'Huh, I didn't know the Sugarians love drinking tea. It's pretty sweet too despite having no sugar in it.' Meruem thought with a smile as he took a sip from his cup of tea, watching peacefully as the Sugarians went about their daily business while waving to him as he sat on the steps into his ship.
'Looks like he wants to know.' The clone thought with a hum as he felt Granolah's energy approaching his own, a bit amused at the shocked look of the Cerealian as he caught sight of his ship before gesturing for him to come closer.
"So, I believe you being here means you're at least willing to hear me out?"
"Before I blow you up, yeah." He answered with a nod and a frown, Meruem rolling his eyes with a smirk as he stood up and gestured for to follow.
"Come on in. I'll show you what I know. Don't worry, I'm not here to kidnap you." He spoke amusedly as he saw the slightly worried look on Granolah's face, the Cerealian simply scoffing as he followed in after him.
"I was not worried."
"Of course, you weren't. Uh…ship, what is your name?"
I am C-0R1, sir. The first of my make.
"Huh, well, I'm calling you Cory. Cory, connect to the back door access our scientists have to the Cooler Force database and then I wish to use access code Colarctian/ King Cold. 711-AD." Meruem ordered as he recalled the secret access code of King Cold, the computer's screen flashing before Granolah looked on in awe as hundreds of files appeared on the screen.
"Now, bring up every file we have on the Heeters and the Saiyan's attack on Planet Cereal."
"How the hell do you even know all of this?" Granolah asked with a frown as they watched the computer shifting through files, Meruem smirking as he shrugged.
"Well, when you're a Colarctian-Saiyan-Namekian hybrid as well as having the memories of King Cold, Frieza, two Saiyans and two Namekians, you tend to have access to some secrets others have no clue about. Also, before you snap at me, I'm none of them and all of them at the same time, which means I'm my own person." Meruem answered as he felt Granolah's ki spike, turning his head to see the Cerealian giving him a glare.
"…Be glad that I want to learn about this information more than I want to kill you."
"Sure, you can~ Ah! Here it is. Please, show the records and files to Granolah here. I'll leave you on your own." Meruem spoke with a smile as he patted Granolah on the shoulder and made his way out the ship, not surprised to see Monaito waiting with a concerned look on his face as he had felt the Namekian approaching the ship after Granolah left their home.
"Don't worry. He's looking at the files now." Meruem answered as Monaito's gaze snapped to him before being surprised as the Namekian sighed instead of snapping at him like he expected.
"Hah, so he'll finally know."
"He'll know that his mother was killed by Elec and his gang after they bought the planet from Frieza and his men."
"What are you? Why did you come for us?" He asked and Meruem sighed as he gestured for the Namekian to sit down next to him.
"I have this dream, a dream where I liberate the universe from the grasp of Cooler and his army and make it into a better place not only for me and those I cherish, but also for those that don't know better. Granted, I know that there are many galaxies and many types of species that are barbaric by nature and will probably see me as a threat to my rule, but if I show them the good I can do, then that's all that matters to me."
"And what of those that will try to betray you down the line?" He asked and Meruem chuckled as he looked at Monaito, whose eyes widened as he felt the air growing denser as the clone released his full power for a split second before suppressing it just as quickly.
"Then I shall show them the error of their ways." Meruem spoke proudly, both of them ignoring the planet below their feet rumbling as Monaito looked at the clone with wide eyes as he spoke.
"W-What of Granolah? What if he doesn't want to go with you?"
"I won't force him to come with. I just heard the tales of his bounty hunting and thought that having him as one of my commanders would be in my bene-!" Meruem quickly stood up and appeared next to Granolah right as he felt the Cerealian's ki rise, quickly teleporting both of them to the far outskirts of the town just in time as a monstrous roar escaped the lips of Granolah and the ground below them cratered.
'Hah, a much more volatile reaction than I expected.' Meruem thought with a sigh as he watched Granolah falling to his knees, his ki beginning to dim down as he knelt with his forehead to the ground and tears falling down.
In the blink of an eye, he was besides a shocked Monaito and brought him towards their location as well, not saying anything and sitting down as he watched Monaito walk over & kneel besides Granolah before wrapping his arms around the boy.
"It's okay, Granolah. I'm here." Meruem heard Monaito whisper and watched as the young man slowly sat up, his ki stopping its fluctuations as the three of them sat in silence.
It took nearly an hour of them sitting quietly before Granolah finally decided to stand up, Monaito following with as Meruem decided to just float in the air.
"You…did you know?" He asked as he turned to Meruem, a frown appearing on the Cerealian's face as the clone nodded.
"I did. Like I said, I have the memories of both Frieza and King Cold, which also means that I knew everything that they did before they did."
"So, why did you show me that? What do you want?"
"I want to make sure the Cerealian race doesn't die out. I want to make sure that I can make a better tomorrow for those who are unfortunate to still be living in misery. I want people at my side that I know I can trust with making sure the universe is still functioning even after I die & pass on."
"…Why me, though? Why did you come here for me?" Granolah whispered with a frown and Meruem smiled as he floated closer and placed a hand on the Cerealian's shoulder.
"Because I'm in need of powerful commanders, not just fighters, and you fit that description to a tee. So, would you join me on my impossible quest to save the universe and make sure that no child will have to lose their mother like you did?…Monaito will obviously be joining us as well if you do and if you decline, I won't be mad at it." Meruem added and Granolah smirked at the clone's weak attempt to cheer him up before turning to look at Monaito, the Namekian smiling & nodding.
"Like he said, I'll agree with your decision no matter what."
"…Hah, fine, but I'm not working for free." Granolah spoke with a frown and Meruem snorted as he nodded and placed a hand on both of their shoulders before their eyes widened as they found themselves standing in the spaceship in the blink of an eye.
"Of course. When we win, you can have a planet of your choice."
"I…I think you mean if we win. Also, how did you do that?" Granolah asked with a frown as Monaito stumbled a bit at the sudden change in environment, to which Meruem simply smirked as he placed a hand on the steering console.
"Magic. Also, hold on for the second one."
"Oh, no. Wa-" Before Granolah could finish his sentence, Meruem chuckled as he teleported them lightyears across the galaxy and right next to where he felt Broly's ki, quickly appearing in front of the Saiyan and raising his hand to stop the ki blast that the Saiyan was going to throw.
"It's me, bud." Meruem spoke with a smirk as he snuffed the blast out with a clench of his hand, the Saiyan looking surprised before giving a sheepish smile as he saw Meruem's face.
"Uh, sorry about that."
"My lord! I thought we told you to stop teleporting into the training ground! We could have hurt you!" Paragus shouted with a concerned frown as he, Bonyu, Cheelai and Garana flew towards him before the Saiyan gave a sheepish look as Meruem only gave him a raised eyebrow.
"Really? Hurt me?"
"…I meant us. You could have seriously hurt us."
"Hahaha~ I kid, Paragus, and I do apologize for intruding on your training, everyone!" He apologized to the Force soldiers all training in the background, who all gave him sheepish smile as they nodded before the clone turned back to his gathered group of commanders.
"So, I assume that the mission was a success given how happy you look, sir?" Bonyu asked with a smile and Meruem chuckled and nodded.
"It was, indeed. Everyone, I'd like you all to meet-!"
"Is that a Saiyan?!" Meruem's eyes widened as he heard Granolah's shout before face-palming as the top of his ship was sent rocketing into the air as the Cerealian's ki ripped through it, quickly appearing in front of Broly and stopping Granolah's enraged punch before being surprised as he had actually felt that blow a bit.
'Ooh~ Not bad.'
"Why the hell are you stopping me?! There's a Saiyan behind you!" Granolah exclaimed as he flew back and tried to rush forward only to be surprised as Meruem spun around his tackle and wrapped him in a full nelson.
"Listen, these Saiyans were exiled and banished by King Vegeta because the big guy was too strong! I rescued them from a desolate wasteland of a planet and the big guy is probably the nicest person on the planet except for maybe Monaito so no attacking them out of where, understood?!" Meruem ordered as he kept his grip on Granolah, who struggled for a while as he tried everything he could get free before finally stopping his thrashing and going slack in the clone's grip.
"…Fine! Fine, I won't attack, okay?!" The Cerealian spoke with a frown and Meruem nodded as he let go of him, Granolah rubbing his shoulder while glaring at a confused Broly as a frowning Paragus floated in front of his son.
"My lord, may I ask who this ruffian is?" Bonyu asked as she had a ball of scarlet ki charged up while Garana still had his rifle on the Cerealian, Granolah frowning as he saw the densely compacted ki at the front of it.
"Like I was saying, this is Granolah, the last of the Cerealian species after the Frieza Force and the Saiyans killed off his entire species." Meruem answered with a sigh, the others looking surprised and looking at a frowning Granolah as he continued to glare at a shocked Broly and Paragus.
"…Oh."
"Everyone seated now?" Meruem asked as he sat in the new headquarters of the Imperial Empire, both names that were given by Paragus and the others in an attempt to surprise him.
He was most definitely by the surprise, but most of it stemmed from the fact that the headquarters itself was a gigantic exquisite castle made out of white marble and gold lining the walls.
With nearly one hundred rooms, some of which that were being used by his commanders and a large master bedroom at the top floor with a large wall around the castle with its own guard towers that separated it from the dozens of other homes around it that were also made out of white marble and gold, Meruem had to wonder just where the hell his force even got the resources let alone the time to build this when he was only gone for about three to four days.
"Everyone is seated my lord."
"Great. First matter of the day…where did you all get the resources for this?" He asked while gesturing towards the wall, watching as everyone turned to Bonyu as she raised her hand.
"I can answer that, my lord. We found that the planet below us has an abundance of marble stone and minerals, so I decided to assign half of our scientists and a quarter of our warriors to begin a mining expedition while you were gone and they finished just yesterday with gathering everything we needed for the housing and the castle."
"And you all built it…in one day?" The clone asked, wanting to be sure he heard it right as they all looked at each other and nodded.
"Um, yes. We know that it sounds a bit slow, but the foundation took a while to get right."
'…Don't think with your Earthling brain here, Meruem. These are alien species that can travel light years in the span of hours. Building housing is most definitely nothing to them.'
"No, it's completely understandable. Hah, well, with that out of the way, we can finally start with the real reason I've gathered this group together: The defeat of Cooler and his men." Meruem spoke with a determined look, everyone quickly snapping upright before the clone looked at Cheelai as she slowly raised her hand.
"Um, forgive me for speaking out of turn, my lord…bu-but…why exactly am I here?"
"A-And me too if you don't mind me asking, my lord?" Lemo also spoke up and Meruem surprised them both as he chuckled and nodded.
"Of course. Cheelai, Bonyu and Paragus only had the highest praises not just for your ability to manipulate your ki but also on your tactical skills which is why I wanted your tactical innovative brain here. Lemo, you on the other hand are the only of the scientists that I've spoken to so you are my liaison to them from here on out when I need someone to deliver an important message to them."
"Y-You honour us with such high praise, my lord!" Both Cheelai and Lemo saluted with happy smiles and Meruem chuckled as he nodded and gestured for them to sit back down.
"It's okay, you two. From here on out, you two are part of my inner circle, along with the rest of you here. That includes you, Granolah and Monaito." He said as he looked at the Cerealian & Namekian, both of them looking surprised at his words before Monaito gave a thankful nod while Granolah crossed his arms and nodded with a slight smile.
"Fine, I guess I can work with you and a couple of Saiyans."
"Oh, stop trying to act like a tough guy." Paragus spoke with an amused smile, chuckling as Granolah glared at him before huffing as he heard Broly's chuckles as well as everyone snickering at his mannerisms.
"Now then, back to what we were talking about. From the information our men have gathered, thanks to the help of Garana and his team, we have found that Cooler keeps to the Frieza Force Headquarters that was renamed the Cooler Force Headquarters after he took over. He doesn't leave it unless he needs to and that's only when he has to meet up on the planet nearby with his two generals. That brings us to our secondary targets for our success." Meruem spoke with a frown as he pressed a button, everyone looking at the holographic images of two smirking beings appearing in the air above the table.
One was that of a large Namekian dressed in a dark robe, his eyes settled in a glare as he gave a fanged grin.
The other was that of a tanned Saiyan standing with his arms crossed, dressed in the original Frieza Force armour with the shoulder pads & everything.
"The Namekian is called Slug and the Saiyan is called Turles as our intel will indicate. From their power levels, I'd put them both on the same level as Frieza with his power fully released. I do not know how these men were able to get this level of power nor do I know why they have been in hiding until now to join Cooler's side, but what I do know is that if they went up against anyone that isn't myself or Broly, they'd win with hilarious ease."
'I know Turles probably abused the Tree of Might's fruit to get this level of power, but how did Slug get to that level? He's as old as Guru and still looks youthful, so has he just been devouring planets worth of people and absorbing their powers to make himself stronger? If so, he might be the biggest threat out of them all.' Meruem didn't care for Cooler & Turles as he had ways to beat them even if they were as strong as he was, but if Slug possessed the ability to devour their powers and add it to his own, then he could become a problem if he devoured both Cooler and Turles and added theirs to his own ki.
"Okay, so what is our first plan of attack, my lord?" Paragus asked with a frown and Meruem blinked as he looked at the man, who caught the look and sighed.
"Hah, you were just going to attack, weren't you?"
"No, I was going to first take out the Heeters after I find out exactly all the information I may need."
"And then?" Paragus asked with a frown and Meruem was silent before shrugging.
"Then, I was going to teleport to their ki and attack them."
"On your own, my lord?" Bonyu asked and Meruem frowned and nodded.
"Yes, on my own. With them gone, I wouldn't have to worry about anyone stopping me as I take out the remnants of their forces."
"And what's stopping Cooler from ordering his men to kill the inhabitants of the planets under their command to make sure even if he loses, he still wins?" Paragus asked and Meruem frowned before nodding.
"I have thought of that that, but the same could be said for when we take the approach of going around from planet to planet and liberating them. Even if we stop them from reporting in, what's stopping Cooler from ordering what men he has left to just kill everyone on the planets they conquered?"
"Nothing, but at least this way, we can make sure that less lives are lost in the process." Garana answered and Meruem hummed at that before smirking.
"See, this is why I have you all here to stop me from acting on my impulsive thoughts. So, what is your proposed plan of action?" Meruem asked and Granolah cleared his throat to draw everyone's attention.
"We liberate the planets furthest away from the main headquarters, take out their oppressors and arm its people with weaponry. Then, we slowly make inwards towards the headquarters while taking out as many of Cooler's forces as possible and also gathering allies and support along the way. This way, more people will spread word of your actions and that will also cause planets that have remained neutral and opposed to Cooler's rule to remain hopeful that there is someone that will take out Cooler and end his tyranny."
"So you all want me to make a show of me taking back power while also showing myself as some kind of benevolent ruler? Also, I have to say that I did not expect you to be the one to propose such a slow plan, given that you are a bounty hunter." Meruem spoke with a smile while looking at Granolah, who snorted as he shrugged and crossed his arms.
"I'm also a people person and if you want people to cheer for you even for millennia after you've passed, this is the way." He answered and Meruem hummed before turning to the others who all nodded in agreement.
"Well, it appears we have our plan. Then, let's get this show on the road, but before we do that…Granolah?"
"Yes?" Granolah asked with a frown before it turned into a smirk at Meruem's words.
"How would you like to help me pay a visit to the Heeters?"
"I'd be delighted."
A/N: A simple planning chapter to get the war on the road! Next chapter, however, we cut away to the Demon Realm where Cell & Towa are beginning their clash!
Also, I know Granolah joining the group is a bit too quick, but Granolah is still a good person at heart despite his hatred so I think he wouldn't attack Broly & Paragus and would join the group when he heard of what they were trying to do.
That's just my thought process.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
As always, read, enjoy, review and until next week...
Ba-Bye~!