A/N This chapter is up faster than what I normally do, but I was way behind. This chapter's time jumps ahead a few months at a time.

I do not own DBZ

A Father's Fate

The Story of Bardock

Drifting quietly, the Harbinger passed several star systems without causing a scene. The crew sat in their rooms quietly, contemplating the nearest obstacle. Nobody spoke for more than what was needed. Bardock leaned against the wall, staring at the streaks of light he understood to be stars with their own planets, perhaps even life.

More things to protect. This pressure...it's heavy. The Saiyan studied the window with increasing interest. He drifted slowly sideways, ruminating the cause of the spinning window when his eyes gently closed.

What the heck? Bardock wondered, now floating over a barren, frozen landscape. With mild interest he watched the ocean in the distance grow in size, as though he was moving towards it. The ocean ebbed for several hundred feet before stopping. Curious, Bardock looked out further. To his shock, the ocean was freezing rapidly.

"This is where you must go," a voice sounded nearby. Bardock spun in search of the voice, finding himself looking face to face with someone identical to him.

"Wh-who are you?"

"This is where you must train. Only here can you reach deep enough into your depths," the voice continued.

"Where is this?" the Saiyan asked, befuddled.

"This is your new home. You will find it."

"How will I find it?"

"You will know," Bardock's doppleganger said, "You must only bring one person with you, one person is all that's allowed for what you will endure."

"Why here though? What's special about this frozen waste?"

"The trials,"

Bardock suddenly awoke, bolting upright. Another vision. Standing up, the Saiyan stretched for a full minute before leaving his room. As he headed for the bridge, Bardock passed the galley.

"Distractions," Bardock muttered before walking towards the dried food.

"Hey, Bardock," Matra called from the doorway.

"Matra, how are you doing?"

"Never better. Of course, I didn't fight a soldier of epic proportions,"

"Epic? Hardly. Anyway, what's on your mind?"

"Well, I know this may sound weird, but I want to train with you,"

"What, now?" Bardock asked, looking up from his meal.

"No, on this journey we are taking. I think you're the only one here I can truly learn from," Matra said, looking Bardock in the face.

"This isn't about sparring or teaching. This is to strengthen ourselves, to rely on our own and to prepare your mentality."

"Oh, I see," looking hurt, Matra turned away.

"Don't get me wrong, this trip will have some sparring, but only as a test. Anything I can teach you can be countered. But if you devise it yourself, only you know how to counter the move or technique initially," Bardock added quickly.

"Before we split up, I want to spar one final time."

"Sure."

"Lord Cooler, we have lost a supply ship on the border,"

"There are only a few things that could have done it," Cooler growled. Frieza in an attempt to anger me. The Saiyans if they weren't killed. And revolutionaries.

"Lord, what should we do?" a groveling man asked.

"Send out a search squad and be quick about it."

"Kratos, you shouldn't be the lord's favorite. You are disrespectful, have no honor and no discipline," a man said, watching Kratos hover gently to the ground. On the man's chest was a symbol, one that nobody else on his ship had, and he made sure they knew it.

"Ah, Captain Qees. Nice of you to see me in," Kratos responded.

"Ha! I'm only here to make sure you don't mess anything up you pathetic worm!"

"Worm? Come now, is that any way to treat me?"

"I'll prove to Cooler that I am truly better than you,"

Smirking, Kratos walked over towards Qees. "Right now?" he asked, condescending towards Qees.

"No, the Lord isn't here. Soon, I promise you."

Silently cruising through the vastness, the Harbinger convoy kept its static field active while the Saiyans didn't actively mask their powers. Bardock and Fasha walked to the storage room, which was now filled to the brim with supplies from the other ship. In the back of the room sat a small ship, about the size of four space pods.

"Bardock, time has passed so quickly. And yet, I feel so cooped up in here," Fasha said, looking flustered.

"Fasha, we're close."

"How can you tell?"

"I don't know. I just feel it at my core," walking up the ramp of the small ship, Bardock checked all the supplies for the sixth time today.

"So, you're letting your vision guide us all?"

"Fasha, I need you by my side for this."

Sighing, Fasha shook her head and walked up the ramp as well. "You know I will always be with you. It's just that these few months have been so agonizingly boring,"

"Ha, I know. But the next few will be even worse. And I'm not talking about the traveling," the man said, scratching the back of his head.

"This training, is it going to kill any of us?"

"Oh no! This is only training to raise our limits, Our personal limits. Only we dictate how far we push ourselves. That extra mile, to that extra step."

"Oh. I see." Fasha turned away. I have to be more than just another soldier. Bardock has to know that I am a Warrior!

"The messenger you sent to Frieza is returning now," a simple henchman said, looking at Cooler from his console.

"Ah, good. Bring him in," after a few seconds a jittery man walked in holding a data disk. "What does Frieza say about my missing ship?"

"He says to die," the man said, setting the disk down and charging Cooler. The confused changeling stood there and a kick was delivered to his face. The assaulter groaned as his foot hit. Before he could react, Sauza had sliced off his leg and pushed him backwards, standing between him and Cooler.

"What could have possessed you to attack Lord Cooler?" Sauza asked, energy around his hand fading.

"It was either attack him or Frieza would kill my family,"

"That cunning fool. It's a shame father gave him any part of the universe," Cooler said, turning away. "Kill him," Cooler watched the screen while the man cried out and was dragged out of the room. Frieza is still a possibility. But rebels would have announced it or attacked more. And that means it was the Saiyans, and they fled back into Frieza's realm.

"Sauza tell Captain Qees and Kratos to head into Frieza's quadrant and scout for the lost ship. If anyone tries to stop them, tell them to kill them as ruthlessly as possible."

Toma and Borgos sat in their ship, thumbing through the supplies for the final time since they had woken up. Borgos locked the last box just as Toma left the room. "Guys, we have a ripspace transmission from the Harbinger," a voice was heard through their scouters.

"On our way," Toma responded. As the two Saiyans entered the bridge, Chuu spun his chair and nodded.

"Bardock wants us to leave ripspace in a few hours and to board the Harbinger. I think we are just about there."

"About time!"

"I'll say. How long have we been traveling?" Toma asked, running a hand through his hair.

"Oh about four months."

"Wow, that was fast for a boring trip. I wish I could hibernate," Borgos said.

"You big bear you practically did. Twelve hours a day in fact," Toma jabbed. Borgos merely grunted.

"Well, we might as well just spar a final time."

"Matra, one final spar before we split up?" Bardock grinned from her doorway.

"Defiantly!" she said, pushing herself off of her wall.

"Ok, I moved the supplies on my ship, so the room is empty except my ship." The two saiyans started down the hallway, drawing the rest of the crew with them as they passed by their doors.

"We'll use this as a benchmark to see where we stand now and after," Bardock said, stretching out.

"Sounds good. Fasha, gather our power levels," Matra agreed, tossing a spare scouter to Fasha.

"I'll go first," Toi said, surprising everyone. The hybrid walked forward, between Bardock and Matra and let his arms rest at his sides. He exhaled loudly for a few seconds then roared as he brought out all of his powers. The ship groaned ever so slightly as the air became warm and a few unaccounted for boxes flew against the wall and shattered.

After a few minutes of powering up, Toi relaxed and held his power steady. A few moments of clicking, Fasha eventually gave up the number.

"Wow! Nearly forty thousand! Thirty thousand three hundred fifty," Fasha smiled clicking off the scouter. "Jubei or Jorbei?"

"No, we know where we stand," Jubei said.

"Ha, okay then, I will go," Fasha said, tossing the scouter to Matra. Toi relaxed, letting his power flow away like a breeze. Fasha eagerly stood in his spot and put a look of determination on her face. Nodding ready to Matra, she slowly breathed.

As time ticked by, Fasha concentrated fiercely. This is the first time you've reached full power in front of everyone. You are a warrior, on their level! She told herself, glancing at Bardock, who smiled at her. Fasha lowered her arms and began humming. After a second, her arms slowly began to raise and her humming grew louder. Suddenly Fasha began to shout, raising her power level as fast as she could.

The ship groaned even more subtle than last time. Fasha's aura poured out of her, small at first, but growing wider by the second. Everyone shielded themselves except Bardock who continued to smile. Fasha spared him a quick glance then reached her plateau.

"Fasha, nice! Twenty nine thousand! Far above your last power check," Matra said, cheering Fasha on.

"Wow, it's grown a lot. Before Meat I was at twenty thousand," What raised my power so much?

"Matra you're up," Toi directed, apparently pleased with his performance.

"Why are you so happy?"

"That was my untransformed power."

"Wow! How much does it increase your strength by?"

"Sheer power? About one third." Matra blinked at him while she handed over the Scouter.

"Okay, let's see what league I'm in." Matra stepped closer to Bardock and wasted no time. She began to growl, sending out energy in pulses. Each pulse her power spiked upward, reverberating in the hull of the ship. As she neared her limit, she closed her eyes and pushed harder.

"Matra you're slowing at thirty three thousand. Very nice!" Toi approved.

"Thirty three. Well, I'm almost to you Toi," she responded, looking neither surprised nor upset.

"Bardock, care to show us why you're so happy?"

"Oh, it's not my power that's cheery, it's all of yours. It's grown so much. I am proud to be here with you all," the Saiyan grinned at them all in turn.

"Quit being so mushy and show us your power," Matra teased.

"Alright, I'll show you how it's done." Bardock took a step forward and turned towards Fasha and grinned. "Ready Toi?" Watching the hybrid nod, Bardock looked down at his feet and began to growl, bringing out a fraction of his power. After a few seconds of slow gains, he brought both his arms upward, skyrocketing his power. The ship strained and groaned in protest. Bardock shook a few times as his power spiked. Each wave sent a chill through his observer's

A few seconds of his dramatic power increase, Bardock slammed his hands down to his sides, flaring up his aura. The ship rocked and the inside walls peeled. Support beams were moved and some bent unnaturally. Bardock looked benevolent as he sat in his white hot aura, a smile on his face. He had inadvertently floated off of the ground and hovered, staring at Fasha.

"Well, the scouter lasted until forty seven thousand. I'd guess forty eight or nine," Toi said, frowning at the burnt electronics on the ground.

"Wow, more than I thought," Bardock said, looking at the ship around him. "I knew there was a reason I never did that before," he joked.

"Still want to spar, Bardock?"

"If you want, I am up for it."

Toma flipped in the air, barely avoiding Borgos' foot. The giant man sailed by while Toma used the time to bait Borgos into another attack. Borgos smiled and jumped into the air, rushing straight towards Toma. Leading with his fist, Borgos aimed directly for his friend's head.

Toma ducked down, aiming for Borgos' gut with his fist. Time seemed to sit still as Toma reeled backwards. Borgos floated with his large foo where Toma used to be.

"Nicely done," Toma commented as he flipped up to his feet. The two immediately raced towards each other raising their powers while closing the distance. "My turn!"

"No!" Borgos shouted, stopping and hopping backwards. Toma raced forward, preparing to deliver a punch outside of Borgos' arms. The giant man jumped forward at the last instant, driving his foot into Toma's face. The latter Saiyan rolled with the blow and flipped backwards, driving his feet into Borgos' chin, knocking the big man into the air. Toma finished his flip and pushed himself into the air with all four limbs.

Borgos floated backwards, raising his arms to block. Toma slammed his head into Borgos' arms, and his hand into Borgos' midsection, knocking the big man into the ceiling while knocking himself into a daze. The entire ship rocked as Borgos hit the hull.

"Guys that's enough." Chuu's voice came through the speakers.

"I guess so," Toma said, falling to his knees and losing consciousness.

"That means I win," Borgos said, landing on the ground and falling to his knees.

Bardock rushed forward, starting the match. Matra leapt sideways and then forward, hitting Bardock in the shoulder as she flipped backwards, landing acrobatically on her hands. Without stopping, Matra pushed off the ground and into the wall, using her legs as springs and diving forwards.

Bardock fell backwards and kicked upwards as Matra rushed overhead. The female Saiyan flew upward as Bardock nimbly rolled to his feet, avoiding the kick that Matra brought down. Spinning, Bardock knocked the feet out from Matra and used his momentum to right himself. Matra rolled backwards, stopping on her feet, but before she could balance, Bardock drove his fist into her cheek, knocking her backwards.

Matra stopped herself short, only to get kneed in the stomach, knocking the breath out of her. Bardock paused and hopped backwards, watching Matra. Too hard! He admonished himself. Matra spit a tiny bit of blood and jumped backwards. Focusing she began to speed up her movements to her limit. She rushed and feigned an attack, dropping back only to rush in again.

Bardock watched intently, keeping an eye on her shoulders and hips. That's where the attack is coming from. He reminded himself. Without warning, Matra rushed forward without stopping and shoulder blocked Bardock, knocking his arm to the outside, leaving himself completely unprotected.

Matra immediately capitalized on his opening and launched a flurry of punches at him. Bardock rocked slightly, looking as though he were shivering as the amount of punches increased. After a second, Bardock slammed his hand into Matra's stomach, lifting her off of the ground. As she sucked in air, the warrior flipped forward, dropping his feet onto Matra's head, knocking her onto the ground.

Matra rolled over, coughing a bit as she focused her power. Ok, get up. She repeated to herself several times before she actually did. Bardock frowned for a minute then grabbed Matra's arm and pulled her to her feet. Coughing as she rose, she thanked him with a nod then stood up.

"You let yourself get knocked open," Matra commented.

"What makes you say that?" Bardock responded, smiling.

"It was a good idea. I thought I had you, but it's only because you wanted me to think that, right?"

"Use your own judgement,"

"Bardock you have to teach me to fight like that," Fasha said. Without replying, the man winked at Fasha and brushed the drooping hairs out of his face.

"Ok guys, we are docked. Our ripspace rift has closed so we are free to head over to the Harbinger," Chuu said. He climbed out of the main console and led the way to the air lock.

"Alright, finally," Toma commented. The three men left the supply ship and found their way to the Harbinger's bridge. Chloe greeted them and told the Saiyans to go to the supply room. Nodding, Toma and Borgos walked through the long hallway to the back of the ship where the rest of the warriors were.

"Borgos, Toma, nice to see you again," Matra said, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

"Ok, everyone we are at the crossroads," Bardock started. "We split up into four groups. I want you all to go with the person that is your polar opposite. Toma, you're with Toi, Matra with Borgos, Jubei and Jorbei, well since you won't be sticking it out you can go together."

"We are going to train for several months, we need to grow in power. Power in all of its forms. I mean mental power, physical power, and even spiritual power. This won't be easy, but coming through this will Defiantly close the gap between us and Kratos, let alone Frieza and Cooler and whoever else. We will be secluded from each other for most of the duration, maybe a few visits to get more supplies, but not much," Bardock finished.

"I can help with that," Toi said, speaking up. "We can reach each other via a mental link. The link is a place where we can go in our minds, all of us. Consider it a realm outside of normal perception."

"This sounds like it's going to be tough to master," Toma grunted.

"At first it will be, but if you go into a receptive state, I can broach the gap. We can use it at given points in time."

"What's a receptive state?" Borgos queried, looking tired.

"It's a state of mind, where all thoughts are allowed to pass, unblocked by mental shielding. It's simple to achieve as well. Simply start to focus on thoughts you push out of your mind, even far fetched ideas. After a few minutes of it, you lose awareness of your surroundings and gain focus of your mind,"

"It's untapped because the thoughts generally are scary, or disturbing. But when you map them out, you find the way into your own consciousness. When you are there, then I can contact you," Toi said, finishing.

"I will set the dates in the computer to send it to your scouters," Michuu said, standing in the doorway. Toi nodded, giving Michuu his queue to leave.

"Any problems with this setup?" Bardock asked, looking at each person in turn. When he received no complaints he went on, "Okay, I have one more thing. The fuel in this ship expends itself by burning away, when it does it gives the ship energy. But what's left is a hard, useless bit of carbon. Extremely dense carbon. Well, during the burn process, I put in several different molds, making us some training apparatuses. The carbon forms may be tight, but they will work for what we need. Wrist and ankle bands, each weighing several units. Even a sort of vest. This will work for speed training if you leave them on and don't take them off for extended periods."

"Leave them on even when you sleep, eat, bathe, whatever. Treat them like your body and in the end it will pay off. The hardened carbon will even work to stop a low powered ki attack, but don't rely on it," sighing, Bardock stopped. They don't feel the gravity of this situation at all. It feels like they are just here because I want them to be. It's not serious enough for them. I'm going to have to reach up on my own. Then maybe they will see it. Damn it. Hopefully Kakarot will be ready for it. One year son, on year. Snapping to attention, Bardock rose to his feet and walked to a port hole.

"Here. It's here," Bardock said to himself, "Chloe this is the planet."

"Bardock! That planet is huge and looks polar," was the response heard.

"I know it's this one. I need to go there."

"Okay, Bardock, get everyone out and you can leave."

"Roger," Bardock said, turning to his comrades. "This is where Fasha and I leave you. Our destination is this planet, and our training will be severe. I want you all to go into this expecting to pass my current level of power. All of you. This is where we prove that Saiyans will not be wiped out. We show the tyrants that we are worth more than they have, worth fighting for. Remember our home, what they did to us, our king and our country. Frieza owes us and his debt must be repaid!" Bardock cheered.

Walking to Toma, he extended his hand. Toma grabbed it and they shook hands. "Strength and honor," they said to each other. Bardock moved to Borgos repeating the handshake.

As he neared Matra, she shook his hand rapidly and hugged him, "Thanks for all you taught me, I promise I'll catch you," Bardock smiled and turned away from his crew.

As everyone filed out of the room, he repeated himself, "Strength and honor!" Borgos saluted as the door closed. Bardock sat at the controls and opened the supply room door. Sighing he left the Harbinger and headed for the blue giant. As he neared the planet, Bardock piloted the ship around the outside of the planet, aiming for the side facing the sun. After a few moments and the light side came into view.

"Oh my god," Fasha said, staring at the planet. Bardock followed suit and gaped. The giant blue sphere was now orange. Bardock adjusted the ship to avoid the small moon and kept staring at the planet, watching the orange clouds change at the sides to blue clouds.

"The temperature change from day and night is extreme. It's got to be a hundred degree difference," I sure hope you were right,
Kakarot.

A/N The next Chapter will deal with primarily Bardock/Fasha and their training.