Post by Maikeru on Jul 27, 2017 1:11:14 GMT -5
Heavy Weighted Clothing (Power Level Reduced to 18,165)
Mansion Bonus
Gravity x10 Bonus
Deep within the Underground Brenchian Facility
“I need you to lie down on the table,” Myld said as he helped Faizen carry Maikeru through another antechamber. Inside, illuminated under artificial lights, was a fully equipped medical lab. Various screens, interfaces, lights, buttons and switches all came to life when they entered the room. Various operating tables and cold-preserved medicines lay locked in a military-grade refrigeration unit. The technology was a few decades old but was more than enough for what the old Brenchian soldier wanted to use it for.
It took a few moments to lift Maikeru off of his weary and shaking legs. Once in place, however, the elvish Brenchian felt oddly comfortable. He has spent so many nights sleeping on dirt or concrete that the table felt like a luxury furnishing wrapped in Drider’s silk. He could feel all of the stress and exhaustion from today finally catch up to him. Maikeru’s breathing began to slow down as he began to relax. It didn’t help having Faizen continually massage his hair and ears. As the handicapped Brenchian stared at the ceiling, Myld leaned over into Maikeru’s field of vision.
“Before we start any training,” the veteran spoke clearly and slowly after noticing Maikeru’s tiredness. “We need to find out what exactly is wrong with you.”
“Could it be a disease or virus?” Faizen asked nervously.
“Not without some kind of visual sign of infection,” Myld gently inspected Maikeru’s limbs. “There are no signs of skin discoloration or inflammation. If his ears tell me anything it is that it could be a genetic defect or mutation. And if it is an issue down to the genetic level, it won’t be an easy fix.”
Myld could see Faizen’s worry grow on her face.
“Don’t worry, my dear,” he reassured her. “Your “hero” is fortunate enough that this facility still exists. The Kold’s may have been bastards to our people but we managed to get our hands on their technology. Everything ‘Keru here might need is in this room.”
The veteran return his attention to communicating with Maikeru.
“I am going to start the automated scan of your body,” Myld informed. “I need you to lie still in the machin---”
Before Myld could finish his instructions, Maikeru was already fast asleep. Myld smile as he began to press an array of buttons on a nearby console. He continued to speak out loud as he worked, not turning to look at Faizen.
“He’s lucky to have you, you know,” Myld spoke to Faizen. “Not many people in the entire universe have someone as dependable as you taking care of them. If Maikeru showed up anywhere else on this dreaded rock we call a planet he surely would have been dead long ago.”
Faizen barely looked at Myld as he spoke. She was more concerned with holding Maikeru’s hand firmly.
“It’s going to take a while, dear,” Myld added. “In the meantime I can show you the living quarters where you can get cleaned up and find something worthwhile to eat. I suppose if you were a slave like me, it has been too long since you’ve had a good meal. Or maybe you could catch up on your sleep as well.”
Faizen’s lips tightened as she spoke, “I don’t want to leave him. He might need me if he has another nightmare again.”
“We won’t be far,” the veteran continued to try and convince her to look after herself a bit. “Besides, taking care of someone in his condition must be extremely taxing. If you really want to be there for him you need to be a full strength.”
The female Brenchian looked at Myld conflicted. Faizen knew he was right but she has spent weeks tending after him it was beyond difficult to just walk away.
“If it eases your concern, I will setup an automatic alarm. If his heart rate increases rapidly, we will know right away. Okay?”
Faizen smiled reluctantly as her grip slowly loosened. She let go of Maikeru’s hand as he began to sleep soundly. Myld pressed another combination of buttons that cause the medical table to slowly move towards the wall. A panel opened up to reveal an enclosed tube illuminated by a gentle, pearl colored ambience. As the elvish Brenchian was slowly fed into the compartment the display panels along the wall surrounding it began to spring to life. Scans began to investigate every part of his being down to the last molecule. Such a thorough investigation would take as long as Myld promised.
Maikeru’s female companion gripped her abdomen in pain. A large growl bellowed out from her stomach causing both her and the war veteran a surprise. Faizen looked at Myld in embarrassment. Her hunger finally managed to make itself known now that the situation at hand began to die down.
“I suppose I could take you up on that offer to eat something,” she said uncomfortably. And with that both the aged veteran and the youthful caretaker left Maikeru to his intense physical.
______________________________________________________________________
It was an amazing sight filled with both beauty and horror. The dark void of space was given substance from everything within it. The brilliant stars in the distance, glistening various hues of blues, reds, yellows and whites. The glowing atmosphere of the planet nearby gave off a gentle shine. Off nearby gigantic warships continued to burst in balls of flame and debris. Bodies of crew members, launched from the sheer force of each blast, began to float through the vacuum of space. Warriors sheathed in golden lights zipped back and forth tearing apart each ship that strayed too close to their fury.
Maikeru could feel nothing underneath his feet. The sight of looking down sent a shiver through his spine. Under his white baggy pants and red boots, apparel he did not recognize, there was nothing. He saw himself standing in space as if it was as solid as any spot of dirt. Maikeru inspected his arms and the rest of his body. It was brilliant red robes with golden accents. Dark colored sleeves ran all the way past his wrists. In a moment he recalled Faizen’s description of this exotic clothing.
Before long Maikeru felt a presence near him, one of incredible danger. He spun around to see what had his senses on high alert. Hovering in front of him was Saiyan dressed in a similar uniform to the ones he had met in person. Blue tight spandex covered most of his body from the neck downwards. His armor, white as pearls, reflecting the carnage unfolding around them while also adorned with matching boots and gloves. The Saiyan’s body, however, was wrapped in a vivid golden glow.
Maikeru could see this strange but could hardly make out the words he was shouting. The Saiyan’s lips revealed sneers and devious grins as he spoke the muted vocabulary. Maikeru leaned in and squinted his eyes in his best effort to concentrate on what this stranger was saying.
“I cannot understand you,” Maikeru said confusedly. “What are you trying to tell me?”
He could see the golden Saiyan continue yell and laugh at him, but it only sounded like whispers in water. But Maikeru felt a different sense demanding his attention. What his ears could not perceive, his heart roared into his thoughts.
Agony under the weight of pain.
Fear in the sight of death.
The rage of revenge.
The joy of sadism.
Maikeru felt it all beam into his chest like invisible waves crashing against the shoreline of his soul. Pictures of those suffering cascaded into his mind. Men, women and children of all ages and colors; each being inflicted a new horror they have never experienced before. Maikeru began to realize what he was seeing; began to understand what he was feeling. Saiyans rushing towards the surface of this planet. This was…. It’ couldn’t be….. Could it?!
“Brench?!” Maikeru shouted in overwhelming concern. Tears began to well up on his face. How was he able to witness this? His home and his people being destroyed. This was the beginning of their plight and their slavery. Was this how this nightmare began?
And then he heard it. Maikeru, pulled back to where he was floating in space, heard it as clear as crystal. This Saiyan’s words reached out to his pointed ears as they floated in the upper atmosphere of Brench.
“ Your call, God…” the stranger taunted.
Maikeru turned to face this opponent. Despite the oddity of the stranger’s name for him, the blue-skinned man’s face frowned in anger.
“Let’s see if you have the will-power and resolve to save the universe, as I have to save the saiyan race!”
And, seemingly, almost as fast as lightning the Saiyan flew towards him burying his fist within his abdomen. Maikeru could feel his insides break. A nuclear bomb exploded within his veins and nerves sending him into shock. Paralyzed from the sheer amount of pain, Maikeru could feel himself drift back and fall into Brench.
______________________________________________________________________
“Mai! Mai! Stay with me now!” Faizen shouted as she tried to hold down his body. She was doing everything she could to calm Maikeru down. “It’s going to be okay, you just need to breathe!”
“Is it always like this?!” Myld grunted as he tried to pin Maikeru’s legs down. The Brenchian elf was convulsing rapidly. His eyes were rolled back only showing the whites of his sclera. Every muscle in Maikeru’s body was tense and firm like steel.
“Not usually! Ugh!” the caretaker responded. “It never is this...violent! Do you have anything to...you know…calm him down?!” Myld’s teeth were clenched tightly. He looked around trying to find the solution.
“If you can give me a moment,” Myld exhaled. “I can reach the sedative!”
“Do it!” Faizen yelled. Myld let go of Maikeru and clamored at a nearby table. His hands slapped back and forth nervously trying to find the right syringe. Metal trays, tools and injections were knocked astray as Myld continued to search. Faizen was starting to have serious difficulty wrangling down Maikeru. The veteran’s eyes widened when he finally managed to find what he was looking for. Grasping the injection barrel of the Brenchian syringe, Myld shuffled back towards the situation and slammed the sedative into Maikeru’s thigh. It took a few more moments of holding him down for his muscles to relax but it wasn’t long before the elvish Brenchian drifted back into sleep.
______________________________________________________________________
A small delightful chime rang out in his ears. Maikeru took a deep breath as he woke up from his slumber. He found himself lying peacefully on a soft bed. His eyes gazed around the room he had never seen before. This was not the medical chamber he remembered once before. This room had residential amenities in it. Shelves, a closet, desk, and so on. He was buried underneath fluffy bed sheets that were soft to the touch. Turning over to his side, he could see Faizen resting comfortably on top of the bedsheets, fully clothed in apparel he did not recognize.
“She fell asleep looking after you,” a voice came from across the room. Maikeru turned to see who it was. Myld stood leaning against the door frame with a warm cup of tea in his hands. It was obvious to see he did enjoy partaking in the beverage. It had been quite a while since any Brenchian had drank anything besides dirty water.
“How long was I out?” Maikeru asked.
“A day,” Myld answered between sips. “Maybe a day and a half.”
For the first time in his life, Maikeru felt refreshed. But, however, his body still ached to move and his muscled tired. It caused him quite a large amount of discomfort moving out of the bed. The blue elf turned to look at Faizen sleeping soundly.
“Can you help me walk?” Maikeru whispered. “I don’t want to wake her.” Myld approached him and with his free hand handed Maikeru a walking staff before helping him stand up and walk out of the room without making a sound. As they both left the room, the automatic door slid close behind them.
“She has been through alot,” Maikeru added. “She more than deserves a good rest.” Myld agreed as they both began to walk down the hallway to a nearby dining hall. After a few minutes of preparing a meal, the two Brenchians sat down at a old table ready to indulge their appetites.
“As we eat,” Myld broke the silence of the empty halls. “I want to tell you the results of the scans, your physical.”
Maikeru nodded after he took a bite. For a second though his mouth felt fantastic. It was easy to see that the elf was enjoying the first bite of actual food. Myld smiled as he witnessed the change in Maikeru’s mood. It was a relief to see for the old veteran. Ever since Myld had met him, it was always filled with seriousness, confusion or frustration.
“So,” Maikeru said as he chewed. “Did you find it, whatever is wrong with me?”
“Actually,” Myld said with a stern face. “That’s the weird thing. There is nothing wrong with you at all.” Maikeru froze before another bite reached his mouth.
“How is that possible?” the elf asked. “Ever since I was born all I have felt was this pain.”
Myld’s eyes narrowed.
“I wanted to ask you about that,” the veteran hinted. “How long ago do you actually remember?” Maikeru’s eyes turned in thought upon hearing the question.
“A few weeks,” he answered.
Myld played with his cup nervously.
“Well, that’s the confusing part,” the elder continued. “I didn’t find any diseases or rare conditions. Your genetic code is practically flawless while your immune system is in great working order. Out of all the Brenchians I have met in my life, you are a perfect picture of health...”
Maikeru nodded. It was reassuring to hear that he wasn’t sick or had a disea---
“...for being only one month old,” Myld added with a tightened brow.
The blue elf almost choked on his food. It took Maikeru a moment to compose himself after the news.
“What do you mean, only one month old?” he asked to make sure he heard correctly.
Myld continued to explain, “That is the results of your physical. Your chemical balances, skin composition, organ health and so on lead to the same results that are found in Brenchian infants. The strange oddity about all of this is that you have the appearance of a fully, grown and matured adult. So, either you found the cure to aging or you were born almost a month ago.”
Maikeru sat back in the dining hall chair with a concerned look on his face. Thoughts began to click together in his mind.
“When did the Saiyans attack us?” Maikeru asked.
“What does that have to do with anything?” the old veteran looked puzzled.
“Just please,” the elf pressed the issue. “Indulge me.”
Myld took a deep breath.
“I don’t know,” he said. “A little over a month. Why?”
“Because I remember it,” Maikeru answered. “I remember being there in space watching those monsters tear our people apart. How can I remember something like that happening if I was “born” afterwards?”
Myld looked perplexed--speechless.
“I--I don’t know,” the elder reeled back in his chair only to bounce back towards Maikeru. The veteran leaned in close, intrigued. “Wait, what do you remember?”
The elf sighed. He began to explain his most recent dream to Myld. Being in space and seeing the Saiyan invasion forces descend upon Brench, the explosions and destruction that unfolded around him, meeting with the strange glowing Saiyan; the strange thing was the more he thought about it the more he was able to remember. Most of the Saiyan stranger’s words were still muddled in his mind, but Maikeru managed to let something slip that even he did not notice.
“...and that’s when Nasu punched me in the--”
“Nasu?!” Myld’s eyes widened. “You’ve met Nasu?”
“Wait,” Maikeru said in confusion. “Who said Nasu?”
“You did. You said that name,” the Brenchian explained.
“I did? I didn’t even notice,” Maikeru said puzzled. “Why? Is that name important?”
“Yes!” a voice came from behind them. They both turned to see Faizen standing nearby with a look of dread on her face. Both Maikeru and Myld were surprised to see her up and moving as she darted towards the table. The old war veteran was taken back for a brief moment having her interject as she did, but they both shared concern over this new piece of information and they both had a right to be.
“Why are you two looking at me like that?” Maikeru asked as he felt uncomfortable with the sudden change in mood.
“Nasu is---he’s---” Faizen began to feel a great blend of emotions well up inside her. She couldn’t even finish the thought. Maikeru couldn’t help but feel terrible that he had said something to hurt her like that.
“I didn’t mean to upset you, Faizen, I just…” Maikeru wanted to apologize.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Myld interjected. Faizen began to shake off the array of feelings that bled into her mind.
“He’s right,” the female caretaker reassured as she regained herself, “It’s not you I am upset about. It’s that..monster.” This made Maikeru’s concern all the more greater.
“Who is Nasu?” Maikeru asked again. Myld licked his lips, preparing himself to reluctantly speak about the tyrant.
“Nasu is the Saiyan king, their leader,” the veteran clarified. “I would say he lead the attack that destroyed our world and killed our people, but saying he lead the invasion would be an understatement. All the reports and rumors that we could gather before our military was destroyed was that he did not lead it, he WAS the invasion.”
“That was only the beginning,” Faizen interrupted. “After Nasu and his army tore apart our planet, he somehow managed to destroy our world; an entire continent disappeared in a flash with no explanation as to who, why or how. After that he ordered his men to purge every single Brenchian who could pose a threat. The rest of us, as you know Mai, he sent into slavery.”
Maikeru could see Faizen clench her jaw in anger. Myld noticed this as well and finished the explaination.
He added, “Nasu began to announce during all of this mayhem that it was some kind of divine right. That he was a god amongst mortals---”
Maikeru interrupted. “In my dream he, Nasu, called me o---” The elvish Brenchian stopped himself from speaking.
“Called you what?” Faizen asked.
Even saying what was said out loud felt so absurd that it made Maikeru uncomfortable. It is something the crazed and the psychopathic would speak of.
“I don’t know why this Nasu character would say this,” Maikeru hesitated. “But he called me a god.”
A long pause hung in the air. Maikeru felt embarrassed and wish he could somehow take it back. He could see Faizen stare at him without budging a single inch. Myld scratched his head as he thought it over.
“I mean it was a dream after all,” Maikeru tried to socially recover. “There is no reason for it to be tru---”
“Mai,” Faizen interrupted. She sat down next to the blue elf with a weird look on her face. It appeared as if she did not know whether to laugh or cry; an emotional limbo that just overwhelmed the senses.
“W-what’s going on?” Maikeru asked unsure. “What is it?”
Myld decided to speak up, “Boy, I have only known you for a short time. And from what I gather you have no reason to lie to us. Even if you did, you can’t lie about the things I’ve seen and found out myself. The mysterious boost in power, the ability to heal, your genetics; these things you can’t just pretend. These dreams you’ve been having plus the things your lady-friend here has told me; I don’t know if you are or are not a god but you are something. And we need something right now. We can figure all that out later while we have time. But right now time is short.”
“What do you mean?” Faizen interjected. “We are safe down here.”
“But the rest of our people are not,” Maikeru said with a stern tone as he seemed to stare off in the distance. “The more time we waste allows the Saiyans to hurt more innocent lives.”
“Exactly,” Myld confirmed.
A sudden flame began to ignite within Maikeru. It was as if a fog or veil was lifted off of his eyes and was able to see more clearly. Electricity of determination began to channel through his veins.
“I need to get back out there,” Maikeru spoke seriously as he began to stare as his own trembling hand. “You said you could find out what is wrong with me, captain. What do I need to overcome this affliction.”
Myld was taken back by this change in vigor that occurred within the elf. The veteran could tell it was a subconscious change and doubted that Maikeru himself realized it. Even though the Brenchian male’s body was weak, his resolved was miraculously strengthened. Myld wished that if only he could have inspired such valiance in his own troops decades ago.
The elder leaned in close to Maikeru and Faizen and said, “After I read the results I was confused at first. How could someone in such perfect health be in such a condition? Then when I discovered the age of your body, it made perfect sense to me.”
Both Faizen and Maikeru were both intrigued about the diagnosis.
“During the war,” Myld continued, “The Planetary Trade Organization paid top dollar to send mercenary forces to secretly attack our planet when we were away fighting in some other corner of the galaxy. It would have worked perfectly but when they landed on our planet they could barely lift a finger without being in extreme pain much like you. The reason was gravity.”
“Gravity?” both Faizen and Maikeru were surprised.
“Brench has a powerful gravitational field. Our people have spent countless years adapting to it in order to survive. When visitors who are unaccustomed to the planet’s gravity arrive they can barely handle it. You, my friend, are in the same boat. Your body is so new it has never had a opportunity to adjust. Even Brenchian infants can stand and operate better than you, Maikeru. So, basically, you are a fully-grown newborn who was forced to work in a quarry as a slave.”
Faizen added, “But the Saiyans, why aren’t they having the same trouble Mai is?”
“Either their home planet has a similar gravity,” Myld answered, “or perhaps they have invaded so many worlds that they had gotten used to the effects. Who knows? What we do know is that we are at a disadvantage until Mr. God here gets used to it. Luckily we have all the tools we need to properly train his body.”
__________
Myld lead Maikeru and Faizen into a huge hemisphere chamber. The dome was well lit with bright lighting that reflected off each panel that lined the room. The two youthful Brenchians stood in a mix of awe and horror when they noticed the various blemishes on the walls. Blood splatters, scorch marks and dents decorated the panels; a testament for the literal blood, sweat and tears shed in this chamber.
“Welcome, Maikeru” Myld smiles as he loved to show off the technology of this underground facility, “This is your new home. Every moment you spend that you're not sleeping, eating or shitting; you will be here. This room is your factory to forge you into the best you that you have ever been and I am it’s foreman. You will train until you are tired and when you are we will train some more.”
“But,” Faizen spoke up, “What is so special about this room?”
“I am glad you asked,” the veteran smirked as he pressed a few buttons on a nearby keypad. Within a few moments, the chamber walls began to hum gently.
Suddenly Maikeru began to feel a strange sensation. All of his aches, pains and sores began to fade away. He could feel his legs able to hold him properly. The blue elf flexed his fingers with ease as he dropped his walking stick. He exhaled a sigh of relief.
“Mai!” Faizen shouted. “You’re standing on your own!”
“It seems my hypothesis was correct,” Myld smiled.
“What happened?” Maikeru asked.
“I changed the artificial gravity of this room to simulate a nearby moon,” Myld began to explain. “Brench’s gravity is about twenty times stronger than what you are experiencing right now. Your body seems to be managing better at this lower setting. But, as soon as you step out of this room, the pains will return.”
“Now, unless you plan to somehow get every Saiyan down here to fight one at a time, you are going to have to get used to Brench’s gravity and beyond.”
“Beyond?” Maikeru asked. “Why would I need to go beyond twenty times gra---”
Moving as a blur, Myld dashed towards and stood in front of Maikeru faster than the eye could perceive. Maikeru leaped back in surprise as it seemed the elder Brenchian managed to teleport.
“The Saiyans may be a warrior race with a desire for battle,” Myld continued to instruct. “But we Brenchians have our own talent that you need to take advantage of; our speed. Our people were used by the Planetary Trade Organization for surprise attacks for our unrivaled speed and agility. If you are planning on taking on even a single Saiyan, you need to become faster.”
“Now surely, being at such a lower gravity allows me to move as I did at my prime, imagine how fast you can go with the proper training. God or not, if you survive my training, you will be a nightmare for any Saiyan that crosses your path.”
Myld could see Maikeru’s brow furrow with concern. A long moment held in the air.
“Right now I just want to be able to walk properly without feeling like my bones are being crushed into dust,” the blue elf sighed.
“Good point,” Myld said before returning to the console. “We are going to start off at a lower gravity and work your way up to normal Brench levels.”
[Myld sets the gravity to ten times Earth’s gravity.]
The lights in the room flickered as the gravity shifted. Myld, Faizen and Maikeru could feel the change immediately. Maikeru could feel his bones and tendons ache once more but was nowhere near the extremes it was previously. He could still maintain his stance but every movement he made felt extremely heavy.
“Faizen,” Myld said to the companion. “We are going to be here for a while, if you want to go rest you can.”
The female Brenchian could feel tiredness pull on her as much as the gravity did on Maikeru.
“I...I think that is a great idea,” Faizen said reluctantly as she began to walk out of the chamber. “Good luck, Mai.” Maikeru smiled as he trembled in place. After waiting for the two of them to be alone, Myld began to issue his training regiment to the novice.
“Alright then,” Myld smiled. “Let start with one hundred push ups.”
“Push ups?” Maikeru asked with a raised eyebrow. “What’s a push up?”
Myld took a very deep breath before muttering, “..............This is going to take a while.”
______________________________________________________________________________________________
WC: 4,714
TWC: 4,714
Mansion Bonus
Gravity x10 Bonus
Deep within the Underground Brenchian Facility
“I need you to lie down on the table,” Myld said as he helped Faizen carry Maikeru through another antechamber. Inside, illuminated under artificial lights, was a fully equipped medical lab. Various screens, interfaces, lights, buttons and switches all came to life when they entered the room. Various operating tables and cold-preserved medicines lay locked in a military-grade refrigeration unit. The technology was a few decades old but was more than enough for what the old Brenchian soldier wanted to use it for.
It took a few moments to lift Maikeru off of his weary and shaking legs. Once in place, however, the elvish Brenchian felt oddly comfortable. He has spent so many nights sleeping on dirt or concrete that the table felt like a luxury furnishing wrapped in Drider’s silk. He could feel all of the stress and exhaustion from today finally catch up to him. Maikeru’s breathing began to slow down as he began to relax. It didn’t help having Faizen continually massage his hair and ears. As the handicapped Brenchian stared at the ceiling, Myld leaned over into Maikeru’s field of vision.
“Before we start any training,” the veteran spoke clearly and slowly after noticing Maikeru’s tiredness. “We need to find out what exactly is wrong with you.”
“Could it be a disease or virus?” Faizen asked nervously.
“Not without some kind of visual sign of infection,” Myld gently inspected Maikeru’s limbs. “There are no signs of skin discoloration or inflammation. If his ears tell me anything it is that it could be a genetic defect or mutation. And if it is an issue down to the genetic level, it won’t be an easy fix.”
Myld could see Faizen’s worry grow on her face.
“Don’t worry, my dear,” he reassured her. “Your “hero” is fortunate enough that this facility still exists. The Kold’s may have been bastards to our people but we managed to get our hands on their technology. Everything ‘Keru here might need is in this room.”
The veteran return his attention to communicating with Maikeru.
“I am going to start the automated scan of your body,” Myld informed. “I need you to lie still in the machin---”
Before Myld could finish his instructions, Maikeru was already fast asleep. Myld smile as he began to press an array of buttons on a nearby console. He continued to speak out loud as he worked, not turning to look at Faizen.
“He’s lucky to have you, you know,” Myld spoke to Faizen. “Not many people in the entire universe have someone as dependable as you taking care of them. If Maikeru showed up anywhere else on this dreaded rock we call a planet he surely would have been dead long ago.”
Faizen barely looked at Myld as he spoke. She was more concerned with holding Maikeru’s hand firmly.
“It’s going to take a while, dear,” Myld added. “In the meantime I can show you the living quarters where you can get cleaned up and find something worthwhile to eat. I suppose if you were a slave like me, it has been too long since you’ve had a good meal. Or maybe you could catch up on your sleep as well.”
Faizen’s lips tightened as she spoke, “I don’t want to leave him. He might need me if he has another nightmare again.”
“We won’t be far,” the veteran continued to try and convince her to look after herself a bit. “Besides, taking care of someone in his condition must be extremely taxing. If you really want to be there for him you need to be a full strength.”
The female Brenchian looked at Myld conflicted. Faizen knew he was right but she has spent weeks tending after him it was beyond difficult to just walk away.
“If it eases your concern, I will setup an automatic alarm. If his heart rate increases rapidly, we will know right away. Okay?”
Faizen smiled reluctantly as her grip slowly loosened. She let go of Maikeru’s hand as he began to sleep soundly. Myld pressed another combination of buttons that cause the medical table to slowly move towards the wall. A panel opened up to reveal an enclosed tube illuminated by a gentle, pearl colored ambience. As the elvish Brenchian was slowly fed into the compartment the display panels along the wall surrounding it began to spring to life. Scans began to investigate every part of his being down to the last molecule. Such a thorough investigation would take as long as Myld promised.
Maikeru’s female companion gripped her abdomen in pain. A large growl bellowed out from her stomach causing both her and the war veteran a surprise. Faizen looked at Myld in embarrassment. Her hunger finally managed to make itself known now that the situation at hand began to die down.
“I suppose I could take you up on that offer to eat something,” she said uncomfortably. And with that both the aged veteran and the youthful caretaker left Maikeru to his intense physical.
______________________________________________________________________
It was an amazing sight filled with both beauty and horror. The dark void of space was given substance from everything within it. The brilliant stars in the distance, glistening various hues of blues, reds, yellows and whites. The glowing atmosphere of the planet nearby gave off a gentle shine. Off nearby gigantic warships continued to burst in balls of flame and debris. Bodies of crew members, launched from the sheer force of each blast, began to float through the vacuum of space. Warriors sheathed in golden lights zipped back and forth tearing apart each ship that strayed too close to their fury.
Maikeru could feel nothing underneath his feet. The sight of looking down sent a shiver through his spine. Under his white baggy pants and red boots, apparel he did not recognize, there was nothing. He saw himself standing in space as if it was as solid as any spot of dirt. Maikeru inspected his arms and the rest of his body. It was brilliant red robes with golden accents. Dark colored sleeves ran all the way past his wrists. In a moment he recalled Faizen’s description of this exotic clothing.
Before long Maikeru felt a presence near him, one of incredible danger. He spun around to see what had his senses on high alert. Hovering in front of him was Saiyan dressed in a similar uniform to the ones he had met in person. Blue tight spandex covered most of his body from the neck downwards. His armor, white as pearls, reflecting the carnage unfolding around them while also adorned with matching boots and gloves. The Saiyan’s body, however, was wrapped in a vivid golden glow.
Maikeru could see this strange but could hardly make out the words he was shouting. The Saiyan’s lips revealed sneers and devious grins as he spoke the muted vocabulary. Maikeru leaned in and squinted his eyes in his best effort to concentrate on what this stranger was saying.
“I cannot understand you,” Maikeru said confusedly. “What are you trying to tell me?”
He could see the golden Saiyan continue yell and laugh at him, but it only sounded like whispers in water. But Maikeru felt a different sense demanding his attention. What his ears could not perceive, his heart roared into his thoughts.
Agony under the weight of pain.
Fear in the sight of death.
The rage of revenge.
The joy of sadism.
Maikeru felt it all beam into his chest like invisible waves crashing against the shoreline of his soul. Pictures of those suffering cascaded into his mind. Men, women and children of all ages and colors; each being inflicted a new horror they have never experienced before. Maikeru began to realize what he was seeing; began to understand what he was feeling. Saiyans rushing towards the surface of this planet. This was…. It’ couldn’t be….. Could it?!
“Brench?!” Maikeru shouted in overwhelming concern. Tears began to well up on his face. How was he able to witness this? His home and his people being destroyed. This was the beginning of their plight and their slavery. Was this how this nightmare began?
And then he heard it. Maikeru, pulled back to where he was floating in space, heard it as clear as crystal. This Saiyan’s words reached out to his pointed ears as they floated in the upper atmosphere of Brench.
“ Your call, God…” the stranger taunted.
Maikeru turned to face this opponent. Despite the oddity of the stranger’s name for him, the blue-skinned man’s face frowned in anger.
“Let’s see if you have the will-power and resolve to save the universe, as I have to save the saiyan race!”
And, seemingly, almost as fast as lightning the Saiyan flew towards him burying his fist within his abdomen. Maikeru could feel his insides break. A nuclear bomb exploded within his veins and nerves sending him into shock. Paralyzed from the sheer amount of pain, Maikeru could feel himself drift back and fall into Brench.
______________________________________________________________________
“Mai! Mai! Stay with me now!” Faizen shouted as she tried to hold down his body. She was doing everything she could to calm Maikeru down. “It’s going to be okay, you just need to breathe!”
“Is it always like this?!” Myld grunted as he tried to pin Maikeru’s legs down. The Brenchian elf was convulsing rapidly. His eyes were rolled back only showing the whites of his sclera. Every muscle in Maikeru’s body was tense and firm like steel.
“Not usually! Ugh!” the caretaker responded. “It never is this...violent! Do you have anything to...you know…calm him down?!” Myld’s teeth were clenched tightly. He looked around trying to find the solution.
“If you can give me a moment,” Myld exhaled. “I can reach the sedative!”
“Do it!” Faizen yelled. Myld let go of Maikeru and clamored at a nearby table. His hands slapped back and forth nervously trying to find the right syringe. Metal trays, tools and injections were knocked astray as Myld continued to search. Faizen was starting to have serious difficulty wrangling down Maikeru. The veteran’s eyes widened when he finally managed to find what he was looking for. Grasping the injection barrel of the Brenchian syringe, Myld shuffled back towards the situation and slammed the sedative into Maikeru’s thigh. It took a few more moments of holding him down for his muscles to relax but it wasn’t long before the elvish Brenchian drifted back into sleep.
______________________________________________________________________
A small delightful chime rang out in his ears. Maikeru took a deep breath as he woke up from his slumber. He found himself lying peacefully on a soft bed. His eyes gazed around the room he had never seen before. This was not the medical chamber he remembered once before. This room had residential amenities in it. Shelves, a closet, desk, and so on. He was buried underneath fluffy bed sheets that were soft to the touch. Turning over to his side, he could see Faizen resting comfortably on top of the bedsheets, fully clothed in apparel he did not recognize.
“She fell asleep looking after you,” a voice came from across the room. Maikeru turned to see who it was. Myld stood leaning against the door frame with a warm cup of tea in his hands. It was obvious to see he did enjoy partaking in the beverage. It had been quite a while since any Brenchian had drank anything besides dirty water.
“How long was I out?” Maikeru asked.
“A day,” Myld answered between sips. “Maybe a day and a half.”
For the first time in his life, Maikeru felt refreshed. But, however, his body still ached to move and his muscled tired. It caused him quite a large amount of discomfort moving out of the bed. The blue elf turned to look at Faizen sleeping soundly.
“Can you help me walk?” Maikeru whispered. “I don’t want to wake her.” Myld approached him and with his free hand handed Maikeru a walking staff before helping him stand up and walk out of the room without making a sound. As they both left the room, the automatic door slid close behind them.
“She has been through alot,” Maikeru added. “She more than deserves a good rest.” Myld agreed as they both began to walk down the hallway to a nearby dining hall. After a few minutes of preparing a meal, the two Brenchians sat down at a old table ready to indulge their appetites.
“As we eat,” Myld broke the silence of the empty halls. “I want to tell you the results of the scans, your physical.”
Maikeru nodded after he took a bite. For a second though his mouth felt fantastic. It was easy to see that the elf was enjoying the first bite of actual food. Myld smiled as he witnessed the change in Maikeru’s mood. It was a relief to see for the old veteran. Ever since Myld had met him, it was always filled with seriousness, confusion or frustration.
“So,” Maikeru said as he chewed. “Did you find it, whatever is wrong with me?”
“Actually,” Myld said with a stern face. “That’s the weird thing. There is nothing wrong with you at all.” Maikeru froze before another bite reached his mouth.
“How is that possible?” the elf asked. “Ever since I was born all I have felt was this pain.”
Myld’s eyes narrowed.
“I wanted to ask you about that,” the veteran hinted. “How long ago do you actually remember?” Maikeru’s eyes turned in thought upon hearing the question.
“A few weeks,” he answered.
Myld played with his cup nervously.
“Well, that’s the confusing part,” the elder continued. “I didn’t find any diseases or rare conditions. Your genetic code is practically flawless while your immune system is in great working order. Out of all the Brenchians I have met in my life, you are a perfect picture of health...”
Maikeru nodded. It was reassuring to hear that he wasn’t sick or had a disea---
“...for being only one month old,” Myld added with a tightened brow.
The blue elf almost choked on his food. It took Maikeru a moment to compose himself after the news.
“What do you mean, only one month old?” he asked to make sure he heard correctly.
Myld continued to explain, “That is the results of your physical. Your chemical balances, skin composition, organ health and so on lead to the same results that are found in Brenchian infants. The strange oddity about all of this is that you have the appearance of a fully, grown and matured adult. So, either you found the cure to aging or you were born almost a month ago.”
Maikeru sat back in the dining hall chair with a concerned look on his face. Thoughts began to click together in his mind.
“When did the Saiyans attack us?” Maikeru asked.
“What does that have to do with anything?” the old veteran looked puzzled.
“Just please,” the elf pressed the issue. “Indulge me.”
Myld took a deep breath.
“I don’t know,” he said. “A little over a month. Why?”
“Because I remember it,” Maikeru answered. “I remember being there in space watching those monsters tear our people apart. How can I remember something like that happening if I was “born” afterwards?”
Myld looked perplexed--speechless.
“I--I don’t know,” the elder reeled back in his chair only to bounce back towards Maikeru. The veteran leaned in close, intrigued. “Wait, what do you remember?”
The elf sighed. He began to explain his most recent dream to Myld. Being in space and seeing the Saiyan invasion forces descend upon Brench, the explosions and destruction that unfolded around him, meeting with the strange glowing Saiyan; the strange thing was the more he thought about it the more he was able to remember. Most of the Saiyan stranger’s words were still muddled in his mind, but Maikeru managed to let something slip that even he did not notice.
“...and that’s when Nasu punched me in the--”
“Nasu?!” Myld’s eyes widened. “You’ve met Nasu?”
“Wait,” Maikeru said in confusion. “Who said Nasu?”
“You did. You said that name,” the Brenchian explained.
“I did? I didn’t even notice,” Maikeru said puzzled. “Why? Is that name important?”
“Yes!” a voice came from behind them. They both turned to see Faizen standing nearby with a look of dread on her face. Both Maikeru and Myld were surprised to see her up and moving as she darted towards the table. The old war veteran was taken back for a brief moment having her interject as she did, but they both shared concern over this new piece of information and they both had a right to be.
“Why are you two looking at me like that?” Maikeru asked as he felt uncomfortable with the sudden change in mood.
“Nasu is---he’s---” Faizen began to feel a great blend of emotions well up inside her. She couldn’t even finish the thought. Maikeru couldn’t help but feel terrible that he had said something to hurt her like that.
“I didn’t mean to upset you, Faizen, I just…” Maikeru wanted to apologize.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Myld interjected. Faizen began to shake off the array of feelings that bled into her mind.
“He’s right,” the female caretaker reassured as she regained herself, “It’s not you I am upset about. It’s that..monster.” This made Maikeru’s concern all the more greater.
“Who is Nasu?” Maikeru asked again. Myld licked his lips, preparing himself to reluctantly speak about the tyrant.
“Nasu is the Saiyan king, their leader,” the veteran clarified. “I would say he lead the attack that destroyed our world and killed our people, but saying he lead the invasion would be an understatement. All the reports and rumors that we could gather before our military was destroyed was that he did not lead it, he WAS the invasion.”
“That was only the beginning,” Faizen interrupted. “After Nasu and his army tore apart our planet, he somehow managed to destroy our world; an entire continent disappeared in a flash with no explanation as to who, why or how. After that he ordered his men to purge every single Brenchian who could pose a threat. The rest of us, as you know Mai, he sent into slavery.”
Maikeru could see Faizen clench her jaw in anger. Myld noticed this as well and finished the explaination.
He added, “Nasu began to announce during all of this mayhem that it was some kind of divine right. That he was a god amongst mortals---”
Maikeru interrupted. “In my dream he, Nasu, called me o---” The elvish Brenchian stopped himself from speaking.
“Called you what?” Faizen asked.
Even saying what was said out loud felt so absurd that it made Maikeru uncomfortable. It is something the crazed and the psychopathic would speak of.
“I don’t know why this Nasu character would say this,” Maikeru hesitated. “But he called me a god.”
A long pause hung in the air. Maikeru felt embarrassed and wish he could somehow take it back. He could see Faizen stare at him without budging a single inch. Myld scratched his head as he thought it over.
“I mean it was a dream after all,” Maikeru tried to socially recover. “There is no reason for it to be tru---”
“Mai,” Faizen interrupted. She sat down next to the blue elf with a weird look on her face. It appeared as if she did not know whether to laugh or cry; an emotional limbo that just overwhelmed the senses.
“W-what’s going on?” Maikeru asked unsure. “What is it?”
Myld decided to speak up, “Boy, I have only known you for a short time. And from what I gather you have no reason to lie to us. Even if you did, you can’t lie about the things I’ve seen and found out myself. The mysterious boost in power, the ability to heal, your genetics; these things you can’t just pretend. These dreams you’ve been having plus the things your lady-friend here has told me; I don’t know if you are or are not a god but you are something. And we need something right now. We can figure all that out later while we have time. But right now time is short.”
“What do you mean?” Faizen interjected. “We are safe down here.”
“But the rest of our people are not,” Maikeru said with a stern tone as he seemed to stare off in the distance. “The more time we waste allows the Saiyans to hurt more innocent lives.”
“Exactly,” Myld confirmed.
A sudden flame began to ignite within Maikeru. It was as if a fog or veil was lifted off of his eyes and was able to see more clearly. Electricity of determination began to channel through his veins.
“I need to get back out there,” Maikeru spoke seriously as he began to stare as his own trembling hand. “You said you could find out what is wrong with me, captain. What do I need to overcome this affliction.”
Myld was taken back by this change in vigor that occurred within the elf. The veteran could tell it was a subconscious change and doubted that Maikeru himself realized it. Even though the Brenchian male’s body was weak, his resolved was miraculously strengthened. Myld wished that if only he could have inspired such valiance in his own troops decades ago.
The elder leaned in close to Maikeru and Faizen and said, “After I read the results I was confused at first. How could someone in such perfect health be in such a condition? Then when I discovered the age of your body, it made perfect sense to me.”
Both Faizen and Maikeru were both intrigued about the diagnosis.
“During the war,” Myld continued, “The Planetary Trade Organization paid top dollar to send mercenary forces to secretly attack our planet when we were away fighting in some other corner of the galaxy. It would have worked perfectly but when they landed on our planet they could barely lift a finger without being in extreme pain much like you. The reason was gravity.”
“Gravity?” both Faizen and Maikeru were surprised.
“Brench has a powerful gravitational field. Our people have spent countless years adapting to it in order to survive. When visitors who are unaccustomed to the planet’s gravity arrive they can barely handle it. You, my friend, are in the same boat. Your body is so new it has never had a opportunity to adjust. Even Brenchian infants can stand and operate better than you, Maikeru. So, basically, you are a fully-grown newborn who was forced to work in a quarry as a slave.”
Faizen added, “But the Saiyans, why aren’t they having the same trouble Mai is?”
“Either their home planet has a similar gravity,” Myld answered, “or perhaps they have invaded so many worlds that they had gotten used to the effects. Who knows? What we do know is that we are at a disadvantage until Mr. God here gets used to it. Luckily we have all the tools we need to properly train his body.”
__________
Myld lead Maikeru and Faizen into a huge hemisphere chamber. The dome was well lit with bright lighting that reflected off each panel that lined the room. The two youthful Brenchians stood in a mix of awe and horror when they noticed the various blemishes on the walls. Blood splatters, scorch marks and dents decorated the panels; a testament for the literal blood, sweat and tears shed in this chamber.
“Welcome, Maikeru” Myld smiles as he loved to show off the technology of this underground facility, “This is your new home. Every moment you spend that you're not sleeping, eating or shitting; you will be here. This room is your factory to forge you into the best you that you have ever been and I am it’s foreman. You will train until you are tired and when you are we will train some more.”
“But,” Faizen spoke up, “What is so special about this room?”
“I am glad you asked,” the veteran smirked as he pressed a few buttons on a nearby keypad. Within a few moments, the chamber walls began to hum gently.
Suddenly Maikeru began to feel a strange sensation. All of his aches, pains and sores began to fade away. He could feel his legs able to hold him properly. The blue elf flexed his fingers with ease as he dropped his walking stick. He exhaled a sigh of relief.
“Mai!” Faizen shouted. “You’re standing on your own!”
“It seems my hypothesis was correct,” Myld smiled.
“What happened?” Maikeru asked.
“I changed the artificial gravity of this room to simulate a nearby moon,” Myld began to explain. “Brench’s gravity is about twenty times stronger than what you are experiencing right now. Your body seems to be managing better at this lower setting. But, as soon as you step out of this room, the pains will return.”
“Now, unless you plan to somehow get every Saiyan down here to fight one at a time, you are going to have to get used to Brench’s gravity and beyond.”
“Beyond?” Maikeru asked. “Why would I need to go beyond twenty times gra---”
Moving as a blur, Myld dashed towards and stood in front of Maikeru faster than the eye could perceive. Maikeru leaped back in surprise as it seemed the elder Brenchian managed to teleport.
“The Saiyans may be a warrior race with a desire for battle,” Myld continued to instruct. “But we Brenchians have our own talent that you need to take advantage of; our speed. Our people were used by the Planetary Trade Organization for surprise attacks for our unrivaled speed and agility. If you are planning on taking on even a single Saiyan, you need to become faster.”
“Now surely, being at such a lower gravity allows me to move as I did at my prime, imagine how fast you can go with the proper training. God or not, if you survive my training, you will be a nightmare for any Saiyan that crosses your path.”
Myld could see Maikeru’s brow furrow with concern. A long moment held in the air.
“Right now I just want to be able to walk properly without feeling like my bones are being crushed into dust,” the blue elf sighed.
“Good point,” Myld said before returning to the console. “We are going to start off at a lower gravity and work your way up to normal Brench levels.”
[Myld sets the gravity to ten times Earth’s gravity.]
The lights in the room flickered as the gravity shifted. Myld, Faizen and Maikeru could feel the change immediately. Maikeru could feel his bones and tendons ache once more but was nowhere near the extremes it was previously. He could still maintain his stance but every movement he made felt extremely heavy.
“Faizen,” Myld said to the companion. “We are going to be here for a while, if you want to go rest you can.”
The female Brenchian could feel tiredness pull on her as much as the gravity did on Maikeru.
“I...I think that is a great idea,” Faizen said reluctantly as she began to walk out of the chamber. “Good luck, Mai.” Maikeru smiled as he trembled in place. After waiting for the two of them to be alone, Myld began to issue his training regiment to the novice.
“Alright then,” Myld smiled. “Let start with one hundred push ups.”
“Push ups?” Maikeru asked with a raised eyebrow. “What’s a push up?”
Myld took a very deep breath before muttering, “..............This is going to take a while.”
______________________________________________________________________________________________
WC: 4,714
TWC: 4,714