DBZ Story #4: "Berter Beginnings: A Ginyu Force Outlook"

Part 26


In about five days time, Ginyu was back to his pompous, flamboyant, overbearing self. The Captain went on as if nothing happened between him and Jeice, and Jeice did the same, but he couldn't help drifting back to that night. The weeks passed, and the Force was sent to more planets. Stronger peoples had been popping up left and right, and the tyrant, Freeza, instead of instigating planetary genocide, began using them to gather new blood into his ranks. And time moves on continuously…

Berter sighed as he made his way to the bar to meet with the others. He didn't know why they enjoyed drinking so much. Alcoholic drinks tasted like stagnant water and made one just as sick. Hachuurui's most notorious drunkard couldn't guzzle as much blood wine in a year than they could beer in two weeks time. He gave another little reluctant sigh as he turned the corner to enter the pub…

"HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!"

…and nearly suffered an arrest at the sudden surprise. All dressed in party gear of the fashion, the Ginyus raised their grogs to him. "What's all this?"Asked the young man.

"Why," began the good captain. "This is your three-month anniversary..! You've gone 84 consecutive days without being killed, permanently damaged, or dishonorably discharged, so we're celebrating!"

"That's right!" Jeice added, taking a swig and releasing a refreshed sigh. "Not many of the guys we've had lasted as long as you, besides ol' Zarbon. You should be proud."

"And that's not all," the behemoth stepped in. "All potential planets have been scouted, and their all way below the elites' level, so we don't have to work for a while. The Cap'n pulled a few strings with Freeza, so now you can go visit your Hachuurui and get cozy with your girl for a while." He put his hand on his shoulder and snickered at that last part. Berter just looked down at his boots, slightly embarrassed.
Ginyu snuck a snifter under his muzzle to offer and said, grinning, "Take your time and have some fun. We'll contact you on the scouter when we need you to come back, just make sure you take it with you. But for now, drink up. Our tab's been paid and it's time we rack up another one."

The Tokage took the glass from his Captain and eyed it indecisively. Well, maybe just one…

Seventy hours and eleven snifters later, he arrived on the Saurian Planet. A bright, sunny day, and not a cloud in the sky. It felt great to be in the warmth of natural light again. The young man took a deep breath and stretched, thankful he hadn't let himself get drunk or tipsy at the very least. He spied a few flyer dinos overhead and thought of Neizu with her bow and arrow, strong and poised with weapon pointed towards the sky. The notion warmed his heart and he hoped she was faring well. Her mother was sure to be with her, he was sure, from the letter she'd discussed with him on his last visit. When he arrived at the homestead, he was pleased to note that he didn't smell blood. He turned to the stone gravemarker for his saurian steed and bowed, then did the same for the one placed for the tri-horned Rahzer dino before entering his home... And was promptly pulled by his neck through the doorway by a much larger male.

The man towered over Berter, so much that at first, he thought he was the ex-Riizard, Mesan, but he never remembered Mesan being so… ugly. The man needed some serious dental attention, that much was certain. His fangs were elongated to the point that he could be considered sabre-toothed, and even then one of them was broken, looking as if it had done so some time ago. To add to it, he only had one eye. A long, deep scar travelling down the right side of his face was a hint at what might have transpired; maybe something in his Championship days, but none of that mattered now. All Berter knew is that he looked very, very angry.

"You!!" The angry unknown shouted. "So you're the poor excuse for male that left my beautiful little girl to become crippled!! What kind of man would leave his mate to be attacked by some animal!?" He sniffed at his battle jacket. "And what is this strange garb? Form fitting pants… Don't tell me you're a performer, too..!"

"Father? What's the matter?"

Thank the gods. The younger man breathed an internal sigh of relief as Neizu slowly but surely made her way down the corridor to him. He quickly released Berter before she could notice the hold he had over him and greeted her with a slightly guilty smile. "Nothing, Neizu," he fibbed. "Oh, look," he pulled poor Berter by the lip of his armor and threw his arm around him in pseudo-comradrie. "Your mate has returned..!"

"Berter!" She hobbled as quickly as she could and threw her arms around his neck. He formed a tentative ring around her waist, afraid to touch her any more intimately under her father's watchful eye. It was funny—he could blow him to bits with just his finger if he wanted, but didn't seem to realize it as he showed the fear of beat-down in his eyes with each glance toward his father-in-law's way. The young man wondered, momentarily, if her mother was just as bad. "I'll be fine here with Berter. If it's your will, you're free to leave, father," hinted a very smooth Neizu.

"If you're certain, I'll go. Be sure to write us more often now."

"I will. Have you a pleasant return."

He bent to hug his daughter and rudely bumped his gainéd son aside to exit. As soon as the door shut, the male scooped his mate up in his arms and kissed her gently. "What do they call your father?"

"Ranthire."

How appropriate, having both 'rant' and 'ire' in his name… "Have you laid yet?" He asked.

"Nay," the female replied. "But the space is prepared. Would you care to see?"

"Of course."

She led him to their bedroom—he could comfortably call it 'theirs' now—and brought him to the east window, where in its corner now existed an upraised platform lined with linen and feathers. One might think it comparable to a chicken coop. "It's beautiful," he spoke softly, placing an arm around her shoulder. "How much time has passed?"

"One month. I'll be ready to brood any day now."

"How exciting," Berter smiled. "Any day now, we'll have our little Roddy right here, and when she hatches, we'll be a family. Just the three of us."

"'Roddy'?"

"Roderin. I thought we agreed to name her after your mother..?"

"Aye, aye…" She cozied up next to him. "Would you be disappointed if I wished for a son?"

"……Ah, Neizu, it doesn't matter! We're going to be nurturers!" He could hardly contain himself. A little girl, a fine son, he didn't care, so long as it was healthy. "Lôdenrok or Roderin," she said with a smile. "Either one will be a wonderful child."

They kissed, he secretly wishing for his Roderin and she for her Lôdenrok.

Elsewhere, as night fell on the Plateaus, the tears of a Tokage female fell on the body of her mate…

"How could you?! How could you kill him?! You fiend! You…You're evil!! Words can't describe this!!"

"I did it for you—for us. We should be together as mates, just as we were as children."

"And you think killing my mate would make me love you like that?! …I loathe you…"

"Don't you see? You deserve so much better than that fat oaf. Let me show you…" He approached her, easing a hand towards her face and licking his lips.

"Don't you touch me!!!" She cracked a desperate, rage-filled fist to his jaw. The male touched the point of impact, waiting for the pain to subside, then turned back to her, his eyes red and murderous, and backhanded her, sending her falling to the floor. The male's hand shot out and grabbed a fistful of her cassock, stained with the blood of her slain husband. He pulled her to his menacing face and spoke in a whisper of compacted fury.

"You… whore… You worthless, little whore… You know I'm the only man who can love you, and you dare strike at me..?!" He slammed her violently against the wall and pinned her there with his body. She gasped as she felt his hands run under her clothing, and asked him, choking on her tears, "Jerin, why…?"

"Just relax and enjoy this."


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