Chapter Five - Earth

K. Vegeta slipped around Nappa's massive fist with ease and landed a thunderous blow of his own to the large man's gut cracking his armor and sending him sailing through the roof and into the open night sky. Nappa recovered quickly and launched a volley of energy blasts as K. Vegeta neared but the Sai-jin king deflected them right back. Shielding himself from his own attack left the large warrior open to foot to the back which sent him into the ground outside the Battle Hall.

As K. Vegeta landed a large crowd gathered. "Why Nappa? Why turn on your people like this? Why side with Frieza?"

Nappa laughed. "Frieza? Frieza's nothing! He only thinks I'm working for him. My allegiance is to a much higher power than the Cold Family. Haven't you ever dreamed of unlimited power? Well it's in my reach, once you, Frieza, and the rest of his family, are gone!" Nappa clenched his fists as his aura flared up brilliantly around him and the ground began to shake. In a flash of light his power up finished and he charged forward slamming a large fist into the king's face.

Suddenly the sky lit up as the two clashed above the Battle Hall. They traded one blow for another as the gathered Sai-jins stared on in shock, because King Vegeta was having trouble dealing with Nappa.

Back in the palace Yang stood in the doorway K. Vegeta had left through and watched the battle for a moment before turning back to Bardock, Zarbon, and Vashon. "I think now may be good time to leave." He said walking past Zarbon. The blue-green alien nodded.

"What? You too Yang?" Bardock demanded.

Yang just smirked and left the room, pulling Vashon along with him. As Bardock went to follow him Zarbon turned and slammed his fist into Bardock's stomach. The Sai-jin warrior doubled over and collapsed to his knees. "What should we do with you?" Zarbon said tilting his head to one side. "You've managed to screw up six years of work in one day. I can't kill you, that would make things worse." Zarbon turned as though to go but stopped and looked up at the ceiling. "You know what Bardock? I need a vacation from all of this." He moved his hands around indicating the throne room. "Some nice little planet somewhere... I don't know, something quaint with a weak race I can have fun with." he walked through the door and out into the entryway. As he left he called back. "I heard there's this planet called Earth. It's supposed to be beautiful this time of year."

Struggling against the pain in his stomach Bardock lifted himself off the floor and ran after Zarbon. The alien simply turned and waved his hand as though brushing Bardock away. The force blast throw Bardock backward and slammed him against the wall knocking him out cold.

When he came to Appla was bent over him with a worried look. Behind her he could see a very bloodied and bruised King Vegeta being tended too. When the king saw him awake he smiled. "Ah Bardock, I knew you were just winded." he winced as an attendant touched his cut cheek. "As you can see I've dealt with Nappa, though he told me something interesting." he shook his head. "Doesn't matter right now though. I'm afraid of got some bad news. He's still alive but Raditz is in bad shape. He's in the rejuvenation tank now.

"You have a brave son. Nappa had me pinned to the ground and suddenly he slowed down, got this really painful look on his face. Raditz had his tail, gave me enough time to get back up and charge an attack capable of killing him. Before it was ready Nappa delivered a powerful blow to him. Just before he attacked me a finished him."

Bardock was silent, the implications of what he'd been told pushing on his chest making it hard to breathe. Turles was dead, Raditz was in bad shape....

"I need to ask, what happened to Yang, Zarbon, and our prisoner?" K. Vegeta asked softly.

"Yang was a traitor as well sir." Bardock said sitting up after a moment. "He and Zarbon left, and they took Vashon with them."

K. Vegeta nodded. "That would explain what happened to you..." he said with a frown which made him wince again.

Suddenly Bardock's eyes went wide as he remembered Zarbon's words. "Oh no!" he cried.

"What is it Bardock?" K. Vegeta asked.

He didn't know what to say. Somehow Zarbon knew what no other did, he knew about Kakkarotto and where he was. He had to go to Earth, save his son, soon possibly his only son. He looked up at Appla. "Zarbon knows... he's going to Earth."

Appla's eyes went wide. King Vegeta looked from one to the other. "Earth? I've never heard of it. What's on Earth, what's Zarbon know?"

Bardock swallowed and turned to his king. "You remember Kakkarotto?"

K. Vegeta nodded. "He was your third son, died shortly after he was born."

Bardock shook his head. "No sir. He didn't die. He was born with a really low power level and Appla and I feared he'd not survive living as a Sai-jin so we sent him away. We arranged a space pod and sent him to Earth where we figured he'd be safe since the natives aren't very strong and look much like us."

Appla picked up. "We aren't even sure if he's still alive, we've not scanned the planet to prevent attracting anyone's attention to it. Sir, I'm sorry we lied to you but we didn't want our son to get killed..."

K. Vegeta held up a hand. "I understand that sentiment quite well." he said. "Go." They stared at him for a moment. "I'll have pods prepared for you, you'll have to plot the course to this, Earth, yourself. I'm going to assign Vadora to your team as well. She's a good fighter but failed her last mission, retreated once the odds weren't 100% in her favor. Some time with you should turn her into a great warrior."

"Yes sir... thank-you." Appla said as she and Bardock left the throne room.

***

Bardock put his hand on the glass of the rejuvenation tank as he looked in on Raditz. He'd made an impressive recovery so far, even regained consciousness, but was still in need of at least another two days in the tank. "Take it easy for the next couple of days." he said. "You deserve it. It's all over the planet, you saved both the prince and the king today."

Inside the tank Raditz managed a small smile. "Heard.. *Cough* heard you were going *Cough* after *Cough, Cough* Zarbon. I heard about my other brother..." He paused to take a few quick breaths. "Stop Zarbon." he said at last.

Bardock nodded. "Don't worry, Appla and I will take care of him. Lord Vegeta even assigned Vadora to us for this mission so we shouldn't have to much trouble."

"Bardock," Appla called softly from the doorway. "Our pods are ready, Vadora is waiting for us at the launch bay."

Bardock nodded and followed his mate out the door and through the halls. He noticed the number of soldiers in the halls that bowed to him and Appla, even if only slightly, as they passed. Upon entering the launching bay he saw Vadora already standing in front of the pods. She was about five eight, had shoulder length hair, and wore the orange and brown armor of a First Class Soldier. It was an obvious contrast to the black and brown armor he and Appla wore. "Alright everyone, let's go." he said sliding into his pod.

"How long is the trip going to take?" Vadora asked.

"About two weeks." replied Bardock. "Fortunately Zarbon has to take the long way there since he can't pass through Sai-jin space and go where he pleases and Earth is in Sai-jin space. It should take him about three to four weeks to get there. When he does, we'll be waiting for him."

Vadora nodded as she climbed into her pod. A moment later the three ships were hurtling through space for planet Earth.