Chapter 16
A weak groan left Bardock as he slowly began to awaken. He abruptly sat up, breathing frantically. He felt around his chest, noticing his now intact gi. He winced when he touched his face, feeling the scar that now adorned his cheek.
Glancing around, he realized that he was in one of the rooms in the Lookout. He thought he was having some kind of fever dream when he got here. The last thing he remembered was seeing the man that looked like Goku, and then the rest of his memory got very hazy after that.
I'm still here, you know?
Bardock flinched involuntarily at the gruff voice still echoing in his mind. He rolled his eyes, "Yeah, I can see that." He stared down at his hands which still shook from the fear he tried so desperately to suppress.
He closed his eyes, searching for the tiniest inkling that would show that his father was still alive out there. Instead, he was met with nothing but dark ki of Buuly.
A broken sigh left his lips. After everything he did to make sure nothing in the past repeated, even though his father didn't technically die back then, it seemed that with Broly here, all of his work was for naught.
It's not your fault.
"Yes it is," Bardock sniffed, wiping his nose. "I'm the strongest Saiyan there is here and I saw everything that was going to happen before it happened. I've even fought Buu before." He shook his head, his eyes stinging with tears, "I should've been able to save my dad, Kibito, and the Supreme Kai, but instead I let them die."
You're killing me with this self-pity. Listen, kid, you had no idea Broly was that strong, and you had to fend for yourself. I think you'd be in worse waters if you let yourself get killed because you were trying to save everyone else.
Bardock sighed heavily, "Yeah, well, no one else is gonna see it like that." He smiled slightly, "But thanks, old man."
You've got a cheeky mouth, kid.
The half Saiyan chuckled as he stood from the bed. A lump grew in his throat once he realized what he would have to face on the other side of the door. No matter how anxious it made him, he knew that it had to be sooner rather than later. He could feel Buuly causing rampage below them and it pained him to know that they had to let the people of the world die as they thought of a plan of attack.
He slowly opened the door to the room, his heart beating harshly against his ribcage, leaving him slightly breathless. He stepped out, a small ache appearing behind his eyes as they adjusted to the bright light of the sky.
"Bardock, you're awake!" Dende rushed over to him, relief on his face. "Are you okay? I healed you once you guys got here, but I just want to make sure. Goku said something about you getting hit with some kind of spell…?"
"Uh, yeah," Bardock nodded, scratching the back of his head. "But I'm fine now. It didn't last that long."
Dende nodded back, his eyes still worried, "If you're sure."
"I am," Bardock responded. He furrowed his brow when he heard voices overlapping from the other side of the Lookout, "What's going on?"
The young guardian bit his lip, gaze on the ground, "You need to see for yourself."
Bardock followed Dende to where everyone was gathered. He flinched, one hand unconsciously holding his arm. The screaming, mainly from his mother, did not help his self-deprecating thoughts.
He inhaled sharply, ignoring the heavy weight building in his chest, "Guys!" He shook his head with wide eyes once he got their attention, "What's going on?"
As the majority exchanged glances, Goku chose to speak, "We just told them what happened down there. We're trying to come up with a good plan to take care of Buuly, but-"
"Don't change the subject, Goku!" Videl exclaimed angrily. She turned her teary blue eyes to her son, glaring, "Where is your father, Bardock?"
He knew the question was coming. But coming from his mother who looked at him like everything was his fault; it sent a spike through his heart.
Videl became impatient. "Tell me, Bardock!" Tears streamed down her face, her eyes bloodshot. "Tell me," She pleaded desperately.
Bardock's breathing escalated. He counted to ten in his head, doing his best to get himself into his regular mindset. "Mom, I…" Tears welled in his eyes once again. He clenched his jaw tensely as he answered honestly, "I don't know where he is, Mom."
In all honesty, he should've expected the smack his mother dealt on his cheek. It didn't hurt physically, but to know his mother was so distraught that she didn't care about hitting him hurt more than fighting Buuly.
Sobbing, Videl rushed inside. Chi-Chi followed her, her own sobs escaping her lips as big tears fell from her eyes. Bulma glanced at him sympathetically before trailing after her friends, Minako on tail.
You didn't deserve that.
"Yes, I did," Bardock said almost inaudibly. He wiped his eyes, clearing his tight throat before he addressed the others, "Okay, we're not gonna get anywhere if we're all arguing."
Pan ran a hand through her hair, shaking her head, "What do you suggest?" She shrugged when he gazed at her. "If what Grandpa said is true, Buuly is much stronger than the Buu we fought in the past. None of us stand a chance against him."
Bardock nodded, "You're right, we don't. I certainly don't. I couldn't even beat Broly in my silver saiyan form, and he was only in his first super saiyan form."
"What do you suggest we do?" Trunks asked, rocking Blouse in his arms. "Without Gohan, we're not looking so good."
How are you gonna beat this monster?
Bardock placed his hands on his hips, lips thinned in a firm line. A million thoughts ran through his mind. He lifted a finger, his mind latching onto a familiar idea. "Okay, here's what we're gonna do."
He gazed at them determinedly, "Vegeta, you're gonna have to go back to Capsule Corp. to get the dragon radar. Grandpa, when he gets back, I need you to take everyone to New Namek so they can summon Porunga. Trunks, you're going with them so Grandpa can come back."
"You're not gonna need me?" Trunks frowned.
"I'm only gonna need two people for this," Bardock said, his eyes on the two older Saiyans. He chuckled in disbelief as he mulled over the idea. "In this timeline, it's gotta be Grandpa and Vegeta."