Gone Native: Reaching Out (ch. 29) (Patreon)

"None of this was included in the reports," I muttered to myself, finding my frustration with the whole situation growing by the second. Not just because Komand'r had subverted my checks and outright lied about the situation, but I was forced to wonder that if she had done so, then who else was? What else was being lied about? I knew that I couldn't be the single point of failure in my empire, but I had thought I had a better grasp over it. Yet, I was watching what resembled a riot back on Earth and when I went through the past reports, there was barely a mention of unrest.

The entire city wasn't up in arms, I felt. There were millions in the expanding city, but only a relatively small portion of them were outside of the Palace for their protest. Roughly a million to the ten million in the city, and the vast majority of them seemed to be Tamaranian. Beyond the protest, most people were staying in doors, feeling the tension of the city, where the edges of the protest showed signs of brewing violence.

"It was not like this the last time that we were here," Koriand'r told me as I watched the crowd continue to chant. She appeared increasingly uncomfortable that they were chanting for her. Her fluorescent green eyes darted around, equally as clueless as I was that this was happening. So, Komand'r hadn't been covering this up for weeks. That was something at least. Still, I would have preferred to have known from the start.

I was feeling out of my depth. Earth had made my shortcomings painfully obvious and my plan of attack this time had already suffered a major setback because I hadn't realized the situation was so volatile.

"I think it would be best if they don't know that Kori is here," Raven pointed out, her tone carefully even. "At least until you order Blackfire to make peace with Kori," she said, making me blink.

I hadn't realized that was-

"No," Raven interjected, sensing my rising hopes for a simple and straightforward resolution. "That's not an invitation. You can't tell people what they should feel. The more that you try, the more they will dig in."

I crossed my arms, my gaze trailing up to the top of the Palace where I knew Komand'r resided. "In that case, what should I do?" I had a week to think of an answer, and I had failed to come up with a perfect solution. Emotions and personal conflicts were so much messier than war. With war, setbacks had tangible effects, while with personal conflicts a single misplaced word could completely undercut a point or lead to a breakdown. I had experience in diplomacy, but in hindsight it was so lacking in actual diplomacy and consisted mostly of issuing threats and ultimatums.

Raven was quiet for a moment as all of the Titans failed to give me an answer. Some of them were surprised that I was asking, but they were all considering it carefully. They cared about Koriand'r. Even if they didn't care for Komand'r, they knew that she did and wanted them to make up for her sake. "Tell her what you wished you could have told your brother," Raven decided after a moment.

That earned a low chuckle from me. I loved Vegeta, even after everything. Still, I wasn't as blind to his faults as I had been. "I don't think it would have been possible to reason with Vegeta," I admitted, which didn't inspire a lot of confidence. Vegeta had made his mind up long before that fateful day. His pride could accept nothing other my death at his hands, or his death at mine. "But it is as good of a suggestion as any," I decided before I began to float up.

Robin met my gaze and offered a nod, "We'll keep a low profile and make sure this doesn't become violent. Good luck," he tacked on, seeming as surprised by the parting words as I was to receive them. With that settled, I began to float up to the top of the Palace.

My entrance didn't go unnoticed by those below. I heard shouts go up when those that recognized me all but demanded that I bring Komand'r down to face mob justice. Their shouts shook the air as they aimed their voices up, chanting at the top of their lungs. My lips thinned as I reached the top of the tower, seeing bubble shields around the open balconies in every direction.

I had never seen Komand'rs' room before, I noted as I touched down. I thought that it suited her -- orange tinted stone made the interior, but there was black and silver decorations to be found everywhere. Riches and splendor. In that regard, she was like a Saiyan displaying her wealth as a status symbol, floating high above everyone else.

Komand'r herself was lying face first in a large floating circular bed. Not bothering with the covers, and dressed in her royal attire. Off to one side, I saw the crown that she had worn to every meeting on the floor and an indention on the stone that suggested a hard throw. It seemed like what happened below was getting to her, even this high up, you could hear their protests. It made me apprehensive in a way that I hadn't felt in a very long time.

There were very good reasons for me to become what I am. One of which, I suspected, was that I had always been this painfully awkward and leaning into my role as a leader helped me cope with that fact.

Raising a hand up, I knocked at the barrier. It felt rude to just walk through it, though I easily could have. Komand'r proved that her time as queen hadn't rusted her skills, because in a moment, she was flying in the air, black bolts of energy around her hands. She was ready for a fight. A very worrying sign. However, after a moment, the glowing black energy that leaked out of her eyes faded as her expression switched to one of absolute fear when she saw it was me. I saw her swallow thickly as she wiped the expression off of her face, gesturing for me to enter.

I did so, the energy shield washing over me as I stepped inside. Komand'r dropped to the ground and offered a deep bow, "King Tarble! Forgive my rudeness, I…" she trailed off, glancing up at me and seemed to realize that there was no point. Though, based on how her eyes darted to the floor, I think she thought that for a very different reason than I did. "You are here to take my queenship from me, is that it? Have you too fallen under my sister's spell?"

She sounded angry. A fury that I had never heard directed at me in her voice. Komand'r looked up, her expression twisted into a growing snarl of rage.

"No," I interjected quickly, trying to nip that train of thought in the bud.

It seemed to work because Komand'r went still, something of a cautious hope entering her eyes. "Then my sister is dead?" She sounded like that was the one thing in the universe that could make her happy, and it made me increasingly uncertain that there was anything that I could say to make this situation turn around.

"No," I told her, shaking my head. I didn't like how the hope seemed to dash in her eyes, replaced by anger. And uncertainty.

"Dare I ask why?" Komand'r questioned, raising to her full height. There was an edge of anger in her voice that was just barely restrained. Not because of our past, but because she knew that she couldn't beat me. She couldn't years ago, and I was several times stronger than I had been.

Coming outright and saying that I wanted her and Koriand'r to work out their differences seemed like a bad idea. Sometimes, the best plan was to let your enemy think the plan you wanted them to follow was their own invention. Though, I doubted my skills as a conversationalist were up to the task.

"Why are your people so unhappy?" I questioned, and I immediately regretted it when her expression twisted. I avoided one nerve by directly poking another.

Her lips curled back into a snarl when her hands curled into fists, "Because they are short sighted fools with even shorter memories!" she snapped at me, a raw rage in her voice that I had only ever heard when she spoke of the Citadelian Empire. "They forget everything I have done for them because I had to trample over a few ancient traditions for the sake of progress! They want my damned sister that abandoned them because she was never here long enough to do anything wrong!"

I felt like I messed this up right out the gate, tripping over myself by overthinking things. On Earth, I had gone in with far too much confidence and now I believe I was suffering from too little.

"Komand'r-" I started but she shook her head.

"No one cared about the traditions when we had a boot on our necks, but now they're all that matter! They treat me as a stopgap until the true ruler can return! I-" she continued, the words pouring out of her lips. The amount of self pity in them didn't do her any credit, but if the progress reports hadn't been doctored, then I couldn't say that it was entirely undeserved.

I reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, a gesture of reassurance I learned on Earth. I think it was the first time I had touched another person without intention to murder them since… Elery. Back when I told her that Broly was dead and gave her a hug years ago. Komand'r seemed shocked by the gesture, tensing as if she expected me to hit her. So, I let go, sensing that the touch wasn't welcomed. "Komand'r, you don't have to convince me that you are a good queen. I know you are. It's why I chose you to rule over the Vega system," I told her, trying to put any fears that she had about her position to rest.

I think it worked because Komand'r seemed to be struck speechless for a moment, regarding me almost cautiously as if the words might be a trick. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she tilted her head, "You're different," she noted, sounding uncertain.

I wasn't. Not yet. "I'm trying to be," I admitted. A tiger didn't so easily change his stripes. It would be a lie to say that there wasn't a large part of me that was sick of the meandering and attempts at compromise. That would prefer to either kill one or both of them for the sake of expediency and implement a new ruler that wouldn't bring so much drama to my doorstep.

"Your queenship isn't in question, Komand'r. But I would like an explanation on what is going on, and to offer whatever assistance that you need," I continued. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly at that.

"Except for killing my sister. I never thought I would see you hesitate to kill anyone," she remarked, her words barbed to try to provoke a reaction. Trying to see what she could get away with?

I nodded, "Except for killing your sister. Nor will I allow you to kill her," I added, deciding not to give Komand'r a loophole to exploit. "The riots?"

Komand'r's lips thinned as she drew herself up, attempting to look regal despite everything. "Since taking command of the Vega system, I have been implementing changes. My people weren't happy with Tamaran becoming a shield world, and are proving impatient when it comes to reintroducing the insect and animal life that once roamed. Nor are they happy with my policy of allowing other races into Tamaran for the sake of turning Tamaran into the capital of the Vega system."

She crossed her arms, "My people suffered a great deal at the hands of not only the Citadellian Empire but other races as well. We were slaves to many and that is a perception that still lingers. Many times, we have been treated as slaves even after our freedom has been won. Now, the people of Tamaran want to become isolationists. They want to secure our border, and evict all non-Tamaranian residents to ensure that we never suffer at the hands of anyone else again."

That was idiotic. "What does that have to do with Koriand'r?" I wasn't seeing the connection.

"My sister is known for foiling my plans, even when they're for the good of Tamaran. She grew up as the chosen heir, beloved by our people and no matter what she did, they never forgot that. They want her to be queen because they think she'll give them what they want," Komand'r explained, her tone dripping with bitterness.

The parallels really were a punch in the gut. It was for the near same reason that Vegeta wanted me dead.

"My sister doesn't even have to try to usurp me," Komand'r added, glaring right through me as if she could feel Koriand'r on the planet.

The situation was messy, but not so much so that I needed to back off and go to Ada'la to have her take care of things for me. "Koriand'r has no interest in being queen.

Komand'r scoffed, "So she says. It's never stopped her from interfering with my plans whenever she disagrees with them." And from the sounds of it, that had happened a number of times. I couldn't blame her for holding that opinion.

"And if she were to speak in favor of your reforms?" I questioned her, earning a beat of silence in response. Not because she was considering it but she was looking for a way to refuse without being rude. "I believe you are putting the Vega system on the right track. You can't change someone's perspective of you by hiding from your reputation. You have to confront it and force them to reevaluate how they see you." At the very least that got a pleased look out of her.

"I am of the same thought," Komand'r seemed to preen. "But I do not like the idea of my policies requiring my sister's approval to be implemented. Can I even call myself queen if I merely rule because she allows it?" Damn it. The words hit me with near physical force, and my expression showed it. Komand'rs' brow furrowed, "Are you alright?"

No, not really. It felt like a pit had opened up in my stomach. Vegeta had said the same thing. Near word for word. And I agreed with Komand'r, she was right about Koriand'r letting her rule. It made me all too painfully aware of my shortcomings with Vegeta. Of my ignorance when I trampled all over his pride without even noticing.

I worked my jaw for a moment, a retort dismissing her concern on my tongue, but I swallowed it down. If I wanted to change her mind, I had to give her a reason to. She had to understand that I understood. I learned my lesson on Earth. If I stopped and fully explained my intentions and plans… maybe nothing would have changed, but maybe something would have.

"My brother used to say the same thing about me," I told her, catching Koriand'r flat footed. Her eyes widened a fraction, seemingly uncertain what to make of the admission. "He hated me as much as he loved me… but, towards the end, I think he probably hated me more than he loved. It was for the same reason that you hate your sister. It's why I don't want to kill Koriand'r. I can understand where she's coming from." Komand'r's expression twisted and I could feel myself losing her, so I forged on.

"Your sister doesn't want to be Queen. Just like I never wanted to be King," I admitted. Vegeta would have likely been a terrible king. He didn't care about those under his rule beyond how well they could serve him. If he still lived and I remained a prince, then we would likely still be at war with the galaxy. And I was forced to wonder if I would have made his fears come true -- if I would have usurped the throne from him to stop that savagery. "Koriand'r is trying everything I did -- I was going to exile myself when the war ended so I wouldn't be a threat to my brother's rule. Because as much as I cared about our people, I never wanted to shed my family's blood."

Komand'r was silent, seemingly biting her tongue, allowing me to make my point. "I don't have a perfect solution. I don't even have a good one," I admitted with some difficulty. Since I first led the 501st, I had always needed to project strength. When they looked to me, they needed to see that I had a plan. It's why they trusted me enough to lay down their lives. "But I've seen the end of the road that you and Koriand'r are going down, and there's only bitter regrets waiting for the one that survives."

There was a beat of silence as Komand'r regarded me carefully, the same way she had when she first met me. "You are different," she repeated. "The old you would have never asked me to make up with my sister because of your feelings." For the life of me, I couldn't tell if she found that to be a good thing or not.

But I wasn't different. This was just my second fumbling attempt at changing after my first had me land flat on my face.

"If you're so insistent, then I suppose I can at least try to deal with my sister. On your promise that no matter what, I remain queen of my people and the Vega system." she requested in a tone that was more of a demand. All the same, I nodded. It was an easy promise to make. She was leading her people in a direction I agreed with and in time, I knew her people would realize that she had led them well.

"Very well then. I shall meet her."