*****************Episode 45*****************
** Tora's Nightmare; Cole Accepts the Challenge **
A loud *thuk* woke Cole and his mate from a deep slumber. Cole jumped out of bed to find out where the noise came from. He opened the door and looked around. No sign of anyone. He checked the bushes nearby and his eyes fell upon a white cloth and a piece of paper, stabbed onto the door with a dagger.
His eyes narrowed, and he pulled out the dagger. Sprouta waddled out into the night air beside her husband. "What is it?"
Cole's expression remained stern as he felt the fabric between his fingers. He then looked at the dagger. "It's a challenge," he said. "From Rubaru."
.
.
"How do you know," Fasha asked.
The group was gathered in Bardock's yard, chairs set up by Olivia for them to relax. Bardock house had become the usual meeting spot since Zucina's death; he rarely left the house anymore. However, none of them could relax in the presence of Cole holding up a dagger. He had explained to them what he had found, and its circumstances.
"Know what," he asked.
"That that's from Rubaru, that its a challenge note, take your pick!"
Cole held up the cloth. "This was my father's when he fought in the war. Rubaru took it from his corpse as a memento!"
Bardock, who had been silent up until now, stared at the cloth and dagger. "So, since it was your father's cloth, and he stabbed it, its a threat against your family? Like when he caused the rest of your family to be killed before?"
"Right," confirmed Cole. "He knows I won't back down from such a major disgrace!"
Bardock examined the weapon. "The symbol . . . its of Rubaru's noble house."
"Nice guess, kid," said Panbukin. "When'd you become the junior detective?"
"He's a genius, remember," said Fasha.
"Right again, Bardock. Meaning he's putting his entire reputation on the line." Cole tied the cloth around his head. "Its mortal combat, so surviving may not even be an option."
Bardock stood up, his face white. "No! You can't go! Not now!"
Cole tightened the cloth. "I've got no choice, Bardo-kun. My family's rep is on the line too."
"So what," the younger exclaimed, rushing at his friend. "Who cares about reputation!? Everyone knows yer the best third class captain the Sayin race has ever seen!"
Fasha put a hand on Bardock's shoulder to hold him back. "Bardo-"
"Zucina jus' died a month ago! You wanna leave us without any leadership or guidance or nothin?! We can't take another loss like that!!"
Cole's eyes flared. "I think the question really is 'Can YOU take another loss?'"
Bardock stopped struggling, unable to speak.
Cole shook his head. "If I go, you'll be captain, no questions asked."
"I don't want to be if yer committin' suicide!!"
"I'm not gonna try to get my ass killed!"
"Yer kid's gonna be born soon! Doncha wanna see hi-"
Cole phased out and in behind Bardock. One hand chop to the side of the neck, and the teen was out like a light.
"Wuzzat necessary," asked Panbukin, lifting Bardock's head by his hair.
Cole sighed. He did not want to hurt his friend, but he had to. A Sayin's pride knew no bounds, and his was no different from the rest. His good heart, plagued with vengeance, ached to smell Rubaru's blood on his hands.
Tora remained silent, understanding the look in Cole's eyes. Many time a day, whenever he saw his mother and siblings, Tora wanted to kill Rubaru himself. But Cole did not plan on returning if that's what it took to destroy the evil lord. And as a result, Bardock, his crew, and Cole's unborn son had to suffer for it.
.
.
Tora shivered as he stepped up to the mansion gates. Black gargoyles leered at him atop the high fence, and the wind through the trees created a soft moan in the air.
Not bothering to knock, Tora blasted open the door. He stormed through, picking up Rubaru's ki, and entered a large room of the mansion. It was filled with books and windows, now dimmed because of the cloudy sky.
Rubaru sat talking to another Sayin. He turned in surprise and saw Tora standing in the doorway. The lord glared at him darkly, then said to his companion, "We have discussed all there is to discuss. I have yet another matter to settle before I depart."
The Sayin nodded and turned his chair. For the first time Tora got a good look at him. It was Nipper! He now sat grumpily in a wheelchair, made from dragonite and propelled automatically. The ex-captain and disgraced Sayin sneered at Tora as he passed.
"I have chosen young Nipper to be my heir," Rubaru drawled, pouring himself a drink of liquor. "If you are here to collect any kind of inheritance because of the upcoming fight, don't bother. I will not lose."
.
===============================================================
[Commercial Break]
===============================================================
.
"I came on behalf of my crew to ask you not to fight."
Rubaru chuckled. "Your crew has no idea you are here."
Tora snorted. With another Elemental of his side, Rubaru must have found out most things from a secondary source. "Please," Tora whispered, trying not to sound pathetic. "Cole has a mate . . . and a son coming soon. His . . . his whole crew . . . respects him and likes him . . . Please, cut him out of this deal!"
Rubaru chuckled again and drank down his liquor. "Such a disappointment."
"Nani?"
"You." He poured another glass and drank. "I'm glad I never laid claims to you after all. A Sayin with those petty emotions can never truly be great. You linger behind your friends' shadows, shunted to the side."
"What does that have to do with Cole," Tora asked furiously.
"Yes, always following along in shadows," the nobleman continued, ignoring his bastard son. "Never setting their own path. All Sayins are selfish and lazy in their own way. Why, even your precious friends! Cole fights with vengeance festering in his heart. Bardock trains in order to be welcomed in a society he hates. Lady Zucina fought for self fulfillment and to please her parents. And you . . ." He smiled evilly, holding up a glass to him. "Probably the same reason as she!"
"I do NOTHING for you!!"
"I doubt that. No one sent you to STP, you entered yourself. My guess is you wanted to impress me with your abilities. Humph! So pitiful!"
Tora gnashed his teeth, glaring at his father. "If you hate me so much, why don't you kill me?"
Rubaru chuckled insanely. "You? I feel nothing for you! You are not worth the smoke of my blast!"
Those words cut into Tora like knives. He was so angry and stunned he dared not move. Rubaru walked past him. Every fiber of Tora's being ached to kill the odious man, but he knew full well he couldn't. He stood still until he heard Rubaru close the door.
Tora walked out, shoulders slumped, trying not to think of the words his father had said. 'I feel nothing for you!' Even a bit of hatred would have sufficed. But nothing? Why did 'nothing' hurt more than hatred?
He closed the mansion doors behind him, hoping they would never be opened again. As he heard the heavy *klunk*, he saw a familiar figure leaning up against the window. "So sad. The opposite of love isn't really hate, but apathy."
It was Cole!
"I heard what happened," he said without introduction.
Tora gaped at him. "How long have you known?"
"The whole time," he said, kicking a pebble at his feet. "I do a full background check before I hire any crew members. I found that you had no father listed, so I did some snooping and . . ." He looked at Tora. "Didn't expect me to be a good captain?"
"I . . . I thought you swore vengeance . . ."
". . . on every last of his blood? Yeah, I did."
"Then why'd you let me on your team?"
Cole smiled and looked up at the cloudy sky. "I thought ya knew by now, I give second chances. We can't control the station we are born into. We have to deal with it, either way."
"You didn't care or nothing?"
"Oh, I cared," he said, eyebrow cocked up. "As long as you didn't do anything to none of my crew members, you're okay in my book!"
"I wouldn't have," said Tora. "Bardock became my friend even after he found out I was a -" He stopped.
Cole walked slowly up to Tora. He looked him over a moment, then took off the white cloth. "I was gonna take it with me for good luck, but . . ." He gave it to Tora. "You keep it."
"No way! I couldn't!"
"Think of it as a peace treaty. My fight is not with you, its with Rubaru." He wiped a knuckle over Tora's chin. "Keep your face clean, kid! And stay outta trouble!" Cole turned away and flew towards the spacepod launch pad.
.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sup! Cole here . . . for the last time.
I stand before my destiny; my battle with Rubaru comes to a tragic end when our powers cause the planet we are on the nearly explode. As I lay dying, I sense my mate's final breaths as she gives birth to my son. My son! Now that he is an orphan, who will take care of him?
Next time on DragonballBC: End of the Line; Bardock's Biggest Decision
See ya around, reviewers, in about 150 episodes!
.
.
Fun Fact - Do you think a silly, trivial thing such as Death in the DB universe can stop Sayins? Are you DBZ fans or not!?!?! ^_^ Zucina and Cole will be back, as Cole said, in about 150 episodes. Will you have to stay fans and read until then? YES!!! PLEASE!!!
.
.
Bardock: Do you enjoy being cruel to us, Una.
.
Una: Yes and no.
.
Cole: Will we still get the occasional cameo?
.
Una: Yeah, and I'll make short stories starring you too.
.
Zucina: I should bloody well hope so!!
** Tora's Nightmare; Cole Accepts the Challenge **
A loud *thuk* woke Cole and his mate from a deep slumber. Cole jumped out of bed to find out where the noise came from. He opened the door and looked around. No sign of anyone. He checked the bushes nearby and his eyes fell upon a white cloth and a piece of paper, stabbed onto the door with a dagger.
His eyes narrowed, and he pulled out the dagger. Sprouta waddled out into the night air beside her husband. "What is it?"
Cole's expression remained stern as he felt the fabric between his fingers. He then looked at the dagger. "It's a challenge," he said. "From Rubaru."
.
.
"How do you know," Fasha asked.
The group was gathered in Bardock's yard, chairs set up by Olivia for them to relax. Bardock house had become the usual meeting spot since Zucina's death; he rarely left the house anymore. However, none of them could relax in the presence of Cole holding up a dagger. He had explained to them what he had found, and its circumstances.
"Know what," he asked.
"That that's from Rubaru, that its a challenge note, take your pick!"
Cole held up the cloth. "This was my father's when he fought in the war. Rubaru took it from his corpse as a memento!"
Bardock, who had been silent up until now, stared at the cloth and dagger. "So, since it was your father's cloth, and he stabbed it, its a threat against your family? Like when he caused the rest of your family to be killed before?"
"Right," confirmed Cole. "He knows I won't back down from such a major disgrace!"
Bardock examined the weapon. "The symbol . . . its of Rubaru's noble house."
"Nice guess, kid," said Panbukin. "When'd you become the junior detective?"
"He's a genius, remember," said Fasha.
"Right again, Bardock. Meaning he's putting his entire reputation on the line." Cole tied the cloth around his head. "Its mortal combat, so surviving may not even be an option."
Bardock stood up, his face white. "No! You can't go! Not now!"
Cole tightened the cloth. "I've got no choice, Bardo-kun. My family's rep is on the line too."
"So what," the younger exclaimed, rushing at his friend. "Who cares about reputation!? Everyone knows yer the best third class captain the Sayin race has ever seen!"
Fasha put a hand on Bardock's shoulder to hold him back. "Bardo-"
"Zucina jus' died a month ago! You wanna leave us without any leadership or guidance or nothin?! We can't take another loss like that!!"
Cole's eyes flared. "I think the question really is 'Can YOU take another loss?'"
Bardock stopped struggling, unable to speak.
Cole shook his head. "If I go, you'll be captain, no questions asked."
"I don't want to be if yer committin' suicide!!"
"I'm not gonna try to get my ass killed!"
"Yer kid's gonna be born soon! Doncha wanna see hi-"
Cole phased out and in behind Bardock. One hand chop to the side of the neck, and the teen was out like a light.
"Wuzzat necessary," asked Panbukin, lifting Bardock's head by his hair.
Cole sighed. He did not want to hurt his friend, but he had to. A Sayin's pride knew no bounds, and his was no different from the rest. His good heart, plagued with vengeance, ached to smell Rubaru's blood on his hands.
Tora remained silent, understanding the look in Cole's eyes. Many time a day, whenever he saw his mother and siblings, Tora wanted to kill Rubaru himself. But Cole did not plan on returning if that's what it took to destroy the evil lord. And as a result, Bardock, his crew, and Cole's unborn son had to suffer for it.
.
.
Tora shivered as he stepped up to the mansion gates. Black gargoyles leered at him atop the high fence, and the wind through the trees created a soft moan in the air.
Not bothering to knock, Tora blasted open the door. He stormed through, picking up Rubaru's ki, and entered a large room of the mansion. It was filled with books and windows, now dimmed because of the cloudy sky.
Rubaru sat talking to another Sayin. He turned in surprise and saw Tora standing in the doorway. The lord glared at him darkly, then said to his companion, "We have discussed all there is to discuss. I have yet another matter to settle before I depart."
The Sayin nodded and turned his chair. For the first time Tora got a good look at him. It was Nipper! He now sat grumpily in a wheelchair, made from dragonite and propelled automatically. The ex-captain and disgraced Sayin sneered at Tora as he passed.
"I have chosen young Nipper to be my heir," Rubaru drawled, pouring himself a drink of liquor. "If you are here to collect any kind of inheritance because of the upcoming fight, don't bother. I will not lose."
.
===============================================================
[Commercial Break]
===============================================================
.
"I came on behalf of my crew to ask you not to fight."
Rubaru chuckled. "Your crew has no idea you are here."
Tora snorted. With another Elemental of his side, Rubaru must have found out most things from a secondary source. "Please," Tora whispered, trying not to sound pathetic. "Cole has a mate . . . and a son coming soon. His . . . his whole crew . . . respects him and likes him . . . Please, cut him out of this deal!"
Rubaru chuckled again and drank down his liquor. "Such a disappointment."
"Nani?"
"You." He poured another glass and drank. "I'm glad I never laid claims to you after all. A Sayin with those petty emotions can never truly be great. You linger behind your friends' shadows, shunted to the side."
"What does that have to do with Cole," Tora asked furiously.
"Yes, always following along in shadows," the nobleman continued, ignoring his bastard son. "Never setting their own path. All Sayins are selfish and lazy in their own way. Why, even your precious friends! Cole fights with vengeance festering in his heart. Bardock trains in order to be welcomed in a society he hates. Lady Zucina fought for self fulfillment and to please her parents. And you . . ." He smiled evilly, holding up a glass to him. "Probably the same reason as she!"
"I do NOTHING for you!!"
"I doubt that. No one sent you to STP, you entered yourself. My guess is you wanted to impress me with your abilities. Humph! So pitiful!"
Tora gnashed his teeth, glaring at his father. "If you hate me so much, why don't you kill me?"
Rubaru chuckled insanely. "You? I feel nothing for you! You are not worth the smoke of my blast!"
Those words cut into Tora like knives. He was so angry and stunned he dared not move. Rubaru walked past him. Every fiber of Tora's being ached to kill the odious man, but he knew full well he couldn't. He stood still until he heard Rubaru close the door.
Tora walked out, shoulders slumped, trying not to think of the words his father had said. 'I feel nothing for you!' Even a bit of hatred would have sufficed. But nothing? Why did 'nothing' hurt more than hatred?
He closed the mansion doors behind him, hoping they would never be opened again. As he heard the heavy *klunk*, he saw a familiar figure leaning up against the window. "So sad. The opposite of love isn't really hate, but apathy."
It was Cole!
"I heard what happened," he said without introduction.
Tora gaped at him. "How long have you known?"
"The whole time," he said, kicking a pebble at his feet. "I do a full background check before I hire any crew members. I found that you had no father listed, so I did some snooping and . . ." He looked at Tora. "Didn't expect me to be a good captain?"
"I . . . I thought you swore vengeance . . ."
". . . on every last of his blood? Yeah, I did."
"Then why'd you let me on your team?"
Cole smiled and looked up at the cloudy sky. "I thought ya knew by now, I give second chances. We can't control the station we are born into. We have to deal with it, either way."
"You didn't care or nothing?"
"Oh, I cared," he said, eyebrow cocked up. "As long as you didn't do anything to none of my crew members, you're okay in my book!"
"I wouldn't have," said Tora. "Bardock became my friend even after he found out I was a -" He stopped.
Cole walked slowly up to Tora. He looked him over a moment, then took off the white cloth. "I was gonna take it with me for good luck, but . . ." He gave it to Tora. "You keep it."
"No way! I couldn't!"
"Think of it as a peace treaty. My fight is not with you, its with Rubaru." He wiped a knuckle over Tora's chin. "Keep your face clean, kid! And stay outta trouble!" Cole turned away and flew towards the spacepod launch pad.
.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sup! Cole here . . . for the last time.
I stand before my destiny; my battle with Rubaru comes to a tragic end when our powers cause the planet we are on the nearly explode. As I lay dying, I sense my mate's final breaths as she gives birth to my son. My son! Now that he is an orphan, who will take care of him?
Next time on DragonballBC: End of the Line; Bardock's Biggest Decision
See ya around, reviewers, in about 150 episodes!
.
.
Fun Fact - Do you think a silly, trivial thing such as Death in the DB universe can stop Sayins? Are you DBZ fans or not!?!?! ^_^ Zucina and Cole will be back, as Cole said, in about 150 episodes. Will you have to stay fans and read until then? YES!!! PLEASE!!!
.
.
Bardock: Do you enjoy being cruel to us, Una.
.
Una: Yes and no.
.
Cole: Will we still get the occasional cameo?
.
Una: Yeah, and I'll make short stories starring you too.
.
Zucina: I should bloody well hope so!!