House of Vegeta

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House of Vegeta: The Truth about Bardock pt.5


_He hated it. The endless squalor, the hopeless living conditions. Babies screaming at all hours of the night, filthy streets and walkways. There were numerous dark alleys fools were often found dead in. Families stacked in tight apartments and flats, block after block. Prostitutes lurked everywhere, willing to work for almost nothing.

Bardock was of a modest clan on his father's side, the Cooii. But even among the lowest classes there existed a pecking order. Unlike the majority of his kin, Bardock most resembled his mother's side, the Fabreani tribe. The Fabreani were one of the more regarded clans of the lower classes. Legend had it that one of the original super saiyans was Fabreani. It was never proven, however. Generations passed without a single super saiyan, and soon belief in the legend was lost. Not that Bardock was a believer in what he called 'tall tales and myths.'"

His father was a merchant who traded in arms supplies. Lubb often was away from home, making deals so that his family could survive. Bardock had an older sister he never knew. She was killed in an off planet purge before he was born. The one thing he always regretted was not knowing her, although he saw plenty of pictures. Etrie was rather stout in body, like all the Cooii clan, but had their mother's refined face.

Bardock himself was a survivor, with a sharp intelligence that belied his upbringing. His conformation and coloring set him apart from his contemporaries, and he was often a target of jealousy. Even his father called him 'too pretty' and often joked he was a bastard son from some elite. Virtually every third class had lanky tails with kinks, either hidden under the fur or visible through 'breaks'. It was symptomatic of inferior genetic pools that characterized the third class. The elite often called the poor 'worm tails.'

Another characteristic was their nondescript coloring of hair and tail fur. The lower classes ranged from dusty blackish brown to a muddy greenish brown. Bardock's mother Ubera had reasonably good coloring for a third class, a medium dark brown. Her build was somewhat lean but not sparse, as she was quite athletic. Lubb on the other hand was a typical Cooii, thick, barrel chested, and stocky. His rakish hair and tail were more of a medium grayish brown. Bardock always remembered how wide his hands and feet were.

Bardock stood out physically as well. His build was unlike any of the third class saiyans, as was his coloring. Ubera often crowed with pride to her friends about his rich blue-black hair and tail. Ghetto trash rumors had Bardock an 'ovee', that is an illegimate royal. Eventually succumbing to pride, Lubb demanded Bardock be genetically tested. Ubera was furious, nearly wanting a divorce. She argued that her clan had some royal strain over the centuries, through various dalliances. Lubb counter argued that the 'royal strain' better not include his wife.

As a youth and through his teen years Bardock had a charisma that made others want to follow. He was a neighborhood 'gang leader' that often broke into apartments for valuable items to sell. Extortion was a side hobby well suited for saiyan bloodlust. His gang, the Vypei, became quite notorious for strongarm and intimidation tactics. Rival gangs grew weary of being pushed from their turf. They had a plan...

"Ya, Bardock, we got a hit tonight?" Aitra asked, her choppy spikes waving in the breeze.

Bardock grinned at her, admiring her curves. She was a hot number, always ready for anything.

"Yeah, we're gonna do this right...everybody got the hardware?"

The others nodded. Cobo, Serdi, Dom, and Putero pulled out their blasters.

Bardock nodded, peeping around the dark alleyway. "Watch out. I got word that Devu's people are gonna go for the same hit...if we get the old man the money will be really good!"

Dom adjusted his shoulder harness, pushing his thick mane aside. "So it's a clean run, then. Zenon's definitely gonna pay top dollar for this!"

Bardock motioned them to the storefront. "Quit talking...spread out and watch for anything suspicious."

It was nearly over before it began. The "Old Man" was a powerful Dujuni with his own army. Bardock barely got past the streetlight when blasts richoched all around him. Cursing, he rolled to the ground and fired.

"Stupid Punks. You're dead, inbreds!!" a heavy voice bellowed over the firefight. A bloodcurdling scream erupted from the smoky alley. Bardock bolted for cover behind some crates.

"BASTARDS" more shots, more smoke. Bardock squinted, trying to determine who was firing at who. His eyes widened in horror. Aitra and Cobo were lying in pools of blood, portions of their bodies sliced to ribbons by shard cannons.

"No" he choked, feeling a rage burn. He lowered his blaster behind the shield of crates.

That same voice again. "Give it up, fools. I know about the hit! Come out now and I may let you live!!"

Bardock considered his options, all of them suicidal. Before he could move, a shout and cry stopped his motion. Putero, Serdi and Dom were making an insane rush at their attackers.

"Take this, you fuggers!!" the young saiyans fired their weapons in a wild pattern, trying to make it out of the alley. Bardock looked up and saw their predicament. Saiyans in purple tank armor rose from their vantage points across the rooftops.

Bardock leaped into sight. "GET DOWN, YOU ASSHOLES-"

They never had a chance. Cannon beams cut them down before they could take another step. His friends were dead before they hit the ground.

Bardock slumped to his knees, shock ripping him to the core. Gone. All gone...

A sick laugh caught his attention. A massively fat saiyan waddled his way, wearing a dark suit and smoking a tewi roll. He was flanked by more soldiers in tank gear.

"My, my...what have we here, hmm?

The soldiers trained their cannon guns on Bardock. The heavy saiyan frowned a moment, looking him over closely.

"Eh? What are you doing mingling with the trash?"

Bardock found his voice. "I am trash!!" he spat.

Thick lips twiched under a handlebar moustache. "Fool. Do you want to live? What's your name?"

"Gerbun" he lied.

A thick hand laden with rings grabbed his hair. "Liar. You're Bardock, from the lower west side district. I know you were sent for the hit."

"I don't know what you're talking about" he yelped as his head was yanked.

The ugly mouth twisted in a cruel smile. "I know all about you, boy. What you do, where you live...I even had a chat with your parents..."

Dark eyes blazed wide. "If you've done anything-"

Another chuckle. "There's nothing to be done anymore."

"What's that mean?!" Bardock jumped to his feet. "Who the hell are you?!"

"Ah, your employer didn't brief you, eh? My name is Klendoon. Perhaps you've heard of me?"

Klendoon smiled as the young saiyan paled.

"You...were the hit?"

A loud laugh this time. "Hai, my rival didn't tell you...no doubt you'd back out otherwise."

Bardock gritted his teeth. "What are you going to do with me?"

Piglike eyes glittered unpleasantly. "That depends, boy...you definitely have potential" he walked around Bardock slowly, stroking his tail.

"Don't touch me!! Bardock spun, hissing. The soldiers laughed.

A thick hand brushed his cheek. "You're quite lovely, you know...such coloring. I'll take you under my wing" he snickered, eyeing Bardock up and down. "Hn, you still have some filling out to do, but I'm a patient man-"

Bardock knocked the hand away with a stream of curses. Cannon rifles levelled at him once more.

"Nasty brat...but I feel generous today. Your parents are here to see you."

Bardock froze, his heart cold with premonition. "You...what did you do!!"

A casual gesture. "Why nothing at all...while you were planning this hit, I merely took the liberty of having some associates visit your home..."

Bardock looked around, his eyes wild. He felt for their ki...

"There's no need to worry. I brought them in a car just around the corner-" he was talking to empty air. Bardock took off running.

****

He'd never been so afraid in his life. Slowly he approached the small vehicle, smelling blood and death...

Klendoon came up behind him with his soldiers. "See? I didn't lie...they're here to see you!" he laughed insanely.

Bardock didn't move. His body refused to respond when he got within five feet of the car. Ubera and Lubb were barely recognizable, their faces razed. Blood was everywhere, obscuring what was left of their features. Sightless eyes looked at nothing.

Klendoon chuckled. "A pity, boy, but you decided to play with the big boys-"

Bardock felt nothing. The world dissolved and went white, black, then finally red.

"A shame, really. Not that it was easy-"

Fire burned his bones, burst his skin. Nothing was real except hate. Fists clenched.

"They died like true saiyans...I lost five of my best attack force-"

Revenge and madness rolled his eyes as Bardock snarled, turning slowly around...

One of the soldiers backed away. "What the hell?! Boss, he's changing!!"

Klendoon stood back in fear. "I can see that, fool! Boy, what means this?!"

Thick dark spikes stood on end, crackling with power, turning golden. The air sizzled with power in a nimbus of golden light. Black eyes turned aqua...

"This is impossible!!" Klendoon yammered, stumbling back. "K-kill him!!" he screeched.

The soldiers opened fire. Cannon beams struck Bardock point blank but had no effect. Cold, ruthless blue eyes narrowed as he raised his hand...

"F-frig" one soldier turned and ran. "He ain't mortal!!"

Panicked, the other soldiers fired away, to no avail. Bardock casually blasted the nearest one to nothingness. Fingers spread wide at the mob boss.

"Prepare to die, Klendoon. Hell awaits."

Klendoon was a powerful man, but this was beyond anything in his experience. "By the gods, he's a super saiyan!!"

That declaration was too much for his would-be bodyguards. They threw down their weapons and fled in terror. Not that it mattered. Seconds later they joined their comrade in oblivion.

Eyes bulging in terror, Klendoon fell to his knees. "Spare me...I didn't know! I wouldn't have touched them, I swear!!"

Bardock looked down at him and smiled gently. "I understand" he said without emotion.

The fat man was blubbering now. "I...I knew you'd believe me, ju...just let me go-"

Bardock placed a hand in his hair. "Certainly" and promptly exploded the thick head with a ki blast. The gross body plopped over with a burning neck stump.

The transformed saiyan looked around at the carnage. Parents, friends, and enemies alike lay lifeless everywhere. With a casual gesture he burned away all evidence of bodies in a sweep of cleansing flame.

Strength left him suddenly as he shuddered, the enormity of the loss taking hold. Golden spikes turned raven once more as Bardock collapsed to his knees.

"I...have...avenged...you, mother, father."

Fists slammed the cold earth as he heard the faint sounds of enforcement sirens. He had to get away from memories and death. And a new discovery. Hot tears splashed his face as he took to the skies.

_The military...my only way out of this hell hole..._


THE END