author: FireCracker KLee624820@aol.com
(Italic copy bordered by_underscore_)
Archive? You'd better.
warnings: none really
A/U
HOV CHRONICLES 17
Bardock enjoyed the benefits of being Regent to the throne. Having
free run and command of the castle meant overruling virtually
everyone. Everyone except the king, of course.
The naa'ti (nursekeepers) fell into the first catagory. After
suffering through a particularly trying war council, Bardock felt a
sudden desire to see his chikki (grandbabies). And see them he would.
Strutting about the castle halls, he entered the royal nursery
unannounced. Elite chibis were everywhere, playing and rolling about.
Naa'ti watched and tended them as needed. One approached the dark
saiyan. It was Nayok, an elder. Deep eyes glinted over cheeks
hardened with age.
"Ah, Regent Bardock. I see you pay us a visit?"
Bardock looked about at clusters of squalling cubs. "Hai...where are
my chikki?"
Nayok chuckled. "They're all here...if you can find them! We've had
quite a few parents come through today."
Bardock nodded, sniffing. Isolating individuals in large groups was
tedious at best. Conflicting scents often cancelled each other out.
Nayok waited patiently as Bardock turned, catching every nuance of
fragrance from each chibi.
"Would you prefer if we turned some over on the pallets? They do play
in clumps!"
"Hn" Bardock moved slowly around, forcing himself to concentrate.
Small heads bobbed and weaved in waves. Screams and shrieks filled
the air. Cubs clambered over each other in piles, flopping and
squealing.
The commander sighed in exasperation. "No wonder the naa'ti are so
skilled. I'd never have the patience-"
Earsplitting screeches interrupted his thoughts. In stunned amazement
the two adults turned. Another naa'ti grinned, plucking up three
chibis from the chaos.
"I believe these ones are yours, Regent Bardock."
Bardock grinned as three bright faces chirped madly in his
direction. "Hn, little hairballs. Come go with me now."
Nayok chuckled again. "Sometimes it's best to let the chibis reveal
themselves. Well done, Tegokk."
The younger naa'ti smirked. "It's hard to miss cubs that scream in
your ear. A lusty group you have here, commander." he dropped the
babies into Bardock's arms.
Bardock clutched his chikki. "Ai, my line runs hot."
"Shall we inform the Ou of your progress?"
Bardock thought a moment. "No...that won't be necessary."
****
Bardock retreated to the royal chambers after enjoying a hot bath. He
powdered his squeaky clean chikki before dressing them in pajamas.
Needle teeth nibbled his fingers.
"Ready for bed, sesei (darlings)?"
More happy squalls. Bardock laid them onto the huge bed before
flopping down himself.
A lazy yawn. "This is the life."
He stretched full length across the furred bed. A purple satin robe
hugged every golden curve. Powerful arms gathered the chibis close.
"Hn, you should be sleepy. I might have to tell a story."
Xenna chirped, crawling up and promptly sitting on his head.
Laughing, Bardock rolled her off.
"Crazy cub. How can I talk if you smother me, hn?"
Nuru squashed against his midsection, burbling. Tezar squeezed in
behind Bardock's broad back. A thick tail coiled the chibi
protectively, clamping him in place.
"Much better." the dark saiyan purred, scooping Xenna next to her
cousin.
****
They slept in a pile soon afterwards, dim candleglow lending quiet
intimacy to the royal chambers.
Bardock rumbled in sleep, content to the core. His rest was blissful
and happy...
Until Nuru shrieked in his ear.
Bardock sprung to a sitting position, eyes unfocused, unaware. He
began to glow.
The chibis fell silent, watching him curiously. Shiny eyes stared.
The room suffused in golden glare, casting wild shadows. Bardock
blinked, looking about the chambers in confusion. He shook his head
clear.
"Krukka, a baby loon."
The chibis huddled close, clucking excitedly. Bardock noted the weird
yellow haze in the room.
"What have I done?!" he whispered, seeing his reflection on a wall
mirror.
"At last." a familiar voice commented calmly.
Bardock abruptly stood, spinning around. "Vegeta!!"
The ouji nodded, reviewing him critically. Deep eyes shone as he
approached. "Hai...I told saba the truth would out."
Aqua eyes regarded him. "How long have you been here?"
Vegeta reached up, touching Bardock's cheek. "A short while. The
naa'ti told me you had the chibis, so I came up."
Bardock appeared nervous. "Say nothing of this, Vegeta."
The ouji tilted his head, still observing. "Remarkable, father...you
look so like Kakarot."
Bardock nodded solemnly. "Now you know."
The ouji held a golden tail. "I knew before."
Bardock powered down. "But...how? Your saba and I-"
"You forget, I was raised royal. And that means total access to the
blood archives."
"Krukka." Bardock plopped down on the bed. "And all this time your
saba and I thought to keep the secret."
Vegeta sat next to him. The chibis clustered, purring for attention.
Vegeta kissed each in turn before resuming.
"You mean being super saiyan, or the rest of it?"
"Vegeta..."
A sigh. "Very well, I won't say it. For now."
Bardock clasped his hand. "You'll make a fine king one day, cub."
Small smile. "Hn...you would say so."
"I mean it. But how could you have been so certain? Only your saba
and Celipe knew."
"Instincts, father. Saba gave me the dna code, but I knew the active
super saiyan gene had to come from somewhere. The progeny of such a
union would have the highest probability of being super saiyan. It
was a simple enough deduction to make."
"Because of...breeding." Bardock was thinking.
"Ai, you know this. Father is not super saiyan, though he has a
latent ability."
Bardock registered surprise. "You know that, as well?!"
Dark eyes glimmered in memory. "When I was sixteen, I learned the
hard way. I challenged him in anger."
"Foolish."
"Very. I attacked in super saiyan mode, thinking victory was assured."
A thick brow lifted. "And?"
"I ran head on into his null field. It counteracted my power aura and
I lost strength."
Bardock thought a moment. "I can guess the rest."
"Ai. Shock didn't describe my feeling. I had no idea he could do that
prior."
"His gene is recessive and the power reversed. I also found out when
we first...got together."
The ouji leered. "I'd like much to hear that story, father. It sounds
extremely interesting."
Bardock ruffled the huge flame of hair. "Freaky fool."
"Who got who first?"
Bardock laughed loudly. "One day in a bar I'll tell you. But not now."
The ouji grinned, cuddling the babies. "Perhaps Kakarot and Raditz
would like to join us."
Bardock relaxed, falling back across the bed again. "Ai, well enough.
But for now I want to sleep!"
Vegeta plopped the chibis over him. "So be it. I've a meeting to
attend." he turned and headed out.
Bardock glanced up. "Vegeta. I regret not telling you this."
The ouji paused at a curtain partition. "I fully understand, father.
Royalty throughout history is burdened with secrets. And I...have the
pride of heritage on both sides." he glided out, smiling.
Bardock smiled also, before nestling the small ones in sleep once
more.
THE END