Bardock and Turles collide with a flurry of strikes. They either block or take the hits directly as they try to overpower one another. Bruises and welts pile up as they beat each other senseless with savage relentlessness. At a certain point, numbness sets in and conscious thought fades. Instinct takes hold to ensure survival.

Turles lands a crushing cross punch to the soft side of Bardock's head. Bardock falls back with his mind ringing in pain. He spits out blood and looks back at Turles.

"You're a true Saiyan," says Bardock. "Your love of battle is plain to see. It's been a long time since I could just let loose and enjoy a fight like this."

"It's truly thrilling," says Turles. "My Saiyan blood is full of adrenaline. Now give me everything you got!"

The two combatants slam together for another bout. Knuckles break and shins splinter as they pound on each other. Ribs bow and skulls bruise as the punishment continues.

High speed movement catches the corner of Turles' sight. Piccolo appears beside him and lashes out. He claws Turles across the side of his face. As the sharp nails curl into his skin, the knuckles behind them punch him sideways.

Bardock uses the moment to raise his hands high and buckle them together. He smashes Turles in the abdomen, sending him hurtling downward.

Both warriors take aim with one hand and charge up energy.

"Makosen!" says Piccolo, firing a yellow beam.

"Fainaru Supirittsu Kyanon," says Bardock, shooting a blue beam.

Both shots bend away from one another before arcing back to strike their target.

Turles squints through the pain at the incoming attacks. He grits his teeth and puts his hands behind his head without slowing his descent. Violet energy expands between his palms. He swings them over his head as the two projectiles are about to connect with him.

"Karamiti Burasuta!"

A violet beam erupts from his hands. It clashes with the yellow and blue. They struggle for a moment before Turles' beam swallows them. It rips between their fading trails straight at Piccolo and Bardock.

They shift aside at the last second to dodge it. As soon as the beam gets between them, the bulbous head leading the attack explodes, catching them in the blast. They fall with smoke streaking from their bodies. Turles hits the ground with them close behind.

Bardock winces as he tries to move. He hears Turles get to his feet and tries to do the same. His legs and arms shake with the effort and give out half way up. He lies in wait as approaching footsteps draw closer.

Bardock lifts his head to watch Turles clop over to Piccolo. He looks weary but unscathed except for some bruises and deep gashes on the cheek. Turles pulls the unconscious opponent up by the back of the neck so he kneels at an angle. Piccolo arms dangle with his knuckles brushing the dirt.

"I thought you were having fun with our battle," says Turles. "Why would you take help from this worthless fighter?"

"I did have fun," says Bardock. "But I knew I couldn't win. I know when someone is stronger than me."

"I see."

Turles flicks his wrist and fires a ki bolt through the back of Piccolo's head. It vanishes in a cloud of smoke. The halo disappears and the body fades with it.

"Huh," says Turles. "I expected a soul to be left over. Maybe he doesn't have one just like me."

Bardock laughs.

"What's so funny?"

"I just can't believe I ignored it before. That ruthlessness. Your hunger for death and destruction. You really are the son I never had. You have all the qualities of a true Saiyan a father could be proud of."

An emotion Turles cannot understand overcomes him. The sensation of being recognized by someone whose respect one desires permeates him. He grits his teeth and swallows. A stinging at the back of his eyes and nose goes with it.

"Does that mean you'll join my cause? Will you eat the fruit so we can grow stronger? So we can conquer planets together? And, be my father?"

"I'd love nothing more than that. We can finally be father and son."

A smile fights the corners of Turles' lips. He wants to believe Bardock's words. He reaches beneath his armor and pulls out a piece of paper.

Bardock watches Turles unfold it.

"Then all that's left to do is eliminate Goku from our lives. We just destroy this page, and he's gone. Then it'll be just you and me."

"We can't kill him that way," says Bardock. "We need to face him in battle like true Saiyans."

"He's not a real Saiyan like us. He doesn't deserve the honor. And now he'll never bother us again." Turles gives a wry smile. "Unless of course, you've had a change of heart."

"No, I—"

Turles points his finger to the corner of the sheet. A marble of yellow ki taps the tip. It ignites with flame. Bardock starts towards the paper, stretching out an arm. Turles pinches the flame out, leaving a charred edge.

"So, he is still important to you."

Bardock grits his teeth.

"That's very disappointing," says Turles. "For a moment there I really got my hopes up. No matter."

An emotional hurt Turles cannot handle threatens to break through his brave veneer. He pushes down the sad, rejected feeling and stokes the flames of anger. The rage smothers the hurt and buries it deep.

Turles raises the paper above his head.

"I was planning on finding Goku myself to watch him die. But watching your face will be just as sweet."

Bardock's eyes flick to the paper as Turles laughs.

A green hand snatches the paper from Turles' fingers.

"What!"

Turles spins around to see the hand retreat upward on an unnaturally long arm. At the other end of it is Piccolo flying down from above. Two fingers of his other hand are pressed to his forehead. Orange arcs spark from them.

But I killed him, thinks Turles. Unless he created a clone when he and Daizu flew up into the branches and left it hiding there. Tricky bastard."

He puts his hands behind his head and summons violet ki.

"I'll kill you as many times as it takes! Huh?"

Bardock loops his biceps under Turles' armpits. He locks his hands behind Turles' head and disrupts his attack. He yells.

"Do it green man!"

Piccolo grunts and takes aim with his fingers.

"Makankosappo!"

A corkscrewing orange beam with purple fringe drills the distance between them. The piercing light rips a hole right through Turles' armor and flesh. It swirls his organs into a messy soup.

Bardock feels heat from Turles' abdomen before the attack breaks free and continues into him. His arms lose their strength as his insides twist apart. He lets go, and the Saiyans drift apart as the beam finishes.

They fly backwards with blood spilling from their wounds. They land on their backs just a few feet apart. Both cough and gasp for air. Piccolo lands in a crouch nearby, exhausted from his efforts.

"What's … what's going to happen to me?" says Turles.

He looks Piccolo in the eye. Tears well up in them.

"Can I go with my friends? Or am I just going to stop existing?"

Piccolo breaks eye contact.

"I … I don't know."

"I don't want to die. It's not fair if I have nowhere to go and everyone else does."

"I'm sure I'll be seeing you soon," says Bardock.

Turles strains his neck to look up where Bardock lies.

"How do you know?"

"Because you fought like a true Saiyan. You've earned a warrior's afterlife. And because I want a rematch. So you can't disappear until then."

Turles manages a slight smile. His chest heaves a few times as his heart sputters. The fight to stay alive and fear of death leave his eyes. Then he is still and peaceful.

"Damn," says Bardock, "and I just got this body too. I was hoping to get a little more use out of it."

Piccolo steps up beside him.

"How are my squadmates?"

Piccolo scans the battlefield. Yamcha, Chiaotzu, and Roshi tend to the fallen Saiyans.

"They're battered but alive. I'm not sure the Kais will let them keep their bodies long though."

"That's fine. At least they got to get another fight under their belts. Tell them I'll be waiting."

"Yeah."

Life fades from Bardock's eyes.

###

King Kai jumps up and down clicking his heels together on his mountain top.

"They did it. They really did it. I'm so proud of those boys. What do you think, Supreme Kai?"

A slender man with lavender skin stands beside King Kai. His youthful stature does not stand much above King Kai's. His feathery white hair forms a mohawk above his pointed ears. His regal attire fits comfortably.

"Yes. Impressive indeed for mortals. They have done us quite a service. Perhaps we were too hard on Kami for intervening in the affairs of Earth's people. I can see why he cares so much for them. You were right to take them on as pupils."

"Are you thinking of allowing him to be guardian again if he is able to return?"

"Yes. I think he's earned it given his pupils' performance. Of course there are still many uncertainties about the future. Whether or not he returns depends on the success of the Earthlings and Namekians."

"And I must say, those Saiyans impressed as well."

"Yes, perhaps they were judged too quickly. Then again, their formidable nature was also on full display. It seems the tyrant Freeza was right to be so afraid of them. One of the Earthlings on Namek is a Saiyan, correct? The one you trained yourself."

"Yes. Goku showed great promise. I truly believe he can help us move the universe away from the cycle of malice and pain imposed by Freeza and his family."

"Breaking their stranglehold is a monumental task. A few mortals cannot do it alone."

"No of course not, but the universe needs to swing back from the poisonous direction Freeza has taken it. And I think the universe's will guided me to Goku to begin the restoration of balance."

"I hope you're right. This stagnation has bred a lot of evil energy. Its effects are suffocating the cosmos. I foresee terrible turmoil in the future as the energies fight to stabilize themselves. I just hope this Saiyan of yours doesn't become another blight like Freeza. The universe did ultimately see fit to eliminate them for a reason after all."

"Yes, but not this one. I shall remain fully attuned during the chaos to come and look for harbingers of ill fortune," says King Kai with a deep bow. "I will inform you of any portents I observe in my quadrant."

The Supreme Kai bows his head. "Thank you. Until our next meeting."

The Supreme Kai vanishes.

King Kai scans the universe for Goku's presence.

I fear for you my friend, he thinks. I may have been able to prepare you for the battle with the Saiyans, but nothing can prepare you for a confrontation with Freeza. Good luck and be safe.

Author's Note 12/16/22: I hope you enjoyed this quick arc before the holidays. I will be back early next year with the battle for planet Namek. I'm happy to say everything is drafted and even seen a first pass of editing. There's still some rewriting and more revisions to do, but it's in a complete form. I'm really happy with how it's turned out, and I'm super excited to share my take on the epic battle with Freeza and his army. But until next year, I hope you all enjoy the holiday season and take good care of yourselves. You are all awesome, and I'm so grateful for how wholesome my readers are. Thank you all. It means the world to me. Take care, and I'll see you in the next chapter!