Bardock chased after Gine, who was running to a small red shack. "That's just a rickety shed Gine!"
"He's inside it!" and she ran inside. Bardock followed just barely catching the end of a startled yelp. He came to the door to see a surprised old man holding a sleeping Kakarot standing opposite a shocked Gine.
Seeing this stranger holding their son, Bardock approached the older man and uttered in a low growl "Give me my son."
The man relinquished the tailed baby to his father, not seeming to care about the bloody man's threatening tone.
Gine came up and scolded her mate "Bardock, he was just making sure Kakarot was okay, I'm sure." She looked towards the kind looking old man for confirmation.
He gave a slight nod. "Yes, my name is Son Gohan. I was taking a hike and came upon him. I didn't mean any harm, I was just worried about the little feller."
Bardock scowled."My son is a saiyan warrior. He could kill anyone on this planet with his tail!"
Gine frowned back at him. "He was just genuinely concerned! I bet infants here can't do that."
Gohan nodded. "Infants of this planet, though? I had my suspicions that your son was not of this world, what with the ball and his tail, but you really are aliens?"
The scarred alien puffed his chest out. "We're saiyans. Only the stro-"
The petite saiyan cut him off. " Stop bragging, Kakarot is sleeping."
Gine admired her son, glad to have the chance to raise him. Unlike other saiyans, the woman cared a great deal for children. She really regretted not being able to raise Raditz, her oldest pup. "Bardock, if you don't object, I'd very much like to stay on this planet and raise Kakarot here." the saiyaness looked to Gohan. "I assume the rest of your people look similar to us?"
"That's right."
Bardock brought his left hand to his chin. "I don't see why not. We'd be able to lay low among them. I don't think the inhabitants are very strong either, so it might be better to live near a city so as to be masked by the weaklings…" he thought out loud.
Gohan looked concerned. "You're hiding from someone?"
"Yes." Gine said "He's the strongest person-if you can even call that monster one- in the northern galaxy."
"You two are so much stronger than me.. And if you're afraid…"
The scarred warrior was offended. "Listen here! I'm not scared! We fled so I can get stronger!" The infant began to cry as his mother glared daggers at her mate. "And to protect my family." he added sheepishly.
Gohan motioned for Bardock to meet him outside while Gine calmed her son.
"If you're concerned about blending in, I was about to go to the city to get some things you can't get out here in the wilderness. You and your wife and son are welcome to join me."
Bardock mulled over his words. He was still very apprehensive towards Gohan, but seeing as how they had no sense of direction on this alien planet, he agreed. "Let me just get Gine and my son and we can go."
"I know you may have physical strength, but I was trained in techniques by my old master, Roshi. If yo-"
The saiyan cut him off with laughter. "Yeah! Sure! I'll let a real warrior teach me!" He said sarcastically, snark dripping from his every word. He went back inside and whispered to Gine, so as not to wake the sleeping Kakarot.
"Let's go. Not a word until Kakarot wakes up himself, ok?
And so Bardock, Gine, and their newfound acquaintance made of towards the City.
oXo
As the trip was a very quiet one, everyone had quite a bit of time to think. It was during this time that Bardock's guilt caught up to him. Gine sensed this and went to him.
"Are you alright, Bardock? What's wrong?"
"I feel like a damn coward." replied Bardock "I know they wouldn't have listened, but I still can't help but feel guilty. They were sitting ducks while Frieza butchered them. I wish I could have been strong enough to kill that cold bastard.."
"Don't beat yourself up. They wouldn't have listened, and we wouldn't have Kakarot. Wishing wouldn't have made you strong enough. Our poor baby would have been all alone forever! They would have never come to check on him, and he'd die alone on this planet. You did the right thing, I think. " Gine said, trying to comfort Bardock.
"Gine. I'm gonna tear him and his entire family apart for what he did." By this time Bardock began shaking with anger, the full weight of Frieza's deeds falling on him.
Gine saw this and looked at Bardock for a few seconds and looked down at Kakarot. "I know you will, Bardock. And you little Kakarot and I to help.."
Bardock was about to insist that he'd never let her go near Frieza when Gohan shouted from ahead. "Ah, here we are! Orange Star City!"
"Gah. I was right about these whelps being weak. Look how many are out and about! Are there any warriors at all?" muttered Bardock under his breath.
"This is wonderful!" Said Gine. Her face was glowing with happiness.
"You've always loved being around weaklings. I guess that's why you love Raditz so much." said Bardock smirking.
Gine glanced at Bardock with a dissatisfied look on her face. "You really don't give Raditz enough credit. He was assigned to the Prince, as you told me earlier.."
"Ah yes. Assigned to the brat prince of a dead race.." said Bardock as they began walking in the streets.
"Bardock look! The people do look exactly like us." said Gine with a surprised, yet excited expression "We can fit in perfectly here!"
As Bardock and Gine traveled through the streets people began staring at them.
"Why do those people have tails, mommy?"
"It's not Halloween yet you freaks! It's the middle of June!"
"Did you get those clothes in a dumpster?
The scarred warrior scoffed. "Fit in, my ass." Bardock grew angry. "Listen up weaklings! One more remark and I light this place up!
All of a sudden a large man appeared out of the large crowds of people. " You think you can threaten my city? Tell you what, I'll let you try. "
"Stop right there!" Gohan stepped in. "Sir, we want no trouble."
"Too late for mercy, old man." The giant man cocked his arm back. "Take this!"
The man swung but his hand was stopped by the index finger of Gohan. "I insist you keep walking young man."
The large man;s eyes grew wide with fear. "That's insane! I must be going crazy!" said the man running away frantically."
"It appears I misjudged you, old man. You might pale in comparison to me, but you're strong next to these guys." Bardock said. He had an idea. "Maybe you or your master could train my son when he's old enough. I might be too intense for a novice." He muttered to himself.
"Threatening the people we're going to live with wasn't your smartest idea, Bardock." Gine scolded. "It's not their fault we look so out of place. Look at you! You're covered in blood still!"
Bardock looked at himself in a nearby shop window, seeing the very dried blood on his broken armor. "I suppose I could use some cleaning up." he admitted to his mate sheepishly. While they had stopped for food on their journey and to sleep, they didn't wash.
Gohan agreed. "It would do me no harm to buy each of you an outfit, I suppose. Consider it a welcome to Earth gift."
The couple nodded in thanks. "So it's pronounced Earth, eh?" the scarred warrior asked.
In the end, Bardock picked out an inexpensive loose green gi with a black undershirt matching his broken armor so as to conceal his tail. Gine, on the other hand was enthralled by the earthling apparel. However, she chose a what the clerk called 'jeans' and a pastel yellow blouse. Nothing fancy, because they didn't want to trouble Gohan. She was a bit disappointed that her mate hadn't picked something more 'fashionable', but it made sense given his love for fighting.
It was getting to be about midday. "Bardock and I can't thank you enough, Gohan," the petite saiyan said.
"It was no problem, now, I've got my things so I think I'll be taking my leave. You take care now. If you ever need any help, I'm certain you two can find me again. Good luck to you and your son." the kind old man said as he turned and began his journey, exchanging waves with the saiyan family.
"Gohan was so kind to us, Bardock."
"I know, it disgusts me." he said.
Gine turned around at this and was about to scold her mate. "Kidding, Gine. I kind of warmed up to him. I recognized him as the man who raised Kakarot in my visions. He would've raised him fine. But about his kindness, I don't understand it, but I'd have to be stupid to not appreciate all he's done even if it will never happen."
The petite saiyan let out a sigh at this. "So where do we go from here?"
Bardock sighed as well. "I don't know. We should probably start by getting jobs for curr-"
"Look mama! That baby's adorable!" a blue haired toddler gushed.
"Would you look at that." Bardock muttered.
"Now now, Bulma, what have I told you about running off from me in the city? Come along , let's leave the nice couple alone." the blonde woman accompanying her said.
"Oh it's no trouble. Bulma, is it? Do you want to say hi to Kakarot?" Gine said sweetly.
Bulma walked over to Gine, who was crouching down and holding her son. "Kakarot? What kind of name is that?" she said.
At her comment, Kakarot proceeded to throw up on the little girl and giggle.
Bardock began to laugh and Gine became embarrassed. "Oh! I'm so sorry, dear!"
"Ew, ew, ew!" the toddler shouted.
"Now, now. It's just some spit-up, Bulma. You'll be fine." The blonde said as she dabbed a cloth on her daughter's dress. She looked up towards Gine. "Kids, right?"
Gine handed her son off to Bardock and laughed. The two mothers began to converse for what seemed like hours.
"That's one of the girls from my visions, Kakarot." he said, looking down at his son. Kakarot gave a giggle as Bardock tickled at his belly. He looked towards the two women, one of which who had Bulma tugging at her pants. "We're going to be fine, Kakarot."
oXo
A/N: How are you all enjoying this story? i'd like to hear your thoughts. I am debating either updating every three days, or every Monday and Friday. Please PM or review to express how you feel.
Thanks, Sergeant Plopp