*************Episode 22**************
**End of the Match!! Come Out Swinging**
You braced and hold it all inside
Its more than you can stand
No one around even tries
Tries to understand
Nipper shook his head. "You'll wish you'd stayed down!" He charged and clothes-lined Bardock into the ring, cracking it and releasing blocks. A hole had been made, revealing the floor below. Bardock balanced on spare pieces in the center. If he touched the floor, he'd be disqualified.
Don't turn away
Don't turn away
Come out swinging
Come out alone
Or either way
Throw it away
As long as you're swinging
One day you'll get by
Bardock jumped onto the connecting parts of the ring. Nipper, still laughing madly, began blasting at Bardock. The youth had to perform gymnastics the avoid the blasts, but the ring became smaller and smaller.
"He's limiting the amount of maneuver room for Bardock," Tora reported to the girls.
"Why doesn't he just fly," asked Fasha.
"He's trying to save his energy," answered Zucina, squeezing her fan. "Unfortunately, he's getting more and more hurt by jumping around like his tail's on fire!"
You're place seems wearing out of line
Right beside your bed
The scene replays a million times
Stuck inside your head
Nipper paid no attention to his rampage. His only goal was to kill Bardock, tournament or no tournament. He didn't notice Bardock flipping and hopping his way closer and closer until it was too late.
And though you've stayed in place
You're mind escapes
Read between the lies
The smile that's on you're face
You fake like you're ok
Bardock rammed into Nipper's midsection with both fists. Nipper soared backwards, doing handsprings of his own, landing finally on a large chunk of the ring far from Bardock.
Don't turn away
Don't turn awayayay
Come out swinging
Out on your own
They're in your way
Throw it awayayay
You may be stinging
You'll get by
Bardock skidded on his face on another big chunk of stone. Once he stopped, it took longer then usual before his head cleared. He raised his face to look around at the ring. Blood dripped from his mouth as he surveyed the destruction. He and Nipper were on the largest pieces of what was once the proud arena. His vision came in and out of focus, the light turning bright to gray.
Don't turn away
Don't turn awayayay
Come out swinging
Come out alone again
Play inside then guide away
Body totaled, Bardock powered up his body, prepared to fight as long as it took. Chips of the damaged ring floated around him from the ki.
Midnight
No sleep
You're inside
Nipper took off into the air and powered up his own major blast. An eerie green light enshrouded him. Bardock's light turned gold, centered on his now up stretched fist.
You scream too
No one hears you
For daylight
You need
Today, today
One more try
"SOUL FIST!!!!" / "SOLAR STRIKE!!!!"
The ki shot out and connected in the air. Bardock's gold ball met Nipper's green beam, beginning a pushing contest. Both Sayins strained against their load, trying to force their own ki against the other.
Every single Sayin stared in savage interest, many shielding the light from their eyes. Zucina dared not blink. Awe and honor forbid her.
Don't turn away
Don't turn away
Come out swinging
Come out alone
Or either way
Throw it away
You may be stinging
You'll get by
Several minutes passed, and the gold ball began losing ground. Mustering every last ounce of power left in him, Bardock roared, and released it into the ball. The Solar Strike almost doubled in size and overpowered the Soul Fist. Nipper had just enough time to set up a barrier to save his life. Out of power and burned from the ki, he fell backwards and landed on the floor between pieces of the ring, knocked out cold!
The ref blinked twice, coming quickly back to reality. "The winner . . . BARDOCK!!!"
Zucina rushed out to Bardock, who still stood frozen and panting. "Bardo-kun! You won!! You won!!"
Bardock gave a small laugh. "Now, who's the loser assho . . ." But he slumped forward, unconscious, but with a smile on his face.
Don't turn away
Don't turn away
Come out swinging
Never alone again
Pain inside
Lead you (lead you)
Through
So you'll get by*
=========================================================== [Commercial Break]
* - Come Out Swinging, by Offspring!!
===========================================================
Needless to say, Bardock next match was a breeze, and he won the tournament. The final match was still held on the broken ring, which was to be repaired afterwards.
The next day, Bardock received a summons from Lord Saladus. Bewildered, he excused himself from class and was escorted to the lord's chambers.
Like the rest of the rooms in STP, it was white marble. But the desk and chairs were stone. Portraits and statues lined the well-lit office, and the red carpet leading up to the desk was thickly velvet. Monitors covered the fore wall, playing surveillance camera videos. When Bardock walked in, they displayed he and his friends training in the practice room in the middle of the night.
'Oh crap,' Bardock thought with fear.
Lord Saladus, whose back was to Bardock, demanded simply "Explain this."
Bardock's body trembled. He had the sinking feeling he'd spend another five hours in the rejuvenation tanks. "I-I-I . . . uh-"
"Your have been training nightly with a stolen pass-key for over a zural," the disfigured lord answered for him, turning to face the boy. His artificial red eyes made him look demonic, causing the boy to cower. "You and your companions have also entered and tampered with the Main Computer, shattering almost every rule in this school's foundation!!"
'Fuck the tanks, I'll be in the morgue!!' "I . . . I . . . can explain . . ."
"No need to," Lord Saladus stated. He sat down. "SIT!!"
Bardock sat. "Am . . . I expelled, Sir?"
"No."
'Nani?' "H-How long-"
"The entire time." For some reason, his tone seemed far calmer then before. "And, in my opinion, such determination should be rewarded, not punished."
Bardock straightened up. "Sir?"
Amazingly, Lord Saladus smiled. The smile disfigured his face horrifyingly more, but the act still slightly comforted Bardock. "You are by far the most determined student I have had the pleasure to observe. Bardock, you are precisely the kind of material more Sayin generals need: Resourcefulness, strategic brilliance, skill with power, mind, and body, loyalty, bravery . . . The list goes on! My nephew taught you well."
"Heki?"** Several small anime sweat-drops appeared on Bardock's head. Lord Saladus took advantage of the boy's silence. He opened his desk drawer, pulled out an envelope, and threw it to Bardock. The stunned boy opened it and read:
Dear Uncle Saladus;
Excellent news! I've finally been promoted to captain of my own squad! Most of them are old, rowdy veterans, but I'll break 'em in soon enough! hehe!
I promised Bardock that's I'd get him out as soon as I gathered my own squad and make him my lieutenant. Well, I'm making good on that promise. Tell him that if he is prepared, I have one, and only one spot open for him.
Sincerly, you nephew
Cole
Bardock nearly fell out of his seat. He knew that Cole's uncle worked at STPHQ, but SALADUS!?!?!
"I take it, you'll be leaving right away?"
Bardock's head spun. This was wonderful!! He could get out!! No more Rubaru!! No more class!! No more boundaries!! No more . . . His face fell. No more Tora, Zucina, or Fasha.
"Gomen-nasai, Sir, but I can't." He set the letter on the desk carefully. "I can't leave my friends behind. Please write back and tell Cole I'm sorry, but I just can't!"
Lord Saladus eyed the boy. "It may take zurals before Cole has four spots open on his team!"
"I know, but that's how loyal I am to my friends."
Saladus nodded. "Understood. You have exceeded all expectations of you, my boy. Your heart may prove a weakness. However, you may be the first of a new breed of Sayin; one who feeds its strength from those they love."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
** - "Heki?" is an anime expression of confusion
Hey guys! Bardock here, once again!
Lord Saladus was right! It took over two zurals, but Cole finally has four free spots on his team. There's a reason though; most of his last team died fighting off these creatures from a planet they were never able to conqour. Zucina!! Where are you going!! When will you stop being so damn curious every time some new dangerous adventure pops up!?!
*sigh* Looks like I'll have to go get her next time on DragonballBC: Free At Last!! But Where To Now?
end of season 1
**End of the Match!! Come Out Swinging**
You braced and hold it all inside
Its more than you can stand
No one around even tries
Tries to understand
Nipper shook his head. "You'll wish you'd stayed down!" He charged and clothes-lined Bardock into the ring, cracking it and releasing blocks. A hole had been made, revealing the floor below. Bardock balanced on spare pieces in the center. If he touched the floor, he'd be disqualified.
Don't turn away
Don't turn away
Come out swinging
Come out alone
Or either way
Throw it away
As long as you're swinging
One day you'll get by
Bardock jumped onto the connecting parts of the ring. Nipper, still laughing madly, began blasting at Bardock. The youth had to perform gymnastics the avoid the blasts, but the ring became smaller and smaller.
"He's limiting the amount of maneuver room for Bardock," Tora reported to the girls.
"Why doesn't he just fly," asked Fasha.
"He's trying to save his energy," answered Zucina, squeezing her fan. "Unfortunately, he's getting more and more hurt by jumping around like his tail's on fire!"
You're place seems wearing out of line
Right beside your bed
The scene replays a million times
Stuck inside your head
Nipper paid no attention to his rampage. His only goal was to kill Bardock, tournament or no tournament. He didn't notice Bardock flipping and hopping his way closer and closer until it was too late.
And though you've stayed in place
You're mind escapes
Read between the lies
The smile that's on you're face
You fake like you're ok
Bardock rammed into Nipper's midsection with both fists. Nipper soared backwards, doing handsprings of his own, landing finally on a large chunk of the ring far from Bardock.
Don't turn away
Don't turn awayayay
Come out swinging
Out on your own
They're in your way
Throw it awayayay
You may be stinging
You'll get by
Bardock skidded on his face on another big chunk of stone. Once he stopped, it took longer then usual before his head cleared. He raised his face to look around at the ring. Blood dripped from his mouth as he surveyed the destruction. He and Nipper were on the largest pieces of what was once the proud arena. His vision came in and out of focus, the light turning bright to gray.
Don't turn away
Don't turn awayayay
Come out swinging
Come out alone again
Play inside then guide away
Body totaled, Bardock powered up his body, prepared to fight as long as it took. Chips of the damaged ring floated around him from the ki.
Midnight
No sleep
You're inside
Nipper took off into the air and powered up his own major blast. An eerie green light enshrouded him. Bardock's light turned gold, centered on his now up stretched fist.
You scream too
No one hears you
For daylight
You need
Today, today
One more try
"SOUL FIST!!!!" / "SOLAR STRIKE!!!!"
The ki shot out and connected in the air. Bardock's gold ball met Nipper's green beam, beginning a pushing contest. Both Sayins strained against their load, trying to force their own ki against the other.
Every single Sayin stared in savage interest, many shielding the light from their eyes. Zucina dared not blink. Awe and honor forbid her.
Don't turn away
Don't turn away
Come out swinging
Come out alone
Or either way
Throw it away
You may be stinging
You'll get by
Several minutes passed, and the gold ball began losing ground. Mustering every last ounce of power left in him, Bardock roared, and released it into the ball. The Solar Strike almost doubled in size and overpowered the Soul Fist. Nipper had just enough time to set up a barrier to save his life. Out of power and burned from the ki, he fell backwards and landed on the floor between pieces of the ring, knocked out cold!
The ref blinked twice, coming quickly back to reality. "The winner . . . BARDOCK!!!"
Zucina rushed out to Bardock, who still stood frozen and panting. "Bardo-kun! You won!! You won!!"
Bardock gave a small laugh. "Now, who's the loser assho . . ." But he slumped forward, unconscious, but with a smile on his face.
Don't turn away
Don't turn away
Come out swinging
Never alone again
Pain inside
Lead you (lead you)
Through
So you'll get by*
=========================================================== [Commercial Break]
* - Come Out Swinging, by Offspring!!
===========================================================
Needless to say, Bardock next match was a breeze, and he won the tournament. The final match was still held on the broken ring, which was to be repaired afterwards.
The next day, Bardock received a summons from Lord Saladus. Bewildered, he excused himself from class and was escorted to the lord's chambers.
Like the rest of the rooms in STP, it was white marble. But the desk and chairs were stone. Portraits and statues lined the well-lit office, and the red carpet leading up to the desk was thickly velvet. Monitors covered the fore wall, playing surveillance camera videos. When Bardock walked in, they displayed he and his friends training in the practice room in the middle of the night.
'Oh crap,' Bardock thought with fear.
Lord Saladus, whose back was to Bardock, demanded simply "Explain this."
Bardock's body trembled. He had the sinking feeling he'd spend another five hours in the rejuvenation tanks. "I-I-I . . . uh-"
"Your have been training nightly with a stolen pass-key for over a zural," the disfigured lord answered for him, turning to face the boy. His artificial red eyes made him look demonic, causing the boy to cower. "You and your companions have also entered and tampered with the Main Computer, shattering almost every rule in this school's foundation!!"
'Fuck the tanks, I'll be in the morgue!!' "I . . . I . . . can explain . . ."
"No need to," Lord Saladus stated. He sat down. "SIT!!"
Bardock sat. "Am . . . I expelled, Sir?"
"No."
'Nani?' "H-How long-"
"The entire time." For some reason, his tone seemed far calmer then before. "And, in my opinion, such determination should be rewarded, not punished."
Bardock straightened up. "Sir?"
Amazingly, Lord Saladus smiled. The smile disfigured his face horrifyingly more, but the act still slightly comforted Bardock. "You are by far the most determined student I have had the pleasure to observe. Bardock, you are precisely the kind of material more Sayin generals need: Resourcefulness, strategic brilliance, skill with power, mind, and body, loyalty, bravery . . . The list goes on! My nephew taught you well."
"Heki?"** Several small anime sweat-drops appeared on Bardock's head. Lord Saladus took advantage of the boy's silence. He opened his desk drawer, pulled out an envelope, and threw it to Bardock. The stunned boy opened it and read:
Dear Uncle Saladus;
Excellent news! I've finally been promoted to captain of my own squad! Most of them are old, rowdy veterans, but I'll break 'em in soon enough! hehe!
I promised Bardock that's I'd get him out as soon as I gathered my own squad and make him my lieutenant. Well, I'm making good on that promise. Tell him that if he is prepared, I have one, and only one spot open for him.
Sincerly, you nephew
Cole
Bardock nearly fell out of his seat. He knew that Cole's uncle worked at STPHQ, but SALADUS!?!?!
"I take it, you'll be leaving right away?"
Bardock's head spun. This was wonderful!! He could get out!! No more Rubaru!! No more class!! No more boundaries!! No more . . . His face fell. No more Tora, Zucina, or Fasha.
"Gomen-nasai, Sir, but I can't." He set the letter on the desk carefully. "I can't leave my friends behind. Please write back and tell Cole I'm sorry, but I just can't!"
Lord Saladus eyed the boy. "It may take zurals before Cole has four spots open on his team!"
"I know, but that's how loyal I am to my friends."
Saladus nodded. "Understood. You have exceeded all expectations of you, my boy. Your heart may prove a weakness. However, you may be the first of a new breed of Sayin; one who feeds its strength from those they love."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
** - "Heki?" is an anime expression of confusion
Hey guys! Bardock here, once again!
Lord Saladus was right! It took over two zurals, but Cole finally has four free spots on his team. There's a reason though; most of his last team died fighting off these creatures from a planet they were never able to conqour. Zucina!! Where are you going!! When will you stop being so damn curious every time some new dangerous adventure pops up!?!
*sigh* Looks like I'll have to go get her next time on DragonballBC: Free At Last!! But Where To Now?
end of season 1