Chapter 12: Promise and Exchange!
His ship falling towards Namek's surface, Arlic's eyes were shut tight. He was trying to sense the Namekian with the strongest power level on Namek, doing so, he placed two fingers to his brow. Not even waiting for his [Space Pod] to land, he used [Instant Transmission] to directly reach his goal. After appearing out of thin air in the Namekian village, which caused a bit of a stir, he stated his intentions before the largest domicile he could see and was soon escorted to meet the Elder.
Standing before Guru was both nostalgic and a little daunting. Arlic new Guru could sense a person's true essence, but Arlic felt as if his soul were being seen through when he looked into Guru's eyes. He knew instinctively that he could not lie to this old man, not that he intended to. Stepping forward while keeping an eye on Nail and Dende standing beside Guru, he gave his greeting. "Grand Elder Guru, my name is Arlic. I am one of the last surviving members of the Saiyan race." Arlic placed his hand above his heart. "I have come to your world as I stated outside, in order to negotiate a trade." Clearing his throat Arlic got straight to the point. "The use of your races [Dragon Balls] in exch…" Before he could get another word out, Nail interrupted.
"How would an off-worlder know of such things! He is clearly trying to deceive us, Elder! We…" Not allowing Nail to continue, Guru held up his hand while looking towards Nail. "That is enough child! I understand your concerns. Warranted though they may be, should we not at least let our guest explain himself?" Lowering his hand, Guru looked back towards Arlic. "My apologies for my child's rudeness. Please, continue young Saiyan."
Arlic smiled, continuing his earlier plea. "It's quite alright, Grand Elder. He has every right to be suspicious. I'm asking for a lot and I realize that trust takes time." Arlics smile was slowly replaced with a serious expression. "With that said, time is not something I have the luxury of indulging in." With his hand outstretched as a symbol of integrity, Arlic wanted Guru to know he was both adamant and earnest in his next words.
"I trained alongside two Namekians on Planet Yardrat, they were the ones who told me of your races [Dragon Balls]. My fellow students described them as being able to grant the wishes of anyone who gathered them. I wish to exchange their usage, for information. Information regarding the safety of your people." Guru's eyes expressed genuine interest for the first time since Arlic first entered the large room. Nail on the other hand looked as if he didn't believe him, while Dende was childishly wide eyed at his remarks. Seeing that he had their attention, Arlic continued. "Sometime in the future, your people will fall under attack."
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Guru had been alive for a long time. He had seen the destruction of his people and had survived the catastrophe that caused it. He had birthed a new generation of Namekian children and had watched them all grow up. In all that time he had never heard a child speak of such things. The future. An impending attack? If it were not for the fact that the child's aura remained steady, he might have thought it a distasteful joke. Returning from his thoughts, he focused again on the young Saiyan, listening with rapt attention, hoping to learn of this future the young boy spoke of.
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Noticing the room go quiet, with Guru lost in his own thoughts, Nail with his fists clenched so tightly his palms bled, and little Dende with a face full of worries. In all honesty Dende even existing so early in the timeline shocked him. He knew Namekians of the [Dragon Clan] aged slowly, but this was making his head hurt. Seeing Guru's attention fall back to him, Arlic nodded before speaking again.
"A great tragedy is coming for your children. Death and destruction are all that will await both this planet and your children when it arrives." Making sure his word sunk in before he continued, Arlic looked around the room. Seeing that no one had any questions he continued speaking. "I have said enough, I will say no more until you agree to allow me to use the [Dragon Balls]." He gave them a moment to process his words, while he waited, Nail spoke.
"Even if what you say is true, why would we agree to anything if you won't tell us everything first?" Nail was clearly still suspicious. Luckily, Nail wasn't the one Arlic needed to convince. Looking back at Guru who was again lost in thought, he coughed lightly to get his attention. Once he saw the Grand Elder look his way, Arlic spoke again. "Information about the upcoming threat is not all that I offer, I also offer you and you alone, your life. I shall save you after death takes you and in turn, you can save your people." Nail replied. "What kind of promise is that, off-worlder? After death! Why not just promise to make him a god while you're at it?" Grinning at Nail's aggressive form of sarcasm, Arlic responded while keeping his eyes on Guru.
"If that is what it takes to assure your cooperation, then so be it. I shall keep any promise that I am capable of fulfilling, so long as it guarantees me the wishes I desire. As such my first promise is my full support, however, only after the coming catastrophe has passed." Arlic had to tread carefully, he knew he was being vague, still, he wasn't lying. Looking at Nail, whose mouth was twitching, Arlic spoke yet again. "Tell me Namekian, what would you do for the sake of your people? What would you sacrifice? How far would you be willing to go? You do not have to believe me, but you had better believe that something horrible is coming for your people. Though my promise will not save them directly, it will still save them." Sighing inside, he looked back towards Guru and awaited his decision.
His hands tightening upon his throne, Guru asked the question that filled him with dread. "Will you tell us what is coming? I need to know. Do so and I will grant your request." Arlic looked at the old man a moment before he started, Guru seemed to have aged slightly from this kind of talk. "The [Galactic Emperor], Frieza, will descend upon this world in search of the [Dragon Balls]. Right now, he does not believe the stories about the [Dragon Balls], but its only a matter of time before that changes." Guru went still before he asked another question. "How did such a monster learn of the [Dragon Balls] in the first place? More so, how did you come to learn of Frieza's plans?"
Guru had clearly heard of Frieza, judging by the shocked look on his face. Arlic himself knew that if he answered Guru's first question, he would have to lie, as that event had not happened yet. Instead, Arlic answered his second instead, allowing Guru to make assumptions about the other. "Frieza has a brother named Cooler. He was on Planet Yardrat as well. I learned a great deal from him, we also spoke quite often, about Frieza as well." With a perplexed look on his face, Arlic continued. "Cooler is not like Frieza. I got the sense that they did not see eye to eye. I suppose its possible that Frieza was spying on Cooler. Perhaps he overheard the two Namekians speaking, though at most, that's just a guess." Arlic still wasn't lying, it was indeed a possibility.
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Guru's heart was in turmoil. He was not a man given to self-indulgent whim. The child before him had not lied as far as he could tell, not outright anyway. More importantly, there was no malice, no negative emotions, just resolve. An aura of urgent and driving resolve surrounded him. That was what convinced him most. He knew the child spoke truth and desired to help his people. How could he call himself a father if he did nothing to ease the future burdens of his children? Coming to a decision, he spoke. "I agree to your proposal, young Saiyan. You shall have your wishes." Guru held out his hand and issued a command. "Nail! Inform your brothers to gather the [Dragon Balls]!"