Dragon Ball ZGX

Rated T: Blood, Cursing, Suggestive themes.

Description: Bardock awakens on an unknown planet, finding himself to be alive and well. He runs into another Saiyan on the planet who explains that the natives of the planet have been taking care of himself and Bardock, and that a small handfull of Saiyans besides Raditz, Nappa and Prince Vegeta, the Saiyans Frieza had kept for himself, have managed to survive Frieza's attack on Planet Vegeta. He also learns that he's been in a coma for thirty years. How will this affect things, will yet another alteration take place in this timeline? Another change to further throw things off course?

Act 1: Planet Trade Organization Saga

Chapter 11: The Guardian of Transeki

xXxXxXx

Space: Unknown

Somewhere deep in the cold void of space, a PTO attack ball flew without a set course. Inside sat the son of the tyrant Frieza, who was mangled and mutilated, missing his left arm, and his right leg. Eyce sat in the attack ball in excruciating pain. Not only did he lose an arm and a leg, but he was missing part of his head, and was severely burnt all over. To top it all off, he was angry and ashamed. He thought he would be the one to finally beat a Super Saiyan, and rid the Universe of the Saiyan race.

His failure was humiliating to him. Not because he wanted to make his family proud, but instead to rub it in their faces that he was the one who erased the Saiyans for good, not his father, not his uncle, but him. The only one he truly wanted make proud was his mother, the one person in his bloodline that didn't hurt him in any way; the only one who truly cared about him. But even though he surpassed Frieza and Cooler by a huge margin, he still fell victim to the hands of a Super Saiyan, and that was both embarrassing and infuriating for Eyce.

He contemplated trying to regenerate his missing limbs, but he was too weak. The combination of his physical injuries, and his unhealthy state of mind, left him far too weak and tired to even start the regeneration process. He just sat there staring out the small window into space.

"I will get you..." Eyce said spitefully. He coughed violently for a few seconds, then gritted his teeth. Then, following a loud yell; "I WILL GET YOU BARDOCK!"

xXxXxXx

Elsewhere, another ship was also racing through space, the Capsule 3 spaceship. Inside, the Saiyan Prince Vegeta walked circles around the center console of the spherical ship. He'd been sensing large ki signatures in the direction opposite his destination of Earth all day.

It started with three, all of them familiar to Vegeta. He recognized two of them as Saiyans. The other one felt similar to Frieza. All three of them fluctuated throughout the day, but the one similar to Frieza remained stronger until a brief few seconds where one of the Saiyan power levels skyrocketed, dwarfing the other two. A few seconds later, the Frieza-like ki signature vanished.

Vegeta stopped near the rear of the ship and looked out the window. What is going? Don't tell me there's another Super Saiyan out there. That other ki has completely vanished.

Vegeta growled and turned away from the window, then lent against the wall and sighed. "I know a Saiyan's ki when I feel it, and it's definitely not Kakarot. I can sense he and his bratty child training with the Namek." Vegeta growled again and pushed away from the wall.

He started making laps around the ship again, thinking about the strange ki signatures. Turning around and finding out who they belonged to crossed his mind briefly, but he realized he couldn't do that just yet.

"That'll have to wait." Said Vegeta. "I'll have to go AFTER the Androids are destroyed. I can't let them take away my chance to finally kill Kakarot myself." Vegeta then approached a hole in the floor with a ladder going down which lead to the bedroom area. "After I take care of that, I'll find those other Saiyans. Maybe I can start rebuilding the Saiyan Empire after all." He chuckled as he began to levitate and lower himself into the hole.

xXxXxXx

Planet Transeki: Location Unknown

His vision was blurry, a mix of yellow, orange and green. Bardock groaned as the sight gave him a migraine almost as soon as he opened his eyes. He blinked a few times, trying to clear his vision. With each blink, the colors were starting to take shape. The green was starting to look like leaves swaying with the wind. The yellow and orange were the sky, but his vision was still too blurry to fully separate the colors.

Bardock blinked a few more times. Still his vision was blurry, but he could make sense of the area around him. He sat up and looked around. He was surrounded by trees and tall plants. He could hear water, alerting him of a nearby stream. He knew he wasn't anywhere near the area he and Sheamus battled Eyce, that fight ended in a clearing with very little grass. He knew someone had moved him, but the question was who.

"Ah, good to see you've finally awoken." Said a raspy, elderly sounding voice.

Bardock turned his head to the left, towards the origin of the voice. He could hear footsteps getting louder, but he couldn't see anyone. "Who's there? Show yourself!" He demanded.

"No need to be hostile my boy." The voice replied. Bardock watched as a figure stepped out from behind some thick bushes. "Considering I saved your life."

Bardock watched the man approach him. He rubbed his arms across his eyes and blinked a few more times. Finally his vision was back to normal, and he again looked at the man who stood before him.

He was tall, and wore long white robes with a red hood and red accents. In his hand was a long wooden cane. Bardock took note of the yellowish-green skin tone of the man's hand. Bardock could hardly see the man's face because of his hood, but he knew the man wasn't native to the planet.

"You're studying me." Said the hooded man. Bardock looked up at him and locked eyes with the man. "You've nothing to fear from me. For I am this Planet's Guardian."

"Huh, you seem a bit too tall to be from here." Said Bardock. He slowly staggered to his feet. His center of gravity was off, he was still far from full strength.

"You don't have to be a native to be a guardian, just gotta be pure of heart." Replied the old man, a smile following.

"Guess I'm not sending in my résumé any time soon." Bardock replied.

The elderly stranger chuckled lightly. "You're a hero to us, Bardock."

Bardock's eyes shot open and he hunched over forward. "How do you know my..."

"As I said, I'm the Guardian of Transeki." Replied the man, "I've been keeping a close eye on you since your arrival here, more so since you woke from your coma."

"You spent thirty years monitoring me?" Said Bardock in disbelief.

"Aside from my usual guardian duties, yes. I could sense that you were special. That you ARE special." The man smiled at Bardock. "Please, call me King."

Bardock placed a hand under his chin and tilted his head. "King? You some kind of royalty?"

"Not royalty, 'King' is simply the name we guardians are given by our predecessors. It's a tradition thousands of years old, and I aim to continue it when it is my time to pass the torch."

He took a deep breath through his nose and grinned. "My home. Lovely little island in the sky, out of sight and mind of the natives."

Bardock raised an eyebrow. "Island in the sky?"

"That's right." Replied King with a nod. "This small forest is on a floating island. About three miles around I'd say. High out of sight from the ground. I have a small house in the center of the island. Very few people on this world know the exact location of this place. The rest believe it's an old story, passed down from generation to generation."

Bardock scratched his chin and tilted his head. King turned around and motioned for Bardock to follow. "Did Takomi know about this place?"

King stopped walking. "Takomi..." He said with a saddened tone. "Yes… He knew."

Bardock frowned and approached the elderly guardian. "How come I've never heard of this place then, or you?"

King turned back around and locked eyes with Bardock, whose facial expression showed nothing but frustration. "Those few people who know of this place are former guardians. Civilians don't know where this place is, or if it even exists. Takomi knew where it is, but only because he was who I selected as the next Guardian of this Planet. He was almost done with his training when Eyce arrived..."

Bardock raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "That information really that much of a secret?" King nodded. Bardock scowled. "I wonder what else he didn't tell me. How am I supposed to know anything he said was true?"

"You've been in the room under the lake, correct?"

Bardock stared at King for a few moments before replying. "Yeah, once. But that was only..."

"To save Takomi from Eyce's thugs, I know." King tapped his cane on the ground a few times before continuing. "He tasked you with finding the Transekian Plates and returning them here, correct?" Bardock simply nodded. "The information you received about that room is only partially true. That room was used for training warriors. The magic brought out the hidden potential in the natives of this planet, but without the plates, it does not work. He never told you why though, did he?"

"Come to think of it, no." Bardock replied.

King took a deep breath and nodded. "That room does not rest alone under that lake. In fact, it is part of a sacred underground temple. An upside down pyramid. The magic in the pyramid is very powerful. For generations, Transekians would train in that room, and the magic would eventually transform them into taller, extremely powerful warriors. Once the plates were removed from their slots, the magic stopped flowing through the pyramid, and we lost our ability to train great warriors and protectors." King paused for a moment and took a few deep breaths before continuing. "Now, below that room there are five floors, four of them contain challenges and courses which all make up the final tests one must take to become the guardian of this planet. The bottom most floor is where the source of the magic lies, a treasure that the pure will die protecting, and the wicked will die trying to take. Only the guardian and anyone who he or she feels is worthy is allowed on that floor." King looked down at the ground and sighed, thinking about Takomi, how close he was to becoming Guardian before falling at the hands of Eyce. Bardock could tell just by how quickly the silence crept up.

"Is that why he wanted me to collect those plates?" Bardock said, breaking the silence. "He sure didn't seem too enthused about the idea at first."

King nodded. "He and I both knew a threat was on it's way here, and he didn't want the Plates here until it passed; if it passed."

Bardock looked at the ground and huffed. "Of course, we beat Eyce, but he'd already killed Takomi." He clenched his fists and growled violently. "Dammit! Failed again!"

"Bardock, you haven't failed." King said, approaching the warrior. He placed a hand on Bardock's shoulder, which he didn't react to. "Because of you and Sheamus, this planet is safe."

"Sheamus?" Bardock looked up at King. "He knocked me out after the fight and took off."

"And I'm afraid he's long gone already." King said. He turned away from Bardock and began walking toward the edge of the clearing and motioned for Bardock to follow. Bardock complied.

"Long gone… I can't believe him..." Said Bardock as they walked through a patch of thick bushes.

King replied. "He left shortly after knocking you out. It was about 15 minutes before I lost track of his life force. But something about it caught me off guard."

"Oh besides my only friend on this planet betraying me and leaving me in a field?" Bardock said with some bite.

"I'm not sure if it was betrayal, he didn't try to kill you."

"Yeah, but who knows what could have come out and eaten me." Bardock retorted. King chuckled lightly. "It's not funny, I was defenseless!"

"Which is why I went down and rescued you." Replied King. Bardock huffed, and King continued. "Anyway… I knew after a while I'd lose track of him, but his life force vanished well before he exited my sensory range."

"Did something kill him?" Bardock asked, as he thought that was the only sensible explanation.

"No." King said. "It didn't fade as if he were dying, and there was no energy pulse from an explosion either. He just disappeared."

"Great. More mysteries… He hung around for thirty years, then split after I woke up."

"He spent a lot of time at your side, and spent a lot of time training with Takomi." King replied. "He did leave every now and then though. Sometimes for a day, sometimes for a week or two. But he always came back." King then sighed. "This is the first time I've lost him before exiting my sensory range."

Bardock shook his head. It didn't make sense at all. Bardock never found Sheamus to be suspicious. Aside from the Transekian doctors, Sheamus was his caretaker for thirty years. He was his training buddy, his partner and his only friend since waking from his coma. Bardock didn't think much more of it, he and King were approaching a small, ranch style cabin which sat in the center of a small, clear area surrounded by thick brush and tall trees.

"Ah, home sweet home." King said.

Bardock looked at King's house, then spoke. "Guess you were right, this place is small."

"I like to keep things simple." Said King. He walked up to his front door which was made out of a very dark colored wood, opened it, then turned to face Bardock and smiled. "Follow me. We'll talk more over a drink."

xXxXxXx

Bardock sat waiting at a round table in a small dining room waiting for King to return. He'd left the room to fetch he and Bardock drinks. Bardock couldn't wait, he hadn't had a good stiff drink in a long time, and was dying for one after everything he'd been through. While he waited, he returned to his pondering over Sheamus. He didn't seem suspicious, so what in the world was it that he was up to? Learning that Sheamus had left the planet periodically during Bardock's coma caught him off guard. He didn't think the space pod they arrived in was in any condition to travel. He recalled one trip he and Sheamus made on a training day to visit the attack ball. It laid in the same spot it landed thirty years ago, and looked like it was in bad shape. The more he thought about it, the more it frustrated him, and the more of a headache he felt. He opted to let it go for the time being, he could hear King's footsteps in the corridor to his right.

King walked through the doorway holding a serving tray with a tall glass of water on it, and a teacup which steam rose up from. The room started to smell sweet. King approached the table and set the tray down, then sat across from Bardock.

"Here you are my boy" Said King as he set the teacup down in front of Bardock.

Bardock looked at the cup, inside was a light brown liquid which smelled strongly of multiple spices foreign to Bardock's nose. He could tell there was cinnamon in it, he'd smelt that multiple times on different planets, and even in some of the things he consumed during his time on Transeki.

"Well don't be afraid of it." King said. "It's tea."

"Not really a big tea drinker." Bardock replied. "More of a liquor kinda guy."

King chuckled. "Well I can assure you this'll change your mind."

Bardock picked the cup up and took a small sip of the tea, which had cooled a little. His eyes slightly widened as his small sip turned into a full swig. He set the cup down, now sitting at half full, and looked at King. "That's no ordinary tea, that's amazing!"

"It's called Chai." King said with a smile. "It's native of planet Earth. I have a friend who sent me some of the spices used to make it."

"Well, I'll have to ask about it when I get there." Bardock said. He took another drink, this time just a sip. "Why aren't you drinking any?"

"Well actually, that's the last of my Chai, and besides, I like water. That's more for special occasions anyway. I'd ask you to pick up the ingredients while you're on Earth, but you have important matters to attend to."

Bardock looked down at the tea again and sighed. "Kakarot." He turned his head and looked out the small round window to his left. He watched the leaves sway back and forth with the wind. "My visions showed me a dark future."

"Ah, you're psychic powers." Said King.

Bardock chuckled lightly. "You've got me all figured out, don't you?"

"The powers I have as guardian are reserved only for this role. They are granted upon completing the Guardian Trials in the temple." King said. "I connected with your mind telepathically to check your vitals over the years. I caught you mid-vision more often than not. During your visions, you had seizures. The doctors panicked because they were unable to get you under control. When the visions ended, so did the seizures."

Bardock looked into King's eyes for a moment, then back down to his teacup. "I know it means alot to you to get those plates back here. But I also have my own agenda."

"Yes, I understand." King said. He took a sip of his water and gazed out the window. "I sense no danger at this moment for this planet. I don't expect you to be back for a while either. You're eager to meet your son."

"Nervous." Bardock said before taking the final sip of his tea. "I know he lost his memory at some point. Of me, of his heritage. I don't know what to expect down there either, if my visions stand true."

"I've never been to Earth myself." King replied. "What I can tell you is that it's generally a peaceful place, at least when you look at it on a universal scale. My friend speaks highly of it, and the warriors who protect it. Your son included."

Bardock nodded and stood up. "Now is the matter of getting there."

"We already have that covered." Rang a familiar voice from the corridor. Bardock turned his head and in the doorway stood a short, lizard-like alien.

"Gummo!" Exclaimed Bardock.

Gummo nodded and stepped into the room. "After Sheamus disappeared, I landed the PTO ship. King landed there shortly after and explained that he was gonna bring you here. I worked on repairing the ship after you guys left."

"It took some convincing though." King said.

"I believe it." Bardock said.

"The ship is hovering next to the island. There's too much forest for me to land here." Said Gummo. "Whenever you're ready, we can go."

xXxXxXx

Bardock, King and Gummo stood at the edge of the floating island. The PTO ship levitated next to to it.

"Oh good, you're actually docked beside the island." Said Bardock. "I was worried, I know you can't fly."

"Hey!" Yelled Gummo.

"Well it's true." Replied Bardock. Gummo scowled at him and he laughed. Bardock then looked out to the ship, then up to the sky.

King placed a hand on Bardock's shoulder. "Bardock. While we're not in danger at the moment, those plates are vital to our planet's survival. I'll need to select someone to take my place as guardian soon. Please, I'm, once you acquire them, return them here."

Bardock nodded. "I will. Of course I need to stop at two planets to collect all four."

"True indeed." Said King. "I trust Takomi informed you where the other two are?"

Bardock nodded. "The Namekian home world."

"Good luck with everything my friend."

Bardock and Gummo stepped down onto the ship and began walking toward the large entrance way on the roof.

"Are you ready?" Gummo asked Bardock.

Bardock nodded. "Let's get going."

King returned to his home at the center of his floating island after watching Bardock and Gummo blast into space in their ship. Upon entering his house, he was met with a familiar voice.

"King, are you there?"

King halted and looked around his dining room in shock. No one was there, he was alone. But the voice was familiar, and haunting. He had to ask: "Takomi? Where are you? Are you alive?"

"No, I'm communicating with you telepathically from Other World." Replied the deceased Takomi.

"And I'm here too! Long time no speak, King."

"King Kai? I should have known." King replied, followed by a sigh of relief. "For a minute there I thought I was going crazy."

"No," said Takomi. "King Kai is the crazy one. You're sane as far as I can tell."

"Very funny." Replied King sarcastically. "So my friend, this is quite unexpected."

"I'm surprised you didn't tell him everything, King." Said Takomi.

"Everything?"

"About the source of that magic. About the fact that King Kai has been updating Kami on the events that have transpired on Transeki." Said Takomi. "I trust him, King."

"I understand." Replied King. "But at the moment, I don't see any reason to rush the process. He wants to meet his son. That's at the top of his priority list whether we like it or not."

"Hey now!" King Kai cut in. "Goku's a good kid, sure he's a little dense but he's got a good heart."

King chuckled at King Kai's outburst. "No offense King Kai, I know Goku's a good kid. He's pure enough to be the guardian of Transeki if he wanted to."

"Indeed he could." Takomi replied. "I just think that if Bardock knew what the source of the temples magic was and could do, he'd be more eager."

King sat down at his dining room table and picked up his glass of water, now almost empty. "As much as you trust him Takomi, who's to say he doesn't tell his son and his friends about it? Information travels the universe faster than you and I may think." King put the glass to his lips and finished his water. Then he placed the glass on the table and sighed.

"Your word is final, King." King could hear the distress in Takomi's voice. "I haven't found my son up here. I miss him. His family must miss him. I jus-"

"BUBBLES!" King Kai interrupted, "For god's sake do NOT start my car!"

"Uh…" Takomi was at a loss for words. King Kai had told him about the last time Bubbles decided to try and drive, though he quickly dismissed the situation and returned to King. "Anyway…"

"Takomi, you and your son's deaths were saddening and unfortunate. And it presents us with a delay..." King stood up, looked up and closed his eyes."But rest assure, this will be resolved in due time."

To Be Continued

Folks… Writers block is a real thing. And apparently it strikes me frequently.