Villains Rising

[Freeza]

Continued from Bow the Fuck Down please note the new party member.

"No," Freeza snickered from his hovering perch, "You are the costume. I can gladly say I have seen thousands upon thousands of styles in the galaxy and yours is completely one of a kind."

His lips hatched a sinister smile that cracked upon his alien cheeks. Freeza and the creature had bonded. Perhaps this Venom could even catch a whiff of the human blood whom Freeza had also killed upon his arrival. Regardless of any of that, the alien tyrant was sure of one thing: Venom's company would not only be useful, but also incredibly fun. Their bickering banter had only so far offered the Iconic Boss a fraction of amusement.

"So Venom," the alien beckoned the new apple of his eye, "The city's this way and packed full of warm, squirming bodies. I'm sure you'll find the overgrowth of civilization sufficient enough to feed your evident blood thirst." Freeza's words slathered on in a smarmy and sadistic smile, "Ah, also, this one is mine," Freeza gestured to Serraph, who blinked several times when he was mentioned, not by name, but by number and didn't specify whether the alien with two spokes on either side of his head meant his next victim, or slave-like property piece. Maybe he had meant both. Villains, right?

"Don't worry, I've had my fill," the sable twined man's mouth parted in a grin spreading across half his face, the half- crescent accented the serrated curves of his teeth.  

The well-read Prime was still looking at Venom's slithery umbra appearance curiously. How he'd peeled back his own face, perplexed him along with how easily he'd possessed Roger. Now this guy would be hanging around them? Lord Freeza of all people wouldn't be the type to put the creature of black chaos on a leash, unless it befit him but the other alien, Zedd, just might if he said he worked for the Empire.

Freeza phased through the portal first, Serraph, finding himself defenseless against the creepy thing quickly followed in case Venom wanted a third helping of flesh. However Roger's fate had seemed to be the worst one yet.

The black symbiote freely moved to follow the two, no one had chained him or attempted to put the being on a leash, but given how the idea of a bustling city came with that of fresh ants for him to crunch under the web of his leathery stomp, the venomous villain simply couldn't quite refuse.

Freeza didn't know what tier of the city-verse which he had arrived, nor did he care. The alien hovered through the portal, glancing down at the platform that had extended with people of all different races. There was a surge of sound starting from loudspeakers planted at hover bus stops, the clacking of storm troopers marching in the distance, and many, many people talking and walking aimlessly.

The structures winded magnificently up to infinity. Glowing windows and gleaming neon filled the night darkness with a putrid sort of light. Cheap, just like the senseless, ventless humans who basked in it.

The second the black being's form merged through the glowing gate, the tyrannical alien shown triumph in the form of a curling smile. "Oh look, he came after all."

Zedd was perturbed and grunted, while this meant another one for the 'team' he had also turned his back for two seconds and Freeza had yet again rallied another force. The Emperor of All didn't care to be upstaged in his own element, but soon Freeza would learn he was really on the bottom of the rack, forgotten and without a name.

"So this is your home," Freeza inferred to Zedd, as he allowed Venom to orient himself. There was an inch of mockery in his tone for the Emperor of all lived among the very peasants he sought to lead, an odd twist.

Amusing, perhaps, for anyone who wasn't the skinless alien.

Lord Zedd was working up the ladder, Freeza had already climbed and assumed his rightful position at the top. Freeza would likely be pushed back a few rungs, that ego could cost him a lot if he wasn't careful who he stepped on. This was Zedd's turf and he would defend it

Venom raised his nose and sniffed the air, analyzing Zedd's home. "Smells like human."

Freeza held back a rude laugh. So far the slithery guy had done as the tyrant had hoped an expected. Freeza just hoped he'd keep it up.

"Lord Zedd, this is Venom. Venom, Lord Zedd, be a dear and don't gnaw up the bones of the little mongrels quite yet. I daresay we have an army of delicious witnesses donning white," Freeza read the symbiote's dark intentions well enough and tapped his chin in consideration.

"I might like killing, but I'm not suicidal," a splendid thing for Venom to say for Zedd's first impression of him. Yes, splendid indeed.

[Serraph Quarrere]

Coruscant such a... peculiar place. Buildings as tall as the sky with countless people moving along the walkways going to and from their commute. Soldiers clad in white stood guard by the gate along with another detatchment nearby. It would make sense to restrict access to the gates, especially given the limited amount of them, or so Serraph thought. The Arrancar's face was one of astonishment, his smile stretching from ear to ear. With arms outstretched  he'd let out a gleeful laugh, catching the eyes of the troopers and the companions he traveled with. Serraph's body convulsed with his powerful expression before he let his arms drift to his side.

 Turning to Lord Freeza, the Arrancar cocked his head to the side, his curious eyes drifting downward toward the short one. "This place is a grand example of what could not happen in my world. Confining the entire population of eh... 'My people' would not bode well for those insane enough to build such infrastructure.", Serraph would note before drifting his eye over to their new companion, the black parasite that went by the name of Venom.  What a curious fellow he was. "Please excuse me M'Lord.", He'd say, giving Lord Freeza a quick bow before stepping around him to get closer to Venom, the curious Arrancar getting closer to the... thing than most people were comfortable with. His eyes studied him, his gloved hand reaching up, pinching at the strange material that made up Venom, ignoring the perplexed gaze the being gave him as he did this.
 
 "You are quite the strange fellow arn't you? When I obtain a proper base of operations, I invite you to allow me to study you further.", He'd say before stepping back to return to Lord Freeza's side. 

 "Say, Lord Freeza, in this little game of yours, what would be your first move?"

I apologize if my posts are short. I don't have as much time as I used to >~<

[Cell]

Not much impressed Venom anymore. Having spent time on alien worlds and even a spell in space, Coruscant didn't do much for him. Sure, it was a great testament to technology and the things that - he sniffed the air again - mostly humans could do. Buildings and skyscrapers clawed for the simulated sky high above their heads. Flying vehicles built to resemble the rubber-wheeled cars of Earth followed invisible roads in the air. Throngs of humanoid creatures scuttled about on the sidewalks in thick, undulating crowds, pressing against each other to travel to their destinations. The hover cars occasionally descended from the clouds and hummed above the ground by centimetres, taking the roads that the citizens of Coruscant piled on the edges of.

As Roger's memories had already detailed, the city, especially at the entrance of the portal, reeked of the Imperial presence. Highly specialised troops, clad in the same pearl armour that Roger and his friend once adorned, occupied spaces in every eye shot. Some strolled through the writhing crowds on the sidewalk, their polished ebony rifles unholstered and in unashamed view of anyone who looked at them. Others zoomed around in hover cars, their opaque helmets swivelling as they passed by. The most concerning were the ones perched on rooftops, peering down into the masses below with wide, single-lensed binoculars or sleek sniper rifles.

How Roger managed to be such a poor opponent when he shared the same training and combat experience as these stooges baffled Venom, but then he sometimes underestimated the sheer terror his nightmarish form inspired.

Morsels of food trudged by the quintet every moment, unaware of the black skinned predator with greedy eyes stalking them. Saliva leaked through his teeth and rained on the ground. Venom ran a hand over his face, digging his claws in. No, he knew random violence would only endanger him here. His hunger could wait. These three inhuman companions of his seemed just as arrogant and itchy for blood as he was, and they would find what they wanted, in time. He could tell. Venom wasn't one for grand schemes and leading weak-minded fools to do his bidding, but he had been around enough of those who did to recognise them on sight. He preferred to join in for the ride, enjoy himself while he could, and then scamper off when he got bored.

Lord Zedd had yet to talk to Venom directly yet, but his stature and composure spoke of a royalty, or at least a highly ranked position. The metal Z at the apex of the spike above his head almost made Venom snicker, but he knew that the letter must have held some significance and joking about it wouldn't endear him to the stranger. Still, what fortitude he must wield to endure and survive being flayed! Ripping skin off a living creature, a pastime that Venom rarely got to anymore, was intensely agonising for the victim and it was an exceptional being that could live through that torture.

Lord Freeza, if they needed another lord in the group, made Venom smile. Obviously a tyrannical and spoilt ruler, wherever he was from, his attempts at posturing and condescension were quite entertaining. The horned humanoid's own power and expertise with iron-fist leadership bled through his bluster, however. Venom decided to keep humouring him, if only because Freeza's antics humoured the symbiote.

Kerrigan intrigued the symbiote the most. Her array of sharp claws and bone-sickle wings fascinated and beguiled; what sort of torment she could unleash with those beautifully crafted weapons of evolution! Venom locked the image of her natural implements of war in his mind, planning to emulate and develop them himself for his own macabre uses. The insectoid hunan's slithering companions, perhaps a lesser variant of her race, appeared as apex predators but ostensibly acquiesced to Kerrigan's wishes, cementing her status as a leader as well. Maybe he would have an opportunity to ... sample her unique biology.

The human whose name Venom hadn't heard yet wasn't a regular example of his kind. Despite the twisted, demented monsters surrounding him, he displayed an unflappable calm, maybe even a bored disinterest, to their possible threat. He took to calling Freeza a lord, so there was the possibility that these two had a past; could they have been master and thrall? Something niggled at Venom that it was an unlikely explanation.

That niggling became reality as the human strolled over to the symbiote, closer than most would dare to get to him, and squeezed at Venom's oily skin with his fingers, brow furrowed as if he was inspecting him.

"You are quite the strange fellow, aren't you?" he said, though his words sounded more like his thoughts out loud than any directed conversation. "When I obtain a proper base of operations, I invite you to allow me to study you further."

Venom retracted his arm from the human's impromptu examination and leaned towards him. "As much as I might look like it to you, I'm not a science experiment. And if you want to keep your hand in the future, don't bring it within biting distance of me."

The human shrugged, nonplussed at the threat, and returned to Freeza. Odd one indeed.

Venom returned to Kerrigan, wanting to make good on her earlier remarks of conversation. She spoke with greater subtlety and diplomacy than Freeza had, or perhaps even possessed, to offer to in the first place. Freeza had made the call that their discussion could continue on the other side of the portal, and no one dissented. Venom keened his senses, finding it tough to trust the insectoid human, seeing more of a hunter than an orator.

"Venom," the symbiote growled. "This other is Freeza-"

"-ahem-"

"Lord Freeza," Venom corrected himself, "and I don't know the human's name."

"Serraph Quarrere," the human offered.

"And you already know Lord Zedd." Venom was careful to include his honorific, lest he succumb to the same vain impulse. "So ... Kerrigan. I've seen a lot of the galaxy and I've never seen anything quite like you or your ... companions. What is the zerg swarm, pray tell?"

And how well do they go with chilli sauce? he mused as he swallowed back drool that rushed out at the thought.

[All Might]

Without Veritas providing his own repertoire of Quirks for Teacher to sell, Teacher found himself in a... strenuous, situation. Morgan Rothberg, the mob boss of the "Board of Directors", would finally have the excuse to exact his revenge. While Teacher wasn't averse to wiping out the gang in its entirety, he felt that doing so might have drawbacks to any future attempt to sell to the gangs of Tier Five. 

Having a reputation of killing customers when they've stopped buying- it wasn't a reputation that drew in new customers. The fact that the leader of the Board had it in for him was irrelevant. 

Not to mention he now knew that the always insufferable All Might was prowling around Tier Five being a general nuisance. He didn't yet want to tangle with the superhero. He needed more resources, needed to gather more strength, and go in with a solid plan. All Might would always win in a battle of brawn- it was when brains were involved that the Hero had to try a little harder. 

And so he was brought to his current situation: Waiting near the Gate to the Nexus for fresh talent to appear. If he had a new partner, with new Quirks to sell, the Board wouldn't consider him worth cutting off and wouldn't give in to their need for vengeance against him. And if they weren't trying to kill him, he wouldn't have to kill them. 

Sticking to the higher Tiers would also keep him out of All Might's obnoxious spiked hair. 

He was sitting on a park bench, wearing a new version of his helmet. Blindness, he decided, was for other people. He had included digital cameras in the 'eyes' of his skull mask, allowing him to see with about the same ability as anyone with natural sight. They even had a 'zoom' function, for instant binoculars!

It was with the zoom vision that he took in the sight of the group that had just entered Coruscant from the Nexus. 

Promise! He decided. He liked the look of them, quite a bit. Each of them, he could tell, had the potential to be real Villains, on the small chance any of them weren't already. A nefarious inky brute with shark teeth. A white-and-violet demon. A man with a savage mask and no skin. A woman with natural armor, skeletal wings, and an ethereal glow, not to mention the two bug monsters obviously devoted to her every word. And, rounding off the group, a... more-or-less regular looking young man. But in such company, looks would be deceiving.

Teacher stood, and advanced towards the group. 

As he came closer- he felt it. The wave of new Quirks at his disposal, as soon as they entered the range of his Enhanced Senses. The bug-woman in particular, but the man without skin was no slouch either. The ink monster's Quirks were... well, still useful. And to think, there was a live human trapped underneath all that black ooze. A real villain, for sure.

But the other two... no Quirks he could copy at all. Disappointing. But also a chance for opportunity. They might be open to becoming his students and buying Quirks from him, but it wasn't like either of them were powerless. The more human-looking one, in particular, he could tell had enormous potential as a student. He had one of the same abilities as Teacher: He could learn how to copy Quirks as well. 

"I hope I'm not interrupting." he greeted, before extending his hand. "My name is 'Rei', but you may call me Teacher." Teacher said with a grin, "And I believe I have a business proposition for you all that you might well find interesting. I'm searching for other powerful Primes with which to do business."

Freeza turned his eyes on the man, "...What kind of business?"

"I deal in superpowers. I buy and sell them, on a commission by commission basis. You lend me your strength, I lend that strength out to others, at a profit, and then distribute that profit back to you." Teacher held out his hand, "Would any of you care for a free sample?" he asked, offering a copy of his Arm Coiling Air Propulsion ability to any takers willing to shake his hand. 

Teacher is absolutely a fan of villains, and should Freeza, Zedd, or Kerrigan offer to recruit him, instead of taking Teacher's offer of employing them, he would definitely agree to follow them, if they asked respectfully. Venom or Serraph he would agree to a partnership with, if they asked.

[Freeza]

Hmph, this just won’t do at all. The scouter is saying that there are people over my power level swarming around. Impossible. Though, I must consider the fact that with my newfound immortality, there must have been some calibration setbacks imposed upon me by the laws of space and time. How very… Disappointing. What wasn’t disappointing however, were his newfound forces. They had far less organization skills of the Ginyu Force, however, what Freeza did see, was pure potential.

Freeza’s eyes flicked over those who stood before him. This is what he saw: Raw strength, a subservient but useful underling, a mysterious girl who seemed to be sitting on a throne of power, and a deceptive black beast which Freeza would… Look into. My, my, the mutts have quite the potential indeed. However, they’ll be much harder to terrorize into loyalty. It is best if I coax them into power as I offered each of the Ginyus as a platform for their own goals. Not that I care about their petty desires, but this world is much different, so many more people to slaughter and yet I have all the time in the world now.

Freeza continued to scan with his eyes some information on the monitor, his jaw hung a centimeter with slack, So they have enforcers in this realm? Judge Dredd? Storm troopers? Others? According to this article a pair of “primes” were just slaughtered and banished from this realm (for breaking laws and causing trouble, apparently a big no-no.) The realm of “Coruscant” so it says here. I’ll have to watch my step when I crunch over the bones of the corpses beneath my feet. Freeza’s eyes flicked to the skinless alien, Lord Zedd seems to have a useful alliance with the troopers of the Coruscantian Empire. I best not step on his toes yet. It sickens me however, how I must grovel, reduced to idly speaking (albeit with like minded beings) instead of just using a sheer show of force to make the peasants quake at their knees. But c’est la vie, it was time to go businessman and if he had to, he’d strangle the competition.

The little blond one had excused himself, when Freeza looked over, he was suddenly alone. Serraph (though Freeza hadn’t taken the time to learn his name yet) had gone over to the black inky one. Freeza thought Serraph would be useful when informing him of the customs and laws of this Omniverse and specifically the ones he should avoid. Freeza made a mental note not to kill in this world, it was far too public, and there were these things called “bounties” which any half-wit politician would like to avoid… At least until he found his niche angle.

Meanwhile, Lord Zedd had been approached by the ruler of the Zerg, which caught Freeza’s alien ear, he listened closer. Freeza’s eyes widened as he hovered closer to the action, and specifically to the Zerg who bowed at the feet of Lord Zedd. It seems things were getting quite interesting, quite quickly. A slithering smile formed on Freeza’s dark violet lips.

The alien leapt at his chance, “Oh look Lord Zedd, they’re bowing to you. Finally realizing what a true glorified ruler you really are. I would like to meet this wonderful female who have these… Strange creatures as her underlings. It is quite a feat-”

He’d stepped on Zedd’s toes, “Lord Freez-ass, don’t try it. She was talking to me.”

Already they were fighting over a woman.

Freeza’s catlike eye twitched. But the short, annexed alien was nothing if not persistent. He knew the face he had to put out was one of camaraderie, allies in a new world were priceless. Even if he wanted to slit Zedd’s throat then and there.

He’d get his revenge, even if it wasn’t paid in hot blood.

However Venom had mostly covered the introductions. Even restating the young earthling’s name. A mental note was made and nearly forgotten.

So they weren’t all fools. It had taken but a moment for their interest to be captured by Ms. Kerrigan’s Zerg Army. Some, it seemed, would’ve wanted them for power, others, to glorify their own respect. Venom… Scented of chaos and madness, not necessarily in that order.

Everyone, even the servant, leaned in to hear her answer.

“They’re the most powerful creatures you could imagine… Or… They could be here just for show,” the female stated evasively, adding with a smile, “Take your pick.”

All of the villains reacted to this very similarly. Their intrigue reached a climax. And why should she reveal all her cards the first time she met this black suited stranger?

Freeza’s scouter zoomed in, hoping to take a closer look. The pink monocle leaving a hue over his eye beeped as another guest arrived.

“Oh look, my sheer charisma attracted another one, I swear,” the violet and white alien sneered dominantly, “Like moths to a common flame, wouldn’t you say, Lord Zedd?” And thus, Freeza and Zedd’s eternal battle to one-up one another was set forever in stone. It would continue until either of them were smited by Omni himself.

“I’d say your pompous beacon of an undignified attitude makes people want to fill their ears with human feces,” the other lord retorted.

“Or maybe I’ll spare them the privilege and serve them your insides on a silver platter, that’d both keep their ears pasty and warm while also quenching someone’s thirst for blood, now wouldn’t it?” Lord Freeza’s gaze slithered from Zedd and over to Venom. “You’re quite the beast, aren’t you?”

The Teacher introduced himself, his motivations, rather quick and to the point. Another useful pawn. Still, it was nice not to have a peasant waste any of the villains' important time.

Business? Freeza had just been thinking about the market of this world, it was probably pretty open, and this Teacher con-artist seemed like his first client, not the other way around.

“Serraph-boy, why don’t you try it? I have no use for such things, as I am already the ultimate being, plus, I don’t like to get my hands dirty with pleasantries if it turns out I have to kill you later,” Freeza had, however, yet to decide if this man was a pig. “Your proposition, however, does appeal to me. And especially what plans I have in store for this world."

The mutant alien cocked his head as though he were a noble anointed with a crown, unwilling to let it teeter far enough to fall from atop the center of his horns, "Please, enlighten us with your dealings, Teacher.”

[Serraph Quarrere]

"Zerg was it?", Serraph would muse aloud, his eyes curiously scanning the woman, recognizing certain qualities the belonged to the Human race even if she herself was no longer human. Beings adapt and evolve to survive in their environments. The young Espada stroked his chin, his warm gaze hardening as his thought train intensified. Those who fail to adapt are cast out of life. Only the strong survive after all!

 Ha! Serraph himself consisted of hundreds if not thousands of normal hollowfied human souls. Who can say for sure what about him was carried over from his original self. Respectfully he'd extend a courteous bow at his waist, his eyes never really leaving her. "Ah, Forgive me Lady Kerrigan, It's quite tragic one such has yourself would go unnoticed by my watchful eye. Surely you must understand there is simply so much to enjoy here."

 Before he could go any further another would flock to join the merry band of rulers and noblemen, going by the alias of "Teacher". How interesting how one with that name would meet one such as himself. After all, how much knowledge could this man who still lived possess? Unconsciously he'd lightly tap the bridge of his glasses, pushing them farther against his face before stepping forward, his gloved hand taking the "Teacher"'s offer.

 Serraph's gaze dropped, watching and feeling the effects happening. It was an all to familiar feeling as the ability was transcribed into his being, not all too different from Serraph's. The Espada could feel his paper and ink body start to modify itself to accommodate this ability, its instructions written deep within the layers of script within himself. The ability was quite interesting of course. Utilizing the body to capture and weaponize the air around him was quite innovative, but the Librarian had a different interest.

 This ability to transcribe abilities onto others was something he had to have. After all, Librarians and Teachers were both workers and seekers of knowledge, were they not? Grinning wide, Serraph gripped the Teacher's hand harder, his other softly covering the two. "Allow me to try this", He'd say, his glove starting to glow in a misty red light. The Teacher would feel his hand pricked by something sharp as Serraph literally wrote the ability to wield his Zanpakuto into him, the Reiatsu infused ink that ran through the Arrancar's veins seeping into this man. When finished he'd step back, motioning nonchalantly at the man's hip, where a eerily white Rapier hung from the Teacher's hip.

 "I do thank you for the meal~"

[All Might]

Well, well, what do you know? 

"Now that, is intriguing." Teacher said with a grin, feeling over his newly-given Quick. This in the form of a... Zanpakuto, apparently. A rapier. He had never been given a Quirk before- he had only ever taken. Quite interesting, this boy was one to keep the metaphorical eye on. "Well then, I'm... assuming you're in command? Of this young man, at least." Teacher said to Freeza, before gesturing at Serraph.

"He's seen fit to follow me, yes." the alien mutant said, eyeing Teacher. "At least we know your claims are truthful."

"...So do I have any takers? I have a dwelling arranged already by my current client, a man simply known as the Chairman."

"The Teacher, the Chairman, do the people of this verse simply refer to themselves by their job descriptions?"

"No, mere coincidence, I assure you." Teacher looked between the gathered villains, "Unless any of you have arrangements already, I'd be happy to organize for food and board for your party. I'm pleased to have business partners once more." Teacher hesitated, looking to the alien lord, and then between Zedd and Kerrigan, "We... are in business, are we not?"

[Cell]

Venom itched. People talked, strangers ambled up and jabbered on and on, while he stood motionless save his swinging head. He couldn't bound into the crowds and start wholesale slaughtering them lest the ensconced Imperial presence either cook him with high-powered rifles from afar or shackle him and take him to some high-security prison cell.
 
Why did sapient creatures like talking so much while saying so little? The thrill of swinging hundreds of feet above ground or the intoxicating zing of dodging gunfire dwarfed any semblance of enjoyment mere flapping the lips could accomplish. Even as he stood there, semi-drafted into a ragtag detachment of morally questionable beings, his clawed fingers wriggled aimlessly. How could any of them handle waiting around like this? Especially this chitinous woman, with two predatory cockroaches completely under her thrall.
 
Drool ran down the side of Venom's fang-lined maw. The crowds were just asking for him to eviscerate him. He couldn't stand it!
 
Enough. Roger's memories, along with what he saw with his own eyes, told him this verse didn't suit his sadistic tendencies. These meatbags want to babble among themselves? Fine. But nothing was compelling Venom to stick around. Maybe he would get in contact with them when they decided to do something.
 
"Bah, I'm getting bored," Venom announced, flopping his wrist. "If any of you do something suitably violent and malevolent later on, call me. For now, I'm off to make my own fun."
 
Venom didn't wait for any of them to respond. He turned on his heel and pressed through the sparking portal behind him.

Venom leaves the party and Coruscant.

[Freeza]

Freeza clicked a little button on the side of his scouter, it made a calculating noise and the alien seemed satisfied despite the inky one’s departure. “Looks like we’re down one,” Freeza narrowed his eyes, “Little does the two-faced creature know, I likely will call him. Unfortunately this isn’t the best place for fun. Especially with the iron fisted commander and his insignificant army overlooking the place.” Freeza regarded Zedd with a toss of his scarlet pupils.

The mutant alien looked at the Teacher, then to the girl, then to his servant who had gotten a taste of both power and knowledge. Must’ve been succulent, because the blond had an unmistakable look on his face. One that spoke of wanting more.

“Hmph, I won’t be baited so easily by imitation tricks and shiny looking toys,” Freeza was… Stubborn. And arrogant, and cocky, but it was a part of his business angle, part on waiting to be sold, and a part of getting the best deal. “And I certainly will not be sleeping in the same hovels as the rest of these ignorant grunts,” Freeza waved his alien hand across the city-lit verse, and it was likely, one of the unlit apartments belonged to Lord Zedd.

“Oh?” The Teacher hummed, his smile bewitched by the fact that Freeza had yet to say the distinguished no to any of his propositions, it was more of a reprioritization.

“We will all have dinner, even Lord Fredd,” Freeza teased Zedd’s obscure name right back, although subtly, “I think if you ever want to rule by my side, commander, you’ll want your men to be armed with the best, and frankly, if the moment you enter this city and people aren’t bowing on their knees from your power, I’d say you’re not quite there yet.”

That smarmy fucking smile. Zedd’s helmet could have cracked to pieces as his expression hidden beneath it tweaked with steam and fire, there was a rubbery squelch that came from Zedd’s tightening fist. How. Dare. He. Lord Peeza, new to the Omniverse comes to Zedd’s own verse attempting to dethrone him, but he doesn’t just stop there. Freeza tries to tell him how to run things though knows nothing of Omni’s sandbox, and somehow now the white little shit assumes they’ll be lifelong partners? Oh, no no no.

Rage surged within the alien who stepped forward, towering above the puny alien with respect conducted by sheer girth. They were far from fucking partners, if anything, they were each other’s competition. This was no league of villains, but a rivalry of who could get the biggest chunk of the Omniverse without getting banished by some hero who decided ignorant peasants shouldn’t kiss the feet of the strong.

“You dare call me inadequate, pebble scum?” Lord Zedd growled.

Freeza tilted his head and along with it, his horns sharpened against the air surrounding them. “I should warn you, the last person that implied that my current size resembled my power, well, their entire race crumbled at my fingertip. That’s right. One finger.” Freeza’s eye tilted, “Not to scare the lady, of course.”

“You think I’ll quake in my boots because of something as foolish as that? Things work differently here, I doubt you could even level a city block here as you are right now. Omni… When he grants you immortality… Also humbles your power.” Zedd sounded like he knew from experience.

“Hah, if anything, that’s a blessing, I was getting so bored when no one could catch up. I searched entire galaxies looking for a challenge, it seems the answer was so simple that I just had to hop to whatever world I’m in now,” A scornful expression formed.

By their postures, nearly grazing one another, it appeared that the streets surrounding the two would be a wasteland in the matter of the next few seconds, depending who would be daring enough to throw the first punch. However, neither did. Freeza was too much of himself to stoop that low, and rather, Zedd caught on and didn’t want to feed into the game Freeza was baiting him into.

Lord Zedd doesn’t do entertainment.

“It seems you’re a clever pebble after all,” Zedd concluded. There were multiple levels to their conversational threats now. Clever because Freeza wasn’t going to be baited into getting himself arrested in Coruscant, which is only a teensy bit of what Zedd was hoping would happen. And also, Freeza had spun it back around, played on Zedd’s so obvious nerves. Sniffed out his weakness despite the white mutant’s so obvious pomp.

“Aww, you noticed I wanted you to use the new toy on me. How disappointing.” Freeza condescended, “ I wanted to see if it would make me resort to using my hands. The last guy I only used my foot- oh, I guess I did use my hand. Hmm…”

Freeza looked down at his hand and opened his palm once more, looking at it studiously as though he’d absorbed some of Zedd’s slip-ups. No care in the world for those who waited on him. Because he was the iconic boss. Or at least, certainly acted like it.

Finally, he came back, “No no, it wouldn’t do for the help to punch me, nor the queen. Nor will I give the businessman a fair shot at me before we’ve sealed the deal. So what are the dinner accommodations? I should warn you, you’re in the presence of royalty, should she decide to come. Perhaps you should sweeten the deal, Teacher? Give her a toy for one of her armylings for free.”

“Zerg,” Lord Zedd had the gall to correct the white lord, “They’re called the Zerg.”

“Ah, my mistake,” Freeza looked back and held a steady gaze with the being who lacked control on a basic level. Freeza at least had thought he had manners.

“Anyway, I think you won’t mind if I say the words I’ve been hinting around,” Freeza finally pitched direct, and it only took a whole arc, “If you want me to buy: Impress me.”

[Lord Zedd]

Zedd looked in every direction, as if he was searching for the reaction of some non-existent audience. It wasn’t such a ridiculous thing, here on Coruscant’s first tier. There were likely plenty of officials watching this increasingly odd gathering of people. Still, one of their group had already departed, and Zedd didn’t quite know what to make of this newest, strangest arrival, who called themself the “Teacher” with a hilarious level of presumption.

He did know a few other things, though. He knew that he wasn’t keeping up with even the likes of Graowr in this twisted realm. He knew he didn’t have time to waste loitering about a high security area. And he knew there were others out there that threatened his intended rise to dominance.

There was also the lingering concern that he would be yet again whisked away to some high altitude colosseum and forced to slaughter ingrates, just for the sin of being in the presence of multiple primes. He didn’t have time for that.

With all of those factors in mind, Zedd decided to leave. It was with little delay and perfect clarity that he announced his departure.

“I am departing!”

The others looked upon him with confusion, but Zedd took command of his moment. He turned and walked away without a second word.

“Wait!” Freeza suddenly called out.

Zedd stopped, but did not turn. He would be happy to see Freeza act wrongly and be gunned down by the immediate forces of Tier One, but the former warlord was smarter than that. It made him both a worthy adversary and ally, because Zedd couldn’t see one without the other.

“You are a smart man, Lord Zedd. Well versed in the complications of this land, and a good friend,” Freeza continued. “May I call on you for assistance, in the future?”

“‘Friend’ is a callous word to throw about in this land of murderers and would-be heroes,” Zedd replied, keeping his back to the group. “If it is of benefit to me, you may call.”

“I promise it will be,” Freeza smiled, ever the wordsmith. “It’s been a pleasure.”

But Lord Zedd had already disappeared into the crowds of Coruscant.

[All Might]

Teacher watched Zedd storm off. A shame, he supposed, but the real prizes here were Kerrigan and Serraph. 

Freeza himself seemed to be in charge however, so he might as well respect that. 

"Of course." He held out his hand to one of the insectoid creatures that had followed Kerrigan. He might as well make use of Zedd's Quirks while they were still held in the grips of his Mimic ability. The most useful was of course Volt, "Though I should remind you that the Quirk will only remain for thirty minutes. If you wish to make use of it, it'd be best to do so immediately." he informed her. 

"Well, I'll thank you for the gift." she replied, having the Zerg reach out and take the hand. After a moment- and a brief hit of weakness, the creature pulled away and Teacher smiled under his mask as Kerrigan's slave's hand sparked with magical power. 

"That power belonged to Lord Zedd." Teacher explained, "It's quite potent, I'm sorry that he's left." 

"Your deal still remains open, I hope?" Freeza asked. 

"Of course. And regardless, I've promised to treat all of you to a meal."

The group followed Teacher as he led them away from the Gate and further into Tier One of Coruscant. The Board of Directors were run by one Morgan Rothberg, a rich man in his own right. He based his operations out of the heart of Tier One, where he lived quite wealthy as, among other things, an investor in the various corporations of Tier One. He had pull where he needed it, and Teacher was a known associate.

"I can get us seats at the New Skysitter." Teacher informed the group, gesturing towards a certain sky-scraper with a crystalline ring orbiting the very top, "It's quite exclusive, but I've made some connections with a shareholder there." 

"Hm. A bit gaudy, but it should do." Freeza said, "Let's discuss business properly once we have some food in our bellies."

---

The bouncer was a massive fellow, wearing a tuxedo, but with crab-like features, armored and spiked naturally, with savage savage claws on one hand, and razor-sharp fingers on the other. He looked down at a hologram tablet, and then looked back at the assortment of misfits in front of him. 

"I'm not sure you understand what kind of place this is." the bouncer said, "But we do reserved appointments only."

Teacher walked forward, and from his suit he pulled a porcelain mask. "Morgan will vouch for me. A table for-" Teacher paused, looking to Kerrigan, "Your honor guard, will they be sitting at our table?"

Kerrigan looked to her summoned Zerg, "They can stand. They've already been fed."

"Of course. A table for four, then."

The bouncer looked at the mask, and then back to the group, "Morgan will, eh? Very well. I apologize for the hold-up. Welcome to the Skysitter, I do hope you'll enjoy your time with us." and with that, he held out a claw, and the massive golden doors opened up, revealing a crystalline walkway connecting the 10,000 meter spire to the restaurant itself. 

Teacher walked confidently forward, and two polished robots immediately joined them, "Your table is in the process of being readied." One said, "Would you prefer a private booth, or a window seat? The Skysitter offers a privacy guarantee, special Imperial allowance. We also have one of the best-rated views of Coruscant in Tier One."

Teacher looked to the others, "What would you prefer? I've taken a booth the last time I was here. The Empire... likes to keep itself informed. There tend to be ears no matter where you go. The Skysitter is one of the few places where most won't hear. Of course, we would not be speaking of anything possibly illegal regardless, but privacy is quite the privilege, in this place."

[Serraph Quarrere]

"I've not the faintest idea on what's gotten you so excited.", the Lord would say rather coyly, a smirk playing about his lips.

"Well you see M'Lord, this place is centuries ahead from my home, where the tallest buildings were made by the unsuspecting Humans. Their technology pales severely to this place, you see.", Serraph would explain, motioning nonchalantly with a gloved hand. "Nothing on Earth compares"

Freeza did seem interested, with the term "Human" ringing familiar with the space emperor. Serraph could tell that something about what he said touched a nerve with the little one. "Humans you say. I must ask, would a powerful fighter named Goku be among your planet's inhabitants?"

Freeza was curious, a distinct glimmer of revenge's wrath in narrowing in his keen eyes. He already had what the dragon-balls would have given him if the Namekian filth hadn't gotten in his way. Now he wanted revenge on Goku. Perhaps Earth still existed in this realm. "Can I get there from here?"

Serraph gave pause at the little emperor's demeanor, the atmosphere of the elevator seeming to darken at the subject. Serraph's eyes studied the emperor before rolling up his right sleeve, his left gloved hand pinching at the paper skin. "Good Questions. I will look into this.", The Arrancar would say, his fingertips glowing with rainbow light as he summoned forth information itself from his expansive archives. He had stored scores of information of all types. There was no such thing as useless information.

Serraph would pinch down harder, his fingers breaking his weak skin. His blood would flow but not in the consistency one would imagine. His black, ink-like blood would slowly drip from his fingertips as he pulled on that skin, unrolling it from his arm like a scroll. On the inside of this unrolled piece of skin, glyphs of various languages would appear as the omnilinium did its work.

"Goku, Goku.... Son Goku perhaps?", Serraph would muse aloud, his eyes narrowing at the text as it formed. "Interesting~"

It would seem Humans had created Son Goku as a part of a fictitious work where he played the protagonist, facing an increasing level of challenges and evil-doers until he eventually reached into the realm of the Gods. It would seem Lord Freeza was one of his more notable opponents. If Freeza was a work of fiction, what's to say what is and what isn't a work of fiction in this world. Perhaps this place was too wondrous to be true.

"Good news, M'Lord, Son Goku exists in my world. Bad news is that he is a part of a fictitious story as are you. However, it would seem you have quite the fan-base.", Serraph would chuckle, re-wrapping his exposed arm, pulling his sleeve back down over the wound.

Freeza didn't seem to like this news and who could blame him. Who is to say Serraph himself was a creation simply drawn up and written on paper for the amusement of others, orchestrated by some washed-up author hoping to make a quick buck. The idea was far from pleasing.

Soon they would arrive at the top and given the choice of seating arrangements. The former Espada would bite his lip, his eyes moving back and forth between the various tables. On one hand the view was beautiful, but on the other hand the others might not share his view.  

  A group of airspeeders would roar by recklessly, the wake of its passage bathing them in a torrent of wind. Serraph's eyes would look onward amazed and twinkling with curiosity.

 Turning back to the group he could hardly contain himself. "I'll take a raincheck on this little party. M'Lord, I'll contact you at a later time If my interest in your endeavors still holds."

 He'd turn from them, stepping onto the elevator that would lead him down. "Ciao, for now."