[10] Watchtower

[Bardock]

As time slowed to a standstill, the figure of the pseudo-Bardock held fast. All the saiyan was able to do was blink, and in that moment, the robed one before him turned into the figure of an old man. The real Bardock gasped; a sound that was drawn out. He twisted his body in an attempt to change course, spinning away to the side like a misdirected corkscrew. He landed hard on his shoulder, time speeding up once more. The saiyan grunted as he jammed his arm into its socket. The force of motion was not yet spent, and he bounced a few more times before coming to a sprawled stillness.

?Ugh?? he groaned, stumbling to his feet.

?Have you learned yet, Bardock?? the old man asked in a raspy voice. ?What is it you fear??

The proud saiyan drew himself up to his full height, face full of contempt, back to the tower?s watchman. ?I fear nothing.?

?That is not correct,? amended the other, a faint hint of warning in his voice.

A rush of feeling seized him, and his breathing started to quicken. His hands trembled as Bardock turned to face his adversary.

?I fear?my emotions.?

A smile crept upon the watchman?s face as the words echoed in the emptiness, their power shattering the spell. It was over.

In a single instant, Bardock?s eyes snapped open. He was lying by the wall where Kao had thrust him into, figure slumped on the ground. It was all just a dream, an invasion of mind. The fighter stood with ease, his body feeling oddly rested, though his brain was as anxious as ever. Others were getting up as well, except one did not. A man with green locks and pale blue skin still slumbered. Bardock knew better. He was dead. He could tell by the look that was frozen on the man?s face. He had been unable to overcome his fears. That?s what had happened to them all?facing their fears on the landscapes of their minds. It was sick beyond words. Bardock was displeased that someone had the audacity to trespass on the corridors of his consciousness. Silence filled the room, until the sound of boot scraping on stone could be heard. The great hall doors pushed open, and an angel walked through them. His massive wings were spread, a gesture that commanded attention to his great presence.

?I suppose I have some explaining to do,? the angel spoke.

?I?ll say,? Raditzu interjected seriously, his tone as hard as stone.

The angel nodded, continuing. ?The watchman, you could say, is a god.? He paused again, chortling at the looks this statement brought. ?He?s not a kai; he holds no real power or authority. He, however, is beyond human, saiyan, android, or anybody here. He is all powerful. He is the only one of his race, and will always be.?

?I don?t see what this has to do with the matter at hand,? the rough voice of Prince Vegeta argued pointedly.

?The watchman was the one who sent you to into your dream states. All of you faced your biggest fears. As you can see, some faced them better than others,? he answered as he cast his eyes upon Cell whose form had resumed the one Bardock remembered him for, and the green-haired man still lying on the floor. ?I was the one that scared Kao away.?

Bardock resisted the tempting impulse to start throwing his weight around, but seeing as how he had little to no power to do so, he declined.

?What was the plan he was talking about?? asked a familiar voice.

Android Seventeen.

Bardock made a mental note of his presence, quickly deciding to stay passive at the moment. There was more than enough time to settle an old score.

?Friend or Foe is ruined. The project is done. Brim is gone.?

Once more, the angelic warrior was interrupted by gasps. The remaining participants of the game could not swallow the notion that the great and terrible Brim had taken permanent leave. The speaker resumed hold of the audience. ?However, more pressing matters than Kao are at hand. Satan?s minions roam the asteroid. They fear to come here, knowing they will lose.?

?So why don?t we just find them, and end it?? Bra inserted.

?I don?t want to put the angels at any unnecessary risk. You must find them.?

Coward.

?You can split up if you wish, or all go in a group. Regardless, Kao is the least of our worries, I assure you. Find the demons.?

The bit about Kao almost seemed directed at Bardock. Like he would really listen to someone who didn?t have the balls to venture out and do his own dirty work. The angel walked away, leaving his will out in the open. It was clear that it was not a request, but a demand. The ice princess Akira and her elegant sister Katel descended the staircase to rejoin the group. Upon seeing her, the saiyan decided that now was as good a time as ever to speak with the elemental once more. He nodded to Akira, at the very least acknowledging her presence before turning to the ivy mistress.

?I see you got what you came for,? he began.

?And I see you haven?t,? she answered, an obvious observation.

?I?ll get the little bastard sooner or later,? Bardock promised with a hard smile. ?Too bad about your friends.?

?Yes, it is. They were dear comrades.?

?Are you going to stay here??

?Perhaps, for the moment,? she answered thoughtfully. Brim was gone, and thus she would not get opportunity for revenge, nor would Akira.

He was running out of small talk.

?I?m going after Kao,? Bar said finally.

?I expected you would,? Katel smiled knowingly. This made him grin.

?Don?t get into any trouble while I?m gone,? he joked, the first one not of a caustic brand in quite some time. His smile faded, replaced by something else, a look of acceptance. He leaned forward, a gesture which made her flinch in uncertainty. Bardock put his lips against her ear and whispered, ?I know you never needed me, but it was nice being around.?

He withdrew, holding her gaze for a moment before finally turning around to leave. He glanced around, Raditzu and Android Eighteen noticeably absent. Tch. He didn?t want to be a third wheel anyway. Bardock raced out of the watchtower, the scent of Katel?s perfume still lingering in his nostrils. He had been able to feel her warmth. Summoning the energy of crimson around his body, the saiyan rocketed into the sky, a blazing beacon of light against the darkness that had settled across the atmosphere. The closest thing to him was the ruins of the production building, and that was where he would start. Maybe some of the equipment was still intact, and he could use it for his own benefit. The zombie army had completely withdrawn from the area, and the black-haired brawler doubted they would venture so close to the watchtower again. It was not long before he arrived, his boots landing amongst the rubble. An Oozaru was ridiculously efficient. Two, well, that was a story on a completely different level. The whole place was in shambles.

?Well shit,? Bardock remarked, looking the place over. Not a soul resided in this desolate destruction.

He started to sort through the ruins, looking for a passageway to a subterranean floor.


OOC: Gone to the FoF Production Ruins. One. Just getting started.