The invasion was officially over.
Marzette had made quick work of the remaining low-level soldiers, while his own entrance had crushed the heavy hitters. Sadly, that meant there were no Frieza Force members he could force to handle the ship for him.
A real bummer, that.
On a more positive note, Knox had managed to gather up all of the remaining former slaves into the main cargo bay. They huddled together, staring at him with the kind of fear usually reserved for executioners.
It was partially his aura. And it was partially that they'd witnessed him slaughter a bunch of people.
He explained, awkwardly, that he wasn't here to kill or enslave them, just that he needed help running the ship.
After some tension, and a very brief lesson in why this wasn't a democracy, roles were assigned. They'd live, they'd help, and Knox would drop them somewhere safe before moving on.
By the time the last clusters of aliens settled, Knox felt pressure building behind his eyes. He needed the ship operational and moving. The longer they lingered, the more likely someone from the PTO would track the stolen ship to this planet and come knocking once more.
He was finalizing those details when the doors to the ship hissed open and two familiar figures entered.
Queen Vanella, ever the picture of composure, moved with the same refined elegance she always did.
Behind her, though, Marzette looked… off. There was no smooth confidence in her stride. Instead, her arms rested stiffly at her side, her claw-like fingers occasionally twitching. It was an uncharacteristically fidgety action for the proud Chitinari warrior.
Knox's hazel eyes narrowed slightly at the sight, but he pushed his curiosity aside for the moment. Floating down until his boots lightly touched the floor, he waved nonchalantly.
"Yo!" he called out, grinning. "You guys here for some kinda big, dramatic sendoff? That's cute n' all but there's no need for that."
The queen stopped a respectful distance from him, though she made no effort to motion for Marzette to follow closer. Behind her, the other alien remained stiff.
Vanella gave a faint incline of her head, her mandibles clicking faintly.
"Greetings, Knox," the queen said formally. "I would be remiss to let you depart without acknowledging the intervention you provided this day. You have prevented circumstances that would have been utterly… intolerable."
Knox blinked once, unimpressed. "Y'know, I think you coulda just said 'thanks.' No need for all the extra fluff, your highness." His voice was teasing, but there was no real bite to it.
"Indeed," Vanella didn't argue. "I do thank you, Knox. That is why I considered preparing for you... a parting gift."
"Oh?" Knox looked her up and down. "But you uh, decided not to?"
"It was armor," She stated. "Forged from the same material as the regenerative polymer I explained to you. It would've repaired itself and granted great resistance to physical attacks."
"...Okay?" Now he was just disappointed she didn't have it. That sounded badass.
"However, I concluded that it would ultimately impede you." She continued. "You said yourself that you become stronger with bit of damage you endure. This armor would've stunted that growth, making it a crutch more than a gift."
'That is actually a good point.' He internally pouted. 'Still would've been cool to have.'
"Alright so what did you actually come here for?" he prompted. "It doesn't feel like you came all the way here just to say, 'No armor for you.'"
Queen Vanella's composure faltered, just slightly, as her next words came slower than her usual sharp, deliberate tone. Her mandibles twitched faintly, and she glanced back at Marzette before hesitant words left her mouth.
"I spoke with Marzette, and she proposed-"
Before she could finish, Marzette stepped forward.
Knox unconsciously straightened up. When his eyes locked onto hers, he couldn't sense a single shred of hesitation in her intense posture.
"Knox Creed." She intoned.
"…Yeah?" he said hesitantly, one brow arching slightly.
Marzette strode closer, towering over Knox by nearly a full head's height. She closed the distance between them in just a few steps and stopped only when she was just shy of crossing into his personal space.
"I request to join you," Marzette said firmly, her voice deep but unwavering.
"Uhh..."
"I wish to leave my planet and join you," she repeated just as confidently, her vibrant compound eyes locked onto him like twin spotlights. "In your voyage across the stars. Wherever you travel, I wish to follow."
Knox blinked at Marzette, still processing her words. The giant insectoid warrior stood firm, her compound eyes locked onto his as if daring him to challenge her request.
"I have realized that my perspective has been… inadequate," Marzette began. Her voice held no uncertainty, every word deliberate. "I love my people," she continued, her head tilting slightly toward Vanella in acknowledgment. "But the majority of them are of the Worker Clan. They have no concept of what true combat entails. Their strengths lie in unity, in building, in perseverance."
"I wish to travel the universe in search of greater strength," Marzette declared. "In understanding your power, I realized the limitations of my own."
Knox blinked again, eyebrows furrowing as he tried to piece together what Marzette was saying.
"Okay, uh, try not take offense when I say this but," he said, raising a hand. "...What purpose do you even serve?"
Marzette stared. "Pardon?"
Knox folded his arms, leaning back slightly as his hazel eyes flicked between the Queen and Marzette. Finally, he sighed, voice a fraction softer but no less direct. "Look, I get it. Your whole 'I gotta get stronger' thing? That makes sense. I'd do the same thing if I were you."
Marzette nodded her head slightly but didn't interrupt.
"But here's the thing," Knox said, unfolding his arms. "I don't know you. Like, at all. And to be totally honest? I'm astronomically stronger than you. You serving as my knight-slash-bodyguard or whatever is… well, pretty much worthless."
Marzette didn't visibly react to the sting of his words, but the way her claws twitched faintly at her sides betrayed just a hint of emotion.
Vanella stepped in. "Perhaps you judge too harshly, Knox. Do not mistake the limits of her current capabilities for permanence."
Knox turned to her, brow furrowing. "Meaning?"
The Queen's antennae twitched faintly, her composure unfaltering. "Surely you have noticed the distinctions among my people. Most of our kind bear red exoskeletons. Marzette's is black, while mine is white. These colors are significant.
"This pigmentation reflects evolution. The majority our people belong to the Worker Clan, their exoskeletons red by nature. Yet through extraordinary circumstances, relentless effort and pressing need, it is possible for a Chitinari to evolve into something greater."
Her gaze shifted briefly toward Marzette. "Marzette, for example, was not born as she stands now. Through training and combat, coupled with remarkable resilience, she ascended to the Warrior Clan.
"And while such an evolution to the Warrior Clan is uncommon, it is not the final stage. There exists the potential for yet greater transformations… though they remain exceedingly rare."
A species that can evolve? Not just transform but permanently take on a greater form?
It sounded cool, but there were no guarantees she'd even reach that level. What purpose could she serve him right now?
He bit his lip, wracking his brain. His [Thought Acceleration] flickered into action reflexively, stretching the seconds into minutes within his head as he picked through possibilities with cold, systematic precision.
'She's not strong enough to fight at my level.'
'She seems smart, but not a scientist or strategist. Doesn't fill that niche either.'
'Anything she could teach me I could probably learn from even better fighters like Roshi.'
'It's not like I need an assistant, either. I can do everything myself-'
Wait.
Could he do everything himself?
He inconspicuously opened up his status screen and clicked on one of his traits. The description popped up in front of him, allowing him to re-read its effects.
Trait: [Wishbane]
You may only make wishes via the Super Dragon Balls. All other wish-granting constructs will not function for you. Any attempt to make a wish will result in comedic failure and/or irony-based karma.
'Aha!'
This said nothing about getting someone else to make a wish for him. He probably couldn't make a wish like turning him into a Saiyan or anything, but it should be possible for him to interact with any objects materialized by the wish.
Like a barrel of infinite Senzu beans. Or an artifact that could instantly level him up.
Okay, maybe that second one was a bit too ambitious, but he could dream!
Knox's grin widened, sharp and calculating. The possibilities unraveled before him, every option spiraling into new schemes. If he played his cards right, Marzette would be invaluable in a way no one else could match. Not as a fighter, but as a tool to bypass one of his limitations.
He closed the status screen with a thought.
"Fine," Knox said abruptly. "I've decided. You can come."
Marzette hesitated for just a fraction of a second, her antennae twitching as though she hadn't expected such a sudden acceptance. "Then-"
"However!" Knox cut her off. "I will not entertain any pushback. If I say jump, you jump. Down here, she is your Queen. But out there, my word is law. Got it?"
Marzette didn't flinch. "Of course. I would expect nothing less."
Vanella's hummed as she observed the exchange. "A wise choice, Knox. You'll find her loyalty, like her strength, unshakable."
"Let's hope so," Knox replied smoothly. "Alright, Marzette, go get your stuff or whatever it is you need to pack. We leave soon."
Marzette bowed her head briefly to Vanella before turning sharply on her heel and walking out of the ship, her powerful stride returning now that the weight of the moment was behind her.
Vanella lingered a moment longer, stepping closer to Knox as her voice dropped slightly, becoming more measured. "I trust you understand what you've inherited."
Knox gave her a soft smile. "Oh, don't worry. I won't let anything happen to her, your highness. Promise."
Vanella's expression didn't change, though there was a subtle glint in her eyes that suggested she was satisfied with that answer. "Then fare well in your travels, Knox. May they prove as fruitful as you intend."
She turned and swept out of the room in one graceful motion, leaving Knox alone with his thoughts.
Slowly, his grin turned predatory.
'First, the Dragon Balls. Then, the PTO. And after that, well... I'll figure it out when I get there.'