06-13-2007, 03:11 AM
On. Off. On. Off. On. Off.
Bardock flexed his fingers, once more playing with his super saiyan power, invoking and extinguishing its mightiness. Only this time, it was different. The golden ki was caressed by bolts of electricity. He?d seen it used before, but he?d never felt it. It was the greatest high in his entire life. So much power. So much energy. It was a bigger rush than he could ever hope for.
One by one, he saw the bodies of those he had killed in his mind, absent-mindedly regarding their presence.
On. Off. On. Off. On. Off.
Almost single-handedly he had dispatched them all, at the expense of several body parts, which were fortunately back in their place. His weapons lay scattered at his feet. They had served him well.
Twenty minutes had almost gone by, and he sat unmoving, still drunk with the power he had acquired.
On. Off. On. Off. On. Off.
------
?What the hell? Come on, man! I can?t believe this!? a familiar guard ranted, slamming his fist into a wall.
?You?re just pissed because you didn?t bet on him,? an equally familiar scientist laughed. ?I thought you said you?d pick better this year??
?I did,? the sentry clamored. ?He was a fan favorite in the beginning, but nobody actually thought he would win.?
?You know,? the scientist chuckled, playing with a portable television. ?I think he lost last year because you bet on him, but he won this year because you didn?t. I think it?s all you. Besides, he totally decimated in the finale.?
?He?s still a dick?? the guard grunted.
?Shhshhhshhh!? the scientist hushed, turning the volume up. ?The interview?s on!?
------
?Bardock!? ?Hey Mr. Bardock!? ?Yo, Bardock!? ?Hey, Bardock, over here!?
A chorus of cries erupted as the newly crowned champion entered the room accompanied by the flamboyant Karl Jak. Camera flashes sounded off in record numbers, every fan and reporter wanting to get the best angle of the fighter. Screaming fans reached out, hoping to touch him as he walked past. Someone shoved a fierce-looking picture of Bardock in his face lettered ?Come Get Some!?. He had been diligently (and to a point almost threateningly) reminded of his required duties as the new King of the Abyss.
?Your autograph,? Karl sounded through a smile. ?They want your autograph.?
?My what?? Bardock asked, both eyes squinting from the flash bulbs.
?The picture! Sign the picture!?
Disinterested, the fighter grabbed a pen and scribbled a line across the photograph. Karl was not pleased.
Once he reached the center of the platform, an interviewer and her cameraman began to hound him.
?So, Bardock, tell us about the man behind the muscles,? the lady gushed as she shoved a microphone under his nose.
?I am a saiya-jin fighter, a son of Vegeta-sei,? he answered proudly. It didn?t seem to be quite what the interviewer was looking for, but she managed to hide her irritation with a flawless smile.
?And what do you fight for? A friend? A family member? A love interest?? she fished.
?I fight for myself, for the pride of being a warrior.?
?Pride? Well, you must have been pretty proud eliminating all of your competition. Do you think they?ll hold a personal grudge because you killed them??
Bardock shook his head, completely serious. ?Not one of them could say they wouldn?t have done the same.?
?Even your own sons?? she asked. She probably had been waiting to spring that one on him. A large monitored flashed on and showed clips of Kakarot being torched with his own weapon, and Raditzu being blown open from the back. ?What kind of father do you think that makes you??
?It?s the price you pay to play the game. They?ll survive.?
Everyone laughed, as if he?d made a joke.
?Did you think you would win??
?Didn?t everyone?? he quipped.
?You sure did collect a lot of weapons. You were like a little Rambo out there!? the interviewer laughed. He wasn?t giving her much to work from.
?Did he have a knife?!? someone shouted pointedly from the crowd. They were immediately escorted from the premises.
?So??
The interview dragged on and on. Bardock was sure his head would explode, but it fortunately came to an end. He was led away for a few more promotional photos and an autograph signing. By the time all was said and done, the fighter was exhausted.
Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Upon contact, Bardock could feel a numbness overtaking his body. A golden ring slowly materialized above his head. Cold realization overtook his previously overwhelmed mind.
?It?s time to go back,? a familiar voice said.
?Yeah,? the champion replied distantly. He stared at his hand, which faded and re-solidified. ?I know.?
Bardock flexed his fingers, once more playing with his super saiyan power, invoking and extinguishing its mightiness. Only this time, it was different. The golden ki was caressed by bolts of electricity. He?d seen it used before, but he?d never felt it. It was the greatest high in his entire life. So much power. So much energy. It was a bigger rush than he could ever hope for.
One by one, he saw the bodies of those he had killed in his mind, absent-mindedly regarding their presence.
On. Off. On. Off. On. Off.
Almost single-handedly he had dispatched them all, at the expense of several body parts, which were fortunately back in their place. His weapons lay scattered at his feet. They had served him well.
Twenty minutes had almost gone by, and he sat unmoving, still drunk with the power he had acquired.
On. Off. On. Off. On. Off.
------
?What the hell? Come on, man! I can?t believe this!? a familiar guard ranted, slamming his fist into a wall.
?You?re just pissed because you didn?t bet on him,? an equally familiar scientist laughed. ?I thought you said you?d pick better this year??
?I did,? the sentry clamored. ?He was a fan favorite in the beginning, but nobody actually thought he would win.?
?You know,? the scientist chuckled, playing with a portable television. ?I think he lost last year because you bet on him, but he won this year because you didn?t. I think it?s all you. Besides, he totally decimated in the finale.?
?He?s still a dick?? the guard grunted.
?Shhshhhshhh!? the scientist hushed, turning the volume up. ?The interview?s on!?
------
?Bardock!? ?Hey Mr. Bardock!? ?Yo, Bardock!? ?Hey, Bardock, over here!?
A chorus of cries erupted as the newly crowned champion entered the room accompanied by the flamboyant Karl Jak. Camera flashes sounded off in record numbers, every fan and reporter wanting to get the best angle of the fighter. Screaming fans reached out, hoping to touch him as he walked past. Someone shoved a fierce-looking picture of Bardock in his face lettered ?Come Get Some!?. He had been diligently (and to a point almost threateningly) reminded of his required duties as the new King of the Abyss.
?Your autograph,? Karl sounded through a smile. ?They want your autograph.?
?My what?? Bardock asked, both eyes squinting from the flash bulbs.
?The picture! Sign the picture!?
Disinterested, the fighter grabbed a pen and scribbled a line across the photograph. Karl was not pleased.
Once he reached the center of the platform, an interviewer and her cameraman began to hound him.
?So, Bardock, tell us about the man behind the muscles,? the lady gushed as she shoved a microphone under his nose.
?I am a saiya-jin fighter, a son of Vegeta-sei,? he answered proudly. It didn?t seem to be quite what the interviewer was looking for, but she managed to hide her irritation with a flawless smile.
?And what do you fight for? A friend? A family member? A love interest?? she fished.
?I fight for myself, for the pride of being a warrior.?
?Pride? Well, you must have been pretty proud eliminating all of your competition. Do you think they?ll hold a personal grudge because you killed them??
Bardock shook his head, completely serious. ?Not one of them could say they wouldn?t have done the same.?
?Even your own sons?? she asked. She probably had been waiting to spring that one on him. A large monitored flashed on and showed clips of Kakarot being torched with his own weapon, and Raditzu being blown open from the back. ?What kind of father do you think that makes you??
?It?s the price you pay to play the game. They?ll survive.?
Everyone laughed, as if he?d made a joke.
?Did you think you would win??
?Didn?t everyone?? he quipped.
?You sure did collect a lot of weapons. You were like a little Rambo out there!? the interviewer laughed. He wasn?t giving her much to work from.
?Did he have a knife?!? someone shouted pointedly from the crowd. They were immediately escorted from the premises.
?So??
The interview dragged on and on. Bardock was sure his head would explode, but it fortunately came to an end. He was led away for a few more promotional photos and an autograph signing. By the time all was said and done, the fighter was exhausted.
Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Upon contact, Bardock could feel a numbness overtaking his body. A golden ring slowly materialized above his head. Cold realization overtook his previously overwhelmed mind.
?It?s time to go back,? a familiar voice said.
?Yeah,? the champion replied distantly. He stared at his hand, which faded and re-solidified. ?I know.?
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
_=Pass you by, it's all in this life you have
Pass you by, good-bye to you=_
Pass you by, good-bye to you=_