Since Crimson Rivers had been established, it had seemed like a hot spot for government agencies and investigations. It was something that Athren had been growing rather tired of. Who could blame him though? He had claimed the land under his own name, created a village to house those who need it and ran it to the best of his ability without relying on the traditional means of Earth's financing. Everything that was done at Crimson rivers was through hard work, trade and Athren's magic.  He understood why it would be a place of interest, why they'd constantly come to him seeking answers.  He thought with Gemikai and the USD it would be the end of it, but he was very much in the wrong with that train of thought, for today he learned that there would always be somebody seeking him out for something.


"Athren, Can you help me with this basket?" A woman in Athren's village had asked as he walked by her small little home. She was a gardener, she tended to plenty of crops and was a big supply of fruits and veggies within the village. She was valued, respected and a very kind individual. She was one of the first people to reside here and she was more than welcome.



Athren couldn't help but nod his head. "Yeah, of course." It was at this point Athren lifted it up effortlessly. It had been full of her pickings. She was clearly hard at work to day and her crops had been coming in rather nicely. It was more than enough to provide a majority of households fresh fruits and veggies for the day. "Where do you want it?" Athren said softly as he looked at her with his ocean blue eyes.  It was strange, a warrior such as himself settling in to such a peaceful life.  It wasn't something that he ever could've expected for himself but it was something he welcomed now. This was a good life, one that he was happy to be apart of.

"Just on the table inside, if you don't mind." The woman pointed her finger towards the door, allowing Athren to enter her house to do what he needed to to. She was happy that Athren was around to help, and grateful that she got to live the life she was living. Crimson Rivers was a very unique place. It was off grid, safe and peaceful.

Without further words, Athren entered the home and put the basket down on the table. Though before he could come out he heard the woman screaming for his attention. It wasn't a scream full of fear but one that required his attention. It was nothing more than a warning. "Athren..!" It dragged on for a few seconds as Athren rushed outside to see her finger pointing at a craft off in the distance. Athren's ocean blues caught it just in time as it lowered and landed just underneath the tree line.

"I'll handle it. If you hear anything that sounds like fighting, prepare to get everybody into the caves." Without further words, Athren blasted off towards the craft. He was eager. He wasn't aware of any visitors and the people he could sense on the ship, well he hadn't come across them before. They had been complete strangers to him. Whomever this was, was going to need to explain themselves. He didn't like how they had brought a ship so close either.

Landing at the craft, Athren's eyes would've landed on a woman who was accompanied with.. some.. thing?

Upon hearing about the message that had been sent to his town, Athren couldn't help but arch his right brow curiously. It appeared that he hadn't gotten it. It didn't exactly help that his town had been primitive when it came to technology. There hadn't been anything set up for the entire town to use. Most of the technology there had been brought in by those who moved there and that was the limits of it. Athren himself only had his ship, his house had been very old fashioned with nothing more than wood stoves and lanterns to keep the heat and lighting going. It would've been very simple for a message to fail or a letter to get lost but if this woman was speaking the truth, they made an attempt to establish contact prior and that almost brought a sense of reassurance to Athren. Though he didn't quite trust them yet.

Before he spoke, he had let the woman speak her piece. He wanted all the knowledge he could gain before he figured out the best way to proceed and within a very short period of time, the government had once again been involved and they had done their research. They had known his name, the location of the village and probably quite a bit more. This wasn't something that Athren was overly fond of, at this point he truly just wanted to be left alone in peace to run the village. He didn't need this, nor did the people that lived here. They all just wanted to be left alone. Though like the USD, this woman made it seem as if these visits were coming to an end. Though what got Athren's attention the most was her secondly part.

"Well, if it means anything at this point.. I appreciate you trying to give me a heads up, but messages are often going to get lost in this village. Either they just don't make it or I don't care to check them. I've got much more important things to do than keep track of who's looking to speak to me next."

When it came to the topic of ABAS, Athren was rather concerned at first. It was a Bio-Android created using the species of Earth as their basis? Did this suggest that some of the strongest warriors that had been on the planet had been donors to this project, and if so.. could this creature adapt more.. violent traits?

"Before we go any further about your proposal.." Athren simply glanced at ABAS when he gave his greeting. He didn't quite know how to feel about this artificial warrior. He already had a run in with a few regular androids and he didn't quite agree with their concept, but if this was the way the Earth defensive forces were going to take it, he didn't exactly have a choice but to deal with it.

"If this creature is made up of biological traits of the species of Earth, I've got to take a guess and say you've either had volunteers or you scavenged samples to study to apply them to ABAS and if that's the case, is there anybody significant who's traits are within this .. thing?"

Of course Athren couldn't quite see this thing as it's own entity yet. He was far too cautious for that. While he could see the good that could come from something like this, he couldn't help but see the negative as well. It was a situation that he'd find himself having to balance very quickly. He wanted this dealt with before he even considered the option of training this thing. If the risks were much higher than the reward, he was going to have to decline. After all, he already had a couple people he was mentoring and he didn't need this ABAS being a threat to them.

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Word Count: 645
Total Word Count: 1,309

The woman known as nine had gone silent for a few short moments upon Athren's question and this had immediately raised a red flag for Athren. If this creature had been of innocent nature and design, there shouldn't have been a requirement for silence to develop an appropriate answer for the situation. Now Athren understood the risks that nine was taking here by potentially giving him classified information but he needed to know the answers. He wasn't exactly a supporter or creating life out of the DNA from others, something about it just didn't sit right with him and to his knowledge, it hadn't been a practice that was done throughout the universe. With his little experience with it, he couldn't help but remain cautious and only think of the negative what-if scenarios. There was simply too much at stake for Athren to put trust in this, maybe it was his lack of knowledge on the subject or something else, but he just didn't like it.

While Nine had given him the offical answer, it didn't seem quite as bad as he initially thought. The way she had worded her statement had made it seem like nothing more than a simple science fair project that had it's own sentient life. While something about this answer was allowed to bypass Athren's caution, her unofficial answer had soon caused even more of a worry for the demon-saiyan hybrid.  It turned out, ABAS had Liari's DNA within him and while Nines went on to explain that cells were just cells, Athren couldn't help but assume that there was more to it than that. Could it be possible that this being now had some of Liari's personality traits laying dormant? The need to torment for entertainment? The need to absorb? It wasn't something that was going to sit very easy with Athren.

She had then gone on to explain the fail safes and Athren simply couldn't put his faith in them. This whole situation seemed like a recipe for disaster, something that could've gone very wrong, very quickly. Regardless of what research could've been used as proof to back up her claim, Athren couldn't put his trust into this.

"You're telling me.. you've taken the DNA from the Earth's biggest threat in how many years and used it to create this thing?"

Athren couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief. Even if their reasons were pure, it wasn't a safe idea. What if this thing decide to do it's own thing? Break free from it's controllers and live it's own life? Could it harness the power of Liari? The questions Athren had were just too many.

"You're playing with uncertainties."
Athren stated this coldly and calmly.

Though it was now time to put his attention on ABAS, he was going to ask it some questions to see what it had to say on the topic.

"You, ABAS.  What is it you want out of this life you were given? Are you more than happy to simply work for the government that created you?"

Of course Athren was setting a bait question that he had a follow up for, but he couldn't believe that any creature would be happy working as a slave for its creator for long. Sure, maybe in the short term it would be something to do but in the long term, he couldn't help but think that ABAS would develop goals and motives outside of the government. These goals would likely be to benefit himself and Athren wanted to see if he could force that type of answer out, he wanted to know more.

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Word Count: 604
Total Word Count: 1,913

Athren couldn't tell if the change in Nines eyes had simply been from a vast realization of what they created or from the fact that she truly couldn't believe what Athren was saying. Whether or not the science was proven and she had been completely accurate, ABAS was a living creature that would eventually have his own wants and needs outside of the government. He was essentially a slave to their will and that wasn't something that usually turned out well for the weaker rulers. In Athren's mind, it would be a matter of time until ABAS could find a way to exploit the system and remove himself from the control of the government that created him. It had all seemed to probable and was likely just a matter of time. Whether they'd call him it or not, ABAS seemed to be a slave. While they may have treated him well, he wouldn't have the free life that he had been looking for.

"Earth's current situation isn't exactly dire, we've been in session of peace and while we both know that isn't going to last forever, the Earth does have myself and a few others willing to take the blows for the planet. I've got investments here, I've got things I care about so it really isn't much of a choice for me.  While I do understand your viewpoint and concern, trying to fight an unknown enemy before it appears by creating something with such risk is just asking for more trouble.. failsafes or not."

Athren couldn't help but shrug his shoulders to Nines. He was truly trying to be respectful but he couldn't help but be stubborn here. Every ounce of his being had been hit with a sense of warning that he couldn't ignore. His fight with Liari was more than personal, it was truly the driving factor for how and why he had gotten so strong. Liari alone was the reason he made it this far, the reason he got strong enough to defeat her. She was a threat to Earth and all it's people, including his children and that wasn't something he was going to tolerate. It was very likely that all it took for him to be so cautious was the mention of Liari's DNA. She was uncontrollable and he feared that some of that would be within ABAS. While he was a none threat now, he could be and he wasn't going to contribute to that.

When Athren had asked ABAS what he wanted, he did listen to him completely. ABAS had Athren's entire attention. He wasn't deliberately trying to be rude in this situation but it was something he couldn't help. His caution and the feeling within his gut was just taking over and wouldn't allow him to let his guard down. While he didn't expect anything to happen here and now, he felt that ABAS could be too much of a threat in the future. It was something to take note of, to be prepare for. This unfortunately, was leading to treating ABAS less than fair, but Athren wouldn't even come to realize. Though upon hearing ABAS' answer completely, Athren arched a brow and crossed his arms. He had yet another statement with another follow up question.

"You've got the same wants and needs as any living thing, but like any living thing those wants and needs can change." He paused for a brief moment as he thought about his past. "I was a loyal soldier within the ranks of the Saiyan Empire, I was damn good at what I did too.  Until I felt as if my treatment was less than fair, my efforts not valued as they should.    Suddenly, my wants had changed and I was forced to find a new way to fulfill my needs.  What happens when you feel you're being treated less than fair? When you're not getting everything you desire and you begin to want more? You can't honestly sit here and tell me you'll sit back and do nothing to change your circumstance."

Of course, Athren felt as if he had a solid point. Whether or not these failsafes were foolproof, if ABAS was truly everything he was designed to be surely he could find a way to outsmart them or exploit them. It couldn't have been that difficult.   No matter what Nines had said, they had created a living creature out of DNA from others. Physical and Psychological blocks could only go so far, especially when greater power was involved and if ABAS got to be a powerful being, Athren couldn't help but assume his will to live and his basic survival instincts would trump them time and time again.

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Word Count: 786
Total Word Count: 2,699

Athren once again listened to Nine's words carefully, he wanted to be as respectful as possible and give her the opportunity to speak her mind. Unfortunately, Athren had essentially been dead set on his decision already. It was going to take something of significance for him to change his mind and actually train ABAS to fight. It was too much of a risk and Athren was being overly cautious. It didn't quite matter if it was only Liari's cells involved and none of the personality. Whether or not Nine or the government of Earth wanted to see it this way, but there was at least a little evil lying dormant within ABAS. Athren believed that it would show itself eventually, even in twenty years and Athren wasn't going to contribute to it.

He could help but shrug his shoulders as his ocean blues gazed into Nine's own eyes. "Look around you Nine. We've got both peace and quiet around here and it's been a few months since the Saiyan attack. No matter how brief this quiet may be, it's still a time of peace." When the Earth was going to be attacked again, that's when Athren would say the peace was over but from his own experiences they were living in the perfect moment. There was nobody going around destroying Earth cities, there was no massive threat holding the planet hostage. While he knew this wouldn't last, Athren defined this as peace. As far as her next question went, Athren also had an answer.

"I wouldn't trust my own planet to strangers either, especially those who aren't born and raised. Whether we grow old or die, this planet's safety is your responsibility. So while I don't blame you for taking the steps that you did, I do believe there could have been better methods to prepare the Earth's defense." While Athren didn't know how this would have come to be, he firmly believed this. They could've got some natural-born and raised fighters, they could've hired others, and there were answers that didn't involve taking such big risks.

While the two of them had agreed on some things, it appeared that the method was what they couldn't agree on. Nine had then decided to withdraw from the topic as she knew that it wasn't going to go anywhere. Athren wasn't going to cave into it. There was just too much uncertainty with this. Maybe in the future if ABAS could prove himself, Athren would take another look into it but for now, the government of Earth and ABAS would be on their own. They'd have to figure it out for themselves. Athren wasn't going to take any part of it. "Unfortunately, You're right. There's simply too much risk here for me to train ABAS, though I do hope this project works out. For both our sakes."

With the conversation with ABAS himself, he couldn't help but shrug his shoulders again when ABAS asked 'why would they?'. It was something that ABAS didn't seem to understand but life changes, plans changes and the government and the higher ups were often the one to change things swiftly. While Athren wasn't fully educated on Earth's government, he assumed they'd be like Vegeta's and do what was in their best interest no matter the cost and this would leave ABAS at risk. While this was just an assumption, Athren couldn't help but think it was more than likely.

"Why would they? While I can't give you a specific answer, I can tell you that plans change and they might affect you. It's just how the world works. Maybe I'm wrong, I hope I am but life is full of uncertainty." Athren paused a moment when ABAS said he saw Athren's point.
"I suppose we'll see, though if it's worth anything ABAS.. I'm hoping you'll prove me wrong."

It wasn't often that Athren would say something like that, but he truly wanted to be wrong here. He wanted the Earth to have protectors but there was something about this situation that made him just too uneasy. He couldn't put his faith in science. He was a warrior bred for this position, bred to gain this type of power and while he went against his own reason for birth, he didn't think it'd be so easy for the bio-android. The only thing he could really do is wait and see and if the Earth needed defenders, maybe he'd see ABAS right there beside him fighting for the people the next time something happened.

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Word Count 756
Total Word Count: 3,455

Athren couldn't deny that Nine had a point in regards to the Earth producing warriors on the same level of Athren or Liari but the truth of it was that the right people could attain such power. Hell, even Athren himself was pushing thirty and getting to this level to countless hours of training everyday and the determination to never quit. While it was rare, he firmly believed this planet was capable of pumping out warriors as strong as him. Even in his two years here, he had managed to meet Pran and that individual was already very close to being on Athren's level. With a little more effort, he was going to make it and Athren was positive of that. Nines had also made a comment about the human species not getting stronger every time that they battled but that wasn't something that Athren thought was a huge factor.  While it was an advantage, the human race had their own set of advantages. 

It was at this point that the conversation was truly coming to an end, Nines had thanked Athren for his time and hoped that they could work with him in the future. While Athren was initially reluctant in training ABAS, Athren couldn't help but hope that he'd display something in the future that would allow the demon-saiyan to put a little bit of trust into this creation.  If ABAS were to follow what he was designed to do, Athren had known that it was just a matter of time until they met on the battlefield. His biggest concern was that he didn't show any personality traits of Liari, he wanted to see that he was truly a defender of Earth within his personality. That was the key here, that's what Athren would wait for.

Athren nodded at Nines while his arms remained crossed.
"Well, if we're working together in the future I'd say things aren't going well. Regardless, I hope to see you both on my side."

Of course Athren was aware of their loyalties to Earth, but he wouldn't count on them being there. He was a warrior after all and had become adapted to fighting most of his battles on his own. Even when it came to facing down Liari, Callion was present but in his own fight and even when Quash wanted to get involved, Athren was against it. Having allies to help you fight was something that was rather new to Athren, he had always been the shining star of all the squads and groups he ran with. Being assisted and having support was different for him but in a good way, it was just something that he couldn't count on yet. He'd need time and constant support with a steady stream of people there to back him up consistently for that concept to settle in.

Athren would then look to ABAS as he said his final words before they had departed. He had mentioned a scenario that Athren would prefer to see instead of the ones creating the doubt in his head. If they could truly be allies on the battlefield, it would be best for both parties involved. If that time were to come, maybe he'd start trusting the bio-android enough to train him but until then, Athren's doubts would be far too strong.

"Where ever that battle is, I'm sure I'll see you there. ABAS."
And with that the two would depart. While it was a very strange encounter, it at least gave Athren a glimpse of the future. If the Earth was preparing warriors like this, maybe he'd actually get to retire in full.

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Word Count: 606
Total Word Count: 4,061

Rookie Bonus: 65%