Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, blah blah blah, please support the official release!
It had been three days since Bulma discovered the Dragon Balls were being gathered by somebody else. And now, they had a fourth. But she had been doing research tirelessly to try and figure out who was doing this and why.
"I've got it!" She called out suddenly and triumphantly, but her smile almost immediately turned to a frown and a look of concern as she sat at one of her many computers.
"It's about time." Bardock responded gruffly. He hadn't been much help, either lounging around waiting or training in the gravity chamber again.
Bulma felt annoyance bubble up inside her, but she decided to ignore it for now.
"Just come look at this." She waved him over, moving her chair to the side so he could see the screen as well.
"What am I looking at?" He asked as he scanned over the page.
Bulma sighed, pointing to a large symbol.
"This is the crest of the Red Ribbon Army... an extremist group whose morals are well into the grey area." She answered.
"Looks like they've been around for a while." He noted.
"Years. My father has spoken about them a couple times, but I didn't think they would go this far..." She paled at the reports of attacks on cities, villages, anywhere that had a Dragon Ball.
She swallowed, hands shaking slightly as she looked up at him.
"Can you take on an entire army?" She asked tentatively.
"I've done it before." He replied curtly. "But how would your world react to seeing a flying man shooting beams from his hands and exploding dozens of soldiers?"
She bit her lip, considering his words.
"Well... some would be afraid I think, but others would think the Red Ribbon Army is getting what they deserve."
"And what do you think?" He replied.
"I think... you want to do the right thing." She answered, looking back up at him. "And these soldiers are hurting people for selfish reasons."
He grunted, crossing his arms.
"I bet the guy in charge wants to take over the world or something like that. That's why he needs the Dragon Balls."
"And that's why you need to stop them!" Her voice pitched a bit higher in fear, as she stood from her chair suddenly.
"Please, I know this isn't your home... This isn't your fight. But if you start helping us, I know the people of this world won't just see you as a weapon."
"How can you possibly know that?" He questioned, giving her a piercing stare.
"I... I don't." She admitted nervously. "But I have faith. And you should, too."
He stared at her for a moment longer, considering his options, before looking away with a sigh.
"I guess there's only one way to find out... Let's go take care of these Red Ribbon guys."
She let out a breath of relief and smiled before realizing what he said.
"You want me to come with you?"
"Well, you know way more about them. I can use that. Don't worry, you won't be near the fighting. Besides, you can just use a communicator to talk to me, right?" He replied.
"O-oh, yes, of course." She nodded quickly. "You'll need these, then."
She handed him the dragon radar and a small device he could affix to his ear. He eyed it curiously, noticing the similarity it had to the scouter he used to wear.
"Test, one two. Can you hear me?" She spoke into her own ear piece.
He nodded and gave a thumbs up as way of response. She smiled again.
"Okay, I guess we're ready. If we want to go under the radar, we can't take a jet."
"I guess that means I'm carrying you again." He spoke with a slight smirk.
She tried to hide her blush, nodding at him as they walked outside. With little hesitation, he scooped her into his arms, heading off towards the base of this new enemy.
"Are you sure the Dragon Balls are in that compound?" He spoke softly, even though they were more than a mile from the nearest structure.
"That's what the radar says." Bulma replied, laying low and looking at the base through a pair of high-powered binoculars. "And if I had to guess, they're at the top of the tallest building."
Bardock snorted slightly.
"Of course. Should I go and get them?"
She sighed, pulling the binoculars away and looking over at him with a nod.
"They have six and the seventh is on its way. I'll keep watch from here."
She watched as he began stretching, rolling his shoulders and doing a few test punches. He was about to take off when Bulma spoke again.
"And Bardock... please be careful."
He wasn't all that surprised to hear the concern in her voice, but he nodded.
"You know me." He said with a grin, taking off into the sky and flying towards the encampment.
Bulma sighed and gazed through the binoculars again, watching as he approached. It wasn't long before Bardock started taking fire from their air defense, and the ground troops soon noticed his approach as well. Bulma jumped as she heard the cannons fire even from the distance where she was hiding.
"Bardock, are you okay?" She asked into her speaker loudly. She was sure it would be hard to hear her over all the explosions.
"I'm fine, blueberry. Watch this." Came the simple response.
She watched in awe as the enemy base lit up like a Christmas tree, Bardock shooting balls and beams of energy down at them. Their machines and men stood little chance against his onslaught. Suddenly, there was a pause, and all the explosions stopped. Bulma fumbled around for a moment, speaking into her communicator again.
"What's going on? Did something happen?" She asked.
"A voice is calling out for a ceasefire. I think it's their general." Bardock replied.
"What is he saying?" She asked.
"He says he'll give me the Dragon Balls if I stop destroying his men... What do you think?"
Bulma bit her lip in thought for a moment.
"Do you believe him?" She asked.
"He sounds pretty scared to me. Plus, I don't think he has any power without those balls. And I already destroyed most of his army."
"Then... I guess we're done here. Get the Dragon Balls and meet back where you dropped me off, okay?" She suggested.
"Will do." He replied simply.
Watching the camp through her binoculars didn't help much anymore. There was too much smoke. And he was worryingly silent for a good ten minutes. She was about to yell for him over the comms when she finally heard a response.
"Sorry for the silent streak, I had to fly a little ways to get number seven. I'm on my way back to you." He spoke.
She sighed in relief when she heard his voice, smiling as she saw him through the binoculars in the distance, flying towards her. She only had to wait another minute before he landed next to her. He set down a heavy bag, opening it to reveal seven golden orbs.
"Wow... I can't believe you did it." She smiled up at him.
"Are you doubting my skills?" He questioned, raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms.
Her eyes widened and she shook her head.
"No, of course not! It's just... I can't believe you defeated an entire army in less than an hour."
He shrugged.
"All in a day's work. Now, what are we going to wish for?" He asked.
She blinked. She had been so worried about someone else using them, she had forgotten all about it.
"Oh... I guess I didn't think about that." She admitted, blushing slightly in embarrassment.
He chuckled and shook his head.
"Alright, then if you don't mind... I think I could use that wish for something."
She tilted her head curiously.
"What is it?"
His smile fell into a frown and he sighed.
"You know how you said there might be other Saiyans out there that escaped my planet exploding?"
She nodded.
"Well... you were right. And as it turns out, my son is alive."
Her eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected this turn of events. And she could swear she saw hope in Bardock's eyes.
"Are... are you sure?" She asked breathlessly.
He nodded slowly, not looking at her for the moment.
"When I went to Other World... I learned about beings called Kais. And the one that watched over this galaxy... He's been looking since I first visited. And just the other day, he found him." He replied, his voice wavering slightly.
He wasn't one to get emotional easily. Saiyans saw sentiment as a sign of weakness. But after all this time believing he was alone, only to find out his son might be alive... He looked back at Bulma, trying to gauge her reaction.
Her brow furrowed and she was biting her lip, obviously in deep contemplation. Bardock had a fleeting thought that she looked cute like that, but quickly shoved it away. If Raditz was alive, then that meant maybe Gine was alive as well. Romance didn't really exist for Saiyans, but he still felt he couldn't betray her... But he didn't know for sure.
"I think you should go for it." Bulma spoke suddenly, snapping Bardock out of his reverie.
He was surprised by that response.
"Are you sure? That would mean two aliens you have to deal with."
Bulma rolled her eyes and smiled a bit.
"Please, if I can handle you then I think I can handle... your son."
He noticed the pause, but didn't think much of it, letting out a long sigh.
"Okay then... Here goes."
He stood over the Dragon Balls, glancing at her once more before turning back and reciting the words.
"Eternal dragon! I have gathered all seven Dragon Balls! Rise and grant my wish!" He called out.
The bright, midday sky turned black and stormy as clouds suddenly appeared. Thunder rumbled and lightning struck the ground nearby, as the wind picked up speed, howling and sending dirt and sand swirling everywhere. Bardock stood resolutely as that familiar, golden glow rose from the orbs and streaked up into the sky, forming into a giant, green-scaled dragon.
"I am the Eternal Dragon. Speak your wish and I shall grant it." It spoke with a deep, booming voice.
Bardock hesitated only for a moment before shouting his reply.
"I wish to bring my son, Raditz, to Earth! And if she's alive... my wife Gine as well!" He called out.
The dragon was silent for a moment. And then, it spoke again.
"The one called Gine is no longer living. However, I can fulfill the first part of your wish." It replied.
Bardock clenched his fist, a single tear streaking down his face and no rain to hide it. Still, at least now he knew. He nodded, and the dragon's eyes began to glow red. After a moment, the glow faded.
"Your wish has been granted. Farewell!" It boomed, the seven orbs spiraling into the sky and dispersing to the corners of the Earth yet again.
Bardock collapsed to his knees as the skies began to clear, punching the ground and leaving a crater in frustration. He felt a soft hand on his shoulder, and though he knew it was Bulma, for a moment he hoped to turn and see Gine there. Instead it was the familiar blue hair and concerned look.
"I'm sorry." He apologized softly, standing back to his full height.
Bulma shook her head, standing with him.
"Don't be... I know it must be painful for you."
Bardock was about to reply when he heard a sudden, faint boom. He looked up, shielding his eyes from the sun and watching as a Saiyan pod entered the atmosphere, streaking straight down and landing in the desert a few miles away.
"Is that him? Is that... your son?" Bulma asked a bit nervously.
But Bardock, now able to sense energy thanks to King Kai's training, knew it was him. It was Raditz.
"Come on. Let's go meet him." He gave a half-hearted grin.
She looked at him, hesitant, but trusting his judgment. He swept her into his arms again, flying off towards the crash site. A part of him was hopeful, but also apprehensive... There may be others out there, and if Raditz was still working under Frieza... That would be a problem. He shook his head, trying to clear away the doubts as they closed the distance to their destination. The ship landing had left a decent sized crater, so Bardock landed and set Bulma down at the edge.
"Stay here." He commanded, though heard no argument from her.
Still cautious, he approached the pod as the capsule popped open. He held his breath, but let it out slowly as he saw the familiar armor and long, spiky hair. Raditz stepped out of the pod a little disoriented, wondering what in the world just happened... He had been flying through space and, all of a sudden, he was landing on a foreign planet. And to add to the young Saiyan's confusion, there was a man standing in front of him that looked just like his father. Before he could say anything, however, a quick beam of light destroyed the scouter on his face.
"What in the blazes-?!" He cursed, his skin being scorched by the blast, eyes wide. "Father... is that really you?"
"We need to talk, Raditz. And I don't want anyone listening in." He said simply.
Raditz nodded slowly, now noticing another figure at the top of the crater.
"Who's that?" He sneered slightly at the woman, who took a step back in slight fear.
Bardock stuck an arm out between Raditz, preventing him from getting any closer to Bulma.
"She's a local of this planet. She's with me."
Raditz raised an eyebrow as he looked at his father.
"You have a lot of explaining to do, father."
"As do you, Raditz." He replied curtly. "Come. Let's find someplace more comfortable to talk."
Bulma could only watch nervously as they stared each other down. Things were about to get a lot more interesting.