Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Reflections of a King ❯ Chapter 9

Due to the circumstances of his birth, I was unable to bond with Vegeta. I always believed that he never bonded with anyone else. However, since Kakarrot's visit, a suspicion has grown in my mind. He told me that a part of Vegeta resided in him…an occurrence indicative of a bond. I wonder if, all those years ago, Vegeta managed to somehow create a mental bond with the baby Kakarrot. It would explain much…and it gives me hope for my son's future.

Yes, the thought is comforting. The bond that Bardock and I shared was sometimes the only thing that sustained me. Although I never spoke to him again in my lifetime, our hold on each other is just as strong, even in death, as the day we first bonded. Bardock's memories have a place in my mind, and I relive them as if they were my own…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A vision, not my own. I can FEEL the difference, before I even open my eyes. I am in a ship, one of Frieza's by the look of it. I glance down at my hands. They are large, muscular, criss-crossed with scars…Bardock. These visions are the most disconcerting, even though I have relived them many, many times. To walk in another man's steps, to see with another man's eyes, is frightening. I have to be careful, so as not to lose my sense of self.

I'm standing near the air-lock. I must have just stepped from my pod. Someone is screeching orders at me, but in typical-Bardock fashion, I simply wave them off as I walk away. "Don't have time for that bull-shit…" Bardock's thought, in my voice.

I know where we're headed, but the thing about Purgatory is that I have to relive EVERY moment. Bardock puts out his hand and stops a nearby guard. He has incredible blue hair, and orange eyes. I don't know what species it is, but he is a beauty. "Hey, you, where can I find Vegeta no Ouji?" Bardock asks gruffly.

The guard shakes his head, "Dunno. He's probably with Lord Frieza. The master likes his new pet, I doubt he's let the boy out of his sight."

Bardock growls and pushes the pretty guard into the bulkhead. "You bastard, that's my prince you're talking about. What the fuck has Frieza done to the boy?"

The guard raises his chin defiantly, "You mean, what hasn't he done. Your little prince is quite a piece of ass, I've heard…haven't had my turn yet, but I'm sure I'll be rewarded for kicking your sorry carcass…all the way back to Vegetasei."

A satisfying CRUNCH. The blue-hair's neck is twisted completely around. There'll be hell to pay, but Bardock is already on the move. This must be stopped.

Bardock stops another guard further down the corridor. "Where's Lord Frieza?"

This guard is large, but he is a Saiyan. He answers respectfully, "Guardsman Bardock, I believe that he's in his chambers." The man hesitates, then whispers softly, "Ouji is with him…can't you do something?"

If only we could. Bardock takes the other Saiyan by the shoulders, and gently relays the news of the guard's murder. The man agrees quickly to take care of the body, and Bardock marches away to find the monster, Frieza. He walks for some time, finally reaching the hallway to Frieza's room. Another set of guards stop him. "You need something, monkey?" one of them barks.

Bardock looks at him, raising an eyebrow. "No, I don't. But Lord Frieza does."

"What? What the fuck are you talking about?" the guard asks.

"Well, I've got a message here from the Saiyan no Ou. I don't think you want to stop me from delivering it. Might not be good for your health." Bardock's voice is low, dangerous.

"That's all fine and good, but Lord Frieza isn't even here. He left a little while ago…"the guard cuts off. He isn't sure if he should tell Bardock his boss' whereabouts, but the growling coming from Bardock's throat has him nervous.

"Is the Ouji with him?" Bardock barks.

Both guards flinch. The talkative one says hesitantly, "Ummm…look, man…we're not supposed to be giving out information…"

Bardock bares his teeth, and grates, "It's a simple question. Answer it, and I won't split your heads. Don't answer, and I'll just bust your asses, then go find out for myself."

They've managed to live this long in Frieza's employ, simply because they know when to duck out of a bad situation. Self-preservation wins out in the end. "The little one is still in there…man, don't go in there…you don't want to see that…"

Disgusted, Bardock slams their heads together. "You sick fucks…the least you could do is check on the child." They don't answer, both having been knocked out by the blow. Bardock throws them down on the ground, and runs toward the large doors. He pauses outside of them. His hands are fisted so tightly, blood drips from them. A muscle in his cheek flinches, his jaw is clenched. He knows, he KNOWS, what he will see when he opens the door…

He doesn't have a fucking clue.

The large doors open inward, and light cuts into the darkness. The bed is still shrouded in black, but there is evidence of a struggle. "Vegeta!" Bardock calls out. No answer... "The boy can't be dead…"he thinks. He heads toward the bed. He calls again, frantically, "Vegeta!" Again nothing.

Fear grips his insides…irrational fear. Bardock turns away from the darkness, and heads toward the doors. He finally finds what he's looking for, the light control-panel. He switches it on, and sighs in relief. Then his vision comes into focus…

Horror.

Utter terror.

Blood.

Everywhere.

Fresh blood, scarlet and amethyst.

Droplets slide down the walls.

Bloody footprints, Frieza's and Bardock's, meander on the stone flooring.

Caked underneath is old, dried blood, in every color of the rainbow.

"My gods…"

Bardock turns. If I could close my eyes, I would. I know what's coming…I don't WANT to see this…I don't want to be the one that caused this…

My son. He sits stiffly in the middle of the large bed, his legs are covered with a sheet. The bedding is sodden with blood and heaven knows what else. Tears stream down his face, but he makes no sound. "Mad…he's gone mad…" Bardock thinks. The thought stirs him. He rushes to the boy, and speaks his name once more. Gently he whispers, "Vegeta?" The child could be mistaken for a statue, if not for his tears.

Bardock is reluctant to touch the child, afraid he might push him over the edge. Something MUST be done. Vegeta is still bleeding profusely, he must be taken to the infirmary soon. Bardock reaches out hesitantly, and brushes Vegeta's cheek with his hand. The boy is startled, but the gesture works. He is back, his mind returned from the abyss. Bardock says, "Baby, it's me. It's Bardock, honey, I'm here."

Vegeta's reaction is dulled by pain and loss of blood. Slowly, he whispers, "Bardock…I think I'm dying…"

"No! No, you aren't. You can't die. Not here, not like this…We just need to get you to a doctor, that's all." Bardock says furiously.

The Ouji just looks at him curiously, as if they were having a normal conversation. "Bardock, I can't go to the doctor…"

"Why the hell not? Vegeta, if you don't get treated, you WILL die, " His voice gentle, Bardock is worried. The boy has been driven insane…

Vegeta's voice is harsh, not a child's voice at all, "I won't go. If I get well, he'll just do it again…"

Bardock's body is wracked with sobs. He can't even answer the boy. I wish that I could speak to Vegeta, that I could act on this vision. Although I can't imagine what I would say. How do you explain to a child that he must continue to be brutalized so that others might live? How do you tell him that one day this will all be just a memory? His wounds are still fresh, his mind so fragile, what could I do for him, even if I had the chance.

Vegeta continues, his voice softened, "Why can't you just let me die?"

Bardock doesn't answer him. What the hell could he say? He picks the child up, sheets and all, and takes him out of that hellhole. Vegeta fights him the whole way. Bardock is crying so much, he nearly walks the both of them into the bulkhead a number of times. I can't close my eyes, I can't turn away, I can't change any of this…

Bardock finally makes it to the infirmary. One of the medics comes out to take the boy. They were expecting this. Vegeta is biting and clawing, trying to get free. His blood is flowing freely, a deep, dark crimson. He is dying. They will save him. It will all begin again tomorrow.

Vegeta finally falls to the ground, his last bit of strength gone. Bardock kneels to pick him up, and Vegeta slaps him away. The HATE in his eyes is piercing. His look asks, "How dare you save my life…How dare you ask me to live one more day? "

Bardock tries to speak, he wants to tell Vegeta that he's sorry, that he loves him, but his tongue is tied. He watches as the medics prepare Vegeta for the regen tank. He will survive…he will become more powerful…the injuries to his body will be healed, but the injuries to his mind, his soul…these can never be healed.

Bardock is preoccupied with the horrifying situation of which he has just been made painfully aware. He doesn't feel the sudden rise in ki. Nor do I. I just know what happens next…

To be continued