Chapter Thirty-four - Bardock Awakens

Piccolo launched in at Frieza and slammed a hard right hook into the tyrant's jaw then brought his knee up into his stomach. Meanwhile Vegeta launched in and whipped around behind Frieza slamming his foot into the back of his head with a crack. The two continued to attack Frieza. The tyrant was able to block or dodge most of Vegeta's attacks but this left him open to Piccolo's blows.

"This is amazing." Hotaru said watching the battle. "It's hard to believe I was stronger than him a little over a year ago... He's gained so much power."

Krillin nodded. "Yeah, I thought the three of us had gotten strong but Piccolo's unreal! He's almost even with Frieza."

"Yeah but... he's at full power and Frieza isn't..." Gohan said worriedly. "He said he was only using a third of his power..."

******

Goku and Bardock could both feel the battle raging not to far off. They'd been worried a few times when powers had dipped really low but they kept coming back. As he focused on the battle a beeping reached Bardock's ears. Opening his eyes he saw that the tank was draining. "Perfect timing, now I can get to the battle." he said climbing out of the tank. He glanced over to the tank Goku was in and checked how much time he had left. /He's got a good bit yet./

Bardock smiled as he looked at the clothes laid out for the two of them. He had a short sleeved and legged blue body suit with black and brown armor. And of course, Goku had a fresh GI laid out for him. Bardock quickly suited up and made his way out of the ship. He turned and looked off into the distance where he could not only feel the battle but see it as well. Brilliant flashes of white, dark green, red, blue, and purple lit up the bright green sky. In a flash Bardock lifted off the ground and charged in toward the battle.

******

Vegeta did a back flip as he fell toward the ground and landed feet first gouging out a small trench as he came to a stop. With a scowl on his face he brushed some blood off his lip and glared at where Frieza and Piccolo were still fighting. /Damn it! I'm more than twice as strong as when I got to this rock and both of them are still stronger than me! How much damn power does Frieza have!/ Suddenly a new power slid across his senses and he turned to watch as Bardock pulled to a stop at the battle field.

Vegeta wasn't the only one who noticed Bardock's arrival. Gohan had charged up to him with the other two in tow and were taking to him quickly. Meanwhile Piccolo had moved back from Frieza and the two of them were watching as well. Frieza growled. "Another Sai-jin! You monkeys just keep crawling out of the wood work."

Bardock glared over to Frieza and floated past the others to join Piccolo. Vegeta watched him curiously. /What's Bardock doing? There's no way he could hope to stand up to Frieza, he can't be that strong... not in such a short time./

"You're Bardock, aren't you?" Frieza asked with a hint of interest. "Zarbon went on about you for hours after his last visit to Planet Vegeta. I find it hard to believe you could have beaten him..."

Bardock cracked his neck and glanced over to Piccolo. "You could use some help I've noticed. You ready?" Piccolo smirked but Frieza laughed. "Oh, you think that's funny Frieza? We'll see if you still feel that way in a minute. Kaio Ken times Twenty!" The signature red aura flared to life around him and Vegeta's eyes snapped open in shock. Piccolo's grin widened and the two launched in at Frieza.

The tyrant's shock was evident as Bardock's fist slammed into his stomach causing intense pain to lance through his body. Piccolo slammed his foot into Frieza's head as Bardock kneed him in the face. Together the two continued to pound on him floating around him to keep him disoriented and not giving him the chance to recover.

"How... how is this possible?" Vegeta stammered watching them. "I am the Prince of all Sai-jins, it is I who should become the strongest Sai-jin. So how... has he surpassed me? Could he... could he be a Super Sai-jin? Has he done what no one could for over a thousand years?"

******

Planet Vegeta:

"How's that possible?" Pug asked watching Bardock's power reading sky rocket. "His power's increased over five fold since he fought Ginyu... I know he spent a few hours in a Regen Tank but still..."

"It's the Kaio Ken." Vadora replied squinting at the monitor. "Before he was using a times ten I believe. The reading a minute ago was about twenty times lower than the current reading, so he's gotten better at using it. That's where the bulk of his power's coming from."

King Vegeta nodded lightly lost in thought. A sudden clicking on the floor brought him back to reality and he turned to see a soldier approaching him. "Lutete." he said with a nod as she approached. "What's up?"

"There's a crowd gathering outside the gates sir, and at the embassy's on several planets. They want to know what's going on, why we're fighting Frieza..."

Vegeta looked at her in thought for a moment, watched the way she was fidgeting in her armor. Lutete was a civilian more than a soldier, her power was under two hundred, she only worked at the place for the high pay it came with. She was one of several hundred thousand Sai-jins who weren't fighters. She was one of the rare Sai-jins who simply didn't have the strong urge to fight that most had. There were other like her and there were those who were former soldiers who'd quit fighting after losing their tails. At least, of those who stayed on Vegeta, most left the empire since they felt they were no longer warriors. "You're wondering why too, aren't you?"

She nodded and he sighed. "Survival." he said at last. "You've seen the power readings, right?" She nodded again. "My son is... not as strong as his ancestors. By his age my power was over twelve million. By his age my father's power was over fifteen million. By his age my grandfather's power was over eighteen million. Our best estimates place the first Sai-jin king at a maximum power of around fifty million, and he was a Super Sai-jin. That was ten thousand years ago." He leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling while Lutete absorbed what he'd said. "You see the trend?"

"But... you can't be worried..."

"I am worried. At this rate the Prince will never surpass even the ten million mark. I am barely a match for Frieza, the Prince..." he trailed off as he looked at the monitor again. "This is our last and only chance of ever defeating Frieza or his family."

"But..."

"I know. I'm stronger than those on Namek currently fighting against Frieza. The thing is... I don't think I could stop Frieza myself, or that I would be of much help in the battle. But Bardock and his son from Earth... I think, no, I know they can pull this off. Somehow I know they will win." With that he stood up and gave one last glance to the monitor before proceeding to the balcony to speak to his people.

******

There was a flash of energy around Frieza's hands and he suddenly lashed out. Bardock dodged but Piccolo raised his arms to block which turned out to be a mistake. Frieza's energy encased hands cut clean through his arms before the Namek even knew what was happening. Frieza grinned and turned back to Bardock. "Watch those hands!" Piccolo called.

"Yeah, no kidding." Bardock said dodging around swing after swing. He was faster than Frieza, even if just barely. Suddenly an energy blade cut off a small slice of his hair and he ducked down. Frieza's foot reached out and slammed into his face, his odd toes gripping the side of the Sai-jins head and holding tight.

"Now you die!" Frieza cried dropping from the sky. Bardock grasped and clawed at Frieza's foot and leg trying to get free as he was suddenly submerged into the green waters of Namek. Frieza was so focused on keeping Bardock under the water he almost didn't hear Piccolo.

"Special Beam Cannon!" Frieza whirled as the attack neared. It wasn't all that large or dangerous looking at first glance but Frieza quickly realized what the attack was designed to do. He leapt up into the air just narrowly dodging the attack but as he did Piccolo's voice rang out again. "Scatter Shot!" Frieza watched as the dozens of energy blasts sped up into the air and past him.

As they did Krillin noticed his chance to help. "Shotgun!" the short man cried. Frieza turned to see a similar attack coming at him from the Human. Piccolo only gave Krillin a quick glance and then returned his focus to Frieza. The two warriors moved their hands this way and that causing their energy spheres to swirl around Frieza at high speeds. The tyrant looked around him wildly before bringing his arms and legs up in defense as the spheres suddenly surged in at him. They slammed into him in rapid succession, the explosions shook the planet and sent shockwaves across the planet's surface.

Bardock had removed himself form the ocean and was watching as the attack. When it stopped, and before the smoke even cleared, he and Piccolo launched themselves into the smoke cloud. There were several cracks and brilliant flashes seconds before the smoke cloud was shattered apart by the battle raging inside. Frieza blocked their blows as best as possible as they continued to fight in the sky.

Then, after a few minutes, there was a resounding and thunderous crack as Frieza slammed his open palms into Piccolo's chest and fired a point blank KI blast into him. "Mr. Piccolo!" Gohan cried as the Namek was flung backward and plummeted into the ocean. Gohan lifted into the air and sped off to find him. Meanwhile Frieza turned his full attention to Bardock. The tyrant slipped around one of the Sai-jins punches and pounded one of his own into his chest cracking his armor.

As the Sai-jin drifted back in the sky Frieza clutched his fists tightly. "Damn you! King Vegeta's the only Sai-jin supposed to have that kind of power! No other Sai-jin should even be able to hit me, let alone hurt me!" An aura flashed around him and it was quite evident he was rather pissed. "That's it, I've had it with YOU!" as his voice roared across the planet he threw his head back and his muscles increased a bit more as his power jumped yet again.

Bardock's eyes went wide as he pulled back from Frieza even farther. /Holy shit! His... power is.../ Bardock shook his head. /Get a hold of yourself, he may be stronger than you but you can still handle him, the difference isn't enough to be a problem..................... I hope./