Chapter 11

The inside of the ship was constructed like a maze, with several passages leading to different sections on the ship. Upon entering through the main door, Piccolo, Vegeta and Buu found themselves at a crossroads, with two tunnels marking different directions.

'Can you hear anything?' Vegeta asked Piccolo. Piccolo shook his head.

'We're going to have to split up. Buu and I will go left, you can go right Vegeta.' Piccolo said and they did so.

Vegeta ran down the corridor, checking every room he found, but found no sign of any life, he did however, find a lab, filled with lots of different medicines, he stopped and examined them.

'One of these might be the antidote.' He said and began to look through them, but was unable to distinguish the language on any of the vials. As he sorted through them, he began to hear footsteps behind him and he turned around to see two aliens with strange googly eyes on each side of their heads, staring at him.

'Well well well, if it isn't the Prince Vegeta.' Said Steel.

'Trying to find the antidote are you?' Taunted Gold. Vegeta smiled.

'So I take it you two are the mastermind scientists who invented the virus that sucked my energy?' He said. Gold and Steel proudly accepted responsibility.

'I don't know why you came here Vegeta, you'll never win with no energy, Steel and I could send you to hell faster than you could turn around.' Said Gold. Vegeta smiled, then he laughed. Gold and Steel were taken aback by his cockiness.

'For scientists, you haven't done much research on me.' Vegeta said. 'Well at least on my life on Earth anyway. See I am, how would you say, physically involved with one of the smartest women on Earth, and her father, well, he's one of the most brilliant scientists of all time.' Vegeta said, forming an energy ball in his hand. Steel and Gold began to sweat and back off.

'I don't need your antidote; I can just get one made for me.' He laughed as he watched the two Chebs retreat quickly down the hall. He waited only a moment before throwing the blast after them, sending them into oblivion. As the smoke cleared he noticed the small hooded alien standing there watching, quivering in fear. Vegeta looked at him fiendishly, but the hooded alien ran away.

'I'll catch up with that little brat later, right now I better gather up some of these vials.' He said, walking back into the lab and rummaging through the different labelled test tubes, but there were so many different medicines, Vegeta couldn't carry them all. He decided it was best to go find some help and he left the room.

The hooded alien ran as fast as he could to the command control of the ship where Alchartz stood staring out the window, he stormed in, sweating and puffing. Alchartz did not turn around, he did not even acknowledge the tiny man.

'Alchartz! Vegeta has his powers back! He killed Gold and Steel.' Alchartz silence soon turned to alarm. He turned around in a rush to see his minion standing there in terror, but he himself did not feel terror, just shock that his plan had backfired and he now had to think of a plan B and quickly. Without his scientific comrades at his aide he knew he would have to rely on his brute strength and the gifts they had given him before they had perished to settle the score. He felt anger swarm over him and he let his energy swirl.

'I'll go settle this!' He said as he began to walk out the door, but before he could leave, the hooded alien stopped him.

'Wait, there's something else!' He said. Alchartz turned to face him, anger engulfing his eyes. The hooded alien looked up to him through the shadows of his cloak and began to stutter. He could see Alchartz fierceness, his desire for vengeance. He almost regretted stopping him, but it was too late to take back his words now.

'I saw….. B…Bardock!' He hesitated. Alchartz eyes calmed, he just looked into the hidden eyes of his comrade, searching for truth.

'That's impossible!' He said. 'Bardock is dead!' But the little alien shook his head.

'I saw him, I swear it was him! He and another Saiyan merged bodies or something!' He yelled. Alchartz did not respond, he gritted his teeth as the rage returned to his eyes and he ran. The hooded one followed, but standing just outside the room, waiting for them in the middle of the hallway was Piccolo and Majin Buu. Piccolo smiled.

'You should tell your friend not to yell so loud Alchartz, I could hear you from a mile away.' he said. Alchartz eased up, he was not surprised by Piccolo's cockiness and he knew that this battle was easily won.

'Piccolo! I really don't know why you help the Saiyans, they are a cruel cruel race that are notorious for killing the innocent.' He said. 'I can let you go Piccolo, if you just forget those Saiyan scum.' Piccolo took his fighting pose.

'Sorry Alchartz, but I may have had a problem with Goku in the past, but that was only because I was just like you, out for vengeance. I've been listening to your conversations Alchartz, I know exactly why you're here.' Piccolo said.

'So, you want to die?' Alchartz said. 'Fine, I'll make this quick.' Alchartz ran straight for Piccolo and smashed him in the stomach, sending him hurtling to the floor, Piccolo did not stand a chance, he lay wasted against the wall. Alchartz stood over him and laughed.

'Even with your powers back you're still no match for me!' He turned to Buu who was looking very grumpy at him.

'Oh and what's this giant pink thing?' Alchartz laughed. Buu pointed at the enemy.

'You hurt Buu's friend, you bad man!' He said and charged at Alchartz, Alchartz blew an energy blast right into Buu's stomach and smashed him into a million pieces.

'Well that was easy!' Alchartz said and he continued to run down the hall. Piccolo stood up, still in shock. Understanding now how powerful Alchartz was.

On the ship's bow, Alchartz and the hooded alien ran out to see Blue and Red fighting with the two fused beings, they were evenly matched.

'Where is he?' Alchartz said. 'Where is Bardock?'

'Right there.' Said the hooded minion, 'that's him, fused with the other guy.' Alchartz looked at the person in front of him and noticed the small scar on his face, his eyes shot open as he was immediately taken back to when the Saiyans had invaded his home planet all those years ago.

The night the Saiyans attacked, Alchartz and his wife, Emergen, hid in an underground apartment designed for emergencies. He watched from a small window as the giant apes destroyed his neighbours, his house and his race. Emergen sat in the corner of the room, shivering in terror, her pale blue eyes cried as she heard the screams coming from the outside. Alchartz was young then, he was one of the strongest of his race, but he knew he was no match for the Saiyans. All he could do at this moment was hug his wife, attempting to reassure her somewhat.

'I think it's the moon that gives them their power.' Alchartz said. 'In the morning they should return to normal and I will be able to attack them'

'Won't they just leave after their done here?' His wife asked in a sense of false hope.

'No, I've heard the Saiyans are space pirates, they won't stop until everyone on this planet is dead.' He said. They spent the night listening to the screams of their friends being slaughtered by the giant apes. Once morning came, the screaming stopped and Alchartz emerged from his hideout, ready to look for the Saiyans. His wife, without his knowledge, followed closely behind him.

He came to a rock close to where he could hear the Saiyans lollygagging and looked beyond it, he saw the gang of five, no longer apes, but people who looked very similar to his own race, except their skin was pink instead of orange and they had tails. He listened to them talk for a while.

'Hey Bardock, how much you think this planet is worth?' Said Toma.

'I dunno, it's got some good resources, but it's nothing compared to the last planet we conquered.' He replied.

'Yeah, Planet Chebbina had all those scientific developments, they say their inhabitants were smarter than Tuffles, that's why Bardock kept some alive.' Said Seleba.

'They got on my nerves though, so whiney.' Bardock replied. 'Anyway, we better move on, these races won't slaughter themselves.' The Saiyans stood up. Alchartz stayed hidden.

'That Bardock must be their leader.' He said. Bardock's back was turned and Alchartz decided to make his move. A trait of his race was that he could extend his claws like a cat, he did this and charged swiftly. Bardock's scouter showed a power level behind him, he turned to see Alchartz swipe at his face, he stepped back, but not quick enough to stop the claws ripping through his scouter and leaving a gashing wound down his left cheek. He placed his hand on his cheek in pain and stepped back, puffing. After he recovered he removed his hand from his face to see his bloody palm, knowing that he had been struck. He looked up at his enemies panicked eyes and formed a fist.

'You'll pay for that.' He said and gathered energy for a large ki blast. Alchartz fell to the ground, watching the energy swirl in front of him. He was paralysed with fear, he could not run, he had accepted his fate. As the blast left Bardock's hand and began hurtling towards him. He could not remove his eyes from it. He saw it become closer, but suddenly he noticed the light fade in a section as a shadow leapt in front of it. The blast exploded before it met with Alchartz body. He closed his eyes to shield them from the blinding light, but as he did so, could hear a woman's scream, his wife's scream. As the smoke cleared and Alchartz stared at his wife's lifeless body, he could hear the Saiyans taunting laughter. 'Oh look.' Laughed Bardock. 'He had a friend to protect him.' He cackled viciously, rubbing in the wound of Alchartz emotional trauma.

'Are you gonna finish him Bardock?' Asked Totepo. Bardock looked down at Alchartz' sad eyes, and then turned away.

'Nah, forget it. We've destroyed everything; he'll starve to death before this planet is repopulated.' He said to his team. They laughed.

'He's got a piece of meat right in front of him.' Pumbukin joked. He and his team left, laughing, leaving Alchartz to stay behind and cradle his deceased spouse.

Alchartz stared into the scar and remembered giving it to Bardock, it was the exact same shape that Alchartz had formed and he knew for sure, that the person in front of him was indeed part Bardock.

Red was pummelling into Gotenks with great ease now, he had figured out Gotenks technique and used it against him quite easily. The boys couldn't take it anymore and their bodies separated, leaving them beaten on the ground. Alchartz noticed Red was victorious and called him over promptly..

'That guy over there, he is fused as well!' He said, pointing at the Saiyan fighting Blue. 'And one of them is Bardock!' Red's eyes shot open, for he too had fallen victim to Bardock's reign of terror, as did all the inhabitants of his planet, including Blue. He nodded and went to join the fight against Bardon, but before he could, he was smashed from behind by Vegeta. Alchartz turned to aide him, but he too was taken off guard by a stray energy blast, sent by Piccolo. The two Z warriors had regrouped in the tunnel, before hastily making their way out to the bow of the ship. Alchartz hit the ground hard and Piccolo towered over him. Alchartz rolled from beneath the Namekian and used his long claws to cut Piccolo's legs off. Piccolo fell to the ground, with nothing to support him. Red recovered from Vegeta's attack then punched the Saiyan prince in the stomach. That one punch sent Vegeta to his knees and he couldn't breathe.

At that moment, Goku boarded the ship. He saw his enemies attacking Vegeta and Piccolo and he quickly turned to Super Saiyan 3 knowing that fusing with Vegeta was his only hope for winning. Red was just about to deliver the final blow to Vegeta when Goku smashed into his face. Vegeta was on the ground and Piccolo was gathering energy to regenerate his legs. Goku fought against Red and Alchartz simultaneously, although it was difficult for him to navigate around his two enemies.

Bardon was still battling hard against Blue and was holding his own very well. He managed to get the upper hand over his enemy and smashed him in the back of the neck, making him hurtle to the ground and writhe in pain. Bardon was congratulating himself momentarily, when suddenly his mind went blank. Everything went dark and suddenly he had a vision, a vision of him bleeding to death in front of Alchartz, Alchartz laughing at him in vengeance.

'Now, I can finally avenge my wife!' He said. 'And my comrades, they can also avenge their families, you're mine! Bardock!' Bardon froze, the Bardock side of him wanted to get out and began to scream, holding his head in his hands and pushing his way to the ground. The vision was distracting, but also confronting. With Bardock's spirit wanting to escape, the two split prematurely and Gohan and Bardock were down on their knees, Gohan stared at Bardock in awe for he too remembered the vision. He knew now why these people had come, why they wanted to get Goku, because he was the closest thing to Bardock they thought was alive and they wanted revenge. Bardock looked back at Gohan, knowing that he had seen the vision as well, that he knew exactly what was going on. He was fearful for only a second, when from the distance he heard Alchartz yell.

'It's him! It's Bardock!' Bardock looked over to see the remaining warriors staring straight at him, wanting his blood. Red was still fighting Goku, but quickly smashed him in the face sending him on his back. They all went for Bardock, Bardock had to retreat. He noticed the ships entrance metres away from him and he sped towards the door and into the belly of the ship, the three warriors followed, and the hooded dwarf waddled after them. Gohan watched on, he then looked over at his father, who had just recovered. Goku bounced up then looked straight ahead in a fighting stance, but he became confused when he noticed that none of his opponents were there anymore. Goku sensed Bardock's energy coming from inside and he went to storm after them, but Gohan stopped him. He knew he had to explain what was going on to his father.

Inside the ship Bardock was running through hallways, he past one corridor where the Kanassin and the Moltian, the two other members of the group, stood talking. They looked out the door just in time to see Bardock's scarred face glance in at them and they too decided to join the chase. Bardock ran as fast as he could, turning around to see if the enemy was coming. He noticed a shadow against the wall and knew that Red and Blue were catching up to him quickly. He could not kill Blue while he was fused, he was useless now he wasn't, but still he continued to run, until he felt a sharp pain in his chest. He looked down to see an energy beam had pierced through him, barely missing his heart. Bardock fell on his hands and knees, the pain was too much for him to bear. He had to think quickly for if he stayed like this he would surely die. He rolled onto his back and quickly sent an energy ball to the ceiling of the ship, creating a pile of rubble between him and the posse following him. He knew they could easily blast through it, but this was valuable time he could use to escape and assess the damage done to his chest. He took the bandana from his head and placed it on his wound to try and stop the blood flow. It didn't work very well as he wandered through the corridor, one hand blocking the wound, the other stabilising him on the wall. He came across a room and decided this was as good as any to hide in; he didn't have much time left. He opened the door and saw some boxes; he decided to hide behind them, biding his time. He sat down and looked at the wound pouring blood from his chest. 'I'll bleed to death this way.' He said and tried to smother the wound again, but it had pierced through his whole body and blood was dripping out either side, unless he could find something to strap it with, he would bleed out entirely. He found nothing and figured this was it, unless a miracle happened.

Meanwhile on the other side of the debris Bardock had caused, the six team mates stood assessing it. Red was about to blast through it when the Moltian stopped him. He pointed to the top of the debris where a pipe line hung, only stabilised by the pile of rubble.

'That's the main fuel line of the ship, if you blast this debris it will detach and blow up the ship, then we will have no way to get off this planet.' He said. Red stopped himself.

'We'll have to go around, with that wound he can't go too far.' Alchartz said

'Wait!' Said the hooded alien. 'There's a small gap here, I may be able to squeeze through it.'

'Excellent.' Said Alchartz. 'Try and pinpoint his location, but don't get too close, even though he's wounded he can still attack. We'll meet you round the other side, it'll probably take us five minutes.' The hooded alien squeezed through the gap in the rubble, but his hood snagged on a sharp piece and removed itself from his head, leaving him exposed. He shrugged it off and walked along the corridor, noticing drops of blood leading into the first door he found. Bardock heard the footsteps from his hiding place. He was dying, he knew this, but he was no coward. He decided to face his demise head on, as he did with Frieza. He stood up and pushed the boxes out of the way with his free hand, his other nursing his wound. His eyes shot open, he looked at the short, purple figure before him and his jaw dropped. He had an oval face with two beedy eyes sticking out above it. Bardock couldn't believe who was in front of him.

'Berry?' Bardock asked in awe. The purple figure in front of him looked angry and upset, his eyes were glazed and his mouth held a frown. He was fully grown now and had been for some time. When he heard his name, he nodded and the tears began to flow, shock that not only did Bardock recognise him, but he sounded almost happy to see him.

Bardock was confused. Berry should have died years ago, if not from the Tuffle attack then from old age. He had to ask how he was alive. 'Berry!' Bardock said. 'How are you...' But his question was interrupted with Berry's quivering screams.

'Why? Why did you abandon us?' and the tears leapt from his eyes. Bardock fell silent, the pain in his chest was great, and his heart felt heavy. Berry had looked up to him and truly believed he had abandoned him. Bardock stared into his eyes.

'I didn't know.' He said. But Berry turned away.

'You did know, you do know. I didn't want to believe it at first, that you would abandon us knowingly, but you're a psychic, you should have seen them coming.' Berry said.

'I swear I tried to come back Berry.' Bardock struggled to say. 'But I couldn't' Berry shut his eyes tight. He didn't want to believe the lie. 'How did you escape?' Bardock asked. 'And how did you get here?' Berry kept his eyes shut and told the story of the day the Tuffles invaded.

The morning after Bardock had left Berry was examining the spare ship he had left behind had left behind. He wondered if there was a way to follow his idol to the regions of space and become strong like him. He was looking in the ship, when suddenly he saw a dozen ships descend towards the planet all at once. He ran to the village quickly to see what was happening, only to see his family and friends being captured and killed by the invading Tuffles. Berry saw his father being whipped by the Tuffles technically advanced weapons and amongst the chaos, his eyes came into contact with his beaten father. He yelled out for Berry to escape, but Berry froze, until he noticed the Tuffle that was whipping his father had seen him. Berry ran away, straight for the ship. He ran up the ramp, into the control room and pushed the first button he could find. He ran out to the corridor to see the ramp closing, crushing the Tuffles' fingers as he tried to board. The ship flew off, but Berry could not control where it went. It was rusty and low on fuel and crash landed on a planet two solar systems away. The ship immediately froze in the incredibly low temperature of the planet and Berry froze with it, wrapped in the bowls of the ship. Berry awoke on a bed with two aliens called Chebs taking care of him. The planet was out of its ice age and had been inhabited by a highly sophisticated race who had learned how to defreeze living beings safely. It had been almost 2000 years since Berry had escaped, this was another time, another world and Berry knew nothing about it. All he could think of was his parents being slaughtered and his hero abandoning him the day before. He stayed with the Chebs for three years and was growing up quickly, when the night of the full moon fell and the Saiyans appeared. They were on a killing spree. The scientists acted quickly and shot a laser beam directly at the moon, destroying it. The Saiyans returned to their original forms, but it did not stop the slaughter. Berry sat scared in his house with Steel and Gold, his caretakers. They were hiding in the kitchen pantry, ready to meet their fate. When the Saiyans stormed in to the house. Berry looked out of the pantry at the enemy. He began to quiver and shake as he recognised the Saiyan standing before him. It was his idol, Bardock, his back turned to him. He was followed by one other Saiyan.

'See anyone?' Toma said.

'No.' Said Bardock. 'It must be deserted.' They began to look around at the many technological inventions in the house. As they passed by the pantry, Berry stepped back, knocking over a can by accident. Bardock turned to the pantry door, seeing the three of them huddled up in the corner, he did not recognise Berry at all, but although he looked different, Berry recognised him. He did not have the scar on his face at this point, but Berry knew it was him.

'Well look what we have here!' Said Toma. 'Are we going to kill them?' Bardock looked at them huddled in the pantry scared and he turned around.

'No!' He said. Toma went after him.

'Why not?' He asked.

'These guys have some real hi-tech stuff here, it may prove useful, I said we should leave the smartest ones alive because they can get the most out of the planets resources, let's go.' He said and walked out the door. Toma turned around and looked at the three of them, huddled in the pantry.

'You're lucky you're smart.' He said and ran out the door. Ready to slaughter another house. Gold, Steel and Berry stayed on the planet for over a month and nothing had happened. Frieza's minions had occupied another section of the planet and were migrating across it very slowly. Everything in the village was destroyed, including all the space ships. They had spent the last month trying to repair a ship, when suddenly another came out of the sky. They thought it might be the Saiyans again and were scared, but it was Alchartz. He said he had come as a friend and asked if a Saiyan named Bardock attacked their village. At first Berry was apprehensive about revealing that his hero had indeed destroyed this planet, but after seeing the carnage he had caused, and remembering his abandonment, Berry stepped forward.

'Yes, that was Bardock!' Berry said shakily. He admitted that he knew him and explained how he did, he explained the planet Vegeta being destroyed and Bardock traveling back in time and abandoning him. He also explained that Bardock had a son, named Kakarot, that lived on the planet Earth. Alchartz patted the little alien on the head and smiled, he asked if he and the other two would help him get revenge, if not on Bardock, then on his son. The two nodded, Berry was a bit hesitant, but then he decided he would also be part of it.

Berry stood in front of Bardock, looking into his eyes now. Bardock remembered seeing the strange alien amongst the two Chebs and thinking nothing of it. He didn't even make the connection when he first met Berry, but now he knew. He was in shock, shock that the one person who admired him that he considered to be almost a friend to him was now as distant to him as Kakarot and Raditz were, and this time, Berry had a reason to resent him. He knew Bardock was a murderer.

Footsteps came running down the hall hastily, but before Alchartz entered the room, Bardock stared into Berry's sad eyes and said with all sincerity. 'Berry, I'm sorry.'

Alchartz appeared next to Berry and he immediately turned his attention to Bardock. He laughed in excitement as he saw the injured Saiyan.

'Good work Berry.' He said. Patting the upset alien on the shoulder, Berry could not look at Bardock anymore.

'Should I finish him off?' Said Red.

'No' said Alchartz. 'No, I want him to suffer, just as I did.' He walked up to Bardock and grabbed him by the arms, but Bardock pulled it back and leapt to the side of the room.

'No, I refuse to be tortured by the likes of you.' He said, powering up. Alchartz laughed.

'You're a fool Bardock, you should have killed me when you had the chance, now it's my turn to humiliate you.' Alchartz said and charged at him, Bardock tried to dodge but Alchartz grabbed him by the arm and twisted it around Bardock's back, placing his other hand to Bardock's throat, claws at the ready. Alchartz laughed.

'Now, let's go see your son.' He said, taking Bardock out of the room. Bardock struggled to get free and passed by Berry. As his eyes met with the small alien, he started to yell to him, started to scream in remorse.

'I wanted to come back Berry, but I couldn't!' And their eyes disconnected as Alchartz lead Bardock away.

Gohan had just finished explaining the vision to Goku, who looked at his son in shock. By this time Vegeta, Goten, Trunks and Piccolo had also recovered and were listening to the conversation.

'Why wouldn't he tell us something like that?' Goku asked.

'Don't you get it Kakarot?' Vegeta interrupted. 'Why would he tell his son, who he just met and knew nothing about that he had slaughtered thousands of innocent people when that person was so virtuous.' Vegeta said.

'Did you know about this Vegeta?' Goku said.

'Of course I did, I'm the prince of all Saiyans for crying out loud.' Vegeta explained. 'I just didn't mention it because it was more fun this way.'

'Well, whatever he did in the past, we can forget right now. We have to save him.' Goku said.

'Kakarot!' Said Vegeta. 'While I was in the ship I noticed a lab with a lot of vials in it, one of them may be the antidote. I think it's best we get some of them back to Bulma immediately so we can try and figure this thing out before our hour is up.' He said.

'Vegeta, I need to fuse with you to beat these guys.' Goku said.

'I'll go.' Piccolo volunteered. 'I know the general direction the lab is in. I'll take Goten and Trunks with me.' Piccolo said.

'It's the fifth door on the right.' Vegeta said, knowing that Piccolo knew which tunnel to take. Piccolo, Trunks and Goten disappeared into the belly of the ship and took the right turn.

Out of the left turn, Alchartz marched Bardock to the deck of the ship, Bardock was still struggling, but every time he moved, Alchartz claws dug deeper into his throat. If he moved anymore his throat would slit.

As Goku and Vegeta got ready to do the fusion dance they were suddenly interrupted by the door of the ship opening and Alchartz storming out leading a defeated and bleeding Bardock. Goku and Vegeta froze mid fusion pose and watched as Alchartz smiled, he was followed by his allies, Berry was at the back, his head held low. Alchartz stood just metres away from the Saiyans , holding his claws to Bardock's throat, blood trickling down them from where the edges had pierced Bardock's skin.