A/N: So…. This story is moving away from the initial idea I had for the story but I finally have a full outline of how the story is going to end. Yay! Also there is some light language in this chapter so be forewarned!

Defeat is the bastion of a weaken cause; moral is the easiest thing to break when an enemy is virtually invisible, when packed into a room it breeds hysteria. The stain of the corpses under the ash made them appear a gossamer white only hinted with hues of red that remained from the scarring. Bardock had been right they had no chance, but as a saiyan he acted as a coward showing fear from an adversary that was barely a lifeform. Under the undulating ash a body was found and dragged out by the cusp of a leg to fresh air, barely enough to bother but enough to justify Trunks' point. The body was hardly one at all, so black and badly covered by the ash that the scarring on the skin initially made it look like it had been covered in oil. Bardock originally thought the body was a corpse. There were no visual signs or even any sense of ki. He only realized animation when he reached down to grab the crook of the arm and heard the release of air from the mangled lungs of the saiyan. As monstrous as it was the bastard had managed to stay alive, for surely death was soon the follow this short reprieve. For sure this saiyan had gotten the worst brunt of the onslaught; he was unrecognizable, even his eyelashes were burned off.

Trunks and Goten were surprised somebody could even be alive with such a mutilated body. Bardock wonder if the rejuvenation tanks would even have any effect on such a degree of injury. His chest still throbbed at the memory of Freeza rapping his tail around his torso crushing and forcing each ribcage to break individually, his breath grasping to climb out as the pain exacerbated with each crack. The body's ki had dropped to the point of extinction. Bardock could feel his mind slipping into a dark forest hearing the clamor of cries around him and the continual burning sensation rising all over his forearms and thighs. The pain was over powering making Bardock grip his arms tightly as the boys realized he had fallen into another trance. The ash engulfed his skin like accelerated flames; Bardock could see and feel what the man had experienced. His pulse quickened as the renewed pain was hardly comparably to his own injury from Freeza, and as if to prove it the man shared his private agony.

It was more than apparent now to Bardock that they needed to return Dr. Planthor's lab and stabilize the saiyan in the rejuvenation tank. Bardock fell to the floor when his balance gave way, he looked almost frighten but said nothing as he reached over towards Goten who quickly clamored to assist him. As Bardock got to his feet he dipped his head towards the saiyan in state. "We need to get to the doctor now!" Trunks and Goten could sense the man's fleeting energy; they tilted their heads in unison and gently bent to grabbed what remained of his extremities. Bardock knew full well the boys were better adapt at flying than he was at the moment as the hazy darkness of being inside of a man's mind who had endured such suffering still had quite a spell on him.

Trunks delegated Goten to the backend of their flight as Goten begrudgingly slung the saiyans muddled limbs over his shoulder. They quickly took to the air, Bardock followed remaining in Trunk' hindsight. Trunks kept a tight grip on the saiyan's collar but the chafing that rubbed against his bare neck flaked some of the ash residue onto his skin that felt like little continuous ant bites. It wasn't much better for Goten; the shedding from the man's body constantly fell in his peripheral. Trunks grazed a smile when Goten sputtered struggling gasps at the wind turbulence and the specks of ash that fell on him. By force of luck or the fact the boys had lost track of how long they were flying in the air Dr. Planthor's lab was in slight. The burnt mummy who had said not a word of grievance but had been a burden since his discovery could finally now be lifted from their backs. The boys would changed their alliance with the wind when it came to doing something that quickly irritated them, though they felt sympathetic for him neither of them liked being the grunt who drags the injured away while the battle is still raging.

It was rather amazing the saiyan had a pulse considering the condition of his body. Trunks could only imagine the Frankenstein he would look like after he healed up, if he made it that far. The platform of the building was surprising active compared to when they last saw it being virtually barren. It seemed like the doctors had crawled out of their hiding places now that 'Bardock the savior' had saved they from the terrible calamity that was surely to have befallen them. Trunks mocked their casual return of reassurance.

"If I wanted to I could set the record straight" Goten didn't have to glance to see the anger filling in Trunks' eyes. He was his father's son and just as susceptible to haughtiness and even more so to a lack of acknowledgment.

"Trunks" it ebbed at Goten that Trunks missed the bigger picture, even though he'd be lying if he didn't admit it bothered him just as much. But he knew it bothered Bardock even more.

"I wasn't gunnin' do anything Goten geez, let's go before this guy dies." The subdued jovialness of his tone hung in the air as they landed. Trunks permeated their silence with a sigh "look who's here, our savior" his high pitched sardonic voice didn't raise a reaction from Bardock when he landed behind them.

As if on cue, Dr. Planthor and the scurrying medics noticed the saiyan's presence once Bardock's hulking figure clouded the doorway, as if a massive chard burnt body wasn't enough to gain anyone's attention. Bardock lifted the man who had been neglected to the floor and carried him in too the amazed eyes of the doctors who considering what they've seen being on Vejitasai, would have pronounced him dead on sight. Dr. Planthor didn't even bother asking what happened and quickly opened the hatch to the rejuvenation tank and started imputing codes that drummed the machine to life. Goten could see the ash that had brushed against his skin was burning into Bardock's shoulder as he lifted the saiyan into the tank. The man had the strength of a blade of grass, and would no doubt drown in what was ironically supposed to save him; but Trunks supposed a senzu bean would be just as useless to him.

Dr. Planthor had a sense of agitation on his face. He closed the hatch and almost without a breath he turned towards Bardock who was quickly gaining admiration from the other medics once they realized who he was.

"Bardock what happened?" prodding was like asking for a lie, Bardock wasn't a storyteller.

"Nothing that could be prevented" a culmination of personal reflection exposed in his glare. Bardock had never felt less of a savior then when trapped in the coil of Freeza's tail, having to be saved by children and somehow was awarded champion. This unwanted 'hero worship' was the crown of Freeza's last infliction; his send up to ensure Bardock would always be weak, even if nobody else knew it.

"I see…" Bardock's eyes had become stone. He stared at the rejuvenation tank as an excuse to not talk on the subject anymore and Planthor was perceptive enough not to continue with his string of questions. Trunks on the other hand had no such reservations, it ebbed at him that the saintly Bardock not only pretended that he saved the world but that he didn't even have the decency to talk about what happened in the bunker like it was some secret of his to keep. Trunks was tired of being his squire, he was there and he was damn well going to say what he pleased. One of the medics standing near Bardock looked at him like a devout follower just waiting for a sign from his messiah; the idiotic nature of this planet was irrational, who believes something foolhardy just through the spread of word? Trunks nudged Goten with a smirk on his face "watch this…"

"Hey gramps you want to know what happened in the bunker with crispy; I'll tell ya, there were dead bodies everywhere more than I've ever seen Majin Buu ever kill. When your saintly Bardock wanted to just leave I was the one who found that saiyan, whether he lives or dies is because of me not him!"

Bardock could not deny a word Trunks said, it was true he had wanted to leave he didn't see the point in searching for a lost cause; if the boy had gone on to say what he couldn't, the weight that confounded him could be liberated. Trunks' eyes glared on him as if they were adversaries breaking the solemn on Bardock's face. The room looked as if it would become a fighting ground with Bardock's only upper hand being his psyche abilities, unfortunately for him they came and went as they pleased. Goten pleaded with Trunks trying to quell his sour demeanor only to be pushed aside like a child. His bout with Bardock was long in coming and he was going to have it out. Bardock was on the defense, he knew full well the pint size boy couldn't be underestimated and with little effort would destroy the image everyone had of him, though his reputation was of little concern.

"I'll tell you what, I'll only use one of my arms…" he couldn't help but smirk, Goten knew why and didn't return a giggle when he glanced at him.

"Trunks this isn't The World Martial Arts Tournament, it's not a competition!" Goten's thoughtless words only brought out Trunks' inflated ego more.

"You're right about that Goten; it's definitely not going to be a challenge!" He ran his fingers through his hair watching for a reaction on either face, Bardock had been holding his defensive and trying with all his ability to penetrate his psyche with little avail. Cocky bastards are usually the easiest to read, but this boy was an array of emotions, cocky was just the obvious.

"They're bigger problems in this world than satisfying your ego" Bardock was a natural warrior and understood Trunks' determination to prove what was undeniable truth, but at the same time he knew dividing the ranks was the worst thing that they could possible do right now. His psyche powers had never let him be reassured about anything anymore and if anything he wanted to get that through to the boy, even if it meant taking a beating.

"You… have no idea; you hide behind the lie that you defeated Freeza when an honorable saiyan would never stoop to such… a low level." Class had never meant that much to Trunks, he wasn't blind to the fact that he was born wealthy but as a person he knew from his father that it meant something in the saiyan culture. Bardock had constantly been chided by his low status, it was nothing new, but even so the nail went a little deeper as this boy rings a familiar tune to the loathed prince. He wouldn't deny that their circumstances with Freeza weren't exaggerated, but Trunks was going to have to let things lie.

"Listen I've already told you that I didn't start that rumor, and I certainly don't relish in its circulation" he would have loved to find that saiyan with that radio transmitter and denounce everything that was said about the battle letting the boys describe what really happened, and set the record straight. But he knew this boy was too angry, too prideful, too saiyan to let it be that easy.

"I can't stand how saintly everybody seems to think you are when you're really just a coward; you and everybody here would be nothing if it wasn't for us." The medics who were cowering pathetically in the corner glanced up unsure of who was to be their knight in shining amour. Dr. Planthor could see the boy's psychological resolution needed more than just Bardock's reassurance, he needed the room's.

"I believe you, you proved earlier that you were more than capable and I believe you a… and the other boy definitely put an end to the tyrant." Trunks was surprised, even if ingenuous the little hermit still was a witness who at the very least heard Bardock admit he was a liar and was there when Bardock was himself injured. There was a sudden wave of support that didn't exist the moment before; it was petty and trying to feed into his ego, which was more irritable than trying to fight for his honor had been. Bardock had been the solemn pillar amongst the chattering, his presence glowed with a radiance of the lone warrior who defeated the tyrant. Goten shoring at his defense only intensified his messiah image. It seemed even the chanting of the room would not be enough to quill the embers.

Trunks ironically found some patience eying the saiyan whose charred body was slow revealing itself as the burned ash chipped away from his skin. Not quite the Frankenstein he had imagined, though he was still a fright to behold in his fish bowl. His monster of a size must have made him a devil on the battle field. Though Trunks knew size meant nothing he would have still been intimidating; like running into an elephant the shock was his value. A clattered up the stairs pulled Trunks out of his momentary lapse, a scientist or so as he was dressed in the same white lab coat as the other doctors gasped for breath as he leaned his pink webbed fingers against the door frame, his under shirt peeked out above his waistcoat supporting a large girth when he straighten up.

"Doc… doctor Planthor… its… it's the prince, Prince Vegeta has returned!" He had the room's full attention.

His scent had changed, highly aware of his new status the air ripped through his lungs and out again taking in the senses of what was to be his new resolution. The past would no longer be his bench mark; Freeza's delusion of value would not be the precipice anymore. Vegeta thought about how his father looked lying against the great hall, a fallen king clutching to an ideal that he alone would restore what he had shamefully given away. His dark eyes staring blankly out as his pierced chest pumped out his resulted efforts, his realization that he was no match was his last expression. Vegeta pulled the sigil from his breastplate; warmed from his body heat the feck of dried blood that still nestled on the sides only evoked a sense of pity. Freeza had destroyed Vegeta's only family, but like with all downfalls it started from within. The former king had been a pale contrast to his younger glories; he grew too opulent and had become the diplomat king over the warrior king making Freeza's subjection of the saiyans all the more accessible.

The boy king would have supremacy over a new nation of rebels; those who showed strength above all else, even birth would be considered for stations that traditionally would be for noble sons of average strength. If the likes of Bardock's conquest were to be believed even he, under Vegeta's new regime could hope for a higher sanction. All that mattered was that the saiyans as a race reinstalled their threat across the galaxy as the most formidable beings to ever come in contact with on the battle field. The hum of the ship cradled against Vegeta's ears as it entered the atmosphere of his kingdom; he had been gone for nearly five months tolling at the hands of Freeza, his subjection he would only trade for strength but Vegeta had resolved that even that was too much of a price. The young king was not immune to the fact that his return would not be jubilant for everyone; his father had made enemies in his own council even rumored to have had some saiyans defect to Freeza working against their own king, it was said they worked most prudently to have subjugation under Freeza in turn Vegeta planned to treat them like any traitor, swiftly.

A peaceful moment passed over Vegeta as he recognized that he had not only taken a firm hold of his new fortitude but that he wasn't going to hold any reservations for anyone who didn't see fit to implementing his new policies. It was ironic how Raditz's simple communication was the launching point of Vegeta's revitalized ambition when he was nearly on the brink of abandonment. The boy was partial to exaggeration but had been the first to serve his king and Vegeta would not forget that. The palace dock was within sight, from the spherical view Vegeta could see that it hadn't been rummage meaning that however long his father had been dead on Freeza's ship it was evident someone had taken the liberty of occupying the royal palace, which was the first thing he planned to remedy.

The palace entry way had always been a cold corridor and still was; it was the only place that seemed abandon without visible light which always streaked out under the main door at the end of the corridor. Vegeta could hear the bustling of murmurs and wasted no time arching his knees, he decided he wasn't going to diplomatic. A charge of his energy barreled down to the door startling the saiyans who had just sat down for a meal; their expressions darted questionably at one another as their prince stood smug before them. Vegeta didn't know who or even what his father's enemies looked like but the motley crew assembled did have the air of self-indignation about them. He formed energy form his hand into the shape of a ball breathing brighter as it loomed above him, Vegeta remained silent as he darted his eyes impartially across the room.

"Aren't you going to welcome your new king?" their reprieve came in mocking bow of allegiance. A display Vegeta had seen time and time again in front of Freeza, he himself had done it under the exact same threat and would use Freeza's tactics to weed out the truth.

"Long live King Vegeta II!" it was a courtly jest that one of them had shouted proving his loyalty. For the first time Vegeta had heard his titled said in full, it had never sounded more exhilarating.

Vegeta glanced at a stout, plucky like saiyan who had been cheering with the others. The only thing clear to him was that she was female. He pointed his finger towards her, the chanting stopped and she positioned herself in front of the boy king. "You woman stand against the wall, remove your armor" her darting eyes passed across the astonished faces and a flinched hand that keep her glaze, just what Vegeta had been waiting for. "You this is your woman tell me for her life depends on it, were any of these men agents of Freeza's?" The man shook his head as he looked at his comrades with heavy agitation.

"No none we are all loyal to your my lord!" he flashed his eyes towards the woman who stood silently with her armor off to the floor, clutching her body with her arms. She eyed the room looking for a response from Vegeta who only offered a grim smirk that made her skin crawl; her body reverberated as she turned her gaze from his paralyzing orbs. The beeps of the scouter turned the room towards the boy king, Vegeta's focus was clear on his face putting the other saiyans on edge.

"I'll tell you what, if you have satisfactory power levels you'll be the first to join my elite guard…" he purposely paused to see the reaction and elation from his proposal. The male saiyans squeaked in a choir claiming their rank under the former king and their battle victories that dated before Vegeta's birth. The clamor was what he expected, he ran the scouter across them finding they had decent power levels but nowhere near what Bardock must have achieved defeating Freeza. He turned towards the woman who was concentrating on hiding her frustration, her level was beyond low and her shame was proof.

"There's no way with your power level that you could have been a soldier for my father" she looked up sheepishly darting her eyes over at her lover who was as stale as she was. "I work in the meat manufactory" she said in a hum whisper. Vegeta's eyes grew with the insult, his smirk had dissipated and she knew from the frenzy of the moment he could swallow her up in his anxiety.

"Then get out of my sight…" he stared a moment as she bent to gather her armor "don't bother you won't need it" he said in a cold and distant manner that she stammered towards the palace door looking towards her lover for the last vestige of emotion. He turned his eyes away the moment Vegeta regarded his loyalty. The new epoch had begun, if Vegeta couldn't have warriors at least half his strength they would have to be double in their loyalty. There would be no rumors of insubordination or treachery under his reign like there was in his fathers. Every saiyan would know his or her place, dissevered or not Vegeta refused to be the king that would be ruled by another, it would be his monarchy not a copy of Freeza's or his fathers and without a shadow of a doubt he would surpass them both.

"I suggest you men make the formal announcement of my return. My coronation to king will be tomorrow and I plan to have an audience." He had said nothing to them about their abysmal prospects of strength though he knew he was holding to high of a bar by having himself be the ideal warrior. Vegeta could count in his mind the seconds they processed and scramble for the door. Had he been to merciful with the mountebanks? They did discrete the palace and help themselves instead of falling in battle with their former king who they had been eager to align themselves with a moment earlier. He rolled it over in his mind no, they will have to be the most loyal.

Fuck the prince! Was the constant repeating slur that raced through Bardock's mind. His agitation set in the moment that scientist walked through the door. Why can't he keep the volume down like Planthor? Being personally summoned may have sounded like an honor to the boys but Bardock actually had met the prince, he had the misfortune of meeting him on two occasions after Raditz had been recruited into the elites. His team had just finished a mission the elites had passed on when they realized clout wasn't a substitute for brute skill on the battlefield. When being honored for their success the prince who was deemed to give them their red sash, venerating their courage sneered looking at Bardock saying he could have done it himself if he had been there. The whelp had always been loathed by the lower classes as he was well known for referring to them as 'pests' and was constantly, like his father just staring at the mirror that presented itself. His agitation was becoming apparent, his pacing had increased as he waited for the royal imp's corridor to brighten for him to be summoned inside.

It made no sense why he would even want to see someone of Bardock's stature; the prince had made it clear that the lower rags were of little consequence to his empire, even though they were the ones that were keeping it together. So why would he care now? Did the rumor of his victory over Freeza really reach the elites? As pompous as that brat was he would be the only saiyan on the planet that wouldn't believe the rumor out of hand, Bardock had to give him that. Light streamed down the hall and Bardock was beckon in by a man whose eyes never strayed from the floor like he was searching for something in the tiles. His uneasiness was reinstated as he pursued into the room, the prince sat like a fat peacock upon his throne surveying the paupers who came at his gesture. Bardock begrudgingly hunched down on one knee before his prince, Vegeta eyed the saiyan not seeing anything spectacular about him; yes he remember his exploits that his father had deemed worthy of a red sash but could Raditz's father really defeated the most powerful being, the only being that made Vegeta feel like an actual child.

Bardock rose without any command from Vegeta, the boy had said nothing forgetting the appropriate stance of gratitude a habit he must have pick up awhile he was away. Vegeta's sour face formed a scowl as he drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair trying to penetrate the stone face in front of him.

"So Bardock… was it?"

"Yes my Prince"

"It will be my king tomorrow. I understand you have quite a victory under your belt…" The one thing Vegeta had learned to study when he was under Freeza was the expression someone made when they lied. He waited for the dodging eyes and the sweaty palms with the anticipation of a new recruit.

"I see you've heard the rumor though I thought more than anyone your highness you would have seen that it was nothing more than that."

"So your saying you didn't defeat Freeza? Your own son told me of your victory, but I should have guessed as much Raditz is prone to exaggerate…" He snaked his eyes back at Bardock to see his reaction.

"I apologize your highness for my son's indiscretion he was misinformed, I was there and did fight against the despot but I would have died like in my vision if they hadn't been there." Bardock felt the uneasiness he was creating, Vegeta's snarky stare was replaced with a demanding one.

"What vision? And who's they?" only a vague remembrance of another fighter from with conversation with Raditz crossed his mind, whoever it was couldn't have been a saiyan elite that's for sure he must have been a traitor from Freeza…

"Don't tell me it was Zarbon!" The lizard was hardly a tactician and a shaky loyalty to Freeza but, still with the right support he could have …

"It wasn't Zarbon my lord, he was killed before Freeza." He said briefly "I had a vision the whole planet was going to be destroyed and I tried…" A fleeting memory of the past cinched his fist. "But then they appeared out of nowhere…"

"Who? ... What are you talking about with this 'vision' nonsense?" the tiring wordplay in their discourse was not the reason Vegeta had asked the saiyan to his antechamber. He had wanted to disprove that Bardock's third rate abilities could have ever defeated Freeza when his own would have barely scratched him, but to his ever expanding surprise the saiyan did it himself.

"These two saiyan-like boys, they destroyed Freeza with little effort…" Bardock pulled his hands into his visual display; Vegeta gazed at them as if the graphic impact of his words where clamored on his calloused skin.

"Two… saiyan-like boys?" he glanced his eyes up "and this was in your vision?"

"No, this was before my eyes. If it had been my vision…" He couldn't believe he hadn't thought of it before this moment, why didn't he see them in a vision? He had seen everything leading up to the destruction of the planet and Freeza's eventual death at the hands of Kakarrot… their mere presence had altered a future that was now different… was it possible they knew it?

"You can ask them yourself majesty, they are on the planet." Vegeta's eyes fluxed in a fury, Bardock himself realized he now had questions for the boys.

"What… why aren't they here then, why am I wasting time with you?" his patience had been seeping from the edges as his annoyance with the soldier's intelligence was beginning to reflect his low born station.

"Majesty you specifically sent for only me, I thought it prudent to quell the rumors and be their ambassador." As ridiculous as it sounded it was true, even though Bardock couldn't believe he strung the words together so elegantly. Vegeta was surprised at his effrontery, but said nothing acknowledging it.

"Consider their presence requested tomorrow at my coronation." Bardock took his bow turning to leave. Taking a page from his former oppressor Vegeta waited until a sense of ease returned to Bardock's face when he called him back. "Oh and Bardock if I were you you'd better hope these boys are the real deal because I've had enough with rumors, especially when they turn out to be false…" Vegeta's eyes filled with a passion of lust at his own threat. Bardock didn't miss the implications and nodded his head in response. It was subtle, empty and not the reaction Vegeta had with the other saiyans earlier but he was sure it would have the same effect even if it wasn't direct.

Those two mysterious boys, whoever they were posed a real problem. What sway would Vegeta have if two unknowns could come in and defeat what was effectively a dictator who was unstoppable… What did it say about Vegeta's claim of being the strongest of all the saiyans? If they were saiyan would he have to fight just for the right to even have the thrown? It was unnerving to think that someone else was stronger, but was Freeza was dead and that fact alone was terrifying. Vegeta planned to get one thing straight; he wouldn't be deposed even if it meant ingratiating himself to new oppressors, but he would not be like his father he wouldn't kiss any feet and he did have an advantage over anyone in the galaxy his own guile. He mulled over the idea as he drew himself into his private courters, tomorrow would be an eventful day.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary when Bardock returned saying nothing despite the hung air of anticipation and the desperate looks in everyone's eyes. Goten was surprisingly the first to speak, "how did it go?" Bardock looked around at everyone before answering "as well as it was going too." This didn't really unsettle or answer the lingering question. Trunks had wanted to go initially, he knew his family's history and he knew his father would be there as the proper prince he always was. Bardock could see the scowl brimming on Trunks face, the boy seemed disposed to being ornery which made him wonder what the king of ornery would think of him. It would be a sight that would have to wait another day. "The Prince has requested you both at his coronation tomorrow, I have no doubt he will ask about your fight with Freeza." Trunks couldn't have contained his excitement; his expressions brighten with each word Bardock uttered.

"What! That's amazing… I told you we should have gone in the first place!" Trunks was exuberant, meeting his father in the past was going to be amazing and he was actually strong enough to hold his own against him. Bardock didn't understand his excitement for what it truly was, but hadn't forgotten his own queries he had about the boys who came from nowhere, but was prudent enough to know a time and place to ask.

The commotion was rattled when the sudden burst of the rejuvenation tank quivered the door ajar. The attention was so for front that Dr. Planthor hadn't even notice the session was near complete. The monster that had been within had like a witch from a fairy tale melted away into a recognizable being, more so to Bardock who watched the man who was a patchwork of scars pull himself from his restraints.

"You!"