Chapter 11

Bardock paced inside the waiting room, anxiously biting on his thumbnail as Tekka and Pinich waited for the announcer to start the match. He had given Tekka a way out, had told him to give up if the match got to be too much, but he knew his friend would take it the wrong way since he was the weakest out of their friends group.

And if he had forfeited on just Bardock's words, how would the half saiyan explain himself? 'Oh, why did I make you quit? Well, you're taking my mother's place in this tournament and she almost lost her life because she was too stubborn to quit and because the man who was fighting her was stronger than any other human since he was working for a powerful wizard who wanted to kill us all. How do I know all of that? It's because I went to the past when I was 11 years old with Pan and had to watch my mother get beaten with my own eyes.'

Like that would go over well with anyone, especially his best friend. He already felt bad enough that he never told his parents that he had known everything that happened at the tournament before everything happened, but even if he wanted to, he wouldn't have been able to stop it.

At the time, he hadn't known Spopovich and Yamu were working with Babidi but he did know they were going to attack his parents separately. It hurt him to know and it hurt him even more to hold back. Pinich, Tekka's childhood friend, and Cabba, his opponent, were working for Babidi now and he knew that. However, he couldn't say anything to anyone other than Shin, Kibito, and Pan. He feared that Pan would hate the fact that he knew what was coming and didn't say anything again.

The Supreme Kai had reassured him, telling him not to interfere with the fate of his visions, but the whole reason he went to the past was so Buu wouldn't kill his friends and his family, and while he succeeded on that front, he still wasn't strong enough to save Vegeta or the rest of the world.

His visions were immensely different from the ones he had about the past, but he had to make sure that Buu didn't kill the entire population again. That was truly his main concern, but he was still anxious about Tekka's match because he knew that his friend was going to be fighting for his life by the time this was over.

"Fighting an internal battle?" Gine's voice brought him out of his thoughts.

Bardock frowned, lowering his hand from his face, "I guess you could say that." He turned to the stage where his friend and his opponent were now just staring each other down after the announcer started the match. "I'm just a bit worried."

In his peripherals, he could see Piccolo conversing with Shin. He didn't need to interrupt that conversation to know what was going to be revealed.

Gine took his attention again by patting his arm. "Tekka will be fine. He might not be that strong but he's a mischievous kind of guy. Besides, he knows how to fly now. He's got the advantage here."

The half saiyan said nothing about how his mother had the same advantage and still ended up losing. She had no idea Pinich was more powerful than the average human and he couldn't voice why.

When his eyes unfocused yet again, Pan took notice and walked over. She gave her friend a small smile, "You mind if I talk to my brother?" Gine gave a nod and walked over to the entrance of the waiting room. She nudged her brother. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," Bardock mumbled, lifting a hand to scratch the back of his neck. "How's he doing out there?"

"As well as any human can," Pan replied. "Any reason you're in such a mood about this match? I understand Tekka isn't that strong but it's a bit sad you don't have a little more faith in him."

"It doesn't take a genius to know that guy and Cabba are working for Babidi," Bardock said, taking his hand away from his neck. He put his finger to his forehead and made an M.

Pan clenched her fists in her anger. "So you knew he was taking Mom's place."

"I did," Bardock responded tightly. "I told him to quit if the going got tough, but I couldn't tell him the going was gonna get tough the minute he stepped onto that stage."

They were interrupted when the announcer spoke enthusiastically into the mic, "Look at that, folks! Tekka has knocked Pinich down! Let's start the countdown." Before he could even open his mouth, Pinich easily flipped back onto his feet. "Or not…"

Pinich charged at Tekka who tried to be light on his feet, dodging whatever punch and kick the other male threw at him.

Tekka then jumped into the air and slammed his knee into Pinich's head. Pinich growled and slammed his fist into Tekka's abdomen, knocking the air out of him. He then threw him to the ground where he skidded to the other side of the ring.

"It seems like Pinich has caught a second wind. Can Tekka get back up and win this match?"

Bardock shook his head, biting his lip, "Stay down, Tek."

Pinich walked over to where Tekka was struggling to get up. He lifted his foot, aiming for his head, and slammed it down. Everyone gasped in surprise when Tekka moved himself out of the way and swept his legs, sending his opponent to the ground.

"And Pinich is down again! Tekka is showing a great prowess. It seems like he may very well win this match!"

"Nice one!" Krillin clapped his hands. He turned to Bardock, grinning, "Looks like your friend ain't half bad."

"I did train him," Bardock commented absentmindedly.

To the audience's surprise, Pinich stood up again, not looking winded in the slightest even as he wiped the dirt off his cheek.

The announcer laughed, "Well, folks, it looks like Pinich isn't going down without a fight!"

Bardock flinched when he felt Pinich's ki flare harshly. He could feel the darkness intertwined with it. It had the mark of Babidi, alright. There was no way Tekka was going to survive these barrages of punches coming at him.

"Oh no," Goku mumbled worriedly. The half saiyan could tell the rest of the Z fighters felt the spike in the dark ki.

With his higher power, Pinich grinned sadistically and slammed his fist into Tekka's face, sending him towards the edge of the ring again. Tekka grunted, feeling the harsh pain flaring in his face.

His eyes widened when he felt a falling sensation in his stomach. Gritting his teeth, he focused everything on his ki. He sighed in relief when he heard the gasps around him. He succeeded in floating. Now he just had to win this match. He then shot off into the air above the ring.

"And it seems that Tekka is floating! He's doing everything he can to win this match!"

Bardock shook his head, "Come on, Tekka. Just give up." Next to him, Gine looked on numbly while Pan was biting her lip so hard her teeth almost poked in.

Pinich sneered and flew into the air. He caught Tekka's arm and threw him towards the ring. Tekka hit the ground roughly. Pinich flew back down towards the ring. He grabbed Tekka's head and smashed it into the tiles. He then lifted him up and wrapped his hand around his neck, squeezing tightly.

Tekka wheezed desperately as he clawed at his hands, "H-hey, P. I-it's me, Tekka. Don't you remember?"

"I remember," Pinich chuckled darkly, tightening his grip.

The announcer gulped fearfully, "Pinich, son, you have to let go of Tekka or else you will be disqualified." He yelped when Pinich sent a ki blast his way.

Bardock shook with rage as he watched Tekka's hand go limp around Pinich's arms. He couldn't do anything to stop him. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white and his nails biting into his palms, almost drawing blood. His mind was racing so fast that he didn't even notice the surge in Pan's ki.

Stop it now! His mind shouted at him when he felt Tekka's ki sputter out.

"Pinich!" Cabba shouted as he floated near the ring. He frowned at his comrade disappointedly, "We're here for an important mission, not to settle one of your grudges. Drop him and be done with it."

With a snarl, Pinich did as he was told. He threw Tekka out of the ring where he landed on the grass, unmoving and almost lifeless.

"Tekka is out of the ring. Pinich moves onto the next match," The announcer said nervously, his hands shaking as they held the mic.

Tekka's friends ran over to him worriedly. His face was bruised and scraped in many places. His lips were split and blood while his nose was more than likely broken.

Gine sighed shakily, her eyes shiny with tears, "Come on, let's get him to the infirmary."

The three of them rushed into the waiting room. Bardock halted and turned to his grandfather, asking, "Grandpa, do you have the sensu beans with you?"

A moment of silence passed where Goku simply stared at his grandson before slapping his forehead. "I knew I forgot something!" He frowned regretfully, "Sorry. Chi-Chi was rushing us and I instant transmissioned us out of the house. It slipped my mind but don't worry, I'll go get them right now."

"No, no," Bardock shook his head quickly. He transferred Tekka to Pan's arms. "I'll go get them. Pan, you and Gine take Tekka to the infirmary. I'll meet you there." He put two fingers to his forehead and disappeared.

He most definitely did not trust his grandfather since the last time he had to get sensu beans he took over half an hour because he was eating.

A few minutes passed before he reappeared back into the waiting room with the bag of sensu beans in his hand. He quickly took one bean out and threw the bag to Trunks before he ran towards the infirmary.

He knocked on the door and when it opened, he threw the sensu bean to Pan who was closest to the bed. He watched as the doctors tended to Tekka, feeling his skin prickle with guilt and his throat close at the sight of his energetic friend looking so lifeless and broken.

The muffled sound of the announcer's voice outside caught his attention. He took one last look at Tekka who began slowly chewing the sensu bean before making his way out.

"You knew, didn't you?" Bardock stopped and turned to Gine who was glaring at him as she walked over. "That's why you wanted him to give up. You knew that guy was going to beat him, didn't you? Didn't you?"

He lowered his gaze to the floor. "Yes."

She shoved him with all her strength. Bardock took the shove and the barrage of punches she gave to his chest. His heart constricted painfully when he saw the tears streaming down her face when she stepped away.

Gine laughed incredulously, "I actually thought you were different. I thought you were the nice guy Pan made you out to be but you're just an asshole who didn't do anything as his best friend-his best friend-was beaten up right in front of him."

Bardock worked his jaw and swallowed, "I guess I am." He turned around and began to walk away. "Tell Tekka I'm sorry I couldn't be here for him. I have to go."

"Whatever," Gine rolled her eyes with a scoff.

By the time he got to the waiting room, the match had already started but Kibito and Trunks were staring each other down. Everyone else in the waiting room was tense but from the ease in Shin's smile, he assumed everyone just figured out he was the Supreme Kai.

Bardock cupped his hands over his mouth, calling, "Trunks!" When his mentor turned to him questioningly, he gave a firm nod.

Trunks nodded back. He turned to Kibito, letting out a deep breath, before increasing his ki, shouting as he did so.

"So you think this is a good idea?" Gohan asked his son tersely.

"I've seen what happen, both in my vision and in the past," Bardock answered. "I know you're tense about this, Dad, but this is the only way we'll find Babidi."

The fighters stepped back to dodge some of the broken tiles came too close to hitting them in the face. Trunks' hair stood upright as he continued powering up. His blue eyes turned teal and his hair slowly went from purple to blond. He gave one final shout as he reached his highest level of power. He stood there unflinchingly as blue bolts of electricity flickered around him.

Bardock blinked slowly, "I never knew he could go Super Saiyan 2."

Between the rest of the Saiyans, Trunks wasn't the strongest. He was definitely strong, obviously stronger than Pan, Goten, and Bra, but when it came to Gohan, Goku, Bardock, and Vegeta, he ended up just barely competing with his father since he took the last 4 years to settle down in his job and with his family.

Judging by the small smirk on Vegeta's lips, one could say he was proud that his first born was stronger than they gave him credit for.

"Whatever happens next, you must stay back," Shin commanded.

"What happens next?" Yamcha raised an eyebrow.

Something flashed past them, catching Shin's attention. "There!"

Pinich and Cabba flew over to Trunks. The purple haired Saiyan was about to turn to face them but he suddenly turned stiff. Pinich caught him in a headlock while Cabba stabbed the tip of the device he had in his hand into Trunks' stomach. Trunks began screaming in pain as his ki was slowly drained.

"Hey, what are you doing to Trunks?"

"You assholes! I'll get you for this!"

Piccolo and Bardock restrained Yamcha and Krillin when they tried to rush out of the waiting room. In the ring, Trunks' hair went back to purple and fell back to its bowl shape as the light died in his now blue eyes.

Vegeta growled, clenching his fists at the sound of Trunks' screams "I won't stand for this." Before he could step out, he was stopped by someone grabbing the neck of his spandex. He glared at the fiend, "Kakarot, let me go."

"I'm sorry, Vegeta. I can't do that."

"Trunks will be fine, Vegeta," Shin said. "They're not going to kill him. They just need his ki."

Everyone turned when they heard Gohan shout, "No!" The Saiyan was being held back by Pan who had finally come back with Gine and a healed Tekka.

Pan shook her head as she used all her strength to hold him back, "I'm sorry, Dad, but we can't do anything! Please stop!"

They were all soon blinded by the device when it began to glow with Trunks' ki. When it died out, Trunks slumped to the ground almost lifelessly. Pinich and Cabba laughed triumphantly before taking off into the air.

Shin held out his arms. "Don't move. All of you stay where you are. Kibito will take care of Trunks now."

"Like hell he will," Vegeta snarled though he still couldn't break out of Goku's grip.

Gohan escaped Pan's hold and asked calmly, "What are you going to do with him?"

"Kibito will heal him. I, however, have to go. I must follow those two and find out where they are going to take Trunks' ki," Shin answered.

Bardock stepped forward. "I'm going with you." He turned to his family. "Pan, you stay here and get everyone to the Lookout. I don't know if we'll need the dragonballs this time, and I really hope we won't. Grandpa, Dad, Vegeta; we'll need you guys for this fight. When Trunks is better, we'll need him as well."

"What about us?" Yamcha asked. "What do we do?"

"Make sure no one gets hurt. You guys need to take care of everyone while we're fighting Buu," Bardock replied before he and Shin took off into the sky.

Goku and Vegeta soon took off after them. Pan and Gohan walked onto the ring as Kibito healed Trunks. Once he was able to stand on his two feet, he flew into the sky with Kibito. Pan gave her father one last hug before she had to watch him follow the others.

This was now the beginning of their troubles.