With no further use to the crew or the upper management our "supervisor" didn't even bother letting us out of the room, only occasionally stopping by to throw a few trays of what they call "nutrient paste" our way, It was an oddly smelling and stiff kind of gruel, vaguely resembling tooth-paste. Aside from the initial bad impression its appearance left on me, it isn't altogether terrible. Apparently it was supposed to meet all dietary needs, and the relatively tasteless nature of it made its value clear as day. I even managed to take some from those who where too depressed, or too distracted to notice my thievery.
I need all the calories I can get, and seeing as some people have already given up I have no reason for me not to eat my fill and more, Im no expert on training and exercise, but I do know that Ill need all the food intake I can get. It's not like anyone had it in them to complain anyway. Life was shitty enough as it was for them, starting a fight wasn't something any of them wanted, even with someone who was apparently far weaker.
Aside from the occasional whisper about the room people were quiet, and even among those few who did speak, they didn't bother to interact with me. Personally I prefered it that way, these people were in just as much danger as I was, and getting attached would be an unnecessary risk when the time came. I felt bad for them, but I wasn't gonna die alongside them if I had anything to say about it.
I spent the first few days picking at my energy, testing how I could move it about inside my body, how quickly it could be done, and just what kind of effect I could make it have. So far the best I could manage was a few different shades of orange and red light, alongside some moderate heat to occasionally warm my hands in the chill surrounding us, I made sure to expend everything I had at every moment I had it, occasionally collapsing into ragged breaths whenever I did. At first I had wanted to train my body as well, but just the effort of expending my energy exhausted me completely, and in a way I was almost always surprised at.
It always happend in an instant, I felt perfectly fine as I drew on the power, but once I forced it out of my body I would collapse, no matter the effect I tried at or the results it gave me. Still, my efforts bore fruit, the heat or the light always lasting just a bit longer, or burning just a bit brighter than it had before. I made sure to keep the most visible parts of my activity out of sight, not certain how the other people, our captors or my fellow slaves, would react to me manipulating energy. I don't think the Freeza force men would care too much, confident as they were, but the slaves would almost certainly ask for help I can't give them.
Of course that had a rather unfortunate side affect of distancing me even further from them. Without any context or information about me most of them assumed I was sick in some way, always gasping as if I was breathing my last, always on the verge of collapse. It wasn't long before they were giving me all the space our cramped quarters would provide. I suppose I can't complain on that.
On the eve of the fourth day I started to push things up a little, going through what basic exercises I could as I exerted more and more energy. Doing push ups as I worked to regulate my body temperature against the cold of our cell, and quickly finding that I was already capable of much more than I once was. I wasn't a particularly unhealthy man in the past, but after college I had sort of let myself go, abandoning boxing as a hobby, and therefore giving up on a six pack and decently toned arms for an unfortunate mixture flab and mush. Even still, with the help of ki I managed around fifty push ups, which was very close to my old personal best.
It was around a week in before I started picking up on the energy of those around me. It was difficult to parse out individuals in such a densely packed ship, but I could identify the strength and position of the people inside the room. It also gave me an idea about the size and capacity of the vessel I was currently "serving" aboard. After a few hours of tenuous examination I decided the ship was a few thousand feet across, and that it had several different levels people resided in. If I had to guess that meant there were at least a few hundred crew members, each significantly stronger than the standard slave, and a few thousand more slaves of various use.
Of course training and watching my captors wasn't everything I was doing, I was also planning. Planning how to fight, how to survive, how to thrive among a universe were the destruction of a planet was easy enough even for those on the lower end of power. Aside from the shows namesake, I could think of a number of things off the top of my head that might just be what I need to bridge the gap. The hero water, the tree of might, and any number of strength enhancing techniques come to mind. It was only a matter of finding them, and perhaps anything else that I can get my hands on. Maybe I could convince someone to train me, put me through the kind of gauntlet I would need to match the big players.
Of course in order to have even a ghost of a chance at that I would need to find a way off this ship, and that required strength on par with at least some of the soldiers here. I grimaced at the thought. To get there at least I needed training, experience, and if I was guessing right, luck. Luck to find the artifacts, luck to find a trainer, luck to win battles I know I have no real right to take part in.
"Luck." I whispered to myself, before heaving as I expended all my energy once again. I snarled once I caught my breath. I hated the idea of putting it all on something so unreliable. If I was lucky I could have lived the first time around. If I was lucky I'd remember who I am. If I was lucky I might have one day managed to find a purpose and drive in a world that was safe.
No, no I'd have to cheat, and in every way I could. Start thinking of ways to throw some dirt into the eyes of whoever or whatever I fight. I shouldn't be looking for the kind of training and skill Goku would have. I should be looking for how to kill someone with the training and skills Goku has. I don't have a lifetime of martial arts to fall back on, and if I wanna live long enough to have it I'll have to give up on fighting fair entirely.
So what do I have that the average killer won't? I was nursing some ability at sensing, and on the battlefield my own strength is likely to be ignored as the Planet Trade Organization did their work, meaning I was much more likely to go unseen and unnoticed. I know that there exists a number of techniques that can hurt those above the weight-class of the practitioner, and I know that every alien I'd ever laid eyes on shares a number of common traits with humans and each other. Most had four limbs, eyes on their heads, and I assume a relatively similar skeletal structure and body lay out. I also know that while they all have varying degrees of strength and durability, the ability to survive traditionally fatal wounds without the help of a Freeza Force standard healing tank is pretty rare.
If I managed to land a fatal blow that meant my opponent would die regardless of how much stronger he was. Assuming whatever I did was capable of piercing their flesh in the first place. That leaves out traditional means of attack like fist fighting or standard martial arts, cutting out what little experience in fighting I did have. Considering my less than stellar reserves of energy for things like lasers or power beams that also meant I needed a weapon. Something straightforward to handle and easily maintained. Maybe a blade of some kind. I think I remember someone using a sword to considerable effect in the show. I bet its not impossible to learn some ki related use for it either.
Of course I was still in trouble for the immediate future, but I bet its safe to assume I'll be given a weapon of some kind. As amusing as the soldiers outside would find it to send us out to fight with nothing, it wasn't very likely that any of us would accomplish anything aside from mildly annoying whatever force our target had for planetary defense. As far as I've seen none of the Geressians have any inherent energy abilities, and most of them are already likely to have been civilians on their world. If we were to do anything of any use, even as fodder, we would need weapons, strong ones too.
I shook my head, before getting back to work. I suppose I'll find out for sure sooner or later.
I opened my eyes when a voice sounded throughout our room, the same sultry tones I heard when we were being processed. I had been trying my hand at meditation, exercising as much control over my ki as I could before her interruption met my ears. "In four hours galactic standard time we will be arriving on the planet Xecroas prime, the only habitable planet of the Xecroas system. Our orders are standard procedure, the capture of slaves and the cleansing of any of the population who aren't taken aboard. Average power level sits at fifty-eight, with expected outliers to exist between four and sixteen-hundred. For our weaker crew members caution is advised, if any outliers are sighted you are to contact your immediate superior and request assistance.-"
I stood, before taking a moment to stretch as she continued."-The world is primarily desert, with several densely packed population centers located over a number of strangely large bodies of groundwater. Lord Freeza himself has expressed that he wants these undamaged and ready for the buyers use when the time comes. I don't need to explain the consequences of failing to take that in mind.-" A number of energy signatures on the ship twisted and curled in a particular motion I assumed was connected to fear. "-For our 'guests' alongside the purge, I'll try and translate this in a way you primitives might understand. The people on this world, even the weak ones, are all nearly twice as capable and strong as the best of you. If you have the chance to kill one of them you should take it if you want any chance at living another day, because I assure you, they have the advantage against you lot in just about every way that could count."
For a moment I thought it was over, before her voice sounded out once more."Oh, and one more thing-" Her voice took a mocking tone. "Please, some of you, try and go against us. Try and save some of these poor unfortunate souls from the evil men and women who took you from your homes, who stole away everything you know and love!" She chuckled.
"That way our boys can have a nice example for the new slaves coming our way."