King Cold sipped his glass of wine. He closed his eyes and let out a sigh, not wanting to open his eyes for a while yet. A feeling progressively overtook him that he didn't like. His fingers tightened around the stem of his drink and he felt the heat rise up from his chest, threatening to burst from it and consume him whole.

Something is wrong.

It had been two days since his beloved son Frieza had last spoken with him. Usually Frieza wouldn't have gone this long without contacting his father. King had tried sending his son messages and even calling him. Nothing. He tried a second time and still nothing. Now he was beginning to worry.

It could be him just being paranoid and all but something about Frieza didn't add up. His first guess would be that something went wrong with his communications or maybe his son's just too busy to call him back. That was more than likely the case since he never calls him unless it's an emergency which isn't exactly a rare occurrence. But if that were the case why haven't they contacted each other before?

King Cold stood from his throne and walked towards the window where he stood there for a while, staring into the void of space. A thought suddenly popped into his head as if by pure coincidence and it made him frown. Maybe Frieza is in trouble.

But... that doesn't make sense. Frieza doesn't need help. At least he hopes not anyway. So what could possibly happen? He nodded to himself and narrowed his eyes, making a quick decision. King Cold returned to his seat, left hand placed onto the arms of the throne and the other holding his glass.

He placed his glass down and began rubbing his thumb against the rim. He took one last look out of the window as the lights of the city faded into view. Staring at it for a moment longer he sighed and stood up.

"Well," King Cold muttered. "Perhaps I should pay my son and the Saiyans a visit. Hmm… wouldn't be a bother for my son for me to invite his brother along the way."

Bardock blinked, finding water around him. His vision blurry for a moment. His nostrils drug in clean air. He looked cross-eyed down the bridge of his nose to see a breathing apparatus stuck to his face.

He turned his attention to everything around him, and saw he was in a tank of some sort. Outside its glass was a room with rounded white walls, and several pieces of machinery, ranging from monitors to what looked like large computer consoles of some kind.

Medical Machine

It was the first words Bardock could think of. His body wasn't in as much pain as it had been when he was last conscious.

Looking around the room, he saw a single Saiyan nurse working on some of the computers near the pod he was being kept in. Bardock could tell he was healed, and he felt stronger than ever. His near death had boosted his power, thanks to his Saiyan blood.

The Saiyan nurse stopped what she was doing to look over at Bardock. She smiled softly when she saw her patient was awake.

"You're awake." She said softly. "Hold on, let me empty the container."

The Saiyan nurse turned back to one of the computers. Punching a few buttons, Bardock watched as the liquid drained out of the container. The hatch popped open and the Saiyan nurse stood before Bardock.

"Hope you enjoyed your little vacation." She said cheerfully. "It sure beats laying around in bed all day."

Bardock blinked, pulling the apparatus off his face. "How… How long was I out?"

"Not that long, about two days. You got pretty lucky though Bardock, the doctors and I thought you might not make it."

The Saiyan nurse pointed at a nearby table. "Your new set of armor and bodysuit are right over there."

Bardock nodded his head, walking over to said table. The sleeveless bodysuit was black, most like every Saiyan would wear. Like the last one, his armor had shoulder pads and on either side. Arm length blue sleeves laid beside his armor on the table, and his boots rested next to them.

Bardcok grabbed one blue arm sleeve and pulled it on, testing out how it fit. Satisfied with the fit he slides one hand through the opening, feeling the softness of the fabric, but also how flexible it was. Bardock flexed his hand and arms experimentally. He slides the last sleeve onto his arm, and turns to the nurse.

"Tell me, where's my team and Gine? I thought I heard one of them in here earlier?" Bardock asked, looking around the room.

The Saiyan nurse trained her eyes on her clipboard. Scribbling notes down before answering. "Oh, they're outside the tower. They've been waiting for you to wake up, specifically Gine. Poor girl was worried sick when you still didn't wake up the other day." She paused. "I take it easy if I were you. That massive attack from Frieza did a lot of number on you. So it would be wise for you to get some needed rest."

Bardock chuckled. "Oh, yeah? Well, I wouldn't know, I'm not wise!."

"Heh, you're not?"

"No."

The Saiyan nurse snickered. "You sure?" She asked.

He nodded. "Yeah."

The Saiyan nurse shook her head. "Oh, I think you're wise! How else could you take on the assignments that you do and still be alive?"

Bardock shrugged. "I know how to fight. That's all. It doesn't take a whole lot of brains to be a great fighter."

Once fully clothed again Bardock walks towards the door. The door pulls up smoothly as he passes through it and shuts behind him. Starting down the hallway, Bardock continues to follow the signs towards the exit, heading outside towards his team, still waiting patiently.

As he makes his way closer to his team, everyone turns to face him. Gine smiles brightly as she runs toward him, grabbing him into a hug. Bardock returns the gesture, squeezing the young woman tightly.

"Hey Gine," he says happily. "I worried you again, huh?"

She lets go of the embrace, standing back slightly to look Bardock in the eye with her hands on her hips. "Of course you did! You were unconscious for three days! We were all worried sick!"

A small grin formed on Bardock's lips. "Sorry about that…" He says sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

Torah steps up to Bardock and lightly punches his arm. "Well, you're still breathing, so we have no need for worry." He says matter of factly. He clicked his Scouter watching the units dialing down and smirks. "Whoa ho ho, jeez Bardock. Now that I got a read on you, you've gotten way stronger. Your at a power level of ten-thousand!"

Gine gasps at the news. "Really?!"

"Yes, really." Torah says proudly. "It's just as the saying goes: When a Saiyan recovers from the kind of damage an opponent dished out to them, they only become that much more powerful."

Fasha smirked slightly, crossing her arms and leaning against a wall. "Bardock's not the only one who's got a boost of power."

"Is that right? Where are you guys currently at?" Bardock asked curiously.

"I'm at eight-thousand." Torah replied.

"Six-thousand on my end." Shugesh pipes in.

"Nine-thousand for me." Borgos adds.

"And I'm at seven thousand." Fasha finishes.

Bardock grinned at his friends. But it faltered quickly when remnants of memories came flooding back to him.

Images of the armored man saving him, stopping the burning sphere and saving Planet Vegeta and the Saiyans from complete annihilation. Witnessing his brute strength and power as he defeated both the Frieza force and the Ginyu force with ease. Facing off against Frieza himself and successfully and victoriously defeating him.

Bardock blinked and shook his head. He glanced at Torah who seemed to sense the change in his mood as well.

"Where's the armored warrior?" Bardock asked curiously.

Torah crossed his arms. "Well, after you passed out he took off. That was two days ago. We haven't seen hide or hair of him since then." He continued. "I could be wrong, but I have a strong feeling that I may know where he might be."

Everyone's attention is drawn to Torah now.

"What do you mean?" Bardock asks.

"Well, while you were busy healing your wounds, I went out to search for him during my free time. It was a bit difficult to find, because he has a tendency to vanish whenever he feels threatened." Torah pauses. "Again, it's just a feeling but if he's there, then that's where I think he is."

Bardock nodded his head. "Then that's where we should go. Come on."

Bardock took off into the air, followed by Gine and his teammates. They soared high above the trees that dotted the landscape below, looking straight ahead at their destination. Soon enough, they could see it in the distance.

It seemed like a long flight to reach the outskirts of their destination. The air had felt thick between them. None of them had spoken since they had started flying. The only sounds they heard was the wind whipping past their ears and the occasional rustling of leaves. Bardock kept his gaze ahead, focusing more on where they were going instead of staring ahead at the scenery.

They flew through the forest, the trees passing beneath them. It wasn't long until they finally began to descend and land. Their surroundings were lush green with large trees covering nearly the entire terrain, save for a cave in the distance.

At first glance it seems completely ordinary to Bardock. A cave made of stone, covered with vines that had grown to wrap tightly around its entrance.

Bardock, Gine, and his teammates walk quietly down the path towards the cave. There was no sign of life anywhere in sight. No signs of any living beings that Bardock could see. Not even a bird chirping could be heard. It seemed that no creature had inhabited this area for years.

They all hauled immediately when a big thud shook the ground. Everyone stopped moving, turning around, preparing themselves for an attack. As they turn though, they're met with an intimidating familiar figure.

The armored man stood five meters away from them. They could barely see his eyes behind his tinted visor as he glared at them.

"Whoa.." Shugesh breathed out as they all stared in surprise. "My Scouter didn't even pick him up."

"Did he knew we were coming..?" Gine whispered fearfully.

Bardock remained firm in his stance however. His eyes remained steady, unflinching and unwavering under the stare of the armoured man.

Bardock slightly smiles. "I was hoping you'd be here."

The armored man's glare shifted towards Bardock.

"I never got to thank you for saving my life. As well as saving our planet and our race from Frieza." Bardock said respectfully. "For that, I am grateful. I won't forget what you did for us for as long as I live."

The armored man's glare slightly softened. The fire within his gaze dimmed considerably.

Bardock smiled once more. "If you don't mind, I'd like to know your name. If you have one."

Silence was his only response.

Shugesh leaned close to Borgos and whispered. "Man, he's really not much of a talker is he?"

Borgos shrugged, his eyes still on the armored warrior in front of them.

Gine took one step close to the armored man drawing his gaze towards her and her hands clasped together. "Please, as the savior of the Saiyan race, we really want to know. I want to know the man who saved my mate."

The armored man narrowed his eyes at Gine. Silence was his only reply.

"Please?"

His expression remained blank. He reached down from the ground, grabbing some sticks from the pile of broken wood nearby before placing them close to Gine's feet. Each stick he placed was lined up in letters that spell out his name.

Once finished, he backed up allowing the group to gather close. Given a chance to read the armored man's name in wooden lettering.

Gine read aloud.

"Doom Slayer."

"Doom Slayer?" Shugesh echoed, reading it aloud.

Torah nodded. "It suits him."

Everyone looked back at the armored man known as Doom Slayer. He stood silently with his arms crossed, his face stoic. Besides his narrowed eyes, which gave away how little emotion he really had, his whole posture was tense.

Bardock cleared his throat, catching the Slayer's attention.

"Thanks for your help Doom Slayer. We truly owe you one." Bardock smiled. He held out his hand for Doom Slayer to shake. The Slayer simply stared at it unblinkingly. Bardock retracted his arm slightly frowning.

Suddenly, Bardock, Gine, and his teammate's Scouters went off. They picked up syllables of words here and there as the team's communication devices started to vibrate.

'This is Paragus. To anyone who is listening, this is an SOS signal! I, and my son are currently stuck on an barren planet called Vampa. We need assistance as soon as possible! This is the last transmission before we shut down!'

The transmission cut off.

"Paragus..?" Bardock whispered with familiarity.

The Slayer sat in his seat, arms crossed, leaned back, staring into the void behind the glass. Bardock sat next to him as he steered the ship toward their destination with his teammates behind them.

Through the journey the Slayer learned some things from them. He learned that Bardock was a Saiyan as well as his mate, his teammates, and everyone on Planet Vegeta. They are sort of like planet brokers. Scouring space for planets that brought a high price on the galactic market. Once they were found, they sent warriors there to purge them of any life and make them ready for sale. He was told it was a very, very profitable business and they take great pride in being efficient in their work.

Purging life? The Slayer scowled. He did not like that at all. It sounded like something out of the olden times, barbaric ways.

"Bardock, how close are we?" Torah suddenly asked behind the cockpit.

"We're almost there. According to our scanners, our destination should be in range soon." Bardock replied.

There was a soft hum before the ship began moving again. The Slayer turned to look out the window. He saw nothing. No sun or moon to indicate where exactly they were headed. All he could see was endless blackness.

"Five years," Bardock muttered to himself. "That's how long it's been since our last meeting. Since he disappeared.." Bardock let the thought sink in before speaking once more. "I've been wondering where Paragus might have gone off to. Last I remember, he left the planet without saying a word."

"I'm sure we'll get our answers once we reach Vampa." Torah stated.

"Hope it got some food I'm starving!" Shugesh said from his place in the back seat.

Fasha glanced at Shugesh, chuckling. "Why didn't you eat before we left?"

"Because I wanted to meet the strong guy!" Shugesh grinned, turning his gaze at the Slayer. "I mean come on you guys. We all can't deny how incredibly strong the Doom Slayer is." Shugesh plants his fist into his palm. "Hey Slayer. When we get back, we should have a one-on-one match!"

Torah shook his head and chuckled. "Shugesh, you saw what Slayer did to Frieza right?"

"Yeah so?"

"And yet you still want to fight him?"

"Ha! Of course I do!"

Torah and Bardock laughed along with Fasha and Borgos.

The Slayer raised a brow as he listened to their banter. He could sense their confidence and pride radiating off of them. He couldn't understand why they would want to have a match with him. Why would they challenge the strongest guy on the ship? That seemed pointless.

"Alright team." The Slayer heard Bardock say. "We're here."

Everyone turned their gaze straight outside the window and saw a large yellow-ish green planetoid ahead. Bardock steered the ship closer, slowly closing in on the planet.

A/N: Hey, it's me Goku! Hmm... so Doom Slayer is his name huh. Heh, heh, sounds scary but with his appearance it definitely fits him. But all's well that ends well, Planet Vegeta is saved from Frieza's tyranny. Wait a minute, who are those guys? They look just like Frieza! Oh no, looks like the Saiyans are in deep trouble. Doomguy, Bardock, you guys gotta hurry back!

Next time on DOOM: INCARNATION!

CHAPTER 5: KING COLD AND COOLER'S ARRIVAL!

Don't miss it!