50 Meeting the Grand Elder

"So this Grand Elder, he's the one who can help me?" I asked Moori, acting as if I didn't already know.

"Yes." He answered with a nod.

We were now flying towards another location on the planet and I was getting bored again.

It was the same issue of the flight being too long and there being nothing to look at. It was also partially the reason why I was asking questions I already knew the answer to.

Anything else is better than flying in silence.

"I must ask..." Moori suddenly spoke after ten minutes.

I looked at him like he was a damn lifeline, wanting anything at all but this goddamn silence.

"What... are you?" He asked, seemingly trying to ask the question in a way that isn't offensive. "Your species, I mean."

I chuckled at his tone before answering, "I'm a Saiyan."

"A Saiyan?!" He exclaimed in shock, which honestly surprised me a bit. "But... you don't have a tail!"

"I don't make a habit of showing it off." I told him.

I tug at the black band tied around my waist and unwrap my tail, letting it peek out a fair bit to show Moori before putting it back underneath the band.

"Besides, I would think that the hair would be more than a giveaway." I said, pointing towards my spiky hairdo.

"I see... Yes, I suppose it should... My apologies..." He replied.

Moori's demeanor seemed to shift, as his body language was quite odd after the revelation of my race. He seemed oddly tense. Stiff.

Did Namekians know about the Saiyans and their tendency to take over planets before they were wiped off from the face of the universe?

I say wiped, but there was actually a fair number of Saiyans still around since Cooler had intercepted the transmission. It wasn't a lot compared to our previous numbers mind you, but I would say that there were about a good one to two hundred Saiyans still left in the universe.

Again, still on the border of extinction, but it was still a lot better than the four that were supposed to be left remaining if canon was to have taken place.

"Are you alright, Village Elder Moori?" I asked respectfully.

How do you start building relationships with people who don't trust your race? Be polite. Because there's no way anyone who knows about Saiyans would think one of them would actually be polite enough to show anyone some proper respect.

Well, to anyone that wasn't forcing them to.

"Please, you can just call me Moori..." He replied.

"Alright then." I nodded. "Are you well? You seem tense."

"My apologies, it's just that we know of your people and their ways." He said.

Curious. I don't remember the Namekians knowing about the Saiyans before, but then again, I don't remember a lot from this era of Dragon Ball.

Sure, I'm pretty well versed, but I wouldn't count myself as knowledgeable.

My knowledge about the Dragon Ball universe basically amounts to very, very niche stuff about that barely anyone knows and things that basically everyone knows.

There's barely ever a middle ground with me.

"I see. If it makes you feel better, I'm not here to do anything malicious." I told him.

"I hope that is true, Saiyan Zyleth. For I can only place my faith in you and hope that I am not mistaken." He replied.

Well, depending on how this next conversation goes, you're either going to be pleasantly surprised or severely disappointed.

____________________

"We are here." Moori said as a house atop a large rock came into view.

Thank the Lord Zeno above...

I had to slow down to a crawl so that I wouldn't outpace Moori. And even then, my "crawl" speed was still faster.

As we approached, I saw an unfamiliar Namekian standing on the outside. His power level wasn't all that high, but it was pretty decent for a Namekian.

Beside him was a small child, which caused me to raise an eyebrow, but I otherwise shrugged it off.

"Moori, what a surprise." The Namekian said as we landed in front of the house before looking over towards me with a confused expression. "I see you've brought someone along..."

While he wasn't hostile, I could tell that my presence had put him on guard.

"Yes, Stropo, this is Zyleth. A Saiyan hoping to use the Dragon Balls. We have come seeking the Grand Elder so that he may listen to his request." Moori tells him.

"A Saiyan?" Stropo asks, his eyes widening before turning his gaze towards me. "What does a Saiyan want with the Dragon Balls?"

"I want to revive someone." I answered.

Stropo looks me up and down, almost as he was if trying to ascertain whether or not I could be trusted.

"I will speak to the Elder..." He spoke before entering the house with the small child.

"Who was that child?" I asked Moori as the door closed.

"Pardon?" He asked, confused by my sudden question.

"I was wondering why there is a child alongside the person who is supposed to be attending to your Elder." I said.

I was also wondering why he seemed so familiar.

"Ah, you mean Nail? He is the next in line to attend to the Grand Elder. From what I heard, he is a very exceptional young man." Moori replied.

So that's why he looked so familiar. I just met a young Nail. Hard to believe that he's supposedly the strongest Namekian ever born. Then again, I wasn't exactly the power house that I am today when I was younger, so maybe I shouldn't be so quick to judge.

He could also be hiding his true power level.

About a minute went by before Stropo came out and motioned for us to follow him inside. Moori extended his arm, allowing me to head in first.

Upon entering the house, I look up at a very large Namekian, seated on what looked to be a throne.

"Welcome, young Saiyan. I am Grand Elder Guru."