103 Meanwhile

Meanwhile on the other side of the planet inside the Frieza ship.

Cooler sat inside one of those relaxing hoover chairs and looked at a certain window overlooking the Tree of Might. He could clearly see how the tree started to wither away after some unknown energy floated around.

"Hmm, my brother has more things to be careful about than he imagines. But that should not be my problem.", he whispered to himself.

"Lord Cooler, we are ready to take off.", said a blue-skinned alien that had blonde hair. It was Salza.

Cooler only let his eyes wander to the side without moving his head. "Good, let's return home. We were long enough here. And bring me the new data about the soldiers that have proven themselves in this conflict.", said Cooler and averted his gaze back to the window.

"As you wish, Lord Cooler.", nodded Salza and rose from the kneeling posture that he took after getting here and left the room.

"This whole trip was a nuisance. But a lot of things have proven themselves to be true. And even though we lost some men, there are also some that have proven to be elite warriors. I should also start to train as well...That enemy general was no joke. I could feel the pressure he used. So he was about the same strength as me...No, probably stronger. He didn't look like he strained himself in the least...", mumbled Cooler on after Salza was already gone

-----

In a canteen on the ship, many soldiers were sitting around and eating. Only one soldier was staring at his food and couldn't really get his food down.

The soldier was from an alien race but had many humanoid features. He had yellow skin with brown hair and dark purple eyes.

"What is wrong, Banando?", asked another soldier while he sat beside him. It was Appule. A greenish skinned alien that had a had that reminded someone of the alien xenomorphs.

"Oh, Appule. Nothing much. I don't feel hungry for some reason." Then he sighed. "I feel like after all this fighting I just want to get some rest.", said Banando.

"That is understandable. I also want to get back to my family. It has been years now without a damn vacation. But now we at least got a truce. Still, wonder what is all about.", confirmed Appule.

Banando looked in thought at first. "Hmm, I heard it is because Lord Frieza wants to have some time to get stronger. Or he may lose."

Appule had a very pale expression on his face after hearing those words.

"Hey, getting all that shocked about my words? Who knows if it is even true.", added Banando.

But Appule was not shocked because of his words but more about who was standing behind him and hearing them he stood up immediately and saluted. Banando saw that and also stood up and looked behind him. He saw Salza staring at him.

"Captain!", they both shouted that even the others in the canteen could hear it. they also stood up and saluted.

"You can move at ease!", shouted Salza back to them.

Then he came closer to Banando. "Where did you hear such rumor?", he asked him.

Appule heard that and sneakily moved away, letting his fellow comrade drown on his own.

"Sir...It is what the enemy and some of our soldiers seemed to talk about.", told Banando truthfully to Salza.

Salze only stared at him but sighed at some point.

"Sergeant Banando, right?", asked Salza once more and looked at some profile on an electronic pad.

"Yes, sir. That is me.", answered Banando and sweated a little.

"Lord Cooler wants to see you. Follow me.", stated Salza.

´Ugh! Why only me! Should I be lucky or unlucky!?´, thought Banando at this moment and followed suit reluctantly.

The others in the canteen watched him go and sighed out in relief. It was rarely seen the higher ups coming here and most of the time it was bad news. This time it was bad once more from the looks of it.

-----

Back in the command room, Banando and some other soldiers were kneeling in front of Cooler. Dore and Neiz also joined them in the room and waited for the news they are supposed to get after getting a message to gather up.

"So this these are the best soldiers out of the whole batch?", asked Cooler and stared at Banando and the others. All of them had a shudder run down their spines. They didn't know what would happen.

"Yes, sir. If you may use your scouter, you can ascertain yourself.", replied Salza.

Cooler sighed. "That annoying thing? I hate using it...Oh well, just use the ships scanners.", he said and still used the scouter to scan all of them. There were 13 people.

"4000...4600...Oh, 5500." The numbers had wild ranges but most had reached at least 4000 BP.

Then he scanned Banando and what the scanner said was a whopping 82300 BP. The other soldiers, as well as the armored squadron, were somewhat surprised. The former more than the later though.

"Well, look what we have here. We have a very useful candidate. What's your name?", asked Cooler.

"Banando, sir...", answered Banando

"Good. Banando from this day onward you are one of the armored squadron. You are mainly under Frieza his orders now and will act as his bodyguards, unlike the Ginyu force that is for conquering harder planets.", explained Cooler him. "The others can leave. You will get a promotion for your efforts."

When the other soldiers left Banando lifted his hand as if wanting to get attention before speaking.

"Uhm?", he said hesitantly.

"What is it? Speak freely.", answered Cooler.

"Lord Cooler. Is it may be possible if I serve under you and not your brother?", stated Banando his question.

Cooler smirked somewhat. "Why would you want that?"

"There is a rumor that people around Lord Frieza are...dying pretty fast...", explained Banando.

"I can see your concern but I don't have much say in it. Not since most of my authority was taken. I may command people right now, but as soon as we are back, its Frieza´s rules that count. You are going to do so as I told you. I can also become very cruel if people don't accept my generosity.", said Cooler.

Banando lowers his head "As you wish."

"You will also get a fruit from the tree. Eat it here and let me measure your power once more.", said Cooler now and let a fruit of might be transported here.

It was then given to Banando and he ate it. Feeling his muscles bulge he felt more powerful than ever.

"145.000. What an unbelievable increase. His is a record increase, sir.", stated Salza. This new Soldier really could become even the strongest of them. But Salza would not let that happen so easily. He will still put him through rigorous training.

"Very good. Now, leave me in private. Until we reach our destination I don't want any disturbance.", told Cooler them and they all left.

Another fruit appeared in Cooler's hands and he ate it. Looks like he himself was intrigued by the power it granted. But after eating the whole fruit, he didn't feel much.

"Such useless things. They seem only to really work for weaker individuals.", he stated. Little did he know that the fruit he ate had already no energy left because Darc absorbed most of the energies in them when he destroyed the tree.