"Oh, well... Don't hunt like that, got it? I mean yeah we try to kill the things, but that's just mean! I guess it's quick but it's gross, though it's easier to do than making a trap..." Or stabbing it, or trying to hit it just the right way to kill it... Hmph, blasting things like that just didn't seem right to him. Takeshi couldn't be bothered much to care right now however, a bit more concerned with being splattered with brain matter to focus on that. After a fruitless attempt to shake himself clean he let out a sigh, wondering now how in the world they were going to slice this beast up. Suddenly getting a big creature didn't seem such a good idea, perhaps going for a tiny thing would have been better. "Well... I guess a rock would work best, even if it'd probably be jagged or whatever. Let's see..." Spitting to the side again he went wandering around on the forest floor for a moment, trying to find a suitable big rock to use. After finally picking one out he began striking it carefully, using small Ki blasts as well to chip away the edges and sharpen it. Once through it was about the size of his forearm, sharp enough to pierce the skin hopefully and to cut through muscle as well. "Shu, this is usually the part you don't watch," Takeshi called out, standing over the beast and wrinkling his nose as he got ready for the nasty business, "We'll be real quick, then back to the ship to eat."

"I did want to watch you, you're missing the point! I wanted to take care of you and help, but I didn't feel like I could. I was only trying to find someone I thought who could do a better job than me, that's all... Never once did I think I had to be rid of you because you were dangerous, or that you were a nuisance. In fact how's it make sense that I'd try selling you if you were dangerous, huh? I'd have kept you closer if that was the case." Back then he had no idea of the truth of his parent's deaths, but if he had then selling the Beastman would have been a non-issue, it never would have come up. Damn shame he never knew either, as well it would have hurt at the very least he could have done more, and maybe these problems they were having now wouldn't exist. Just another reason for him to feel guilty and useless despite the best of intentions. When asked what Viral might truly want only one thing came to mind immediately: a chance to be alone and do as he pleased. Obviously with his behavior a little erratic it was risky, but maybe they had to allow this for him to feel better. "They wouldn't be abused, that's what they've always been used for... For happiness. You wishing for something for yourself isn't abusive or selfish, and we'd all be fine with you doing it."

Aito agreed to the idea Vegeta proposed, but they couldn't be as casual about it as he might hope. The fact of the matter was, sadly, Viral was unpredictable even now and could potentially be dangerous if provoked. He was more than content to give his son a chance to be happy, yet they couldn't ignore the safety of their gracious hosts in favor of letting the Beastman wander aimlessly. Keeping tabs and regular check-ins ought to remedy that, and chances were they would keep an eye on Viral periodically just in case. Smiling when Viral agreed to their proposal and terms, the doctor gave a nod of his head, reaching out and giving the Beastman's hair a playful ruffle. "Excellent, then it's a deal. Please, don't feel like you must stay on the ship either, or even in the atrium. Explore the city if you wish, take a walk through the woods, whatever you want. As I said, all I ask is you be sure to get in touch with us if anything comes up." Seemed a reasonable enough request, the only risk therein really bring whether the Beastman would call if he felt things were becoming troublesome or not; Viral could well not call out of desire to not show weakness, or perhaps not wishing to bother someone with 'trivial' issues, but he really needed to be communicative if this was to work.

"I think it's brave! It's one thing for a Saiyan to do it, we all do, but you and your people never have. You're the first, and that kind of makes you a hero to them, doesn't it?" Haku asked with a smile, "I think it doesn't even matter if you go back and become king now or not, you'll always be a hero to your world. The first to go into space..." It was a pretty big acclaim, something that people were going to always look back on and appreciate. In a small way he was a bit jealous, but maybe he could still do something big with his life too, who knows? If Haku had learned anything in his few years so far it was that life could change pretty quick, and there was always a chance to do something, like make a friend with an alien you tried killing, for instance. When T'charrl doubled back and began doubting himself again Haku was quicker to deny him that, trying to convince him otherwise. "Yumi and I have a lot of time to, maybe that's why? Or the others don't know how to talk to you about it?" he suggested, folding his arms across his knees as he smiled slightly, "I'll be honest, it's hard trying to help you, but I'm happy to do it. I bet the others are too, it's just not easy and who knows how to do it right? No one I bet."

[hr]

Dawn had just recently broke on the small world of Numina, but already there was plenty of activity. The normally quiet plains and mountains of the world were echoing with the sounds of battle, of its people falling before an unfathomable foe. Up until now they had been safe from the Saiyans, managing to slip into worlds after their attacks and scavenge what remains they could grab. Neither siding with the rebels nor the empire, the Numina people had begun to profit off of the war itself, yet at last is seemed like their days of pillaging had come to an end. Perhaps foolishly they had denied the Saiyan king when he arrived early that morning, refusing to join forces with him and preferring to stay out of the fighting. Perhaps their own king was too brash in denouncing Yamate too, as now their entire world was paying the price. Despite far superior numbers the Numina simply did not have the strength to fend off their assailants, and with Krom at his side, the King of Saiyans swiftly put down any resistance he found. As it stood currently nearly 50% of the world was in shambles, and if they were insistent on fighting then more would follow.

"Damned fools... What are they thinking trying to fight us?" Yamate grumbled, frowning as he turned over the charred corpse of a Numina fighter with his foot. How many soldiers had they killed in this pointless struggle? Hundreds? Thousands? These people were taking advantage of the war and stealing from other worlds, worlds which needed to be rebuilt and prepared. How in the world might they manage that if all the resources were being pillaged? Asking these people to join their cause wasn't unreasonable, he had even offered to help them develop their own world, but it had all fallen on deaf ears. Idiots the lot of them, they had brought this upon themselves.

All this wasted potential, and to think that these people would rather fight than simply submit. They weren't bad fighters either, and their technology could prove useful; just how much of it was their own though, he wondered, they seemed to pillage and re-adapt more technology than even the Saiyans. "Krom, we'll head south from here, try and find someone with some damned brains on this world. Surely by now they must realize what a fruitless effort this is. Killing their men is solving nothing for either side and I grow tired of their games." If this continued then pretty soon there would be nothing but women and children, and then it would be the same story as so many before. They couldn't well be left on their own, so the Saiyans would have to take to converting this world and handling the local population. Rule would be strict to prevent uprisings, the natives would likely loathe them as usual, but it was to ensure their survival, like it or not.

In the southern quadrants of Numina, troops were hastily mobilizing and defenses being prepared. The Saiyans were destroying their very world, with news of cities being razed to the ground spreading quickly. Though they shared no alliance with the rebellion the desperately needed aid now, and it was only Korian and his army that they could turn to. While chaos was spreading those few left in control in the south were busy trying to get in touch with Uuonoe, it being known to be the place that the rebels regularly stayed. After much difficulty in getting a signal through they had at last managed, finding a small detachment of rebels manning a post on the world. The connection was a bit unstable and the worlds came out in a jumbled mess, but hopefully it got through clear enough:

"Saiyans... Numina, destroying cities... Help please, troops are..." the voice came through, static disrupting every few words, "Two, strong... The king..." It was all the voice from Numina would say as static quickly disrupted the call entirely, evidently the communications systems of the world having taken a beating in the battles. They had managed a distress call, albeit a patchy one, now their only option was to sit tight and wait.