"Bah hah hah! Three?! I think I've seen rats on this ship with more potential! This one isn't even worth the air he breaths!" One of the guards, someone that looked like the bastard love child of Tony the tiger and Lion-o, laughed out loud at the number that was connected to my strength, bringing a number of other soldiers in on the fun. They pointed and laughed at me, almost killing my initial excitement entirely.
A few of the Geressian's being processed alongside me even shot some pitying looks my way. I frowned for a moment, before taking a breath. The alien with the most experience, and the captain of this ship both advised that those too weak to have a secure position should find a way to make themselves valuable. I see no reason not to listen to their advice.
By their standards I was weak, but that could change with time. I just needed to find a way to use my ki, and give myself the tools to grow. For now however that didn't matter. Survival first. After taking a few minutes to cool down, and let everyone forget about my embarrassing battle power, I approached the soldier who laughed at me and my potential as a combatant.
The soldiers stopped caring about the orderliness of the crowd once people where scanned, stepping back to listen as those desperate for their own survival began to make their cases to individual soldiers. They had been told that their use would be decided by the crew, and like me they had taken it to heart. Already I spotted a some female and even a few male Geressians prostrating themselves before anyone willing to humor them. I suppose for most people suffering through a rape is preferable to dying as a conscript. Having seen at least one afterlife I can't really blame them.
"No." The alien drawled, his fur bristling as I walked up to him. I couldn't help but notice he was nearly four feet taller than I was. "Even if I did enjoy males you wouldn't survive the experience with your strength. I'd advise you move back to your advisor and your cell, at least as a conscript you can keep some scrap of pride as you die."
I scratched the back of my head. Not sure how to take that. "That's...Not what I had in mind. I simply have an offer I think any number of your fellows would be willing to take me up on."
He shook his head, crossing his arms. "look, there are few tasks a power level of three will get you around here. I'm sorry to say you no matter what you do around here, you aren't gonna last too long."
"I wouldn't say that." The Tiger-man tilted his head at me, but let me speak. "It's true, I doubt I can be much help to warriors like you on the battlefield. I'm clearly not suited for combat. But I'd like to put my best foot forward with the crew, avoid the fate of my unfortunate fellows." Tiger-man looked over to one of his friends, the bug man who had kicked me earlier, only to be met with a shrug.
"And what would you say a weakling like you has to offer us?" I grinned. I have their attention now.
I had taken some time to think over what few advantages being human could provide me in the wider universe, and aside from being part of an unknown race without any reputation to speak of, there was really only one thing we had over every other race. One sparkling advantage that pushed us far above the rest.
"It just so happens that I am a fantastic cook. Better than any of you have ever even heard of in fact. I could serve a few meals on this ship in return for my life and relative safety." That actually seemed to intrigue him. A massive furred hand came up to rub his chin.
Apparently the food we put together can be considered top tier. Even a god obsessed with getting a good meal, one Beerus the destroyer, would one day give earth a pass for that reason, and that reason alone.
"It has been a while since I had real food..." He seemed to think for a moment. "I'll take you up on that, human." He tested the word, seeming not to enjoy it too much. My smile grew just a bit larger. Seems I might just survive this. "Once we hit our next target you should try and take some of what they have to offer. If you make something worth my while, me and some of my men'll make sure no one accidentally eats you or something." My grin fell. That sounds an awful lot like I would have to be part of this attack.
"Couldn't I just... make you some food now?" As eager as I was to try and make myself strong. I'm not so fucking stupid as to assume I could take on whatever was waiting for me on the next world these people would invade. I'd rather stick to some half remembered high school cooking skills over my nonexistent experience in combat.
He gave me a light-hearted laugh. "Your welcome to try, but you probably wont find anything aboard. Our ship does come with something resembling a kitchen- usually a way for the higher ups to enjoy something that isn't nutrient paste, but our last cook died two years ago, meaning the captain doesn't bother with things like 'Ingredients'."He let that sink in a moment, before continuing. "-Now seeing as you have nothing else to offer, I'd say your probably gonna end up dead either way. We don't give the weak a free pass just because they say they might be able to do something of use at some point in the future, making you one of the conscripts." He stepped past me, letting a big furry hand fall on my shoulder. "If you do make it somehow, and you get your hands on something I like, I'll think about the offer. Otherwise? Best of luck."
My shoulders dropped. I didn't bother asking him anything more, he had already told me everything I needed to know. If I had anything else to offer I would have already. So I would be fighting on an unknown world with unknown danger, all for the vague amusement and small convenience my presence would provide.
I shook my head, before I marched to my surpervisor, where I was escorted alongside a few whimpering aliens back into the cold of our shared cell. I didn't have any time to waste.
No one tried to run or fight as we were pushed back into our "accommodations". Those of us who were left were more than intelligent enough to know it would be useless. Our captors could fly faster than we could follow, they could tear us limb from limb with same ease I would feel breaking a toothpick. So we clung to whatever chance of survival we could. In this case participating in the battle for the next planet they wanted to sell off. It was almost nothing, but it was more than we would have otherwise.
I didn't move when the door closed behind us, watching as the Geressians settled in as best they could. With the soldiers not looming over us we were left with our thoughts, and the crushing reality of what life was now. A woman who hadn't offered herself to the soldiers burst into tears, hugging her legs and giving up in a way she couldn't bring herself to around her captors. It wasn't long before a few more of her people joined in. In a past life I might have joined them.
Instead I sat down, and I closed my eyes. Even without the relative numbness my death had given me, I knew something these people did not. A secret to strength the killers outside our door didn't recognize even as they wielded it themselves. Something that I know has pushed even humans like me beyond the common soldiers of Freeza force, and possibly even beyond that. Ki. Life Energy. Chakra. Whatever the hell you wanted to call it. An energy that exists in every form of life in some manner or other. It was why these soldiers where so far beyond the human standard of strength, why they could project energy from their palms, why Freeza could end entire civilizations in the blink of an eye. It was why I was confident that even I had a chance.
They didn't tell us how long we had before the fighting would start. It could be days, maybe a few weeks, it could even be tomorrow for all I know. So I had to make a gamble. In the world I once lived in Ki was an impossibility, something that didn't exist in any real form that I could have known of. Hopefully that would be what saves me. If I'm right that would make the presence of ki something I could pick up on far more easily than anyone else. It wouldn't have been a part of me for my entire life. I ignored the crying, the despair and the defeat going on around me, focusing only on my heartbeat. The steady and slow thump of my blood coursing through my veins.
When I could hear nothing else I looked deeper. Mentally grasping away at whatever I could. I was searching for something I knew hadn't been there before, looking for a well of energy to drawn upon, to grow. Thump-Thump. I thought about how I felt before, lazing about a life I hadn't fully valued. Thump-Thump, I thought about how I felt now, outside of the numbness, the emptiness of a half-forgotten memories and feelings. Thump-Thump. An outlier. Thump-Thump. Something that didn't belong. I twitched as the noise changed from a comforting beat to the unforgettable whir of spinning metal, as memories of my heart beating ever slower pushed themselves to the forefront.
When I opened my eyes again my teeth were chattering and fist were clenched so hard my hands bled, stinging in the cold air. My heart. That's what had changed. It felt heavier, more substantial, stronger. When I focused again I picked up on a spark hiding just behind my heart, beating at the same pace and was just a small flicker of warmth, but it was there. I looked around the room, my excitement clear on my face, before finally noticing the quiet of the room around me. In spite of the despair, or perhaps because of it, they had all fallen asleep.
Maybe I was at this longer than I thought. That didn't stop me from smiling. I don't doubt that I still just made record time. Now to push it even further.
I touched on that warmth, drawing it away like a thread from a spool of string, bringing all I could to my hands, and then pushing it outward in a single, concentrated blast. With a huff I threw my arms out my fingers splayed, yet no beam of light or cutting laser greeted my efforts, only a light mist of glowing white light. It was so small the only reason I even noticed was because i was looking for something, anything to show for my effort.
I cut off the energy with a gasping, strained jhuff, suddenly feeling as if I'd just ran a mile. Guess three doesnt take you very far. Not very surprising all things considered.
Still, In just a day, a few hours at most, I had made more progress than most of my race could attest to. And that? That was something to be proud of.
Sure, I was at the very bottom of the totem pole, but that was the beauty of it.
When your at your lowest, when you have nothing left to lose, theres no place to go but up.