The Saiyan lay in a fog, unable to discern his memories from what was happening around him. One second he saw an image of his wife and son, the next a strange group wearing even stranger outfits.
'This must be one of that bastard's mindgames', he thought, his mind conjuring up an image of the one thing he hated most in the universe. But gradually, as his mind began to recover, things started to make sense again, he recalled traveling to a planet- the name escaped him at the moment- and fighting a group of… what were they called? Humans? But that couldn't be right, they had been so powerful, and this planet was supposed to be filled with weaklings.
'I must be in one of the recovery pods', he thought to himself, 'I suppose I should wake up.'
As his eyes opened, he realized that he could not have been more wrong. He appeared to be lying on an operating table of some sort, like the types the Saiyans had used before they were introduced to the healing powers of Frieza's scientists. Even that brief thought of the creature's name made him tense up in anger, and with that he realized he was bound to the table.
Deciding that discretion was the better part of valor after thinking about his previous fight with these beings, he decided that he would play the unconscious prisoner role a bit longer, to see if he could glean any information from their conversations.
"I think it's clear at this point that this thing, whatever it is needs to be destroyed", Batman said, his tone indicating that he would take no opposition to his stance.
"And I disagree completely Bruce", Superman said, his tone indicating that he could care less about Batman's opinion.
"And why exactly would that be Clark? Not every alien that falls from the sky is some sainted goody two-shoes like you are", Batman responded.
"Because we don't know anything about him, whether there's more of his kind coming, or if this was a mistake or anything", Superman said, choosing to ignore the second part of Batman's statement.
"Then let's get the information out of him and then destroy him, because I absolutely refuse to let him send off a signal or return to his home world, or do anything that might possibly result in more of his kind coming here", Batman said, his voice rising almost to a yell.
The argument between the two heroes stopped, interrupted by an almost hysterical laugh. Batman looked around, trying to discern the origin of the laugh, and ready to verbally attack whichever league member had found the argument so funny, when he realized with a start that it had been coming from their prisoner.
"And just how the hell long have you been awake prisoner?" he screamed, his normally calm demeanor completely falling away.
"Long enough I suppose", the Saiyan replied, finally ceasing his mirthless laughter.
"Well we've got some questions for you and I don't think you'll find any of them particularly funny", Batman said, the rage still clearly evident in his voice.
"Bruce please, let me talk to him first", Superman said, placing a hand on his old friend's shoulder.
"Fine, but my questions will be answered", he replied, pulling himself away from the touch.
"Of course", Superman said, moving forward so he would be in a better position to speak to the prisoner.
"Before you start, I just want to get some things out of the way", Bardock said.
"Please, feel free", Superman replied.
"First things first, my name is Bardock, not 'prisoner', as your cheerful friend seems to think", Bardock said, smiling without any humor.
"Fair enough Bardock, you can call me Clark", Superman said.
"Secondly, there is no home world for me to return to or send any signal to, hell there's no one to come even if there was", Bardock said, pain evident in his voice.
"What do you mean there's no one to come?" Superman asked, his brow furrowing.
"I am the only one of my kind left, the only Saiyan still alive", Bardock replied, blinking back tears as he did.
"We have more in common than you might think Bardock", Superman said, understanding in his tone.
Bardock, finally tiring of pretending his bonds were holding him down, ripped his arms away from the table, following suit with his legs. Most of the league members were shocked, the bonds had been made of a titanium alloy that only a few of even them would be able to break.
"Do we 'Clark'? Do we have a lot in common? Let me ask you something: did you watch, helpless, as your entire planet was destroyed, as your family and friends and everyone you ever knew or would know died? Did you lose everything you ever cared about in one single day? Did you watch the bastard who destroyed every single thing that ever mattered to you laugh as he did it? Did you 'Clark?'" Bardock was screaming now, his voice echoing throughout the Watchtower.
"Because if you didn't then I fail to see how exactly we have a damned thing in common", the Saiyan finished.
The league was stunned, they had heard a rough approximation of what the Manhunter had seen in Bardock's mind, but hearing it first-hand certainly added to the weight of the story.
"No Bardock, I was an infant when my home planet was destroyed, but I do know what it's like to be the last of your kind", Superman said.
"I'm sure", Bardock said dismissively, although an idea had begun to form in his mind.
"Questions Clark", Batman said, doing little to hide his annoyance.
"Right, obviously there are some things that Bruce would like to ask you", Superman said.
"Obviously", the Saiyan replied disdainfully.
"What is your species called, and where does it come from?" Batman asked.
"We are called Saiyans and we come from the former planet Vegeta", Bardock answered.
"Vegeta, what the hell kind of name is that for a planet?" the Flash chimed in.
"E-arth, what the hell kind of name is that for a planet?" Bardock replied derisively.
"Uh that would be pronounced Earth bud", Flash said.
"Enough", this from Batman, whose anger had always been more than enough to silence the usually talkative speedster.
"Why and how was your planet destroyed?" he asked, immediately returning to his interrogation.
"I tried to lead a revolt, a revolution if you will, against the creature that enslaved us", Bardock answered, pain again evident in his voice.
"That does not answer the how."
"The creature, Frieza, destroyed it."
"That still does not answer the how", Batman said, the anger beginning to rise in his voice.
"Yes it does", Bardock said, "he attacked us with a supernova and it destroyed the planet."
"He destroyed your planet with an exploding star?" Batman asked incredulously.
"Are you people not familiar with ki?" Bardock asked.
"Ki? Like the Japanese body energy or whatever?" Flash asked.
"Japanese what? What are you talking about?" Bardock asked in reply.
"Hold on a second", Superman said, "I think everyone is a little confused right now, Bardock, what exactly do you mean when you say 'ki'?"
"I suppose the most appropriate way to describe it would be as spirit energy, it allows for the increase of battle prowess in addition to allowing the user to produce energy blasts, this is what allows me to measure it in other people", he said, pointing to his scouter.
"So it's like magic?" Green Lantern asked, interrupting for the first time.
"What? No, there's nothing magical about it, I am certainly not a wizard", Bardock said, clearly becoming annoyed.
"Then what is it?" Black Canary asked, intrigued.
"It's how proficient you are in battle basically, but it also allows you to become more powerful through certain uses, such as my artificial moonlight."
"Artificial moonlight?" Batman asked.
"Yes", Bardock responded, "That is what allowed me to transform into an oozaru."
"That would be the giant ape then", Martian Manhunter guessed.
"If that is how you want to refer to it, then yes", Bardock answered.
"Does everyone have this ki?" Green Arrow asked, finally joining in the questioning.
"Yes, as far as I know", Bardock said.
"What about us, can you read our ki with that scouter thing?" Black Canary asked, her interest growing.
"If your beaming friend will let me, I'm sure I could", Bardock said, in reference to Batman, who was not amused by the proceedings.
"I guess so", he said gruffly.
"Me first!" Flash yelled, rushing in front of Bardock.
"Well alright then", Bardock said, somewhat surprised by the speed the human had displayed.
"What is it?" Flash almost screamed, obviously excited.
"4300", the Saiyan replied.
"Out of what though?" the speedster asked.
"Well if you were asking for a comparison, my power level is around 10,000", Bardock said smugly, hiding the fact that the relatively high number had shocked him a bit.
"Aw man, I thought for sure I'd be as strong as you", the Flash said, somewhat dejectedly.
"Is there anyone else?" Bardock asked.
"I would like to be scanned", the Martian Manhunter said.
"It reads around 8000", Bardock said, less surprised this time, because he had fought the Manhunter before and was aware of his strength.
"Next!" exclaimed Green Arrow, who was visibly excited.
"The reading is 2700", Bardock said.
"Aw yeah, in your face GA", Flash yelled, pointing derisively at the hero.
"Stuff it", Green arrow responded, barely audibly.
"If you could, I would like to be scanned", Black Canary said.
"Of course", Bardock said, for the first time noticing how beautiful she was.
"Your power level shows as around 6300", he said, more visibly shocked this time because she was a woman.
"Guess we know who wears the pants in that relationship huh?" Flash said, nudging Batman with his elbow.
"Don't touch me", Batman growled.
"Eep!" Flash squeaked, running as fast as his speed would allow to the other side of the room.
"Aw hell, might as well scan me too", Green Lantern said, feigning disinterest although he was secretly very curious.
"It shows around 7400", Bardock said, with no surprise this time since he had come to realize this was an extraordinary group of individuals.
"I'll assume neither of you wants to be scanned", he said to the Dark Knight and Man of Steel.
"Not a chance", Batman said.
"I think I'll pass", Superman said with a smile.
"I had figured as much", Bardock replied, somewhat put off because he had wanted to assess them as well, as he felt they were the strongest members of this group.
"Now that the sideshow has finished, there's still the question of what exactly we're supposed to do with you", Batman said.
"I had hoped you would bring that up again, because I have a proposition for you", Bardock said, smiling slightly.
"Oh? And what would that be?" Bruce asked, somewhat disdainfully.
"You let me join this team of yours", Bardock said.
Welp, that's the end of chapter three right there. Sorry about the long wait, I've just had a bunch of stuff to do in the past couple of months, so the story was kinda on the back burner. Something else too: sorry if anyone was a little put off by the whole power level thing, I just had to sort of figure out a way to introduce it into the story and I didn't really want to just jam it down here in the author's notes you know? If it feels like contrived or anything please don't hesitate to tell me and I can try to attempt a rewrite or something. Other than that, let me know what ya'll think, and thank you for reading.