Chapter 10: Seeds of Ambition: The Saibamen Challenge
The moment our ship was close to Planet Vegeta's atmosphere, I felt numb still. Our mission on Velaris IV had been brutal but successful, and it was finally time to return home. As the ship glided through the thick clouds, I could see the familiar landscape of my homeworld coming into view.
"Look at that!" Tato exclaimed from beside me, his pride was unmistakable as he gestured toward the screen with the image of the planet Velaris and how Freeza's army was moving in. "Now that's what I call Saiyan might!"
"Indeed," Hanasia agreed, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction as she shared a victorious grin with Tato. "We showed them what happens when they send Saiyans."
I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt as I looked at their elated faces, knowing that I should be sharing in their celebration. But try as I might, I couldn't shake the unease that weighed heavily on my heart.
"Hey, Celera," Tato said, slapping me on the back and snapping me out of my thoughts. "You did good out there. Our first mission was a success. You should be proud."
"Thanks, Tato," I replied, forcing a smile onto my face despite the turmoil within me. "I appreciate it."
The moment our ship pierced through the atmosphere of Planet Vegeta, my chest tightened. I stared out of the window, watching the familiar Green and Blue of the planet before us. This was home, but it was also a reminder of who I had become.
"Touchdown in two minutes," Hanasia announced, her voice clear and steady like a true Saiyan warrior. She flashed me a grin, her eyes filled with confidence and pride. "Ready to bask in the glory?"
"Of course," I responded my voice sounding less emotional than theirs. I glanced at Tato.
As we touched down on the landing pad, the cheers of some of the nearby Saiyans. Their admiration fueled me, serving as a stark reminder of what it meant to be a Saiyan. In their eyes, our strength and destructive prowess were everything.
"Great job, Celera!" a young Saiyan shouted from the crowd, waving his arms wildly. It was Turles and something I had not been expecting.
"Thank you," I replied, forcing myself to smile and acknowledge the praise. As much as I wanted to deny it, there was a certain thrill in being recognized for my power. This was our way of life, and I had been born into it and was something I chose to be born as.
"Your first mission was a success, Celera," a burly Saiyan warrior exclaimed, clapping me on the back. "You're a true testament to our race!"
"Thanks," I murmured, nodding at him. The weight of those words settled within me, causing my heart to ache with the harsh reality of who I was and what I had done.
"Let's celebrate!" Hanasia shouted, raising her fists in the air and igniting the crowd of Saiyan kids like us. They had come and were as enthusiastic as ever, It seemed Tato and Hanasia wanted to show off. The rapture in their voices echoed through the air, making it impossible for me to escape the truth any longer.
As I stood there amidst the roars and cheers of my fellow Saiyans, I finally accepted the undeniable truth: this was my path, and there was no turning back. Strength and destruction were our way of life, and I was a part of it now. It was time to embrace it and make a name for myself among the most fearsome warriors in the universe. And kill anyone that got in my way.
After the celebrations died down, Tato, Hanasia, and I went to collect our payment. We had to enter one of the mission towers and make our way to a waiting room. The room where we received our rewards was brightly lit and filled with different monitors, each one showing something else and stating reports of ships and pods. We approached a large Metal table where a Saiyan official sat, Working on something as they typed away.
"Ah, the Conquerors of Velaris IV," he said with a smirk. "Your annihilation of its inhabitants has earned you quite the reward."
He gestured towards the table, and we each stepped forward to claim our share. Tato and Hanasia eagerly pocketed their riches, their faces gleaming with pride. But as I stared down at the chip with our Freeza Credits before me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
"Is something wrong, Celera?" Hanasia asked, noticing my hesitation.
I shook my head, forcing a smile. "No, it's just... overwhelming," I replied, scooping up the credit chip and feeling its weight in my hands.
"Remember," Tato chimed in, clapping me on the back, "We did a good job Celera."
This mission had been successful, and soon we would have to do another one.
Later that evening, as I checked my earnings, an idea began to form. Instead of using the money for frivolous things like most Saiyans did, I would invest it in something that could truly help me stand out among my people. Something that would Help me get better.
"Hey, Celera," Tato called out, walking out of my aunt's house. "We're heading out to celebrate. You coming?"
"Actually, I think I'm going to sit this one out," I replied, clutching the credit chip in my hand. "I've got a different plan."
"Really?" Hanasia asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Trust me," looking into their eyes "this is something that will help me become a better warrior."
They exchanged glances before shrugging and leaving me to my thoughts. As I walked into my aunt's house and to my room to crash.
The following morning, I set out for a secluded area of Planet Vegeta where my personal mission could begin without interruption. The sun was still low in the sky as I made my way through the dense forest, feeling energized by the crisp air and the scent of damp earth beneath my feet.
"Finally," I murmured to myself when I reached a clearing that would serve as my training grounds. "This is perfect."
With my plan in motion, I headed into town to make a very specific purchase. As I approached the merchant's stall, the smell of exotic spices and strange concoctions filled my nostrils, causing me to wrinkle my nose slightly.
"Ah, Hello customer!" the Alien merchant greeted me, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. "What can I help you with today?"
"I need Saibamen seeds," I said, cutting straight to the point. "60 of them."
"Saibamen seeds?" he repeated, raising an eyebrow. "That's quite a request. But I do have them. They're not cheap, though."
"Money isn't an issue," I replied, tossing him the credit chip from my recent earnings. His eyes widened at the sight, but he quickly recovered and rummaged through his wares before producing a Large pouch filled with the seeds I sought.
"Here you are," he said, handing them over. "Remember, their strength comes from the soil you plant them in. Be careful."
"Thanks for the warning," I scoffed, pocketing the seeds. "But I think I can handle it."
As I walked away, the weight of the pouch seemed to grow heavier with each step. These bio-engineered creatures were known for their combat prowess, making them the perfect training partners for a Saiyan warrior like myself.
Muttered under my breath as I reached the secluded area once again. "This is what you wanted. No turning back now."
Now if I remember from the show all Vegeta did was plant these suckers and they grow quickly. For now, I'll start with just two.
Standing before the carefully prepared plot of land, I felt my heart race with anticipation and excitement. The Saibamen seeds, now nestled in the soil, I watched them begin to grow. and I couldn't help but imagine the fierce battles that awaited me. My fingers twitched at my sides, eager to unleash the power that had been building within me since my return from Velaris IV.
"Alright, you little monsters," I murmured, crouching down to inspect the freshly planted seeds. "Time to show me what you've got."
Over the weeks that followed, I had been fighting the Saibamen. I had tried planting them in different soil around the city outskirts but Despite my best efforts, however, they didn't seem to be as strong as I'd hoped.
"Come on, move faster!" I muttered one day, frustration creeping in as I punched through one of them. The one I had my fist through smiled a bloody smile as it held my arm and another jumped on my back, glowing. "Oh shit"
KABOOM
I coughed as the smoke was clearing and my clothes were damaged. "Little fuckers that was clever" I muttered. bruises on my body as I held my arm. Waiting for an hour as my body healed itself, sadly I didn't get a zenki but this was still helping me by sharpening my mind. As I planted one more.
"Maybe you just need a little push," I mused aloud, crouching down. My hands hovered over the soil, channeling my energy into the earth. Though it was a risky move, I believed that if I could stimulate their growth, perhaps it would become more powerful.
"Okay, here goes nothing." With a deep breath, I released a burst of energy into the ground, feeling it ripple through the soil and envelop the seed. Almost immediately, I sensed a change. The sprouts began to quiver, their energy signatures growing stronger and more vibrant by the second. I had managed to learn how to sense ki on my own, and though I could really point out who was weaker or stronger, I could sense people now.
"Finally," I whispered, a smile playing on my lips as I watched them tremble with newfound vigor. My chest swelled with pride and excitement, the anticipation of the battles to come filling me with renewed purpose.
"Alright, you little warrior," I said, clenching my fists in determination. As I eyed the new color of the Saibamen which wasn't green but a light pink in color "Let's see what you can really do." And as I dashed at it, striking my first out at it, it managed to dodge. I had forced myself to slow down while fighting the green ones but this one actually dodged, I couldn't help but smile as it threw a kick at me that I needed to take a step back to dodge.
It speaking in its weird growling voice, which I couldn't understand. " Raaargh" As it rushed me. I was focusing on dodging, it was stronger than the base ones, and if I had to place it, it was around the same level of speed as my aunt. My grin getting bigger, sadly it was still weaker but that meant they could be upgraded in a way. As I moved to strike forcing it to dodge and even then my hits still landed. One was too easy. And as I grabbed its head I smiled as I gathered ki in that hand and vaporized its head.