[7] Bra - Military Base

[Bra]

The surface of the insignificant asteroid was, for at least a moment, calm. A gentle breeze caressed the tall grass which jutted from the lush, beryl rolling hills. No zombies, no battles, no Brim. But like most good things, it couldn?t possibly last.

Golden flames split the cerulean skies in half, as a girl raced toward the only other landmark she remembered in her current state. Tears constantly obscured her vision, and she could feel her throat getting raw from the shrieking she had done. But she wouldn?t stop. Couldn?t. The fires of rage burned just as brightly within her as her aura did around her. Bra?s two emerald eyes smoldered, locked in a piercing glare at the horizon, her ki sense reaching out for something -anything- to lash out at.

?Are you afraid of me!?? the golden haired princess screamed, thrusting her arms downward and releasing a torrential blast of energy which carved through the serene landscape below. A horrific explosion soon ensued, belching smoke and flame into the air. Torn soil rained back down upon the earth while another discharge of ki rumbled throughout the region. One after the other, effulgent blasts of searing energy rent the surface asunder. Fires began to spread wildly in all directions, consuming the fragile blades of grass, merely using them for fuel in order to expand out of control.

The hybrid youth darted forward again, occasionally letting fly a potent column of raw ki which would obliterate the once vibrant ecosystem without fail. A gargantuan final flash leapt from Bra?s hands, careening into the base of a rocky plateau. The deafening explosion swelled into a brilliant dome of devastation, vaporizing the small rock formation and replacing it with a gaping crater, a great scar upon the surface of the forgotten rock.

The deranged princess threw her head back and balled her hands into fists, releasing another shrill cry, which quickly degraded into unconsolable sobbing. Her frustration peaked once more, and she rocketed through the air, escaping the armageddon she had created. Pillars of smoke curled up toward the heavens in her wake.

The sprawling complex came to view before her. Just seeing it caused a flood of memories to gush forth, all of them bad ones. The agonizing distortion in her mind sounded off again, but this time it had been quiet enough to afford the girl the ability to ignore it. But she couldn?t ignore that voice.

You know those fools died ?cause they?re weak. Both of ?em. Just. Like. You.

Bra propelled a series of blasts forward, which shredded the tarmac around the base into little more than a wasteland of burning asphalt and smashed concrete. Pieces of iron rebar jutted from the concrete slabs, twisted and melting.

Quit ignoring the obvious. It?s all right there in front of you. Burter was an idiot, not a hero. And we both know that your brother was just a fluke.

The super saiyan princess snapped into a dive, launching through the open entrance and into a wall within the base. Her immense speed robbed her of the chance to avoid the incoming obstacle, and instead, the golden haired youth crashed directly through it, skidding to a stop on her heels.

Lockers, benches and footlockers were strewn about all over the large room. Bra was clearly within the base?s armory, not that she cared. It was merely another thing of Brim?s to destroy until finally she would flush him out. Her hands lit up under the flare of ki which collected in her palms. The girl?s gloved hands stretched outward, relentlessly channeling energy into the angrily crackling sphere which pulsated only millimeters out of her grasp. Streaks of light flickered and danced all about her, while the lighting system began to malfunction under the intense electromagnetic forces thrown carelessly by the reckless girl?s attack.

What do you plan to accomplish? Blowing up some base that you already ripped apart from the inside out? And then what? ?Find Brim?, yeah, right. Just like you saved Burter and defended your brother, right?

?That... wasn?t... my... fault.? Bra was beyond rationalization. Had her own mind turned against her?

Like hell it wasn?t. You fucked up, just like Raditzu said! You fucked up and Burter died. How many times did that sorry loser sacrifice himself for you? What a waste of effort!! Brim killed him, and he?s gonna kill you.

?Burter did all that he could!! Don?t you dare talk about him like that!!?

Well then maybe he deserved it. Losing to a chump like Brim? Please. I bet he died crying like you?re always doing. Waaaaah, waaaaah, waaaah!!

The tormented child growled, focusing on the energy in her hands. It was wildly unstable, throwing light and flares of mighty energy into all directions, but the princess pressed on, forcing even more ki into the intensely charged orb.

I wonder who?s next, hm? Maybe you? Could be you. You could hardly be considered a cut above any of the other morons running around on this rock. Brim?ll bring you to your knees, make you beg for your life, and then take it away, right? Or better yet, maybe he?ll do that to dad!

?Shut up!!? Bra roared, unleashing the absurdly concentrated energy. It deformed, becoming an extending lance of white hot energy which bit through any materials which stood in it?s way, tearing up the floor beneath it as it roared ahead. The outside wall of the base succumbed to the same fate as everything else had; it disintegrated under the attack, giving way to the energy that rumbled onward, tearing a deep, wide runnel in the ground below. The attack raced onward, colliding with a mountain in the distance. The turbulent peal of sound energy assaulted the girl?s ears despite the distance. A bright, white flash shone from the mountain, accompanied with an immense fireball.

Well, lah-dee-dah! You blew up a hill. Feeling better now? Wait... nope! Trunks and Burter are still dead!

Finally her sadness overcame her. No matter how fierce her rage was, or how fierce she wanted it to be, she simply couldn?t run from the sorrow anymore. It swept over her along with the acute feeling of nausea. The girl found herself falling to her knees, staring out at the carnage she had caused. All this hatred, this destruction, did nothing to save her from the despair. Her own thoughts seemed to mock her, but had suddenly fallen silent.

?B-Burter! Trunks! I?m... I coulda done so much more for you guys! I?m so... so sorry! I really am! I made a promise to Uub... I?ll fight for you guys, I promise! No more running, no more hiding! I?m gonna kill Brim myself.? the voice of the young halfling grew soft, though still heavy with the pain that simply refused to go away. Her dazzling aureate locks became cyan once more, her spiked hair reverting to it?s soft, silky nature. The tears continued to stream down her soft, dirt-smeared cheeks as she sat on her knees, in an instant feeling the exhaustion of all the energy she had expended, coupled with the lack of sleep all at once. Labored breaths escaped her mouth, and sweat began to fall from her forehead.

A hand softly fell on her shoulder, startling the preoccupied child. Her head snapped to the side with a start, and Bra?s sparkling blue eyes fell upon Vegeta, who gave her a reassuring nod. There were no words, no speeches. This was who he was. That nod conveyed all that needed to be said, and the princess returned it, setting her jaw and wiping the tears from her face. She climbed to her feet, her face undeniably upset.

The cyan haired girl didn?t apologize. She didn?t feel remorse for the mayhem she?d caused. Bra sniffled, choking back another wave of tears. She would be strong. She made a promise. The girl fumbled with her bracelet again, re-reading the inscription on it. She sighed, mouthing the words she read. Always With You.

Zarbon stepped into the base, catching sight of the father-daughter duo and making his way toward them. The half-blood studied him for a moment, but decided she could use all the help she could get at this point.

?Good choice. If I were Brim, I would probably hide out in a base like this.? he observed, taking in the damage and debris all around him. Bra offered him a weak smile in response, avoiding the need to speak, knowing that it would only be gibberish choked with the all-consuming sadness which hung heavy in her heart.

The teal warrior spun around, hearing the sound of footsteps coming from the entrance. He and Vegeta took a few steps forward, until the cause of the noise appeared. Bra?s summoned shade strode past the two warriors, taking it?s post at the girl?s side.

?He?s... so faithful...? the heiress wistfully stated, her voice inaudible to the others. One of her gloved hands came to rest upon the familiar?s head, and suddenly she wasn?t unnerved by it?s appearance anymore.

?We should head into the base. If he?s here, he?ll have hidden himself deeper inside. He has to know we?re looking for him.? her father declared. Little did Bra know that he felt the same pain as she. His undeniable pride hid it from her, but somehow she knew. She and her father would let their fists speak for them.

?There?s zombies.? the girl stammered, ?Zombies in here. Be careful.?