Sunshine and Water Pumps

[Zach]

It had been weeks, many weeks, perhaps a month or even two since Zach had been here. The water pumping station that supplied the whole of the Human city was being restored after the events that had lead to it's shutdown. In those weeks before, Zach had been tasked by the child Saiyan named Haku with disabling the place. Now however that his home was gone and his master was forced to find other work for both himself and the blonde teenager, Zach was tasked with helping to restore the station to operation and then from that point on, assisting in maintaining that operation. The sun was blazing overhead, riding high towards noon as the shirtless teen carried on each shoulder, arms wrapped up and almost over them, a pair of fuel barrels for the generators that would soon once more power the station. For now though it was still silent, the more intricate work of repairing the pumps being done by those with better knowledge of the machinery. Zach, although no idiot, was physically better suited for the heavy lifting then anyone there and thus had been deligated those jobs by the Saiyan forman.

As the teen lugged the two fuel barrels to their destination, the depot directly behind the plant and placed them down the lunch whistle was blown. He didn't want to stop though, he had to keep working to keep from thinking about the farm. More then anyone else he blamed himself for loosing his parents and for that he deserved to be punished. His master was still alive but only by Zach's own hand and was more then willing to take his frustrations out on the boy and Zach took it, his cracked psyche savoring every bit of mistreatment the man put him through. When he was alone however or at work there was no pain to be had so the boy turned to the only other thing that kept his guilt ridden mind distracted, the very tasks he was given. Zach worked without complaint as he always had but now seemed to push himself further and faster then ever. On his first day he's moved thirty loads of concrete bags, by the fifth day that number was up to fifty and when there was no more concrete to be moved he was tasked with moving fuel from delivery trucks to the depot that would supply the restored pumping station. That supply too however was starting to run out as the last truck was nearly unloaded and there was still half the day left, the lunch whistle only now having been blown.

What was he going to do? The remaining barrels would take half an hour tops to move and then what? With nothing else for him to do the forman would likely send the boy home. He would have to return to his master's apartment and wait but what was he to do? He could work out for the rest of the day until his master returned, improve his alfready fantastic physique so that he might better be able to protect his master should though who destroyed their lives return and also to better withstand the man's abuse so that he could in fact take more of it, that punishment that he so deserved. The very thought of having his master's fist planted deep in his body, short of breath and groaning from the man's power brough the only sensation Zach could even consider close to pleasure anymore. It was strange but the blonde didn't question it, all he knew was that he was responsible in some way for what happened to the farm and he deserved to be punished.

Not wanting to eat lunch just yet, the shirtless teen made his way back towards the truck for another pair of barrels. his movement cough the eye of the forman and the whistle was blown again followed by the Saiyan's booming voice. "Cranston! Are you deaf?! Get your lunch now!" the Saiyan roared prompting the teen to stop in his tracks and look to the man then compliantly turn and head for the meal truck that was waiting to feed the workers.

[Jinsoku Akuma]

Eyes beamed through Jinsoku’s mask as he starred at the water pump station from a distance. The saiyans were making human slaves reassemble it, getting even small kids to help out in some way. Jinsoku had gotten word that such a thing was taking place and he wanted to stop the child labor any way he could. At least one less child out of severe working would help, however Jinsoku had to be very quick and sneaky about it. He counted three saiyans on guard, as the sun beamed down on the work site Jinsoku drew closer.

Jinsoku did his best to stay out of site, thanks to the son there were plenty of shadows but they were not dark enough to hide him. He would stick to hiding behind any structures that were hidden from view of the saiyans. There were not many but thankfully there were multiple piles of equipment lying on the ground that provided decent cover. Jinsoku finally got his sight of a small boy who look exhausted, what little clothing he had was drenched in sweat and his face showed signs of sunburn. Jinsoku knew he had to help get the kid out of here, at least help provide the kid a break.

Jinsoku waited until the three saiyans had their attention away from the little boy, then he sprung into action; with a few quick steps he was at the boy, managing to scoop him up in his arms in one quick motion. Jinsoku then tried to leap out of there, however he was quickly stopped by a saiyan’s speedy grapple attempt as Jinsoku rounded a corner. Damn!!! There were four saiyans.. Jinsoku dropped the young kid as the saiyan’s grip wrapped around his frail body, Jinsoku grimacing in pain, as the squeeze got tighter. Jinsoku could hear the roar of the smug saiyan’s voice.

“Well well, what do we have here? Some do gooder trying to steal away our property? Now you should know better than that!” By now the other saiyans had focused in on what was happening, one of them coming over and making sure that Jinsoku could not attempt an escape. Jinsoku listened as his voice rang out. “Ah hahaha, who would even try and attempt something like this? We thought you humans would eventually learn to stop medalling in things that don’t concern you…heh, hey Cron it’s been boring watching these humans work all day. Whaddaya say we have some quick entertainment? Maybe have a betting contest on top of it.”

The man now known as Cron chuckled and spoke back, still continuing to squeeze Jinsoku who let out more agonizing sounds. “Haha, I see where you’re getting at Arttok and I have the perfect idea.” He would let Jinsoku go, the masked man dropping to the ground on his knees trying to catch his breath back. “Were going to have ourselves a brawl. Pit human against human.” The saiyan chuckled and looked around to see who would be a fitting match for this newcomer. It was then he spotted the blonde, shirtless fit young man at the meal truck. Pointing his finger at the young boy he would belch out more words.

“You there! Cranston was it? Hurry up and down your meal. You and this here pest are going to go toe to toe for our enjoyment.” Cron then lifted his voice higher; alert those nearby to his booming voice. “Let the betting begin!!! Take your pick for either the blonde haired slave or this masked ‘helper’!!” Cron would then grab hold of Jinsoku and sling his body towards a middle clearing, Jinsoku managing to catch himself and slide into the clearing. This is...not good. Jinsoku’s eyes and head darted around, the saiyans had now all moved to the clearing as well, surronding it from all sides leaving no escape route for Jinsoku. I don’t want to fight...not against a human…but…do I have a choice?

[Zach]

Following his scolding by the Saiyan forman, Zach sheepishly made his way to the lunch truck and was just starting his meal when there was a sudden rukas accompanied by some shouting. The blonde tried not to think anything of it, it was after all a common occurance with the Saiyans. This however proved to be different as his name was suddenly called loudly across the contruction site. Turning away from the truck and looking to see what was going on for the first time, Zach noted that a darkly dressed man wearing some sort of mask had been grabbed by the Saiyans. He wasn't one of the workers, the teen knew all of them and this guy certainly wasn't one. Then the forman continued, calling the shirtless teen over and stating in quite plain terms that he was to fight the masked man.

'Fight?' Zach's mind stuttered as he dropped the piece of corn bread that he'd been chewing on. 'Oh man, I though only the master liked to see me fight. Don't tell me these guys want a piece of me too...' the blonde continued to think but then his interior monologue ground to a halt as two things happened simultaniously. The masked man was litterally hoisted up and hurled nearly half way to the blonde, landing in an cleared area set aside for assembling frames, and second, Zach realized that this fight might be a window to the punishment he deserved. His momentary hesitation over, Zach strode away from the lunch wagon and towards the masked man, passing between the Saiyan guards and the few slaves that wished to watch the fight. He stopped about ten feet away, a repectable distance so that niether could hit the other without warning and then halted, bringing his fists up and about his head.

"I am sorry sir, I don't want to hurt you but I have to do what I'm told." Zach called to the other man over the jeering of their Saiyan audiance. With that appology serving as his warning that they were going to begin, Zach resumed his advance, steping cautiously towards the other man. He wasn't sure what the masked man was capable of so the boy kept his defenses up high and once he was close enough would toss out a probing right handed jab for the man's chest.

[Jinsoku Akuma]

After accessing his non-escapable situation, his eyes jolted at the approaching shirtless blonde that the saiyans had deemed him to fight. Jinsoku noticed that the blonde looked amazingly fit, yet young Jinsoku guessed mid to late teens. Jinsoku still didn’t want to face a human, especially a young one that was probably a slave. It seemed things had went from bad to worse for the masked man. The blonde teenager strolled up to Jinsoku and spoke, his words filling Jinsoku’s ears. "I am sorry sir, I don't want to hurt you but I have to do what I'm told." The words filled Jinsoku with despair, it looked as if Jinsoku was going to have to fight this young man.

Yet..Jinsoku didn’t want to..what happened if he did attempt to fight? Win or lose, what would happen to him? He had to escape somehow…maybe…maybe if he fought it could provide an opening for escape. Yea, that seemed the most logical thing right now for Jinsoku. He just hoped that he didn’t hurt the young boy to mu- A fist to his chest brought Jinsoku out of his intense train of thought, he had not been paying attention to the boy after he spoke at all and missed the flying punch that soon came.

The strength of the punch was amazing as it pushed Jinsoku back several yards, Jinsoku barely managing to keep himself upright and not fall back. Wow…what strength...I have to be more alert next time… Jinsoku then looked at the spiky blonde haired boy as he thought of a move he could make. One quickly popped into his mind as he then dashed forward at the young man only to sidestep to the left at the last second and then quickly lunged toward the man’s side with a right elbow ready to bash the mans right side along his ribcage. The movements Jinsoku had done were pretty quick and he hoped that his dash forward threw the blonde boy off just enough for him to land his first attack.

[Zach]

As Zach closed in on the masked man and readied himself to start this unfortunate fight, his opponent seemed to take only the slightest notice of him, not even responding to the boy's preemptive oppologee fr having to hurt him. If the man wasn't going to pay attention that was his problem, Zach had been given a task and he could just refuse to do it because his counterpart wasn't paying attention. Even as the teen's arm shot forward the masked man seemed to take no notice at least no untill Zach's fist smashed cleanly into his cloak covered chest and sent him reeling backwards. The teen was surprised to see that a simple jab had had such an effect on the man and thought he dettected through the cloth that the man's chest was not as muscularly developed as his own. Given how easily he forced the man back with a moderate punch was it posible that under the imposing mask and conieling robes lurked a particularly frail man who didn't stand a chance against him? How could he in good conscience beat such a defenseless man?

Zach didn't have time to ponder the though for very long as no sooner then did the masked man recover from the punch, did he bolt forward once more at incredible speed. Zach was truly surprised now to see such speed out of an indiviual who a moment before had been so easily knocked back. Opening his fists and turning his palms towards the man Zach was groing to attempt to grapple his opponent but his movements were quick, too quick for the teen's compartive lumbering. The masked man ducked down and to the side an expertly smashed his elbow into Zach's side.

"Errf..." the shirtless teen grunted as his ribs to the impact, there being no muscle there to properly defend them. Still he wasn't significant'y injured, more just surprised that he'd actually been hit and so quickly. It appeared to the blonde given that the elbow wasn't much stronger then his own jab that although this guy lacked his tramendous physical strength, he had some fantastic speed and maneuverability on his side. He would have to react as quickly as he could to any move this guy made and do his best to grab a hold of him to nullify the advantage his speed gave him. That in mind the shirtless blonde tried to turn on his heel as quickly as he could to the right and bring his left hand down on the man's back, closing it into a fist as he did. If he succeeded, the blonde intended to follow through by raising his knee up into the man's midsection should he still be close enough.

[Jinsoku Akuma]

Jinsoku was halfway glad to see his hasty elbow strike land against the side of the young man. Jinsoku was not in the shape to take hit after hit, and if the first punch showed Jinsoku anything. It was that he couldn’t go full toe-to-toe brute style against this young man, as he would certainly lose. He had to use his speed to get in strikes and get away, however he had to pace himself or he would tire out rather quickly. Almost immediately after his strike landed, he would push off the blonde haired boy’s using the force of the push off to narrowly miss both of the corresponding strikes from the young lad.

Jinsoku had shoved himself back away, ten yards from the elder teenager. Only taking a couple of seconds to decide his next move, he would take two steps forward before leaping high into the air, twirling sideways in midair, he would start to come back down swinging his now back right leg, hoping to connect with the left arm of the fit teenager. Using the force from his mid-air spin, the masked man hoped that the force of the kick would divert the young boy’s attention to that area which would give Jinsoku another opportunity to strike in another place.

He would take that slight opportunity, whether his kick landed or not, Jinsoku would land on the ground and proceed to do one of his more common techniques, his Sentous Okeru Tabas. Otherwise known as punches in bunches, using lightning fast speed; Jinsoku would begin to throw numerous punches ranging from the boy’s torso and up. Jinsoku was unsure if the boy could keep up, but just in case he did Jinsoku expected he might take another blow from the young man. While he couldn’t really prepare himself physically to feel the pain and power behind that strike, he was mentally tough and he knew that to get out of this alive. He would have to take the pain with the gain. 

[Ume]

I think I'm not TOO far from the place, just yet.. Her mind spoke.

Footsteps were from the ground as her feet went. Eyes up straightly at the path, with her left hand clutched onto the silt of her 15 inched melee weapon. She just made her recent trip out of the Blood Plains. Jule was now currently on her walk to this human village she heard back at her home. This settlement, or whatever the hell it was called. She would of course, compare her own home village to the one she was comparing to. The settlement she was traveling to might have more people, and best of all: Goods.

That's what she needed in order to survive in this world. Nothing but goods, and the sword already got Jule hyper when she first gained it through that lab training of hers. It wouldn't be easy to just snatch things like pickpocketing though, especially with environments that can be hasty as hell, over-protective, or and maybe just too ignorant. Still, she expected some goods, which was the only way to survive, and nothing wrong about the blood rushing through your veins when you know someone's hunting your ass down when you stole something. The whole cat and mouse game, right? A single droplet of sweat ran down the side of her face, then traveled down to her chin, with the sweat droplet falling off of her chin. The rogue was in fact, hot. She can say the weather was clear and beautiful, but the heat told her another story.

She can already sense some energies not so far off ahead. Hah... I guess I'm not too far now. Jule's mind went. It was about time she was somewhere close to some life. No one can really understand how long it took for her to get out of the plains. It just sucks to be new around the area. After a few minutes later, finally, there she had it. Jule now reached to her designated area. She wasn't really expecting the place to be tidy or clean or brand new or anything like that. Eventually, her expectations were as guessed. Though, she didn't see much of a... "city" or an area. It appears she appeared in some sort of... Factory.

Jule walked up near the cliff, about 15 feet above, she saw a factory, more like a water factory. That was something the rogue would expect to see in a saiyan city, not a village, but what can she say? It looked like there some humans working out in the fields and the saiyans just barking orders. Nothing unusual around here to change Jule's expression. However, a fight came to her eyes. She didn't have much of good eyesight, but she sees two people, most likely to be humans, fighting. A shirtless male, and a moving curtain. Whatever was going on, this had to be good.

What's this..? Two humans fighting..? Her mind spoke, as she sat herself down near the cliff, with her legs handing out on the egde. I guess this is something I can enjoy for my entertainment until it's over. I love to see some blood splattering. Her mind continued to speak, as she then laid a smile on her face.

[Zach]

Having missed landing either his left handed hammer or his knee on his opponent Zach straitens up and resumed his defensive posture. As he straitened himself Zach's opponent leapt away for a moment and then launched himsel skyward, arcing and and then back down towards the teen. Zach couldn't believe the guy could jump so well but simply had to accept it as a fact and as the masked man arced back down the blonde had an idea that might get them both out of their current situation, all he had to do was somehow propose it to the masked man without the Saiyans overhearing. He didn't quite have time to think about that acpect however as the masked man dame down, ostensibly trying to crash his leg into the blonde's skull. Not knowing the tactick to be a trick, Zach falls for the cloaked man's rouse and raises his arms up higher usual to protect his head from the perceived flying kick. This unfortunately for the teen has the effect and forcing him to lean back and strentch out his abdomin, the very same part of his body that was the masked man's actual target.

"Uuugh!... Ooogh!... Oooph!... Huuugh..." the shirtless blonde gaspsout as his masked opponent lays into his vulnerable midsection with a lightning fast flurry of punches. Having leaned back and raised his arms to defend his head, Zach's midsection was left stretched and more vulnerable then usual. The punches thudded into his musculature and blasted a mixure of air and seliva from the boy's mouth. 'At last, punishment.' flashed through the teen's thoughts as he absorbed the masked man's fists. Although he had his whits about him and repositioned his right foot back slightly to distribute his weight, the boy did nothing to stop the masked man's assault on his stomach. Grunts and groans errupted from him as the man's nearly invisible strikes pounded his gut and after a few moments the boy's arms dropped to his sides, but he still did not back away. Depending on how long the masked man chose to maintain the attack he would eventually feel Zach's abs softening from the punishment and yet the boy would still stand his ground.

[Jinsoku Akuma]

As Jinsoku came down out of the air, he was glad to see his kick land against the high blocking arm of the young boy, knowing it would open up the boy’s midriff and chest region. It didn’t take long for Jinsoku to land and position himself to perform his more famous attack. His eyes watched through his mask as punch after punch, strike after strike landed against the young boy. Jinsoku’s speed seemed to much for the young man to officially ‘catch up’ or block any, however as the attack went on Jinsoku was impressed with the boy’s ability to withstand the punches without moving back or dropping to his knees.

There were occasional grunts and the spitting of saliva from the boy’s mouth, however he continued to stand his ground. Even as the boy’s ab’s softenbed up and his arms dropped to his side, he continued to take the beating as if he was use to such a beating. No doubt to the harsh beatings he must endure as a slave… Feeling bad yet impressed enough with the young man’s stout endurance, he would send a final punch to the man’s upper chest before jumping back and gaining space between the two.

Upon jumping back, Jinsoku would be breathing a little bit heavier having used a good portion of his endurance to maintain the speed and semi-power of the blows. If his last blow did not bring the boy to his knees, he would be surely impressed with the young lad, yet still withered about giving the blonde teenager what was surely just another beating to him. There has to be a way out of this…I do not wish to lay blow after blow against someone with most likely a dire history. If this boy keeps up with his endurance, I’m going to be spent and not have enough to make my escape...hmmm this in itself is a calamitous situation. The masked man would continue to eye the young man, not making another move, surely to the displeasure of the unruly ‘fans’ that were watching.

[Zach]

Standing still and glumly taking everything the masked man threw at him, Zach absorbed punch after punch at his opponent's lightning speed until finaly one last punch thudded into his chest and the masked man leapt away. The last punch did come as a bit of a surprise considering the punishment his midsection had just been taken and so the blonde stumbled back as step before finally doubling over and gasping for a good breath of air. The concealed man's punches weren't as strong as his own, but they had come in such quantity that Zach was having trouble staying up after the punishing flurry.

His opponent's speed was going to be a problem if he directed his attention away from the boy's stomach but Zach did have an idea that would save him any unwanted pain and perhaps save this reluctant, masked man from the Saiyans. If he could get his hands on the man then perhaps he could throw him completely clear of the construction site. That however would have to depend on two things, the first being if the masked man could withstand being thrown such a distance and second, his willingness to let the blonde attempt it. Of course if the masked man wanted to continue punishing him then Zach would not stop him, for what he'd let happen on the farm, for how he'd failed his parents and his master, he deserved to be punished. That in mind, the sweat soaked and heavily breathing teen straitened back up and shot his opponent a strained grin, perhaps if he taunted the man he could lure him back in.

"Heh... That was fun sir... Got any more?" Zach issued between labored breaths and then raised his arms up into a defensive posture once more, this time however keeping his palms open and facing the man.

[Jinsoku Akuma]

Jinsoku watched as his last strike pushed the blond boy backwards a bit before seeing the young blonde warrior double over gasping for breath Ahh…I hope I didn’t crack the poor boy’s ribs…He’s been through enough pain…I have to find a way out of this…But how…I need to by time and try to talk to the boy…but in silent whispers… As Jinsoku thought of a solution, he listened as the young muscled man let out a small taunt. Jinsoku was surprised to see that he had straightened back up and wanted more…An idea then struck the masked man’s brain. That’s it!! Jinsoku then got into an attack position and let out a small chuckle before speaking.

“Heh...if I didn’t know better I would say you were well trained in your younger days…Let’s see how long you can continue to keep your strength up.” After speaking, and not leaving anytime for a response, he would charge forward toward the young boy and when he was in close enough he would attempt to grapple with the fair-haired youthful youngster, almost as if he was attempting sometime of Sumo maneuver, Hoping to place his hands on the boy’s broad shoulders he would lean his head in close and whisper silently “Hey kid...I didn’t come here to pound anyone… I simply wished to rescue someone such as you from these hostile labors…That didn’t go as planed…Hang on”

Jinsoku would stop whispering as he would then try and place his hands and arms around the boy’s head, trying to position himself for a headlock, albeit one that wasn’t tight at all so it would allow Jinsoku to speak to him more and allow for a response. If the young boy allowed this, he would bend down and pretend to tighten his grip on the boy while continuing to whisper. “You wouldn’t happen to have any bright ideas on how to get out of this sticky situation would you?” Jinsoku’s idea had been...well not much of an idea. He only had hoped that the young man would have an interesting way to escape the saiyans clutches, one that he hoped would provide less of a beating…