While Vegeta was distracted by Gohan retelling Trunks' beatdown on Hercule, a trio removed themselves from the table of the tournament's restaurant and stood outside of the building. If it weren't for Goku stepping in before his son and his girlfriend entered, Gohan would have seen his grandfather getting the beating of his life...

Once again.

"Here," Krillin handed a senzu bean over to the damaged Bardock, who still had the marks of Vegeta's fingers around his neck. "It's the last one I have, but Goku really wanted me to give it to you."

Bardock glared over at his son, who raised his hands in front of him and laughed nervously. "Hey, at least I got him off ya!"

"I don't need your help, shorty!" Bardock crossed his arms over his chest, looking away from the now forlorn human although the dried blood around his mouth said otherwise. "It didn't even damage me that much."

"Yeah, right," Krillin mumbled, urging the senzu bean forward in hopes his best friend's dad would take it. "I've never seen Vegeta that pissed off before, and he's actually tried to kill me on two separate occasions!"

Bardock raised an eyebrow, his attention back on the little human. He had seen visions of a child much like him, running alongside the young Kakarot carrying large boxes of milk jugs. The only difference was the man standing next to him had hair, as the boy was bald. The Saiyan blinked a couple of times, trying to imagine Krillin with no hair until he realized he hadn't responded yet. "A tiny human like you survived Vegeta's rage?"

Krillin scratched the back of his head, slightly sweatdropping but overall looking proud of himself. "Well, I had a bit of help from Goku and Gohan... But anyway, Vegeta use to be one scary dude! I mean, his face still gives me nightmares, but I was scared to the point I almost killed him so he would never terrorize us again."

Bardock's eyes nearly buldged out of his head as he looked Krillin up and down. "What the hell are you!?"

Goku laughed while putting his arm around the neck of his childhood friend. "Krillin is a lot stronger than he looks! For crying out-loud, he married 18!"

The short man blushed wildly, trying to shove his friend off him. "Hey! She's different now!"

Bardock continued to blink and make sense of this guy, while the two friends started lightly sparring each other and his son trying hard to figure out how his wife had a baby. Watching Krillin fume and look so helpless made the Saiyan wonder how such a being once had the decision to play God when it came to the prince's life. If the man had decided to kill him, just how much differently would be the current time he was stuck in be?

"So, what do you say? Are you going to take it or no?"

The Saiyan looked down to see a now messy-haired Krillin trying yet again to offer him a senzu bean and scoffed. "I said I don't need it!" As he turned his back to walk away from the two, he fell flat on his face due to the throbbing of his head.

Goku and Krillin sweatdropped, and then ran to the fallen Saiyan's side.

"Gosh, really!?" Gohan whispered into Vegeta's ear so Videl couldn't hear what they were talking, although her eyes were in full-on suspicion mode. "Bardock is the legendary super Saiyan!?"

The widow-peaked Saiyan prince rolled his eyes at the closeness of the spawn, but whispered back since he didn't want the third degree from any earth women today. He already escaped from his wife. "That bastard is the whole reason we lost our race, Gohan! He's a traitor!"

Gohan blinked, trying to stifle his laughter but a smile still formed on his face. "How is he a traitor? It sounds kinda cool to me, having a grandpa that was the first ever super Saiyan!"

Vegeta snarled, reached his hands towards Gohan and gripping him by the collar of his black jumpsuit hidden under a green tunic while looking into his sun-glass covered eyes. "Kakarot's bloodline does not contain any trace of the first super Saiyan, let's make that clear right now!"

The Great Saiyaman blinked, confused as ever at the angry prince holding onto him. "...But didn't you just say he was the legendary-"

"I most certainly did not!"

"Okay..." Gohan blinked some more, and Vegeta released him while slightly fuming. "Well, whatever Bardock is, aren't you sorta thankful for what he did? If Frieza never feared you guys and the Saiyans continued living on, you wouldn't be having the life you do now. I don't think any of us would. I mean, aren't you thankful for Bulma and Trunks?"

Vegeta's glare was perfected to the point that he could hide his emotions well in his orbs, able to remain looking indifferent as he thought about Planet Vegeta still thriving. Images of people bowing at his feet, at populations of beings absolutely terrified of him and begging for mercy while he just laughed, watching them die one by one. His finger started twitching slightly, invisioning the moment his race all found themselves reaching the super Saiyan transformation and murdering Frieza and his henchmen in cold blood. Even the low-class would be able to do it...

"Speaking of the dog," Vegeta eyed the trio as they reentered the building, smirking when he saw Bardock was back at full health. "I either didn't beat you hard enough, or your clown of a son gave you a senzu bean!"

Taking her attention of the two she was previously focused on, Videl turned around and gasped in horror at the sight of Gohan's grandfather. From his mouth downwards, there was blood all over his skin that seemed to have dried. "What the heck happened to you!? The adult division hasn't even started yet!"

"Funny," Bardock looked down at his hands, ignoring the girl and looking down at Krillin. "That bean completely healed me but I still look like I've been through hell."

"Yeah," Krilling chuckled. "It cures cuts and continuous bleeding, but I guess when your blood has dried it remains until you clean it yourself!"

Before Bardock could reply, Videl popped up in front of him much to Gohan's dismay as the teenager groaned. The Saiyan's eyes twitched, looking into her blue orbs that seemed to pity him slightly. "What do you want, girl!?"

"I have some medical cloths in my bag," she began heading towards the door, looking over her shoulder and motioning for Bardock and Gohan to follow her. "I can clean you up! After all, it's the least I can do for putting up with me these past few weeks." The girl winked, causing Bardock to eye her suspiciously until his nudged him towards her.

"Aw, come on!" Goku laughed. "She just wants to help you out!"

"What the hell is up with you guys and helping people!?"

"Hurry up, guys!" Videl called, already having a foot out the door while Gohan scrambled to his feet to get to Bardock's side. The teen rested a hand on his grandfather's shoulder, taking a deep breath to calm himself down.

"If she asks you any questions, just play along, alright?"

"You mean be a smart ass?"

"Exactly."

"We can't go in there!" Gohan's eyes widened in fear, looking at the sign of the room Videl was trying to take him and his grandfather. "This is the woman's locker room!"

Videl rolled her eyes, pulling the door open. "Your friend's wife and me are the only females competing! She's back at the restaurant; there's nobody in here!"

"Yeah, but-" Gohan gulped. "I've been taught to never go inside anywhere that belongs to a girl!"

Kakarot must have taught him everything he knows.

Bardock chuckled to himself, causing the teenagers to look up at him in confusion. Smirking, the Saiyan followed Videl inside the woman's locker room and left Gohan outside with a reddening face. "I'm sorry, Mom." He gulped, entering the room and shutting the door slowly behind him. Once he was fully inside, he closed his eyes tightly and even behind the dark sunglasses, the girl could tell.

"Gohan!" Videl rolled her eyes, but a smile was on her face. She found it somehow cute that he was so awkward around girls and yet respectful. "You can open your eyes! There's nobody in here!"

Slowly following the order, Gohan looked around the empty room of lockers and showers and sighed in relief. He watched as the girl opened her locker and pulled out a green backpack, ordering Bardock to sit on one of the benches. While rummaging through the bag, one of Videl's bras fell out and landed on Gohan's foot.

"V-Videl!" Gohan's face was deep red, panic sweat forming all over his face as he pointed a shaky finger at the object near his boot. "Your bra!"

Bardock sighed deeply, rubbing his temple. "God, strike me down where I sit right now." The Saiyan lowered his hands away from his head and sent a disgusted look in the direction of the Great Saiyaman. "Holy hell kid, it's a fucking bra! Pick it up!"

"I can't," Gohan blushed harder, backing away from the undergarment as if it were deadly. "It's been somewhere!"

Videl huffed, slamming down her first-aid kit before crossing her arms over her chest. "What is that suppose to mean!? Are you calling me dirty or something!?"

"No!" Gohan waved his hands frantically, not sure what kind of situation he got himself into. "It's just that, uh... Oh, I don't know! Help, Gramps!"

Bardock sighed heavily once more while standing up, and walked over to the bra to pick it up. Just to be an ass, he shook it in his grandson's direction causing the teen to scurry away even farther. He threw it to Videl, who angrily stuffed it into her backpack. Sitting back down, he shook his head at the recovering Gohan. "I don't see how you two kids could be mates if you're this terrified over a piece of material."

"We are not mates!" Videl yelled, suddenly appearing in front of Bardock who winced in pain as she started damping a wet cloth against his bloody skin. She started to scrub harder, deciding to release her anger out on the poor Saiyan grandfather.

Gohan sat on the bench opposite from Bardock, a sad but itching thought come to his mind. "Whatever happened to my grandma?"

"What?" Bardock groaned, trying to swat Videl out of the way so he could look at Gohan but to no avail.

The teen fiddled with his fingers, hoping he was asking the right thing. "Well, I don't know what she meant to you or what you called her, but you obviously had to have had some sort of woman once in your life in order for my dad to be here..." He was trying to recall how his other grandfather, Ox, told him about the birds and the bees. "I guess what I'm trying to say, is who is she?"

"Was."

Videl took a step back when she heard the tone in Bardock's voice suddenly change. She was near Gohan now, and the two teens were looking at the pensive man sadly. "What was that, Gramps?"

"You said who is she," Bardock looked at a tile on the floor, not wanting the kids to see his eyes. "The correct phrasing is 'was'. She... died a long time ago when Frieza's Supernova hit."

"Huh?" Videl tilted her head. "Frieza?"

Gohan was too absorbed in his grandfather's sudden sadness that he didn't bother trying to come up with a cover story. "But... how do you know that? What if she survived like you did and she's out there somewhere?"

Bardock shrugged, trying to count the number of dots on the tile to ignore the feeling swelling up inside him. "When someone means so much to you, you can sense that they're near you... or alive."

Videl found herself caught in his words, now sitting on the bench next to Gohan. She felt her own heart ache for the man across from them. "And you can't sense her?"

Bardock looked up briefly at the teens, noticing how close they were. He reluctantly smiled sadly as memories he had forced away for such a long time finally found their way. "Her name was Gine," he threw his head back, the sound of it hitting the locker behind him echoing throughout the room. "She was so... god damn kind. She was so weak and yet never feared anything." The male looked up at the fluorescent lights, laughing to himself. "I saved her ass so many times..."

The teenagers smiled sadly, trying to picture the masculine man rescuing a dainty woman that possibly resembled Goku. Videl had absentmindedly placed her hand on Gohan's knee while Bardock continued describing the woman named Gine, while the boy placed his hand on top of hers as the trio laughed at some of the outrageous things Bardock had to go through to get her out of trouble.

The girl didn't question him about space pods, or space monsters, or whatever the hell a Saiyan was. The moment shared between Gohan and his grandfather was unlike the times she had spent training with them. There was no hostility in the air, there was no hiding behind a mask anymore especially on Bardock's part. Looking over at the laughing male holding her hand, she always had a suspicion that he was from another world.

When someone means so much to you, you can sense that they're near you... or alive.

The words of Bardock's echoed through her mind as she felt Gohan's hand tighten.

A newly cleaned face Bardock headed towards the arena with his son and Piccolo next to him. Goku yawned loudly, stretching his arms out and slapping his father on the back with a grin. "Gohan's girlfriend sure made you look a lot better!"

"I've always looked this good, kid." Bardock smirked, but seemed to walk a little taller while Goku snickered to himself.

"Man, I hope whoever fights me doesn't punch me in the gut! My stomach is so full!" As soon as he said it, they heard Vegeta in the background talking to Gohan.

"If I get matched up against Kakarot, the first thing I'm going to do is punch him in the gut!"

Goku shook his head, but a childish grin remained while elbowing Bardock. "Oh man, that guy has no mercy!"

Bardock was about to respond, but froze when he saw beings in front of the group. The visions of a purple skinned Shin-jin immediately ran through his mind, and he started to become uneasy. He cursed to himself, angry that all he got out of the vision was the stranger standing next to them in some sort of ship while Vegeta got that 'M' on his forehead.

There was a taller stranger next to the one in his vision. This Shin-jin was red, with long white hair compared to the shorter one's mohawk. They smirked at the group, and began walking towards them.

"I've got a strange feeling about them," Piccolo didn't take his eyes off the strangers as they slowly approached. "Anyone else?" The group nodded in agreement, keeping steady eyes on the purple one as he stopped directly in front of Bardock's son.

"Do you happen to be this man named 'Goku'?"

The Saiyan raised an eyebrow at the purple stranger, but immediately smirked back. "Yeah, I am. Who are you?"

The purple one chuckled darkly, taking a look at his red partner before settling his eyes back on Goku. "I guess you could say I'm a big fan. May I shake your hand?"

Bardock sent a look towards his son, placing his arm across Goku's chest and shaking his head. "I don't think you should do it, son. I don't trust this guy."

"It's just a handshake!" Goku laughed, gently removing Bardock's arm while extending a hand towards the stranger. Bardock growled as the purple creature's eyes glazed over with secrets.

"You're as brave as people say you are," the person coyly smiled, bringing his hand back to his side. "I look forward to competing against you." Another look exchanged between the two strangers, before they turned their backs and left the group.

After a few moments of silence, Piccolo looked at Goku who was staring after them. "I have a really bad feeling about those guys, Goku. They're strong."

"Yeah," Goku nodded, but there was a look of determination in his eyes. "Really strong."

"Will all competitors please enter the ring!" The blonde announcer called as the crowd cheered seeing the best of the world's fighters step on the arena. "We are about to start the draw!"

Bardock scanned the faces of the fighters, not seeing anyone too intimidating until his eyes stopped on a creepy looking duo. It felt his stomach twist up when he saw they had the 'M' on their foreheads, still not sure what it all meant but knowing it had something to do with the purple Shin-jin.

"Hey," Goku laughed, pointing at a strangely dressed competitor and nudging Bardock. "Look at Mighty Mask! I'm surprised he can walk!"

Bardock's eyes narrowed on this 'Mighty Mask' person who was bumbling around the arena, taking note that his arms and legs were extremely tiny. He focused on the set of eyes that nobody seemed to be paying attention to located right where Mighty Mask's groin should be, and shook his head in disbelief when he detected the innocent look he had come to know so well.

Stalking his way towards the clumsy fighter, Bardock snarled to get his attention as both sets of eyes widened. "Goten! Your grandpa is coming towards us! Do you think he knows!?"

"No way!" Goten gasped. "He can't! We have the perfect disguise!"

Stopping in front of the weird man, Bardock crossed his arms over his chest and smirked at him. "Nice get-up. Where'd you get it?"

"Uh," Trunks disguised his voice, trying to sound as manly and grown as possible. "My mother!"

Bardock chuckled darkly, noticing how the tiny pair of legs began to shake. "Your mother seems to have a knack at making embarrassing costumes, doesn't she?"

"How do you know my mother, sir!?" Trunks quipped, clearing his voice. "She lives in a far away land!"

"Oh, you mean in the bleachers over there?"

Trunks sweatdropped, and gulped. "What are you talking about, Bard-..sir! My mother is in outer space traveling-"

"Knock your shit, Trunks," Bardock shook his head, and knelt down so he could look Goten in the eyes. "Hey, kid."

"Aw man!" The boys whined. "We're busted!"

"I'm not going to tell anyone," Bardock rolled his eyes, getting to his feet while he overlooked the crowd of oblivious fighters. "I just don't get how anyone can tell it's you."

"You're not?" The boys blinked and spoke in unison once more. "Why?"

Bardock's eye slightly twitched when he heard the sound of the kids' voices combine, sounding exactly like the mini Vegeta in his vision. He took a deep breath, trying to ignore it. "I want you guys to kick some ass, that's all. It's one thing to see you fight against each other, but together I bet you're deadly." He smirked as both sets of eyes flashed over with sheer joy, and Mighty Mask jumped up and down in excitement.

"You're the best, Bardock!" Trunks beamed behind the costume.

"Yeah, you're the best, Grandpa!"

You boys are going to need to learn how to fight together, anyway.

Bardock waved them off, and walked over to the lone corner of the arena while the announcer began calling people up to draw numbers. He leaned against the ropes, extremely bored until the announcer called out, "Shin!"

He watched as the purple creature from before, this so called 'Shin' made his way up and drew a number. "Okay, Shin! You're going against Ma Junior!" Bardock looked over at the Namek who seemed to be caught off guard by the news, but tried keeping his cool. The Saiyan raised an eyebrow, observing the way he seemed to fear Shin.

He must know something...

Bardock's eyes furrowed as the two exchanged looks, his head beginning to pound.

But what?

"Oh, wow!" The announcer yelled, excited like a kid in a candy store. "Ladies and gentlemen, for the first round we have a very exciting fight! A previous champion going against the man who broke the punching machine! Goku and Vegeta!"

The crowd cheered wildly while Bardock blinked in disbelief as the two Saiyans smirked at each other and exchanged a few insults. He was so distracted by his thoughts that he didn't hear when his son or the prince were called up.

"Damn," Krillin started chuckling, standing close to Bardock with 18 who looked disinterested in the whole thing. "I thought they'd be going head to head for the championship final! Not the first round!"

"Bardock!" The announcer called. "Bardock!?"

Rolling his eyes as the crowed erupted in cheers for the armored man, expecting great things from him due to his outfit. He reached into the jar and pulled out a number, shoving it in the announcer's face as the two men behind him wrote it down on the chart. Taking a close look at it, the announcer's face grew into a large grin. "Alright! Bardock, you're going head to head with the Great Saiyaman!"