Chapter 19: Nothing Like a Deserved Promotion.

"And you are?" Bonyu's expression remained unimpressed as she observed the monkey standing before her. However, deep down, she couldn't deny a hint of surprise that some had managed to survive.

"Your new captain. Captain Turles. And unlike your old boss, I don't need you to perform any poses to stick around." Turles introduced himself confidently.

"Why have I never heard of you before?" Bonyu casually enjoyed her strawberry sundae, her curiosity barely piqued.

"I just came back from a long mission. Now that I'm back, I decided I might as well make my own team." Turles explained, pointing to the spiky fruit symbol on his armor.

"What makes you think I'm interested in joining your team at all?" Bonyu inquired, continuing to savor her ice cream without a hint of urgency.

"You'll gain prestige, power, and wealth beyond your wildest dreams. What more could a soldier want in the Frieza Force?" Turles enticed, his voice brimming with seduction.

"That does sound intriguing 'if' you were capable of backing up those words." Bonyu calmly replied, taking another bite of her ice cream.

"How would you like me to do that? Go off and show my power like some sort of posturing ape in heat?" Turles chuckled. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Bonyu. Not many people in the universe will get the chance to be offered an exclusive spot in the Crusher Force. I heard you were referred to as The Brains of the Ginyu Force when you were a part of it. I'll give you one chance to see if this opportunity is worth taking." Turles looked into her eyes. "Scan the power level of that big saibaman over there."

"Very well." Bonyu activated her scouter and focused on Sai, who was eating alongside Naba.

Naba's eavesdropping on their conversation was far too obvious. If she had any intentions of being discreet, she was doing a poor job by openly staring at them. On the other hand, Sai happily indulged in a mountain of food, sparking a hint of envy in Turles. His stomach was growling, just staring at him.

"!" Bonyu made a small noise as she measured Sai's power level.

"I raised that saibaman from a seed. Imagine how far I could take your power given the time. And we both know what power gives you in the Frieza Force." Turles whispered temptingly into her ear.

Turles was kind of bullshitting. Sai reached that power by devouring the fruits from the Tree of Might. Although he was confident in raising him to that level naturally through training, Bonyu didn't need to know Sai's power level was raised through alternative means. All she needed to see was that one of the weakest soldiers in the army was brought to the level of an elite.

"A power level of 70,000…" Bonyu was stunned, a realization dawning upon her. She shifted her gaze to Turles and discreetly clicked her scouter once more. Her mouth gaped as she measured Turles' power level. "It seems you weren't all talk for a… Saiyan." She corrected herself before the word left her mouth. "I accept your offer. As long as I'm not required to do any despicable posing."

"No posing required," Turles confirmed, rising from his seat. "Welcome to the Crusher Force, Bonyu. Your training starts tomorrow." He made his way to the lunch line, ready to satisfy his growling stomach.

At least, that was initially the plan… until a certain group walked into the cafeteria. Silence descended like an all-covering blanket as the top of the Frieza Force arrived in the canteen. Lord Frieza, Zarbon, Dodoria, Ginyu, Jeice, Burter, Recoome, and Guldo. Turles smiled at the sight of them. He was surprised it took them this long to come find him. It wasn't often a power level of his size appeared in the universe, as far as Frieza knew. Every soldier in the cafeteria bowed at a perfect 90-degree angle.

"Lord Frieza." Turles addressed Frieza respectfully, bowing before him.

He swayed his tail from left to right, showing off his proud Saiyan heritage. Zarbon, Dodoria, and Guldo looked at him with terror and hatred. It filled his dark soul with so much joy to see that look of fear on their faces. If Turles was a petty man, he'd consider doing something more than just showing off his new power level. But this was good enough. It was beneath him to mess with weaklings that had no value to him anymore. Maybe.

"Turles, right?" Frieza asked.

"Yes, Lord Frieza," Turles responded.

"Explain yourself," Frieza demanded.

"I trained," Turles answered.

"Trained?" Frieza didn't seem satisfied with this answer.

"Zarbon." Turles locked eyes with the befuddled horrified general. "You've reported the progress of my training to Lord Frieza, right? Day by day, I grew stronger than the day before, right?"

"C-C-Correct…" Zarbon stuttered as sweat dripped down his handsome face.

"Take that growth over the course of multiple years, and this is the result, Lord Frieza. A loyal soldier under your rule with enough strength to rival Captain Ginyu and continue growing in strength to further expand your control over the universe." Turles explained.

"Oho ho ho ho!" Frieza chuckled, his voice filled with amusement. "That's right. Remind me, how close are you to Prince Vegeta again?"

"Princess Vegeta and I aren't close at all. We may share the same race, but that means nothing in the Frieza Force. There is only the Frieza Force, and then there is everyone else!" Turles proudly shouted.

Lord Frieza laughed even louder at that as he smiled at Turles. "That's right. Don't any of you forget that." Frieza's sinister smile widened. "As a reward for your loyalty and achievements in subjugation, tell me." Lord Frieza looked at him. "What do you want?"

"I'd like to make my own force, called the Crusher Force, equal in rank to the Ginyu Force."

"I see you've learned from last time, oho ho ho." Frieza chuckled, clearly entertained by Turles' request.

"Yes, sir!" Turles responded.

The last time Lord Frieza asked him if he wanted anything for a reward, he said he didn't want anything and that he was simply doing his duty. Nothing to be rewarded for. As such, Frieza didn't reward him, and he was sent out of the room with nothing. However, Turles didn't regret not asking for a reward. He could've died if he got greedy back then.

"Very well. I look forward to seeing what you can further accomplish, Turles." Lord Frieza exited the cafeteria.

Zarbon and Dodoria left alongside Lord Frieza. However, the Ginyu Force stayed behind. Captain Ginyu stared into his eyes. Turles didn't shy away and stared right back. Both of their power levels were at 120,000, but Turles just explained how he could continue to get stronger. Was this enough to tempt Ginyu into trying to take his body, or would he welcome him as a fellow loyal colleague?

"The Ginyu Force won't lose to anyone! Right, boys?!" Captain Ginyu declared, rallying his teammates.

"Right!" shouted Jeice, his Australian accent adding a touch of swagger to the word.

"Right!" echoed Burter, his large frame posing with pride.

"Right!" chimed in Recoome, flexing his massive biceps with a grin.

"Right!" piped up Guldo, the smallest member of the group, but no less eager to prove his worth.

The Ginyu Force posed at Turles, and he couldn't help but laugh. "Don't get lazy, or Lord Frieza will only need one elite force," Turles advised them with his arms crossed.

"The Ginyu Force is the strongest team in the universe!" Captain Ginyu puffed out his chest proudly.

"We'll see, won't we?" Turles replied with a smirk, leaving an air of friendly rivalry between their forces.

"Eugh, you all will never grow up, will you?" Bonyu stood next to Turles's side.

"Bonyu!?" They exclaimed.

"This is the newest member of the Crusher Force." Turles introduced her, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. He beckoned his finger and telekinetically brought Sai over. "This is Sai. It used to be a regular saibaman until I gave it Crusher Force training."

"A saibaman with a power level of 70,000?!" Guldo couldn't hide his astonishment.

"Good luck, Ginyu Force." Turles made his way past the Ginyu Force with his Crusher Force following behind him. "And if anyone else is interested in getting elite training, head to Training Room 13 in a week, and you might get the chance to join the Crusher Force. Oh, and no posing is required. Tell your friends." The Crusher Force made their exit.

Once they made some distance away from the cafeteria, he hid behind a corner as he looked at the entrance of the canteen. "That was a cool exit, right?" Turles asked his team.

"It was sufficient," Bonyu replied, slightly stunned by the change of demeanor now.

"Gyi!" Sai nodded his head.

"Good. Because I didn't eat, and I'm starving."

Turles couldn't just stay there after talking all of that crap. Either they were going to fight, or they were going to go about their day. Turles had the last word, so he had to do something dramatic enough to make a lasting impression on the soldiers even more. Lord Frieza did a great job in elevating his status within the force, but now that his team was going to be rivals to the Ginyu Force, he had to make sure they didn't look weak in comparison.

"They're leaving!" Turles excitedly exclaimed.

Once the Ginyu Force was out of sight and down the hall, the Crusher Force began walking back to the cafeteria. Naba rushed over to him and was about to pick him up by his collar, but he stopped her before she could. He couldn't afford to have her reduce his reputation by letting her manhandle him in front of the soldiers now that he was equal to Ginyu in rank. "No." Turles calmly but firmly told her.

"Y-You! Whatever!" Naba stormed out of the cafeteria.

Turles began to order food after food. Sai went back to the table to finish their food. Bonyu ordered another sundae behind Turles. Turles would deal with Naba later. He had to let her know about things she could and couldn't do in front of others. It didn't matter all those years ago because he had no reputation whatsoever. Now, he was someone to be looked up to and feared.

"Who was that, girl?" Bonyu asked as she sat across the table from Turles and next to Sai.

"My sister. Naba is her name, and I've known her since I first joined the Frieza Force." Turles explained.

"I see." Bonyu dug into her ice cream and ended the conversation there.