Berter Beginnings: A Ginyu Force Outlook
By Son Rhandi
Part 16
"Serve it up, Zarbon!"
"Right. First one to spill blood loses."
The Azureman chucked the orange-sized gray ball at the adjacent wall, which hit with a 'swak' and found its way to Jeice's hand.
"My turn."
Reeling back, the Kaijin whipped his fist around and released the sphere…
They were playing a game much like wall ball called 'high bound', designed to increase agility and dexterity. The ball was fashioned so that each time it rebounded, it would come back a little faster. It proved to be fun as well as a useful exercise, but intense games of high bound could prove to be deadly.
Turning on his heel, Zarbon ripped the ball from the air and threw it away as if it were a ticking time bomb about to go off. "Close one there, Zarbon!" Jeice chuckled as the high-speed sphere left his hand.
"Just watch your-SELF!"
Zarbon shouted the last syllable of his sentence as he forcefully chucked the ball. From there on, all hell broke loose. With each throw back, the gray sphere rebounded faster and faster, the Azureman and Kaijin barely able to receive with each passing. Beads of sweat whipped across their bodies as they moved to and fro to keep up with the speed of the ball. Pounding, pounding, pounding were the players' hearts as they were pushed to their near limits. Jeice could feel the Azureman was tiring, that the game was his. All he had to do was wait for Zarbon to slip up.
But oh, how irony can play its hand so well…
So busy was he watching his azure opponent that on his turn to receive, the ball grazed the back of his hand and cut across the area where his collarbone met his right shoulder. The Kaijin toppled back, his scarlet blood staining the smooth floor under him. When the ball rebounded, the Azureman caught it in his palm and set it gently on the floor.
"Well, I guess you win," said the red man, clutching his wound and propping himself up with an elbow.
"Need some help?"
"Nah. I'll manage. I guess it's off to the tank for me," Jeice said with a smile that was bittersweet, then wobbled his way up to a standing position. The Azureman crossed his arms. "Humph. I seem to beat you a lot in this game."
Jeice shrugged with his one good shoulder. "Maybe you're just a better athlete than I am."
"Or maybe you've just been letting me win."
"Maybe. I didn't mean to lose this time."
"'This time'..? Wha--"
"Love to talk s'more, Zar, but I'd prefer to get taken care of before I die of blood loss. See ya!"
"…You were always playing games with me. I wanted you to be more serious."
"Is something wrong, Mister Zarbon?"
"Huh?" The Azureman looked up, surprised. He hadn't realized he was speaking aloud. "N-No, sir," he replied, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Freeza and his minions stood (or rather his minions stood while he hovered) in the early morn, awaiting the arrival of Ginyu and his Force. They were said to arrive on Hachuurui's 4th hour, so a space HQ had been built there in the Flatlands some time ago for just such a purpose. Dodoria had nodded off to sleep again—something he was known for doing quite frequently—while Zarbon was lost in his own thoughts.
Then, they saw it. It started out as a small twinkle in the sky. Soon, a sound similar to a jet cutting though the sky came about, and the small twinkle grew and split to five large spherical objects blazing like comets across the aerospace. And then……
……..in the nearby plateaus, a well-known Tokage stirred…
"Terrible sleep…" He stretched, his mouth becoming a gaping hole as he yawned. Moving less than gracefully to his feet, Berter wobbled a bit before coming to a steady position. The sleep-deprived Tokage sighed (which was slowly becoming a habit of his recently) and turn to his beast-woman, who was sleeping peacefully.
"Well, at least one of us retired easily…"
Her features were significantly softer, the harsh looked that often adorned her face replaced with a placid appearance. "None would ever guess how nefarious you can be when you're active. I think I'm enjoying you better this way." He cracked a warm smile. The male kneeled down to get to a closer look.
Neizu was a pretty girl, by Tokage standards. She'd be even prettier if she smiled a bit more often. How dear the girl looked, curled up in the sheets the way she was. Gently, he drew the back of his hand to her face and stroked it lightly, being rewarded with a small coo of sorts.
Neizu… You know we're expected to live the rest of our lives together, right..? I really do care for you, I do. But if I feel my efforts are being wasted, whereas you aren't even putting forth yours, I can't be sure of what will happen to us…
A large rapping at the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Yo! Berter of Kyorusan! Escort!" The voice behind the door shouted.
That voice….
Berter slowly opened the door to a small slit, just enough to see out of. However, it swung open big and wide when he realized whom it was. "Riizard Mesan! You're employed beyond the adulthood camps now?"
"Aye," said the older Tokage while scratching the back of his head. "Figured it was time I started anew somespace, so I resigned as of last week. Got m'self employed as an escort. Speakin' of such, it's time I escorted you to the desired area. So hitch up and let's be off."
"Right." With that, Berter proceeded to untie his Ridre dino from the post where it was kept. Mesan looked on, a little confused.
"What..? You're not gonna tell your mate that you're leaving?"
Berter chuckled. "It's better this way," the youngster explained as he mounted the saurian steed. "If I'm familiar, she'd probably attempt to gut me for bringing her out of retirement."
That drew a chortle from Mesan. "Yeah, well….. Things'll get better. Course, I'm not one who's skill in such matters… and by the manner in which you said, your mate don't seem too hospitable…. But, hey..! At least you've got a woman!"
The young man rolled his eyes.
hr
A short while later…
"—TOGETHER, WE MAKE…. THE GINYU FORCE!!"
An awkward silence. Then…
"Yes………….." The pink tyrant cleared his throat. "At ease." The task force complied.
"Now, I'm sure you're wondering why I summoned you to this planet, so I'll make this brief. The people on this planet are strong. Strong enough to be soldiers for the trade. I want you to interview these four behind me." Frieza daintily extended a hand towards the four Tokage, who stood lined up, side by side.
"Whichever candidate you choose will be the new member of your force. Now, proceed. Choose wisely. Zarbon, Dodoria, come." With that, Frieza hovered back to his ship, his cronies following close behind.
"Of course, Lord Frieza!" The man saluted energetically as he watched his sire hovering away. "I will pick a candidate worthy of serving you!"
"'ey, Zarbon!" Jeice shouted. "D'ya wanna play a game o' high bound later?"
Instead of making a vocal reply, the Azureman smiled a warm smile and continued along his way. The receiver took that as a 'yes'. "Alright! See ya!!"
When Freeza and crew were out of sight, Recoom threw his arms up to the sky to stretch and released a lengthy yawn. "Well, I gotta say…" the red-haired giant started. "That role call was pretty weak, Captain."
"I agree," Jeice spoke up. "It's just no good without five people." The frog below was in accordance as well.
The commanding officer sighed. "You're right. The whole introduction just doesn't have the same punch as it used to…. I suppose it's my own fault for never having thought up a pose for four... But hopefully one of these guys here will have style! So, you all are the respective bests, eh..?"
"Yes, sir," one of the other Tokage replied. He had a heavier build than the rest and possessed a sloping forehead—the usually characteristics of one who hailed from the Mountainous Regions.
"…It was a rhetorical question……." The good captain sighed and put to fingers to his temple. I can already see this day is going to be hell…. Well, orders are orders… "Okay! Time for one-on-one interviews! All of you, follow me!" He barked as he headed for Freeza's ship. "Recoom! Jeice! Make yourselves useful and come up with some new poses!"
After all the interviews were over and done with, Ginyu slumped back in his chair, tossing the papers he pretended to have written on over his shoulder and onto the floor.
…..Well, he thought to himself. I've got to say they had to have been the most boring people I've ever had to deal with. Not a bit of style whatsoever! Arrgh… But we don't have a guy with super-speed. This could turn out to be a good thing, but they're all so bland..! Water has more flavor than these guys! But Freeza expects results… Gah, what to do, what to do, what to do…… "I've got it! I'll just go by gut instinct! Whoever I think will look best in the armor is in the force..! I'm brilliant!"
And the end results were as follows…
"Ooooooookay! Everyone, hustle up! I've got something to say!"
The four Tokage males turn their attentions to the captain.
"After careful consideration…" Ginyu threw in a sarcastic cough, which sailed right over his audience's heads. "I've decided as to who will be inducted as the new member of my force…"
Having said his few planned sentences, the captain scrutinized the four. After what seemed like hours pacing back and forth, he finally spoke. "Hrrrrrrmmmm………. What's your name, son?"
"Berter of Kyôrusan."
"Do you want to become stronger?"
"Truthfully, I don't hold much interes—"
"Great!!" Ginyu interrupted with much enthusiasm. "As of now, you are officially a part of the Ginyu Special Force! Go ahead, pat yourself on the back! You deserve it!" Ha ha! Total genius!
"Er…. Many thanks……….." Don't I even have a choice..? Berter thought glumly.
"As for the rest of you, you're all free to go now. Don't bother coming back..!" The other Tokage walked off muttering while captain laughed heartily at his own rudeness.