Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, and they all belong to Akira Toriyama, anyway

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, and they all belong to Akira Toriyama, anyway.

Note: To my knowledge, Turles' relation (if any) to Goku was never fully explained. This is a possible origin story, set in an alternate universe. (I've only seen the edited American version of the Bardock Special, but I provided their Japanese names) This takes place about a week after Bardock got his "gift of sight." His crew is still alive...for now.

American - Japanese

Fasha – Celipa (the female)

Tora – Toma (Bardock's buddy, has a ponytail)

Shugesh – Panboukin (the fat one)

Borgos – Totepo (the big, bald guy)

The Third Son:

The Origin of Turles

Chapter 1: Bardock's Vision

"So how is he?"

The doctor gasped and spun around, then breathed a sigh of relief. "Fasha! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

The Saiyan warrior smiled and folded her arms over her chest. "Sorry, I'm used to sneaking up on opponents. It's just a habit by now." She nodded towards the regeneration tank. "How is he?"

The doctor turned around and checked his readings. "Why the sudden concern?"

Fasha frowned, not liking what the small alien might be implying. "I'm a soldier, and he's my commanding officer. If I'm gonna depend on him to watch my back in a fight, I'd like to know that he's 100%."

"Yes, of course. My mistake." The doctor turned back to her. "Well, as usual, Bardock has pushed himself just beyond his limits. He's healing nicely, and will be nearly twice as strong as he was before. He should be ready to come out in a few more hours. There is one thing that concerns me, though."

Fasha raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"His brain waves…they're different. I can't explain it, but then, I never understood how Bardock's mind worked before, and now that it's changed, I couldn't even begin to form a theory. Did he say or do anything unusual on the last few missions?"

She closed her eyes for a moment, then shook her head. "Nope. He's been the same arrogant, tough-as-nails, hard-as-a-rock Bardock around us."

The doctor sighed and stared at the Saiyan in the regeneration tank. "I'd give three arms and a leg to know what he's thinking right now."

"Yeah," Fasha muttered under her breath, so low that he couldn't hear. Her gaze locked on the unconscious Saiyan's face. "Me, too."

* * * * *

Bardock wasn't really thinking, so much as he was watching a scene play before his mind's eye.

He was in the middle of a tough battle, and the moon was just starting to emerge from the clouds.

Suddenly, there was a wail of pain from his right. Bardock spun around, only to see Fasha doubled over, clutching her chest tightly. He reached out to help her, but it was too late.

The full moon was upon them.

An inhuman roar flew from Bardock's mouth as he transformed into his ape form. And even though he could only see red for a few seconds, he still noticed something very peculiar.

Fasha wasn't transforming. She was lying on the ground, still clutching her stomach.

Bardock leaned over and peered down at her.

Fasha's eyes slowly opened, and she reached out for him. "B-Bar…dock! Help…meEEEEEEEE!" Her eyes bulged, and she screamed again as her stomach exploded outwards, blood splashing all over his face.

Bardock gaped as the realization hit him. Fasha was dead.

And then he noticed…something...moving in the mess that was Fasha's stomach a few seconds ago. It was…a child?

Bardock blinked in disbelief. Kakarott?

No. This wasn't Kakarott. It certainly looked like him, but Kakarott was just a weakling. This child already had a dark aura about him, and the look of a killer in his eyes. And his ki was strong, much too strong for even an average Saiyan child.

The child grinned, blood dripping from the sides of his mouth.

Bardock knew with sudden horror that the child had been eating his way out of Fasha's stomach, just before he'd blasted it open.

The child chuckled evilly. "Father. Don't you have a hug for your son?" And then he leaped, baring his bloody jaws just before they clamped onto Bardock's neck.

* * * * *

Bardock started and automatically threw up his arm. It connected with something hard, and hopefully, it was the demon child's skull. But then he knew it had been a nightmare. He was inside the regeneration tank, which was now beginning to drain, thanks to the crack in it. He could just make out a doctor hurrying to drain the liquid before it all spilled onto the floor.

The tank gradually opened and Bardock stumbled to his knees, nearly falling flat on his face.

"Bardock, stop!" the doctor cried. "You've still got four more hours before you're fully healed!"

"Forget it," said a familiar voice. "If the big lug doesn't want to stay in, the king himself couldn't keep him in there. I've got him."

Bardock looked up, trying to clear the stars from his vision. "Fasha?"

"Yeah, it's me."

Bardock felt her small but strong hands on his shoulders as she helped him up. He took a step forward and nearly collapsed again.

Fasha smiled and shook her head. "Hold on, big guy. You're not strong enough for that yet. Just lean on my shoulder, okay?"

Bardock grunted in reply, hating to depend on anyone but himself, but did as he was told. In his present state, Fasha was probably a bit stronger than he was.

"I must advise against this!" the doctor said. "He won't be out of danger until he heals properly!"

Bardock narrowed his eyes as he remembered the nightmare. "I'm NOT going back in there." He began to form a ball of energy in his hand.

The doctor instantly backed off and found something else to do.

"C'mon, let's get you back to your room." Fasha pulled Bardock away from the tank and led him out of the recovery room. Once they were out of earshot, she gave him something of a worried glance. "You okay, boss?"

"Fine, Fasha," he growled, looking straight ahead. "Just fine."

Fasha recognized his "I'm not in the mood" growl and changed the subject. "He says there's something different about your brain waves. Any idea what he's talking about?"

Bardock frowned, recalling what happened on Kanassa less than a week ago. "Yeah."

"Really? What?"

"Nothing *I'd* like to talk about."

Fasha sighed. "Bardock, did anyone ever tell you you're a major jerk?"

He chuckled. "Yeah. I think that was you."

"Probably." She grinned and suddenly drove an elbow into his ribs.

Bardock somehow managed to keep himself from crying out in pain. "What was that for?!" he roared.

"Just to see if I'm stronger than you, and it looks like I am." Her grin grew even wider. "Does that *bother* you?"

"No. I'll just pay you back once I'm healed up." Bardock glanced around and frowned. "You took us the wrong way, Fasha. My room's on the other hall."

"No, I didn't. My room's closer, and you're getting heavy."

Bardock gave her a wary look. "Fasha…"

"What? You think I'm gonna try to seduce you or something? Believe it or not, Bardock, you're not THAT handsome. If you wanna risk going to your room alone in your condition, go ahead. But I'm staying in my own for the night, and if you were smart, which you really aren't, you'd do the same."

He stared at her for a long moment. Fasha didn't have any hidden agendas; it just wasn't her style. Besides, she was part of his crew, and they'd all known each other for years. With the exception of Tora, there was no one he trusted more. And there was the simple fact that if any of Frieza's Elite even thought one of the few Saiyan women might be pregnant, the female in question would be imprisoned, killed, or worse. Frieza had a specialty for thinking up fates worse than death.

"Well?" Fasha asked, growing impatient.

Bardock sighed. "Fine." Fasha said nothing else as they continued down the hall, and neither did he. But he kept seeing her bloody corpse and the demon child that would claim both of their lives.

Continued in Chapter 2: Radditz's Search

Bardock's young son, with some help from a surprising ally, begins the search for his father. Meanwhile, Bardock has another vision of his mysterious third son.