Tora frowned as he watched Fasha walking through their camp. She sunlight danced on her skin, making her glow in a way he'd never noticed before. She was up to something. She'd been rather quiet ever since she had visited prince Vegeta. But for the life of him, Tora couldn't figure out what was different about her. She hadn't been successful in persuading Vegeta to join them. Tora wondered if he would have any better luck with Kakarot.

He finally managed to get it out of Fasha that Vegeta was in West City in Japan. Why had no one told him this? He'd been trying to figure out where Kakarot might be, but now that he knew where Vegeta was, it only seemed to make sense that the other Saiyan would be nearby.

Tora landed in the yard in front of the little house, surprised at how easy it was to find Kakarot once he was in Japan. His energy was so similar to Bardock's it was unreal. He could smell the food cooking inside and it made his stomach growl. It had been forever since he'd had a decent meal. The Atlantians didn't know how to prepare a decent meal as far as he was concerned. He knocked on the door, steeling his nerve. He didn't know what to expect, but he had been warned by Hybris that Goku (as they called him) was supposed to be extremely powerful. He hoped to avoid a confrontation, but he was prepared for it if it came to that.

Chichi frowned at the knock on the door, unhappy that anyone would interrupt their lunch. She sighed as Goku and Goten continued to shovel food into their mouths and she got up to answer the door. She gasped at the tall man standing there in light blue and black Saiyan armor, a tail wrapped around his waist. "Who are you?" she demanded.

"I'm here to see Kakarot," he answered simply. "I know he's here."

Chichi backed up, the blood draining from her face. She'd seen this Saiyan in the vision Leelee had shared. "G-GOKU!" she cried, backing up even further.

Goku swallowed his last bit of food, jumping up and rushing to Chichi's side in a second. Upon seeing the Saiyan in front of him, he moved, putting himself between Chichi and Goten, who was peering around his dad. "Chichi," he said in a deadly serious voice, "take Goten and back up." Horrible memories of his brother stealing his son away from him still hurt painfully. He swore it would never happen again. "You. If you have some sense of honor, you'll back up and leave my wife and child out of this. If you lay even one finger on them, you'll regret it."

Chichi grabbed Goten and backed him up, her eyes fearfully locked on the Saiyan. Damn her husband's ties to these people who threatened her home, her life.

Tora felt his heart stop as he laid eyes on Goku for the first time. He was the spitting image of Bardock. "I have no interest in them," he said, deciding to take a step back to show he meant not to fight. "I'm here to talk, nothing more." His eyes flickered to the boy cowering behind the woman's leg. Good gods, Bardock had strong genes. Did everyone in his family look like him? Tora shook his head. "Step outside with me, Kakarot," he said, taking a couple more steps back.

Goku could have cursed his luck; every single time he managed to be there when Chichi wanted him, something had to interrupt him. He didn't let his eyes tear away from the Saiyan in front of him, he remember him from the vision, the way he had thrust his arm through that woman's chest as if she was just nothing, crushing her heart in his hand and leaving not a trace of the damage. He cursed himself, he would have to ask Jenny to come bless the house. That is, if he made it out of this. He followed after him, shutting the door behind him. "What do you want?"

Tora's eyes swept over the younger Saiyan; it was like being in the presence of his comrade again. He knew he had to choose his words carefully. Kakarot was already putting a guard up, his hackles raised so to speak. Tora kept his face expressionless, crossing his arms over his chest. "They told me you're the strongest warrior on this planet," he began. "They say the other warriors here follow your lead. Hmph. I should've known as much. Leadership's in your blood after all." Tora blinked his eyes, mentally smacking himself. This wasn't the time to be nostalgic. Bardock was dead. He gave his head a shake, his eyes squeezed shut before he leveled his gaze on Goku again. "You can drop your guard. I'm not here for a fight."

Goku snorted, but relaxed a fraction. "Seems like every time I hear that, someone tries to pull something over my head." He looked the other Saiyan up and down, but he didn't recognize him, save from the vision Leelee had. He had been the only one who had seem hesitant to join in with his crew. "Vegeta told me you were part of my father's crew. You know more about him than I do. But Vegeta didn't have very many nice things to say about you. How well did you know my father? And what do you want here?"

"So Vegeta is here then," Tora said softly. He hadn't been sure whether or not to believe the Atlantians on that one or Fasha for that matter. She was acting so strangely. He'd thought for sure Frieza would've killed their prince along with the rest of their race.

Tora drew a long breath through his nose and looked at Goku again. "I knew your father better than most. He was my commanding officer and my best friend. That's why I came to you. I... I can't... You're Bardock's son. I have no desire to face you in battle. Join us, Kakarot. I beg of you - don't make me face you on the battlefield."

Goku felt his heart wrench at the other's words. The way he spoke... He wanted to ask a million questions about his past, his father. "I can't do that. The people you are working for are going to destroy everything here, everything that I now hold dear to my heart. I can't let that happen and I can't be part of it." He frowned, knowing his next words would have Vegeta saying he was too soft, but it was who he was. "Why don't you join us? You don't seem like your heart is in it for their cause. What's in it for you? Money? Glory? You don't need that. Help us and we can help you."

Tora shook his head. "I can't betray my crew. When Bardock left, they looked to me to lead them until he returned. But he never came back. We were left on that god-forsaken planet, our mission completed, and nothing to do but wait. The orders never came and our ships didn't have the energy to make it back. We were stranded. If it wasn't for Kadar, we'd still be stuck there." Tora shook his head again, looking away from Goku. It was so tempting to take him up on his offer. But how could he abandon his fellow Saiyans?

Goku frowned, "I'm sorry to hear that. The offer still stands. I would say that the others were welcome, but they seem a bit thirsty for battle and don't care who gets in their way." He hesitated a moment before asking, "Would you tell me about my father? I know we are on the brink of war, but I've always wondered how he died, who he was. I forgot everything when I landed here." He frowned at that, wondering the kind of person he would be that day if he hadn't hit his head so hard when he was young. Chichi always was telling him he was brain damaged.

"The others wouldn't hear of it even if you did offer," he said. "Bloodthirsty doesn't even touch the tip of the iceberg. They spent too long on that planet with nothing to do, Kakarot. No enemies to face, no battles to be won, just... nothing." He sighed and shifted his weight to one leg, looking at the ground for a moment. He'd just got done telling himself he didn't want to get nostalgic about this, and now here Goku was asking about Bardock. Tora sighed. "Your father was a good man. A good soldier. He led us in many battles and we always came back victorious. Even the missions Frieza's elite soldiers didn't want, we took on readily and carried out without a loss to our side. But... something happened on the last mission we completed together. We thought we'd taken out everyone on the planet, but there was one left. He said he was granting Bardock the gift of foresight. Bardock wasn't right after that. I could tell. We were on our way to the next mission when he radioed me, said he had to go back to planet Vegeta. He swore Frieza was planning something; that our home was in trouble. He said he was going to stop him." Tora squeezed his eyes shut, the guilt making bile rise up in his throat. "I should have gone with him," he said softly. "As best I know, Bardock died trying to stop Frieza when he destroyed our home planet. I heard him through the scouter, confronting Frieza and the next thing I knew, the line went dead."

Goku felt tears prickling at his eyes for a man he hardly knew. Protecting his home planet... He pressed his lips thin and thought it over a moment, before looking back up at him. "We haven't been introduced. On this planet, I am called Goku. And this planet is my home. I have to protect it at all costs. We have a new home here. Family. I can't betray them. Stay. Fight with us. Help me defend this world and maybe you can call it home one day."

Tora nodded. "They told me that's what you call yourself now. I just remembered Bardock telling me your name was Kakarot... I am Tora." He shook his head, "No place will ever be home again." He fixed his eyes on Goku again, a small smile pulling at his lips. "Just like Bardock. He gave everything to protect our home, too." He sighed disappointedly. "So you can't betray your family, but I can't betray my crew." He shook his head again. "Maybe I shouldn't have come here..."

Goku shook his head. "No, if this is what you came to offer me, I'm glad you came. I just wish we weren't on different sides. You can still call me Karkarot. If that's what my father told you, it's what you should use. Vegeta calls me that anyway." He frowned sadly, something in him deciding he didn't want to meet this one on the battlefield. "You killed innocent people, but I don't want to meet you on the battlefield either. It's never too late for a fresh start. To mend everything, make it right."

"We're Saiyans," Tora replied simply. "That's what we do. Follow orders. Destroy everything in our path for whomever we serve." He practically snorted as he said it. He frowned and looked at the ground, scuffing the toe of his boot in the dirt. He hadn't expected this at all. Goku was making him question everything. His tail unfurled from around his waist and flicked irritatedly behind him. "It looks like neither of us has a choice in this," Tora snorted. "Typical." He couldn't betray his crew, but at the same time he felt like he was betraying Bardock if he faced his son in battle. He swallowed roughly, meeting Goku's eyes. "Kakarot, I don't know what to do," he said, his voice quiet and strained. "I can't betray my crew. I can't. But I can't go into battle against my best friend's son, either. Please... PLEASE join us."

Goku could understand that, thinking of his best friend. Well, Tien didn't have any children, but if Sabriena suddenly turned against him, he wouldn't want to fight her either. He frowned sadly at the other Saiyan. "I respect that you have loyalty to your crew. It's a good trait, but I can't join you. I can't leave this world, it's my home. My family lives here, my children and grandson. I can't." He walked forward and placed a hand on the other man's shoulder, looking up at him. "But stay alive through this war. Don't die. And I hope we don't face each other on the battlefield."

Tora gave a nod. "You too, Kakarot," he said heavily. He felt he had to do something, to give him a hint or... he didn't know what. He couldn't let the Atlantians blindside this man and his family, though. He gave a shiver in the cool spring wind. "Heh. Don't know how you can stand this cold weather," he commented before he met Goku's eyes with an intense stare. "Most Saiyans can't stand the cold weather. At least the Atlantians relocated somewhere warmer to make my crew more comfortable."

Goku shivered as he said it; it was an odd, out of place statement. And for once, if just once in his life, he thought to ask. "It is cold. Where abouts would be a warmer place to be comfortable in?" Tora was trying to give him a clue, he was certain of it.

Tora couldn't tell him outright. It felt too much like betraying his crew, but surely just dropping a few hints would even the odds. That's all he wanted now, was to at least make it fair. "Oh, somewhere south, I imagine. Pain in the ass, though, nearly half-way around the world. Pretty open there... not much... but all sorts of strange animals I've never seen before." He let a small smile curl his lip. "The big cats are interesting, to say the least."

Goku chuckled at that, deciding he would have to go and tell one of the girls what he said, his daughter might be able to help him figure it out. "Sounds like a good place to go hunting." He sighed, "Thank you. It was good to meet you. Are you sure you won't stay a moment? We were just having lunch."

Tora's stomach rumbled and he nearly accepted, but something told him he should be getting back. "No, I shouldn't," he said regretfully. "I don't think your mate was too impressed with me just showing up like I did. Give her my apologies. And your boy, too." He stood and stared at Goku for just another minute. "It's like looking at Bardock again," he said, wrapping his tail around his waist. "I swear, you look exactly like him." He grasped the younger man's shoulder for just a minute. "Take care of yourself, Kakarot," he said before he took a step back and spun on the spot, vanishing from sight with a loud crack.

Goku knew he couldn't just sit on this. He had to figure it out. He cracked open the front door and called inside, "Chichi! I'll be back later! Gotta go!" He pressed his fingers to his forehead and vanished before she had a chance to say a word.

Goku appeared in the backyard of Capsule Corp after leaving Gohan's house and was surprised to see Piccolo watching Alice playing with little Trunks. He frowned and looked around, "Hey, I've just had a visit from one of the Saiyans. Where's Vegeta? I need to tell him what I've been told. I think I know where the Atlantians are." He was almost certain of it, after discussing it with Lindsey and Gohan.

Piccolo sat up straighter, the surprise evident on his face at Goku's blunt announcement. "Wh-what?" he stammered. He blinked at the Saiyan for a moment before he turned his attention to little Trunks. "Trunks! Go get your father," he barked. "And get Jenny while you're at it."

Trunks scurried off and Piccolo got to his feet, looking Goku over. He appeared unhurt - at least it would seem the Saiyan who had visited him had been wise enough to not try to attack him.

Vegeta and Jenny appeared in the yard a short time later, both of them sweaty from training. "What's going on, Kakarot?" Vegeta asked, wiping at his face with the towel he had draped around his neck.

Goku's expression was serious, his memory clear from the visitation as his mind for battle and fighting kicked in. "I was visited just now by one of the Saiyans who's working with the Atlantians. Said his name was Tora and wanted me to join their cause because he said he didn't want to fight me. When I didn't, he hinted where they're camped out. Gohan and Lindsey seem to think it's somewhere in the southern part of Africa, in the plains."

Jenny snorted, "That tells us a lot. Africa is a huge place. I think you can fit like five Americas in there."

Vegeta narrowed his eyes, remembering Tora. That didn't seem like him to betray his crew. Vegeta didn't know him well, but he knew him well enough to know he wasn't a traitor.

"It could be a trap," Piccolo said, voicing the exact thing Vegeta was thinking.

Vegeta nodded his agreement with the Namek. "It doesn't matter, though," he said. "We have an advantage here and we're going to use it, trap or not." He fixed his eyes on Goku. "Could you use your instant transmission to go to Tora?" he asked. These Atlantians were really desperate to get more Saiyans on their side if they'd propositioned Goku. At least Goku wasn't taken advantage of the way Vegeta had been. It had been nearly three weeks since Fasha had propositioned him and the memory still made his skin crawl.

Goku frowned, but he nodded. He knew he was often too trusting of people. "It could be, but I don't think so. The way this guy was looking at me. It was like he was seeing a ghost. I don't think he lied to me, especially with the way he talked about my father. I don't think he would knowingly send me into a trap. There was just something about him."

"He knew your father well," Vegeta said. "Could be he can't stand the thought of facing you. It would make sense why he came to speak to you."

Piccolo raised a brow at Vegeta; he could practically see the wheels spinning in his head. "What are you planning?"

"An ambush," Vegeta said, a smirk pulling at his lips. "The full moon is three nights from now. If we attack the next morning, they're bound to be exhausted and weak. If we catch them off guard, we could end this thing."

Goku was nearly weak at the knees, hearing Vegeta speak of the end of the war. Gods, that would be amazing to have the war over and done with, to be able to be with his family once again. Well, more time with them instead of every day running out to train. This is what they'd been working for, what he had invested so much time in. Even though he was eager for it to be over, he couldn't deny the excitement in his chest at the thought of testing his strength against them. Damn these Saiyan genes.

Jenny nodded. "The armor is ready to go. I'm putting the final touches on it today." She looked at Goku. "I can send yours home with you if you want. And we will have to let the others know to come and get it."

"Good girl, Jennifer," Vegeta nodded. "I'll have Bulma figure out the time zones. We want to make sure the sun is up before we attack. We cannot take them on in their Oozaru forms." He could feel an excitement burning in his system, the promise of another fight. Despite everything else, he couldn't stop the excitement. This is what he lived for, what gave his life purpose. "Jennifer, I want you to call your friends. Let them know our plan. We will all meet here that morning and then Kakarot will take us there. I want everyone ready to go. Kakarot, let Tien know about our plans. He's the only one we can't get a hold of by phone."

Goku nodded. "I can take his and Sabriena's armor while I'm at it," he offered. He gave a long sigh, trying to calm his nerves. This was it. In just a few days, they were going to war.