12-20-2006, 07:54 PM
The bodies were innumerable. Death and anguish filled the land that day, that cool morning on the battlefield of Hyperton Fortress. The last bit of smoke filtered into the sky, dissipating into the nothingness that was shared amongst the soldiers that had been closest to the ignited bomb. What had he done? ?Commander!? gave the voice, his word forceful and abrupt. Broli snapped from his daze, looking down at the alien-like fighter. ?I said that my men are finishing off the last of the Outcast troops in the area. The newly appointed Commander Cell Jr. has fled with a large amount of their survivors.? Garlic Jr. appeared impatient at best, realizing that his words were falling upon deaf ears. Shrugging in frustration, he returned to his camp, muttering to himself the rudeness of the Saiya-Jin officer.
The Dante camp lay nearby, King Vejita I sitting on a stool as a medic wrapped his forearm. Injured soldiers wandered aimlessly. Cell Jr. had attacked the Non-Combat camp with no hesistation, butchering his medics, messengers, scouts, and all. ?They weren?t even capable fighters,? Vejita muttered, spitting his crimson fluid to the ground as he winced in pain while being treated. His eyes looked on to the battlefield, surveying the damage. There Broli stood, amongst a spread of corpses, looking to a rain-cloud filled sky. As if losing his balance, Broli fell on his butt, burying his hands in his face. ?Someone get the Commander some help,? Vejita whispered. It was all he could say, understanding himself exactly what his counterpart was feeling.
General Joy approached Broli with two medics. A clipboard was tucked under one arm, no doubt a full report of the battle that had occurred. ?Sir!? she began. With the absence of any reply from her Commander, she nodded to the medics who immediately dropped to their knees and began treating the Saiya-Jin. ?I?ll be fine,? he muttered, the medics continuing their work on him. ?I said I?ll be fine!? He held up his hands as if establishing a boundary around himself. The medics looked to General Joy questionably, the woman nodding to them. Each of them sighing separately, the medics stood and returned to the camp, leaving Joy and Broli alone. ?You need to be treated,? whispered the human woman, glancing upon the shard of metal etched into the Saiya-Jin?s side. It had broken through his armor, now stained red with blood. Numerous other wounds lay over the commander?s physique, though he ignored them to the greatest extent as he buried his face once more.
?Sir,? Joy began, bringing the clipboard to her attention. ?I have a full report here, and if you could just read over it and??
?Read it to me,? came the short reply. Joy hesitated for a moment, shaking her head as she looked down on the paper.
?Team Outland and Unit Undertain engaged Outcast in Hyperton Fortress on the 21st day. Commander Broli led the charge. Artillery shelled the eastern wall as?? she was interrupted once again by the waning voice of her commander.
?I know? I was there. How many dead??
?Well,? the General began. ?We are still pulling bodies from the rubble. It won?t be for quite some time until we?re sure that??
?How many dead, Joy?? The Commander looked up to his General, his eyes sparkling with anguish.
?So far the count is 802. We estimate, based on those who reported to roll call, that the final number will be at least a thousand dead, and more or less everyone else wounded.? A thousand dead. A thousand dead. ?Sir,? Joy began again, taking a step forward in confidence. ?Captains Pigero and King Cold, and Lieutenants Groll, Akane Kimidori, and Reijin have all been killed in action. Captain Gohan and Commander Seventeen are both in critical condition. We?re doing all we can to stabilize Gohan, but it is up to you as to whether you want to treat the Outcast Commander or not. We,? she dithered, unsure as to if she should tell her superior the remaining news. ?We found Lieutenant Minoshia?s tags in his belongings. I think this confirms our fears.?
The Saiya-Jin nodded, as if ignoring the last part. ?Treat him. Keep him alive, but only by a bare minimum. I don?t want him getting anywhere near his strength. If that means only treating a few of his wounds, then so be it. As for the rubble, I want any many capable of digging to find what survivors we can.? Broli was amazed at himself, his mind hearing his words as if he was simply saying what was needed to be said rather than exactly what he was feeling.
?Is there anything else, sir?? The General asked, placing the clipboard back underneath her arm. When no reply came, she turned to go back to the camp. However, it was a solemn sentence from Burori?s lips that halted her steps.
?Did I make the wrong choice?? The Commander asked. Joy looked at him with a face of perplexion. ?Did I? do the wrong thing, attacking Hyperton?? Joy shook her head as a tear rolled down the Saiya-Jin?s cheek. ?Then why are all my men dead? Why are my most trusted friends lying in that rubble?? He had never suffered casualties like this before. Never had he been responsible for the lives of others preceeding this event. Every conflict from day one had involved only the smallest of soldiers killed, causing Burori to believe that Dante was untouchable. He had absorbed the ideal of the invulnerability of his force, pushing thoughts of glory and honor to the forefront at the sacrifice of safety. He had told his men that defeating Outcast at Hyperton would relinquish the greatest glory, even if they should fall. Yet what names would be remembered? What glory had arrived? No one could hinder this harsh realization, not even the encouraging words of Joy that the unfocused warrior could not hear as he fell into a trance of epiphanies and solitude.
This was no real war. It was a game, a game that they were all playing. Yet Broli had taken it to a new level, pushing his men to fight for a glory that would never come regardless of any victory they achieved. Realizing that Broli was not hearing her words, Joy shook her head, beginning to take her leave. She stopped for a moment, speaking over her shoulder. ?Commander? I?m sorry.? With that, she left the Commander to his thoughts of sorrow.
For nearly an hour, he sat there, contemplating step by step the battle that had occurred. Perhaps he should have pushed through the center of the fortress rather than its perimeter. Or, had the set-up itself been where the flaws existed? His thoughts were scattered as the rain in the clouds above began to fall. It fell against his hot skin, the crusted blood running off into the grass on which he sat. The last of the fires in Hyperton were extinguished, leaving three walls as the only real significant characteristic of its existence. The village and checkpoint both were gone, obliterated in the bomb that had left the sweltering pile of debris in its wake. Summoning what little strength he had, the Saiya-Jin Commander rose to his feet.
Grandpa Gohan lay in a tent of his own, medics operating around him in an attempt to stabilize his condition. Broli stood in the doorway, looking on as the unconscious human struggled on the operating table. ?Pigero? No? Hero?? The old man moaned as the medics continued to work, one looking up and seeing the Saiya-Jin. ?Ah, Commander. I wouldn?t worry. I think he?s going to make it.?
Broli never broke his gaze on the old man as the doctor spoke to him. ?Tell him something for me?? he asked, beginning to take his leave from the tent. ?When he wakes? Tell him that,? He faltered for a moment. ?? Tell him that? That I?ll understand if he wants to leave Conquest after this.? As Broli took his leave, the doctor couldn?t help but ask, ?After what?? clueless as to what the Captain had been through.
In another tent, the Outcast Commander Seventeen lay on a metallic table. An IV Drip stood near the table, filled with a mixture of liquid that flowed into the android?s body. Broli entered, looking the Commander over. The android watched the Commander with open eyes, choosing not to speak as to save his strength. ?Don?t get up.? Broli pointed to the table. ?Your spine has been bound to that table. You can?t get up without ripping your own vertebrae from yourself, and your wounds won?t let you get far should you try to escape.?
The Saiya-Jin placed a wooden chair next to Seventeen?s bed table, taking a seat and folding his arms. ?I want you to know that I understand.? The Android raised an eyebrow. ?I understand why you chose to fight. I understand why your men fought so valiantly to defend the fortress.? Broli looked to the ground, pausing as if choosing his words carefully. ?What I don?t understand, however, is how you could butcher the villagers of Hyperton, how you could kill your own men?? The android remained silent, as if he himself wasn?t exactly sure. ?Then again, I suppose I have to question myself as to why I sent my men to be killed as well.? The two remained there, alone in their tent, Broli not saying another word. Rather, he sat in the company of the android, as if searching for someone who could share the hollowness he felt in his chest. Hollow was the only word to describe it. It had been a meaningless victory.
The Dante camp lay nearby, King Vejita I sitting on a stool as a medic wrapped his forearm. Injured soldiers wandered aimlessly. Cell Jr. had attacked the Non-Combat camp with no hesistation, butchering his medics, messengers, scouts, and all. ?They weren?t even capable fighters,? Vejita muttered, spitting his crimson fluid to the ground as he winced in pain while being treated. His eyes looked on to the battlefield, surveying the damage. There Broli stood, amongst a spread of corpses, looking to a rain-cloud filled sky. As if losing his balance, Broli fell on his butt, burying his hands in his face. ?Someone get the Commander some help,? Vejita whispered. It was all he could say, understanding himself exactly what his counterpart was feeling.
General Joy approached Broli with two medics. A clipboard was tucked under one arm, no doubt a full report of the battle that had occurred. ?Sir!? she began. With the absence of any reply from her Commander, she nodded to the medics who immediately dropped to their knees and began treating the Saiya-Jin. ?I?ll be fine,? he muttered, the medics continuing their work on him. ?I said I?ll be fine!? He held up his hands as if establishing a boundary around himself. The medics looked to General Joy questionably, the woman nodding to them. Each of them sighing separately, the medics stood and returned to the camp, leaving Joy and Broli alone. ?You need to be treated,? whispered the human woman, glancing upon the shard of metal etched into the Saiya-Jin?s side. It had broken through his armor, now stained red with blood. Numerous other wounds lay over the commander?s physique, though he ignored them to the greatest extent as he buried his face once more.
?Sir,? Joy began, bringing the clipboard to her attention. ?I have a full report here, and if you could just read over it and??
?Read it to me,? came the short reply. Joy hesitated for a moment, shaking her head as she looked down on the paper.
?Team Outland and Unit Undertain engaged Outcast in Hyperton Fortress on the 21st day. Commander Broli led the charge. Artillery shelled the eastern wall as?? she was interrupted once again by the waning voice of her commander.
?I know? I was there. How many dead??
?Well,? the General began. ?We are still pulling bodies from the rubble. It won?t be for quite some time until we?re sure that??
?How many dead, Joy?? The Commander looked up to his General, his eyes sparkling with anguish.
?So far the count is 802. We estimate, based on those who reported to roll call, that the final number will be at least a thousand dead, and more or less everyone else wounded.? A thousand dead. A thousand dead. ?Sir,? Joy began again, taking a step forward in confidence. ?Captains Pigero and King Cold, and Lieutenants Groll, Akane Kimidori, and Reijin have all been killed in action. Captain Gohan and Commander Seventeen are both in critical condition. We?re doing all we can to stabilize Gohan, but it is up to you as to whether you want to treat the Outcast Commander or not. We,? she dithered, unsure as to if she should tell her superior the remaining news. ?We found Lieutenant Minoshia?s tags in his belongings. I think this confirms our fears.?
The Saiya-Jin nodded, as if ignoring the last part. ?Treat him. Keep him alive, but only by a bare minimum. I don?t want him getting anywhere near his strength. If that means only treating a few of his wounds, then so be it. As for the rubble, I want any many capable of digging to find what survivors we can.? Broli was amazed at himself, his mind hearing his words as if he was simply saying what was needed to be said rather than exactly what he was feeling.
?Is there anything else, sir?? The General asked, placing the clipboard back underneath her arm. When no reply came, she turned to go back to the camp. However, it was a solemn sentence from Burori?s lips that halted her steps.
?Did I make the wrong choice?? The Commander asked. Joy looked at him with a face of perplexion. ?Did I? do the wrong thing, attacking Hyperton?? Joy shook her head as a tear rolled down the Saiya-Jin?s cheek. ?Then why are all my men dead? Why are my most trusted friends lying in that rubble?? He had never suffered casualties like this before. Never had he been responsible for the lives of others preceeding this event. Every conflict from day one had involved only the smallest of soldiers killed, causing Burori to believe that Dante was untouchable. He had absorbed the ideal of the invulnerability of his force, pushing thoughts of glory and honor to the forefront at the sacrifice of safety. He had told his men that defeating Outcast at Hyperton would relinquish the greatest glory, even if they should fall. Yet what names would be remembered? What glory had arrived? No one could hinder this harsh realization, not even the encouraging words of Joy that the unfocused warrior could not hear as he fell into a trance of epiphanies and solitude.
This was no real war. It was a game, a game that they were all playing. Yet Broli had taken it to a new level, pushing his men to fight for a glory that would never come regardless of any victory they achieved. Realizing that Broli was not hearing her words, Joy shook her head, beginning to take her leave. She stopped for a moment, speaking over her shoulder. ?Commander? I?m sorry.? With that, she left the Commander to his thoughts of sorrow.
For nearly an hour, he sat there, contemplating step by step the battle that had occurred. Perhaps he should have pushed through the center of the fortress rather than its perimeter. Or, had the set-up itself been where the flaws existed? His thoughts were scattered as the rain in the clouds above began to fall. It fell against his hot skin, the crusted blood running off into the grass on which he sat. The last of the fires in Hyperton were extinguished, leaving three walls as the only real significant characteristic of its existence. The village and checkpoint both were gone, obliterated in the bomb that had left the sweltering pile of debris in its wake. Summoning what little strength he had, the Saiya-Jin Commander rose to his feet.
Grandpa Gohan lay in a tent of his own, medics operating around him in an attempt to stabilize his condition. Broli stood in the doorway, looking on as the unconscious human struggled on the operating table. ?Pigero? No? Hero?? The old man moaned as the medics continued to work, one looking up and seeing the Saiya-Jin. ?Ah, Commander. I wouldn?t worry. I think he?s going to make it.?
Broli never broke his gaze on the old man as the doctor spoke to him. ?Tell him something for me?? he asked, beginning to take his leave from the tent. ?When he wakes? Tell him that,? He faltered for a moment. ?? Tell him that? That I?ll understand if he wants to leave Conquest after this.? As Broli took his leave, the doctor couldn?t help but ask, ?After what?? clueless as to what the Captain had been through.
In another tent, the Outcast Commander Seventeen lay on a metallic table. An IV Drip stood near the table, filled with a mixture of liquid that flowed into the android?s body. Broli entered, looking the Commander over. The android watched the Commander with open eyes, choosing not to speak as to save his strength. ?Don?t get up.? Broli pointed to the table. ?Your spine has been bound to that table. You can?t get up without ripping your own vertebrae from yourself, and your wounds won?t let you get far should you try to escape.?
The Saiya-Jin placed a wooden chair next to Seventeen?s bed table, taking a seat and folding his arms. ?I want you to know that I understand.? The Android raised an eyebrow. ?I understand why you chose to fight. I understand why your men fought so valiantly to defend the fortress.? Broli looked to the ground, pausing as if choosing his words carefully. ?What I don?t understand, however, is how you could butcher the villagers of Hyperton, how you could kill your own men?? The android remained silent, as if he himself wasn?t exactly sure. ?Then again, I suppose I have to question myself as to why I sent my men to be killed as well.? The two remained there, alone in their tent, Broli not saying another word. Rather, he sat in the company of the android, as if searching for someone who could share the hollowness he felt in his chest. Hollow was the only word to describe it. It had been a meaningless victory.