Chapter 1: Blinded By Jealousy

The repeating flashing came more into focus as Tora blinked the bleariness away. The light, a warning that they would be arriving at their destination shortly.

Somehow, it had come back around to his turn to lead the rookies on a training mission. A small group of novices, a far cry from the experienced warriors he was used to serving with. But, he reasoned that they had to start somewhere and why not let it be from an elite like him.

Pushing his arms ahead, as far as the confines of the pod would allow him, his muscles were aching to be stretched. Letting out half a sigh at the restriction, he cast his eyes over the control unit. Aimlessly jabbing at buttons to quell the offensive light, darkness suddenly fell with only the soft light of his translucent scouter glowing. After a couple of taps to the device, Tora opened a channel to the other pods, "it's time to wake up, rooklings. We're making our approach now". Just as he cut the communications, the deep blood coloured planet came into view of the circular window of his attack ball. "A fitting colour", the Saiyan chuckled to himself.


Throughout the descent, a smile crept slowly across Tora's face, as the thought of the battle ahead sent adrenaline coursing through his body. This surge, causing every muscle to steel itself and every neuron to heighten his battle senses, as every fibre in his being began to ignite.

Cutting through the atmosphere at supersonic speeds, the pods approached the planet's surface. The skimming of the barely formed civilisation's buildings, that caused a metallic squealing noise, made for a laughable entrance.

As the dust began to dissipate around the impact crater that his pod had finally come to a halt in, Tora emerged, standing to his full height and keenly surveying the damaged terrain. He could hear a short distance away, the successive reverberating thuds of the young Saiyan's pods landing on the periphery of his own impact site. These ones have good aim already. It was an acceptable start.

Launching straight into stomping and culling their way through the basic fruitful beginnings of society, ensuring that they had truly terrified enough of the local inhabitants, they regrouped in a rocky outcrop at the far edge of the decimated urban like area. With a task of sharing the information they had collated and discussing the next step in their plan of attack.

Normally, Tora was satisfied to let the younger Saiyans have their fun with an initial frenzy and then coach them in strategies afterwards. However, from the moment he had emerged from his pod, he had felt uneasy, a less than subtle knot forming and gnawing in his stomach. This was something that did not plague him often, but when it did it was always right.

Gathering together, placing themselves on the collection of boulders in the sheltered location, the youngest rookie there today, Chard, began his usual eager demand for destruction. Although barely out of adult training, with a handful of successful missions under his belt, it was no secret that he was addicted to the bloodlust, but it often clouded his ability to follow his commander's orders.

Also present but silently following the conversation, was Mato, a complete novice. Her speed and intelligence outweighed her battle prowess, allowing the young Saiyan to excel in training. She sat carefully eyeing Chard as he was enthusiastically spewing his desires to maim and slaughter the local inhabitants. A casual glance to the side and she caught the sight of her other teammate, Tichok. He wasn't young like them, he'd had years of training and experience over them. Yet, he hadn't risen through the ranks in the way most elites did. Mato considered whether he had been given today's mission as further training or as a retirement.

Jumping from his position on the boulders, setting the others' senses on edge, Chard announced "I'm ready to get to work right now, let's just move from one population centre to the next, mowing down these weaklings, then we can claim victory all the sooner". Tichok scoffed at the arrogant boy, he knew that tactic would ensure they would be met with their own demise, but he couldn't fathom how Chard had not learned that yet. Taking the lead in the conversation, Tora mustered a response after taking his hand away from his forehead "not everything is shared in briefings, Frieza seems to enjoy leaving us to go into battle blind and sometimes the information is just outdated. That's why it's so damn important not to make assumptions!" He drew a sharp intake of breath. "Have you not felt that blanketing energy since we arrived?"

"Mmm..it's embedded. Like it's trying to disguise itself in this planet's fauna", added Tichok.

"What the hell are you all talking about?" clearly confused, Chard clenched his fists and jaw repeatedly in agitation. He was just eager to get to the action, he didn't have any interest in tactics, he already felt strong enough to take on most opponents.

After looking thoughtfully over the exchange, "maybe, they have developed some sense of energy without using a scouter", Mato soon trailed off when she realised that she had captured all of their attention.

"Your intelligence and instincts serve you well Mato" Tora admitted. "I indeed have a heightened sense of energy, something that has aided me as a warrior, but it has taken training and skill to hone it. Even now, it feels that there is still more to learn", he looked thoughtfully towards the sky. "Pay more attention to your training, it's more than just fighting and getting through."

A disbelieving sigh started to pass through Chard's mouth, but stopped abruptly when he met with his commander's fearsome glare. This exchange prompted a small stifled laugh from Mato and Tichok.

Inwardly sighing, Tora remarked "Bardock was supposed to lead this mission. But since he's thrown himself into every brutal mission offered since before his son was born, I don't think you'll be likely to see him for some time".

Taking the opportunity to take a cheap shot in the experienced warrior's absence - as Chard had felt that Bardock had been particularly hard on him during a previous training session back on Planet Vegeta - he spoke sarcastically, with a low voice "Well he's likely hiding with shame. I heard his son's power rating was through the roof, at least he will be trained as an elite and not a third class warrior like his fath-"

Tora slammed his forearm into the neck of the bitter Saiyan, thrusting him up and back into one of the large boulders surrounding them. The impact cracks chased through the rock, whilst Chard squirmed and used all his strength to budge the older warrior's solid stance. "That man has earned his right to be called an elite, you will never amount to even half the warrior that he is", he bellowed at the petulant Saiyan's face with such force that he showered him with angry spittle.

A moment of clarity struck Tora, when he realised just how loud the commotion had been, changing from a position of attack to alert, he was eager to protect their location. He released Chard from his hold, turned and rose into the air to survey the area again. Whilst the gasping Saiyan dropped to the floor clutching his neck with trembling hands.

As Tichok's eyes met Tora's, he gave the fellow Saiyan a cautious smile, showing his acknowledgement and respect for his actions. Tichok had served a handful of missions with Bardock and had developed his own respect for the experienced warrior, having witnessed himself the sheer power and battle prowess he possessed.

Turning to fully face the group, whilst he lowered himself to the ground and now satisfied that their commotion hadn't prematurely attracted any unwanted attention. Tora offered, "look, I didn't want this assignment but we're here and we must complete it. I'm not having any fuck ups on my record. That's bad enough, but I don't need to babysit arrogant little pricks who don't understand self-control too!"

Turning towards Mato, "now how confident are you at creating a blutz wave ball? Just in case transformation is needed".

"Uh..well..I haven't actually done it before" Mato murmured.

"That's frustrating but I can walk you through it now, then if that fails then Tichok can launch one up, are we all clear?"

"Uh, actually I meant transforming.."

"What? You mean you've never transformed before! That's fucking priceless!" chortled Chard.

They stood in complete disbelief, that a Saiyan of her age and stage in training had not experienced their culture's greatest power, this was almost taboo.

Coming back to his senses, "How the fuck did you manage it this far?!" blasted Tora.

"Well it just never happened and no-one asked, I think they just assumed. I mean, I get the picture and I understand what happens. It's natural, so it shouldn't be too hard, right?"

With a sinister smile and tone, "Yeah, no problem at all, we'll get you all changed up and then you'll really see why our people enjoy it so much, although you'll probably just find some kind of aircraft to swat or something!" Chard laughed at his own joke. He didn't see the swift movement and almost choked when Tora smacked his shoulder, gripping it forcefully and said through a strained jaw into his ear "we all have a first something, now shut the fuck up before we start swatting you". With a flash to their earlier encounter, he instantly dropped to his knees in a crumpled mess yet again, as Tora abruptly let go of his shoulder. Inwardly cursing and rubbing the deep grooves left on his shoulder, Chard gradually began to regain his composure and returned to his standing position with a look of disdain.

Seemingly out of nowhere, a crowd of the planet's pink faced inhabitants appeared silently, just standing and staring at them with their white bulging eyes.

The Saiyan team sprung straight into their fighting stances, their feet firmly planted in the red tinged soil. They instantly began to collect crackling yellow balls of energy within their palms, poised ready to obliterate the newcomers.

Tora's head jerked in realisation, as he was overcome with the same familiar sense from the blanket of energy that he had felt since their arrival. That feeling, he couldn't place it. He'd never been to this planet or system, the inhabitants didn't have the kind of technological capabilities that enabled space travel and yet he knew it from somewhere. These thoughts replayed over in his head, when they abruptly stopped at the sounds of Tichok taking control.

"Stand down and this will be over soon", he asserted.

The crowd murmured in some kind of response but overall there didn't seem to be any recognition of what had been said.

As Tichok went to repeat himself, the inhabitants quickly dispersed themselves from a select few of their kind that remained. The crowd had left the five of them standing rigidly, with defiance in their eyes. Although these individuals looked the same, they did not act the same as the meek inhabitants they had encountered so far.

Tora stepped forward to assert his comrade's previous order. Instantly, the five remaining inhabitants shifted to a fighting stance. Tora's eyes scanned over them, his scouter not acknowledging any difference in them, but his senses telling him otherwise.

Behind their leader, Chard grinned at Mato and she met him with a wry smile. They knew what was coming, they felt it coursing through them and it was setting their instincts into overdrive.

Seeing the opposing five take aggressive positions, Tichok shifted himself in anticipation.

With a shout Tora launched himself into the closest adversary, repeatedly pounding his fists into soft fleshed being. The others followed his lead, immediately identifying their targets and propelling themselves forward to attack.

Unexpectedly, Mato was first to her target with closed fists striking at her opponents face before the other two teammates had even made contact with theirs. Mato jumped up and swung her leg round landing her precisely placed foot in the face of one of the combatants, causing him to be thrown back into a large boulder with an explosion of rock and dust.

Finishing up with his own opponent, Chard eyed the fifth member fast approaching Tora's back as he concentrated on continually pounding the bloodied face of his chosen target. Chard leapt to attack the challenger, with a brief thought in mind to regain favour with his commander. But this was sorely interrupted by Tora swiftly turning readying himself with a fist of energy to strike at the would be attacker, but before he could complete the manoeuvre, a blur passed between them taking the assailant with them.

There stood several paces away, Mato, raising her head smiling at them and wiping her dripping bloodied hands on her armour. The body of her victim laid motionless next to her with a gaping hole in his chest. Tora smirked at her in recognition and continued his fight, landing his punches harder. Yet Chard just stood speechless, he had not even seen her, the movements too fast for him to comprehend.

With this fatality, the remaining four inhabitants ceased their actions and turned to leave their battle counterparts.

Attempting to move away swiftly, along with the fleeing inhabitants,Tichok grabbed his target in a wristlock, with the intention of exerting pressure for information. Until Tora shouted over, "let him go, they know they're beat and we've got better things to do".

Tichok released him, but not without first briefly applying an almost bone breaking pressure on the joint as a memory.

Regrouping, the Saiyans wiped themselves and adjusted their armour. They hadn't taken any significant damage, but were aware that none of their opponents' moves were repeated, landing in a unique place on their bodies with every hit.

Mindful of this, Tora warned of complacency, especially in the face of perceived weakness like their recent foes. Then with an almost warm expression he turned towards Mato and said "I haven't seen anyone move that fast and savagely since Fasha had a rampage a couple of missions ago". Mato's eyes widened, she had heard the stories but being compared to that was just… "She's an elite, like me and you could be too with that skill set", he continued, with Tichok nodding in agreement.

Uncharacteristically quiet, Chard stood watching the conversation unfold. The conversation he should be the centre of, the praise and recognition he should be receiving. This woman had been the source of his rejection again. His eyes glazed as he recalled how he'd tried to speak with her and offer her a drink at the last harvest festival. She didn't even acknowledge him, just turned and walked away, leaving him stood there looking dejected. With the reminiscent music pounding in his ears, he glared at her. She didn't even recognise me…she's not that special herself. But she's not going to forget me after this mission. He smiled inwardly.


As the beginnings of night began to fall, the sky was aglow with scattered shades of red and orange hues. It was becoming apparent that this solely inhabited planet was far too close to the red dwarf category star to be engulfed in any kind of meaningful darkness. The original plan to wait for the cover that night would provide to launch their next campaign was swiftly dissolving. The mission information was again sorely lacking.

This planet that they had found themselves on, did not appear to have any value and would usually be scheduled for destruction. His puzzlement at why Saiyan warriors - even those with rookies - would be tasked to take down a place with such a basic infrastructure and weak defences. That question continued to whir around Tora's mind.

The Saiyan team had made their way to the outskirts of the seemingly most populated area of the planet. Crouched in their obscure temporary base in an elevated position overlooking the quietening urban centre. Chard took his turn at watch, whilst the others discussed the process and plan for taking the planet in one go with their Great Ape form, as Tora was keen to ensure good timing.

As Mato looked over to Chard perched near the ledge, he nodded his head to encourage her over. She moved over to sit opposite him and turned her head to look over the lights of the city in the distance. He glanced at her, taking in her wonderment at the view below, until he remembered. She needs to remember her place.

Without any warning, Chard threw up his hand releasing a blutz wave energy ball high into the sky. It immediately began expanding and glowing in the familiar light they had all seen on missions before.

All except Mato.

Her eyes had trailed the light up into the sky and trained her sight on the ball as it grew. A pulsing grew within her, as her eyes absorbed the emitting blutz waves.

Quickly realising what had happened, Tora and Tichok rushed over with their eyes shielded to the two perched on the edge of their city vantage point. Upon reaching their teammates position, they could see Chard also covering his eyes, but Mato was completely transfixed by the glow hovering high above them.

"The process has begun, there's nothing we can do now", Tora stated.

Tichok sighed, "shit, it looks like we're doing this now then".

"Let's just wait until she's completed her transformation first", Tora responded before turning his sheltered head to glare at Chard who seemed to be sniggering, "What in the hell did you think you were doing? That wasn't even your job! You just had to sit there and keep watch, is that too fucking hard for you?!" Tora seethed. He could barely contain his emotions as he felt the blutz waves beat down on his skin in a way imperceptible to anything other than Saiyans. But before he could draw another breath to berate the insolent rookie again, Mato's appearance had drastically changed and the ground began to tremble more and more violently.

Chard followed Tora's gaze, when his muted laugh stopped abruptly.

As the transformation took hold, she began growing exponentially in every direction. Mato's canines became like large daggers in her mouth and grated across her tongue, as her face shifted shape. Although her black and red Saiyan armour was expandable, she could feel the strain of the material tugging on her now coarsely furred skin.

The increasingly high view of the metropolis that she had found herself in, was quickly shrinking below her. This fast changing sight was disorienting, this was adding to the confusion of such a swift change in body mass and the primaeval energy flowing through her very being. Letting out a long frustrated growl aimed at the sky, it gradually deepening and becoming more animalistic, the ferocious roar startled the remaining group and sent shivers down even Tora's spine.

With that release, she had completely lost herself.