What-If Bardock Convinced the Sayains: Season 2, Chapter 9
A Well Earned Lecture, A Necessary Union?
Bardock flies in, coming in out of nowhere, and lands a powerful kick into the side of Super 13's head, sending him tumbling into the ground, dropping Goku.
With one too many hits to the head for this Android today, he looks up at this new fighter with fierce anger, only momentarily confused. "Two Goku's? No…" 13's eyes flicker with lights momentarily.
This momentary pause on the Androids part would get the better of him as Bardock immediately knelt to his son's side.
With two fingers on his forehead, in an instant, they were both gone.
13 began to look around frantically, tracking the instantaneous power signature of Bardock that appeared to be all around him in the few short moments. One moment he was on the ground where Vegeta was, then in the next, he was in the sky darting from one place to another. Then, as quickly as he appeared, Bardock and everyone else had vanished from the scene.
High up in the clouds on the Lookout, our fighters, to their surprise, are now safe for the moment.
Having been dropped off one after another by Bardock, Raditz, with Gohan and Vitella under his arms, were the last to appear.
In a startle, Raditz instinctually drops them. "Huh!?" He spins around to see his father. He blinks momentarily in confusion. "How did you—AAGH!"
Raditz is immediately punched in the head by Bardock with eyes blazed with anger.
Bardock looms over the downed Raditz and shouts aloud at everyone. "What. The HELL. Was that?!"
This outburst caught everyone off-guard. No one was sure how to respond to this.
Bardock peered around, seeing the discomfort on everyone's face, and only scoffs. He then walks over to Goku and kneels down to him with a dim glow in his hand placed over his chest.
In the next moment, Goku stirs and begins to rise, giving everyone watching a slight shock.
Goku groaned and looked straight up at what he first thought was a mirror, only to realize it was his father. Normally Goku'd be glad to see him once more, but when he saw Bardocks expression, Goku's face shifted into something more somber.
"I—uh… Hi, dad." Goku said.
Bardock said nothing to Goku. Instead, he got back up to his feet and turned back to the rest of the group.
"Honestly, the only ones here who truly showed their worth down there were the two Namekians, the Humans, the kids even, and those two over here." Bardock thumbed over to where Trunks and Kholba were standing.
At their mention, Kholba blinked and began to fiddle with her fingers. "Hi… Dad." she stammered.
Bardock nodded to Khobla but immediately turned back to the group. "But these three," He gestured toward Goku, Raditz, and Vegeta. "They displayed three things that led to this."
"Hesitation, arrogance," Bardock looked down squarely at Raditz. "And cowardice."
Raditz knew exactly what his father meant and looked away in shame. He had been cowardly. Even with the strength that he had acquired through the three years, he couldn't bring himself to fight when it really mattered.
Vegeta stood on the side, holding his crushed left shoulder. "Hmph! You make it sound like you were actually there." he then put on a crooked smile. "If you're so sure about our performances, then why didn't you step in to do anything?"
Bardock flinched but regained his composure. "My mistake in all of this was to assume that you could handle the situation, Vegeta."
Goku listening was now curious. "Why do you think that?" he asked.
Bardock looked at Goku sharply. "Because he's stronger than me!"
That was a surprise everyone wasn't prepared for. Out of all the things that Bardock could say right now, this was not the most uplifting. As Vegeta, despite his gains, failed miserably.
Yamcha, on the sidelines, decided to step forward into this. "Wait but—You did train, right?"
"I did, bandit. But—" Bardock spread his arms out. "It turned out the company I stayed with wasn't as strong for sparring, especially for a Super Saiyan." Bardock then raised a finger. "However, that didn't mean I hadn't benefitted from my stay." He reiterated.
"That thing with your fingers?" Then asked Yamcha.
"Yes," Bardock brought two fingers up. "The Instant Transmission technique."
Yamcha was mystified by this and wanted to ask further. However, Bardock wasn't ready to get into the specifics of his training yet, as he is still very nettled.
"Besides my training," Bardock turned back to Vegeta with his arm raised, pointing straight at him. "You very well had the capability of finishing that fight! Yet instead, you decided to make a show of it—making a display of your power to a now DEAD platoon of Saiyan warriors."
At first, Vegeta wanted to be cynical. To fire back at Bardock for his inability to commit any action at the time. However, deep down in Vegeta's mind, a little voice said that Bardock had a point and not just in this instance. Throughout most of his life, Vegeta had been showboating. He had been arrogant. And this act had now put the deaths of dozens, if not tens of dozens, of powerful Saiyans warriors, on him.
And Bardock now owned that fact. "When all of this is over, you will be held accountable, Vegeta! And I'm sure the Queen would agree on a punishment fitting for it!"
Although Vegeta would never outright show this newfound guilt, it would now exist at the back of his mind for quite some time.
Unable to find the words and with a tension of his body, Vegeta just scoffs and turns away.
With Bardock finished with Vegeta, he now turned to Goku. "And then, we have you, Kakarot. You were holding back against that Android before he turned blue!"
All attention was now on Goku, confusion on most faces present, but none as confused as Goku's.
"Wha-but I put my all into that fight!" Goku protests.
Bardock crossing his arms, narrowed his eyes intensely. "Tell me, if you weren't in a populated city, would you have been more aggressive?
"I—" Goku stops, suddenly realizing what his father was getting at. "Believe me, if I had the chance to lead them away from the people, I would! But, that guy just… wouldn't let up."
"Excuses!" Bardock said sharply. "A real Saiyan takes charge, making their opponent bend to their way of fighting. Not the other way around! If you had taken action, then maybe there'd still be an island left standing."
Goku gritted his teeth. "If I did that, then people would've gotten hurt!"
"People would have died, yes! But if it's the fate of the world on the line, then you need to throw away morals to make sure that everyone else can live!" Bardock shouts. He clenched his teeth. "I know that too well."
Seeing the now pained expression on his father's face, Goku lowers his head to think about his words. Not sure how to process them.
A moment of silence passes through the Lookout's courtyard until a voice decides to break through the air.
"Bardock is right, you know."
All heads turn as a new voice announces herself to the group, her presence seemingly invisible to everyone until now. A woman cloaked in blue and white stands on the edge of the Lookout, overlooking the Earth below.
"And believe me, being up here for the last three years," She finally turns to our fighters, with a stone-cold expression on her face. "It gives you perspective."
Queen Cassava, matriarch to all Saiyans and currently acting Guardian of Earth, is here. Ever watching.
The first month as Guardian was challenging for Cassava, as patience was difficult to grasp as a Saiyan. However, as someone who's spent the past two decades meticulously planning and orchestrating the downfall of the galaxy's most feared overlord, it was something she'd grown accustomed to.
But staying in one place doing relatively nothing? Well…
"I told you, Mr. Popo. I'm just going to stretch my legs, is all!"
"That's what you said last week, and you were gone for three days before I found you lounging around Capsule Corp's pool!"
It was a restless time.
Mr. Popo, managing to talk down his new master, decided to lay down the law. "Honestly, you should take your new responsibility more seriously!"
"Huh?" Cassava started to glare daggers into Mr. Popo. A vision of a dark aura surrounds her.
A normal reaction to someone who could destroy the planet with a finger.
With a gulp, Mr. Popo started to remind Cassava about the weight of her duties. "As Guardian of the Earth, it is your duty to watch over it and to guide those who would reach our heights down a path that leads them to their utmost potential. But never shall we interfere with what happens below, as it would delude the natural course of its inhabitants and break the laws set in place by our overseers, the Kais of Otherworld."
Cassava, halfheartedly listening, only gives distant nods as the only thing she can think about is her favorite bakery in West City. Their pumpkin bread was a hot item this season, and she was dying to get a nice steaming loaf of it.
Cassava's ultimately jolted out of her pastry-filled fantasy with Mr. Popo calling her name over and over. "Huh? Oh, yes, Mr. Popo. The Otherworld, natural balance, yadda yadda. Anyway, as I said, it's just a stretch, and I'll be back in an hour or two. Okay?" And with a quick twist away, Cassava's ready to take off.
Mr. Popo's demeanor slumps as he lets out a long sigh.
He's willing to pull this card on her right now. "If not for the job, at least do it to honor your word to Kami."
With that, Cassava stops in her tracks. Her royal bravado was creeping back in. "I promised I'd look after his post as Guardian," She turned back to face Mr. Popo. "Not to get fed up with its technicalities."
Mr. Popo remains firm. "That is the price to pay, and if I may be so bold when you proposed this deal, there was intent other than to give Earth a fighting chance for the coming Androids. I remember seeing it in your eyes that day."
"Tch!..." Cassava's composure wavered for a moment, but she did agree with Mr. Popo. "Having the opportunity to learn techniques that would normally be out of reach is enticing. But I never thought it'd be this tedious."
Mr. Popo gave a slight chuckle. "I remember the first few days Kami came in as Guardian. He had the same feeling."
Mr. Popo stopped for a moment until he thought of something that had him beam with confidence. "Would you like to know a trick that helped Kami?"
Cassava now stood there with her head tilted with curiosity. Mr. Popo smiled and began to lead her to the edge of the Lookout.
As they approached, the Queen couldn't help to marvel at the view of the earth. Sure, you could view any planet from the comfort at the helm of a starship or float up from high above. But there was a certain calmness that came about when viewing the Earth from the Lookout.
"Never quite get tired of seeing that horizon." Mr. Popo commented. "Especially the sunsets. The way the Lookout is positioned always gives them its wide array of colors to display themselves before giving in to the night. Where the stars serve as the next spectacle."
"I believe you." Responded Cassava.
Mr. Popo looks up to Cassava. "You want to know how you can get past your difficulties?"
Cassava nodded.
Mr. Popo looked back to the Earth. "Focus on a place on the Earth. Somewhere near, somewhere far, somewhere familiar, where ever you prefer. And once you can visualize it, open up your senses of the world around and beneath you. Then you will find clarity."
Cassava raised an eyebrow but went along with it anyway.
What could she think of right now? Well, that pumpkin bread was something that's been on her mind for the past thirty minutes, so perhaps that bakery then! Moments pass… Nothing. Nothing for her to latch onto catches her attention. If anything, this actually made her more restless.
She was about to protest to Mr. Popo, but as she began to look down at him, he started to speak.
"Perhaps, something worth protecting would be a good focus point."
Cassava raised her eyebrows, wondering if this genie could read minds. But she tried again nonetheless. This time, however, was different. Putting her cravings aside for a moment and focusing on the idea of something worth protecting, there was one that came to mind: her new daughter, Kholba.
At that moment, she could see her down on Earth being cared for by Chi-Chi on Mount Paozu. Chi-Chi looked to be enjoying herself almost. It must be nice to fawn over another child when your own son matured at such a young age, Cassava thought. Leaving Kholba with her was a good idea, after all.
Then at the thought of her step-grandson, the scene shifted. Focusing outside of the house and underneath a tree where Gohan and Vitella were reading some books. Cassava still couldn't understand the Saiyan girl's desire to read, but it was good to see something different in a Saiyan child for once.
The scene shifted again, this time to a nearby valley. Where both Goku and Raditz were out sparring with each other. They were both covered in dust and sweat.
"How long have those two been at it?" Cassava mused.
Cassava's remark resonated with Mr. Popo, who at the time was staring intently at her.
"So, have you gained clarity?" Mr. Popo asked.
Cassava breaks her gaze from the Earth. "Somewhat," Cassava looked down at the genie. "I suppose this is one of the perks of being Guardian?"
Mr. Popo nods. "What you experienced was only a taste. Allow yourself to deal with the "technicalities," and you will gain much more than that."
Cassava gives out a small chuckle. "You do know how to make an argument. Suppose that's why Kami kept you around, hehe!"
Mr. Popo didn't know how to take that comment but considered it in good favor.
Cassava puts her arms on her sides with her back held up with newfound confidence. "So, what's next?"
Back in the present, Cassava still has that same cold expression towards the group. And after witnessing the carnage down below, it was expected.
Bardock walked up to her and bowed. "My Queen."
"Bardock." Cassava didn't look at him, but hearing his voice once more gave her a small smile. "I'm glad your back," she said with a softness. But it was short-lived as her face tightened once more. "Enough with the pleasantries. We still have issues at hand—four issues, in fact."
At the ruins of Papaya Town stands Super Android 13. He does not move, only staring at the ground.
"Well, big man?" Android 17 flies down behind 13 along with 18 and 16. "Did you get that outa your system?"
13 doesn't respond.
18 crosses her arms in annoyance. "Hmph! What a big waste of time." She complains. "Can we move on to something else?"
17 turns back to his sister. "Yeah, I guess so," 17 said, almost disappointed. He then looked up at 16. "So, big man, what do you want to do?"
16 looks down at him. "Son Goku, who has yet to be terminated, remains to be my objective. Therefore, it would be prudent to go forth now and try and locate his current whereabouts."
18 lets out a slight sigh of annoyance and rolls her eyes.
While the other Androids are having this conversation, Android 13 begins to stir once more.
"Son…" He mumbled.
17 notices and turns back to him. "Huh, what's up, Blue Meanie? You've got something to say?"
"Son… Goku," 13 began to start growling. "Must… KILL… Son Goku…"
17 chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, I know. But you had your chance. So now it's Jolly Green Giants turn to have a crack at it."
Android 13 wasn't listening; lights in his eyes flash intensely as its sensors evaluate and retarget Goku's energy signature.
13 began to shake profusely as his growls began to turn into a roar. "MUST KILL SON GOKU!"
The Super Android burst forth into the air and up into the clouds, leaving the other Androids in the dust. Quite literally, as 17, who was unprepared for this outburst, was knocked on his back. This gave his sister quite a laugh.
17 growls while he coughs up dust. "What's the point of a personal servant if it doesn't even pay attention to you?"
18 settles down her amusement. "Well, it is certainly interesting, and I told you something was off about those three. So what do you want to do now, go after your prize?"
"Negative." Said a monotone 16.
The twins look to him with slight surprise by this never-before-seen input by the big guy. 16 stood with his attention focused off to the side, towards the debris of the ruined city.
"Oh, and why not?" Asked a disgruntled 17.
They were unaware of what 16 was looking at, but for him, off in the distant rumble, 16 could make out a single-arm jutting out from the side of a crumbled building. Blood dripping off it and onto the concrete below.
After a moment of silence from 16, he turns back to them and responds. "It is possible that during the incursion with Vegeta, Android 13 suffered internal damage to his main processor, making his capacity for rational thinking and logic to become impaired. Therefore, it would be wise to avoid any further contact with him, or we could be caught in his chaos."
17 crosses his arms, brimming with self-confidence. "You make it sound like that we can't beat him!" 17 laughed.
16 remained silent.
His silence, at first, caught 17 off guard. And that frustrated 17. "Whereas I could take him out anytime I want!" 17 annunciated.
16 looked down at 17. "Of course." He simply said.
18 stepped in between them to stop potential violence. "Okay, well, does that still mean we're going after Goku or what?"
"I have already compiled three likely locations to where Son Goku could be found. I suggest we start at his main residence at Mount Paozu." 16 explained.
17 narrows his eyes at 16. Despite this unknown attitude, 17 was willing to let it slide for now. He was bored anyway and was now interested in this new little adventure 16 proposed.
"Hmph! Well, it is your turn, big man." 17 puts on a crooked smile. "So, which way?"
"What do you mean four issues?" Bardock asks.
"I mean, there are now three more Androids thrown into the mix, making a total of six. Four more than what we were told." Cassava does not break her gaze from the Earth, but the two time-travelers on the side were getting the message.
Kholba stood there uncomfortably, holding her arm while Trunks stepped forward and interjected.
"I'm sorry, Gran—I mean, Cassava, but we are just as confused as you! Nothing from our time is playing out like—"
Bardock let out a loud groan as he turned to the boy. "Listen, you can drop the act. You've been born already, and considering that I figured out who Kholba was right when you left three years ago, I think that you're in the clear from time-stuff, Trunks."
At the reveal of his name, Trunks flinched profusely, with Kholba stifling a laugh. However, for two others, it was a revelation. Vegeta's eyes widened, and Cassava jerked her head back at Trunks with shock on her face.
"Little Trunks?" She muttered. Then, suddenly realizing what she had done jerked back her head to the Earth. "Oh no. No, no, NO!"
"Huh, what's wrong?" asked Bardock.
Cassava glared fiercely at Bardock. "You had to reveal that to us now?"
Bardock flinched. "Wha—Well, why? What's the problem?"
"The Androids don't have life energy, meaning none of us could sense them. So I could only focus on them when I had my sights on Papaya Town while you were fighting. And the second I turned away, I lost them!"
"What does that mean?" asked a nervous Krillin.
"Well, the three new ones were left behind after the blue one took off moments ago, and by his direction," Cassava turned to everyone. "He's heading straight here!"
A wave of silence passed over everyone. The first time around was a nightmare, so just now knowing 13's approach was just as jarring.
Vegeta decided to take the initiative and stomped over to Krillin. "Short one!"
"Huh!? Uh—Yeah?" chirped a scared Krillin.
"You have those beans, right?" Vegeta thrust a hand out, expecting. "Give me one!"
Krillin hesitated at first but ultimately complied with the terrifying scowl that Vegeta was showing.
He pulled out a bean and was about to give it, but then an elongated green arm shot forth and plucked it from Krillin's hand. This arm, this new-slimy arm, came from Piccolo. Piccolo retracts it and plops the Senzu Bean in his mouth.
Vegeta was at a loss. Either at this green man's odd abilities or the audacity he had in getting in his way.
Vegeta's gawking quickly turned into a death stare. "You dare?" Vegeta asked, sparks dancing around his now clenched fist.
Piccolo was unfazed. "I'm not about to put my faith into a man that survived by his speed alone." he began to walk towards Vegeta, who was becoming more and more furious.
Piccolo continued. "It took just one arm to put you at death's door." Piccolo now loomed over Vegeta. "So even if you are the strongest one here, we still have no idea how much power that Android has compared to that."
"Get me another bean so I can show you, slug!" The Prince's voice was laced with venom as his sparking hand began to develop a ki blast.
Cassava was having none of this as she rushed over and forcefully got between the two. "That's enough, Vegeta!"
Silence from Vegeta, the ki blast in his hand still present as he glared into her mother's eyes, who remained unwavering.
Then with a growl, the blast dissolves. Vegeta takes a step back and puts a thumb to his chest. "Healing me up is that best chance we have right now!" He throws his arm out. "What other choices do we have?"
Piccolo narrowed his eyes and started to stare absently. Thinking deep into what he was going to propose.
He came back into focus, his attention now to the Queen. "Cassava."
"Huh?" Cassava turned to Piccolo. "Yes?"
"How much time do we have before the Android gets here?" Piccolo asks.
Cassava blinks. "Well…" She thinks for a moment. "At its full speed? Fifteen minutes I'd wager."
Piccolo took in a deep breath. "Then we don't have much time for discussion." He turned to Kami. "It has to be done if we want this to be over. It's time, Kami."
At first, Kami wasn't sure what Piccolo was referring to until the realization hits him.
A shocked expression comes across Kami's face. "Piccolo, you…"
Piccolo started to bare his teeth. "It's been a long time coming anyway!" He grunted. "It's time to become one again, Kami!"