A Brighter Future, One Brick at a Time (Training)

[Leonardo Khan]

It had been two days since Leo made it into East City, the ruins desolate, and the people hungry. It made him sad, to think that so many lives were wasted. It made him angry, that anyone could do this to innocents. And it made him all the more determined to set things right. And what better way to start than right here.

Leo helped by doing odd jobs around the construction sites; nailing drywall, mixing paint, even roofing. He didn't know much about construction, but he was a fast learner, and his foreman applauded him for it. "Good work, kid," the foreman would say. "Keep it up, and we'll be built in no time!"

"Hey, Kid!" the foreman yelled up at Leo as he was lifting a support plank into place. "Yeah, boss?" Leo asked. "I need you to haul some concrete, as soon as you get done there. One of the other workers got his foot run over by the wheelbarrow, the numbskull," the foreman replied. "On it, boss," Leo replied as he finished fitting the support plank. He flew down to where the wheelbarrow of concrete was and lifted it into the air. He held it above his head as he hovered in front of the foreman. "Where you want it, boss?" The foreman pointed over to a foundation that had been marked off, but not laid yet, and Leo flew the concrete over to it and began pouring slowly as other workers began to smooth it out. "Man, I love that kid. He's got spirit."

[Revas Drakul]

While Revas did not need money she chose to help with some rebuilding of the east city, this was free of charge and many considered it indeed a kind deed. However most had no clue of her race of they might shun such help, she was a good person but most don't realize she has been on earth for such along time. She made her way toward the city sighing, such terrible destruction and the poverty she hated this Freiza was such a monster.

As she made her way toward some of the areas being rebuilt she spotted someone flying and pouring concrete, most humans could not fly so it likely meant he was also a fighter. The question was is he good or evil, she had no desires to face a evil person after what happened recently she wanted to keep a low profile. As she got closer she smiled, it was the man from the building where she ran into Cooler, he was a good person she was sure as she flew close to him under her cape that covered her body.

" Well I was not sure if I would ever meet you again alive, I would uncover myself but... you know humans flee at my sight. I am helping them as much as I can, but right now most humans are not willing to accept my kinds help ya know. "

She sighed and waited for him to respond as she flew close to the boy waiting for his reply. He was interesting and it seemed he liked helping others so maybe he was like herself. She wanted to find more friends that had her points of view and having human friends would be nice, she was raised around them after all.

[Leonardo Khan]

Leo smiled as he heard a familiar voice, the sweet, sultry sounds of a female Changeling. Well, I never thought I'd think THAT. He turned towards her as he finished pouring concrete, and his smile got bigger.

"Hey, Revas, good to see you again. Yeah, that thing with Cooler was a bit.......well, unpleasant isn't quite a strong enough word, I think," Leo said as he lowered the wheelbarrow to the ground and landed. He beckoned her to follow him as he continued talking. "My next job is a bit of drywalling. I could use the extra hands."

Leo went into a nearby building and picked up a couple of hammers. He offered one to Revas as he also picked up a bucket of nails. "It's real easy, and it'll give us a chance to get to know each other better," Leo said as he continued to offer the hammer.

[Revas Drakul]

So he did remember her she was glad as he mentioned dry walling she nodded taking the hammer but in all honesty she could easily hammer a nail in with just her hand. Using such a tool felt very pointless, to her however to have the illusion of being human she had to as she took the hammer and moved inside grabbing the dry wall and holding it against the wall with one hand. She placed a nail on the drywall and hit the hammer against the nail. unfortunately she was not used to restraining her strength like this sending the hammer and nail right through into the wall causing a loud thud.

"... I am not used to using hammers and such sorry... I usually use my tail for such things or my bare hands I cant do that though cause someone might see my true form and they would freak. So, anyways how have you been, I only hoped you had not gotten killed... I... well I found you pretty interesting. "

She grabbed a new sheet of drywall placing it again as she focused lowering her strength down as she placed the nail and hit it with a hammer. This time the strike did not shatter the drywall, she smiled this was not to bad it sort of helped with control of ones Ki a rather useful way to train. She continued with hammering placing the nail and hitting it with the hammer solidly striking the nail into the wood on the wall.

[Leonardo Khan]

Leo couldn't help but laugh as Revas pounded the hammer straight through like that. It's not that he was laughing at her, it's more the fact that she was having a hard time controlling herself. He nodded to himself as she apologized for the mistake, and smiled again as she started getting it right. He was beginning to really like this strange alien woman. He picked up his own sheet of drywall and began hammering before answering her question.

"I'm doing alright I suppose. I'm still a bit riled by our encounter with Cooler. But building helps. It relaxes me, gets me to control my Ki flow better; makes me stronger," Leo turned towards Revas. "I'm glad to know someone cares. Kairi does too, but I don't even know if she's still alive."

Leo turned back to his drywalling, his hammer pounding hard, but not hard enough to break anything. He hammered one nail right after another, putting up the drywall in record time. He was, after all, trying to work out some of his stress, and it was working, but he really wanted to simply destroy it. He stayed his hand, stepped back, and smiled again. Damn, if it didn't feel good to put make something for a change, instead of knocking it down.

[Revas Drakul]

She blushed a bit as he laughed she felt dumb for making the mistake but still it was nice, he was still nice despite her race. That was when he mentioned a girl being nice, she wondered if that was his girlfriend, she was unsure how to ask him. He was a interesting human and for some reason she wanted to know more about him. She continued to hammer the nails in as she got faster at doing this, it was like her martial arts training simply using a hammer and focusing her ki to not smash the hammer through the drywall again.

" This girl you mention.. is she... a friend.. or a girlfriend... maybe your wife... I mean you don't have to answer I was just wondering... call it a serious curiosity issue I have. "

She waited for him to answer as her focus was fading again as she smashed the hammer hard again though she stopped it this time from breaking it causing her face to turn more pink, she felt like her emotions were a bit odd right now. Why did she feel this way, this feeling she had it was new but it felt oddly good.

[Leonardo Khan]

Leo giggled this time, and not just at her lapse in concentration. No one had ever asked him about Kairi before, and he felt a little pink even mentioning her. But it was alright, he thought. He was feeling......comfortable with Revas. For an alien, she had a very Human outlook on things. He resolved to find out about that. But first, he'd answer her questions.

"Girlfriend. At least she was when I left to train in the mountains. Like I said, I don't even know if she's still alive. She gave me this. For Luck." Leo took off his silver ring and handed it to Revas. It was a simple silver band with his name and hers inscribed on it.

He went back to work, finishing up the drywall. They were about done by now, and needed to move on to the next project. As he set down his hammer, he mentioned this to Revas. "Have you ever Laid bricks? The foreman mentioned an outside wall that needed extra bricklayers." He made to move towards the brick wall, only at knee height, but stopped for a moment. "I'm curious, Rev; how does a nice girl like you come from such an evil race? I mean, I sense no malevolence from you, not until Cooler attacked Rose. And you seem less cold than even other good members of your race."

[Revas Drakul]

Ah so he had a girlfriend or did it seemed he went to the mountains to train so it is possible he is single now. She was not sure why but she was more then glad to hear about that, Nailing the last nail into the drywall she smiled as he handed her the ring, his name was etched into it, she must have really loved him. As they made there way outside he asked if she had ever laid brick, she shook her head no as she had no clue how to do such a task.

This was when he asked a serious question he asked about why she was so nice and human like despite most of her race being nothing like that. The only explanation in her mind was she was raised on earth by human parents, so to her acting this way was natural.

" Well... I would not say my entire race is evil but... they are raised in brutal conditions it is either win or die and the competition there is life and death they are not shown love and kindness. It is a long story but I was raised on earth and have been protecting it the best I can for the last four hundred years. Freiza was just so much stronger as I was raised without a need for battles to his level he gained much fighting experience. "

She grabbed the cement rubbing it across the top of the brick as she grabbed a brick placing it on top, she pushed hard to make it hold firmly but not hard enough to break it. Hopefully she was doing this right on the television she had seen it done this way, still she wondered if he would hate her.

" I know you can blame me if you want, I didn't stop Freiza's forces and did not train hard enough... I am sorry for all the suffering humanity is facing because of that monster Freiza and his goons. "

She certainly had a dislike for them, but even with disliking them she still felt everyone could change. With love and kindness anyone can change for the better of earth, she understood some would hate her just because of Freiza.

[Leonardo Khan]

Leo listened as he began laying bricks, building the wall up, and checking if it was level. He had never heard of a Changeling being on earth for over 400 years before. He knew they were a long-lived race, but that was it. The notion was so absurd, it had to be true. Even a professional liar couldn't have made that up, and he got the feeling she didn't lie much.

"You got no need to be sorry, Rev. YOU didn't attack us and force us into virtual slavery; Frieza did." Leo stopped laying bricks for a moment and turned to her. He stared deep into her eyes, taking a moment to stare past the shadows under her hood. With all seriousness, he said,"How could I ever hate that face? It may be alien, but I'm seeing more and more proof that its owner isn't. And THAT makes it pretty." Leo turned bright red as he turned back to his bricklaying.

He started moving faster now, laying, leveling, laying some more. He couldn't believe he had just said that, not that it wasn't true, but because he had both meant it, and he still wasn't sure if Kairi was even still alive. It didn't make him sick, but it did feel good to have a friend. "I'm sorry if I seem a bit flustered, but few people who know of my zealousy know that I don't hate all aliens. Just our overlords. Everyone else, I give the benefit of the doubt to. The fact that you don't seem like a typical member of your race is a good thing, in my eyes."

[Revas Drakul]

Revas listened to him as he said it was not her fault she could not help but feel guilty however. Her race enslaved the planet and it was hard to deny most of her race appeared to be evil, it deeply saddened her. As she listened she heard him say her face was cute causing her face to turn several shades of red. No one had ever called her cute before not once in her life other then her parents. She had no idea how to even respond she was completely lost on what to say as she suddenly began to hurry and place bricks faster. It was clear she was blushing and it was not something she was used to getting a compliment was rare indeed for her.

"I... well... I understand people hating Freiza and the others look what they have done... I... well thanks... for you know... well... no one thought I had a cute anything before it was the first time I had ever heard that. "

She looked over toward him smiling her face still flushed as she went back to focusing on the brick laying. It was nice to meet a boy who liked her and even said she was pretty, it shocked her in fact being it was a human. Looking more carefully he was actually rather good looking, she found attractive human males interesting she was not sure what the feeling was when she saw them but it made her feel funny. He was both kind yet strong, his personality was one of understanding and compassion he was very much like her.

" So... I mean... well... I think you are a really good guy... and... well... I think... you are good looking as well. "

Her face flushed again as she looked away she had no idea how to flirt she only hoped this was alright. He still had a girlfriend so she did not want to ruin that however, she only said what she felt was true.

[Leonardo Khan]

Leo couldn't believe what was happening in his life. He grew up in a hostile takeover of his homeworld, he had left his girlfriend and sister alone so he could go make himself stronger so he can help remove the invaders, and now, an alien of the same race as Lord Frieza, was not only nice to him, helping him, even, but FLIRTING with him. God, if I didn't have a girlfriend I had to check on later, I would SO tap that. He flushed even redder at the thought.

"I appreciate that." he said as he continued bricklaying. The wall was up to his chest now, they were building it so fast. It was supposed to come to his head, so they'd have to move on again soon. Maybe mixing some more concrete; the foreman said one of his guys was hurt, so the concrete thing was slowed down. Maybe with his and Revas' speeds, they could do all the foundations that needed to be done today, instead of over the week.

"So many projects going on at one time. It's amazing what people can do if they just work together, right?" Leo looked over at Revas again, wondering if Kairi would like her too. Maybe not in the exact same way, but they were both very compassionate. They could be friends. "That's why I do what I do. Human beings don't deserve this, no one does. We shouldn't have to rebuild our homes because of some space bully. Humans had enough problems with the evil and selfish of our own breed before they came. And you've been here quite awhile, I don't think you believe they had a right to do this, either." Leo stopped to take a breath, careful not to let his ki rise. He was angry, but not at Revas. "You will help me fight them, won't you?"

[Revas Drakul]

She continued to listen to him, he was such a interesting human as his face flushed she giggled lightly. He really was a good idea as she felt his anger rise thinking of the overlords she understood his pain and no she hated them ruling. However she was not so quick to kill someone, no in her eyes she had to try to change someone first and only as a last resort would she ever slay someone.

" I... I dislike Freiza and his goons however I think they are like this because they have never been shown love or kindness. I would first try to negotiate and try to reach them with my kind heart and my love... I know it is pointless and foolish but... I cant simply give up on people it is hard for me to think people cant change. "

She hoped he would not get mad at her for her way of thinking, but this was how she was. She showed kindness to everyone despite how bad they are, despite there terrible actions she could not bring herself to hate anyone with such malice to kill them. Once in her past it happened and she has regretted it ever since, she would not make the same mistake again.

" You see while killing them might seem like a good thing now, I can tell you once in my past I killed someone out of hatred for their actions. I thought at the time it was needed but when I saw his kids crying because their father died, and thinking they would be without someone supporting the family. ... I don't ever want to make someone suffer like that again... I wont unless I have no other choice. "

She followed the directions the foreman had given for where to get the concrete and pour it. She hoped Leo would follow but it was clear thinking about her past actions she was saddened. She was not showing such a wonderful smile now, no it was a clear face of regret that she could not save that man in the past.

[Leonardo Khan]

Leo followed and began pouring the powder that would become concrete into several wheelbarrows. He was not un-sympathetic to her way of thinking; if anything, he admired her more. He was just a bit jaded on the destruction. He felt there was no hope for the likes of Frieza and his cohorts.

"There's a saying here on Earth, you might have heard it. 'Sic Vis Pacem, Parabellum.' 'If you want Peace, prepare for War.' Sometimes talking, showing peace, isn't enough. I admire your conviction. If you wish to become strong enough to attempt peaceful negotiations, I pledge to get strong enough to make sure you don't get hurt doing it. I'll be the War to your Peace, only attack when the enemy attacks, and only killing when absolutely necessary."

Leo started adding water to the mix, and handed Revas the stirring implement, so that she could start mixing. He had never planned on killing unless absolutely necessary anyway, but he felt Revas needed to hear it, to know that he would do all he could to bring peace back to his planet, even if it meant a peaceful settlement. He could adapt, grow, and love just like anyone else.

[Revas Drakul]

She could understand his pain, all the humans have suffered so much under Freiza's rule still she would try to settle this peacefully. She simply could not give up hope on someone no matter how tainted they seemed, it was not her nature even if it was a weakness of hers she would never change. She knew he spoke the truth but, it was still hard for her to accept ending someone life. As he poured and mixed the concrete she grabbed the barrel traveling over to the foundation and pouring it across. She made sure she kept a nice even flow to make it easier for the other workers.

" I understand what you think...Leo... I just well I am a foolish girl who is driven by ideals. I am sorry I am so stubborn about not killing I just... it is hard for me you know... Maybe after we finish this we can go visit your girlfriend, you miss her right... so why not. "

She wondered what his girlfriend was like, it would be interesting he was really cute so his girlfriend was probably very sexy or cute. He missed her so he needed to see her fighting and training all the time was bad on a persons mind, maybe even warping them to turn into someone like Freiza. She waited for his answer as she finished pouring the barrel placing it close to Leo, he was such a nice guy it was to bad he had a girlfriend or she would try to ask him out. Well maybe not she did not have the nerve to ask anyone out she was far to timid and shy for that sort of thing.

[Leonardo Khan]

"You're not foolish, Revas. It's noble to want to see the good in anybody. Some of us just have a hard time with it is all. Especially when all they do is kill." Leo set his water hose down and held out his hand to Revas.

"Come on, let's go to West City. That's where my sister is, and Kairi was with her last I saw." Leo turned to the foreman. "Hey, we'll be back a little latter, I gotta find my sister. Maybe i can bring her to help out some." "Hey, no prob, kid, you've done a great job. We might get a little ahead of schedule because of you. Come back soon, ya hear?" The foreman answered.

Leo grabbed Revas's hand and started to fly away, hoping that she'd come with him, of course.