Berter Beginnings: A Ginyu Force Outlook

By Son Rhandi

Part 6

And so, as with all things, the final month of adulthood training has passed. All of the Tokage males,

now officially adults, were lined up and awaiting their nurturers to see them back to their homes.

"So, I guess this is it, then."

"I suppose so. I'll miss you, Berter."

"And I, you. It will be another three months until we meet again, and only for two days during the Regional

Championships."

"Don't remind me, Berter."

"Don't feel bad, Tage," Berter said while placing a hand on Tage's broad shoulder. "It's hard, I know, but

our hearts will always be together."

"Hey, that's really nice. It's almost romantic when you think about it. Thanks, Berter." Tage smiled.

"It's nothing. Just a little saying I picked up back home."

"You must belong to a very poetic family." Berter chuckled. "Yes. My grandfather is a Shrine Chevalier, so I would very well have him to thank."

"Ah, the Shrine Chevalier: The passive keepers of the faith and heroic warriors of honor," said Tage in a

very melodic tone.

"That was good," he commended. "Maybe you yourself should consider becoming a Chevalier."

"No, friend. My path lies on the life of a mathematician."

"More like on the path of a failure."

Berter drags out a sigh. "What do you want, Jerin...?"

"Look at the two of you. Prattling on and on like two agéd females. It's a wonder why you don't just take

each other as mates the way you act." Berter and Tage glared but said nothing.

"And what is it to you as to how we interact, Jerin?" Tage inquired. Berter joined in.

"Yes, Jerin. What are we to you? Do you take a liking to Tage or myself? Or are you jealous because you have no friends?" Jerin winced at that remark but maintained his stature.

"'ey, Berter," Tage whispered. "That was kind of low."

"Yeah, but at least it shut him up." Suddenly, a pleasant feminine voice called out.

"Jerin! Hey, Jerin!!" Jerin's carmine eyes widened in delight.

"Rico! My sister!" He began to laugh like a small child and waved his arms in the air, until a Riizard came up and gave him a good slap on the back of his head, telling him to stop acting so childish. Berter and Tage (along with all the other adult males) had to stifle their laughs.

Soon after, a few more adults came into sight. Then some more, and some more, and some more.....Like lemmings marching into the sea, the friends and families of all of the new adults came to greet and return their kinsmen to their homes.

"Berter! My little boy! Oh, I've missed you so much!" Look how you've grown! Ye, gods, but you're thin.....Have you been eating properly?"

"Now, dear, don't pester him. He's finally done with camp and probably just wants to go home."

"Aye, father. That I do."

"Then, if your mother is all done falling all over ya, we'll be off." Berter's mother shot her husband an annoyed look but refrained from voicing anything.

"Well, alright then. Berter, hop up on this here rider dino so we can leave."

He does as instructed. Saddling up on what would be the equivalent of a horse on Earth, and looked behind him to get in a last 'good-bye' to his best friend.

"So then, Tage, I guess I'll be seeing you..." But his farewell was drowned out by the vociferous belly laughs of Tage's husky father, who now had his son in a deathlock of a hug while his mother stood beside grinning. Berter chuckled inwardly at the sight.

"Berter, you ready?" Came the low-key voice from his father. "Er....Yeah."

"Good. Then, let's go home."

Good-byes said, farewells made, Berter, as well as all of the other Tokage trainees returned with their nurturers to the places that they each called home.