What-If Bardock Convinced the Sayains: Season 2, Chapter 5

Come Along For The Ride, Why Don't Ya?

It was a few short days after Goku's explosive Super Saiyan power had emerged, and since then, had gotten a fundamental grip on its transformation process. Bardock felt that the training would now be in good hands, for a time, if he left his sons to it. This had given him a chance to prepare and depart for Yadrat.

However, while in the middle of packing, Cassava came to Bardock with a request. To meet her up at the Lookout and finally meet the Guardian of Earth, Kami. She had recently wanted to do this, only explaining that Bardock's given coordinates towards Yardrat had something that caught her attention.

Up on the Lookout was exactly as Cassava described it to Bardock. A Temple with a few gardens and this sense of peace exuding itself in the air. Something that got Bardock more relaxed than usual, and he didn't like that.

"Well? What do you think, Bardock?" Cassava asked.

"It's… Alright," Bardock murmured.

The pair head inside, walking along a corridor to an open room. There, in the middle, was a table along with a basket of pastries, a tea set, and three chairs. One of those chairs sat Kami, sipping from a cup as if he were expecting them to arrive.

"Ah, Cassava!" he greeted so casually. "I was surprised to find you coming up this early in the month for our luncheon." Kami takes another sip of his tea. "But it looks like you're not here for the thematics of bakery goods today." He then turned his attention directly at Bardock.

"So, we finally meet, Bardock." Kami bows his head in respect. "I've heard, and sensed, a great deal about you. You've had quite the busy week."

Bardock studied this man in front of him, and obsessively he was a Namekian, as Cassava noted. But other than that, he could feel the ki that Kami was purposely exuding, and honestly, Bardock was impressed.

It was as if Kami was telling Bardock that he was the man of the house, or more broadly, The Guardian of Earth, and his power showed it. With Bardock comparing it to a Saiyan Elite Squads power level. This, Kami, could be trouble if threatened.

"Hmph!" Bardock smirked. "You're strong."

"Seriously, you men and comparing power levels." Cassava sighed on the side as she took a seat.

Bardock followed suit, having the alluring scent of the basket full of warm pastries as an additional motivator.

However, as soon as he reached for one, Cassava was ready to get to the point immediately.

"So, Kami. Would you like to travel alongside Bardock to your homeworld, Namek?" She asked bluntly.

Kami nearly choked on his tea while Bardock quickly turned to Cassava, dropping a strawberry tart in the process.

Kami set down his cup, trying to keep his voice leveled. "P-pardon me, Cassava?"

"As it turns out," Cassava began. "Just after Yardrats coordinates, Nameks only a few days away! So, I thought it'd be a good chance to offer you a trip before Bardock here departs."

The three sit in silence for a moment, with Kami and Bardock not sure how to respond to this.

So, of course, Bardock is the one who starts to protest. "Uh, your majesty? After, as in after I get to Yardrat?"

"That's what I said, Bardock."

"So you're implying that I'd let this green man take my only means for space travel so that he can reunite with the other green men of his planet?"

Cassava waved his hand at Bardock. "Oh, don't be so overdramatic! I can get Bulma to prepare a capsule to hold a standard space pod, so traveling there and back won't be an issue!" She nonchalantly reassures.

"But… Still." Bardock takes a cautionary glance at Kami. "Do you trust him?"

"He's harmless… enough," Cassava says, thinking back to her first encounter with Kami.

"As much as I appreciate the thought," Kami began. "I still have a duty here on Earth as it's Guardian. I can't shirk that responsibility away, even for personal ventures."

That's quite bold of him to say, given the stories he's told of him and Piccolo from the past couple of years, Cassava thought.

Cassava always dismissed this aspect of Kami. His responsibility as a protector of Earth. A protector to such an incompetent species. However, she would never tell him this because, in some ways, she could empathize.

For example, one glance at the Saiyan race, and you can wonder as to why anyone in their right mind would try to protect them. The very thing that Cassava's been doing for the last few decades. So, she could respect Kami's stance in all of this, one way or another.

However, for what's to come in three years, with the Androids and the possibility of her own son heading an uprising against her, she needs more allies that can be ready to assist her if needed. And with the potential that Kami and that Piccolo guy have, they are invaluable to her.

What would it take to get him off the Lookout and make use of that potential?

Cassava thought to herself for a moment before asking. "Well, couldn't there be anyone else to take your place in the meantime?"

Kami was assumed by this question, almost as if reminiscing. "Now there's a thought! I've tried that once with Goku when he was still a boy. He declined, of course. Now, there are plenty of other candidates down on the lower world, but I sense that they'd prefer too not to be bound to one place for the remainder of their lives."

"Couldn't someone take the position for a short time, then?" Prodded Cassava.

Kami was about to respond but stopped himself. He held his chin quizically, considering the possibility. "That… Could be possible." Kami then waved his hand dismissively. "However, I don't wish to burden anyone with my duty, even if for only a short time. Besides, with everyone training, it'd be counterproductive to their efforts."

Bardock sat in his chair, rolling his eyes at Kami's reluctance. He grabbed another pastry and began to munch on it.

While Cassava, on the other hand, had an idea starting to develop in her mind. "To the people who are training, yes. But what about those who are not? What if someone was willing to take the job, who's not doing much of anything, currently. Other than raising a newborn Saiyan?"

Realizing what Cassava is implying, Bardock, hearing this, began to choke on his cinnamon roll. With Kami going wide-eyed at the suggestion.

Kami leaned forward in his chair. "Cassava! Are you asking—"

"Yes, Kami. Let me look after the place while you're away!" Cassava said, unwavering.

Bardock grabbed the nearest cup of tea to wash down the remaining roll still in his throat. "Your Majesty, why are you wasting time on this?!" Bardock asked sharply. "This guy clearly doesn't want to leave his 'precious' Lookout, so why are you egging on this—"

"Bardock!" Cassava snapped, instilling the Sayian into silence.

Cassava then sighed. "Listen to me, both of you. An uncertain future is coming our way, and I don't want to waste any chances I can see that may help us."

Bardock began to speak again, only with a lower tone this time. "B-but we can handle—"

Cassava cut Bardock short. "Do you remember the first time we faced the Empty Saiyan, Nappa, back on Frieza Planet 315?" Bardock goes silent once more. "We were sorely unprepared the first time, and we let our victories and arrogance get the better of us. If it weren't for the idiotic training that my son had done to himself and the sheer stroke of luck of you achieving Super Saiyan, we would've lost. I don't want…" Cassava began to trail off. "We've been given a chance by my future daughter to do things right, not to run blind into ruin."

She then looked up to Kami. "Compared to the Earthlings and even our own Saiyan Elite Squads, you and Piccolo have great potential. I've seen it, and I know that the both of you have seen it in each other as well. And going to Namek, I feel, could only push you even further beyond. So, please, Kami." Cassava got up from her chair and began to bow. "For the security of the future, allow a Queen to protect her people so that you can do the same."

Bardock was shocked by this display from his Queen. "Cassava…"

Kami sat in silence watching this and was not sure what to think. This admittance wasn't something that Cassava showed to him since the first time they've met. Perhaps the year spent on Earth had impacted her more than Kami realized.

However, the thought of leaving his duty to a developing mother for a few years felt selfish to him. Even more so, her duties as a Queen to her people come into play. It's wrong and selfish of her to take on more responsibilities that don't even concern her people. But here she is asking, almost pleading, for him to go out a become stronger for everyone's sake.

Kami didn't like this, but looking at it realistically, she may be right.

"I… I'd have to bring Piccolo with me." Kami uncomfortably admitted. "To make sure that he behaves and all… that."

Cassava gave a quiet sigh of relief and raised herself back up, locking eyes with Kami. "Well, then." She presents her hand to him. "That's something we can do, yeah?" A sly smile came across her face.

Kami started to loosen up as well. Taking Cassava's hand. "I suppose so."

Day of Departure

The gang all gathers back at Capsule Corp to see Bardock and accompanying Kami and Piccolo off to the stars.

Bardock gives a firm handshake to Raditz and wishes him luck to become a Super Saiyan.

Goku lifts his father in a big bear hug and tells him that he hopes that the two of them could have a fight as Super Saiyans when it's all over. Bardock gives an uncomfortable chuckle and tells him that they'll see.

Then, there's Cassava with baby Kholba in her arms. "Well… Good luck." She tells him.

"Uh… Yeah, thanks."

Bardock then looked down at her daughter, a goofy smile on her face, giggling, which made Bardock slightly uncomfortable.

"Mmmmm..." Bardock shifted uncomfortably before looking back up to Cassava, who now had narrowed her eyes at him like daggers.

Slightly spooked, Bardock shook of this sheepishness and brought up his hand onto her daughter's head. "You… Grow big and strong, okay?"

Kholba, who's only confused for a moment, went back to laughter as she began to play with her father's hand. A faint smile streaked across Bardock's face before quickly dissipating as he turned to get on the ship.

Then with that, the three years of training begin.

Epilogue

Meanwhile, in Earth's Orbit. A Saiyan spacecraft sits idle, with the crew of Starcha Squad sitting patiently in the viewing deck.

Russat was getting restless from just sitting around. "UhhhhhhhaaaAAAAAA! Come on, Potot!" he complained. "Remind me why we're here, again?"

Yukun, who's sitting next to him, looked down at him. "You mean you don't remember the major defeat we faced a few days ago?"

Russat looked back up at him with a sarcastic look of annoyance. "Oh, don't remind me." He began to lean back in his chair with his hands behind his head, wincing as he stretched his core. "And it was more of an ass whopping than a major defeat."

Russat turned his attention to Potot, standing right at a window overlooking the Earth. "I mean, why are we listening to that guy, anyway?" Russat asked.

"Because, kid," started Gunda, who sat at a console monitoring the skies of Earth. "It's Potot's order on whether or not to listen to him."

Russat slumped back down, arms crossed.

Gunda got up from his console and stood next to Potot, with the same doubts of Russat on his mind. "Although, the kid might have a point," Gunda whispers. "He was monster, yeah, and put us at death's door, but…" Gunda stopped for a moment before asking. "What did he tell you that got you this focused?"

Potot only stared out over the Earth. "What's so important about this planet anyway?" He says to himself, ignoring Gunda.

Suddenly, the console lit up as it detected a disturbance in the Earth's atmosphere. Gunda looks it over. "Yep, we have Bardocks ship leaving the planet."

"Projected, course?" Potot asks.

"Still too soon to say, but given the ship's trajectory and speed, I could narrow it down to Sector's 52, 388, and… 481."

The room went silent for a moment.

Russat looked around, confused. Then asked the obvious question. "Uh, what's in Sector 481?"

Gunda looked back at Russat. "Yardrat."

"Hmmm," Yukun grumbled. "So then he was right?" he said aloud.

All three turn to Potot, who had his eyes trained on a sparkling speck in space traveling away from Earth.

Potot closed his eyes and turned to his Squad. "Gunda, tail him and make sure we're not detected. Yukun and Russat, keep your power levels suppressed; we don't want Bardock to know we're following him."

The three exit the room, leaving Potot alone to himself. He looks down at the blood-stained wraps on his hands. "So…" He grips his hands hard. " 'You can be a Super Saiyan' isn't so far fetched, huh?"

Potot begins to chuckle to himself. "The future is starting to look very interesting."