Area D: Day One

[Bardock]

Bardock listened intently to the woman announcer. Any information she spoke was paramount to his desired duration. His interest was particularly piqued by the perks: the fact that judges would reward spectacular performances. When the speech was over, the ship had landed, and every participant scrambled for the exit. You could almost hear the blood rushing excitedly through every vein, every artery. To many, the prospect of death was apprehensive; to the fighters, it was an ecstasy that could be fulfilled no other way. How strange that everyone was voluntary, willingly signing their own warrants. Bardock was no exception. It was the adrenaline that kept him feeling alive. Even in the spiritual world he found himself in so shortly ago produced this kind of drug effect in a fight.

And suddenly he was called back to reality when the pushing and shoving came. The Saiya-jin rushed out with the best of them, knowing full well that he was never coming back. The starting gate provided him a fork in the road: he could traverse the path to Area C or Area D. He quickly chose the latter and made haste to the nearest bunker. That sickly warmth emanating from the metallic death around his neck was disrupting his concentration. If he was going to die, he would do it properly...being beaten senseless or blasted into the next world.

Already warriors of mentionable caliber were going at it, and this was one of the starting vicinities. There were deep, pointed footsteps embedded within the path he ran. Someone had already trekked this road. Virtually blind and limited to a poor innate sense of Ki detection, Bardock could ill afford to watch his feet. His eyes quickly darted back and forth, keen perception waiting for imminent attack. A feeling such as this was similar to that of a mouse that found itself in hostile territory. The brawler was almost sick at the comparison. He was a warrior, damnit! There was no room for fear. Fear would only get you killed quicker and easier.

A large wall loomed up on the horizon. The bunker! Bardock slowed his pace and eased his breathing. However this younger body had been granted to him, he was grateful. An old man's body would have been much more feeble no matter how healthy it was. Locating an entrance, the monkey man entered a small door and heard a tiny hum as the collar's mechanical reactant fell into dormancy. The collar was deactivated--for now. The facility was well equipped: beds, cabinets, footlockers, and a corner designated for medical treatment. Bardock strolled over to a supply closet to retrieve his single serve: a scouter equipped with a Ki Monitor and Q-Wave Communicator, a Senzu bean, and a Stasis Field grenade. He fitted the scouter on his left ear, secured the grenade at his belt, and slipped the bean into a secret pocket underneath his armor. Bardock was ready for battle.

Bardock exited the bunker cautiously. Any man or woman looking to pick a fight could be on their way at any moment. Focusing his eyes on the scouter screen, the Saiyan activated its primary function: seek and destroy. A few dots with a weak pulse scattered the screen. None of those provided much of a challenge. However, there were two strong powerlevels in the area, much too strong for him to contend with.

Guess I'll just have to pick a few fights I can win first. No sense in going home any sooner than I have to, he mentally shrugged.