With their plans made everyone separated as Vados returned to Pangea with Goku and Bardock to deliver a status report to Alex's wives, since they now suddenly had an entire planet of people to add to their population. Meanwhile Vegeta Sr accompanied the former king Sadala with Trunks and Raditz to see the state of the Saiyan army, and begin their introductory into the Super Saiyan transformation.
That just left Alex as he went by himself to locate his quarry, using the magic compass to zero in on their location as night began to settle in on that part of the planet. Now atop a building, Alex scanned the sea of Saiyans moving too and fro as the nightlife began, but his gaze quickly settled on a single individual with a small frame that was huddled in a tattered cloak as they weaved through the crowds.
The moment he did though,
That was rare, as Ddraig rarely ever displayed nervousness when Alex was around someone powerful, which only went to show just how dangerous the being he was stalking was.
...
I hurried through the crowded streets as quickly as I could, working as I did to avoid bumping into others or similarly drawing attention to myself in any way. The chilly evening wind bit into me through the tattered holes in my cloak, prompting me to try and draw it tighter around myself despite how pointless the gesture was.
Along with the wind, I was assaulted by a near endless barrage of sensations from the increasingly lively night life, from fights taking place in taverns and bars, to women trying to seduce men and find suitable partners for the night. Most torturously though, were the numerous scents wafting to me from the taverns and restaurants of food cooking.
*grrrrrrrrrr!*
My stomach loudly protested as my mouth simultaneously watered, reminding me painfully of how I hadn't had anything to eat in over three days.
While vainly trying to push my hunger down, I searched for any kind of food I'd be able to eat without needing to pay, since I was broke. The trash by the taverns and restaurants were tempting, but the owners were known for reacting viciously to beggars and dumpster divers.
"HURRY IT UP!"
I was trying to think of way to get SOMETHING to eat when a shout caught my attention, leading me to a series of spacecrafts where numerous people were unloading crates of goods that were otherwise unavailable on Sadala. Among them I noticed several crates that were filled with bulbous purple things that had half inch long spikes on them, which made me salivate at the mere sight of them.
"Daga fruits..." I uttered longingly, already recalling the sweet taste of the fruit as I bit into them, the juice running down my chin as my mouth erupted in flavor.
Despite the fact that the hundreds of crates being unloaded were heavily guarded, with dozens of guards present, my hunger overruled my caution as I reasoned that it wasn't unusual for one or two....dozen, fruits to 'fall' while they were transported.
Getting past the guards was easy, none of them noticed as I sped past them. No one ever did. The tricky part was trying to get close enough to the crates to swipe the fruits without getting caught, which I was trying to figure out from my hiding spot when the same voice from earlier cried out,
"Stay alert!" My attention turned to a Saiyan man with mid-length hair and a thick body, who appeared to be in charge as he told the guards,
"That bitch bandit and her tribe of bitches have been getting too adventurous lately! So keep your eyes peeled if anyone suspicious shows up to steal our cargo!" My heart nearly stopped right there and then when I heard that, as I looked at the fruits longingly while also contemplating running away then and there.
Of course, my hunger won out as I decided to chance it, figuring I could just run away if they caught me.
I crept up close to the crates containing the fruits, a line of drool already running down my chin as I imagined the taste of them, distracting me from the rapidly approaching shadow.
"SEE! WHAT DID I TELL YOU ALL!?!" The same man from before cried out as he seized my arm, dragging me into the light as all the guards turned to see me.
"Hmph! What are you slackers even getting paid for if you can't stop petty little thieves like this!" He sneered while thrusting me out before them all, my heart hammering in my chest as he did so.
I was about to break his arm and run away, when a new voice cried out,
"Excuse me!" We all turned to see a large framed man approaching us with long dark black hair, and red fur covering most of his upper body. The similarly red tail identified him as a Saiyan, but he was a Saiyan unlike any other I, or apparently these guys for that matter, had ever seen.
"Who are you and what do you want?!" The man who's arm I was about to break demanded angrily, to which the newcomer said politely,
"My name is Alex, and I apologize on that girl's behalf. If you'll just turn her over to me, we'll be out of your hair and on our way." Not just the guy that was holding onto me, but all of the other guards were looking at this Alex guy like he was an idiot at that, while my mind was racing on how to get out of this.
"Pft! Yeah right! This little rat is a thief, and I'm more than inclined to lock you up with her as an accomplice! You know what, do it! Take them both in!" With that the guards surrounded the man as they all prepared to fight, however the man himself appeared to be completely calm.
My eyes widened slightly as I saw him smirk at the men surrounding him, before they all suddenly collapsed while foaming at the mouth.
"W-wha- what do you do!?!" The man in charge sputtered angrily, while a shudder suddenly went through my body as the man directed his gaze at me.
I had never in my life felt more intimidated than I had in that moment. Seeing Alex look up at the man holding onto me, my instincts all screamed at me that this man was dangerous as he slowly began to approach us.
"I'm warning you!"
"Back off!"
"I mean it!"
"I'm very well connected at the palace! You'll be wanted throughout the entire universe if you do anything to me!" Even in the face of all his threats though, Alex didn't stop approaching them until he and the man were face-to-face.
"Try it." Alex said calmly, never breaking eye contact with the man the entire time. However he did something that I think surprised us both, and spat into Alex's face.
"T-try it you filthy vagrant! I-I'll have you and your little whore here both thrown into jail for the rest of your life!" Seemingly regain his earlier pomp and bravado, the man tried to threaten us both as Alex wiped the spit off his face.
"I see..." Was all he said as he looked back at the man, before I suddenly didn't feel his hand on my arm anymore.
Looking down at it, I was greeted by the sight of the man's arm, mangled and twisted beyond comprehension.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-"
The echoes of the man's cry rang out and alerted everyone nearby to what was happening. But as they watched him stumble and try to crawl away from the scene with a mangled arm, the front of his clothes damp with piss, they smartly decided to mind their own business.
Did I do that?
I thought to myself, my breathing becoming ragged as i tried to recall when I did that to the man, but was unable to figure out when I did it.
"H-hey, are you ok?" The other man, Alex asked worriedly as I began to hyperventilate.
"I-I was only going to break his arm...!" I stuttered, saying much than I normally would in my hysteria. Just as I was about to run off though, Alex suddenly took my hand in his before pulling me towards him as he wrapped his arms around me.
"It's ok Kale..." He whispered into my ears, his voice strangely calming as my breathing began to slow.
"You didn't hurt him. I did."
What was that? I didn't hurt him?
As this fact slowly filled my mind I began to calm down even more, my breathing becoming more steady with each passing second.
***
'What did the word 'safe' mean?'
If someone asked Kale that a few hours ago, then she might've asked if it was something she could eat. That was how foreign the concept of being 'safe' was to her.
Now however? She would probably give a notably different answer.
After Alex got her to calm down, he used something he called Instant Transmission to bring them both to Capitol city of Sadala, allowing Kale to see the palace for the first time. He then led her up and down the streets of the Capitol, after promising that he'd take her somewhere to get something to eat.
Normally Kale wouldn't go along with someone she literally just met, as her instincts would try to warn her away from them. But now that the guards and man who trying to arrest her were no longer present, she felt no threat from Alex anymore. Instead, she felt safe.
That was such a foreign feeling for Kale, as she had never in her life felt 'safe' due to living on the streets for as long as she could remember. She didn't even know what her parents looked like, their names, or where they were.
Kale didn't consider that any great loss, she never had time to think about them as she struggled to survive after all. And now that she met Alex, something about him drew her to him like a magnet.
Even as they walked through the streets, Kale didn't leave his side while even one of her hands was holding onto the fur at his side, as if she were worried he would disappear if she let go of him. Of course, she was also trying her hardest not to rip said fur out, but also didn't seem to notice it stretching slightly if she did pull it.
Alex of course pretended not to notice her grip on his side as he led Kale through the streets, greeting people they passed and talking to them as if they were his long time friends. Saiyan women called out and flirted with him, which made Kale feel uncomfortable for some reason, while men tried to challenge him as they instinctively sensed his strength.
When he knocked them back on their ass though, they got right back up and clapped him on the back while laughing loudly with those around them, and Alex joined them as everyone enjoyed themselves. Even Kale managed the slightest of smiles as she watched Alex interact with the people(not the women of course), her eyes barely leaving his figure as he led her to who knows where.
She soon found out though, when Alex led Kale into a relatively well kept tavern as a beautiful Saiyan woman greeted them. The duo were then led to a table that had already been prepared after Alex called ahead earlier, which was already piled high with dozens of plates and dishes that made Kale's stomach release a mighty roar when she saw it.
As they were seated though, and Kale had to reluctantly release her hold on Alex's fur, the Saiyan woman looked over her tattered appearance before saying to Alex with a flawless smile,
"Make sure you pay properly for you food sir, or I'll have to break your kneecaps and smash your balls!" Kale's body shivered from the threat, which she could tell under the Saiyaness's professional exterior she was completely serious.
Alex however didn't skip a beat as he produced a sizable bag, and said while flashing his own flawless smile at her,
"I believe this is more than enough to cover the cost of our meal, and any more we might order." While the woman was skeptical at first, as Alex had ordered two of everything on their menu, when she saw what was in the bag she quickly closed it before looking shadily at her surroundings, and saying,
"We thank you for your patronage! If you require 'anything' else, then please let me know~!" Kale didn't know why, but for some reason she didn't like the way the woman said that as she fluttered her eyes at Alex, and she liked it even less when he winked back at her while saying,
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind miss." Giggling at his remark, the woman finally left them to eat, though Kale noticed her butt and tail swaying in a way that drew the eyes of every other guy in the tavern.
"Well, dig in!" Alex said suddenly, drawing Kale's attention back to the veritable mountain of food before her.
"C-can I?" She barely whispered anxiously, as she had never been able to eat food like this in her life. Alex however nodded at her and said,
"Of course! That's why I ordered two of everything!" As he said this Alex grabbed some food from one of the dishes, a sizable chunk of meat with a bone sticking straight through it, and eagerly tore into it with his teeth as he ripped a piece off.
Following his lead, Kale hesitantly pulled the second of the same dish towards herself, wary of Alex watching her every move. She then slowly picked up the chunk of meat by the bone and, after one more glance at Alex, bit into it.
"!!!"
Immediately a burst of flavor like she never experienced before flooded her mouth with the meat and gristle, shocking her so much that her entire body froze.
when was the last time she ate something this good?
When was the last time she ate anything WARM?
Kale didn't know the answer to either of those questions, but what she did know was that this was best thing she had ever tasted in her life.
"What's wrong Kale?" Alex asked her suddenly, bringing her out of her trance-like state as Kale noticed two streaks of moisture running down her face.
"I-it's nothing..." Kale whispered as she quickly tried to wipe away the tears, before taking another bite of the delicious meat.
What followed was like a blur as Kale ate more food than she ever had in her entire life, while Alex ate across from her.
She didn't know what she would or wouldn't like, so she tried a bit of everything and decided she liked it all as she tried to eat as much as possible. And the entire time Alex would tell her she should try this or that, and each dish he recommended her tasted better than the last.
Even when the Saiyan woman returned to refill their cups and openly flirted with Alex, Kale barely noticed as she prioritized stuffing as much food into her face as possible.
And finally, the dreaded moment came when she could eat no more.
When that happened Kale was at a loss for words, as for all she knew this was the last time she would ever be able to eat good food like this again, so she wanted to eat as much as possible. Unfortunately though, she couldn't eat another bite.
It was at this time that Alex cleared his throat, drawing her attention back up to him as he said,
"Ehem, I think it's time we discussed why I found you Kale." That confused her, as Kale hesitantly asked in her almost inaudible voice,
"Y-you were looking for me...?" Alex nodded slowly as he asked her,
"Do you know what you are Kale?" The young Saiyaness cocked her head to the side confusedly as she quietly uttered,
"A-a Saiyan...?" Alex however shook his head as he told her,
"No. Well, at least not an ordinary one." Kale's heart nearly stopped as she realized where this was going, and Alex paused as he took a deep drink from the cup of alcohol in front of him, before continuing,
"Tell me Kale, have you ever heard of the Legendary Super Saiyan?" Kale quickly shook her head to show she hadn't ever heard of it, which Alex nodded in affirmation as he went on,
"It's not surprising. The LSS is almost a myth to most people, except it is in fact true. The way it goes is that every thousand years or so a warrior is born with the power of the LSS, making them stronger and more powerful than their normal Saiyan counterparts."
As Alex paused Kale felt her breath hitch as she realized where he was going with this. Nodding in encouragement, Alex asked her,
"Tell me Kale, have you ever shown strength or abilities that outclassed those around you?" Though she wanted to deny it, Kale couldn't.
For years she'd known she was faster and stronger than the other Saiyans around her, using her speed to steal when she needed, and her strength to escape if she were ever caught, like she had been planning earlier that night.
Seeing her think on his words, Alex nodded slowly again, and continued,
"This is just the tip of the iceberg though, as when the power of the LSS is truly activated, they become powerful enough to rival even the strongest beings in the universe with minimal to no training. However this power comes at a great price, as if it is untrained it turns the user into a mindless berserker who would kill all of those around them, as their power continuously grew until it eventually killed them as well."
With each word Alex spoke Kale's dread grew, as she imagined such a power sleeping within her. But then he said something that drew her out of her dread, as he told her,
"Of course this doesn't have to happen. Like I've been learning to control my own LSS strength, you can as well to avoid going berserk and losing control of you power." When Alex said that Kale looked with more alertness than he'd seen in her all night, as she asked, him,
"Y-your own strength?!" The edges of Alex's mouth curled upwards in a grin as he nodded, and said,
"Yes Kale. Like you, I'm also a Legendary Super Saiyan." Alex then pointed to his upper chest, at the area below his neck that didn't have fur, and said as his finger traced the swirling lines of his tattoos,
"I created these to help me control my strength while my body adjusts to it, preventing me from accidentally breaking things or hurting people around me. If you want, I can also teach you how to control your strength, and we can help you learn techniques to control yourself when you transform."
Though he didn't mean to, a wave of pain surged through Kale's heart when Alex mentioned hurting people around him, as she recalled the one friend she did have when she was younger, until she accidentally hurt him and he called her a monster. That had been why she freaked out earlier when she met Alex, as Kale believed she had let her strength hurt someone yet again, though she did plan to break one of the bones in the man's arm to begin with.
With him promising to help her control her strength though, Kale couldn't help the giddy feeling filling her chest as he replayed his earlier words within her mind, 'like you'.
'He's like me...!' She thought to herself happily, as a feeling she never felt before filled her heart, and her cheeks began to feel warm.
Especially after hurting her friend, Kale had always thought of herself akin to a monster or a freak, and she never once thought she would find someone 'like her'. Now that she had though, Kale felt a fluttery feeling in her stomach, and her cheeks burned even more as she glanced up at Alex, who was still waiting for her answer regarding him teaching her.
Of course, there was only one thing she would say to such an offer.
"P-please teach me!"
Seeing how earnest the usually timid and meek girl was, Alex smile warmly at her as he nodded once and said,
"Of course I will."