Chapter 4 – Life is brutal

It was true; the Saiyans outside the army were a lot more brutal. Bertha had shown her around the neighborhood, they were called after and even followed for a moment by two male Saiyans.

Gine was in the back of the store, helping Bertha lift meat onto a cart. Suddenly she heard an argument, out of the corner of her eye she saw a man being thrown against a wall. A familiar voice called out "I am a warrior, not a little play doll". There stood her friend Fasha.

Fasha`s eyes met Gine`s. "Hey girl! It`s been two days, you don`t write, you don`t call!" Gine smiled shyly, her tough former teammate knew how to stand her ground with ease. "Sorry Fasha, it's all hectic and still getting used to being here".

An arm wrapped around Gine`s neck, her friend looked around. "So you cut meat now, you managed that quickly. Do you have your own place yet too?" Gine shook no; she took off her gloves "Bertha I am going to take a break now." Bertha only gave and small nod.

The two girls walked away together. "I am working here temporarily for a while, I can stay with Bertha. But without money and real job I can't find a house or something yet." Fasha got a smile on her face "why didn't you take our bonus?"

Gine stopped in fright "I couldn't accept that, could I? What have I done, other than be a liability. No, it was meant for you guys because you earned it". Fasha rolled her eyes and pressed a small pouch in Gine`s hands "And now shut up". Gine looked at the pouch.

Words fell short, Fasha gave her a wink. Grateful, Gine gave a happy hug to her former teammate. "Softie" Fasha joked. But a question burned on Gine`s lips, did she need to ask it? Her face suddenly stood absently.

"Let me guess, you want to know how the captain is doing?" Gine was startled by Fasha`s question. She began to stammer "Yes, how?" Fasha laughed "Taro has spotted you two; he is not really good with keeping secrets you know. But the captain is fine". Gine sighed, she was so embarrassed.

It did Gine good to hear that Bardock was doing well, but somewhere it hurt a little. Will he ever think of her again? With blushing cheeks, she thought for a moment about how that man had kissed her and made her feel. Together with Fasha, she walked on just talking.

Later that evening at the army base, Bardock was in the pub. Along with the boys from the team, they were drinking beer. Bardock looked through the pub; he seemed to be looking for something. Taro hung against the bar and looked at his friend "a penny for your thoughts."

Bardock raised an eyebrow "what do you mean?" Taro shook his head and took a sip of his beer. "Dude, there's something wrong with you. What did that girl do to your head?" The man sighed deeply for a moment and threw back his beer. His thoughts wandered to that beautiful body and that sweet smile.

"Just give me a good damn mission, a solid fight. That's all" It was a lie, Bardock himself knew it was a lie. He put down his glass "I'm off again, 6:00 sharp tomorrow at the attack pods". The team gave a casual salute to their captain.

At the door, the captain met his now only female team member. "Oh captain, good I ran into you, here" Fasha pressed a small container into Bardock's hands. "What is this?" Fasha shrugged her shoulders and walked into the pub.

As he walked home it began to rain softly. Bardock began to walk a little faster, he hates rain. By the time he got home it had started to pour. He walked into his apartment and put the container on the table, he looked at it. Curious he opened the lid, damn it he thought. But luckily Fasha had found Gine!

Bardock threw his armor in the corner; he put the container in the microwave. A moment later he sat on the couch with a bowl of Gine`s stew. The smell took him back to that night. He could still taste her lips, so soft and sweet. Had he really made the right choice in letting her go, he could have just hidden her in his apartment right?

After the bowl was empty, Bardock felt enraged and threw the bowl against the wall to pieces. This was pure nonsense! A stew, a tender kiss? He was a warrior, respected and brutal. Her softness must have rubbed off on him or something.

The next morning, Gine helped cut the meat in the back of the store. It had been restless in the neighborhood all morning. Suddenly three men stood inside. The tallest of the three called out "say darlings, do you have a nice piece of meat for us". The other two started laughing.

Another wanted to grab a piece of meat but Bertha blocked his path. "Fuck off bitch" the man shouted and gave Bertha a slap in the face, the small round female fell to the ground. Gine got angry and flew at the man; she gave him a punch to the jaw.

The man went down and began cursing violently. The other two men flew at Gine but the small female managed to fire a surprisingly strong ki shot that blew them out. The tall one shouted "you are not rid of us yet fucking cunts" They scurried away.

Bertha came back to her feet "Wow, you are strong". Gine started chuckling "yes the captain would have been proud of me this time". Bertha knocked the dust off her clothes "and you say you were weak. But we have to be careful with all those riots outside".

Gine was ready to protect her friend, she may not have been a warrior but she hated if someone was being wronged. For a moment she looked at the scouter in her bag, would she send Fasha a message about what was going on here? She waved that thought away; surely they would be done rioting soon.

But it didn't stop; it was turbulent all day and evening with riots and fires throughout the neighborhood. Was this the life off base? Gine sighed as she looked through a window. Bardock popped into her head, he was strong enough to stand here and handle everything He could have told her what to do.

Gine went to sleep, but when she was almost asleep she heard a bang! She jumped out of bed and ran into Bertha in the hallway. "What was that?" cried Bertha fearfully. Gine balled a fist "sounded like the impact of a Ki shot in the back of the store." The two women ran downstairs.

Arriving at the store were the three men from that morning. They were out for revenge, the tall one shouted "We won't let a little fragile girl scare us away again" And the men started running towards Gine, she manages to block them but with a lot of difficulty.

"Bertha, the scouter my room. Call for help, quickly!" Gine tried to fight back, but was caught by her wrist and thrown against the wall. She remained standing; at least she had their attention, that way Bertha could escape. Gine would not give up, not until her friend was safe

Meanwhile at the army base, Bardock and his team had just returned from their task. A good fight had put Bardock in a better mood. But this didn't last very long. Fasha suddenly called out "Captain!" Bardock turned around and saw the startled face on his teammates face "what?"

"Riots in town, Gine is in ambush!" A blind rage overtook Bardock, he pulled the scouter from Fasha`s head and shot into the air. Never before had he been so ferocious, but also so concerned. He replaced his scouter with Fasha`s.

He tapped the scouter and called out "talk!" A frightened voice he didn't recognize sobbed something about Gine, the store and fighting. Bardock didn't have much to go on with these clues. He pressed the GPS locator on, on the scouter. He flew in a straight line to the location.

When he landed he sees something he didn't want to see. Gine against a wall, in nothing more than a small pajama dress. She was injured but still standing up right. Two men were holding her against the wall another was shouting something at her. Gine resisted violently. "What are you boys doing?" Bardock sounded angry and was burning with rage.

The screaming man turned around first, what he saw was a very angry Bardock approaching. "Ba-Bardock? The Captain Bardock?" stammered the man. The other two let go of Gine, Bardock grabbed her wrist and pulled Gine against him holding her tight.

The screaming man took a step back in fear "it was not what it seemed Captain". Bardock brought his hand forward where energy was gathering. He spoke calmly but still very angrily "so you weren't fighting with my girl?!"

Gine moved closer to the captain, her captain! She wasn't afraid anymore; he gave her the sort of strength she needed. She wrapped an arm around his waist, her face close to his chest. The screamer stuttered "yo-you're girl? We are so sorry captain Bardock sir! We didn't know that". Bardock fired his shot. The men fled, but not without injuries.

Bardock looked worriedly at the small sweet woman trembling against him. "Gine" he spoke in an almost shaky voice. "Always my savior in need" Gine tried to stand bravely, but collapsed. Bardock scooped her into his arms. "You need medical attention."

"No" said a voice softly. Gine looked at Bardock "just a night of rest. And the hospital is already overcrowded, I'm used to this remember" she even smiled for a moment. Bardock shook his head and pressed a kiss on top of her head. "But I'm not leaving you here" he whispered back.

Bardock flew in the air, to the place where she was safe and he could keep her safe and that was his own apartment. He didn't care that Gine was no longer in the army, therefore no longer welcome. Slowly Gine fell unconscious in his arms "Gine, Gine!" cried Bardock in panic! He changed his course; the Army medical center was his new location.

The story does get longer than what I first wanted, but 3 chapters was really too short. But the next one is really the last one, I think ...

Thanks again for reading! Please let me know what you guys think of the story :D

Xxx Vino Lilly