three quarters in one go.

"By the way, I don't think I caught your name." Espara said, looking at the other Saiyan sat next to the Commander.

"I won't lie to you Commander, I've been dying to get some action ever since I woke." Espara said.

"Don't lie, Liutenant. I haven't seen you nearly as often as I'd expect 'round the training grounds." - Celeria chuckled.

"Why do you think things will get tougher? Is there a problem on the horizon?"- Mokra asked.

"What always happens on the horizon. Trouble." - Celeria finished her drink and gestured the barman that she's done for the night.

"So, make sure you stay sharp. The both of you. Now, I bid you guys a very good night. I'm afraid there's much work that awaits. If either of you have any need of me, I shall be in my quarters." - she said as she rose to her feet and nodded to each of the two saiyans respectfully. She turned around and slowly walked out of the chamber. With each step, she observed her fellow kinsmen. Although they were all here to drink and unwind, somehow, she could see their posture and gaze change when they saw her.

Celeria figured she reminded them of what they were supposed to be doing. They are supposed to be out there, in the battlefield, each squadron guided by its own commander. Now, she's the only commander around and the squadron is forced to hide underground like Arlian rats. She felt a pang of anger in her chest. To what has her glorious race been reduced to, all because some pompous tyrant was keen on inflating his ego with saiyan corpses.

She shrugged and walked out of the chamber. As she headed to her quarters, she heard the rabble grow louder and interspersed with hearty laughter. Celeria felt glad that the circumstances had at least not crushed what little spirit the colony had. She vowed to preserve that spirit by restoring the saiyans to their true purpose. One day or the other, an opportunity would arise. And she would make sure that they seize it.

((OOC: Exit Celeria.))

Mokra noticed how well Commander Celeria seemed to be taking things. On the inside, she probably felt alone. Like every Saiyan thought. They could be some two hundred of them there, but it was nothing compared to the number they were back on Vegeta. Mokra actually wondered what had happened to some saiyans. Had they all perished? Prince Vegeta. That powerful Saiyan Bardock. King Vegeta. The kind of Saiyan that let you wonder if they would survive the thing that made nearly a whole race get extinct. Well, for the time being, that question was left unanswered, as Mokra nodded when Celeria got up to leave.

"She's probably a bit tired. I see her training a lot." Mokra let out. He was also at the training grounds quite often. He just couldn't refuse his nature. He wasn't sure about Liutenant Espara, but he was sure he trained sometime. If he didn't, what kind of Saiyan would he even be.

"And my name is Mokra...Liutenant. Remember that." The young saiyan commented. Sometimes, he was pleased people didn't know his name. But not when it happened with his superiors.

"Would you like anything else to drink?" Mokra heard another saiyan serving drinks ask. "I'm fine. If I want anything, I'll say so." Mokra responded. He turned back to Espara with curious eyes. "As much as I know about you, I'd like to know more..." A small grin slashed across his face, coupled up with a narrow of his eyes. Mokra was already interested in fighting the other saiyan. No matter who he was. If something was coming up, and eventually make all saiyans help, Mokra had to help. As much, or more than everyone else.

"Don't lie, Liutenant. I haven't seen you nearly as often as I'd expect 'round the training grounds." - Celeria chuckled.


The Lieutenant felt a quick stab of anger, but quickly crushed it long before it had time to escape and show in his face. He couldn't quite tell if the Commander's chuckle was a sarcastic one or not, but it didn't matter, before the Lieutenant had time to respond, the Commander had left with a quick bid goodnight.


Lieutenant Espara watched her leave, with many of the Saiyan's averting their eyes, for fear of being singled out by her. His eyes caught Nich, still sat at his table alone.


"She's probably a bit tired. I see her training a lot."


"Nah, I hear she's like that all the time." Espara replied, "Tired or not."


"And my name is Mokra...Liutenant. Remember that."


Espara turned his attention back to the Saiyan sitting just a few seats from him, "I'll remember it, when I have a reason a to." Espara simply replied, downing another fresh tankard.


"As much as I know about you, I'd like to know more..."


"Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to get to know me. I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of each other." Espara said, placing the empty tankard on the bar, "Now, I have a friend waiting."


Espara stood up, and nodded to the fellow Saiyan, before turning and slowly approaching Nich's table.


"You ready then?" Espara asked him.


"Yeah, what the hell was that drink you sent me? I can still taste it now." Nich replied.


"You're guess is as good as mine." Espara said smirking.


Nich stood up and the two Saiyan's slowly walked toward the exit, "I heard what the Commander said about you not training enough. Please don't tell me that you're going to take it to heart and start nearly killing yourself again." Nich said, "I'm sure it was a joke." He added.


"You know full well that it wasn't" Espara said, his eyes narrowing.


"Yeah..." Nich said, he was almost at a loss for words, "I hear she's like that with everyone though." He finally said.


"That's no excuse..." Espara said, his anger quickly growing again, "But enough about her, lets go see what other entertainment they have in this piece of shit." He added, his tone becoming more light hearted.


((Exit Espara))

((OOC: Thread locked

PL rewards 2,500 per post.

Espara - 2,500 x 5 posts = 12,500 PL.

Mokra - 2,500 x 4 posts = 10,000 PL

Celeria - 2,500 x 4 posts = 10,000 PL ))