I do not own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, or Dragon Ball Super. I only own the original characters that I create.
The Mask
Chapter 2
With eyes filled with horror, Bardock leaped from his son who was lying on the ground in shock. He looked at his surroundings and realized that they were in a deep crater that had little to no light. Bardock's eyes then fell back on his son who was barely sitting up from shock and pain. He took a step forward, and his boot made a crunching sound as it drug along the rocky surface. Goku looked up and blinked at his father who gazed at him with shock. The wind howled in the crater's depth sending chills down both their spines. As Goku stood Bardock stepped back. Frozen, and finally facing each other Goku looked at Bardock with curious eyes. Those curious eyes traveled along Bardock's frame to get a better look at him. Goku's eyes fell on Bardock's wild and spiky hair. Just like his. His mouth fell open slightly but remembered that there was another who shared his appearance. Goku stepped forward and his boot made contact with the rock with a crunch. Bardock stood taller than his son and looked down at him. He gently extended his hand to touch Goku's face but Goku turned his head to avoid his touch. Bardock slightly felt hurt but did not show it externally.
At last, there was a voice that broke the silence between the father and son, "Who are you?" Goku asked looking up at his long lost dad who could barely remember himself from finally being released from the mask's spell. Bardock opened his mouth, the least he could do was answer the boy, "Bardock." He said almost absent-mindedly. Goku repeated his name with his own voice and squinted up at him. Bardock let him look at him, hoping that he could finally realize who he was. Goku then asked, "Do I know you?" It struck Bardock's heart like a red-hot blade. Bardock looked down at him with sympathetic eyes. How could he forget his own father? Sure, he was only an infant when he first gazed at his father, but he should still remember him. Bardock then thought up a quick lie, "I don't think so," and looked at his son with a daze.
Goku then looked around the crate, then up to the bright blue sky, "Why aren't you attacking me?" The question caught Bardock off guard and was taken aback. Bardock the felt his face, almost feeling the ghostly, absent mask, "I don't have a reason," he said when he found the mask where Goku laid. Goku looked at his father then followed his eyes to find the broken mask laying there. He took a step forward but Bardock grabbed his hand, "Don't touch it. It's evil," he stated simply and quickly, recalling his time held captive by the mask. Goku raised an eyebrow, "It's just a mask," Goku said while picking up to scan it with his eyes. He turned it around and looked it's inside to find out it was just a simple old mask. Despite the broken infinite symbol, it was an ordinary mask to him. Curious, Goku then hovered the mask over his face. A hand came in contact with his and the mask was smacked out of his grasp and onto the floor. Goku looked to Bardock with shock who had a stern expression, "I told you not to put it on. That thing is evil, " He snapped while pointing at his captor. Goku then shot him a quick glare and pointed at him, "Why should I listen to you, you attacked me," Goku accused, but did not know Bardock didn't act on his own accord.
Bardock then stepped back and looked at the ground and vaguely remembered that he attacked him and some other male. Bardock then looked at his son again, "It wasn't me," he said honestly with a serious expression. Goku raised an eyebrow with disbelief, "I don't believe you," Goku retorted like an argumentive child who was determined to be right. Bardock then sighed and stepped past Goku and hesitantly picked up the mask and brought to his son. Bardock's hand slightly shook, he was indeed afraid of the mask, "This mask was controlling me. I knew what I was doing, but I couldn't stop myself. It felt as if my body was being forced to attack you." Bardock looked at Goku who was slowly trying to grasp the idea of Bardock being controlled by a simple mask. Goku then asked, "Why didn't you take it off?" While looking at Bardock with disbelieving eyes. Looking at his son, Bardock then touched the trim of the mask, "I've tried, but it didn't work. It felt as if it became a part of me. So to speak."
Goku then crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes, "I still don't believe you." Bardock then looked at his son with wide eyes that fell settle with furrowed eyebrows, "I... Don't expect you to. After I attacked you," Bardock trailed off while noticing the forming bruise on his son's cheek. It pained him to know that he was the one who involuntarily injured his son. His hand came to Goku's side and gently stroked the bruise. Goku's eyes snapped open and he looked at Bardock who asked in a gentle voice, "I'm sorry, does it hurt?" Goku looked at Bardock, feeling the warm and gentle touch of his father's hand. He turned his head and Bardock hesitantly withdrew his hand while saying, "I... Didn't mean it." Was all he could say. Goku looked up at him again, "I-it's fine. I mean, it doesn't hurt. Not anymore at least." Goku then shrugged and his eyes fell on the scar that streaked across his father's left cheek, his hand then touched the scar, following its pattern. Bardock then placed his hand over his son's and squeezed it lightly, "When did you get this," Goku asked while he gently pried his hand from Bardock's. Touching the scar himself, Bardock replied, "I-I don't remember. It happened a long time ago."
Goku then brought his hand to graze the scar one last time before saying, "O-okay, well, seeing as how you're not attacking me anymore. Why don't you come with me? You look like you haven't slept or eaten in days." Goku then pointed out the dark circles around Bardock's eyes and his pale skin. Bardock was then lost in a trance but still said absent-mindedly, "H-huh..? O-oh, y-yeah." Bardock then took a step forward and instantly began to feel the body. As if his body was made of lead. The spell was taking its toll on him now, and he stumbled into the arms of his son where he shortly lost consciousness.