Chapter 1: Legacy
Two weeks had passed since Bardock and Fionn left their training grounds at the Haltheon Forest. Without the need to eat or sleep, the journey had gone surprisingly fast, and by Fionn's estimations they were already over half way to their destination.
Conversation had been somewhat limited for the past fortnight. Bardock was lost within his own thoughts, and Fionn was wise enough not to interrupt him, since he knew just how important the upcoming few weeks would be for him. A sudden flash of movement on the ground caught his eye, however, and he immediately halted his flight, breaking the silence for the first time in days.
"Bardock", he called. "Hold up."
Bardock did so, and turned to face his friend. "Yeah, what's the matter?"
Fionn pointed earthwards. "I thought I saw something move on the mountain below us. There could be someone down there. We could ask them about your son if you want…"
Bardock nodded. "Good idea. Let's do it."
The two began a downward descent towards the mountain which Fionn had indicated, but before they got much closer the Kanassa-jin beckoned for Bardock to stop.
"Uh, listen, remember how I said that a new Saiya-jin in the afterlife would attract attention? Well, that's generally because Saiya-jins are not exactly liked among the other races- as far as they're concerned, all Saiya-jin are bad news, so they tend to keep an eye out for them. Understand?"
Bardock winced. "Yeah, I've met up with enough aliens here to know that they think we're all a bunch of merciless bastards."
He paused for a moment. "I see what you mean. If there is anyone down there, they probably wouldn't respond well to a Saiya-jin demanding if they've ever seen his son."
"Exactly", Fionn replied. "So unless you can find some way to make that disappear…" He pointed at Bardock's tail. "…you should stay up here and play it safe. I'll try and get some information out of them."
Bardock nodded in agreement. "Good thinking. And good luck".
Fionn broke away from him and continued downwards, quickly reaching the spot where he had detected the movement earlier on. Soon enough, he caught sight of the source- two aliens sparring on the mountain's peak. Fionn recognized them as being Shamo-jin, natives of the planet Shamo in the South Galaxy. By normal humanoid standards, they were extremely small with large bulbous heads, but from what Fionn could observe, they were also proficient fighters. The two quickly caught sight of him and broke off their battle, turning to face him with defensive stances and defiant looks on their faces.
"Easy", Fionn said, raising his hands. "I'm not here to fight. I was just hoping you could answer a few questions."
The Shamo-jin paused briefly, but refused to relax their defensive postures. The alien closest to Fionn eventually spoke.
"You interrupted our training, Kanass. They better be important."
Fionn, in turn, lowered his hands to his side. He knew that these two would be no match for him, so he felt no need to keep them raised in case of a surprise attack.
"Don't worry. I won't bother you for long. I just wanted to ask you if you had heard of any new Saiya-jin in the area."
"Saiya-jin!", the second alien spat out the word. "It was a Saiya-jin that destroyed our home planet! Are you saying that there are Saiya-jin nearby!?" He jerked his head around wildly as if expecting an ambush from all directions.
"No, no, that's not it", Fionn hastily responded. "I just wanted to know if you had heard any rumours of a new Saiya-jin in the afterlife."
The first alien took it upon himself to reply. He seemed much calmer than the second. "A new Saiya-jin? No, I haven't heard of any new Saiya-jin entering the afterlife since Vegita-Sei was destroyed."
"Lucky for them", the second alien hissed. "If I ever come across a Saiya-jin, I swear, I'll kill him where he stands!"
"That's going to be difficult", the first alien laughed. "Especially considering that they'll already be dead…"
The second alien stared at him angrily. "I don't know how you can joke about it. Those filthy bastards destroyed Shamo-Sei!"
The first sighed in exasperation. "A Saiya-jin may have destroyed our planet, but it was also a Saiya-jin that saved our entire race from extinction when Paragas' planet exploded."
"Really?" Fionn was genuinely surprised. He had never met a Saiya-jin who would even consider committing a selfless act like saving an entire race. He wasn't even sure if Bardock would do it. "Are you sure? What was his name?"
"Oh, it was a Saiya-jin all right. He didn't have a tail or anything, but well, I'm sure you know that Saiya-jins lose their tails all the time, especially considering how much they fight. Anyway, this particular fellas' name was Goku. Son Goku. I heard his friends call him that."
"The name isn't familiar", Fionn muttered. "But thanks anyway. Listen, are you absolutely sure you've never once seen a Saiya-jin enter the afterlife while you've been here?"
"Well, I've never seen one, but I heard a rumour that a Saiya-jin fought in the Annoyoichi Boudokai which was held after North Kaio's death. He did pretty well, or so I'm told. He fought his way all the way up to the finals. He even beat Paikuhan, but they were both disqualified afterwards on some technicality."
"Paikuhan!? Are you serious!?". Fionn was shocked. He had fought against Paikuhan once, and he didn't even come anywhere close to his level of strength, and Paikuhan hadn't even removed his weighted training robes at the time. The Saiya-jin who beat him must have had incomprehensible strength. He had never heard of a Saiya-jin becoming that powerful…
Bardock would have to be told about this. Fionn thanked the Shamo-jin for their help and took off in his direction. After an ascent of roughly 10 seconds, Fionn caught glimpse of the Saiya-jin, only a black dot high in the sky above him. Strangely enough, he didn't seem to be moving.
By the time Fionn reached his position, he knew why. Bardock was sitting cross-legged in mid air, apparently in the midst of a meditative trance.
"You asshole. What're you thinking?", Fionn swore half-heartedly at the Saiya-jin. He knew that the visions only occurred when Bardock meditated, just as he remembered that they always took at lot out of him when they did. If he had one now, Fionn wasn't sure if he would be able to keep aloft. Sure, he could survive the fall easily enough, but he'd wake up with a bad headache, and Fionn knew that a Saiya-jin with a headache was not exactly pleasant company. He decided to stay close by until the meditation was completed. Just in case.
He hovered nearby and began throwing a few punches at passing clouds. Anything to pass the time.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to him, a look of severe agitation crossed Bardock's unconscious face.
I"Kakarotto? Is that you? It looks like you, but you're…older. Stronger. And…you don't have a tail. Is it really you my son?"
A new vision. Clearer, much more defined than the last. It's actually like I'm standing here, in the middle of this…stadium? Is that it? Is this a tournament? Kakarotto is on one side of the ring, and there's someone else on the other. Looks like a …like a Namek. Where is this? Is it Earth? Why is a Namek here?
It's a tournament, definitely. But the look of sheer hatred in the eyes of the Namek. He has a personal stake in this fight, no doubt. To him, it's not a tournament; it's a means to an end. But why? Why does he hate my son so much? What could Kakarotto possibly have done?
The Namek's taking flight, he's hovering over the ring, charging up a massive energy blast. Kakarotto's just standing there. Why? That blast will kill him for sure. But he can't die here. Not now. He was much older than this when I saw him fight Freezer. He must survive. He must avenge the Saiya-jin race. What is he going to do?
He's saying something. But what…?
"Ka…"
His energy is skyrocketing!
"Me.."
He's gathering energy as well. He's planning to counter the blast!
"Ha…"
Unbelievable! He's improved so much since I saw him last.
"Me…"
That's it, my son. Show him what the Saiya-jin are capable of…"
"HA!!!"/I
Like a slap across the face, reality forced it's way back once more, and the vision faded like a hazy mist before his eyes. Entire seconds passed, and he felt the strangest sensation. Almost as if he was…falling. The gush of wind passing his face restored him back to consciousness, and he desperately tried to focus his energy and gather the strength to keep afloat, but he was so…tired.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, and a familiar voice let him know who was responsible for his sudden halt in descent.
"Don't worry. I gotcha buddy",
"Fionn? That you?", he mumbled weakly.
"The one and only", came the reply. "You okay?"
Bardock shook his head to clear away the last of the haziness his vision was experiencing, then managed to focus enough to take flight. "Thanks. I think I can keep afloat by myself now".
"Don't mention it", the Kanassa-jin said, "But next time you decide to do a little mid-air meditation, remember that I won't always be around to save your ass from a nasty fall".
"Hey, believe me, it's appreciated, but I don't think that'll happen again anytime soon."
"Good", Fionn replied, scratching the back of his head. "Do you think you have enough energy left to fly?"
Bardock cautiously used his ki to push himself forward slowly.
"Yeah, I think I can manage".
"Perfect. Because you can go to hell if you think I'm gonna carry you the rest of the way".
Bardock laughed heartily.
"Fionn my friend. Your generosity never ceases to amaze me."
The two summoned as much ki energy as was needed and took flight once again, as they continued in the direction of the check-in station at the start of Snake Way. Fionn suddenly remembered what the Shamo-jin had told him, and flew closer so that Bardock could hear him.
"Tell me. Have you ever heard of a Saiya-jin called Goku…?"
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