Chapter 4: A cruel mission
Kaelor was overcome with nervousness. Selected for a planetary conquest mission, he never imagined that he would be placed in such an extreme situation.
The idea consumed him, leaving him restless and unable to relax.
He barely touched his food, and his behavior was already beginning to affect those around him.
Liryn watched him with concern. "Kaelor, everything will be fine. You will do well on the mission," she said, her voice carrying a calm tone that sought to reassure him.
He forced a smile, but did not respond. It was not his performance on the mission that tormented him, but the purpose behind it.
The idea of what he should do consumed him like an incessant shadow. Kaelor was not an aggressive person.
He could count on one hand the times he had actually fought in his life. However, the mission he had been given was not an act of heroism or a noble cause. It was genocide.
Guilt stabbed him like a knife, he knew that from the moment he stepped onto that planet, there would be no turning back.
The mere act of considering genocide felt like a punch in the mouth, it was a disgusting act by evil people. He didn't see himself as a bad person, but he didn't consider himself a hero either.
Despite his flaws, he believed he had some virtues: justice, empathy and a basic sense of morality. How could he reconcile these values with what was expected of him now?
Now, however, he felt forced to betray all of that. The mission was not only difficult, it was a direct affront to what he considered fundamental for a human...
"Am I still human?" Kaelor pondered, feeling the weight of doubt eating away at his mind. He knew that his identity had changed.
He was no longer a human, but a Saiyan, a member of a race known for its strength and thirst for battle.
Still, the memories of his past life remained vivid, memories of a time when he was an ordinary person.
As vivid as these memories were, they did not change reality.
Now, his own race was different. "If I agree to do this… can I still consider myself a good person?" he muttered to himself, staring into space.
Liryn, oblivious to the whirlwind of thoughts that consumed Kaelor, continued to misinterpret the situation.
To her, her concern seemed to be merely insecurity about the success of the mission, something she considered natural for any Saiyan before a great task.
Perhaps she had adapted too much to the "Saiyajin lifestyle".
Battles, conquests and strength were part of the routine of her race, to the point of becoming something almost banal.
At no time did Liryn seem to consider the moral weight of what was to come, or even consider that her son was about to commit a despicable act.
The idea did not even cross her mind, as if the nature of her actions were an inevitability that did not need to be questioned.
"Kaelor, after lunch, I want to give you some things. They will help you on the mission," Liryn commented as she got up from the table, heading towards the workshop.
Kaelor, intrigued, finished He quickly ate his meal and headed to the location.
"During the war between the Tuffles and the Saiyans, we were able to hold out for ten years. That was largely thanks to this weapon," Liryn explained seriously as she pulled back a cloth covering a worn wooden box.
As she removed the cloth, the logo engraved on the box became visible: TL-77.
"TL stands for Tuffle Laser, and this is the most advanced model we have developed, the 77th in our line of rifles.
It represented the pinnacle of our military technology."
Liryn opened the lid, revealing a dark-colored rifle with a sleek and functional design.
A small laser sight mounted on the top reflected the advanced Tuffle technology.
"This weapon was crucial to the Tuffle guerrilla movement. During the war, it gave us a chance against the Saiyans.
"However, after Vegeta's victory, he banned all Tuffle weapons. So keep it hidden. No one can know you have it."
Kaelor picked up the weapon carefully, feeling the weight of the weapon, both physical and symbolic.
"It can pierce armor, and it's rechargeable with cartridges or batteries," Liryn continued, her gaze serious.
"You can even recharge it with sunlight, which makes it truly formidable in any condition."
Kaelor looked at the weapon more closely. The rifle's sturdy frame, combined with solar-powered technology, seemed almost perfect for any prolonged combat situation.
In a guerrilla scenario, such autonomy and power would be crucial.
"It's a model that many underestimated, but it has proven its worth in battle," Liryn added.
"Over time, it has become a symbol of resistance, and now you have the chance to use it. Just remember to keep its origin and power a secret."
Liryn then took out a red Scouter and handed it to Kaelor.
"I know you've been trying really hard and have even been using my Scouter to track your progress," she said, looking at him with a subtle smile.
"So I made sure to get you a Scouter. Now, you will have your own Scouter, it is more comfortable and efficient."
Kaelor looked at the device, feeling a sense of gratitude.
The Scouter was essential for monitoring enemy forces, measuring combat power, and even detecting energy levels, an indispensable tool for any Saiyan on a mission.
The days passed as Kaelor got used to the TL-77 and trained his body to prepare.
He knew his mission was approaching, and despite his nervousness, he focused on becoming stronger each day.
The laser rifle became more familiar in his hands, and the feeling of controlling the weapon's power made him feel more prepared, although he was never able to shake the uneasiness about the true nature of the mission.
Finally, the summons arrived. He was informed of the planet on which the mission would take place.
It was a world with a fighting power considered low.
The energy reading indicated that the highest strength detected was only 1000, something considered easily accessible even for a Saiyan child with a fighting power of 50.
"Clearly, they are stupid," Kaelor thought, disdaining the Saiyans.
"How is it possible that they thought it would be a good idea to send me alone to a planet where the inhabitants are several times stronger than me?"
The planet in question was known as Planet Zentara, and it would be a challenge to even survive there, let alone exterminate the natives.
Laryn, however, noticed the incongruity of the situation.
"Do they expect Kaelor, a child, to be able to subjugate this planet alone?"
Noticing the anomaly of the situation, she decided to investigate further, and detected a pattern: hybrid children of Saiyans and Tuffles were being sent on complicated missions.
This instantly sparked the realization that King Vegeta, or whoever was behind this, was seeking to systematically eliminate the hybrids by sending them on difficult missions.
The planet in question was known as Planet Zentara, and it would be a challenge to even survive there, let alone exterminate the natives.
Kaelor knew that with all his preparation, the mission would still be a great challenge.
The conditions on the planet made no sense, and her mission seemed more like a cruel game of chess than a simple conquest.
Meanwhile, Liryn, always attentive to details, began to notice the inconsistencies in the situation.
"Do they expect Kaelor, a child, to be able to subjugate this planet alone?" Liryn pondered quietly, her suspicions increasing exponentially.
Determined to better understand what was happening, Liryn investigated further.
As she analyzed the data on other similar missions, she detected an alarming pattern: hybrid children of Saiyans and Tuffles were being sent on complicated missions, many of them practically suicidal.
It was then that, at the exact moment she made this discovery, a realization clicked in her mind.
King Vegeta, or whoever was behind the decisions, was seeking to systematically eliminate the hybrids, sending them on nearly impossible missions.
Liryn felt the weight of the discovery, the feeling that she was being thrown onto a board where her pieces were disposable, destined to fail.
"They are sacrificing us," Liryn thought, with a lump in her throat.
Anger and frustration took over her in a surge of indignation.
"Isn't it enough to subjugate us, they even want to eradicate every trace of our existence from this world?"
Hate for everything and everyone took shape in her mind, but it was when Liryn's maternal instinct kicked in that she calmed down, at least momentarily.
She could not allow anger to take over her reason, not when Kaelor's life was at stake.
She knew she was powerless against the system that operated against them, and that any organized resistance would be crushed, but Kaelor was her priority.
He could not become another victim of Saiyan tyranny.
Wasting no time, Liryn focused. She began to work hard on a solution, even though she knew the risk was great.
She could not prevent Kaelor's mission, but she could at least try to ensure a chance of survival.
She quickly headed to the spaceship that would be used for the mission, a functional model, but with few customization options.
Liryn knew that if Kaelor had any hope of escaping, it would be through camouflage.
So, with quick and precise hands, she integrated an advanced camouflage technology, which would allow the spaceship to be practically invisible to the monitoring of any radar or tracking device.
With this, Kaelor could hide from any possible retaliation, roaming freely. He would travel the universe undetected.
It wasn't an ideal life. He wouldn't have a safe place to call home, and loneliness would be his only companion, but it was better than the alternative.
She knew that without it, he had no chance of survival. The mission wasn't just about conquering the planet Zentara; it was about a death sentence for him.
As if that wasn't enough, Liryn added an expanded universal map feature to the ship's computer, allowing Kaelor to choose any destination in the universe.
He could go anywhere, start over, or simply hide where no one could find him.
With the system finalized and ready, Liryn took one last look at the ship, knowing that this was all she could do.
Kaelor would be on his own, but at least he would have a chance.
She felt a huge weight on her shoulders, but she knew that her decision could mean her son's survival.
Meanwhile, Kaelor followed, with silent steps, behind a Saiyan superior. The gray-haired man made no attempt to hide his hostility. "This way, freak," he said dismissively, pointing to a transport pod.
"You will use pod 1605-24." The word "freak" cut through the air, as if Kaelor were something to be discarded or inferior, a constant reminder of his hybrid status.
Kaelor did not respond, which was perhaps what his superior had expected. His gaze was distant, absorbed in thoughts of the mission that awaited him.
All he wanted to do was finish the process and leave this cursed planet.
Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared in front of him.
Kaelor looked up and, upon recognizing her, his eyes lit up. "Mother? Did you come to see me off?"
He spoke with a genuine smile, a flash of joy lighting up his face. Liryn's presence brought with it a relief, as if, for a moment, he could escape the shadows that surrounded him.
Liryn, visibly exhausted after hours of work, gave a weak smile, still dazed by fatigue.
She confirmed with a simple nod. "Yes, son, I have come."
Her voice was soft, but loaded with an invisible weight. She did not want Kaelor to feel the burden of the mission any longer, nor the pain she herself carried when seeing him leave.
The Saiyan, seeing the scene, wasted no time. "Very well, woman, guide your son then."
He said with cold satisfaction, as if his task had been completed efficiently and without any other concern.
His tone, once again, showed contempt, as if Kaelor were nothing more than a tool to be sent to fulfill a job.
Kaelor and Liryn exchanged a brief look, a silent moment shared between mother and son.
Kaelor knew that his mother valued him greatly and that she would suffer when he was gone, so he tried to be reasonable and act like a good son.
He squeezed her hand a little before heading to the capsule, his mind already wandering to the unknown that awaited him in Zentara.