Chương 4: A cruel mission
Kaelor was overcome with nervousness. Selected for a planetary conquest mission, he had never imagined he would be placed in such an extreme situation.
The thought consumed him, leaving him restless and unable to relax. He barely touched his food, and his behavior was beginning to affect those around him.
Liryn watched him with concern.
"Kaelor, everything will be fine. You'll do well on the mission," she said, her voice carrying a serene tone meant to reassure him.
He forced a smile but didn't respond. It wasn't his performance on the mission that tormented him; it was the purpose behind it. The idea of what he was expected to do loomed over him like an unrelenting shadow.
Kaelor was not an aggressive person. He could count on one hand the times he had truly fought in his life. Yet, the mission assigned to him was not an act of heroism or a noble cause.
It was genocide.
The guilt stabbed at him like a knife. He knew that the moment he set foot on that planet, there would be no turning back.
The mere act of contemplating genocide felt like a punch to the gut—an abhorrent act fit for malicious people. He did not see himself as a bad person, but neither did he consider himself a hero.
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 now expected of him?
Now, however, he felt forced to betray all of that. The mission was not just difficult; it was a direct affront to everything he considered fundamental to being human.
"Am I still human?" Kaelor pondered, feeling the weight of doubt gnawing at his mind. He knew his identity had changed.
He was no longer a mere human but a Saiyan, a member of a race known for its strength and thirst for battle.
Even so, the memories of his past life remained vivid, memories of a time when he was just an ordinary person.
No matter how vivid those memories were, they did not change reality. Now, his essence was something else.
"If I go through with this... can I still consider myself a good person?" he murmured to himself, staring into the void.
Liryn, unaware of the storm of thoughts consuming Kaelor, continued to misinterpret the situation.
To her, his worry seemed like mere insecurity about the success of the mission, something she considered natural for any Saiyan before a major task.
Perhaps she had adapted too much to the "Saiyan way of life." Battles, conquests, and strength were part of their routine, almost to the point of becoming trivial.
At no point did Liryn seem to consider the moral weight of what was to come, or even acknowledge that her son was about to commit a despicable act.
The idea never crossed her mind, as if the nature of their actions was an inevitability that didn't need questioning.
"Kaelor, after lunch, I have something to give you. It'll help you on the mission," she said as she stood up from the table and headed toward the workshop.
Kaelor, intrigued, quickly finished his meal and followed her to the location.
"During the war between the Tuffles and the Saiyans, we managed to resist for ten years. That was largely thanks to this weapon," Liryn explained, her tone serious, as she pulled a cloth off a worn wooden box.
Removing 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 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 an elegant and functional design. A small laser sight mounted on top reflected the advanced technology of the Tuffles.
"This weapon was crucial for the Tuffle guerrilla warfare. During the war, it gave us a fighting chance against the Saiyans. However, after Vegeta's victory, the King banned all Tuffle weapons. So, keep it hidden. No one can know you have this."
Kaelor carefully picked up the weapon, feeling the physical and symbolic weight of the equipment.
"It's capable of piercing through armored plating, and the best part is that it's rechargeable by cartridges or battery," Liryn continued with a serious look.
"You can even recharge it with sunlight, which makes it truly formidable in any condition."
Kaelor examined the weapon more closely.
The rifle's robust structure, combined with its solar recharging technology, seemed almost perfect for any prolonged combat scenario.
In a guerrilla setting, this autonomy and power would be crucial.
"It's a model many underestimated, but it proved its worth in battle," Liryn added. "Over time, it became 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 handed Kaelor a red Scouter.
"I know you've been working hard and even using my Scouter to track your progress," she said, looking at him with a subtle smile.
"So, I made sure to get you your own Scouter. Now, you'll have one that's more comfortable and efficient."
Kaelor looked at the device, feeling a sense of gratitude.
The Scouter was essential for monitoring enemy forces, measuring combat powers, and even detecting energy levels—an indispensable tool for any Saiyan on a mission.
Days passed as Kaelor grew accustomed 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 sense of control over the weapon's power made him feel more prepared, though he could never rid himself of the unease about the mission's true nature.
Finally, the summons arrived. He was informed about the planet where the mission would take place.
It was a world with a power level considered low. Energy readings indicated that the highest force detected was only 1,000—a level easily manageable even for a Saiyan child with a power level of 50.
"They're clearly stupid," Kaelor thought, mocking the Saiyans.
"How could they think it was 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 surviving there, let alone exterminating the natives, would be a significant challenge.
Liryn, however, noticed the inconsistency of the situation.
"Do they really expect Kaelor, a child, to subjugate this planet alone?" she pondered aloud, her suspicions growing exponentially.
Determined to understand what was happening, Liryn conducted a deeper investigation.
Analyzing data from similar missions, she identified an alarming pattern: hybrid children of Saiyans and Tuffles were being sent on increasingly challenging missions, many of them practically suicidal.
At that moment, a realization dawned on her.
King Vegeta, or whoever was behind these decisions, was systematically eliminating hybrids by sending them on impossible missions.
Liryn felt the weight of this discovery, a sense of being part of a cruel chess game where their pieces were disposable, destined to fail.
"They're sacrificing us," she thought, a knot forming in her throat. Anger and frustration consumed her in a burst of indignation.
"Isn't it enough to subjugate us? Now they want to erase every trace of our existence from this world?"
Her maternal instinct kicked in, calming her, at least temporarily.
She couldn't let her anger cloud her judgment, not when Kaelor's life was at stake.
She knew she was powerless against the system working against them and that any organized resistance would be crushed.
But Kaelor was her priority. He must not become another victim of Saiyan tyranny.
Without wasting time, Liryn focused. She worked tirelessly to find a solution, knowing the risks were immense.
Though she couldn't prevent Kaelor's mission, she could at least try to ensure his survival.
She quickly went to the spacecraft assigned for the mission, a functional model with few customization options.
Knowing that Kaelor's only hope might be stealth, she integrated advanced camouflage technology that would make the spacecraft nearly invisible to any radar or tracking device.
With this, Kaelor could evade any potential retaliation, freely wandering the universe without being detected.
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.
Without this, she knew he wouldn't stand a chance of surviving.
The mission wasn't just about conquering Planet Zentara; it was a death sentence for him.
As if that wasn't enough, Liryn added an expanded universal map to the ship's computer, allowing
Kaelor to choose any destination in the universe.
He could go anywhere, start anew, or simply hide where no one could find him.
With the system finalized and ready, Liryn took one last look at the spacecraft, knowing this was all she could do.
Kaelor would be on his own, but at least he'd have a chance.
She felt an immense weight on her shoulders but knew her decision might mean her son's survival.
Meanwhile, Kaelor followed silently behind a superior Saiyan.
The gray-haired man made no effort to hide his hostility.
"This way, abomination," he said disdainfully, pointing toward a transport capsule.
"You'll use the spaceship 1605-24."
The word "abomination" cut through the air, a constant reminder of Kaelor's hybrid status, as though he were something to be discarded or inferior.
Kaelor didn't respond, which might have been what the superior expected.
His gaze was distant, absorbed in thoughts about the mission ahead.
All he wanted was to finish the process and leave this cursed planet.
Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared before him. Kaelor raised his eyes, and upon recognizing her, his face lit up.
"Mother? You came to see me off?" he said with a genuine smile, a glimmer of joy lighting up his face.
Liryn, visibly exhausted after hours of work, gave a faint smile, still dazed by fatigue.
She nodded simply. "Yes, son, I did."
Her voice was soft but carried an invisible weight. She didn't want Kaelor to feel the burden of the mission or the pain she bore watching him leave.
The Saiyan, seeing the scene, wasted no time.
"Very well, woman, guide your son then," he said with cold satisfaction, as though his task had been efficiently completed without any further concern.
"And make sure you don't delay him," the Saiyan said with cold satisfaction, his tone dripping with disdain. His voice carried an air of dismissal, as though Kaelor were nothing more than an expendable tool to accomplish a task.
Kaelor and Liryn exchanged a brief glance, a silent moment shared between mother and son. Liryn's exhaustion was evident, but she masked it with a faint smile.
Her heart ached knowing the dangers her child was about to face, but she refused to let her worry show.
Kaelor, sensing her struggle, gave her hand a slight squeeze. It was a quiet gesture of gratitude and reassurance, though he himself was unsure of what lay ahead.
Without a word, Kaelor stepped into the transport pod, his thoughts already consumed by the unknown awaiting him on Zentara.
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