author: FireCracker KLee624820@a...
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House of Vegeta: The Truth about Bardock pt.5


_He hated it. The endless squalor, the hopeless living conditions.
Babies screaming at all hours of the night, filthy streets and
walkways. There were numerous dark alleys fools were often found dead
in. Families stacked in tight apartments and flats, block after
block. Prostitutes lurked everywhere, willing to work for almost
nothing.

Bardock was of a modest clan on his father's side, the Cooii. But
even among the lowest classes there existed a pecking order. Unlike
the majority of his kin, Bardock most resembled his mother's side,
the Fabreani tribe. The Fabreani were one of the more regarded clans
of the lower classes. Legend had it that one of the original super
saiyans was Fabreani. It was never proven, however. Generations
passed without a single super saiyan, and soon belief in the legend
was lost. Not that Bardock was a believer in what he called 'tall
tales and myths.'"

His father was a merchant who traded in arms supplies. Lubb often was
away from home, making deals so that his family could survive.
Bardock had an older sister he never knew. She was killed in an off
planet purge before he was born. The one thing he always regretted
was not knowing her, although he saw plenty of pictures. Etrie was
rather stout in body, like all the Cooii clan, but had their mother's
refined face.

Bardock himself was a survivor, with a sharp intelligence that belied
his upbringing. His conformation and coloring set him apart from his
contemporaries, and he was often a target of jealousy. Even his
father called him 'too pretty' and often joked he was a bastard son
from some elite. Virtually every third class had lanky tails with
kinks, either hidden under the fur or visible through 'breaks'. It
was symptomatic of inferior genetic pools that characterized the
third class. The elite often called the poor 'worm tails.'

Another characteristic was their nondescript coloring of hair and
tail fur. The lower classes ranged from dusty blackish brown to a
muddy greenish brown. Bardock's mother Ubera had reasonably good
coloring for a third class, a medium dark brown. Her build was
somewhat lean but not sparse, as she was quite athletic. Lubb on the
other hand was a typical Cooii, thick, barrel chested, and stocky.
His rakish hair and tail were more of a medium grayish brown. Bardock
always remembered how wide his hands and feet were.

Bardock stood out physically as well. His build was unlike any of the
third class saiyans, as was his coloring. Ubera often crowed with
pride to her friends about his rich blue-black hair and tail. Ghetto
trash rumors had Bardock an 'ovee', that is an illegimate royal.
Eventually succumbing to pride, Lubb demanded Bardock be genetically
tested. Ubera was furious, nearly wanting a divorce. She argued that
her clan had some royal strain over the centuries, through various
dalliances. Lubb counter argued that the 'royal strain' better not
include his wife.

As a youth and through his teen years Bardock had a charisma that
made others want to follow. He was a neighborhood 'gang leader' that
often broke into apartments for valuable items to sell. Extortion was
a side hobby well suited for saiyan bloodlust. His gang, the Vypei,
became quite notorious for strongarm and intimidation tactics. Rival
gangs grew weary of being pushed from their turf. They had a plan...

"Ya, Bardock, we got a hit tonight?" Aitra asked, her choppy spikes
waving in the breeze.

Bardock grinned at her, admiring her curves. She was a hot number,
always ready for anything.

"Yeah, we're gonna do this right...everybody got the hardware?"

The others nodded. Cobo, Serdi, Dom, and Putero pulled out their
blasters.

Bardock nodded, peeping around the dark alleyway. "Watch out. I got
word that Devu's people are gonna go for the same hit...if we get the
old man the money will be really good!"

Dom adjusted his shoulder harness, pushing his thick mane aside. "So
it's a clean run, then. Zenon's definitely gonna pay top dollar for
this!"

Bardock motioned them to the storefront. "Quit talking...spread out
and watch for anything suspicious."

It was nearly over before it began. The "Old Man" was a powerful
Dujuni with his own army. Bardock barely got past the streetlight
when blasts richoched all around him. Cursing, he rolled to the
ground and fired.

"Stupid Punks. You're dead, inbreds!!" a heavy voice bellowed over
the firefight. A bloodcurdling scream erupted from the smoky alley.
Bardock bolted for cover behind some crates.

"BASTARDS" more shots, more smoke. Bardock squinted, trying to
determine who was firing at who. His eyes widened in horror. Aitra
and Cobo were lying in pools of blood, portions of their bodies
sliced to ribbons by shard cannons.

"No" he choked, feeling a rage burn. He lowered his blaster behind
the shield of crates.

That same voice again. "Give it up, fools. I know about the hit! Come
out now and I may let you live!!"

Bardock considered his options, all of them suicidal. Before he could
move, a shout and cry stopped his motion. Putero, Serdi and Dom were
making an insane rush at their attackers.

"Take this, you fuggers!!" the young saiyans fired their weapons in a
wild pattern, trying to make it out of the alley. Bardock looked up
and saw their predicament. Saiyans in purple tank armor rose from
their vantage points across the rooftops.

Bardock leaped into sight. "GET DOWN, YOU ASSHOLES-"

They never had a chance. Cannon beams cut them down before they could
take another step. His friends were dead before they hit the ground.

Bardock slumped to his knees, shock ripping him to the core. Gone.
All gone...

A sick laugh caught his attention. A massively fat saiyan waddled his
way, wearing a dark suit and smoking a tewi roll. He was flanked by
more soldiers in tank gear.

"My, my...what have we here, hmm?

The soldiers trained their cannon guns on Bardock. The heavy saiyan
frowned a moment, looking him over closely.

"Eh? What are you doing mingling with the trash?"

Bardock found his voice. "I am trash!!" he spat.

Thick lips twiched under a handlebar moustache. "Fool. Do you want to
live? What's your name?"

"Gerbun" he lied.

A thick hand laden with rings grabbed his hair. "Liar. You're
Bardock, from the lower west side district. I know you were sent for
the hit."

"I don't know what you're talking about" he yelped as his head was
yanked.

The ugly mouth twisted in a cruel smile. "I know all about you, boy.
What you do, where you live...I even had a chat with your parents..."

Dark eyes blazed wide. "If you've done anything-"

Another chuckle. "There's nothing to be done anymore."

"What's that mean?!" Bardock jumped to his feet. "Who the hell are
you?!"

"Ah, your employer didn't brief you, eh? My name is Klendoon. Perhaps
you've heard of me?"

Klendoon smiled as the young saiyan paled.

"You...were the hit?"

A loud laugh this time. "Hai, my rival didn't tell you...no doubt
you'd back out otherwise."

Bardock gritted his teeth. "What are you going to do with me?"

Piglike eyes glittered unpleasantly. "That depends, boy...you
definitely have potential" he walked around Bardock slowly, stroking
his tail.

"Don't touch me!! Bardock spun, hissing. The soldiers laughed.

A thick hand brushed his cheek. "You're quite lovely, you know...such
coloring. I'll take you under my wing" he snickered, eyeing Bardock
up and down. "Hn, you still have some filling out to do, but I'm a
patient man-"

Bardock knocked the hand away with a stream of curses. Cannon rifles
levelled at him once more.

"Nasty brat...but I feel generous today. Your parents are here to see
you."

Bardock froze, his heart cold with premonition. "You...what did you
do!!"

A casual gesture. "Why nothing at all...while you were planning this
hit, I merely took the liberty of having some associates visit your
home..."

Bardock looked around, his eyes wild. He felt for their ki...

"There's no need to worry. I brought them in a car just around the
corner-" he was talking to empty air. Bardock took off running.

****

He'd never been so afraid in his life. Slowly he approached the small
vehicle, smelling blood and death...

Klendoon came up behind him with his soldiers. "See? I didn't
lie...they're here to see you!" he laughed insanely.

Bardock didn't move. His body refused to respond when he got within
five feet of the car. Ubera and Lubb were barely recognizable, their
faces razed. Blood was everywhere, obscuring what was left of their
features. Sightless eyes looked at nothing.

Klendoon chuckled. "A pity, boy, but you decided to play with the big
boys-"

Bardock felt nothing. The world dissolved and went white, black, then
finally red.

"A shame, really. Not that it was easy-"

Fire burned his bones, burst his skin. Nothing was real except hate.
Fists clenched.

"They died like true saiyans...I lost five of my best attack force-"

Revenge and madness rolled his eyes as Bardock snarled, turning
slowly around...

One of the soldiers backed away. "What the hell?! Boss, he's
changing!!"

Klendoon stood back in fear. "I can see that, fool! Boy, what means
this?!"

Thick dark spikes stood on end, crackling with power, turning golden.
The air sizzled with power in a nimbus of golden light. Black eyes
turned aqua...

"This is impossible!!" Klendoon yammered, stumbling back. "K-kill
him!!" he screeched.

The soldiers opened fire. Cannon beams struck Bardock point blank but
had no effect. Cold, ruthless blue eyes narrowed as he raised his
hand...

"F-frig" one soldier turned and ran. "He ain't mortal!!"

Panicked, the other soldiers fired away, to no avail. Bardock
casually blasted the nearest one to nothingness. Fingers spread wide
at the mob boss.

"Prepare to die, Klendoon. Hell awaits."

Klendoon was a powerful man, but this was beyond anything in his
experience. "By the gods, he's a super saiyan!!"

That declaration was too much for his would-be bodyguards. They threw
down their weapons and fled in terror. Not that it mattered. Seconds
later they joined their comrade in oblivion.

Eyes bulging in terror, Klendoon fell to his knees. "Spare me...I
didn't know! I wouldn't have touched them, I swear!!"

Bardock looked down at him and smiled gently. "I understand" he said
without emotion.

The fat man was blubbering now. "I...I knew you'd believe me,
ju...just let me go-"

Bardock placed a hand in his hair. "Certainly" and promptly exploded
the thick head with a ki blast. The gross body plopped over with a
burning neck stump.

The transformed saiyan looked around at the carnage. Parents,
friends, and enemies alike lay lifeless everywhere. With a casual
gesture he burned away all evidence of bodies in a sweep of cleansing
flame.

Strength left him suddenly as he shuddered, the enormity of the loss
taking hold. Golden spikes turned raven once more as Bardock
collapsed to his knees.

"I...have...avenged...you, mother, father."

Fists slammed the cold earth as he heard the faint sounds of
enforcement sirens. He had to get away from memories and death. And a
new discovery. Hot tears splashed his face as he took to the skies.

_The military...my only way out of this hell hole..._


THE END


Next: House of Vegeta: Celipe's Rage pt.6