Chapter 1: The Offer
"We can't stay."
Gine was bold; Bardock gave her that. This was already the third time he'd told his wife that, no, they couldn't leave planet Vegeta. But she kept repeating herself, muttering about family and Frieza and the future.
Bardock's body ached with anxiety and regret as he and Gine walked home. Fine, maybe he'd erred in sending Kakarot away to another planet as quickly as he had. But this was a low-class child who hadn't even learned to throw his first punch yet!
Kakarot wasn't the only topic refusing to leave Bardock's mind. There had been talk throughout the Frieza Force of Frieza inquiring about the legendary Super Saiyan. Rumors spread like wildfire about doctors studying saiyan blood for mutations or irregularities. Every saiyan's power level now had to be entered into Frieza Force records upon the beginning of a mission — and, if they survived, the final report.
It became quite clear Frieza was afraid of a Super Saiyan emerging and challenging his title. Years of serving the tyrant had made low-class warriors like Bardock as strong as they'd ever been. And with Frieza sending more of his saiyan soldiers to dangerous, advanced planets, they'd only emerge stronger.
Frieza couldn't have that, not if he wanted to retain his stronghold on the known universe. But what could the saiyans do other than complain and submit to blood tests and play the role of the good soldier. Good soldiers follow orders.
Bardock wanted to stop following orders, especially if the end was nearing and he needed to protect his wife.
"We have to stay," Bardock calmly replied. "I told you. The scouters will give away our location and we'll be shot out of the sky. We can't risk it."
"So, what do we do?" Gine asked as she pulled to a stop. "You know what Frieza is capable of, and you want to wait?'
Bardock frowned at his wife. Gine had always had a stubborn streak, a spark of life that served her well in arguments, but now wasn't the time for a back-and-forth.
"Let's say we leave," Bardock spoke slowly. "Our options are limited, and that's assuming they don't immediately find and shoot us down. We can't risk stopping anywhere Frieza's empire has a presence."
Bardock had spent the last few hours, even before sending Kakarot to Earth, thinking about their options … all of which were risky. Staying on Vegeta had the potential of being just as much of a death sentence as jumping in a pod and leaving for another planet.
It'd been years since Bardock had voluntarily explored known space while not on a mission. Almost every planet he'd visited since the saiyans began working for Frieza was for a purge — and the ones his team had been sent on for 'aggressive negotiations' certainly weren't going to welcome a saiyan.
There were city-planets Bardock and Gine could reach within a month, but it was too risky. All it would take is one bounty hunter to file a report on two rogue saiyans, one of whom had a notable scar across his face, and the entire planet would be on lockdown.
"I know you want to consider going to Earth," Bardock said before Gine could interject. "But that would go against every reason we sent Kakarot into space. We bring our scouters there, and we're putting him in as much risk as he was here."
"Forget the scouters, then!" Gine yelled. "There has to be a way we can safely get to Kakarot on Earth!"
"I know of a way."
The two saiyans whipped around only to find a hooded, coated stranger standing behind them. The man — at least, the stranger certainly had a masculine voice — wore gloves and boots, even on a warm night.
And, Bardock would later acknowledge, the visitor had a flair for timing.
Bardock could tell the stranger, at least by the shape of his head, appeared to be humanoid. Was this one of Frieza's soldiers? No, it couldn't be. This man was acting too smart to be a common member of the Frieza Force.
He, or it, was tall. Not outrageously tall and not taller than Bardock, but he (it?) wasn't tiny. Could this be Zarbon, Bardock wondered? He'd only heard flashes of the man's voice before — if a Frieza Force elite needed to contact a saiyan, it was usually one of the admirals, someone well below Zarbon and Dodoria on the food chain — and Frieza's two higher-ups rarely, if ever, stepped foot on Vegeta.
But why would Zarbon need to wear a hood? Every saiyan knew of him and had seen his likeness on Frieza Force images throughout the galaxy. Something was wrong here.
"Who the hell are you?" Bardock asked, moving to stand in front of Gine.
"I'm a friend — or I can be, at least," the stranger said, walking closer. No, this wasn't Zarbon, not unless Frieza's second-in-command lost his distinctive blue skin. Even in the dark, Bardock could make out light skin and partially obscured eyes. "I promise I mean you no harm. You're the saiyan known as Bardock, right?"
Bardock regretted leaving his scouter behind. "I asked first. Who the hell are you?"
The stranger put both of their hands up in surrender. "Relax. I'm not here to hurt you or your friend. I'm just looking for a powerful saiyan named Bardock. Spiky hair, armor."
"You just described most saiyans," Bardock replied. Although he couldn't make out the stranger's look underneath the hood, he certainly noticed the lack of a familiar piece of equipment. "How did you find us? I don't see a scouter on you."
"A scouter?" the stranger questioned, pausing. "Oh. No, I don't need a scouter to find people."
"That's impossible!" Gine, still standing behind her husband, finally spoke up. Gine poked her head out over Bardock's shoulder. "I thought the Frieza Force said scouters were mandatory to find a person's true power."
"There's a lot the Frieza Force says that isn't true," the stranger said. Did Bardock detect a hint of malice in the stranger's voice? That would be interesting. Perhaps the visitor wasn't involved with Frieza's army after all. "I can sense people's energy on my own. Many of the galaxy's strongest fighters are capable of the same technique."
Now that was interesting, Bardock mused. Supposing it was true, at least.
"That's not why I'm here, though," the stranger continued. "I'll ask again: are you Bardock? And if you're not, where can I find him?"
Bardock tried to read the stranger's movements for any signs of an attack. But the visitor still kept his hands up and feet in place. This was strange. The stranger arrived with a confident tone and, having snuck up on the two saiyans, clearly had no reservations about dealing with a warrior race feared for death, destruction, terror, and gluttony.
But things had quickly changed. Now, the once-confident stranger seemed … nervous. Bardock could see their unexpected guest trying their best to hide its fidgeting.
"I'm him," Bardock relented. "This is my wife, Gine. Now, I'll ask again: who are you? And why are you here?"
The stranger extended a hand. "You can call me The Patroller," they said.
The Patroller? Bardock wondered, confused.
"The Patroller?" Bardock replied, amused.
Gine had no time or interest in laughing at the man's name. "It's nice to meet you, Patroller," she said, shaking his hand. "How did you find us? Besides sensing our energy, I mean."
"And why did you find us?" Bardock asked. "You mentioned Earth. You know of it?"
Bardock could all but feel the stranger smile. "I am. And I know of your son, Kakarot. He is going to become a great warrior."
The saiyans froze. This man, this "Patroller," he knew Kakarot? Or at least, knew of him? How could that be?
"I'm sure you have many questions, so I won't waste your time," The Patroller said. "I am not from Planet Vegeta. In a few short weeks, Frieza is going to come here and destroy the planet. There aren't many saiyans that survive. Both of your sons do, though."
Neither saiyan could bring themselves to speak. This had to be a lie. No one was capable of seeing the future, but this stranger spoke with such conviction and fact in his voice. This wasn't a stranger guessing about the planet's fate.
No, this … Patroller … knew what was going to happen. And that was the strangest part. Why would someone who knew the saiyans were doomed tell them of their fate? Helping a saiyan, much less the entire race, was a recipe for disaster. This was a race that, if the Super Saiyan legend was real, could overthrow Frieza himself and rule the universe on an unstoppable thrown.
But if The Patroller was correct, there would be no Super Saiyan. Supposedly, the saiyan race was doomed to die with its planet.
"Kakarot and Raditz," Gine whispered. The rest of what their new guest said caught up with Bardock. His sons, both of them, survived? That meant Kakarot made it to Earth, at least, but what happened after? Where would he go without a race to welcome him home?
And if Raditz wasn't killed in Planet Vegeta's destruction, did death await him and Prince Vegeta elsewhere?
"What happens to us?" Bardock asked, fearing the answer. "Gine and I."
"You don't ever make it to Earth," The Patroller responded, leaving the rest unspoken.
Well, that wasn't a surprise. Saiyans never feared death or the eventual knowledge they would die. But Bardock felt sick as he realized the trip he and Gine had literally just talked about was bound to fail. But did they die in space, or with the rest of their planet?
It didn't matter. Bardock could spend his final moments holding his wife or trying to stop Frieza. He was destined to die either way.
"Why would you tell us this?" Bardock asked. "Let's say you're telling the truth. Frieza's already ordered all of the saiyans home. He would know if we left. And as much as I hate to admit it, I don't think a couple of weeks is enough time to prepare the saiyan army for Frieza."
"It's not," The Patroller admitted. "You would be slaughtered in a second. Two, if you're lucky. Frieza is one of the most powerful beings in the universe right now. Many will try, but it will be years before anyone truly challenges him in battle and wins."
Again, this Patroller, whoever he was, was talking like he was certain of what the future held. But there was an ending where Frieza fell in battle? That was interesting.
"But there is another way both of you can escape here alive," The Patroller continued, "and if you wish to reunite with your sons, I can make that possible. But it would mean leaving everything behind and never returning. I can only bring you two with me."
Bardock and Gine looked at one another. If The Patroller was serious, this was a chance at a fresh start. A life away from Frieza and his army. A life with their sons, training Kakarot and Raditz to be great saiyan warriors.
Bardock heard a choked sob behind him. Gine must have been devastated that they had an opportunity to survive but their friends needed to stay on Planet Vegeta. Leaving the other saiyans behind for a chance at escaping felt wrong, especially for the hardened Bardock.
Was that the coward's move, or two people trying to endure and survive a bad future destined to occur?
"And what about Raditz?" Gine asked. "Can you help us find him?"
The saiyans watched The Patroller nod underneath the hood. "Yes, ma'am. I promise you will see your oldest son again."
Gine grinned. "Thanks, Mister Patroller!"
This all sounded too good to be true. A mysterious stranger appears on Planet Vegeta with an offer to help Bardock and Gine escape Planet Vegeta just as the two are talking about that? Was The Patroller a god? And why would a god want to help two saiyans?
There would be time for answers later. It wasn't worth it for Bardock to interrogate the possible god-man and risk losing this opportunity.
"What do you need from us to make this happen?" Bardock asked. "Credits? Food? Gine's the best butcher this planet has ever known and a damn fine cook, too."
The Patroller turned his head, allowing the saiyans to glimpse a white-teethed smile. "There is no price. Everyone deserves an opportunity to know their loved ones. But you must be prepared for the challenges you will face."
"Challenges?" the two asked in unison.
"Challenges," the hooded man confirmed. "You will be brought to Earth, and you will meet Kakarot. You have to understand the meeting may not go as you imagine. You have to trust me, but more importantly, you have to trust your son and the path you're going to be placed on. Have faith in one another."
This was madness. A stranger who promised intergalactic travel just as the saiyans discussed leaving for Earth truly was the ultimate coincidence. And they had to prepare for challenges and a strange meeting? Just what was this Patroller character dragging Bardock and Gine into?
Bardock wanted to trust his instincts and everything that told him the other man was lying. But this Patroller had sounded nothing but genuine as he discussed Frieza and Kakarot. If anything, he sounded excited.
Now Bardock needed to know: how did The Patroller know all of this?
When Bardock asked this question, The Patroller shook his head. "I understand your concerns, but some information is sensitive right now. If you accept my offer, I'll be able to share more with you later, so long as you keep the information between the three of us."
That wasn't good enough for Bardock. "Tell me the truth or I won't be held responsible for my actions. You say you know our future and what happens to our sons. How?"
Gine jumped in front of her irritated husband. "Don't listen to him, Mr. Patroller! It's a deal. We'll go with you. Right, Bardock?"
Bardock turned to his wife, her eyes beginning to light with tears. This was the only home the saiyans had ever known, and they were going to leave it all behind, all because a hooded stranger spoke of the future?
Gine's onyx orbs pleaded for Bardock to listen to the hooded stranger and accept the offer. Well, even a dangerous saiyan warrior knew not to argue with his wife….
"Alright," Bardock reluctantly accepted, cracking a small grin at Gine's jubilant cheer. "Fine. We agree. When do we leave?"
"I'm glad you've both decided," The Patroller said. Suddenly, the stranger tensed and turned his head downward. "Sorry about this."
The saiyans froze in confusion. "Sorry about—" Bardock started as he heard The Patroller whisper something to himself.
There was a sudden, blinding flash of light. Bardock had only begun turning away when he felt a pain shoot through his neck.
"BARDOCK!" he heard his wife yell before the darkness overcame him.
Bardock's first thought when he awoke was he felt like hell. Whatever hell was supposed to feel like.
The second thought, which carried on for quite a few thoughts, was a string of expletives in both the basic language and the old, discarded saiyan language. And for that, Bardock was grateful only the older saiyans remembered just how graphic the comparison of one's mother to a heavy alien could be.
"What the hell was I thinking?" Bardock growled as he stood up. "Going along with some nonsense that bastard spewed."
It was only then that Bardock took in his surroundings. The rocky terrain of Vegeta had been replaced with a beautiful grassy field under a blue sky. Birds chirped in the distance as the planet's sun beat down on his head.
Where the hell was he?
"Bardock!" the saiyan heard. Bardock spun around to see Gine, still dressed in her armor, running toward him with a box in her hand. Bardock barely had enough time to react as his wife sprinted and jumped into the air ...
… but what Gine hoped would be him catching both her and the box turned into the two pathetically tumbling onto the grass. The box had a cleaner impact with the ground.
"Sorry," Gine mumbled, her head still stuck between Bardock's right arm.
"You've done worse," Bardock said, untangling the two saiyans and standing. When Bardock examined his hand to lift his wife up, he saw a slight bruise on the back of her neck. "What happened? What did The Patroller do?"
Gine's face turned crimson. "Uhh, well, he knocked you out. I went crazy and started punching him. Bardock, he was so fast. He caught one of my punches … and then I guess he knocked me out, too. That jerk!"
Bardock made a mental note to teach this Patroller why touching a saiyan's wife was a bad move, even if he was a god. "He'll pay for that. What was that box you were carrying?"
Gine's face scrunched up. "Box?"
Bardock stared blankly.
"Oh, yeah!," Gine said, scrambling to recover the box. "I woke up, and it was next to me. It was addressed to the two of us. Might be from The Patroller?"
Bardock bent down to examine the somehow-still locked box. Half expecting knockout gas to spill from the box once it was opened, Bardock was surprised to see a note attached to a mysterious small device.
"A note?" Gine asked. "Can you read it? Or it's in another language?"
"Galactic basic," Bardock replied. "Not handwritten. Typed." Gine walked closer as Bardock began reading the note aloud.
Dear Bardock and Gine,
Welcome to Earth. I apologize for knocking you both unconscious, but it was necessary in order to help you.
Gine, you pack a punch.
You have been brought to Earth, as I said, but it has been twenty-four years since Frieza destroyed your homeworld. I understand you must be sur—
"TWENTY-FOUR YEARS?" the two yelled. Bardock scanned the note twice more to make sure he hadn't misread their new acquaintance's words, but there were no typos to be found.
"Oh no, I hope my hair doesn't start going gray soon," Gine moaned.
"Quiet," Bardock said, too stunned at the note's words to roll his eyes.
I understand you must be surprised. But I promise it is true. Much time has passed. Frieza still lives, though you are in no danger as you read this. Kakarot is a grown adult now. But he is a great warrior, and he will be excited to meet you both. He has the compassion of his mother and the raw talent of his father.
"Kakarot," Bardock whispered as his wife chuckled.
"A compassionate saiyan?" Gine said in amazement. "Well, now I need to meet him."
As for Raditz … you will see him soon. I cannot reveal certain things or I risk already destroying your path.
I have left you a device similar to a scouter. Hold it in your hand, and it will guide you to the world's most powerful person. Only then will you find your son.
I cannot promise when I will see you again.
Goodbye for now,
- The Patroller
"Twenty-four years," Bardock whispered. "What the fuck have we gotten ourselves into?
In December 2012, a 15-year-old published a story called Second Chance on FFN. In December 2021, a 24-year-old is welcoming you to Alius Attentent, a rebooted version of Second Chance. This fic, as you've no doubt noticed, is a what-if detailing Bardock and Gine escaping the destruction of their planet.
(Also, at 24, which feels old for fan fiction writing standards. Yikes!)
For those unfamiliar. SC started in December 2012, stopped for a while, was cancelled in 2016 and now is back … kind of. I intended to reboot this around February 2020, but life got in the way. But I had a spark recently and there's always been a small part of me bothered that I left SC unfinished. As someone who didn't like things I did early in SC and who isn't even really a DB fan at this point, this is my attempt at doing things over.
Originally, I was going to keep most of SC's plot as is … and in a way, I will, because plenty of things will be similar. But how our characters arrive on Earth is far different, as will how Bardock and Gine interact with the main cast. Some new additions to the story are things I regretted not having in SC. Even if you read all of SC or started it and didn't like it, I encourage you to give this a chance.
Speaking of the Earth arrival … just who was it that brought Bardock and Gine to the future? I'll let you think about it. No, The Patroller is not an OC.
The old Second Chance will stay up, though this will hopefully look a lot cleaner than the original ramblings of a 15-year-old. I'm using part of those chapters as templates and keeping what can stay. I can't promise any type of regular update schedule, though. But if I'm posting this, it means at least a couple other chapters are done. Probably a few. Please don't beg for updates.
I promise that not every author's note or post-chapter summary will be this long — and some chapters may not even have them. I used to do review Q&As in this part, but I'll probably answer most on FFN through private message. If there's a question frequently asked, I'll address it in this space.
One last thing: I am not going to obsess about power levels or what might now be canon in 2021/2022. That's part of what killed my interest in SC. I'm going to expand on PLs in Chapter 2 and how I'm going to handle them.
I'm excited to be back. As always, FP out.
