**************Episode 26*****************
**Cole's Training; Rocks, Rivers, and Rhetoric**
"Captain," asked Olivia, "do you know these people?"
"CAPTAIN," screamed Bardock, furious. "HE's your CATAIN!?"
Nipper sneered. "Who in their right mind would hire you for their team, Low Level Loser?"
Tora held Bardock back as best he could. Nipper turned his attention down to Olivia. "I forbid you to converse with this trash. My cook should come to her missions clean."
Bardock again tried to rage forward. He started spouting out such colorful language, it can't be repeated in a PG story. "I've never seen him this mad outside of sporting events," commented Tora.
Nipper chuckled. "Both of you are below my rank, so you can't tell me what to do. Woman, get moving!" He kicked her hard, but she managed to grab the groceries Tora had left outside the door.
"YOU'RE one to call ME trash," screamed Bardock furiously. "How DARE you strike a woman outside of training!! You animal!!!"
Nipper laughed. "You caught me off-guard at the tournament, but you won't out here! I dare you to fight me!"
Bardock struggled against Tora's arms. He was prepared to rip Nipper in half! But someone else stopped him.
A lone figure, with red and black pants, red/blur armor, and a red sweatband around his shaved head, stepped in-between them. "Picking fights again, Ex-General?"
Nipper growled. "Cole, this is none of your business!"
"Bardock just so happens to be my lieutenant. As an officer, you must respect him as any other." Cole held no position of a threat, but simple stood still. "Careful! You can get court-marshaled again!"
Nipper charged at Cole, who didn't move. As soon as Nipper was on top of him, Cole flicked his forefinger against his thumb onto Nipper's nose. The small effort sent the larger Sayin flying out of sight.
Tora and Bardock applauded and cheered. "Sugoi!!" "Awesome!!" "Encore!!" "Way ta go!!"
Cole did a mock, exaggerated bow. "Thank you! Thank you, one and all!"
"Nipper used to be a general," asked Tora. "After all his brown-nosing Rubaru, I expected Supreme Commander!"
"Yeah. But he abused his officers too much, and got demoted to Captain. In his new position, he can get away with abuse."
Bardock punched his hand. "Bakayaro! I'm gonna kill him for that!"
Cole put his hand on Bardock's shoulder. "Train a little more, then challenge him to an officer's race.* Glad to catch you both. I needed to talk to you."
"So do I," said Bardock. "Zuci-"
"I already heard. Both of you are to report to Vine Falls tonight at sundown. We're gonna have a campout so you can get acquainted with Totepo and Panbukin."
"Hooray!!!"
The evening passed pleasantly (except for the fact that Zucina and Bardock weren't speaking to each other.) From their mouths, Bardock found out all about Totepo and Panbukin. Totepo, a veteran of the war against the Tsufuruu, very rarely got involved in conversations (he'd sign), and was known as the "Big Enforcer" of the team. The giant had a power level of over 800, and really liked cheese sticks. ^_^
Panbukin liked livin' it large, bar hopping with a group of fellow Sayins almost every night he stayed on Vegetasei. Reckless and brutal, he was the last person to offer mercy, blasting, blasting, blasting, then asking questions.
The group finally turned in late that night.
===========================================================
[Commercial Break]
* - Officer's Battle - You'll find out more about that later, in a few eps. Basically a race to conquer a planet.
===========================================================
About one hour after everyone fell asleep, Bardock woke up out of habit (mid-night practices, remember). He noticed Zucina's spot was empty, so he went off in search of her.
He found her singing to herself, practicing with her new sword, which glinted in the moonlight. Bardock snorted, and stepped through the brush. "You're such a brat! The Heinz's blood ain't even cold, and here you are . . ." But she wasn't fully paying attention. If Bardock didn't know any better, he'd swear she had her head hung in shame!
Bardock gaped at her. "Zuni-chan?"
She straightened up, trying to gain a regal composure. "Look, I still feel that I should have been Cole's second . . . but . . . ." She paused. "I'm . . . I'm so- . . ."
"Apology not excepted. Hundreds of lives lost needlessly."
"When they forced that damn dress on me . . .," she snapped. Another pause. Bardock could tell she had rehearsed, but still found an apology unnatural on her lips. "I visited my parents today."
"Good. Get things straightened out?"
"No." Her eyes darkened. "I wanted to pay for my nanny, Aspa's freedom. Spent all of the money we'd received from the mission. My father said he was disappointed in me. Said I look like a bloke in this armor."
"You do," Bardock half-lied. "No woman covers up that much. You're supposed ta show some leg is ya wanna get a mate."
"I don't, though. I want to be free, not caged." She tiled her head lower. "I've come to realize . . . you've been more of a family to me then they ever had." Her eyes lifted, filled with honesty and ignominy. "Can you ever forgive me?"
"Have to! How often does 'The Psycho Bitch' apologize fer anything!?"
"Hey! I have once!" She flicked her short hair.
Bardock just chuckled and held out his hand, smiling
Zucina smiled weakly and shook his hand. The moment they touched, a strong vibration pulled in around them. Some force tried to push them closer, but they resisted, unaware of the other's feelings.
"So, are you two gonna kiss or not!? Go go go!!"
Both teens' eyes bugged out in surprise. Cole was hiding in the tree the whole time! Both started cursing, but Cole only laughed. "Gomen! Gomen! I just couldn't help myself! You two lovebirds are too much!"
"'Lovebirds!?!?' I can assure you, there is nothing even remotely romantic going on between us!"
"Whatever, Zuni-chan! Ready for your first training lesson?"
Bardock's jaw dropped. "Nani? NOW?!? So late?!?"
"Sure! You both are here, awake, adrenaline rushing . . ."
Bardock snarled. "Cole!!"
Cole laughed again. "Okay, okay. No more lovy dovy talk, on one condition."
"Name it."
"Name your first kid after me."
Cole found himself being attacked by two crazed Sayins! He ducked, dodged, and jumped with ease around their attacks. After much huffing and puffing, they stopped. "When'd you get so fast," asked Zucina.
"You shoulda seem 'im today," said Bardock. "He flicked Nipper off like a booger!"
All three laughed harder then ever. "Perfect simile," commented Cole.
"That settles it, then," announced Zucina. "If I can flick Nipper off like a boogie, I'm in for some training!"**
Cole sat on a bolder. "Physically, there ain't much more I can teach ya. Mentally - that's another story."
The two tilted their heads in confusion. "Hekei?"
"Bardock, lashing out at anyone who calls you names, especially your old nic name, is stupid! Zucina, over-confidence doesn't even describe you! Disrespecting authority, acting solely on hunches, defying all laws of sanity-"
"I get the picture! Geez!"
"My father trained me by mixing philosophy into fighting." He turned full-face to Zucina. "Zuni-chan, which is stronger, a mountain or a river?"
She took her time. "A mountain."
Cole shook his head. "Tall and proud as always. Mountains can be worn away by the river after a time. Bardock, which is more firm, a stone or a tree?"
Bardock thought hard, then turned to Zucina. "Any suggestions," he whispered.
Cole smiled. "Excellent answer, you stupid asswipe!"
Bardock's ki flared. "What the fuck!?!"
Cole face-vaulted. "And he chokes at the finish-line! A good leader asks help from his subordinates; that's good. Then, when insulted, you jumped at me; that's bad!"
"So, those were just trick questions?"
"Yes and no. I did want to see your reactions to judge your mental state. But I also wanted to give you some advice my father taught me. 'To fight effectively, a Sayin must fight like water. Be cool and lenient, flowing with your surroundings to reserve energy. But, when storms blow, act as a part of that storm, and become an unyielding fury.' Care to test this?"
"How?"
"Stones VS Water." Cole abruptly sped into the trees. Bardock and Zucina shrugged and followed him to a river, where the mentor dove in. The two pupils glanced at each other, wondering what the heck was going on. Then, Cole splashed them both.
Sputtering, Bardock cursed aloud. "How're we supposed ta-" But he noticed a pile of rocks nearby. "You set us up!!" Together, he and Zucina started pelting Cole with rocks, Cole trying to stop them with water, and all three having a great time 'training.'
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hey! Tora here!
Alright, a new mission! The seven of us are sent to Planet Spuluunku, filled with caverns and caves. We quickly get lost, and the animals really scare Zucina. But that ain't the worst of it!
Next time on DragonballBC: Spuulunku; The Planet of Mazes
AN - Thought I'd add a little extra motif from now on. Just a comment or fact at the end of each ep so you can get further into my dangerous mind. ~_^ You know, a random thought.
Fact #1: When playing out episodes in my head, I imagine each character with a voice. For example, I think of Zucina with the voice of Lucy Lawless (Xena) and Tora as Rob Paulson.
**Cole's Training; Rocks, Rivers, and Rhetoric**
"Captain," asked Olivia, "do you know these people?"
"CAPTAIN," screamed Bardock, furious. "HE's your CATAIN!?"
Nipper sneered. "Who in their right mind would hire you for their team, Low Level Loser?"
Tora held Bardock back as best he could. Nipper turned his attention down to Olivia. "I forbid you to converse with this trash. My cook should come to her missions clean."
Bardock again tried to rage forward. He started spouting out such colorful language, it can't be repeated in a PG story. "I've never seen him this mad outside of sporting events," commented Tora.
Nipper chuckled. "Both of you are below my rank, so you can't tell me what to do. Woman, get moving!" He kicked her hard, but she managed to grab the groceries Tora had left outside the door.
"YOU'RE one to call ME trash," screamed Bardock furiously. "How DARE you strike a woman outside of training!! You animal!!!"
Nipper laughed. "You caught me off-guard at the tournament, but you won't out here! I dare you to fight me!"
Bardock struggled against Tora's arms. He was prepared to rip Nipper in half! But someone else stopped him.
A lone figure, with red and black pants, red/blur armor, and a red sweatband around his shaved head, stepped in-between them. "Picking fights again, Ex-General?"
Nipper growled. "Cole, this is none of your business!"
"Bardock just so happens to be my lieutenant. As an officer, you must respect him as any other." Cole held no position of a threat, but simple stood still. "Careful! You can get court-marshaled again!"
Nipper charged at Cole, who didn't move. As soon as Nipper was on top of him, Cole flicked his forefinger against his thumb onto Nipper's nose. The small effort sent the larger Sayin flying out of sight.
Tora and Bardock applauded and cheered. "Sugoi!!" "Awesome!!" "Encore!!" "Way ta go!!"
Cole did a mock, exaggerated bow. "Thank you! Thank you, one and all!"
"Nipper used to be a general," asked Tora. "After all his brown-nosing Rubaru, I expected Supreme Commander!"
"Yeah. But he abused his officers too much, and got demoted to Captain. In his new position, he can get away with abuse."
Bardock punched his hand. "Bakayaro! I'm gonna kill him for that!"
Cole put his hand on Bardock's shoulder. "Train a little more, then challenge him to an officer's race.* Glad to catch you both. I needed to talk to you."
"So do I," said Bardock. "Zuci-"
"I already heard. Both of you are to report to Vine Falls tonight at sundown. We're gonna have a campout so you can get acquainted with Totepo and Panbukin."
"Hooray!!!"
The evening passed pleasantly (except for the fact that Zucina and Bardock weren't speaking to each other.) From their mouths, Bardock found out all about Totepo and Panbukin. Totepo, a veteran of the war against the Tsufuruu, very rarely got involved in conversations (he'd sign), and was known as the "Big Enforcer" of the team. The giant had a power level of over 800, and really liked cheese sticks. ^_^
Panbukin liked livin' it large, bar hopping with a group of fellow Sayins almost every night he stayed on Vegetasei. Reckless and brutal, he was the last person to offer mercy, blasting, blasting, blasting, then asking questions.
The group finally turned in late that night.
===========================================================
[Commercial Break]
* - Officer's Battle - You'll find out more about that later, in a few eps. Basically a race to conquer a planet.
===========================================================
About one hour after everyone fell asleep, Bardock woke up out of habit (mid-night practices, remember). He noticed Zucina's spot was empty, so he went off in search of her.
He found her singing to herself, practicing with her new sword, which glinted in the moonlight. Bardock snorted, and stepped through the brush. "You're such a brat! The Heinz's blood ain't even cold, and here you are . . ." But she wasn't fully paying attention. If Bardock didn't know any better, he'd swear she had her head hung in shame!
Bardock gaped at her. "Zuni-chan?"
She straightened up, trying to gain a regal composure. "Look, I still feel that I should have been Cole's second . . . but . . . ." She paused. "I'm . . . I'm so- . . ."
"Apology not excepted. Hundreds of lives lost needlessly."
"When they forced that damn dress on me . . .," she snapped. Another pause. Bardock could tell she had rehearsed, but still found an apology unnatural on her lips. "I visited my parents today."
"Good. Get things straightened out?"
"No." Her eyes darkened. "I wanted to pay for my nanny, Aspa's freedom. Spent all of the money we'd received from the mission. My father said he was disappointed in me. Said I look like a bloke in this armor."
"You do," Bardock half-lied. "No woman covers up that much. You're supposed ta show some leg is ya wanna get a mate."
"I don't, though. I want to be free, not caged." She tiled her head lower. "I've come to realize . . . you've been more of a family to me then they ever had." Her eyes lifted, filled with honesty and ignominy. "Can you ever forgive me?"
"Have to! How often does 'The Psycho Bitch' apologize fer anything!?"
"Hey! I have once!" She flicked her short hair.
Bardock just chuckled and held out his hand, smiling
Zucina smiled weakly and shook his hand. The moment they touched, a strong vibration pulled in around them. Some force tried to push them closer, but they resisted, unaware of the other's feelings.
"So, are you two gonna kiss or not!? Go go go!!"
Both teens' eyes bugged out in surprise. Cole was hiding in the tree the whole time! Both started cursing, but Cole only laughed. "Gomen! Gomen! I just couldn't help myself! You two lovebirds are too much!"
"'Lovebirds!?!?' I can assure you, there is nothing even remotely romantic going on between us!"
"Whatever, Zuni-chan! Ready for your first training lesson?"
Bardock's jaw dropped. "Nani? NOW?!? So late?!?"
"Sure! You both are here, awake, adrenaline rushing . . ."
Bardock snarled. "Cole!!"
Cole laughed again. "Okay, okay. No more lovy dovy talk, on one condition."
"Name it."
"Name your first kid after me."
Cole found himself being attacked by two crazed Sayins! He ducked, dodged, and jumped with ease around their attacks. After much huffing and puffing, they stopped. "When'd you get so fast," asked Zucina.
"You shoulda seem 'im today," said Bardock. "He flicked Nipper off like a booger!"
All three laughed harder then ever. "Perfect simile," commented Cole.
"That settles it, then," announced Zucina. "If I can flick Nipper off like a boogie, I'm in for some training!"**
Cole sat on a bolder. "Physically, there ain't much more I can teach ya. Mentally - that's another story."
The two tilted their heads in confusion. "Hekei?"
"Bardock, lashing out at anyone who calls you names, especially your old nic name, is stupid! Zucina, over-confidence doesn't even describe you! Disrespecting authority, acting solely on hunches, defying all laws of sanity-"
"I get the picture! Geez!"
"My father trained me by mixing philosophy into fighting." He turned full-face to Zucina. "Zuni-chan, which is stronger, a mountain or a river?"
She took her time. "A mountain."
Cole shook his head. "Tall and proud as always. Mountains can be worn away by the river after a time. Bardock, which is more firm, a stone or a tree?"
Bardock thought hard, then turned to Zucina. "Any suggestions," he whispered.
Cole smiled. "Excellent answer, you stupid asswipe!"
Bardock's ki flared. "What the fuck!?!"
Cole face-vaulted. "And he chokes at the finish-line! A good leader asks help from his subordinates; that's good. Then, when insulted, you jumped at me; that's bad!"
"So, those were just trick questions?"
"Yes and no. I did want to see your reactions to judge your mental state. But I also wanted to give you some advice my father taught me. 'To fight effectively, a Sayin must fight like water. Be cool and lenient, flowing with your surroundings to reserve energy. But, when storms blow, act as a part of that storm, and become an unyielding fury.' Care to test this?"
"How?"
"Stones VS Water." Cole abruptly sped into the trees. Bardock and Zucina shrugged and followed him to a river, where the mentor dove in. The two pupils glanced at each other, wondering what the heck was going on. Then, Cole splashed them both.
Sputtering, Bardock cursed aloud. "How're we supposed ta-" But he noticed a pile of rocks nearby. "You set us up!!" Together, he and Zucina started pelting Cole with rocks, Cole trying to stop them with water, and all three having a great time 'training.'
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hey! Tora here!
Alright, a new mission! The seven of us are sent to Planet Spuluunku, filled with caverns and caves. We quickly get lost, and the animals really scare Zucina. But that ain't the worst of it!
Next time on DragonballBC: Spuulunku; The Planet of Mazes
AN - Thought I'd add a little extra motif from now on. Just a comment or fact at the end of each ep so you can get further into my dangerous mind. ~_^ You know, a random thought.
Fact #1: When playing out episodes in my head, I imagine each character with a voice. For example, I think of Zucina with the voice of Lucy Lawless (Xena) and Tora as Rob Paulson.