There was something wrong.

My eyes snapped open, and I sat up as I felt something odd in the air. There was definitely something wrong. I couldn't exactly sense what it was, but it was troubling. I stood and grabbed the closest shirt – I was only wearing a pair of dark purple tracksuit pants – and jerked it over my head. I pulled my hair out from the back of the shirt and headed outside of the tent that I was living in.

I squinted and shielded my eyes as sunlight streamed down on me. I saw numerous others standing around, all in the same confused state that I was. I saw King Vegeta standing with my father, discussing something. I immediately felt worried as I pushed my way through the crowd. Someone placed a hand in front of me, and I looked over to see Tora – Dad's best friend – standing there shaking his head.

"Tora, what's going on?" I asked in a whisper, and he shrugged. He dropped his arm as we both looked at the king and Dad. They were talking in whispers, and it was impossible to hear what they were saying. The rest of the Saiyans were standing at a respectful distance – giving the king privacy – but I wanted to know what was going on.

Suddenly, King Vegeta's eyes met mine, and before I knew it he'd walked over, grabbed my arm, and had dragged me from the crowd. The other Saiyans looked at me curiously, some showing sympathy. Dad looked very un-sympathetic as I was dragged over. I struggled to get away, not understanding why I'd been picked out of all the Saiyans. It didn't make sense. I wasn't very strong, compared to most Saiyans. There were young Saiyans who were stronger than me, although that was because they were elite- and medium-class Saiyans.

"King Vegeta… I know that he was requested, but I don't want him to go," Dad said quietly. King Vegeta sighed as he let me go, and I rubbed my arm. The king had a very tight grip; my arm was actually beginning to go red where I'd been gripped.

"I'm sorry, Bardock, but you cannot go against King Yemma's wishes… if this is even his doing," the king said. I was confused now. I looked back and saw all the Saiyans looking over at me, possibly thinking that the king was crazy. He probably was, too; nobody knew what losing both his sons had done to him. At least both of them were alive… I hoped.

"Alright… I'll go with him, then? At least to the Check-In Station?" Dad suggested. King Vegeta nodded and dismissed the other Saiyans so we could pass. Dad grabbed my arm (in the same place the king had, causing me to yelp quietly) and dragged me towards a building that I knew the ogres worked at. Two in particular – Goz and Mez – worked there, and I knew that my brother had beaten them in strength and speed. But what had the king meant by 'King Yemma's wishes'?

"Dad, can you tell me what's going on?" I asked quietly. Dad looked at me and sighed. I looked at him desperately. "Please, Dad. I need to know. I'm confused," I said. Dad looked like he wanted to keep a secret. But I kept pleading, and finally he gave up. He stopped and let my arm go.

"King Yemma… requested that you be brought to him. He said that I would be allowed to come… at least as far as the Check-In Station," he said. I began to wonder what he meant. "I think King Yemma is thinking of sending you back to the real world," he said.

"Um… I think King Yemma's gone crazy," I said. There was no way that he could send me back to the real world, the living world. After all, I'd done some pretty bad things when I'd been alive, and the only way I'd be ever allowed to go back would be if I went through the soul cleansing machine… and since I'd kept my body in death, I couldn't get my soul cleansed.

"Maybe, kid. But we have to see what he wants…" Dad said sadly. He started walking towards the building again, and while I wanted to run, I knew it would do me no good – Dad would just catch me again – so I followed silently.

After a brief discussion with the ogres in charge for the day, Dad and I were heading towards the Check-In Station. I frowned as I walked up the stairs. Dad led me silently. It took a while, but eventually we reached the top of the stairs. That was where Dad stopped. He turned to me, and I wondered if he was departing now. Instead, he stepped closer to me and put a hand on my shoulder. I towered over him, but he always ignored that fact.

"Raditz… Please stay safe. Please. I don't know what King Yemma wants, but…" Dad trailed off then. I looked away. Tears ran down my cheeks, and I hastily wiped them away. Dad wasn't one for affection, but I felt like I was leaving him on his own. And I didn't really want to do that. While Dad had friends, I was his last family member in Hell.

"I will, Father. I will. Don't worry about me, okay?" I said, smiling. Dad nodded. I sighed as I looked at the door to the Earth's Check-In Station. "Are you allowed to come in, or not?" I asked. Dad shook his head, and my face fell. I wanted my dad to come with me, but if he couldn't I had to settle with that. I suddenly grabbed Dad in a bear-hug. "Dad… I feel like I'm not gonna see you again…" I murmured. Dad said nothing, but he did return my hug.

"See ya later, Raditz… if you ever return," he said sadly as he separated. Dad began to walk down the stairs, and I looked towards the door and took a deep breath. I walked into the door, and I was faced with King Yemma.

The ogre definitely impressed me. I couldn't believe that I'd tried to fight him once; he'd overpowered me and had sent me straight to Hell. I looked down at my feet meekly as I stood in front of him, noticing that I had no socks or shoes on. Great.

"Son Raditz?" King Yemma asked, and I flinched upon hearing my full name. I wondered if my younger brother knew that Son was his last name; he used it with his Earth name.

"Yes, sir?" I asked, trying to sound meek. King Yemma leaned over his desk and looked down at me. I felt very small compared to the ogre.

"Well, at least they didn't give me the wrong Saiyan," he muttered to himself, and started to shift through all of his paperwork. I stood there, feeling like an idiot. That was when I heard an odd noise, and I turned my head slightly to see someone that I really didn't expect… and that I didn't want to talk to.

"Hey King Yemma!" the cheerful, peppy voice of my younger (brain-damaged) brother chimed, and I tried to repress the guilt that coursed through me. He walked right next to me and looked at me, grinning from ear to ear. I didn't return his smile; I didn't feel like I deserved it. His face fell, and he turned back to King Yemma. "He doesn't realise, does he?" Kakarot said, and I wondered what he meant as King Yemma started to laugh and shook his head. "Okay then!" the younger Saiyan said cheerfully, and suddenly he turned to me and placed his hand on my arm. I began to panic as he placed two fingers on his forehead…

And then we teleported.