The Drop (Complete)

The Drop

Easy Quest

Requirements: PTO Insignia

Reward: 1,000 Zeni and +10 Villain Points

You've impressed the recruiter and have survived basic training. It's time to put your skills to the test. You are put in Attack Pods and launched to a nearby desert planet and forced to track down some renegades. They beg for mercy, but show them that the no one defies King Cold and gets away with it. Death to all who oppose the PTO!

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Frieza awoke from his sudden slumber in a painful daze. For a while all he could feel was the steady throb of pain in the center of his forehead, the flowing pulse of blood hammering the sensation into his skull again and again. As his senses slowly returned, he found he was face down on a rising staircase, all five of his limbs splayed out in a most uncomfortable fashion.

He slowly picked himself up from his prone position and gave his pink legs a quick dust off. As he watched the dirt fly from him, a deep red glow caught his attention. He sent his eyes to the source of the strange light and found himself looking at a small crystal not far from him, lying on the floor.

Hmm, where have I seen that before? Frieza asked himself, his memory still somewhat fuzzy on recent matters.

The cold tyrant took a cautious step toward the shining gem, continuously inspecting it as he went. When he stood beside it, he slowly reached down towards it, all the while making sure not to strain himself. The throbbing in his head worsened slightly as he head reached his waist but it didn't trouble him. Without a moment's pause, the tyrant reached out and scooped up the gem, returning to his usual stance as soon as the object was in his possession.

"Attention all Planet Trade Organisation members!" A voice called out on a speaker above the Changeling's head.

Yes? Frieza thought, waiting for the reply.

"We are the Cold Renegades. We are those deemed unworthy of joining your precious little gang." The voice continued, the noise combining through all the speakers present in the grand palace, "But now we've united, all to bring down the Cold empire!"

Frieza's headache suddenly worsened as his brow angled downward, pinching in the middle.

"We've already cut off several inbound trading routes and have taken the cargo for ourselves. We have more than enough supplies to build a small army. If you want to liberate yourselves from your cold oppressors, join us! We will gladly welcome you into our fold."

Frieza could take no more of the rebellious tone and quickly made his way out of the stairway and back into the central hall. He came upon two of his servants, each of them startled as they witnessed their master's angry gait.

"Where is that message coming from?" Frieza spat, very much eager to find the rebellious tongue so he could pull it out.

"We're working on it now, sire." The orange spotted Xeno replied as his fingers blurred across a small computer pad.

"It seems as though the transmission originated from a planet not far from here. We're working on a more accurate lock as we speak, my Lord." The other Xeno spoke, his voice nearly identical to his orange spotted doppelganger.

Frieza waited as they worked, watching them as they typed away. The constant button presses steadily began to grate on the emperor's nerves.

"Enough!" Frieza exclaimed, "Find the planet, and when you do, patch the information into an Attack Pod."

"Yessir!" The two spoke at once, neither of them raising their heads from the light of their devices.

"I'm going down to pod storage bay seven. The information had better be there before I am." Frieza said before he turned on his heel and marched away.

**************

A large mechanical door slid open, revealing the diminutive leader in all his hidden might. He strode into the pod bay at an angered pace, displaying the same fervor he'd shown when he first heard of the so-called Cold Renegades. He quickly made his way to a nearby work station and pressed a finger down on a rectangular green button.

"Yes, Lord Frieza?" The orange spotted Xeno asked across the intercommunication system.

"Don't 'Yes, Lord Frieza' me. Did you send the planetary information like I commanded?" The cold Lord asked in reply, standing impatiently with a hand on a hip.

"Why yes, we did, sire." The voice replied.

"Good. Now go inform my father I'm going off-world. He no doubt heard the traitorous broadcast so he will understand why I have decided to see to this matter personally." Frieza spoke.

The contemptible Xeno renegades had openly mocked everything Frieza and his father had built over their many centuries of existence. The Cold clan were the PTO. No Changeling could ever permit such shame to go unpunished.

"Anything else, sir?" The communicator sounded again.

"Yes. Make sure the PTO recruiter gets a beating. If he'd simply killed those too weak to gain entry, this whole incident never would have occurred at all," Frieza spoke, sure to cover all his bases, "After that, continue your usual duties."

"All will be done. Have a good trip, sire." The voice on the intercom spoke one last time.

Frieza released his finger from the intercom button, instantly silencing those on the other end.

Now, to see where that irritating Cold Renegade group is located... Frieza thought as he made his way further into the pod hanger.

Past the communication terminal were walls lined with twenty or so spherical pods. The vessels were indented into hollow spaces not much bigger than the pods themselves, freeing up walking space within the room. Long hoses connected the pods to multiple canisters hung above the floor, each supplying either liquid fuel, breathable air, or some other matter necessary for interstellar flight.

Frieza took a few steps to the nearest pod and then pushed a button on the ship's hull. The large hatch opened upwards, permitting access to the relatively small space faring vessel.

The Changeling eagerly climbed into the pod's interior, his use of a hover chair already preparing him for the vessel's tight confines. A few button presses on the computer above showed all the information Frieza had wanted.

"So, a desert planet... Goes by the name Bansplit," Frieza thought out loud as he read the planet's details on the ship's viewing screen, "Not one of mine, hmm? It must not be worth anything."

A few more well aimed button presses disengaged the monitor and sent the hatch falling down shut. There was a momentary hiss as the ship pressurized, and then a few momentary lights and beeps as the ship made preparations for take off.

"It's time to show those insipid pests that no one messes with the Planet Trade Organisation!" Frieza yelled before slamming a finger down on a final button.

A loud high pitched creak descended from above as a small hole emerged in the hanger roof, allowing the Changeling a clean escape. As if sensing the all clear, the Attack Pod rocketed up at an amazing velocity, passing through the tiny exit with no trouble at all.

The small sphere burst through the sky, propelled upward by powerful engines. Within a blink of an eye, the vessel pierced the atmosphere of Frieza #79, passing through it with perfect ease. The ship went even faster in the cold blanket of space, whisking its occupant to those he wished to kill.

**************

Frieza looked through the spherical window and gazed at the planet as it grew steadily larger. The desert world seemed as if it was a floating ball of sand held in eternal rotation. The very image of it bored the cold emperor, remembering why he'd overlooked the planet during his galactic conquests.

"Hmph. That world isn't even fit to become glass." Frieza said to himself as the ship rumbled onward.

As he made his observation clear, an evil thought passed through the tyrant's mind. He could destroy the world with a single blast from a stationary position in orbit. He had no need for the planet or anyone upon it, the world wouldn't be missed by anyone. But then another thought crept over the first, slithering over it like a snake.

Those renegades don't deserve an unseen death. They should all feel the burning wrath of their master as the life slowly fades from their eyes... Frieza thought, now filled with a sadistic rage.

The cold Changeling set up his feet as the ship entered a descent course.

The vessel swept through the dry desert air, cutting through it with little effort. A loud shriek emanated from the ship's hull as it fell through the heated sky, finally ending as the ship plunged into the powdered earth. Sand erupted from the impact site, showering the vessel with off-white debris.

The pod hatch opened with a mechanical whine, doing nothing to clear the airborne sand away from its occupant.

A three toed foot stepped from the pod and onto the sandy floor. It was a simple matter to stay afloat in the near liquid terrain, all Frieza had to do was spread his weight across each dark nailed toe. His cold nature didn't clash with the heated world but merely revealed his ability to adapt.

"Finding such weak willed individuals should be easy work," Frieza said as he turned his mind to the renegade soldiers, "I just need to look for their minds..."

The cold tyrant calmly closed his eyes as he began to channel his innate telepathic powers. The Changeling stood beside his pod, under falling sand, as he felt out those he wished to—

"Why isn't this working?!" The Changeling cried out, his psychic powers somehow failing him.

Frieza kicked the earth beneath him, sending a mass of sand forward. The pointless gesture instantly caused even greater frustration.

"Damn it!" Frieza cried, his hands now clutched in furious fists.

Unbeknownst to the Cold Lord, his psychic powers were already activated. The small red gem in his possession had taken a part of him and stored it in a dream world. Every ounce of his psychic energies were being used in the dream, leaving the conscious emperor with all that remained.

"It's... It's Frieza!" A small boy yelled out.

The beast faced child had witnessed the pod's descent and followed it to the crash site. In his curiousity he had stumbled upon the distracted Changeling, his former ruler.

"Help help! He's back to get us!" The boy yelled, crying as if he'd seen an imaginary boogyman.

Frieza's mood quickly shifted as he heard the boy's screams. The small Xeno would no doubt lead him to the rest of the deserters, leaving Frieza's scouting mission in the hands of his enemy.

The boy grew tired of waiting and ran from Frieza's sight, disappearing behind a sand dune. The emperor quickly followed, keeping his distance so that the frightened boy could lead him to the rest of his people.

As the renegade's settlement came into view, Frieza silently thanked the fear induced adrenaline coursing through the child's veins.

The boy quickly ran into the desert village, crying unheard tales of the monster looming down on them. Pretty soon the tiny ants left their houses and began to pool into the centre of the sandy town.

Not wanting to keep them waiting, Frieza leapt from the sandy dune overlooking the settlement, his form casting fearsome shadows against the glaring sunlight.

His massive jump placed him just short of the settlement. He'd wanted to walk into their land in his own dignified way.

"You really should have been expecting me," Frieza began as he calmly stepped within earshot of a local, "If you truly had, you would have killed yourselves already. It would have saved you the pain."

The sound of several arm blasters charging swept through the dry wind, catching on the Changeling's ears.

"It's a little late now..." Frieza jested as he turned to face the seven armed Xeno warriors.

Lines of energy split the air as they coursed towards their Changeling target.

"I don't think so." Frieza spoke as he jumped into the air and tumbled gracefully over the men.

The shots of energy exploded into the ground, sending a cloud of dust up into the air. It was the perfect moment for the tyrant's counter attack.

Dark nailed fingers shot through a man's chest, causing a pained cry to echo through the dusty town. Frieza quickly moved to another, sweeping his leg with a tail then crushing his neck with a falling elbow. The rest fell just as easily as lines of destructive energy passed through their bodies, forming burning holes in their chests.

Those men were just for starters. Frieza wasn't about to let a single being escape his wrath.

"You insignificant maggots thought you could insult my organisation with your pathetic attempt at rebellion? Before this day is done you will all be dead!" Frieza called out to all those around.

"Please... Please don't..." A voice whispered from the tyrant's feet, "We just wanted to be a... a part of your world... Please spare these people... We seven will gladly die for our sins against you..."

The man at Frieza's feet placed a dying hand upon the emperor's ankle. He hoped the contact would spark some dormant compassion in Frieza's dark heart, that he may save his misguided people.

"Seven? If there are indeed only seven of you in this entire settlement then I shall leave." Frieza spoke, his generosity sincere but ultimately pointless.

As soon as the Changeling finished his words a small boy ran through the desert smoke, the same one Frieza had followed earlier. The child stopped as he reached Frieza's feet, crouching to the downed man's eye level.

"Daddy! Please don't die, daddy!" The boy cried, tears flowing from his eyes.

Frieza smiled as he counted the eight being in his sight. The deal was off. Now every single being would perish.

"C-Close your eyes... my son..."

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WC: 2,272