A few weeks had passed as Tundra adjusted to his new power. Eventually, he landed on a nearby engineering planet.
He stepped out of his ship immediately, unwilling to remain inside the now-cramped vessel any longer.
The people gathered around stared at him in awe. They had seen the announcement broadcast to every scouter in the empire — but it paled in comparison to witnessing him in person.
Tundra surveyed the area briefly before approaching one of the engineers. The man stood frozen, craning his neck higher and higher to meet Tundra's gaze, his bulbous head tilting back uncomfortably — though he wouldn't dare step away.
"Uh… what would you need, sir?" he asked, licking his quickly drying lips.
Tundra looked down at him, then stepped back slightly to spare the poor man's neck.
"I am here to commission a new spacecraft. Similar to my previous one — but significantly larger. I have outgrown it, you see."
The engineer opened and closed his mouth several times before finally managing to respond.
"…Yes, sir. We'll begin immediately."
He remained frozen, uncertain whether he was dismissed.
Tundra regarded him for another moment before waving a hand. "You may go."
The engineer nearly tripped over himself as he hurried away.
Tundra exited the hangar — but not before grabbing a random member of his crew: a large, burly orange woman named Quesa.
Quesa followed as best she could until they reached a rooftop overlooking the city. Now that she had the opportunity to observe him more closely… she realized he was very much her type.
The new look in her eyes did not go unnoticed by Tundra — though he couldn't quite understand it. He chalked it up to a peculiar form of admiration.
"Stay there," he instructed. "I need to try something."
He had seen the Yardratians teleport. He had been teleported himself — and he could already teleport others to him. So why shouldn't he be able to do it alone?
Tundra stepped back, focusing on Quesa's ki. He tried to recall the distinct pulling sensation he had felt when forcibly teleported years ago — a sensation impossible to forget.
He stretched out a hand and attempted it.
Nothing happened.
He tried again. And again.
He simulated the pull perfectly — yet he did not move an inch.
With a quiet sigh, he glanced at Quesa, who was still admiring his physique.
"Do you know what I am attempting to do?"
Quesa blinked, having been somewhat lost in thought.
"I… don't really know. Some kind of ki attack? Uh… sire." She corrected herself awkwardly. Formality did not come naturally to her — even her native language lacked polite forms entirely — but Tundra let it slide.
"I am attempting to teleport, as the Yardratians do."
Quesa's eyes widened. "That's something you can do with ki?"
She was familiar with their strange techniques but had always assumed they were closer to magic.
Tundra nodded. "I can teleport others to me, as I have direct experience with that aspect of the technique. But I cannot teleport myself."
Quesa frowned thoughtfully. "If you use your ki to teleport others… then you're pulling them to you, right?"
He nodded.
"Then teleporting yourself wouldn't work the same way," she continued slowly. "There's no existing connection between you and the target location. So… wouldn't it require a different approach?"
She didn't often display it, but Quesa was sharp. Forming a theory after hearing the problem only once — even if she couldn't perform it herself.
Tundra looked at her, genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected insight from someone he barely knew beyond her name and motivations.
"I will attempt that. Thank you."
Quesa grinned. "No problem. Just let me watch."
Tundra closed his eyes and focused again.
This time, he tried anchoring his ki to hers — gently.
At first, it bounced off repeatedly.
Then it latched on.
He attempted to teleport.
Nothing.
He tried again, adjusting his method — clamping down forcefully with his ki.
Still nothing.
He paused, thinking back.
The Yardratians were peaceful. Gentle.
Perhaps force was the issue.
He slowed his breathing. Calmed himself. Smoothed his ki until it felt gentle rather than dominant
He reached out again — but instead of grabbing hold, he allowed his ki to phase lightly into hers. The two energies brushed, overlapping softly.
He felt something shift.
Excitement surged—
—and he reappeared barely a step forward.
His control had slipped in that instant of enthusiasm.
But now he knew.
He could do it.
He steadied himself again, careful not to let anticipation spike his energy. He repeated the process — calm, steady, gentle.
This time, he vanished.
And reappeared directly in front of Quesa.
Close enough that she nearly started drooling before hastily regaining composure. Savage she might be — but she would not embarrass herself before Lord Tundra. If she did, how would she admire such magnificence in the afterlife?
Tundra felt a deep satisfaction settle within him. The technique required far more delicacy than he was accustomed to — using ki gently rather than overwhelmingly — but he had done it.
He stepped back a few paces and turned.
"That will be all for today. We will meet here daily until I perfect this ability."
Quesa straightened immediately.
"And your salary will be doubled for your assistance."
With that, he lifted into the air and flew off.
Quesa remained on the rooftop, absolutely beaming.
A doubled salary… and the privilege of witnessing those abs without punishment?
Now this — this was the dream.