Dragon Ball Governed:

Chapter 28

"The Truth"

A spacious environment surrounded by giant rock pillars providing shade under the hot sun of Planet Vegeta was the perfect training spot for two skilled combatants.

Since Zima was unable to use the Super Saibaimen he had gotten off Nappa, he had been taking some of his adult peer's Saibaimen without their permission and using them to train. It wasn't as if they'd ever notice though since they were too blockheaded.

Zima hopped off one pillar, dodging an acid attack from one of the Saibaimen and used the momentum he had built up by running to dash forth. The Saibaimen's red eyes nearly popped out of its eye sockets as he saw its shoulders when its head was flying off and sent rolling on the ground.

Shifting his body around, Zima had his hand directed for the only other sentient being there.

Choy put his hands up as fast as a petty thief caught by swat. "Whoah, whoah, whoah! I'm the only one left here."

Zima smiled and put his hand down. "I know - was just testing my reflexes."

"You did great against those things," Choy commended. "Too bad they were the weaker versions, though."

"Too bad?" Zima scoffed. "Do you know any other person our age group capable of even beating the weakest version of those green beans?"

Come to think of it, Choy wasn't able to think of any name. "Nope."

"Yeah, I thought so."

"So, did you hear about one of Freeza's planets being attacked?"

"Attacked? When?"

"My dad told me that there is a rogue Saiyan out there on the loose attacking Freeza's base of operations. They already destroyed one Planet and they're attacking another right now as we speak. King Vegeta's sent a squad of men to go and handle the problem."

This was far more interesting than anything else for Zima in the past decade. "And of this squad, does Mister Bardock happen to be one of them?"

Choy nodded his head.

"That's all I needed to know."

Very rare that Saiyans nowadays fought one another to the death. If one was found out for treason, they'de be sent straight to the King, who'd make a fine example out of the treacherous individual before his citizens. In a race of warriors, killing one's own kind wasn't something they could afford for the simple reason that there were only thousands of Saiyans on the Planet. As a intergalactic mercenary race, they didn't have much time for reproducing; there were planets half the size of Planet Vegeta with millions upon millions of people.

"Now thanks to this rogue idiot, Lord Freeza's probably thinking that the entire Saiyan race is against him," Pumbukin snarled. "What a way for a pair of nobodies to try and ruin a good thing for us."

"The only way we rectify this little problem is by bringing the heads of those who would dare and try to spoil all the good for us," Evid told Pumbukin through the scouter.

"Agreed," Amaran seconded. "If we were to sit back and let whoever is doing this do as they please, then Lord Freeza would have all the right to believe we're behind this, though if we're to step up and show him that we are willing to kill the man or men who is hellbent on ruining what he has going on, then all should be well between he and us."

There was one Saiyan that didn't necessarily agree with them— Bardock. The way he saw it, Freeza could by now be easily persuaded into thinking that King Vegeta sending out his troops to nip the problem in the bud would be a mere cover up. Despite the fact that the Saiyans truly were not behind this unexpected attack, Bardock knew that those in power often thought of all possible angles - most of those stemming from paranoia.

"We'll see," was all the scarred warrior had to say as they made way to their destination.

With their increased powers, Turles and Kakarot's campaign on Freeza Planet 28 was much easier compared to the one on Freeza Planet 33. With courtesy to the late Tagoma, Kakarot and Turles found their increased power to be a big help. Not a single soul that had been touched by either their fists or chi attacks managed to get back up and flee or retaliate.

One blow was all they needed.

High on a mountain was Freeza's base of operations. The building was burning up and smoke and the sounds of people screaming for mercy as they were being burned alive rang through the heavens.

This was nothing short of normal for the two rogue Saiyans, though.

One man, who's clothing was burning, tried his best to remain quiet. The fire tore at his flesh but by even squealing, he'd have given himself away. He went over to the edge of the mountain where he knew a big pond was down below. If he could just get down there and extinguish the fire, he'd probably be alive to live another day.

With half of his body over the edge, he prepared to throw himself off.

Kakarot's boot rammed against his spine elicited a yell. "That water must look like a heaven to you."

The defenseless person could no longer muster the strength to speak at this point. As the fire had torn through his clothes, it reached into the very bone of his skin, shocking his nervous system.

Gasps and wheezes was the only thing he could muster up.

Feigning disappointment over the fact that the victim wasn't able to respond verbally, Kakarot pouted. "Pity. At the very least, I can do you a favor." He removed the boot from the man's spine and kicked him over. Slowly, Kakarot's eyes went down as he watched the man fall.

Knowing he was hoping to go into the pond, Kakarot purposely kicked the man just a little bit too hard. Seeing his crisp body just on the edge of pond, the Saiyan chuckled to himself.

With a bright flash zooming right past the corner of his eye, Kakarot turned to see four more doing the exact same. The young warrior felt five different life forces as well, so he knew without a doubt that these were more than likely reinforcements.

"We have company!"

Turles put down a female's limp body and walked over to his subordinate. Kakarot pointed out into the sky and showed Turles four falling ships. "See?"

Turles cracked his knuckles. "Well, I shall say that it's about time."

"You and I will be able to take care of them without a problem."

Turles grabbed Kakarot by the shoulder and pointed him in the opposite direction. "I'll be the one to meet up with them over there before they come to us - ruin their potential element of surprise. You stay here and take care of any survivors remaining. Remember: we don't leave a single trace alive before we get rid of this barren wasteland for good."

Kakarot clenched his fists. "But we can get this done faster and beat them before they send in more reinforcements!" He started to wag his tail back and forth. "We can take them!"

"You stay here," Turles told him firmly. "That is an order, boy."

Feeling the powers from all five of these individuals had Kakarot all excited. Sure, they didn't measure up individually to Tagoma, but together, they would offer up a great deal of fun. Turles observed the growing anticipation by how Kakarot's tail wagged like an impatient puppy. He still had to learn some form of control.

Kakarot started to take off but Turles grabbed him by the tail and tossed him back. Kakarot went crashing into a pile of stacked bodies. He quickly got up, tensing his muscles, and ready to power-up. Turles had his finger raised. "You have one more time to defy me, Kakarot. I don't know what's gotten into you lately, but maybe I need to instill some form of discipline in you. Do NOT test me."

Turles didn't do as much as give Kakarot the chance to retort. The dark-skinned Saiyan was gone in an instant.

Right then and there, Kakarot knew he could have powered up and bested his mentor, but he didn't have the heart to retaliate. Without Turles, he'd be nothing.

Taking in deep breaths, Kakarot's look of anger faltered. The 16 year old was just disappointed at this point, but what could he do, really? He turned around and kicked one of the dead bodies in frustration. "Stupid...just stupid."

Freeza Planet 28 was a bright pink planet with trees hundreds of feet tall everywhere, which would explain why he carried his main base on the tallest mountain on the planet. Despite the sizes, the space between each tree was wide, so the five Saiyans managed to land safely.

No later than touching down, every single one of them clicked on their scouters so that they could get indications of power-levels.

Pip

"Yo, something must be out of whack with this thing!" Pumbukin shouted. He snatched his own scouter from his left eye and began to closely examine it. "I just got a reading of 15,000."

"No, there's no mistake there," Totapo told his friend. "I have the same reading."

"As do I," Bardock confirmed.

"There's nothing to worry about," Evid told his peers confidently. "A power-level of 15,000 is nothing against us once we take change under a full moon."

For as long as he didn't get a decent fight, it's been twice as long since Evid got the chance to turn into an Oozaru.

"If our enemy wasn't a Saiyan himself…" Amaran spoke out.

Getting a good look at this rogue Saiyan was like looking at the spitting image of Bardock - if he spent a little bit too much of his time near the sun.

Seeing the five Saiyans, Turles was the first to speak. "Well, I'll be damned. Freeza really resorted to having Saiyans take care of the situation instead of getting more of his own trusted goons. The irony here is far too coincidental that I'll even say there's a higher power to all this." He chuckled.

"What the hell?" Pumbukin's head swayed back and forth from Bardock to Turles so hard that it was a miracle he didn't give himself a bad case of whiplash. "He looks just like you!"

"Way to go, captain obvious," Amaran said.

Looking at Turles felt weird. Bardock went as far as to think that this could be his son, Kakarot, but he figured that a young sixteen year old Saiyan wouldn't be this well built yet. Judging by his physical appearance, he was much older. He couldn't be his son.

But if what his supposed brother Dane said were true...then this would have to be…"Turles…"

Hearing his name spoken from the mouth of the only brother that never knew him put a smile to Turles' face. "Nice to see that you at least know my name."

"So you do know this guy?" Amaran asked him. "What's the relation between you two?"

Turles shook his head. "Oh, nothing, beside the fact that we are brothers, we have no genuine relation. He's the opposition just as much as you both are."

"Before we put your head on a stake, would you bother in informing us why it is that you seek to destroy Freeza's main bases?"

"What comes to ashes inevitably leads to a rebirth," Turles told Amaran. "Once I have Freeza's empire crumbling, I will be the one there to replace him and the entire Saiyan race will be my soldiers to lead. Unfortunately, none of you will be alive to witness glory in its purest essence."

"Bullshit!" Pumbukin spat. "You're just another lower-class Saiyan! The idea of leading Freeza's empire, much less King Vegeta's people, shouldn't even be running around in your head, boy! It's about time you learn some manners."

Pumbukin began running over to Turles as fast as he could - his heavy legs and giant feet kicking up dust with each step. Turles remained idle and observed Pumbukin as he came toward him. Just seeing how the short, chubby guy ran forced a snicker out of him. Moving himself to the side, Turles snatched Pumbukin's scouter from his left eye and tripped him by the ankle. Just as Pumbukin began to fall, Turles grabbed him by the tail and gave a tight squeeze.

"You fool, that doesn't work on me!" Pumbukin howled, swinging his fists angrily.

Turles let Pumbukin go and used his speed to get out of the way. He nor the others were able to keep up with Turles and spent a few seconds looking around before their scouters detected the Saiyan to be just behind them.

"6,750...6,990...7,500...8,168...9,189…" Once he got their readings, Turles removed the scouter from his face and crushed it in the palm of his hand. "So you're King Vegeta's top men. I must say it's a pleasure for him to send the elite of the classified mid-level soldiers."

Pumbukin's face was hot red after getting back up. "This must be some sort of fluke - he's some nobody with a power-level of 15,000! That reading can't be real…"

"You really don't believe me?" Turles asked him.

Bardock knew his comrade better than most and could see whenever rage started to build up in his chubby friend, there was almost no stopping him. "Calm down, Pumbukin - keep a cool head. Our best chance of beating this guy is by taking him on at once."

Pumbukin tuned out the words of the others and only listened in on Turles. "You're damn right I don't believe you!"

Turles moved his chin up to beckon Pumbukin. "Well, why don't you come and try me?"

Pumbukin hopped off his back-foot with his hands interlocked and behind his head. Bardock tried to step in, but was held back by Amaran. He looked dead in the man's eyes and he shook his head. "Natural selection; we let the weak links go before we form our strongest chain."

Bardock wasn't buying that but making an effort to resist Amaran would result in utter failure and a potential fight between his own group. As much as he didn't agree with this stupid survival of the fittest survival, there was nothing he could do for Pumbukin right now.

Turles moved his entire upper-body to the side and allowed Pumbukin to just graze his chest-plate. He span around behind the chubby Saiyan and spoke to him. "Over here." Pumbukin quickly turned around and made an attempt to fire at him from point-blank range. The ki attack was deflected before it even left the palm of his hands. Pumbukin paid for it dearly with his stomach rumbling out loud due to a merciless front kick to the gut.

Pumbukin hopped off his back, landed on his feet, and zeroed in on Turles once more. He blocked Pumbukin's elbow strike with his forearm, ducked under a swipe, and used his left hand while ducking to direct his right shoulder upward so a kick from Pumbukin wouldn't make contact. Turles sprung off his left hand and over the shoulder of Pumbukin, who turned around again for a punch.

Turles was ready for it. He grabbed Pumbukin's wrist, twisted it and applied so much pressure that he sent Pumbukin down on one knee. As he did so, he looked in the eyes of the other four Saiyans. "See how easily I can make one of my own bow? Willingly or unwillingly, once I take control, everyone will kneel with Turles in their presence."

With his finger against Pumbukin's windpipe, he ensured that the Saiyan could no longer breathe. Pumbukin dropped dead before his comrades. His body twitched with wide eyes like a fish on shore flopping around for water.

"And those who perpetuate defiance shall die. So that leads me with this question: will you care to join me and my cause? I'm only being generous enough to offer once."

As if he was some working engineer on Planet Vegeta, Pumbukin had been killed like common trash. Bardock, seeing that nobody was any longer in his way, shot forth for Turles. Totapo was equally upset at his comrade's death and had been quick to follow in pursuit from behind. Evid, anxious to fight, hopped in as well.

Amaran watched as Turles seemed to struggle with just the four of him and noticed how quick he was to making sure that only two stayed on his trail. Three or more and he was in trouble. "Maybe we'll be able to take him down after all." Amaran then jumped in.

"Are you getting this reading!?"

Zima clicked on his scouter once he exited his attack pod. He could see a multitude of power-levels over 6,000 facing off against one with 15,000. Just as expected, the fight had begun before they were to land here, meaning that those in combat would be too distracted to notice two unexpected and unwanted arrivals.

"Yeah, I'm getting it."

Choy was taken aback by the fact that Saiyans were actually fighting together in an effort to take down another Saiyan - and top soldiers of the mid-class level at that. Whoever this guy was, he must have been one of the top soldiers of the past.

"I'm also getting another reading not too far from here: a power-level of 13,250."

"The reading isn't the same league as the other guy but he's still crazy strong, too."

Zima nodded. "Not to mention, he's far away from the fight taking place, so I would have to assume that he's maybe an ace in the hole - in hiding until last moment to catch the others off-guard."

"What do we do?" Choy asked.

"We see what he's up to."

The two young warriors take off like rockets. Choy was excited to see how all of this would play out, though Zima on the other hand was more interested in the faces involved in this, as well as Bardock.

"He really has me doing maiden services."

Kakarot kicked another body onto the 30th pile of bodies that he had made on the mountain. "That should be the last of it." Backing up away from the hundreds of bodies stacked, Kakarot sent thirty different blasts to set them all up ablaze. "Now maybe I should be able to join the fight."

Closing his eyes, Kakarot felt out for the powers that collided. He knew that one of the soldiers sent there had died due to his life force dropping all the way down to zero. The other four had dropped as well, though only slightly, so they must have been weakened and still able to fight.

"Turles could have been taken those four out by now but he's just toying with them." Kakarot licked his lips. "Maybe he's playing with food that he's saved for me."

He had made sure that there were no survivors, so now he could join the battle that Turles was having all the fun with. The young warrior was so focused on entering the battle, that he hadn't noticed the two smaller power-levels following him.

The cool breeze was slapping Kakarot so hard in the face that it's of a surprise his hair hadn't been detached from his head. He flew so fast that he was within the battle-zone in just a matter of seconds.

Kakarot stopped right in the sky to observe the fight. So far there are only two warriors facing off against Turles: Amaran and Evid. Both are sweaty and bloodied but their relentless attitude is what's kept them in the fight so far.

Seeing the other two still alive, Kakarot could see one dark-skinned male writhing in pain silently as the other soldier was trying all he could to get right back up on his feet.

This was so like Turles, beating his enemy's down to within an inch of their lives before killing them. Of course, he only did this to those he felt were worthy of giving him some form of entertainment.

Kakarot was on the verge of opening his mouth to make himself known, but once one of the fallen soldiers lifted their heads up, he got a good look at their face. Kakarot didn't think anything of the hair at all. If Turles and his were similar, then he figured that there would be someone else out there, too.

But it wasn't until he saw the scar on the man's face that he realized.

It had been years since he last seen that face.

Kakarot spoke so low that he wasn't even capable of sounding out the words. "Father…"

As Bardock is about to stand up, Totapo is the one to push him back down by placing his boot on Bardock's back. "Stay put and rest."

Amaran and Evid both came crashing down within the same vicinity of one another. Turles was barely breaking a sweat as he spent most his time dodging and toying with them all. Seeing Totapo back on his feet, he chortled. "I love the tenacity. That's what makes killing you all the more worthwhile. You fight like Saiyan warriors are meant to: till your body caves in."

Kakarot wished Turles would get on with it and at least kill his father before he jumped in. He never had problems with ruining families and entire civilizations, but Kakarot just had a twirl session in his stomach at the mere thought of eradicating his father from existence. Yet at the same time, he couldn't even mentally figure out why. It had been approximately twelve years since he last seen his father - just when he was a little kid - so why would he care if he lives or dies?

Amaran tried to get up, but to no avail as as he dropped back down on his chin, letting out a deep breath before falling to unconsciousness.

Evid, despite being weaker than Amaran, finds the strength to stand up on his two feet. He reveals his bloody teeth with a wide smile as it's only he and Totapo standing beside one another. "The more and more that I last, the more stronger I shall become. That's the only reason I keep fighting. You can beat me and humiliate me, but you won't take away my pride through embarrassing me in battle, for if I can survive this long, then you've done a shit job at killing me."

Evid flies for Turles once more and Totapo is just right behind him.

Turles clenches his fist and awaits them to get close. Once within striking range, he clocks Evid across the face and gut-checks Totapo. The two Saiyans double over and spit up saliva. Subsequent to upper-cutting them both at the same time, he grabs the two Saiyans by the legs and slams them together before chucking them down for Bardock right below.

The scarred warrior can only stare and watch as they both fall down gracefully. Just ten meters above his head, the two are rendered chi waves with enough force to disintegrate them.

Bardock could feel their ashes fall on his hair and back. Angry at the fact he couldn't save three men today, what only angered him more was the fact that it was about to be five: another soldier and himself.

Turles touched down a few meters away from Bardock and just looked down on the man. Bardock was slow to get up, but he did...eventually. Turles couldn't help but clap. Bardock pushed through the pain and rose up, mustering up what little strength he had left. "You deserve a round of applause for being able to still get back up after the ruthless pounding you've endured."

"Turles…" Bardock growled. The attempt in trying to take a single step forward resulted in Bardock groaning as he fell down onto one knee. He used his right hand to keep his balance. While huffing and puffing, sweating as if he was mere centimeters away from the sun, Bardock looked back up to him.

"I didn't even have to touch you and I still made you bow. Do you understand now...brother?"

"Gine...she told me about you, right before she died." Slowly, Bardock stood back up on his two feet. He and Turles were virtually the same height.

"Gine?" Turles scratched his head. As he continued to feign deep thought, he turned around and began rubbing his chin as he tapped his face with his thumb. "Ah, yes!" He snapped his fingers prior to facing Bardock again. "Your mate. I did have a pleasure speaking to her before her untimely accident."

"W-What? H-How'd you know?" Bardock kept that under wraps for as long as he could remember. Once Gumeel got busted, only a few more figured out why her child was taken away from her, but still, an outsider like Turles wouldn't have to know of Gine's death.

Unless…

"You!" Bardock punched Turles across the face. At the very most, he managed to move him a few inches, but nothing more. However, the impact wasn't even remotely enough to force Turles to break eye-contact.

"That's right - me." He chuckled. "It was I who misinformed her on the planet where her little son had supposedly been on." All the memories flooding back to Bardock's mind was apparent. Despite this happening over a decade ago, it felt like yesterday. "I'm sure you decided to go and check on her, correct? Did you get to see her dead body? Just how badly did those vicious beasts treat her before she was put out of her misery? Did she even get to talk to you one last time."

"You coward!"

Bardock doubled over from a quick shot to the gut before he was grabbed by the throat and lifted off his feet. The scarred warrior tried to grab for Turles' face but said Saiyan would just smack away Bardock's hand every time he tried.

"That's right. I set the whole thing up. From the very beginning, it was all apart of my plan to recruit a Saiyan child to mold them into the warrior necessary to be apart of my plan. I couldn't do this to any child, though. Every kid I tried to go to were lower-class soldiers, like me, but most were killed by the Galactic Patrol before I got a chance to get to them. When I got news of your whereabouts, I figured I could use one of your children, but the eldest was far too promising. But Kakarot...oh, he was just the perfect fit. Him and I baring a strong resemblance was just what I needed to reel him in without suspicion."

No longer was Bardock getting any air through his nose or mouth. With each and every passing second, Turles strengthened his grip.

"I just needed a Saiyan by my side so that I could use them as a scapegoat for my journey. Luckily for your child, he's proven to be so valuable that I don't think I'll be needing any other subordinates. Fret not; Kakarot doesn't know and he never will. When I dispatch of you, I'll gladly go back to being the father you never could be - scum."

Bardock used his tail to grab at Turles' free hand and reeled it in for a big bite. The sudden pain caused Turles to remove his hand from Bardock's throat. After falling on his knees, he was kicked right on his back.

Turles raised his right hand, beginning to generate energy in the palm of his hands. "That's right, Bardock. Till the very end." He extended his hand over to the ground beside him and launched the blast to create a hole about twice the size of Bardock's body. "And because you are my brother, I will give you a half decent burial."

Kakarot knew better than any other that when Turles promised death on someone, he never turned back on his word. The sixteen year old warrior shot down on the ground with enough force to bring attention to himself.

"Kakarot!" Turles yelled happily. "I'm glad you could arrive for the glorious finale."

"As am I," he responded. "Too bad it won't be my father who ends up in the grave you created."

Turles turned away from Bardock and tilted his head. "I beg your pardon?"

"You've done well in saving me the time in digging up your grave."

Turles' furrowed brow lowered and he raised his head, looking Kakarot dead on in the eyes. His most and only promising soldier had switched sides on him. It wasn't hard for him to figure it out: he had heard in on the conversation.

"Surely you aren't going to be one of the many idiots of this world to betray the only person who's been looking out for you based on the past. It'd be very unwise for you to do so, Kakarot."

"The sad part about it all is that you could have told me this when I was a kid and still probably have convinced me to fight along with you - back when I was most gullible."

Kakarot knew that a part of him still was, but who would he be to turn his back on the person who's practically raised him? He didn't as much as have a reason back then, but now…

Now he had one.

"I can still convince you now, Kakarot. All hope isn't lost yet. Finish what I've started by killing this weakling and we can move on to better things."

Kakarot looked to Bardock as the man just witnessed everything going on. Now that he learned the truth, Kakarot would be a fool if he killed his biological father. For all these years he was lied to and used as a mere means to an end.

"Sorry, I've made up my mind."

"So you've also sealed your fate," Turles corrected. "You've always been under me, Kakarot so your chances of coming out victorious are slim." He then grinned. "With these senzus, your death will be of no big loss - finding another and more obedient replacement ought to be easy."

"YAH!"

The sound of Kakarot's elbow connecting with Turles' arm was that of a big bang that shooked everything within a dozen mile radius of them. Kakarot felt his chestplate grazed by a punch. The same was very much for Turles when his underling attempted to retaliate.

Getting an open-palm strike to the face wasn't much a set-back for the sixteen year old as he smacked Turles' other arm away and created some form of separation by having Turles soar away due to a kiai push.

Bardock could feel the heavy winds come over him as Turles was sent flying just above his head. Kakarot had followed after just mere seconds after.

With the period of time he didn't have to suffer much a beating anymore, Bardock was able to slowly get back up on his feet. "Kakarot...I can't believe it."

Bardock knew the reading of Turles' power-level whenever he first came to fight and here his youngest-born was, going blow for blow with the same man who gave him and his comrades absolute hell.

Irritation was on the rise with Turles once he realized that Kakarot wasn't able to be dominated effortlessly as he initially thought. If he would be able to give two punches on the kid, he would come back with two of his own.

On the defensive, Turles focused more on parrying punches and chi attacks as he continued to look for an opening, but that was just as hard to do. After all this time of fighting with Kakarot, the young boy had been paying close attention to his fighting style - Kakarot has learned how to be able to go toe to toe with him evenly without giving himself away easily.

Kakarot's jab was ducked under but he grabbed Turles' right fist just in time to prevent his stomach from receiving a shocking blow. He proceeded to clock Turles in the face but said Saiyan wrapped his tail around Kakarot's legs and tossed the boy down to the ground.

Kakarot was quick to get back up on his feet. Turles was sweating and breathing a bit hard. He really had his work made out for him with fighting his only underling.

"I underestimated you, Kakarot," Turles shouted from afar. "But only ever so slightly! This fight still ends with your demise!"

He then vanished.

Kakarot closed his eyes and took in deep breaths. He could feel Turles' life-force jumping all over the place. He was hopping around in an attempt to throw Kakarot off-guard so he could find an opening. But Kakarot knew this all too well.

The moment Turles appeared behind him with his hands behind his head in hopes of firing away at point-blank range, Kakarot used the tip of his boot to move himself out the way as he simultaneously rammed the tip of his elbow against Turles' stomach.

The younger fighter hoped that his hit would have coerced Turles into cancelling his attack, but to no avail. Kakarot's attempt to dodge was futile since he still ended up getting struck while Turles was hunched over.

Small pieces of Kakarot's armor came off but it didn't do much to pain him. In an effort to maintain balance, the young man executed countless back-flips as if he was an olympian. Hundreds of purple chi attacks came forth, so Kakarot only continued to flip faster, and faster, just being able to dodge them at the last moment.

Getting frustrated, Turles charged for the boy. He hoped to make Kakarot think he was coming right ahead for him before he did a swift maneuver to get behind.

Kakarot expected this and used both his hands to spring himself off the ground last moment. Turles felt as if he was in slow-motion as he watched Kakarot's lips curl up into a smile once they made eye-contact while Kakarot was coming behind.

After Kakarot's feet touched the ground from behind, Turles turned around to fire an attack at close range once more, but Kakarot parried the energy attack behind him. He leaned backward to miss Turles' knuckles. Subsequent to retaliating with a quick and powerful backfist to the face, Turles' saliva came flying involuntarily out of his mouth after also getting an impactful strike to the chin from Kakarot's shoulder.

"How dare you!"

Growing livid at the fact Kakarot was beginning to best him, Turles punched the boy twice in the face and kneed him in the stomach out of sheer rage. Once Kakarot was slow to get back standing straight, Turles used his knee yet again by trying to crack the boy's chin.

Kakarot flipped over on his two feet and sent Turles sliding through the ground with a kiai push to the chest - this time it formed a crack on his armored plate.

Kakarot spat a bit of blood to the ground and wiped his mouth. He took in one deep breath, smiled and spoke to Turles as he got back up. "You didn't underestimate me ever so slightly, Turles. It was honestly the worst mistake of your life."

"Bullshit!" Turles cursed. "I have a power-level of 15,000! You are over fifteen hundred units lower than me! There is no excuse."

"Oh, but there is."

Kakarot clenched his fists. For the first time in his life, Kakarot showed off just how vascular he was - veins beginning to show all over his forearms and biceps, even his neck and forehead. The planet started to quake with the young warrior's growing power.

"W-What are you doing…!?"

Kakarot laughed through the tense sensation tingling throughout this body. "Something I was taught on one of our trips for Senzus - how to control my power!" Kakarot jerked his body up and let out a brief yell. Smoke circled around him quickly before rapidly being blown away.

"You never stood a chance."

Kakarot took off at top speed, building up momentum as he channelled ki through his entire right arm. Turles made an effort to block his face, but Kakarot's elbow broke through his defenses like a hot knife cutting butter. Turles' arms went out wide as did his mouth and eyes from the insane forceful strike.

Kakarot took advantage of the opening blessed before him and sent Turles' head the other way with a strong, beautiful right hook, which was followed by a right open-palm strike to the jaw. By the fourth hit - a fist to the stomach - Turles couldn't help but spit up blood.

Bardock heard cracks from Turles' skull after Kakarot grabbed the man's face by two hands and drove his forehead into Turles'. Subsequent to letting him go, Turles began to stumble back. Each and every strike was given with one hundred percent effort and then some. Just not even being able to stand on his two feet was utterly embarrassing.

Just as Turles was finding his footing, Kakarot hopped off his back-foot and came down with a crushing blow to the temple, one that sent Turles' limp body crashing onto the ground beneath him.

He blacked out, though only for a split second - enough for him to be sent down like an oversized pillar with no holding support.

Down and unable to retaliate in any manner, Turles tried to speak. "K-Kakarot…"

At this point there was nothing Turles could do or say to have Kakarot spare him. Just looking at the man's face made Kakarot want him to destroy the entire planet just so there could be no trace of this conniving, Machiavellian, fool left.

But in moments like these, Turles never begged for his life. Not once, no matter how had the circumstances - Turles wouldn't dare.

Realizing what he was up to, Kakarot looked at Turles' left hand, which was slowly creeping its way into his armored clothing. "No, you don't!" Kakarot raised his hands with his nails out and came down with so much power that it penetrated his armor as well as his chest, to the very heart.

A blast was all that he needed in order to finish him off.

The aftermath was nothing but silence. The wind whistled loudly. A rock dropping from a mile away could be heard.

The scarred warrior was in amazement. The chances of his son, who was destined to be a common lower level Saiyan, turning out to be this strong was impossible.

That little weak boy he saw all those years ago was now a young, powerful force.

Bardock felt pride in himself many times as a young combatant. But to describe the amazing feeling of pride in his own son? That was just indescribable.

Bardock approached Kakarot from behind as his son was down on one knee. The closer he got, the more he could hear his son speaking to himself.

"It's my fault...all of it. I'm the reason that my mother's dead…"

Everything hit Kakarot like a bag of falling bricks. He now understood who Turles truly was. The man he looked up to most even couldn't be trusted — the same man who advised him to not be too trusting.

Bardock put his hand firmly on Kakarot's shoulder to get his attention. "We can't take back what's been done, Kakarot."

Hearing his father speak to him for the first time in over 11 years was an unexpected relief. Kakarot stood up on his two feet and turned around to face the scarred warrior.

"But what if I told you we could?"

"It depends on what you're trying to change. Some things just can't be brought back - it's as simple as that."

Bardock did his mourning. It hurt that Gine was gone, but he's managed to adapt over the years. He had no other choice but to.

Kakarot brushed shoulders with his father as he shook his head. "No, no. That's actually not true." Thinking back on Earth as to how it was said that some orbs could wish for anything, the very first thing that popped into Kakarot's mind was being able to wish for his mistake to be undone - for his mother to be wished back to life. "I can fix what I've done wrong." Kakarot walked back over to his dad. "I can promise you."

"O...kay?" Bardock didn't know what Kakarot was referring to. As far as he was concerned, he righted his wrongs by killing the very man who confessed to being the reason for his mother's demise. He tried to think about what else Kakarot was referring to - like bringing Gine back maybe?

But no. That was just impossible.

"I remember what you told me one night when I was a little boy, just out the nursing capsule."

Bardock cocked his eyebrow. He couldn't even remember, so how could Kakarot?

"What's that?"

"I remember always wanting to go out, chasing the desire for battle, even though I was labeled nothing more than a lower-class working engineer. Despite my status, I had this deep hunger for altercation - whether it be hunting, battle, or whatever - I needed to be out there. You told me 'Don't let your status hold you back from what you really are.'"

Finally getting what he was talking about, Bardock subtly grinned. "I remember that night now. Your brother called you weak, but look at you now...one of the strongest Saiyans in the Universe."

"I'm not meant to be just another lower-class, father, nor am I meant to be just another powerful Saiyan that knows how to fight. If my history with Turles has taught me anything at this very moment, it is that I am meant to live a live of no subjugation - free of those who wish to have power and control over me. I am to be a free Saiyan."

Bardock wanted to comment how in the eyes of a Saiyan, a free one was usually labeled a rogue one, but he didn't want to give Kakarot all too much to worry about.

"And my first action as a free Saiyan is to repay you. If not for you being here, I would have never realized the truth and I would have remained a slave. I'm going to bring my mother back to life."

So Kakarot really was referring to that. "Excuse my language, but how in the hell is that even possible?"

Kakarot shook his finger. "Don't question it, old man, just accept it for what it is. Just give it a few weeks and you'll see her face again. I assure you of such."

This brought Bardock into deep thought. Throughout all his years alive as a warrior, he's not only seen and done, but heard of very ominous and mystical things out in the Universe. Just of all the extraordinary feats he's witnessed in his own lifetime, he knew for a fact that there were millions of other things out there he didn't even have knowledge of. Kakarot had the liberty of being out in the Universe for years, going to whichever world he desired without answering to anyone.

He's undoubtedly seen a lot as well - perhaps even more than himself.

Maybe there was something out there with the power to wish back the undead. His son wouldn't be talking all crazy for no reason. He seemed far too smart, anyhow.

"B-Bardock!"

Amaran got up on his two feet, shaking his head. After his long slumber, the man was still dizzy and somewhat out of it, but he knew for a fact what his mission was.

"Amaran…"

Amaran looked over the area. He saw his comrades dead, as well as the man that they attempted to fight. "So, he's finally gone, huh? Dead?"

Bardock nodded his head. "If it wouldn't have been for my son, Kakarot, we all would have died."

Looking to Kakarot, Amaran's eyes widened. He never knew that Bardock even had a son, but it did make sense. That man was his brother and this kid, his son. They all had the same hairstyle. But still, something felt off.

"Where did he come from?"

It was then that Bardock fell silent.

Kakarot didn't know what to say, either.

With quiet overtaking the area, it had clicked. "He was working with your brother, wasn't he?" Having gotten no answer, Amaran raised his voice. "WASN'T HE!?"

"So what if I was?" Kakarot asked him. "I killed the man who murdered your comrades, so I would say all is fair."

Amaran shook his head. "No, no, no, kid. You got it all wrong. You betrayed Freeza, so you're still an enemy to us." He looked over to the boy's father. "You know the protocol here, Bardock. No matter what, we have to kill this traitor."

Kakarot glanced at Bardock. He knew that the man wouldn't try it - not because he's weaker than his own son - but because Bardock had more of a conscience than his own people. He just had that feeling. Bardock was better than Turles.

"Yes, we do," Bardock told Amaran. "And if he were any other person than my son, I would make an exception. But sadly, I can't."

"That makes you a traitor, too, then!"

"Then so be it."

Amaran lunged for Bardock, but he just stood there. He looked over to Kakarot, who gave him the go ahead.

Amaran didn't even think of the fact that Kakarot was far superior to Turles, for he wouldn't have been able to beat him anyhow. He was blinded by rage due to the fact that most of his men were killed and that the only survivor would actually let a traitor live - son or not.

Bardock and Kakarot both raised their hands and fired off a wave of chi at the same time. Amaran froze in the sky and tried to change directions, but Kakarot's blast wouldn't allow such. Once he was caught by Kakarot's, Bardock's attack came in to finish the job and pulverize him.

Only pieces of his armor fell down to the ground after it was said and done.

"And that takes care of the final problem," Bardock said.

"You have to get out of here as soon as possible," Kakarot told Bardock. "I have to make sure not a single trace of anything here is left behind so this planet must be erased completely."

"No, I'll do that myself, Kakarot. You go ahead and take off. I'll need something from Turles as evidence to the King that I've taken care of the problem."

"Speaking of Turles." Kakarot walked over to the man's body and dug inside his chestplate to take out a bag. Once he saw that there was only a few left, he smiled. "Bastard."

"What's that?" Bardock asked.

Kakarot flicked one over to Bardock. "Eat it and find out."

Bardock looked at the bean, then back to his son. If it were any other person, he'd deny such since people had a tendency to be sneaky, but he didn't see any reason for Kakarot to harm him. So Bardock shrugged his shoulders, said what the hell, and ate it.

Kakarot couldn't help but smile as he witnessed his father being rejuvenated right before his very eyes. Once Bardock stopped shaking, Kakarot spoke to him. "So, how do you feel?"

"Amazing. Kakarot, what is that stuff?"

"Just something that's been helping me in my travels." Kakarot tossed the bag into the air and snatched it before putting it away. He walked over to Bardock and gave him a light jab on the shoulder. "It's a pleasure being able to see you again, old man. See you around?"

"See you around."

Kakarot created some distance between them before rocketing away into the sky. Once Kakarot twinkled away like a shooting star, he turned back from his son. He couldn't even begin to describe the pride he felt in how strong he had become, and to be able to gain so much power at such a young age. Bardock knew he'd be at the top of the food chain.

It was all just a matter of time.

"I-I can't believe this shit. Bardock really is a traitor…!"

Zima smacked Choy upside the head so he could keep his voice down. The two youngsters watched Bardock remove Turles' head from his body so that he could take it with him back home as personal evidence for having captured the rogue Saiyan.

Nobody knew it was more than one, so Bardock will be able to make his story stick.

But Zima had to try.

He had to get rid of the man who killed his father.

As far as he was concerned, there was nothing else to convince him that Bardock didn't do it. And since he wasn't able to take care of Bardock himself, he'd need to have a word with the King.

After taking one of the surviving ships on the Freeza Planet, Kakarot now had his sights on one Planet.

"Without Turles to get into my way, I can confirm with those Earthlings if there are orbs with powers to bring people back. But I need to get to that planet without getting tracked." Leaning back in his seat, Kakarot let out a sigh. "So first stop: Planet Yoyu."