It was death approaching her in a golden aura. He was death. Bido and Bujin, equal and greater than her in power, annihilated in an instant by him. Walking, unhurried towards her and Bojack, the air crackled around him with electrical discharge, and power running wild. The teen who had been all but defeated, now was a herald of their death.
Fear, utter terror gripped Zangya. Her limbs feeling dead and leaden. Struggling to respond to her, and her bowels turned to water. Chest feeling too tight to expand for her to breathe, she took one shaky step after another behind her, body subconsciously moving her further from the herald of her destruction.
Bojack said something to her, but she didn't hear him. Or rather, his words couldn't penetrate the fog of fear that consumed her. Instead, she was transfixed by the golden teen, now rushing towards her. His killing intent so strong, it was as though it was a physical assault.
A sudden blow to Zangya's back nearly made her yelp in fear, even as it propelled her forwards. With a flash of realization, she understood that it was Bojack who had pushed her forwards. Before she could find her footing, she felt intense burning at her back, and then nothing at all.
Xxx
Zangya woke with a start, heart hammering in her chest and cold sweat beading on her skin. She looked around quickly, finding her room dark, save for the light filtering in from the twin moons outside.
It had just been a dream. A terrible, horrible, and utterly fictitious dream. Maybe her brain was still fried from having been imprisoned on King Kai's planet for so long? A fear of being imprisoned again manifesting as some golden deity heralding her doom? Such a terrible dream, and so ludicrous. After all, who could ever best Bojack? He was the strongest in the universe. They, the Galaxy Warriors, were the strongest in the universe.
Finding that sleep would not soon return, Zangya dressed to what she deemed to be the minimum acceptable amount, and stepped onto the roof, an armful of jewellery to keep her occupied as she surveyed the burning city beneath her. Fires illuminating the hollow husks of what skyscrapers yet remained, the molten streets below looking like the rivers of hell. Broken and abandoned vehicles littered like broken bodies on a battlefield. In a way, what was below them was a battlefield, but was in actuality a slaughterhouse.
"Couldn't sleep either?" asked a familiar voice.
"Unsettled after so long locked away, I'd imagine," said Zangya idly to Gokua, deciding she didn't like a bracelet and casting it over the edge of the railing and into the ruins of the city below. Finding that she liked a string of pearls though, and donning them. "Nothing serious, it will pass. You?"
"Much the same, I had a dream I was cut down by an alien who could transform and turn his hair golden," muttered Gokua.
Zangya stiffened, eyes widening as realization, and terror gripped her. The alien with the golden hair, her herald of doom and death.
"D-do you remember the planet we were on?" asked Zangya, unable to keep the tremor out of her voice. The fear in the dream feeling as real now as the air she breathed.
"Hmm? We?" mumbled Gokua, perplexed. Cocking an orange eyebrow in confusion.
"Do you remember or not?" snapped Zangya, jewellery now forgotten as she turned to her comrade in a huff. Her sudden fury surprising her fellow Galaxy Soldier.
"Uh. Yeah. It's a little fuzzy, but I think it was called Earth? Why?"
Zangya took a few moments to compose herself, before answering. Willing her heart to slow, and tongue to untie itself. Trying to think of how she would describe her concerns to her fellow pirate. If he would take it seriously at all, but if he'd had the same dream, maybe he'd understand? A sick feeling in her gut told her that if she didn't discuss it, the dream would become reality.
"I...had a similar dream. Where an alien who could transform into a being with gold hair struck down Bido and Bujin, before turning to me."
"Did he kill you too?" asked Gokua.
"Ye-...no. I think he was going to, but I'm...I know it was Bojack who did it. I'm sure of it."
"Really? Why'd he do that? So long as we're on the topic of dreams," asked Gokua. Seeming aloof, but Zangya had known him long enough to know that the dream had him spooked too. Next to Bojack he was the strongest among the Hera. All five of them left that is, and though that was a prestigious title, it was a long leap from Gokua and Bojack in terms of strength.
"I think he told me to attack the alien, but I was...I didn't do it," said Zangya.
"Ah. That'd do it," said Gokua simply. "Lord Bojack doesn't like being disobeyed."
"No. It's odd, isn't it? For both of us to have the same dream? Right?" pressed Zangya. Hoping that the other Hera would take it as seriously as she did.
"Maybe. The one who was coming after you have a sword too?"
"No. Lord Bojack defeated him. You died first."
"Really?" asked Gokua, before making a noise of displeasure. "Then I know the dream isn't true. Tell me then, what colour was the hair of alien with the sword then? When it wasn't golden?"
"Lilac," said Zangya.
Gokua fell silent, chewing on his cheek and looking over the remains of the city they had decimated on Bojack's orders.
"A vision, then," said Gokua, quietly.
"How much do you remember of your dream?" asked Zangya.
"Not much, and it's fading," said Gokua. "You?"
"Enough to know that if we go to the planet Earth, it will be our end. The alien that surpassed all the others was the youngest, but many times more powerful. The bloodlust was...intense," said Zangya, shuddering at the memory.
"Then we avoid Earth. Or, destroy it entirely without entering its orbit. Simple," said Gokua casually.
"So long as we can convince Lord Bojack of it," reminded Zangya.
"Convince me of what?" asked Bojack, exiting the gloom of his penthouse suite, a lithe and shapely alien clinging to his bare-chested form. Gold chains glittered and shimmered in the light of the dying city. Scars from battles long past marring his azure skin and muscles. Scars that Zangya had traced many times before, and now could only see that at a distance that all others could.
Even as she and Gokua fell to a knee as they genuflected to their lord, she felt hot, fiery jealousy well up in her towards the lithe alien whom Bojack had taken to his bed. Who had taken her spot.
"We were discussing...an omen. Lord Bojack," said Zangya, keeping her head bowed.
"An omen?" questioned Bojack, lifting an eyebrow.
"We both shared a similar dream. One of death. All of our death," added Gokua.
"Really? Is this true?" asked Bojack looking to Zangya.
"Yes, Lord Bojack, it's true. The details of our dreams match for as long as our lives continued in the dream, between Gokua and myself."
"Hmm," murmured Bojack, stroking him chin. "Did this dream of yours involve my death as well?"
"...Yes, Lord Bojack," said Zangya, for though she hadn't witnessed it, she was sure that he had. The power of the boy with the golden hair was overwhelming. She was almost confused when she couldn't breathe as Bojack's massive hand closed around her neck, threatening to snap it like a twig.
"There is no one, and nothing in this universe that can kill me. Do you understand?" growled Bojack, free hand powering up a mass of green ki that could end her life in an instant. Lighting up her azure skin with its glow. Eyes wild and filled with rage, lacking any reason or higher thought. Pure, unbridled fury within.
Terror gripped Zangya, the dream replaying how Bojack had killed her from behind, but it seemed it had been wrong. It would be to her face. Then, he shifted his hand, and unleashed the blast, vaporizing the alien he had chosen from this world in but a moment. The energy continuing on and erasing much of what remained of the city's skyline, before escaping into space.
"Was it Earth? Was Earth the planet in your dream?" demanded Bojack, but Zangya couldn't answer him, for if anything his hand had tightened around Zangya's throat. The world beginning to darken at the edges of her vision. She thought briefly about strking the arm holding her so he would release her, but then her death would be assured.
"Yes Lord Bojack, it was," answered Gokua in Zangya's stead.
"Then it seems that I'm the only one who knows that there's nothing to dreams!" snarled Bojack, tossing Zangya roughly to the side, and she took in a greedy breath.
"If dreams and shadows scare you like children, then it seems I have to act like a father and show you there's nothing in them at all to fear. I felt power coming from Earth, and if it has you quaking in your boots this badly to lie to me so we stay away from it, than Earth is exactly where we'll go! Get what you need, we're leaving first thing in the morning," said Bojack, retreating back into his penthouse. Shadowy forms of other aliens eager to please him within. All hoping to escape a similar fate as their comrade.
To her surprise, Gokua helped her to her feet where she coughed a few times, swallowing, and trying to ease the aching of her throat and neck. Colour returning to her vision, banishing the grey away.
"Are you alright?" asked Gokua, and Zangya gave him a dismissive look, before flicking her hair into a more acceptable state.
"I'm fine," said Zangya simply, her hoarse voice betraying her. She had withstood weapons from alien civilizations that could shatter moons without a hair out of place, but Bojack's grip? Had he wanted, he could have snapped her neck like a twig. Such power and confidence had attracted her to Bojack before, and though she would never utter it aloud, he had changed since they had been freed. Seemed...unbalanced. He had always been ruthless, but not to them, and not so unnecessarily. Then there was him now spurning her.
"Here," said Gokua, hand outstretched and holding the necklace that they all wore. The chain having broken under Bojack's intense grip.
Zangya's eyes flicked down to the proffered necklace, and then to Gokua, a smirk crossing her face, before turning her back to the swordsman, and moving her hair away from her neck. Taking the cue, Gokua fixed the necklace, and then looped it back around Zangya's throat.
"Such the gentleman," remarked Zangya. "Why the sudden chivalry?"
"A...change of perspective," said Gokua, risking a glance to Bojack's quarters, where bestial grunts and groans were coming from.
"Is that so? Well, would this change in perspective extend to helping a woman pack her things?"
With a beckoning finger, Gokua followed Zangya down the stairs towards her quarters, noticing her hand flex into a tight fist every time there was a particularly loud grunt or moan.
Zangya's room was large, luxurious, and with a view of the ocean that would have been beautiful had the shoreline not been clogged with broken warships and pleasure craft. Like the shells of crustaceans discarded, the metal carcasses were ripped apart as though something had burst from within. In a way that had been true. Bido had make a game of flying through the warships, turning metal to shrapnel, and bodies to paste.
Jewellery, art, and instruments abounded, some haphazardly as there was nary space for them, but others looked to have been carefully kept in pristine condition. Obviously trophies to take with them on their next conquest.
"Welcome to the quarters of the spurned woman, of our most illustrious leader," said Zangya, gesturing expansively. Surprising herself even with her flippant vitriol, and making Gokua physically flinch.
"So, we're really doing this then?" asked Gokua.
"Doing what? I have said nothing of reproach," said Zangya, knowing that she was lying. Holding her gaze steady, she pursed her lips and looked away, picking up a handful of gems, before letting them slip through her fingers.
"I enjoy the conquest. The spoils. I love the freebooting, and having high and mighty beings with crowns on their heads kiss my boots. Carnage had never bothered me in pursuit of our goals. We've left worlds dead and cold to make others bow down to us without fuss. But now..." Zangya paused, stomach twisting itself into knots. Knowing that what she was going to say would fall directly into mutiny, and Bojack's wrath.
"Carnage is the purpose," finished Gokua, but didn't look like he relished the answer. Surprising Zangya on both accounts, since he was serious then in their seemingly now confirmed doubts of Bojack, and that the swordsman wanted anything other than battle.
"I thought you enjoyed the carnage?" pressed Zangya.
"I enjoy the battle. Someone who can match blades with me, or give me a fight where I push myself to my limits. Cutting them down is just proof of my skill. I want to walk where people fear my skill, not in a graveyard," said Gokua. As if to accentuate his words, a ki blast lit up the horizon, shockwaves reaching them, but not disturbing them as Zangya casually made a barrier of ki, leaving their tower unmolested. A tidal wave disturbed from the ocean breaking around the barrier and flooding the streets below the tower.
"We were supposed to be lords of the universe, flush with riches, freedom, and anything our hearts desired. What wine does a corpse make? How does a skeleton serve at my every whim? What good is being a pirate queen, if my kingdom is dust?" asked Zangya, venom and vitriol entering her voice as it turned to a growl.
"So what do we do?" asked Gokua, and Zangya realized that he was ceding leadership of their partnership to her. Or at least, the planning. Something Bojack would never do, would never allow even the smallest amount of power to escape his grasp. She eyed Gokua, but saw no deceit in his blue eyes. He was committed.
"Directly? Very little," admitted Zangya bitterly. "His strength is undeniable, and his moods...capricious," said Zangya, finding that she was choosing her words carefully when speaking of Bojack. Even when speaking of treachery.
"I had thought he had seen us as comrades. At least in the past, and had hoped he still did, but now," trailed off Gokua.
"He sees us as no better than the booty he collects, or the ship he commandeers. Something to be used and discarded when he no longer has a use for it. See again, my room is here, and not with him," said Zangya. Bitterness staining her words.
"He truly has changed, I can't remember him ever putting hands on his crew like he did just now. I can't fathom how he'd ever grow bored of you either."
"Oh?" asked Zangya, surprised, yet oddly pleased at the admission. "Where is this coming from?" she asked, advancing on the swordsman, smirking.
"It has always been, but you belonged to Bojack," said Gokua shrugging his shoulders. "To steal from the Captain is to invite death."
"Why would you need to steal me?" purred Zangya, floating to eye level with Gokua, flicking her hair playfully. "What's changed?"
"I've seen my death, I know what obedience brings me. Are you saying that?"
"That I'm open to the idea of our partnership being more personal? It could be. Like you said, I've seen what obedience brings me," answered Zangya, faltering in her playful seduction as the memory of her death flashed through her mind again. Sinking back to the floor and retreating to her bed, Gokua joining her, sitting on the end, both lost deep in thought.
"I have two ideas," said Zangya. "Or rather, two plans that are forming."
"I'm listening," said Gokua.
"I remember hearing about Namekians, and their near magical powers. Abilities to grant wishes, give immortality, anything you could ever desire. They used a medium called Dragon Balls to do it. If we could find those, we could use them to...do what we need to do," said Zangya, finding that saying aloud their plans for murder, would see Bojack appear and hasten their own deaths. "How to use them, and where to find them however, makes that plan unlikely."
"What's the other plan? Go to Earth and run at first opportunity?" asked Gokua.
"Maybe, but I fear that Bojack would target us first, or that the warriors there would still see us as enemies. We will go to Earth, but, we hedge our bets. Do as we are bid, but make an effort not to take any life, unless we must do so to save our own."
"I...remember a Namekian on Earth," said Gokua slowly. "Or at least, I think I do," he said, furrowing his brow.
"I...you're right," said Zangya slowly, glee lighting up her face. Eyes alight with possibility. "If we do this right, we can have them do the heavy lifting, and then get our hands on the dragonballs afterwards. Get the greatest score of treasure the galaxy has ever seen!" said Zangya excitedly.
"We could bring the Hera back," said Gokua, excitement gripping him too.
"Oh? We... we could, or at least, we could try," said Zangya, the prospect of the wish filling her with the kind of glee that she had felt in the early days with Bojack. They would no longer be the last of their kind, they would be back in their glory. The strongest race the universe had ever seen reemerging, and making its very own empire. The rest of the universe paying tribute for the simple grace of being allowed to exist alongside them. All would know the glory and strength of the Hera. Oh, and how they would be lauded among their people. The ones who returned them not just to glory, but to life? They would be adored for eternity. In this dream, only one thing stood in their way.
Bojack had never cared for his own kind, his refusal to consider children proof enough. Nor did the revelation that the Hera had ceased to be having seemed to bother him. If anything he had found it...amusing. Bojack had always valued strength, but now it seemed that he only valued his own. His own crew, comrades who had been with him from the beginning, meant nothing to him. The merest possible concern for his well-being. The implication that something could kill him, had almost seen him snap her neck.
"If we can't, Immortality wouldn't be a bad alternative," said Gokua.
"Living forever and living as I want sounds good," said Zangya playfully, giddy from the visions of being worshipped by her own kind. "Hm? That's new," said Zangya, distracted by a dagger on Gokua's hip. "A trophy?"
"In a way. I like collecting weapons from the worlds we plunder. I like to see the arms that people choose to trust their lives to, and keep them as a memento. You can tell a lot about a warrior and people by how they choose to fight, and how they choose to make their weapons. Whether it's entirely for functionality, or if they enjoy beauty in it as well. It's an expression of its wielder."
"My, my, why have we never had such meaningful conversations before? I think we have a great deal in common," teased Zangya, or rather, half teased.
"Alone with you in a room, and risk Bojack's wrath? Like he would believe that we were talking about art," added Gokua, darkly.
"What wrath? As you can see, he's become bored with me," huffed Zangya, gesturing around her.
"I still find that hard to believe," said Gokua.
"Really? That's twice now you've said that," said Zangya playfully. "By some chance, do you fancy me?"
"Of course I do. Who wouldn't?" said Gokua plainly.
"Now this is true flattery."
"Even if it's the truth?"
"Then that makes it the best kind of flattery," said Zangya. "Or are you just trying to take advantage of my jealousy?"
"A pirate takes any chance he can to get treasure," said Gokua.
"Treasure, am I?" breathed Zangya, the two have moved closer so that they were almost touching. And then they did. Zangya had mostly meant it as a tease, but found that she was as eager as Gokua was. Perhaps even more than him. Motivated by spite towards Bojack, perhaps motivated by pent up desire. Either way, the result was the same.
It was good, great even. A release and distraction from everything and they let their passions run wild. It was more intimate than Zangya was used to as well. He was less brutish, more attentive, and ultimately, better than Bojack was. Yet, they knew they were on a timetable and soon after were bathed and dressed again.
The two of them wanted, and also needed more support for their planned coup d'etat against Bojack. Of the two remaing Galaxy Warriors, the choice had been so clear that neither Gokua or Zangya had needed to discuss who to talk to next.
Bujin's room was much lower in the tower, the short, but psychically gifted Hera preferring privacy when they weren't out raiding and plundering. They knocked, but when they received no answer, both Zangya and Gokua entered.
The room was dark, reflective surfaces covered with heavy drapes, or dark blankets. Candles burning throughout the room provided light. Oddities preserved floating in jars filled the room alongside old books, odd looking jewellery, and talismans of some religious importance. Bujin was kneeling at a low table with a trio of candles illuminating the tarot cards placed upon it.
Piles of small bones filled a table next to him, while another contained a crystal ball, and dishes of what looked like innards. Small, discarded animals in a bin nearby confirmed it.
Bujin seemed to pay no attention to them, instead gathering up the tarot cards and shuffling them. Azure hands dealing them out with deft practice, and sighing as what appeared to be the same cards were dealt again.
"All portents point to death," sighed Bujin, the turban clad Hera turning to face them, large bags under his eyes. "I assume you're both here about the dreams?" he asked.
"Maybe," offered Zangya. "What do you make of them?"
Bujin studied them, tired eyes going from one to the other and Zangya wondered how long they would have to play coy, before they could get to the point, or if Bujin could be convinced.
"That if we follow Bojack for much longer, we are not much longer for this world," said Bujin, with tired resignation.
"Some would say those words were mutinous," said Gokua slowly.
"Death now, or death soon, it makes little difference," said Bujin plainly. "You are here because you are concerned about the dreams? Yes?"
"Yes," allowed Zangya, finally.
"And you want me to throw my lot in with you in deposing Bojack?" queried Bujin, smirking at Gokua and Zangya's discomfort. "I see that part of you still doesn't accept the new reality," said Bujin smugly.
"I don't see need to throw caution to the winds, when an idle word overheard by the wrong ears would hasten our ends," shot back Zangya.
"Fair enough," said Bujin, shuffling his tarot cards. "The answer is yes by the way."
"Yes to what?" asked Zangya innocently.
"Your plan. Whatever it is," replied Bujin sardonically, laying out the tarot cards again. Stopping and looking back at the Gokua and Zangya. A questioning eyebrow raised as his finger hovered over a card he had just played. 'The lovers.'
"A recent development?" asked Bujin, quickly turning back to his cards after meeting Zangya's murderous gaze. "Could also mean our partnership here," coughed Bujin.
"Hmm, this is promising," said Bujin as he laid down the last of the cards.
"What is the meaning?" asked Gokua.
"There are many interpretations," said Bujin unhelpfully.
"Then what do you think it means?" asked Zangya.
"I think the lovers card is in relation to our new partnership and relationship. The Hierophant reversed means rebellion, or subversiveness. It can also mean new approaches to things," added Bujin, a smug smile on his face.
"I'm sure that's exactly what it means," deadpanned Zangya. Bujin carried on as though she hadn't said a word.
"The first card is the Emperor reversed. Tyranny, rigidity, coldness. That sort of thing. Here is where it offers some hope though," said Bujin, tapping on the fourth card. "The fool. It can mean innocence, but more importantly, new beginnings."
"Does it mean success?" asked Gokua.
"It means a chance of success," said Bujin. "The fifth card is, the devil reversed. Freedom, release, or restoring control. Now, that could be for us, but," said Bujin, trailing off and pulling out a data crystal and putting it into a computer instead.
"That doesn't look like occult magic to me," said Zangya dryly.
"Sometimes I like to peer into the mystic arts, others times, I enjoy hard science," offered Bujin.
"What's on the crystal?" asked Gokua.
"The Shreilans keep close tabs on their neighbours, and the one in charge of this crystal was all too happy to give this to me in exchange for letting him go. Which I did," added Bujin, as though warding off criticism. "I'm a man of principle after all. Though, to be fair, Bojack did blow him and his family up as they were leaving the planet," added Bujin with a shrug. "I kept my word. I let him go."
"And the data on the crystal?" asked Zangya.
"Well, he didn't give me all the cryptographic keys," admitted Bujin. "I honestly don't think he had them all. What I have been able to find from it, with the access I do have, is that there's a research station the next system over that's been doing some genetic and cloning research."
"Do you think that there's a weapon in that station?" asked Gokua. "A cyborg or biological weapon or some kind?"
"I think that we are the weapon," said Bujin.
"I don't follow. Are you implying that we're clones?" asked Zangya, irritation rising.
"Not at all, but I think that they are cloning dead species there. The Shreilan who bargained for his life thought that I was from the Cartan Hegemony, their new weapon. I think that they've resurrected Herans, or failing that, another powerful warrior race."
"And you think that we can use this copy?" asked Zangya.
"By the new reading, I think he'll lead us."
"How do you intend for us to get there? There's no way Bojack won't notice us taking the ship. I suppose we could fly through the vacuum of space," said Zangya, though the thought didn't appeal to her.
"Nothing so crude, if our new leader is of a species that can't survive in space for extended periods, then we'll have to rely on capturing a ship when we get there. Besides, I have a ship," said Bujin.
"You do?" asked Gokua.
"Of course. The dreams that I imagine you've both been having are much more...intense for me," allowed Bujin. "As soon as they started, I began looking for a way to avoid my foretold fate."
"Like running away?" said Gokua.
"Of course," replied Bujin, without a trace of shame.
"Why didn't you just do that then, if the portents were so dire?" asked Zangya
"Because, the portents also showed that I would meet my end much sooner were I to try and run. Now that we have an understanding, we just have to decide when the best time to leave would be."
"It has to be tonight, Bojack wants to leave for Earth in the morning," said Gokua grimly.
Bujin sighed heavily through his nose and rubbed at his temples. The fatigue of the other Hera showing more plainly now. The deep bags under his eyes looking heavy.
"I had hoped we had more time. Are the two of you ready to depart?"
"If you provisions aboard your ship, then I have everything I need ready in a travel pack," said Zangya. "Baubles and trinkets do no favours to a dead woman."
"I can leave as I am," said Gokua.
"Not without changes of clothing," huffed Zangya.
"The trip will hardly take any time at all," said Bujin. "The station is hardly more than a few days travel with the ship I have acquired."
"And then we will be followed in an instant," said Zangya.
"We need to run far and wide to throw off our trail, before we go to this facility," added Gokua.
"Which is why you need more clothes," said Zangya pointedly.
"Is Bido coming?" asked Bujin, and all three Hera considered it.
"He is the most loyal to Bojack, and has taken the most readily to the new methods," said Gokua slowly.
"If he refuses, we can't put him down without alerting Lo-...Bojack," added Zangya, finding old habits died hard. "I am also concerned that if I have to speak with Bojack again, my anxiety will show through. He has a nose for mutiny," she added. Stomach already twisting itself in knots at Bojack discovering him before they left. "I was hoping to leave as soon as possible."
"So you came to me first then? Well, you make the right choice," said Bujin, the short Heran grabbing an overly large pack and setting it upright. Seemingly unconcerned that they would leave Bido behind to go to Earth with Bojack, or face his wrath when he discovered that three of his Galaxy Warriors had abandoned him.
Zangya wondered if she should have been concerned at the apparent disregard for Bido, but she realized that she possessed it as well. They were all in this to survive, and while they would help the others, they wouldn't do so if it jeopardized their own chances of survival. That had always been the case she imagined, the life of a pirate was a dangerous one after all.
"Five minutes, and then we leave," said Bujin. "Out of curiosity, what was your plan to escape?"
"Nothing as thoroughly planned as yours, but we had planned on using the Namekian Dragonballs from Earth," said Gokua.
"The power of those wishes," said Bujin trailing off.
"We were going to bring back the Hera," said Zangya. "We are going to bring back the Hera."
"Really? Now that is interesting. We need to be alive to do make that wish a reality though."
"Then we had better hurry," said Gokua.
Xxx
They flew slower than Zangya was used to, keeping low to the ground and suppressing their power as much as they were able to. If Bojack discovered their treachery, he could reach them and slay them before they could do more than regret their decision.
It seemed wrong in a way. Leaving all the loot and plunder that they had acquired from this world behind, even if it had been easy to get. Their weapons too weak to do more than make an impressive light show. Their largest battle cruiser cut in half by a simple ki blast from Zangya's finger.
It had started as any other conquest had, and though they had been locked away for so many years, those years had been like having a dreamless sleep. It had been no issue to go right back to the business of making the Galaxy Warriors feared. When they had surrendered, Zangya had been ready for pampering and whatever riches this world could provide in exchange for mercy. But, Bojack had changed.
She had thought at first that he had been trying to really drive home the point that they were ruthless, to save them the hassle of submitting the next planet, but that hadn't been the case. It hadn't been calculated, or thought out in any meaningful way, if at all. It was straight hedonism and wrath.
He acted like a beast, destroying and consuming without rhyme or reason. This world would have been a beautiful jewel to have as a prize in their galactic conquest, a paradise to vacation at, but it was all but ruined now. The ecology irreversibly damaged, the people left few and scattered, and what worth that was left here, was maybe the minerals, but asteroids were a better source than a planet.
The anxiety, the fear wouldn't leave her as they travelled. Bojack was their leader, had been their leader, she corrected herself, because he was the strongest being in the universe. Their confidence had come from having him at their back. While they were strong enough for nearly any opponent they faced, if there ever was one that they couldn't, Bojack could. He was why they had been unstoppable. His wrath had been terrible before their imprisonment, but now, Zangya shook her head, trying to clear the intrusive thoughts.
She cast a glance over her shoulder and then above them. Half expecting to see Bojack silhouetted against the twin moons like an angry god ready to descend upon them and deliver divine punishment. Her anxiety ebbed, but only slightly to see that he wasn't there. She couldn't shake the feeling, the expectation that he was, at any moment, going to discover them.
The longer they flew, more remote their location became. Flying into a mountainous region devoid of all but the smallest signs of civilization. Had Zangya not been able to sense ki, she still would have been able to see some native inhabitants hiding under the canopy of trees below them. The eyes the Hera were blessed with able to see in many spectrums. The perfect warriors, the perfect predators, and now the fearful quarry.
"It's just ahead," said Bujin, and as they cleared a low mountain, a small military encampment came into view. Nearly unmolested, save for a few damaged buildings. Yet, in the middle of the installation was a spaceship. More than large enough for the three of them, and it looked fast, which was good. In another hour or two dawn would be breaking where Bojack resided in his penthouse. If they were lucky, they would flee from the night side of the planet, before Bojack even realized what was going on.
They touched down on the tarmac, Bujin quickly inputting an access code into the ship, while Zangya and Gokua nervously watched the horizon. Gokua flexing his fingers on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it. For all the good it would do him.
With an electronic beep, the hatch opened, and they rushed inside. Throwing their possessions to the side, as they made the ship ready.
Spacecraft had changed much in the years since their internment, but ever since their release, they had worked tirelessly to learn how to crew and maintain the new generation of craft. Made a little easier, since the galaxy seemed to have standardized their controls to some degree in the intervening eons. As a result, in only a few minutes, the sleek, silvery, blade shaped ship was ready to take flight.
Bujin took the controls and with a building hum, they left the ground. Hovering, they began to build up speed, staying low, before angling up only slightly. Picking a trajectory that would keep them from entering a direct line of sight to Bojack.
Clouds flashed by, far too slowly for Zangya's tastes. As fast as this ship was, it was still painfully slow compared to what the Hera could do. Painfully slow, for what Bojack could do.
Soon, the blue sky starting giving way to black as they entered the void of space, artificial making the transition seamless. Stars, hidden by the light pollution of the planet, came to life in full brilliance. As many wonders and treasures Zangya had seen, the galaxy laid out before her, never failed to invoke a sense of wonder. A sense of adventure, and why she had chosen to be a freebooter in the first place.
Free of the planets atmosphere, Bujin increased the throttle, eager to increase the distance between them and the planet. Gokua starting up the FTL on the ship, while Zangya plotted a course. The ship they had was a fast one. Its FTL travelled in the space between space, meaning that they couldn't be touched until they exited it, as opposed to other types which would leave them vulnerable to attack, or Bojack simply catching up to them.
They'd jump randomly for as long as they had fuel, then they'd send the ship on an unmanned jump while they commandeered another. As the countdown started, Zangya stiffened, fear gripping her. She felt the rising ki that was as familiar as it was terrifying. Bojack. He'd found out about their absence, but about their betrayal? He'd take the absence itself as betrayal. Even as far as they were, he'd catch them in an instant if he chose to. If he knew where they were.
The ki rose higher, and Zangya felt it moving around the planet at blistering speed. Searching for them. Then, she felt it peak higher and head towards them. Only for the countdown to hit zero, and their ship to slip into the space between space. A swirling blue vortex surrounding the viewing screens, before they polarized, leaving them to only stare at the interior of the ship.
Letting out a breath that she didn't realized that she'd been holding, Zangya noticed that she had grabbed hold of Gokua's hand in her fear.
Sighing in relief, Zangya closed her eyes and laid back into her seat, willing the tension to leave her body.
"Where's the first jump to?" asked Bujin.
"Halfway across the North Galaxy, then we head halfway down the X axis of it. Then a hundred smaller jumps, with larger jumps inbetween," answered Zangya.
"When are you thinking about heading to the research station?" asked Bujin.
"When this ship runs out of fuel and we grab another one," said Zangya.
"That's going to take a long time," said Bujin.
"Bojack will hunt us for just as long," shot back Gokua, and Bujin had to nod in agreement.
"If you two can handle it, I'm going to get some sleep. Hopefully this time without visions of my death," said Bujin. The psychically gifted Hera getting up from the pilots seat, letting the computer take over and looking like he was ready to fall asleep on his feet. The door to his quarters shutting with a soft whoosh.
"Sooo, does this make me the captain?" asked Zangya playfully, swivelling her chair towards Gokua.
"I have no desire to lead," said the taller Hera.
"Quite a promotion then," smirked Zangya, swivelling her chair one way, and then the other. "How would you like to be first mate?"
"I could handle that I think, could be tough keeping all three of us in line."
"Oh, you plan on keeping me in line, do you?" teased Zangya.
"The first mate always keeps the captain grounded. Can't let them get too full of themselves."
"You think I'd let being captain of three people get to my head? My, how little faith you have in me."
"I have a great deal of faith in you. That's why I'm following your lead," said Gokua.
"I...thank you for that. For all of this. I don't think I would've had the courage to do this on my own. My stomach is still in knots," said Zangya.
"I don't think I could have gone through with it either. Believe it or not, but it was still hard to leave. Felt like I was betraying Bojack, even though he was going to lead us to our deaths. If I had to leave everyone else behind, I don't think I could have done it."
"I'm touched, or is this camaraderie a result of our new arrangement?" teased Zangya.
"It helped," admitted Gokua, and Zangya laughed.
"I think it goes without saying that we should keep as low a profile as possible. No raiding for anything unless it's essential. I don't want to give Bojack a scent to pick up on," said Gokua.
"We have to take care that anyone who sees us can't tell anyone either," added Zangya. "There aren't exactly a lot of Hera to be confused with in the galaxy.
"Not yet at least," said Gokua.
"No. Not yet," agreed Zangya, smirking. "Perhaps Bojack will head to Earth without us, and they'll get rid of him for us?"
"I wouldn't count on it," said Gokua. "Bojack will have vengeance on his mind, and you know how he gets when he's like that."
"I do," said Zangya wearily. "Do you think that there will be more Hera on that research station?"
"I honestly doubt there are any at all, but if there are, I don't think they're going to be particularly strong. Or else they wouldn't still be there."
"Maybe, but if they've been born, bred, and raised there, they would have fondness for their caretakers, wouldn't they?"
"I suppose, but do you really think they'll be strong?" pressed Gokua.
"No. I don't," admitted Zangya. "At least, not compared to us anyways. We've always been the strongest. Still, I wouldn't mind a few more Hera, and a larger crew to command," she added.
"Going to make me have to look after more people?"
"I can always make Bujin the first mate," prodded Zangya, giggling as Gokua held up his hands in mock defeat.
This felt good. With Bojack, especially since their release, he'd been distant. Cold. Demanding subservience bordering on worship. This? It was playful, fun. She felt like an equal, something that needed to be fought over. A treasure. The word amused her, thinking of the time short time ago in her room that now seemed a lifetime ago. Rather, it was the start of a new life, with someone who desired her.
"All this excitement has me terribly tense," mock whined Zangya. "Rub my shoulders for me, would you Gokua?"
"Just the shoulders?" clarified Gokua.
"Just the shoulders," affirmed Zangya. Though, it didn't stay just the shoulders at all.
AN: All I want for Christmas is the Galaxy Soldiers added so I can run a team of them like I do the Ginyu Force in Sparking.