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by
Jamie L. Word "Respite
For The Weary Wanderers"
Chih's space ship had finally touched down on a planet,
unnoticed by the inhabitants thereof.
Chih and Koji disembarked from their ship, and Koji had
left his scouter and its carrying case in the ship.
They looked out over the landscape stretched out before
them.
Jagged-looking mountainous formations and flat-topped
buttes with deep, flat valleys between were all around.
There were small ponds in the valleys, and occasional
streams forged paths along some of the valleys.
There were a small variety of plant life and vegetation
in the valleys, but almost none at the higher altitudes.
The space ship and the two occupants found themselves
a-top a flat-topped butte overlooking a valley below
them, a valley with a stream and a fair amount of vegetation.
Above them, a big red sun lit the daytime sky with a
haze, making everything appear to have a red tint to it.
The animal life they saw along these valleys were
small-sized creatures of various shapes and distinctions.
They saw no large animals where they were.
Scanning farther outward, the duo could see a shimmering
in the distance. It
appeared to be something metallic glistening in the eerie light
of the sun. They
looked at each other and nodded before flying towards the
glistening mystery.
After flying for countless miles, they could see the
mystery revealing itself to them.
As the distance between them and the mystery lessened,
the mysterious glistening took on a distinct form:
that of a city. Soon, the pair of travellers had arrived at the city.
They landed at the outskirts of the city and prepared to
proceed on foot, noting that the large construction had so few
residents perusing its heart.
What once might have been a bustling metropolis now was
almost a ghost town, and its citizens dressed in odd clothing
resembling the attire of wild westerners from Earth history.
"How strange," Chih said as they walked along,
and the inhabitants timidly gave them plenty of room to pass as
they shied away from the duo.
"There are so few citizens out and about in so
massive a city. What
could have happened here?"
"Something horrible, no doubt," Koji concluded
aloud as he glared warily at the citizens as they passed them
by. "See how
they react to our presense with fear and trepidation.
Someone, or something, has been here before, and the
visit was not a friendly or pleasant one."
"I think you're right," Chih added in full
agreement as he noted the fearful, apprehensive faces of the
citizens as they passed by. "But who, or what, could it have been?"
"Perhaps a local eating establishment might offer us
a bit more than nourishment," Koji said as he saw what
appeared to be some sort of eatery.
"Come on. Let's go get something to eat.
Maybe one of the locals in there might be a decent
storyteller, and I already know the story I want to hear."
Chih nodded in agreement, and the two travellers entered
the swinging doors of the establishment.
It resembled an Earth wild west tavern, and the tavern
was filled with tough-looking versions of the citizens they saw
on the street. There
was a huge, hulking bartender at the bar, and there was a music
box in the corner playing some sort of techno-remixed
country-and-western-style music.
Everyone in the tavern turned and looked at the newcomers
as one, and all other activities in the tavern ceased.
Chih noted this with some concern and a bit of
bewilderment. Koji
smiled as he noted this with a bit of amusement mixed with his
bewilderment, the scent of adventure and new experiences filling
him with excitement. Koji
and Chih walked up to the bar, Koji with an air of complete
confidence about him and Chih with an air of building curiosity
looming over him.
"No kids allowed!" the menacing-looking
bartender barked in his gruff voice as he eyed Koji
disdainfully.
"I seriously doubt that you could remove me from the
premises, my good man, but don't let me stop you from
trying," Koji answered in supreme confidence, almost
chuckling at the bartender's attempt to dismiss him.
"Don't mess with me, boy!" the bartender
growled as he picked up a big stick from a stand on the wall
behind him, prompting several burly, tough-looking regulars to
rise to their feet behind the newcomers, crackling their
knuckles as they began preparing for a scuffle.
"This isn't the best idea, you guys," Chih
warned, desperately trying to avoid any unnecessary conflict as
he noted Koji's building excitement as he was thrilled at the
prospect of a fight.
"Then get yer runt out o' the bar, green-skin!"
one of the burly tavern regulars snarled as they moved closer
towards Chih and Koji.
"Chih, give me a little elbow room," Koji said
with a smile as he stood with his back to the approaching
toughs. "Guys,
let the Nameccian through.
Your problem is with me and me alone.
Got it?"
"Oh, a cocky little runt, eh?" another of the
advancing brutes sarcastically retorted as they allowed Chih to
step out of the closing circle and away from Koji.
"They don't know what they're getting into,"
Chih thought to himself, half in pity and half in amusement.
"Awright, half pint!" one of the brutes said
menacingly. "This is yer last chance ta vamoose!
Now git!"
"You just don't get it, do you?" Koji retorted
as he remained with his back to the others, facing the
bartender. "I'm
not going anywhere until I get something to eat and some
information."
"Is that right?" one of the brutes managed to
get out as the entire tavern burst out with a resounding chorus
of laughter, except for Chih and Koji as he stood there with his
back to them, still smiling.
From the outside, the citizens on the street heard the
laughter and stopped, looking towards the tavern.
Seconds later, the sounds of a brawl could be heard from
within the tavern! A
couple of the brutes from inside the bar came crashing through
the front of the tavern and tumbling onto the street unconscious
at the feet of stunned onlookers!
Inside the tavern, Koji was easily manhandling the brutes
who were attacking him, hammering them with brutal punches and
kicks and tossing them around the tavern like a whirlwind
tossing small debris! After
a few moments, Koji had beaten every one of his current
opponents!
He stood there looking somewhat disappointed, his back
now to the bartender. Chih
stood across the tavern, his arms folded in front of his chest
as he shook his head at the mess before him.
From behind Koji, the bartender swung his big stick
towards the teen's head! Quicker
than the attack slicing through the air towards him, Koji just
turned a half-step, extended one hand, and caught the stick in
mid-swing, stopping the attack and restraining the bartender's
weapon all at the same time!
The bartender's eyes widened at the sight as Koji grinned
arrogantly, and Chih breathed a sigh of disappointment.
"Now I think I'll have that meal and information, if
you please," Koji said with a slight hint of imminent
retaliation for failure.
"Uh-huh! Sure
thing, sir!" the bartender quickly concurred as he gazed
out across the carnage all over his tavern.
The place was almost completely a wreck, and almost all
the tavern regulars lay along the floor or in the street
unconscious. What
few brutes remained conscious surreptitiously made their way
towards the exit, and only a couple of tables were unharmed.
"Now before I make my order for the meal, I want to
know what happened to this city," Koji informed the
bartender as he released the stick and the bartender then leaned
on it like a broomstick. "Why
are all of the citizens outside so afraid?
What caused them to be so afraid?"
"Well, y'see," the bartender began, swallowing
hard. "Years ago, there was this here horned runt whut called
himself Tarboz came here and terrorized the town somethin'
fierce. We all
tried ta stand up ta him, but he was too dangblasted powerful.
He killed a bunch o' the menfolk in the town, and he
eliminated the sheriff and all o' his deputies in the process.
He told us that he would spare our planet if we would
make yearly donations ta him in the name o' Lord Frieza.
It's about time fer him ta come visitin' again, y'see,
and the townfolks is all uptight and everything.
I suppose the only thing worse than Tarboz comin' is if
that rabid Saiyan Koji wuz ta show up around here."
"Well, you don't have to worry about that,
friend," Koji said with a smile, prompting Chih to put his
hand over his face and shake his head.
"Now, about that meal."
"Hey," the bartender interjected, noticing
Koji's attire for the first time.
"Let me ask ya somethin'.
Ain't that Saiyan armor ye're wearin'?"
"Why, yes, it is," Koji answered proudly.
"So nice of you to notice.
It's first class armor, the best there is."
"Wait a minute!" the bartender said in a sudden
panic as he backed away from the teen.
"Ye're too young ta be one o' Tarboz's boys, but
y'ain't got no tail neither! What are ya? Who
are ya?"
"I am a Saiyan," Koji answered calmly.
"You see, I lost my tail in battle against a
Changeling by the name of Tarboz on the planet Ferella.
The armor was a gift to me from my father.
You see, my father was cousin to King Vegeta, and that
makes me a Saiyan of royal heritage."
"Uhhh, ..." the bartender blubbered nervously
as he now cowered with his back against the wall.
"Wh-what's yer name, kid?"
"My name," Koji said with an ever-so-brief
dramatic pause and a big grin on his face, "is Koji."
The bartender gulped in sheer terror as he trembled
uncontrollably before the teen.
He blubbered in fear, wide-eyed and sweating profusely.
"Don't be so nervous," Koji interjected, almost
reassuring the bartender. "I'm
not here to destroy you. I
just want something to eat."
"Wh-wh-what about yer big, green friend over
there?" the bartender asked quite meekly.
"Oh, the Nameccian?" Koji responded, looking
back at Chih. "He
doesn't eat. Jest
fetch him a tall pitcher of water."
"Y-yes, sir!" the bartender answered as he
dropped his stick and rushed to the bar to pour a pitcher of
water for the Nameccian. "And
what will you be havin' today, Mr. Koji, sir?"
"Whatever's best on your menu," Koji answered,
beaming with pride over the bartender's newfound respect.
"Make it the best you've ever made, and give me a
big pitcher of water as well."
"It's on the house, sir!" the bartender told
Koji as he began pouring another pitcher of water for him.
"Fer such a distinguished guest as you, it'll be my
honor ta treat ya with a complimentary free meal!
Just have yerselves a seat, and I'll bring it right over
to ya lickety-split!"
"Thank you," Koji replied with a smile as he
noted the bartender's fervent effort to accomodate his needs.
"Much obliged, my friend.
Come on, Chih. Let's
take a seat. We can't pass up a free meal." |
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