Unexpected Fate: Version 2.0
Chapter 20-Cooler's Vengeance
"You want us to take a break from training to do what?" Bardock found himself saying.
"To go camping!" Goku cheerfully explained.
It had been months since Bardock had the heart virus. Ever since that day, Bardock had met up with his son to train; however, since the darker visions had grown more apparent, he had started meeting his son less often than desired. Each vision he had from the alternate universe showed the reflection of the one he trained with and how brutal he could have been if he had never forgotten his mission.
"Kakarrot…" Bardock muttered. He was still feeling uneasy around his son; almost though he was trying to make an excuse to avoid getting to know him better.
"Come on dad," Goku smiled. "I rarely see you outside of training and besides, we could use that time to get to know each other better…"
"Mmm…" Bardock glanced down at the ground. How could he even see his son like this?
"Dad?" Goku questioned.
"Fine, I'll go," Bardock caved; knowing he couldn't avoid his son forever. He honestly wasn't in the mood to waste his time on something so trivial. 'I still don't see the idea of us sitting outside around some stupid fire… it sounds rather mediocre and lame…'
The trip seemed uneventful thus far. Bardock sat on a rock farthest away from the small group that gathered and he used that time to think about his latest vision where he had seen his son attack him recklessly to the point he almost expected it anytime they spent time together. He had not told his youngest son of his visions because a part of him wondered if his son would resent him for such a thing.
'Why would Kakarrot want to indulge himself in such a trivial activity when we are supposed to be training for the damn androids?' Bardock thought silently while watching Gohan break apart a large trunk into firewood. He noted the boy's tail had grown back, but said nothing. 'Probably doesn't even know he has one.'
"Hey Gohan, bring the firewood over here," Krillin shouted. Gohan began to oblige before he suddenly froze; something grabbing his tail. Almost immediately, Bardock climbed to his feet and glared at the giant alien that caught his grandson's tail. Krillin in the meantime was knocked unconscious by a second man while the one that held Gohan began holding him almost though he were a stuffed animal.
"Let him go!" Bardock yelled at the giant.
"Hey, isn't this that monkey that killed Frieza?" the first alien questioned while holding Gohan by his tail. They completely ignored Bardock. "He doesn't seem tough to me…"
"Dore, you're holding him by his tail…" a third spoke while eating the stew. Oolong cowered behind Bardock; the warrior irked by the pig's behavior.
"If you are looking for the executioner of Frieza, you should try looking over here idiots," Bardock commanded. The three aliens who had ignored him previously glanced up at him.
"Hey Salza, doesn't he look familiar?" the second alien asked.
"Yeah, that's the one that stupidly went up against Frieza," Salza grinned darkly. "I was hoping to fight you one of these days."
"Seems you'll get your wish," Bardock crouched into a fighting stance. It was then an odd vision decided to randomly appear before his eyes.
…a giant ball of energy floated above a creature that was shrouded in a shadow. It was glowing golden like a second sun and within moments, it was racing towards the both of them. He saw Kakarrot next to him ascended as a Super Saiya-jin before he alone raced forward to grab the sphere before it struck the ground…
A punch jarred him out of it and he instantly countered with a kick to giant's face. It was then he noticed Goku had appeared to fight the other two that were attacking them. Both of them fired blasts that the aliens easily slapped away and it was a moment later that the fight was interrupted.
"That's enough, I want to get a better look at my brother and father's executioners…" a cold voice spoke. It sent chills down Bardock's spine and he turned to see the figure there.
'Cooler…' Bardock was both shocked and eager to fight him since he came to Earth. 'Now I'll finish off what's left of their race and ensure that their race never threatens us again…'
"Frieza!" Goku's startled voice sounded nearby. He would have reprimanded his son and told him, but then, he heard Gohan's voice calling out for them. Before he knew it, he saw Cooler shoot a blast from his gaze straight towards the hybrid.
"Gohan!" Goku yelled while quickly flying at his son. He shielded the younger one with his body and tumbled out of the sky, but not before firing a counter-blast that Cooler easily deflected. He went careening into the water before Bardock's eyes.
Angered, the elder Saiya-jin lunged at Cooler only to be easily thrown aside and shot at by a blast. He felt it burn his back when it struck and he fell to the ground paralyzed. He attempted to escape; however, it was impossible.
"This is the Saiya-jin that killed my brother and father? Pathetic…" Cooler threw his body towards Salza. "Lock him up in the brig."
"Yes sir!" Salza carried the still-conscious warrior to the ship.
Unlike Frieza's ship, Bardock noted that there were fewer rooms, but they were far bigger. He also noted the various control panels displaying information about the planet in general from the components that made up the atmosphere to the minute details of the gravity. He did not get a chance to examine the screens when he was put in chains and thrown roughly onto the floor in the brig.
"Don't worry monkey, you won't be alone for long," Salza chuckled before walking out of the room.
'This was a stupid idea…' Bardock mentally griped. 'I knew camping was a bad idea… if Kakarrot's still alive, I swear I am going to find him and demand that we finally have our long overdue fight…'
Though he could not see his current situation, he smelled the blood coming from his back where the top of his uniform was partially devastated near his neck. Had the blast been an inch higher, it would have done far worse and may have killed him. He attempted to move, but he could not even raise an arm.
Moments later, a door slid open and Bardock found himself slammed into a wall; the chains wrapped around his wrists. His eyes opened slowly and he realized that Cooler himself was poised above his form at that moment.
"What's the matter monkey? Did you think I would have you attempting to get the upper hand like when you killed my brother and father?" Cooler cooed. "I think it'll be good if I tortured you…"
"Bring it…" Bardock growled. The tyrant's eyes only sparkled with pure delight while the cursed warrior felt intimidated. 'Fucking gods, fucking Cooler… if this is my fate…'
The first blow was to Bardock's chest and he found himself winded before another was delivered to his stomach. Bile welled in his throat and he felt Cooler's hand twine itself in his hair before he was slammed into the bars of his prison. The chains were wrapped around his ankles while he struggled to free himself in vain.
"Now," Cooler whispered in the Saiya-jin's ear, "tell me who killed my brother and father…"
"Fuck you," Bardock growled, feeling a bit of blood run from the corner of his mouth.
"Wrong answer!" Cooler roared and Bardock found his back slammed against the tyrant's knee. The pain that raked the cursed warrior's spine was far too damning and he saw his vision become spotty with blackness. A part of him yearned for the darkness for it was a kinder mistress than the one tormenting his body at the moment.
"They killed one another while involving themselves in their sick drinking games…" Bardock teased; knowing full well that one of Cooler's ancestors had done this in the past.
"Don't fuck with me you ape shit!" Cooler bellowed and drove Bardock's head into the wall. The pain fled the cursed warrior's body and he once more rendered unconsciousness. "Damn, I was too careless. No matter, he won't escape."
Cooler dropped Bardock's body upon the ground and left the prison cell. Moments later, a mysterious glow surrounded the Saiya-jin's unconscious form. His body briefly levitated slightly off the blood-soaked floor before it vanished.
"This is a fine mess you've gotten us in…" a younger Bardock argued.
"We would have done better had you not blotched up the last mission," Sparig's voice echoed in a cave.
'Fuck, not this vision…' Bardock realized when this mission took place. It was after he had successfully courted Turnipa.
"Maybe you're better off dying," Bardock yelled at his twin brother.
"Well, maybe you're better off losing your mate!" Sparig countered. Bardock grew angry and slugged Sparig across the face.
"Don't you dare say that about my mate!" Bardock growled warningly.
The cave started to rumble around them and both Saiya-jins noticed a gray crystal-like oval in front of them. It was the mineral they were to bring back in order to create more armor. While usually this was reserved for the miner-type soldiers of Frieza's army, the planet itself that they were on happened to be inhabited by deadly creatures that happened to inhabit the planet. They were responsible for dwindling the soldiers' numbers without mercy.
"Why don't you keep your mouth shut before they find us?" Sparig questioned.
"You first," Bardock sarcastically replied.
There was the sound of scratching heard and before Bardock and Sparig knew it, the creatures themselves appeared. The creatures in question were white skinned and had gray beady eyes due to the fact that their race lived mostly underground. Both Saiya-jins were back-to-back to each other and powered up blasts poised to fire if needed.
"Just once, listen to me," Sparig whispered. "I have been on more missions than you have and right now, our chances of making it out alive are nil."
"You're shitting me…" Bardock muttered his response.
"If I was, I would be laughing. No, this is perhaps the worst situation we could ever get ourselves in. If you want to survive, don't hesitate to kill."
"There's no other way is there…" Bardock glanced back.
"Don't get sassy on me!" Sparig fired his blasts at the creatures. Bardock followed suit and they both began to blast at the creatures that were after their lives.
'We were careless…' Bardock thought while watching the scene; knowing what was going to happen.
Rocks began to fall from the ceiling and Sparig got hit by one of them and was pinned to the ground. Bardock looked back and saw his brother in bad shape.
"Sparig…" Bardock reached for his brother; however, the injured Saiya-jin growled.
"Bardock, leave me," Sparig hissed in pain while more rocks started to come down..
"Why?" Bardock hissed. "So you can have all of the fun?"
"Bardock, this isn't a game anymore… you need to live…" Sparig muttered and before Bardock could stop his twin brother, the boy fired a larger blast.
"Sparig!" Bardock felt more rocks starting to fall.
"Just go damn it!" Sparig's voice echoed angrily and Bardock began to run past the fleeing creatures out of the cave. When he reached the surface, he turned in time to see the cave completely collapse.
"Sparig!" Bardock yelled for his brother while pressing his scouter. The wind whistled around him and he felt more alone at that moment than ever. "Sparig answer me! This isn't funny…"
'That day, I learned my brother perished due to the cave-in,' Bardock thought. 'Days later, his remains were found partially devoured by the creatures and I was scorned by his mate for my brother's death…'
Bardock closed his eyes while the vision around him faded away. For once, he was grateful for the darkness that surrounded his form since it meant escaping the memories that haunted his past; even for a little while.
'I should have died then… but I lived on and eventually, I stopped thinking about this event. I made new friends, formed a new team, went on purging missions…' Bardock opened his eyes. 'I let them all down…'
"Bardock…?" a voice called from the darkness. Bardock looked around in confusion before he saw Sparig appear the same way he recalled; however, he had a serene look on his face.
"S-Sparig…?" Bardock stared at his deceased brother in confusion. "How…?"
"It doesn't matter…" Sparig explained. "Right now, what's important is how you treat my nephew…"
"Kakarrot? Why should I treat him any different from a complete stranger?" Bardock growled angrily at Sparig.
"That's just it; you are denying your son… jeopardizing his life by hating him…" Sparig mentioned. "If this keeps up, you are going to regret pushing him away. Father may have not been there in my life, but if I had lived, I would have been a better father to Turles than you could be to your youngest son!"
"How dare you accuse me of…?" Bardock seethed angrily; prepared to fight the phantom of his brother within the dreamscape had Sparig not been joined by Leti moments later.
"M-mother?" Bardock felt his heart sink. At that moment, he no longer felt like an adult and felt almost though he had regressed in age; back when she died protecting him from his brother. He stared at her almost though she would vanish any minute, but she approached and pulled Bardock into a comforting hug.
"Bardock… my son…" Leti purred comforting her son.
"Mother…" Bardock muttered softly; feeling overwhelmed by the feelings that churned through him at the moment. "How…? Why?"
"I don't have long to say what you need to hear," Leti explained. "You need to accept your son…"
"That's just it… I don't know how…" Bardock found himself saying. "He's not like the others, he knows next to nothing about his heritage and…"
"If you were in his shoes, my devotion would never waver…" Leti rubbed Bardock's back. "Bardock, if anything, you followed your brother's footsteps…"
"W-what?" Bardock pulled away from his mother and looked at her almost though she stabbed him in the chest. "What do you mean I'm like Sparig?"
"Bardock, what mom is saying is that you started showing less compassion and turned your back on others…" Sparig's voice carried over.
"No, I never lost…" Bardock started to say, but then, he saw behind Sparig a person he had only seen once in his life. The man stepped forward and gently pushed Leti aside before he grasped Bardock's shoulders hard. "F-father?"
"Bardock, do nothing and you damn the universe…" Kalif spoke in a serious voice. "I died protecting all of you and if I was given the chance to do it over, I would still sacrifice my life for the ones I am devoted to… the question is will you show that same devotion or will you continue to deny the one that reaches out to you even now?"
"When did Kakarrot…?" Bardock started to say; however, it was then the memories flashed through his mind.
…when Bardock heard the story Scrix told, the younger Saiya-jin had listened as well…
…his son taking care of him after sustaining a wound to his head…
…when Bardock had fallen ill to the heart virus, his son stayed at his side and made sure he recovered…
...then, the recent one with him inviting Bardock on that camping trip and caved…
"If your son did not show a single bit of devotion, he would have long since left you alone as you asked," Kalif explained. "Do you honestly want to keep doing that?"
"I… we're both different…" Bardock looked down.
"That does not mean you should reject him for being who he is," Leti comforted.
"Mother, I…" Bardock noticed they were starting to vanish. "Father! Mother! Sparig!"
"Brother, I forgive you…" Sparig smiled at him. "…but you need to forgive yourself and seek to resolve the differences between you and Kakarrot."
"How can I do it?" Bardock questioned. "I don't know if I can…"
"Search within yourself…" Kalif commanded. "As long as you continue to push Kakarrot away, you will never see eye to eye with him…"
"…and remember my son that devotion is a powerful thing that can allow you to overcome the most difficult trials…" Leti added before Bardock found himself entirely alone.
The pain coursed through Bardock's body while he came to completely unaware of his surroundings at the moment. He opened his eyes slowly and realized that he was in a large bed unlike the one in his capsule home. For a fleeting moment, he remembered nothing else besides the vision that had taken place and stared at the various off-white stone ceiling above his bed.
His eyes darted around the simple room and he realized that he was no longer on Earth for the floor was covered with a deep crimson carpet and the same stone scheme from the ceiling spilled down the walls. Wherever he was at that moment, he was completely uncertain about the fate of Earth and felt a foreign peace draped around him like a thick fog.
'Shit… Kakarrot's probably getting his ass kicked while I lay here…' Bardock finally realized and attempted to get up; however, it was in vain as the pain seared throughout his body. He noted that there were fresh wounds on his flesh and noted strange symbols drawn there. The very markings confused him and he traced a few of them with his finger to figure out the purpose they served.
"You shouldn't mess with the symbols Karis drew on your body…" a familiar, feminine voice softly came from Bardock's left side. He turned and saw the very last person he never expected.
"T-Turnipa…" Bardock took the female's form in. Despite the halo hovering ever present over her head, she had a concerned look on her face. "Did I die?"
"No, far from it… had it not been for the Zoi stone, you might have perished…" Turnipa answered.
"How did I get here?" Bardock questioned.
"You were teleported here basically," Turnipa explained. "When you appeared, I thought you were dead, but Karis quickly explained that she had blessed the stone so it can retrieve you as long as the opposing power does not overwhelm your own."
"So I live because of a stupid rock?" Bardock pulled the stone out of his pocket. It was completely unblemished by the last attack.
"Apparently," Turnipa smiled. "Hey, are you alright? You seem quiet…"
"Turnipa, I had a strange dream…" Bardock admitted.
"Was it similar to the time I talked to you?" Turnipa asked.
"Yes, but how…?" Turnipa sat down next to her mate's prone form and coiled her tail around his wrist.
"You are still not making any progress with Kakarrot are you?"
"Not in the slightest… we come from two different worlds and I doubt he'll ever understand…"
"He won't understand unless you get past the denial that's right here…" Turnipa gently touched his head.
"I'm not denying…" Bardock started to say before he noticed the sadness in his mate's eyes.
"You are. Even now, you are denying that there is something keeping you from accepting Kakarrot as your son."
"Turnipa, I'm tired of people expecting me to change all for the greater good," Bardock sighed in frustration. "Why can't the gods just stop judging me?"
"You have chosen this path towards redemption and now that you have started, you can either keep going or give up and let everything go to waste…"
"Go to waste?" Bardock repeated his mate's words. "I don't understand…"
"It's hard to explain…" Turnipa leaned over and pressed her forehead against her mate's while purring softly. "I suppose it would be easier if I attempted to make an analogy out of it…"
"A what?"
"Alright, imagine there are two paths that lead to two different outcomes. One leads to the expected glories of battles you would love to win easily while the other is an unknown benefactor filled with events that may shake you to the core."
"It's obvious which path I would choose…"
"Yes, the one with the glories, but pinelve maisen..."
'My devoted one…' Bardock mentally translated her terms of endearment. 'Since when did she use such words?'
"…you were doomed on the path of unknown the day your mother died…"
"I don't need to be reminded," Bardock looked to his side.
"I know you still carry the scar from that incident and you have an unhealed wound within your soul, but pinelve maisen, please do not forsake Kakarrot…"
"Why should I accept my son?"
"He has our blood running through his veins… can't you accept that at least?"
"Not really…" Turnipa raised herself from Bardock's side.
"Then may you never know how devoted he is…" Turnipa left the room quietly.
"Turni…" Bardock attempted to stop his mate, but pain lashed out and he felt disoriented. Moments later, he fell back into the peaceful realm of unconsciousness.
Elsewhere, Turnipa stood before a mirror that showed the current state her youngest son was in. She wanted nothing more than to be there at that moment to comfort him. Tears ran down her face while she sunk to the ground from the words that Bardock said without realizing the pain he had inflicted.
'I wish I was there… I wish I was given a second chance… I wish… I wish I was alive… but… it's impossible.' Turnipa thought sadly while watching the younger warrior squirm in pain.
Her tail curled around her legs in an attempt to shield herself from the image of her son's labored breathing to no avail. She still saw it despite her inner wishes and she felt helpless seeing him in such a state.
'Here I am, dead and forgotten. If only I was alive, I would comfort you Kakarrot…It's not fair that we're separated by mortality…'
Turnipa did not hear the footsteps enter the room or acknowledge the person who entered the room. At that moment, she was in her own personal inner turmoil that she did not realize Karis had joined her. Slowly, the goddess knelt down to the deceased woman's side and gently touched her shoulder. Turnipa jumped slightly from the touch, but did not turn her gaze away from the mirror since she feared that he might take his last breath at any given moment.
"Kakarrot will live through this, Turnipa," Karis reassured.
"That's not why I left my mate's side…" Turnipa confessed. "He still does not want to accept Kakarrot…"
"We cannot change souls that are unwilling," Karis admitted. "If we could, then none of our people would have ended up perishing from when Frieza came to kill us all."
"I just wish he could see the truth…" Turnipa leaned her head against her arms.
"I believe that given time, he will come around…" Karis stated. "But that is only determined on the visions he sees…"
Bardock found himself walking amongst the ruins of a city that was thrown into chaos. The smell of blood and decay hung heavily in the air and he was confused how and why this happened. An object crashing the ground made him turn and he saw a lone figure standing there.
'Who in their right mind would be in a city like this?' Bardock started towards the figure before he felt a dark power rise from the man. 'Who in the hell? Is that… Kakarrot?"
The man in question was wearing the dark version of the armor he had seen in his dreams. He did not wear gloves like the others and seemed beside himself. As Bardock walked closer, Kakarrot turned to acknowledge him.
"Hello father," Kakarrot smiled darkly. "Have you come to join me?"
"Kakarrot…" Bardock was appalled by this version of his son.
"What's the matter? Didn't you want a son who accepted his heritage?" Kakarrot spoke while Bardock took a step back from his son. Kakarrot's tail wavered in the air behind him in an air of delight. "We could do it you know… torture, murder, rape and ensure that everyone in the universe fears who we are."
"This… this isn't like you Kakarrot…" Bardock denied.
"Oh really? What am I supposed to be like then?" Kakarrot raised an eyebrow in a challenging manner.
"The… the Kakarrot I know wouldn't do the things you suggested…" Bardock stuttered, surprised his son was acting so cold.
"Yet, you were the one who wanted me to be more like you," Kakarrot countered; rubbing the fact into Bardock's face.
"I… I wouldn't go as far as torturing or raping others…" Bardock glanced down at the ground.
"Then enlighten me father. Enlighten me on what. I. Should. Do." Kakarrot asked; emphasizing his demands to ensure the other Saiya-jin heard.
"None of this…" Bardock shook his head in denial. "You say you care about the planet right?"
"I did, but then, you gave me a reason to despise it…" Kakarrot smirked. "To follow your footsteps; like father, like son…"
"No…" Bardock looked at the dark version of his son. "I wouldn't want my son following in my footsteps…" The ground shook under a ripple of energy while the cursed warrior looked at his son. "…he would sooner die than harm one innocent…" Another ripple of energy shook the planet to the core. "…and lastly, my son would never turn his back on those he is devoted to…"
The raw energy suddenly exploded around Bardock as Kakarrot transformed into a Super Saiya-jin. Bardock attempted to raise his power; however, he found he couldn't as the dark warrior slammed his fist into Bardock's face. The blow sent the warrior crashing into a ruined skyscraper as the windows shattered around his form. Glass rained down and broke into millions of fragments while Kakarrot closed the distance between himself and his father within seconds.
"You were the one to denounce my birth; therefore, you brought this upon yourself," Kakarrot grabbed the cursed warrior by the neck with one hand and slammed him into a wall before Bardock could recover. The cursed warrior struggled to free himself while his own son charged a golden blast in his free hand. "I won't hesitate sending you to hell where you belong…"
'No… this… this isn't Kakarrot…' Bardock thought while assessing the situation; still struggling in vain. 'Kakarrot would never hurt me intentionally… he would never betray the planet he lived on…'
'Kakarrot can't ever be like this… this isn't like him!'
The moment the last words echoed through Bardock's mind, he felt the hand vanish and he saw Kakarrot fade away. The cursed warrior looked around for any signs that Kakarrot may have retreated to give him false hope. Yet, there were no signs of disturbed objects or a sign that he might be still around the vicinity.
'W-what just happened?' Bardock thought while catching his breath. He saw one window on the building he had run into still intact oddly enough and walked to it. Instead of his own reflection, he saw Goku's and looked confused. 'This is so confusing…'
Charging up a blast, he fired it at the window and threw it forward where it made contact. When the dust cleared, the window was still oddly intact.
'This is just getting more and more fucked up,' Bardock moaned while burying his head in his left hand and shaking it with a sigh. When he looked up again, everything was gone; the burning city, the window; everything. It was though it were yet another illusion.
'Fucking nightmares…'
Bardock woke up disoriented. For a moment, he felt like he still trapped within the realm of dreams, nightmares and probable visions he had. Whatever just happened left him once more questioning his life up to this point.
'By the time this is over, I swear to Infr I am going to ensure that no other major threats are hanging in the wings…" Bardock mentally vowed.
Stretching, he realized that he was completely recharged and healed from the previous night's ordeal. He glanced over to the still made bed and realized that Turnipa had not slept in the bed next to his. A slight bit disappointed, he rose from bed and dressed in the armor left at the end of his bed. No sooner did he finish dressing that Scrix entered the room.
"Are you ready to return?" the God of Strength asked.
"Before I go back, where is Turnipa?" Bardock questioned.
"She is not here at the moment." Scrix answered.
"If you see her, tell her… that I am forever devoted to her…" Bardock spoke these words rather sadly.
"I will pass the message to her when I see her again." Scrix promised. "Are you ready to return?"
"Yes…" Bardock felt a hand on his shoulder before the world around him melted away.
A bright light shone in the heavens and Bardock appeared with Scrix at his side. The God of Strength removed his hand from the cursed warrior's shoulder.
"This is as much as I can do for you," Scrix offered.
"It's fine," Bardock looked around for signs of his son. "I'm not expecting charity from you guys anyway, so I'll manage."
Scrix vanished and Bardock made his way to his son's side; feeling his weakened chi beating like a second heart. He landed outside of the cave just as he felt Goku's power rise. With a relieved sigh, he turned and saw Salza; the last member of Cooler's elite squad, cursing while his scouter broke. It was moments later that Bardock felt Goku's power right next to him and he saw the seriousness on his face.
"Goku…" Krillin's voice weakly muttered before he fell to the ground, spent.
"Krillin!" Goku hissed at the sight of his best friend.
"D-daddy…" Gohan whimpered before he too lost consciousness and fell earthward.
"Gohan…" Bardock growled. He wanted Salza to die a horrible death for harming his grandson when he had no direct involvement in this skirmish. He would have stepped forward had Goku not thrown up his arm; blocking his attempt.
"It's me you want isn't it?" Goku snarled angrily at the alien who backed away frightened.
"Indeed, it is Saiya-jin," Cooler's voice casually echoed from the heavens. Bardock's head snapped to the sky and he saw the remaining member of the Cold family hovering there with Piccolo in his grasp.
"Let Piccolo go!" Goku pleaded angrily.
"This Namekian trash?" Cooler held him up almost though he was a booby prize won in a contest. "Here."
The tyrant released Piccolo; however, a moment later, the heavens were rocked in a fiery explosion and Piccolo's body went flying through the debris before hitting the ground.
Anger flared within Bardock for the mistreatment of the Namekian warrior, but it was Goku who threw the first punch at Cooler. Bardock quickly fired a blast at Salza to knock him out before joining his son in the sky. They started their attacks; remaining out of their ascended states while battling the tyrant.
Trading blows between one another, they soon were submerged in a lake of water to continue the fight despite the fact that the both Saiya-jins' lungs burned for air. Eventually, they rose above the water's surface while Cooler emerged near the base of the waterfall and smiled evilly at both of them. Bardock was apparently more winded since he had exerted more of his power to get to his son's side.
"I'm impressed you both made it this far with the power you have, but unlike my brother, I have another transformation," Cooler boasted.
"What?" Goku's voice was in both panic and surprise.
'How the hell did he reach another state?' Bardock questioned mentally while in the back of his mind, he prayed that it wasn't true.
"You should be privileged that you both will be the first and last ones to see this form!" Cooler exclaimed with rapture on his face. His form began to grow in size, his body morphing. Jagged spikes were on his elbows and the crown of his head. His once beady red eyes filled the entire surface and his voice deepened from the stress of his latest transformation.
"That's impossible!" Bardock found himself muttering; fear starting to rise in the pit of his stomach. At that moment, Cooler easily eclipsed Frieza's power and for the first time since Namek, he found himself wishing he was anywhere else but in battle.
"Nothing is impossible," Cooler mocked while a strange grated mask appeared over his mouth before he lunged at Goku, quickly thrusting him beneath the lake's surface. Bardock had attempted to get the tyrant away from his son and to save him from drowning; however, he was easily batted away by his tail. He was thrown from the water and collided in the side of the cliff, somewhat dazed. Moments later, Cooler finally released the Earth-raised Saiya-jin while laughing darkly.
By then, both father and son had emerged from both earth and water. They were breathing hard while they both lunged at Cooler with everything they had.
"Dad! Move!" Goku yelled to his father. The cursed warrior pulled aside while Goku quickly charged up a blast. "Kamehameha!"
While the blast spiraled towards the tyrant, he went head first into it; startling both warriors. With relative ease, he smacked Goku aside and threw him into the rocky cliff. Bardock attempted in vain to summon his own blast, but he too found himself thrown into his son's mid-section; the breath knocked out of their lungs by Cooler's foot kicking their chests.
"Pitiful monkeys think they could defeat me? If this is what Frieza feared, then he was better off dying to shits like you," Cooler taunted before rising into the sky; boasting his victory over both of them. While he did so, Bardock felt himself fall earthward and heard Goku fall beside him. Bardock glanced over and saw the pained expression on his son's face.
"Kakarrot…" Bardock muttered weakly; attempting to reach him despite the sore muscles and broken ribs. He felt his arm go limp moments later, most likely due to the strain he had put upon his body.
Then, a bird fell earthward at that moment and Bardock saw it flutter helplessly at the ground. He would have blasted at it; however, he wasn't able to draw the strength at the moment to do anything besides breathe. Eventually, the bird stilled and he thought it were dead until he noticed his son's hand gently wrap around the creature; almost though he were trying to protect its life alone from the tyrant's rage.
'What is he…?' Bardock was confused while his son drew himself to his knees shaking while still holding the creature in a gentle embrace.
"I'm sorry…" Goku muttered; whether it was to the bird or to someone else, Bardock had no idea. Yet, his son's apology seemed to show Bardock that maybe perhaps he had been wrong to not see the Earth-raised Saiya-jin's devotion much sooner. "This is all because of me…"
Sitting up straighter, Goku's power began to rise and Bardock stared completely in a trance while the power continued to swell within his youngest son. Every hair seemed to stand on end while the earth trembled under the silent rage. It was almost though the planet itself did not wish to interrupt the scene unfolding before him.
Cooler stopped his evil laughter and assault upon the earth when he heard Goku cry out in sheer frustration. Bardock watched while his son raised a single hand with the bird's fallen body and a surreal glow surrounded its form. After the light ebbed, the bird rose; almost though the Earth-raised Saiya-jin resurrected it with his own power. The creature fluttered by the frozen tyrant who stared in shock while Goku's eyes glared at Cooler with utter hatred.
Even now, Bardock couldn't move and was breathing hard; seeing his son's ascending before his eyes. At that moment, it didn't matter what Cooler's vengeance was against the Saiya-jins nor did he care much about the very planet he stood upon.
Cooler was frustrated and he was poised to attack, yet, the transformed Saiya-jin caught his wrist effortlessly with anger clearly written upon his face. The words were distant while the cursed warrior below attempted to reach for the same power his son had. Yet, it would not come to him at all no matter how hard he struggled.
"Dad!" Goku called down from the heavens after he punched Cooler back. Concern was on the younger Saiya-jin's face. It was then pain echoed throughout Bardock's head and he fell to his knees.
…a large shadowed figure stood before his son's prone form that rested upon the ground. A hand outstretched and wrapped around the warrior's neck. Pain was heard from the young warrior as he cried out in pain.
The vision ended abruptly and it was then that Bardock saw Cooler charge up his most devastating attack. Goku landed next to his father to shield him.
"Kakarrot, I'm fine now…" Bardock hissed, rising to his feet. He glared coldly at Cooler for what he was about to do.
"What did you see?" Goku questioned; the idea of the tyrant's attack the least of his worries.
"I… I'm not sure… it wasn't the androids…" Bardock admitted. "In any case, when did I become your concern?"
"Since…" Goku didn't finish that sentence when the giant power fell towards them. The younger Saiya-jin lunged forward to intercept the blast.
"Kakarrot!" Bardock hissed before the intensity of the blast began to push the Earth-raised Saiya-jin towards the ground. He barely felt the earth beneath his feet as he dashed forward; still untransformed to aid the younger warrior.
'Super Saiya-jin or not, I…' Bardock thought while his hands grasped the large blast that threatened his son's life and the planet's existence. The giant sphere pushed him to his knees and it was then the memories of Vegeta-sei's destruction made itself known. 'No… never again… I won't let this happen again!'
"Spirit Cannon!"
The blast tore into the orange sphere and sent it back towards Cooler. Beside the cursed warrior, Goku charged his own attack as both of them overwhelmed the very attack that had threatened their lives. Moments later, Bardock felt disoriented and released the blast.
'What's wrong with me?' Bardock thought. Instead of hitting the ground, a pair of arms wrapped around his chest and gently lowered him to the ground.
"Dad?" Goku's voice held a slight echo. The cursed warrior saw the transformation bleed out of his son's form. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine Kakarrot…" Bardock muttered before his eyes fell shut. The last thing he heard was the concerned pleading of his son.
Bardock woke up stiff, but didn't care where he was at the moment; whether he was dead or alive. His eyes cracked open and he saw Goku kneeling besides his prone form no longer transformed. He had a concerned look on his face; almost though he was worried that the cursed warrior may never awake again.
"Kakarrot? Did we get him?" Bardock asked.
"I did, but why didn't you transform?" Goku questioned. "You could have easily ascended and…"
"I… honestly don't know, but Kakarrot, it doesn't matter right now…" Bardock shrugged it off. "Cooler's dead and your pitiful world's safe…"
"That maybe so, but why can't you transform?" Goku paled at the thought.
"If I was that concerned, I would ask one of the gods…" Bardock muttered.
The moment however was ruined by Salza as he emerged from the rubble laughing like a madman and was poised to kill them. Bardock, bearing his teeth, pushed Goku aside, ready to defend his youngest son if needed. However, moments later, a blast tore through Salza's chest, silencing the last member of the fallen tyrant forever. Goku, who witnessed his father's protective nature, stared at him almost though he might change any minute.
"Dad?" Goku was confused. Bardock, realizing what he had done subconsciously, moved away from his son.
"Don't you ever drop your guard when you think the enemy's down," Bardock roughly spoke to his youngest son while he walked off.
"Hey, wait… we didn't finish the camping trip!" Goku protested.
"Why should I spend one more day with you?" Bardock asked in a rather annoyed tone.
"Because Gohan would be disappointed if you left… besides, I still want to get to know you better…" Goku pleaded. "Just one more night and then tomorrow, we can do whatever you want."
A pissed off sigh escaped Bardock's lips. What he wouldn't give right now to be fighting another one of Frieza or Cooler's relatives. "Fine, let's just get this stupid thing over with."
That night under the starry sky, Bardock found himself looking up at the heavens of the ruined camp grounds that they decided to spend the night there regardless. The cursed warrior was unable to sleep and rose to his feet to where his youngest son slept. Kneeling down at his side, Bardock gently found himself once again running his hand in Goku's hair.
'Since when did I find myself caring about Kakarrot's wellbeing?' Bardock thought silently. 'Maybe this fucking planet's the reason I'm acting like this… three years is too long to be on this damned rock…'
Before Bardock knew it, he found himself asleep at his son's side, his hand still intertwined in Goku's hair in a protective gesture.
"So Krillin, are you going to wake him up?" a voice questioned.
"Me? Why should I wake him up Oolong?" Krillin spoke in a flustered voice.
"Because he'll skin me alive if I did it!" Oolong cried out in fear.
Bardock started to wake up to the two arguing voices. His back felt stiff and as his eyes cracked open, he realized that the monk and pig were at each other's throats. It was then Bardock realized in his carelessness that he had fallen asleep at Goku's side and the Earth-raised Saiya-jin had instinctively moved closer during the night and was still asleep.
"Look, he's awake…" Krillin muttered when he realized Bardock was angrily staring at them.
"No thanks to the both of you, but the next time you decide it's a good idea to wake a sleeping Saiya-jin, don't bother," Bardock hissed while gently pulling his hand away from his son's head.
"Geez, someone woke up in a bad mood," Oolong sarcastically spoke. Bardock rose to his feet and stretched.
"I'm going home," Bardock sent a glare at them. "If either of you say anything to my son about what you seen, then you will wish you were dead…"
Upon getting home, Bardock removed the damaged armor and went into the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, he examined himself closely.
"I am not getting soft…" Bardock muttered despite the denial he had in his heart. If the gods were laughing at this pitiful display right now, he would sooner have regained the lost transformation. Instead, the cursed warrior finished undressing from the ruined spandex and went to take a long, hot shower in order to prepare himself for the promised day of training ahead.
To Be Continued…