Bardock finished his pre-flight inspection and buttoned up the last servo panel.  Honestly, he was happy that the inspection was over.  Not that he minded looking at a mostly naked woman, but if he had to try and answer one more "What's that grandpa?" question for Bardock Jr. about the image he was going to scream. 

"Don't they teach these kids anything about anatomy?" Bardock thought to himself.

Everything had checked out fine with the ship and he removed one copy of the inspection sheet and left the other on the clipboard, then replaced the clipboard on the table.

"Who were you talking to before grandpa?" Bardock Jr. asked.

"My mate.  Your grandmother." Bardock answered simply.

Bardock Jr. thought for a second. "Where's she been?"

"She was kidnapped a long time ago." Bardock said sadly, then smiled. "But we'll soon see her again.  She's going to fall in love with you.   You'll be lucky if she lets you out of her sight."

"Well, I guess that's okay, as long as she doesn't kiss me!  I hate that!" Bardock Jr. stuck out his tongue.

"Well, she just might do it!" Bardock laughed.

"Blech! Girls!  They always want to kiss someone!" Bardock Jr. said as his grandfather headed toward the open hatch with him still on his shoulder.   Bardock ducked down as they entered the hatch and hoisted his grandson down off his shoulder.

"You go on and play now brat, I have some work left in the pilot house." Bardock set him down on the floor and gave him a swat on the butt to get him moving.

"Ow! Grandpa!" Bardock Jr. said.

"Ow? I didn't hit you that hard.  What have I told you about being a Saiyan?" Bardock asked.

"I know, I know." Bardock Jr. disappeared into the sleeping cabin.

Bardock watched his grandson until he was out of sight and smiled.  Turning on his heel he walked into the pilot's cabin.   As he entered he saw that Gohan was already there, sitting at the communications console.

"You say you've been tracking her ship for over six hours Trunks?" Gohan said.

Bardock mentally kicked himself.  "Why the hell didn't I think about contacting Goten and the other Earth Saiyans?"  In all the excitement of finding his mate, finding temporary replacements for his and Raditz's bodyguard posts, and getting the ship ready, it hadn't occurred to him to just contact their family on Earth.

"Yeah Gohan, we've just completed a full sensor scan.   That ship can't land.   Half the thrusters are either malfunctioning or completely disabled, and the cores are leaking like sieves!   Her chances of actually landing that heap safely are less than 23%."  Trunks said.  "Not to mention that the heat and stress of reentry could cause the cores to go critical."

"You mean it could blow up?" Bardock was suddenly at the console.

"Yeah, it's a very strong possibility.  Who's this?" Trunks asked.

"It's Bardock, Trunks.  What other options are left?" Bardock asked.

"Only one that I can think of.  I have to teleport up there and bring the entire ship down here.  I've had our people set up a containment area in the lower hangars.   Once here, we will have to move fast to separate the cores from the ship and contain the radiation.  I have crews standing by for that as well."  Trunks explained. "We have to hurry though, if Capsule Corporation picked them up, you can bet it won't be long before someone else picks them up.   It's only a matter of time before someone thinks that they're hostile, and begins taking potshots at them.    You know how the Americans are."

"Yeah, so what do you need us to do?" Gohan said.

"Do you have some way of contacting her and telling her to expect some company?"  Trunks said. "Don't want to just pop in on a Saiyan unannounced.  We tried to contact here from here, but the radiation is blocking our transmission.

Gohan looked at Bardock who nodded his head.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

"Could my day have gotten any worse!" Celritri bemoaned.

Shortly after the computer started its pre-landing procedures, the console started beeping.   Several dozen red tell tales began to flash.   Celritri knew that red wasn't good.

"Pre-landing inspection completed.  Inefficiencies exist!  Landing is not recommended until repairs are effected!"

"Report on inefficiencies!" Celritri commanded.

"Four thrusters are completely incapacitated, two port, one starboard, and one bottom amidships.  Six thrusters at diminished capacity, two fore at 30% and 43% respectively, three aft at 12%, 72%, and 90%, and one starboard at 3%." The computer reported. "Additionally, a hole has been punched through both reactor cores, most probably caused by a micro meteor strike sometime in transit.  Contact with the super heated atmosphere upon reentry will cause the cores to go critical, resulting in the destruction of this vessel and all aboard.  My primary directive will shut down the landing procedure, do you wish to override?"

"What is your primary directive?" Celritri asked.

"To protect all organic beings within this vessel from injury and/or death where it is within my power to do so."  The computer returned.

"Then why would you let me override?" Celritri was curious.

"Because logic dictates that staying here will also result in the deaths of this vessel's occupants.  There is no food, or water, or other basic needs for organic life forms."  The computer answered.

"A lose, lose situation." Celritri sighed.

"Logically correct." The computer said.

The computer was unaware of Celritri's earlier conversation with Bardock of course.  They could survive for three days until Bardock's arrival well enough.

"Is the radiation having any effect on the "organic" life forms?" Celritri asked.

"Negative.  The core compartment and the rest of the ship are heavily shielded.  The radiation is leaking out into space."  The computer said what Celritri already suspected.   Had the radiation been leaking into the cabins, they'd all have arrived dead.

"Report on sleeper chambers." Celritri said.

"All sleeper chambers are operating within programmed specifications.  All passengers are also operating as specified."  The computer said.

"They're alive?" Celritri frowned.

"Yes, their condition is living." The computer confirmed.

"Well, at least something is going right around here!" Celritri said.

"How long until they awaken?" Celritri asked.

"2 hours, 47 minutes." The computer answered. 

"Okay then, suspend, but don't cancel the landing procedures for the time being.  I gotta think about this for a while.  Maybe I'll wait until the others are awake so I have some better brains to draw from." Celritri said.

"Landing procedures suspended until further orders." The computer said.

Celritri began to pace back and forth through the cabin. "Damned!  We travel all the way here, and now we can't even land!"

"Celritri my love?" Bardock's voice sounded in her head.

Celritri wasn't feeling like pleasantries at the moment. "What is it Bardock?  I've got problems here!"

"We have been told of your problems.  Fortunately your grandson is a bit smarter than his grandfather." Bardock chuckled. "You should be expecting a visitor in a few seconds.   He is a friend and will help you."

"A visitor?  How is he getting here?  There's no ships in the area!" Celritri looked at the scanner screen to confirm what she just said.

"It's okay, just trust him will you?" Bardock said.

"Sure, if you say so." Celritri said, silently she thought. "Like I don't have enough problems without my crazy undead mate going crazy on me!"

"I heard that." Bardock smirked.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that." Celritri smiled.

"See you soon." Bardock smiled.

Celritri felt a soft displacement of air behind her, and a small whooshing sound and quickly turned to be face-to-face with a strange looking man in his late 60's, early 70's.   His hair was long and drawn together in ponytail that reached to the middle of his shoulder blades and was the strangest shade of purple.   He was heavily muscled.  More noticeably to Celritri was the purple tail the man had wrapped around his waist.  There was something vaguely familiar about his facial features, something unsettling about his stance.  His feet were wide apart; his arms were folded over his chest.  There was a slight arrogance in his expression, a scarily familiar smirk burst across his face.

"Hi." The man said plainly.

"Umm...   Hi....  I've been expecting you I guess.  How did you get here?" Celritri asked surprised.

"I learned a handy little technique from the Supreme Kai.   I can teleport."  Trunks smiled.

"You're Saiyan?" Celritri asked.

"Half Saiyan.  My mother is human.  Humans are the indigenous people on this planet." Trunks answered.

"Who was your father then?" Celritri wanted to know.

"Vegeta." Trunks answered.

"That's where I saw that face and smirk before!" Celritri thought as she dropped to one knee and placed her right hand over her heart.

"Forgive me sire!  I-I didn't know!"  Celritri prepared to get vaporized.

Suddenly Celritri noticed that the man before her was no longer standing, but had knelt down to her level. 

"My name is Trunks." The man smiled. "Did you have any other questions?   If so, I would appreciate if you would stand up, all this kneeling is hard on these old knees.  Oh, and look me in the eye, we are all equals on this planet."

"Equals?  How can you consider yourself an equal to the, what did you call them?   ...Humans?" Celritri asked in an almost disgusted voice.

"A person's worth is measured by more than their fighting power.  Things have changed since you've been gone Celritri, good things.  It's going to take you and your traveling companions some time to adjust to what has happened." Trunks said.  "Let's get your ship down to Earth, and your people revived and I'll tell you what has happened to your people since your planet was destroyed so long ago."  Trunks said.

"My people?  Besides us, there couldn't have been more than a handful of survivors!  What could you know of my people?"  Celritri said almost accusingly.

"That part Bardock made me promise not to tell you, he wants to tell you himself.  But I can tell you of that handful of survivors.   It is quite a tale, if you will listen." Trunks smiled in a fatherly way.

"Sure, what have I got to lose!  I can't get this rust bucket down to the planet anyway!" Celritri shrugged.

Trunks smirked and pulled out what looked to be a cell phone.  He concentrated a bit and used his ki to punch a hole through the radiation outside. "Hank?  Is the crew ready?" Trunks asked. 

"Sure, everything's all set.   Just need the ship to get started." Hank's disembodied voice answered.

"Okay, lets say you'll have it in ten seconds after I discontinue transmission, got it?" Trunks said.

"Okay, the platform is cleared, anytime you're ready."  Hank said.

"Excellent!  Transmission terminated." Trunks said and pushed a button, folded up the phone, and stuck it back into his pocket.

"Here we go!  10... 9... 8..." Trunks placed both hands on a supporting column.

"7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...!"  Trunks' ki rose dramatically and Celritri had the sudden feeling of displacement, like just for a second her body didn't exist, then reformed itself.

"What happened?" Celritri asked.

"We are now in the lower lab area of Capsule Corporation, my families business.   It will take the clean up crew about half an hour to secure and decontaminate the ship.   Your friends will be safe for the time being, if you wish to accompany me, we can go somewhere else and talk." Trunks invited.

Celritri thought about this, torn between wanting to know what was going on, and staying with her people. 

"Computer, how much time until the others awaken?" Celritri said.

The computer didn't answer at first. "Orientation, orientation.  This ship has moved 2,300 miles from previous position.  Requesting coordinates!"   The computer seemed confused.

"You have moved to the planet's surface." Trunks said. 

"Affirmative.  Adjusting orientation accordingly."  The computer paused. "Occupants of the chamber will awaken in 2 hours 17 minutes."

"Okay, I'll go, but we have to be back before they awaken." Celritri said.

"Of course.  Put your hand on my arm." Trunks extended his arm out.  In the next instant they were across the hangar looking back at the old ship.  Crews were busying themselves with dismantling the aft section to expose the cores.   The entire ship was sealed in a containment field with dozens of people in radiation suits.

"Let's walk." Trunks said simply.  Trunks turned up a corridor that inclined slightly upward.  Celritri hoped that the walk wasn't too long, her legs were still pretty stiff and sore.

"Where are we going?" Celritri asked.

"Well, first we are going to a courtyard where I want you to see a statue I had made some years ago, then we are going to meet some other people.   They are also halflings, or less, like myself."  Trunks said as they continued to walk.

Presently they came to an elevator, which took them up five floors and deposited them in a huge garden area.  All sorts of flora and fauna could be seen, including a big dopey dinosaur that was slowly walking away from them.

"My human grandfather build this place for my grandmother a long time ago.  Our destination is right around that corner." Trunks said.

Trunks lead Celritri around the corner and they came to a large picnic area with benches and tables.  Right in the middle of the area was a statue that served as the centerpiece for anyone deciding to picnic here.

"I had this built so I would always have someplace to come and eat, and remember." Trunks said.

Celritri didn't know what to think.  The statue was of two men, Saiyans judging from their tails, both with fiery eyes and intensely determined expressions.   They were almost like mirror images of each other except they were obviously different men.   They were standing apart from each other, feet spread and bending sideways toward each other with the index fingers on both hands pointed and one man's fingers were touching the other.

"Who are they?" Celritri asked.

"Don't you recognize the one on the right?" Trunks asked.

"The hair is different, is that Kakkarot?" Celritri walked closer to the statue.

"Yes.  That is your son." Trunks said.

Celritri's eyes fell on a small plaque at the foot of the statue.

"Earth's Greatest Heroes", Celritri read.  "Heroes?"

"Yes.  They saved this planet from destruction many times." Trunks said.

"Kakkarot was sent here to clear this planet for Frieza, what happened?" Celritri asked.

"Kakkarot fell off a cliff and hit his head.  The injury caused him to lose his memory, the fact that he was Saiyan, and his mission.   He became this kind hearted little boy that a man named Gohan raised as his own." Trunks explained. "The man named him Goku, and he has preferred to go by that name ever since.  The one thing he didn't lose was his desire to train and improve himself.  Your son's drive was paralleled by only one other, my father.  He is the one on the left.

"What about Raditz?" Celritri asked.

"He died after Vegetasei was destroyed.  I will tell you the full story after the others awaken." Trunks temporarily avoided that bullet.

Celritri's attention turned back to the statue. "What is that they are doing anyway?"

"It's called 'The Fusion Dance'.   It is a rather strange technique that Goku learned.   It fuses two warriors of around the same size and power into one far more powerful warrior.  It's a temporary fusion." Trunks explained. "See how their upper bodies are covered in fur?"

"Yeah, I did notice that."  Celritri ran her hand over the arm of the statue of her son.

"That's what happens when you go Super Saiyan level four." Trunks said.

"WHAT?  Level four!" Celritri snapped her head around to see if Trunks was serious.

"Yeah, and there are higher levels than that." Trunks smiled. "Let's go and meet those people now, I'm sure you must be hungry after your trip."

Celritri hadn't realized it before, but she was starved.

"Yeah, I haven't eaten in over sixty years after all." Celritri smiled.

"Actually, that hole through your reactor cores slowed you down.  It's been more like eighty-five years." Trunks said. "If your ships chronometer is correct that is."

"Eighty-five years!  Damned!" Celritri grumbled. "No wonder you're so much older than me!"

"Trunks smiled. "Well, I'll try not to take that as an insult."

"Oh, sorry." Celritri smiled.

"No problem, come on then." Trunks said walking back the same way she came.

Trunks led the way back into the elevator and took them up three more floors, a short walk down the corridor to the left and they entered what looked to be a large dining area with about a dozen people already seated at a large round table.  Two place settings had no occupants.  Trunks directed his charge to take a seat next to a man, about the same age as Trunks, with every which way hair, a big dopey infectious grin, and a slightly confused look on his face.

"Kakkarot?!  Is that you?" Celritri asked.

"No, I'm your grandson, Goten." Goten said.

Celritri couldn't believe it.  Her family was here?  Before she knew what she was doing, or could control herself, she found herself sobbing on Goten's chest.   Confused, Goten looked at Pan for support and Pan motioned for him to put his arms around her.

"Damned he's so clueless!" Pan thought.

After a long while, Celritri pushed herself back apologizing and wiping her face with her napkin.  "I'm sorry, that wasn't dignified.  I-I just haven't seen my family in so long, and you look so much like Bardock."

"It's okay." Goten said smiling. "If you can't hug your grandson, who can you hug?"

"Well, maybe he's not quite so clueless." Pan thought.

"Oh! I'm sorry.  This is Paris, my wife, and my youngest son Godan." Goten started the introductions.

Celritri looked to see Paris and Godan had stood up, Paris had her hand outstretched.  "Must be the custom." She thought as he put her left hand out.

"Hehehe! Wrong hand." Paris said as she reached and took Celritri's right hand and shook it vigorously.

"I'm so happy to meet Goten's grandmother!" Paris said.

Godan was a young man in his mid-twenties.  He stepped forward a bit and offered his hand. "I'm happy to meet you too."

Celritri took Godan's hand and shook it like she seen Paris do.

"I'm happy to meet you both." Celritri said.

And so the introductions went around the table.  Trunks Jr. Pan, Trunks Jr.'s twins Lindera and Hanes, Bra, her husband, and her oldest daughter Cabbera, an elderly Namek named Dende, a round black man named Mr. Popo, a human named Gerald and his wife, and a large man that they only called 16.

"Wow!  This is quite a mixed group we have here today!" Celritri though to herself.

Then the food started coming, and what a feast!  Before long Celritri was so full, she couldn't ever imagine being hungry again.  People were conversing among themselves and as much as Celritri wanted to join in, she would have much rather taken a nap.   She did pick up bits and pieces of the various conversations.

"Did they just say that the Namek was a God?" Celritri thought.

Celritri heard some pretty amazing stuff, and just before she was going to start asking questions, Trunks interrupted.

"Okay everyone.  Dinner is over and we have a Saiyan with a whole lot of questions.  We have about an hour left before we have to get back to the hangar, so let's answer some of those questions." Trunks smiled at Celritri.

Celritri felt all eyes on her and she was a bit nervous. "Well, I'm still trying to get over being a great grandmother, but honestly I have so many questions that I don't know where to begin."

"Well, in that case, let's begin at the beginning.  Is everyone up for 'The Story'"?

"Yeah!  The Story!" Lindera cheered.

Lindera was the only one of them that never got enough of their history.

"Trunks, you go ahead, you are the best at telling it." Goten said.

"Very well then.  I did promise Bardock that I would not yet tell you certain things.  He wished to tell you himself.   Of course, you won't be able to hear it all in just one hour, but we can make a good start." Trunks cleared his throat.

"As you know, your son landed here on a mission to destroy all life on this world, but he fell and hit his head hard enough to give him amnesia.  A kindly old man by the name of Gohan took him in before he hit his head, and had a hard time with him.  After he hit his head he changed into an innocent little boy that wouldn't harm a fly if he didn't just have to..."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Gohan sat in the pilothouse with his nose still buried in the ships operating manual.  Bardock was sitting slumped down in the pilot's seat.   As they had taxied to the launch area, numerous warriors saw the ship he was in, and him through the portal, and started making kissy faces at him.   Raditz had wisely retreated to the sleeping chamber until they were out into space.  Word traveled fast and by the time they had been out into space for five minutes, the communication panel reported twenty hails.

"Hey Bardock!  You switched teams or something?   Hahahahaha…"  A voice jeered over the speaker.

"Hey Bardock!  What's up with that ship?  You started wearing frilly underwear yet? Hahahaha…"

"Turn that blasted thing off!" Bardock yelled over at Gohan.

"Huh?  Oh yeah, okay." Gohan broke his concentration away from his manual. "Computer, only accept incoming hails from the secured frequency."

"I will comply." Bulma's voice said.

The speaker died in mid sentence.

"Good!" Bardock said.  "A little late, but good."

"Oh wait!  Here's what I've been looking for." Gohan stood.

"Computer, engage cloaking device." Gohan said as he pushed a green toggle on the console next to communications.

"Affirmative." The computer said.    The ship began to glow softly.   When the glow subsided the entire outer hull of the ship had become a black-mirrored surface.  Best of all, no naked women."

"Stealth mode engaged." The computer said.

"Course calculations complete.  Hyper drive at your discretion." The computer reported.

"Make the jump." Bardock ordered, still angry over being laughed at.

The ship transitioned smoothly into hyperspace headed to Earth.