Snippet #2678444

Taao's chest rose and fell rapidly as he sucked in air, the fatigue from using so much energy in one attack hit him like a rock but smiled as their enemy fell from the sky, just as he had when the green beast had blew his stomach away, only he didn't have the benefit of self regeneration to pull him from the brink. He expected to hear the body hit the dirt with a sickening crunch, but the remaining soldiers collected his corpse before that could happen, then retreated. There would be no blood, for Taao's attack somewhat cauterized the wound, leaving behind a clean, smoking hole in his chest. Taao had missed the heart by centimeters, but it didn't matter, he reveled in the moment as his allies declared their victory. Oddly enough he wasn't thinking about the fate of planet Melt at all. After devoting the past years to the life of a healer he'd forgotten the rush of combat, and the thrill of overcoming a strong enemy. He held his hands up in front of him, clenched and un-clenched them, and began to laugh from the bottom of his stomach as the large mass of energy overhead erupted harmlessly in place, once again lighting up the sky but with a reddish hue.

Taao moved to join his new comrades and reestablished his guard, eyes locked on the turncoat alien, wary of his state of mind after betraying his senior officer, effectively betraying the very cause he was fighting for. The fact that he hadn't retreated with his allies yet meant that surely he knew his position, the question was what would he do now? Where they still looking at an enemy to destroy?, a " loose end " as the blue one put it,or an ally to be gained? Perhaps neither.

He said to Pikruel first " I for one accept your offer, though, I never had the chance to get your names. You can call me Taao "

Then, Taao seized the initiative and engaged the Arcosian first.
" Look, if you're half as smart as you look then you know you can't go back. Your men will report everything, you'll surely be put to death if the big guy was any example of how much your lives are valued. Walk away, and you don't have to die here. Or you can come with us "

he nodded in the direction of the blue saiyan and didn't have to say much else. If the guy made the wrong choice he'd have her to deal with at, and no doubt her partner as well. He could see it clearly in his mind what would transpire; The blue saiyan would insist on settling it one on one, and at that point it would be out of his hands.