Unlikely Alliance

A cold wind swept across the alien landscape, tousling Bardock's hair as he hovered motionless in the air. His face was a mask of cold resolve, his piercing eyes fixed on the ground below.

Dodoria's headless body lay crumpled against the blue grass, a grotesque reminder of Bardock's vengeance.

Krillin glanced nervously at Yamcha, his voice trembling. "What do you mean it's not Goku?"

Yamcha winced, clutching his injured abdomen, and gestured subtly toward the figure in the sky. "Look closely—his outfit, those scars on his face. And... his eyes..."

Krillin's breath hitched, his mouth falling open. His lips quivered as realization dawned.

Hovering above, Bardock let out a deep sigh, his voice low and resolute. "All praises to the Almighty Lord for granting me the strength to fulfill my wish." His gaze shifted downward, his tone softening with bittersweet satisfaction. "At last, I can rest knowing my friends have been avenged."

His eyes fell upon the two earthlings. "Hey! You two!"

Krillin and Yamcha stiffened as Bardock's voice thundered across the distance, each word laced with a commanding presence that left no room for doubt.

Sweat beaded on Krillin's brow as his heart raced. 'Yamcha's right… that voice—it's nothing like Goku's!'

Bardock descended with measured grace, landing a few feet from them. His presence felt oppressive, his power palpable even in stillness.

"Whoa!" Krillin exclaimed, instinctively backing away.

Yamcha, despite his pain, forced himself to stand his ground. "W-who are you?" he asked, his voice strained, one eye tightly shut.

A low, chilling laugh escaped Bardock's lips. "Relax, fools. I'm not here to fight." His expression hardened slightly. "I'm Bardock... Kakarot's father—or Goku's, as you call him."

The words hit like a shockwave, leaving both Krillin and Yamcha wide-eyed and speechless.

Yamcha's jaw was left wide open. 'H-how?! Weren't all Saiyans besides Goku and Vegeta dead?! But he really must be Goku's dad. The resemblance.. it's unmistakable! '

Krillin was equally spellbound. So this was Goku's dad, eh?

Krillin managed a shaky grin, his nerves on full display. "Oh, uh... wow! That's... great news! Heh, heh..."

Bardock's demeanor turned serious, his arms crossing over his chest. "And I know everything about you two—Krillin and Yamcha."

Their jaws dropped in unison. "W-what?!" Yamcha stammered. "How do you know about us?"

A sly grin crept across Bardock's face, his eyes glinting with a hint of amusement. "It's a long story, my dear friends…"

A gust of wind swept over the battlefield, carrying the scent of scorched earth and destruction. The proud Saiyan prince stood on the planet's blue grass. A chilling grin tugged at the corners of Vegeta's lips, exuding a mix of menace and confidence.

Nail, floating some distance away, could feel Vegeta's energy rising steadily. The air around the Saiyan shimmered with his surging ki, an unmistakable prelude to battle. The Namekian warrior's expression remained stoic, but beads of sweat formed on his brow as he instinctively dropped into a battle stance.

Vegeta ascended slowly, his aura crackling to life as he closed the gap, stopping just short of Nail. Their eyes met, tension crackling in the space between them. Nail responded in kind, igniting his own aura—a glowing, greenish-blue flame that danced around him. He braced himself, muscles coiled like a spring.

But Vegeta didn't attack. He simply stood there, arms crossed, his grin widening. "Heh…"

Nail's eyes narrowed. His voice was calm but firm. "What do you want, Saiyan?"

Vegeta's aura faded abruptly, his grin vanishing to reveal a deadly serious expression. "Namekian, at this moment, you and I share a common enemy."

Nail blinked, his stance unyielding. "Go on."

"Frieza." Vegeta's voice dripped with contempt as he spoke the name. "That tyrant is crippled, but he won't stay that way for long. I need your help to finish him off before he recovers."

Nail's expression shifted slightly, a frown creasing his forehead. He didn't trust Vegeta—who in their right mind would?

Sensing the doubt, Vegeta let out a low chuckle, his tone laced with arrogance. "Don't misunderstand me, Namekian. I have no reason to deceive you. I don't need to. You know as well as I do that if I wanted to destroy you, I could do it right here and now."

The brief flare in Vegeta's energy moments earlier, had given a terrifying glimpse of his newfound strength. Nail's aura dimmed as he gauged the Saiyan's power. He could feel it—Vegeta was not bluffing.

After a moment of tense silence, Nail nodded, his voice measured. "Very well. But I must first seek my master's permission."

Vegeta scoffed, his arms dropping to his sides. "Fine. Just don't take all day."

...

Inside Guru's chamber, Nail stood before the elder, his posture respectful and his tone calm as he recounted Vegeta's proposal. Guru listened intently, his massive form radiating a quiet wisdom. His hand rested gently on Gohan's head, still unlocking his hidden potential.

Guru's brow furrowed slightly. "Ah, I see."

Nail stood at attention, awaiting the elder's decision. Gohan, meanwhile, stared wide-eyed, his young mind racing to process what he had overheard. *"Vegeta, teaming up with Nail? I didn't see that coming!"*

Guru sighed, his voice deep and contemplative. "As much as I dislike the thought of trusting a Saiyan, we have little choice. If what Vegeta says is true, Frieza must be dealt with swiftly, before he becomes a greater threat."

Nail nodded solemnly. "Understood, Guru."

Guru closed his eyes briefly, as if offering a silent prayer. When he reopened them, his gaze was firm. "Go, Nail.."

With a single nod, Nail turned to leave, sparing Gohan a quick glance before stepping outside. The young Saiyan's heart raced with excitement and nervousness.

...

When Nail returned to Vegeta, his expression was as stoic as ever. Without a word, he landed beside the Saiyan prince.

Vegeta raised an eyebrow. "Well?"

Nail met his gaze evenly. "Let's go."

Vegeta's smirk returned. "About time."

The two warriors ascended into the sky, their combined energy rippling outward. Despite their differences, they shared a singular goal—and the battlefield awaited.

Bardock sat on a jagged rock, his posture calm but commanding. In front of him, Krillin perched on another stone, while Yamcha leaned back against it, his arms crossed, still nursing his injuries.

"So," Yamcha began, his tone filled with curiosity, "you're saying you helped the Namekians build some kind of underground defense system?"

Bardock had his gaze downward, his voice quiet but resolute. "Yes."

Krillin blinked in amazement. "What for?"

For a moment, Bardock didn't answer. He exhaled slowly. "A Namekian saved my life once. Helped me escape undetected. To the rest of the universe, I was as good as dead—except to him. He asked for my help, and I owed him."

The air grew heavy, the unspoken emotions hanging between them. Krillin and Yamcha exchanged glances.

Bardock closed his eyes, the vivid images of his past flooding his mind.

He could still feel the cold, unforgiving ground of Frieza Planet 390 beneath his broken body. Blood pooled around him, soaking into the dirt as his vision blurred. His strength had left him, and with it, his will to fight. The once-proud Saiyan warrior lay defeated, waiting for death to claim him.

But then, a presence. A faint ripple in the air. With great effort, Bardock cracked his eyes open. Standing over him was a figure clad in sleek armor, the insignia of the Planet Trade Organization gleaming on his chest plate. His face was obscured by a dark helmet, masking his intentions.

The stranger crouched beside Bardock, his tone calm but filled with a strange intensity. "So, you're still alive. Impressive."

Bardock scoffed internally, his pride refusing to let him beg, even as his life slipped away.

The stranger studied him for a moment longer before speaking again. "I'll make you a deal. I'll risk my life to get you out of here—but only if you agree to my terms."

Bardock's voice was barely a whisper, each word a struggle. "What... terms?"

The stranger's tone hardened, his resolve unwavering. "I know who you are, Bardock. I know what you can do. You're a genius when it comes to building defense systems. There are some which only you know how to design. I need you to create one for my people."

For a moment, Bardock said nothing. His battered mind tried to make sense of the situation. Finally, he gave a weak nod. "I'll do it."

The stranger didn't hesitate. He hoisted Bardock onto his shoulder, his grip firm but not unkind. As they took to the skies, Bardock could hear the man muttering to himself, his voice filled with determination. "Just wait, Guru. I'll prove you wrong. I'll do more for our people than you or father ever did."

The memory faded, and Bardock's focus returned to the present. He glanced at Yamcha and Krillin, his voice steady. "It's a highly secret network of tunnels. Even most Namekians don't know it exists."

Krillin grinned, his usual optimism shining through. "Well, whatever the case, we owe you big time, sir. If it wasn't for you, Yajirobe, Yamcha, and I would've been long gone."

Bardock smirked faintly. "Don't sweat it."

Yamcha pushed off the rock, his expression resolute. "So, what do you say? Shall we continue our journey to Guru's? I'm feeling a lot better now."

Bardock stood, his demeanor serious but determined. "Yes. Let's go."

Far away, on a lush green planet in the depths of space…

Piccolo fell to his knees, panting heavily, his breath ragged and uneven. Sweat streamed down his face, dripping onto the emerald grass below. His chest rose and fell as he struggled to compose himself, his body aching from the relentless battle.

With a determined growl, the Namekian warrior forced himself back to his feet, turning to face his opponent.

Standing amidst the haze of their fight was a figure eerily identical to Goku. But there was no kindness in those eyes—only malice. A wicked smirk stretched across the doppelgänger's face as his dark aura crackled around him.

Piccolo's fists tightened, anger and frustration swirling within him. He charged forward, his raw emotions betraying his technique. His right punch, projected too early, left him wide open.

The Goku look-alike sidestepped effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise. Before Piccolo could recover, a devastating kick landed against his ribs with bone-crushing force.

"Gah!" Piccolo spat blood as the impact sent him flying through the air, crashing into the side of a stone building. The structure crumbled around him, dust and debris filling the air.

Groaning, Piccolo struggled to sit up, his teeth clenched in fury. But before he could even gather his thoughts, the enemy was there—a blur of motion and malice. The dark Goku loomed over him, smirking down with an unsettling calm.

"Too slow," the doppelgänger sneered before thrusting his hand forward, firing a ki blast straight through Piccolo's gut.

"AAAAAARGHHHHH!" The Namekian's scream echoed across the battlefield, filled with pain and defiance.

King Gai stood patiently in a quiet chamber, his hands clasped behind his back as he faced a large, ornate door. The blue skinned master glanced at his wristwatch with mild curiosity.

"Huh," he mused aloud, raising an eyebrow. "He's lasted much longer than I expected."

The sound of approaching footsteps drew his attention. The door creaked open, and Piccolo stumbled out, his body battered and his face etched with exhaustion. He leaned against the wall for support, his fiery glare fixed on King Gai.

"Pathetic," Piccolo scoffed, wiping a trickle of blood from his mouth which wasn't even there. "You call that the terror chamber? I've seen mice scarier than that."

King Gai blinked in surprise. "Well, that's a first. When Goku went in there, he didn't speak for half a day. You're something else, Piccolo."

At the mention of Goku's name, Piccolo spat to the side, his disdain evident. "Don't compare me to that clown."

But his expression darkened as he recalled the figure he had faced. That wasn't Goku. It couldn't be. It was something far more sinister, a manifestation of evil that twisted Goku's familiar image into a nightmare. The thought brought an eerie parallel to mind—just as his father had been the dark counterpart of Khami, this entity felt like Goku's shadow brought to life.

His fists tightened at his sides. Could such a being truly exist? King Gai had said that every opponent in the terror chamber was based on a real individual out there in the universe. If that were true, then the dark Goku wasn't just a figment of his imagination—it was a threat he might one day have to face.

Piccolo straightened, his resolve hardening. His voice was steady, laced with determination. "Enough of this. It's time to train."

King Gai's grin widened. "That's the spirit."

Piccolo's gaze flickered with a fiery determination as he turned away. Somewhere out there, greater challenges awaited, and he would be ready for them.

Planet Namek..

Bardock, Krillin, and Yamcha descended onto the towering rock formation that housed Guru's sanctuary. As their feet touched the surface, a sudden surge of immense energy rippled through the air, emanating from within the structure. The force of it made the ground beneath them tremble faintly.

Bardock's eyes widened, his expression momentarily unguarded. "What... is that?" he murmured, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Krillin's face lit up, and he let out a hearty laugh. "It's got to be Gohan! Guru must've unlocked his potential! Haha!"

Yamcha, though visibly tired from the journey, managed a grin. "Yeah," he said, his voice carrying both relief and admiration.

Krillin couldn't believe it. They were doing well right now.. Exceptionally well.

Frieza sat in his hoverchair, gazing through the large window of his ship, which rested ominously on Namek's surface. The planet's emerald sky shimmered as six fiery trails of energy blazed through it, like meteors heralding destruction.

The ground trembled violently as the six figures crashed into the terrain with devastating force, sending shockwaves that rippled across the Namekian landscape. Plumes of dust and debris rose.

Frieza's lips curled into a cold, menacing smile as he observed the chaos through the window. His crimson eyes gleamed with anticipation.

"Ah... At last. The Ginyu Force."

His voice carried a chilling edge, reverberating faintly through the quiet interior of the ship, a sinister promise of what was to come.

To be continued...

What's this? The Ginyu force has arrived. Unaware of the new threat Vegeta and Nail march on towards Frieza's ship. Can our heroes survive this new menace? Next time on DBZ: ONE!