Hey there! This is a story that has been in my mind for a long while now, I've thought about it long and hard, and now I finally feel that I have enough to create this AU. I've always felt like the Saiyan race in general didn't get enough justice, and Goku is always depicted as dumb, I want to give it a different twist, which is why I created a new character that I feel will bring it all together. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing it!
AU. Goku and Nara were sent to earth in an attempt to save them from the doom of their planet. Can they become strong enough to avenge their race? Danger awaits, lurking in the depths of space, waiting for the change to pounce and destroy everything they've built. Follow their adventures as they find their faith in this new life they are given... Or lose their path in the way.
A distant cry broke the peace of the morning. At first, Gohan thought he might have imagined it, why would there be a child crying in the middle of nowhere? He then thought he might have confused it with the cry of a large cat in distress, that had to be it. He should have let it go, let nature take its course, but there was a feeling in his gut that he just could not ignore, like a pull, something calling at him, waking his curiosity, and so, he made his way deep into the forest, the feeling getting stronger with every step, the cry becoming clearer and clearer. There was no denying it, it was definitely the cry of an infant.
As he got closer, the smell hit his nostrils, it smelled of burnt wood and dirt, mixed with something else unknown to him, some sort of metallic smell, he wondered what could it be, and suddenly he found himself at the edge of a crater. As he peeked over the edge, he saw what looked like a white metal ball in the center, probably what created the crater, he thought, and from inside it, the muted cry that had called his attention. He hesitated to get closer, his keen senses had noticed that all the animals and birds had left the area as if sensing danger.
The smart thing to do would have been to turn back, to follow example and flee while he could, but still, that feeling in his gut would not let up, and Son Gohan had never been one to turn away from a challenge, his Master had thought him as much. So, taking a deep breath, he ventured inside the crater, getting close to the white metal ball, which was emitting a few beeps. It looked a little beat up, probably from the impact.
Gohan looked to the sky, following the path of broken tree tops, wondering where could it have come from. Space? Could that be possible? He started inspecting the object, poking at it with his cane, rounding it until he found what looked like a hatch with a small round window, he peeked through it, but it seemed clouded from the inside, he couldn't really see much more than silhouettes, that's when he noticed something inscribed beside the hatch. It looked like some words had been scratched into the metal, he wiped away some dirt with his sleeve, but whatever it was, it seemed to have been damaged during the fall, all he could read were four letters. "Nara".
"Nara…" He whispered. He felt as if he had heard that word before, someday far away in a dream.
"WAAAAAAAAAAA" A sudden cry broke him from his thoughts, and he turned once again to the hatch. He traced it with his fingers, trying to find a way to open it, but it seemed sealed shut. He thought of trying to pry it open, maybe he could hit the metal hard enough to break through it, when suddenly, the hatch started to open on its own, with the sound of pressurized air escaping from the strange machine.
Gohan took a step back and watched as the door opened and the fog that clouded the small window dissipated. Just then did he take a step forward, daring to peek inside, all the while keeping a defensive stance, who knew what could come out of the strange device. He relaxed from his stance once he had a good look at what was inside the metal ball… Two small babies, both dressed in strange black and dark green clothes, in a style he had never seen before, spikes of thick black unruly hair sticking out of their heads, one of them had longer hair than the other, reaching down to its small legs, while the other one's spikes seemed to defy gravity. He got closer, to reach for them, and noticed something even more peculiar. A pair of furry appendages intertwined together, a tail, both of them had a tail.
Realization suddenly hit him, and Gohan had to take a step back, with two pairs of deep curious black eyes staring back at him, the cries long forgotten. Saiyans, these infants were Saiyans… How was that possible? What were they doing here? Were they sent to conquer the planet? The idea seemed odd, as far as Gohan was aware, young Saiyan children were sent to conquer planets only after having at least basic training, but these two seemed just way too young to carry out such a mission.
Gohan thought back to a few decades ago, when he had his encounter with a wounded Saiyan soldier and her mate, he helped nurse her back to health from certain death, and in return, her mate had promised to keep the existence of the planet in secret. In the few weeks they spent on Earth, Gohan had gotten the chance to train with him, both learning techniques from each other, learning about the ways of each other's home planets. Gohan learned about the space tyrant called Freeza, who had slowly invaded planet Vegeta, how he had so deeply infiltrated their home that the King's hands were tied, in fear of the monster destroying everything, he had promised his forces to the Emperor in exchange for the safety of his people. Freeza had forced the Saiyan military to conquer planets in his name, forced young children to go to weaker planets and kill everything on sight, making sure to corrupt their innocence to the point of turning them into killing machines that relished on death and devastation.
Bardok was his name, a young soldier enlisted into the army just before Freeza's invasion, talented man, he had moved up in rank on his own merit, being in the inner circle of the King's special forces, that was until Freeza had disbanded them, seeing having the strongest soldiers of the Saiyan race in one single team as a potential threat to his complete conquer of the planet. He had been assigned to a group of third class soldiers, designated as the pawns, the first force to be sent into a particularly difficult planet to conquer with the intention of maiming their forces before the elite teams were sent to finish the job. That's where Bardok had met his mate, Gine, a kind young woman, forced into the Saiyan ranks as Freeza's new rule, where at least one member of each family had to serve his new army. Gine had volunteered in name of her mother since her father and brother had perished in battle.
Gohan was surprised with the speed of Gine's recovery, with a farewell they parted ways, Bardok and Gine venturing into the forest, where they had hidden their ships. It made him wonder, was this round white pod the kind of ships Saiyans used? And if so, why where these babies sent to Earth? Taking another deep breath, Gohan finally reached into the spaceship and pulled both children out. Big bright eyes staring in wonder and confusion. That's when he noticed, one of them had an amazing resemblance to that young Saiyan soldier he had met twenty years back.
"Could you both be Bardok and Gine's children?" He asked, not really expecting a response. Bardok knew of the peaceful planet where life thrived, it would only be logical that if things got bad enough in planet Vegeta, he would send his children to a safe haven, in hopes that they would be safe.
Gohan looked up at the darkening sky, catching a glimpse of a falling star.
"I'll make sure they stay safe, old friend. Until you come back looking for them, I'll keep them safe…" Gohan looked back at them, the one with the gravity-defying spikes of hair was forming a pout, no doubt about to cry, while the one with long hair just stared at him in confusion, not sure if he was to trust or not. "Well, you two must be starving, that was for sure a long trip you just took, let's get you home and find you something to eat". As if they understood, a shine glimmered in their eyes.
Gohan adjusted them in his arms and made his way out of the crater and into the forest, following the path back home. Oblivious to the fact that the long-haired child kept staring at the forgotten pod left behind until it was lost from sight, leaving behind a life that never was. A distant memory of a family broken apart by war and a doomed planet.