[To Atea1793: You know what? You've swayed me with that argument. I mostly agree with you now! But I'm not so sure that Gohan or Piccolo would be as willing to forgive that long-haired Saiyan if he ever were to come back from the depths of Hell- Oh wait, is he even down there? …Huh? He escaped?!

To Guest: Honestly, I think both Yaroff and I didn't think too deeply about that insult! Since both he and Bardock are both primates in literal terms, you're right in that it shouldn't come off as racist to the Saiyan at all, lol. Tells you quite a bit about Yaroff's suitability for being in charge of animal management! It's amazing he wasn't fired years ago. I wonder if he'll become a foreman in a different field, or take on another profession entirely…?

To Shadowwriter01: Thanks a lot for your analysis of Seventeen! I was led to believe by someone on YouTube that the manga made more sense with regards to his power in Super (especially concerning Goku and Seventeen's bout before the tournament, because he had only been fighting off poachers and Cell Juniors, yet he is now somehow that OP). To think he scales that high… I need to revise some more of my anime Super knowledge!

The site is telling me I have 3 new reviews other than the ones I've responded to here, but it won't let me view them at all. Sorry about that!]

Chapter 22: Rencontre

For several hours, the two spiky-haired Goku lookalikes spoiled themselves rotten in the Gravity Chamber, training under the harsh conditions to their hearts' content. After their fun training session, Bardock turned the gravity back to normal, and he started measuring Goten's power level.

"…What does… the scouter say?" Goten asked, panting as he rose his ki to unbelievable levels for a child.

"It's not even worth reading. Try harder," Bardock answered, sounding unimpressed.

"Aw, really? C'mon… I'm trying really hard, Grandpa…" Goten strained as he tried powering up as much as he could again.

Bardock tried not to let his true feelings of pride and awe show on his face. "The day this scouter explodes is the day we take a day off."

"Mom wouldn't be happy to hear you say that. At all," Goten responded with a hint of disapproval.

"I don't care if she doesn't like what I say," Bardock retorted. "From everything you've told me, and from what I've been through already on this planet, you're still not safe. No one is."

Call the man paranoid, but Bardock had deeply considered the consequences of having a God of Destruction as a frequent visitor to the Earth - This was the same being who had pushed this planet close to the brink of death. And more than that, this being was capable of destroying even the whole solar system on a whim.

Indeed, Beerus' very existence unnerved him, despite the fact that this god was on rather good terms with Kakarot and Bulma at the moment. He told Goten, "The more training we do, the better it is for everyone. I mean it."

"Hnnnnnghhh…" Goten unleashed more of his Super Saiyan power. But Bardock, despite not being able to achieve the same level of power as his youngest grandson yet, was still not satisfied.

"Are you sure you're not holding back, kid?" Bardock asked.

"I'm not!" Goten proclaimed fiercely.

"There it is - That's what we're after. You know how in order to get Super Saiyan, you have to get really angry?"

"…Uh huh," Goten responded, his muscles shaking as his shining golden aura radiated.

"Well, we'll just have to find a way to get you so utterly pissed off, that you'll reach Super Saiyan 2 in no time."

Goten started to feel uneasy at the suggestion. "Uh, I don't like that idea at all…"

"…Hmph. Then you're never reachin' it." Bardock folded his arms and shook his head with great disappointment, almost exaggerating the movements.

Goten noticed his actions and started to feel rather upset at his dissatisfied look. 'I'll show you just what I'm made of, Grandpa. Then you'll be proud!' he thought.

Before Goten attempted to try again, Bardock spoke up once more, turning away from his grandson. "Tch. I'm just wasting time at this point. I guess pure-blooded Saiyans really are the superior Saiyans when it comes to bettering themselves…"

Goten looked at him wide eyed. Did he really just say that? To him? Out loud?

Bardock shrugged. "Pffft. What can I expect some child to accomplish, really? I'm gettin' delusional. It's this damn planet…"

"H- How could you say that?!" Goten yelled at him, making his Super Saiyan power swell subconsciously as his teal eyes fixated on the man's back. "So you really don't like it here? Th- Then I'm sorry to tell you, but most of you full-blooded Saiyans are gone, Grandpa!"

Goten clenched his fists tighter. "Me and Trunks fought against Cooler with you, remember? If people like me were so bad at getting stronger, then you would've probably lost to that guy!"

Bardock noted the scouter beeping, showing a much higher number. Excellent! He hid his pleased expression under that of anger.

He clenched his teeth at his grandson as he turned back around. "Of course I remember Cooler. Let me correct you; you only got in the way of my fight. I didn't ask you to show up-"

"You were gonna be defeated, or worse if we didn't show up!" Goten reaffirmed, his ki enveloping him more strongly. His teal eyes were almost watering, transfixed on his grandfather. Goten was getting more and more confused and hurt by the second. Was this how his Saiyan Grandpa really felt?

"Yeah, right!" Bardock turned away from him again, waving his hand ignorantly. "I didn't need a kid like you helping me at all! I could've killed him just fine on my own, without you there!"

Goten's rage boiled over. "Y- You…! How could you…! We saved your life, we cared about you, and you just… just…!" Goten's aura fluctuated more strongly. "I bet you only stuck around me because I was strong, and not because we're family!"

Bardock turned back around with a smile. The scouter was displaying a ridiculously high number now, along with several consecutive beeps. Bardock got ready to transform to defend himself. This was it. And boy, was he getting excited for a real Super Saiyan fight at last.

Goten assumed his grandfather's smiling meant that he agreed with Goten's earlier statement. This ticked the pre-teen off. How dare his grandfather hide his true feelings and intentions from him and Trunks?! Goten knew they didn't deserve this!

"Haaaaaaaa!" Goten screamed, charging at Bardock. Bardock swiftly turned Super Saiyan and backed away, skirting the chamber walls, trying his best to evade the punches Goten was aiming at him.

"That… all you got? Y- You'll have to try harder…!" Bardock taunted, panting as he tried his best to keep dodging. What a challenge, right from the start! But what else did he expect? He knew his power level did not yet match his grandson's.

"Gaaaaahhhh!" Goten cried, kicking Bardock in his gut. He then did a spin kick that sent him to the floor.

Bardock coughed up a little blood from that one. He smiled a tad. "Oh, this is gonna be good," he mumbled.

He threw himself back into the fray, this time attacking Goten. He sent a combo of punches and kicks Goten's way, but Goten was an agile little nipper.

The energy culminating between the two of them amassed even higher, causing the exchanged blows to reverberate throughout the entire room. It was a good thing that the Gravity Chamber had been constantly upgraded over the years, otherwise it would have already been reduced to rubble.

Goten was clearly winning. However, Bardock also tried his hardest to showcase all the power he had amassed so far.

"Stand still!" Goten growled, huffing and puffing angrily as he threw out attacks.

"I don't take orders from little kids!" Bardock mocked, ticking off the youngster even more.

Bardock's response may have been more of a mistake than he thought it would be. Goten found an opening and with all his might, he punched his grandfather right in his chest, the blow cracking Bardock's armour there to pieces.

Bardock had all the air knocked out of him and his eyes rolled back. For just a moment, another vision interrupted his senses.

The main figure of this future vision was dressed in a brown cloak, showing nothing but his aged hands and bearded blue face. Unexpectedly, this being then seemed to look back at him, and smiled, as though to say, "I see you too."

Bardock fell with a thump onto the smooth white floor, unconscious.

Goten suddenly came back to his senses, letting out a gasp as he ran over to his grandpa's side. He examined him and pressed his ear to his chest and his hand by his neck.

…His heart… it had stopped beating!

"N- No…" Goten clutched his own forehead with both his hands in fear. "Wh- What have I…"

Goten shook him… but got no response.

His lip quivered uncontrollably, and with a blinding light he let out a mighty scream. "NOOOOO!"

His body radiated pure energy, sending out an electric shockwave that pushed his grandpa's body back a little. Each strand of his golden hair stood on end, and fizzled with electricity, as did his body. He dashed over to him and attempted CPR, but it wasn't working, and he was afraid of damaging him even more. He noticed that he suddenly had trouble powering down in order to make this annoying electricity surrounding him go away.

Two drones suddenly descended from the walls of the chamber and started using their built-in defibrillators on Bardock's chest in order to try reviving him. Goten watched them through blurry wet eyes, clenching his teeth and murmuring, "What have I done?"

Goten then turned away, whispering, "It's no use… I did this." He didn't mean to disrupt his grandfather's heart. His own heart became filled with a deep sense of regret. "Grandpa…"

"Ugh… Damn, kid. That was… one hell of a hit you got on me…"

Goten's head whipped around, locking eyes with his grandfather. Bardock in turn was looking right back at him with half-lidded eyes.

"G- Grandpa?!" Goten exclaimed. He ran right to his side again.

Bardock smiled, hearing the beeping from his scouter. "Heheh… Look at you. I knew it would work." The man coughed. "The scouter didn't explode, though. Looks like we'll have to work on that."

Goten took a moment to process that response. Then it clicked. "W- Wait…! You were just saying all that to rile me up?! Are you crazy?!" Goten yelled, waving his hands around frantically.

"Maybe I am. Worked out though. Heheh…"

The two drones buzzed and flew back into the walls of the room, fitting in perfectly and discreetly. As Bardock coughed some more, Goten exclaimed, "Those robots just saved you!"

Bardock looked up at where the robots went, and a new voice spoke. "It's not often those drones have to activate…"

"Dr. Briefs?" Goten uttered.

"I was notified of a cardiac arrest in the Gravity Chamber, so I went to the control room and saw Bardock on the floor. The drones went to help and, well, a good scientist always plans ahead for these things," he explained. "Bulma would be heartbroken if Vegeta unexpectedly lost his life in that room from training too hard, after all."

Goten teared up even more, and beamed. "Thank you, Dr. Briefs! Thank you so much!"

"You're very welcome, lad," Dr. Briefs responded.

"Goten…" Bardock uttered.

"Y- Yeah?"

"Your power level… let's talk about it over some grub."

"But I just nearly killed you! I- In fact, you practically died!" Goten responded with great worry on his face.

"So? It wouldn't be the first time I nearly kicked the bucket," Bardock remarked nonchalantly with a amused expression.

The two stared at each other in silence for a bit, then Bardock grinned, and started laughing. They then laughed together for a moment, before Goten helped his grandfather stand up.

"You Saiyans and your love for fighting… Someday, I'll have to move out!" Dr. Briefs joked. Then he pondered, 'Better yet, I could give them their own chamber so they wouldn't give me a heart attack… Hm… It's expensive, but… with the threats the Earth's faced so far, who knows who or what else could crop up…'

At Goten's house…

"Show her what you did today, Goten."

Goten activated Super Saiyan, then pushed to his limits, electricity dancing around him, activating Super Saiyan 2.

Chichi gasped dramatically. "Oh, Kami! He's… He's…!"

Bardock boasted, "Gone even further than Super Sai-"

"A monster! A spiky, blonde, delinquent monster!"

Bardock facepalmed, and Goten slouched his shoulders.

An hour later, back at Capsule Corp in the garden area…

"Hey Trunks! Let's spar!"

"Wh- Huh? Goten? Where did you come from? I didn't even sense you coming!" Trunks questioned in surprise.

"Pleeeease?"

"Alright, alright! Let's go to the Gravity Chamber!" Trunks and Goten ran there side by side.

"Wh- What's that energy…?! Oh crap-!" Trunks was blown back by the sheer force of Goten's ki.

"Haaaaaa!" Goten showed off his newfound power in all its glory to his best friend.

"YOU GOT IT?! That huge energy spike was YOU?!" Trunks' mouth hung wide open. "NO FAIR! TELL ME HOW! RIGHT NOW!"

On Beerus' Planet…

"Gosh… Someone's really training hard on Earth. It's like, Super Saiyan 2 levels of energy…!"

"Hey! Kakarot! You better not keep me waiting over here!" a grumpy voice yelled, belonging to the Saiyan prince.

"Hoho! Looks like you need to get a move on, Goku!" a softer voice added, belonging to Whis. "And Vegeta, learning to be more patient will help you improve enormously!"

"Tch… Understood, Whis," Vegeta replied with his gaze lowered. He'd been called out again.

"Okay, okay! I'm comin', you guys!" Goku responded.

A few days passed, and Dr. Briefs received another call from his daughter. "Bulma! How are you?" he greeted.

"Hey Dad! We're almost there! Just a couple more hours until touchdown! Isn't that great? Ugh, it been getting way too boring in here!" she complained.

"Well, that's fantastic news! You'll be back by lunch! Gohan and Piccolo are both welcome to stay for it."

"You hear that, guys?" Bulma called over to them.

Gohan approached the microphone. "That sounds great! Thank you very much," he responded to Dr. Briefs gratefully.

Piccolo also approached and asked, "Will that Saiyan be around?"

Dr. Briefs hummed in contemplation. "I could call him to meet you guys, I suppose. I gave him a phone the other day, you see. Hm… now that I think about it, I should think about giving one to Mr. Shinhan too…" said the retired man with far too many ideas floating around in his mind.

"Oh, neat," Gohan said idly, "I'm sure Bardock would appreciate a good fight from either one of us. Right, Piccolo?"

"He's certainly piqued my interest. By fighting him, I might be able to find out what his intentions are besides wanting to fight Super Saiyans," Piccolo responded.

Bulma nodded. "You're right, Piccolo. From what you've told us so far, Dad, he hasn't been too much of a threat to anyone, right?" Bulma asked.

"If you don't count him facing off against an entire corrupt company's armed personnel… then yes."

Gohan blinked. "He fought against a corrupt company? Well… that's interesting."

Piccolo crossed his arms. "Like father, like son, it seems. Why would a Saiyan like him go and do that, though? Was he feeling bored?"

Dr. Briefs explained, "As far as I know, it was thanks to a group of poachers who shot at him and Goten with tranquilliser darts while they tried to capture your dragon friend Icarus."

Gohan gasped. "They did what?! Oh no…"

"Don't worry yourself, Gohan! Those two along with Trunks and Yamcha sorted it all out in the end," Dr. Briefs assured him.

"I think we'll have to talk later," Bulma said, "I've gotta get ready to land the ship."

"That's fine, Bulma dear. See you all later!" Dr. Briefs bid farewell, and cut the connection. "Now to gather everyone for their arrival…"

Dr. Briefs walked over to Yamcha, who was currently checking over his training records he had written for the good doctor. In other words, he was working.

Yamcha heard his approach and turned around, smiling. "Hey, Dr. Briefs! What's up?"

"You'll be glad to hear that Bulma and the rest will be back in a couple of hours!"

"For real? That's great!" Yamcha exclaimed.

"Huh? What's goin' on?" Trunks jogged into the room.

Yamcha said, "Your mom's comin' home real soon, Trunks!"

"Aw yeah!" Trunks punched the air. "When exactly are they coming?"

"Around lunch, I think," his grandfather replied as he stroked his cat.

"Great! I gotta tell Goten!"

Trunks was about to run out, but then his grandfather said, "While you're at it, go get Bardock too! And maybe go and tell Chichi and Videl."

"You got it, Grandpa!" Trunks saluted, running out.

Yamcha turned to face Dr. Briefs. "So, you need me to do anything else after this? Like help with the food?"

Dr. Briefs smiled. "Thank you for offering, Yamcha, but I'm sure my wife and Launch can handle the food for the occasion. The blue-haired Launch really got herself a good reputation ever since she started cooking for city restaurants with her own produce."

Yamcha smiled fondly. "Oh, for sure! Her dishes are to die for. Can't say the same for her blonde-haired self. My mouth's watering just thinking about what Launch is gonna cook up! Hey, can Puar come along too?"

"Why not?" the doctor replied warmly.

Trunks shot through the air at high speed, laughing to himself as he did a barrel roll with his arms stretched out. He was so excited he even turned Super Saiyan to get to Goten's place faster. As he landed, he could see Chichi hanging up wet clothing to dry.

Chichi saw him and approached him with a smile. "Well hi there, Trunks. Are you here to play with Goten?"

"Hi Chichi! Not really - It's just that my Mom and the others are coming back real soon!" Trunks replied excitedly.

"Huh, really? My Gohan's coming home?! And Piccolo?! Oh, I've gotta go prepare for-"

"No, you really don't have to do anything! You're all invited to my place for lunch, and also to meet up with them when they get here!" Trunks explained.

"We are? Well then, we'll definitely be coming along!" Chichi said.

"Okay, great! Where's Goten, anyway?" Trunks asked, looking around for him.

"He went out with his grandpa to show him more of the area around our home, and also to check on Icarus," she replied. "They should be back any second-"

"Trunks! I knew I sensed you coming!" Goten landed right beside his best friend with a thud. Bardock then touched down near Chichi.

"Heheh! Of course ya did, 'cause I turned Super Saiyan to get here!" Trunks chuckled.

"And why'd you do that, kid?" Bardock asked.

"Oh yeah! You guys and Videl have gotta come to my place at lunchtime! Mom's coming back, as well as Gohan and Piccolo! We're gonna eat together with them when they get here!" Trunks exclaimed.

Chichi turned to Bardock. "I said that Goten could go. Are you coming with us, Bardock?"

"Sure. Gohan's gonna be there. I said I'd fight- I mean spar with him," Bardock responded, correcting himself to not get on Chichi's bad side.

"While you're at it, you might wanna try sparring with Piccolo too. He's really strong, you know!" Trunks suggested.

"Hm. Right," the Saiyan responded. The thought of encountering the Namekian made Bardock feel somewhat angry. His thoughts drifted back to the last recording on Raditz's scouter. He thought, 'No matter how justifiable Piccolo's actions might've been back then, he is still my two sons' killer. For my pride, I'll face him, too.'

"Ugh, you Saiyans, always looking for a fight…" Chichi looked at the kids. "Well, since you're here Trunks, why don't you and Goten go and play for a bit? I'll let your grandfather know what's up."

"Okay, Chichi!" Trunks then whooped as he and Goten ran off to the other side of the house.

Two hours later, Trunks, Goten, Yamcha, Puar, Bardock, Chichi, Videl and her daughter Pan, Dr. Briefs and his wife, alongside their little granddaughter Bulla, were outside in the garden area of Capsule Corp.

There was also a woman Bardock didn't recognise who was here too. She sported royal blue hair and had a meek demeanour, and she was wearing an apron. She seemed to be very friendly with the others. Family friend, maybe?

Food and drinks were being laid out by her in preparation for Bulma, Gohan and Piccolo's arrival. Krillin wanted to come once he heard the news, but he had to fulfill his police officer duties that afternoon.

Dr. Briefs was having some lemonade by the drinks stand while little Pan watched Bulla drift in and out of sleep in her cot. Trunks, Goten and Yamcha were telling Videl and Puar about their recent adventures together. Chichi, Panchy and the unknown woman were busy organising the final food preparations.

As Bardock stood around watching everything get set up, he felt something tug at his lower leg. He looked down to find a small black cat staring up at him curiously.

Bardock rolled his eyes and began to swat the cat away using his foot.

He suddenly felt a great darkness encroach him, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Dr. Briefs glaring into his very soul through his flashing glasses.

Bardock stiffened upon realising his mistake and gave the cat three strokes on its head before moving over to a different part of the garden. He hoped no one else had seen him do that.

He just happened to be wearing his scouter today, and it started beeping out of the blue. "They're here," he announced, looking up at the sky.

Everyone else stopped what they were doing and cheered as the ship came into view. It landed a few metres away from their lunch party.

Out came Bulma first, who dramatically gasped for all the fresh air she could get.

Next came Gohan, who looked around before settling his gaze on his younger brother, who ran up to him and enveloped him in a hug. Soon after, his mother and his wife approached him, with the latter holding their daughter who squealed in delight at the sight of him. He took her in his arms and twirled her around.

Then came Piccolo, who watched Gohan and his family reunite. Bardock regarded the Namekian with a stern glare.

"Welcome back, you guys!" Yamcha waved at them.

As Gohan passed Pan back to Videl, he did a double-take on one specific person present. He looked at Bardock with wide and curious eyes. "Whoa… You're…"

"Come on, kid. Take a wild guess," Bardock remarked with a hint of sarcasm, but he was a little amused.

'"Kid"? Do I look that young to him?' Gohan thought curiously. "Well… if it weren't for your outfit, I would've mistaken you for my dad at first glance." Gohan scratched the back of his head, sheepishly.

Piccolo inspected the Saiyan from head to toe. Specifically the head. 'That guy… He looks just like Goku.' And as he started to analyse the man's ki signature more closely…

"Your energy," Piccolo commented suddenly.

"What about it?" Bardock frowned, folding his arms at Piccolo.

"It's eerily similar to Goku's. But how?" Piccolo stated, perplexed, "No… In fact… it's more similar to how Goku's brother's energy felt. And, you're wearing the exact same device over your eye."

Bardock had all eyes trained on him. Goten looked up at him, smiling. Trunks simply asked with his eyes lowered, "Are you gonna tell 'em yet, or what?"

Bardock ignored him and walked towards Piccolo. "There's a great reason for all that you just sniffed out, Namekian. I just so happen to be Kakarot and Raditz's father."

"You're WHAT?!" Gohan and Bulma shouted in unison. Piccolo simply gaped at him, wide-eyed.

"Impossible…!" Gohan stated with a stunned expression, his voice conveying plenty of disbelief, "You… look younger than Dad…!"

"Are you immortal?" Piccolo asked.

"What? No, of course not!" Bardock snapped at him with his glare still present.

Piccolo then asked him, "Then tell us how - How are you alive?"

"Like I said to you guys before, it's a long story," Bardock reiterated.

Bulma strode up to him. "Well, we've got all afternoon, Arctium!"

Bardock uttered confusedly, ""Arctium"-?"

"And you had better tell us your motives for being here!" Bulma shouted angrily at him. "If I find you've been teaching Trunks bad Saiyan things while I've been gone, then you've got another thing coming!"

Bardock was already struggling to tolerate the wife of Vegeta. He huffed with a scowl as he made his way over to one of the food tables.

"Hey! I was talking to you!" Bulma yelled at him. He just about managed not to flinch.

Gohan placated Bulma, "Don't worry, I'm sure he'll explain everything to us later. It looks like he wants to eat first."

"Help yourselves!" Panchy declared.

The lady Bardock didn't know was placing more and more food onto the table as he took a whole load. She gazed up at him curiously and innocently.

"What?" he asked grumpily.

"Oh! I'm so sorry if I was staring at you, mister! It's just that you look a lot like an old friend of mine," she explained with a high-pitched voice.

"Let me guess. "Goku"?" he surmised, cringing at the need to specify with his son's Earthling name.

"Yes, that's right! Are you related to him in some way?"

"I'm his father," Bardock stated, feeling like he'd said this a thousand times.

"You are? Goodness…!" She put her hand on her chest in clear surprise. "Well, it's very nice to meet you, Mister… uh…"

"Bardock."

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Bardock! My name is Launch. I have known your son for many years, ever since he was a small boy!"

Bardock piled more food onto his plate. He didn't look at her as he did so. "You have, have you?"

"Yes! He was so tiny and cute, but so very strong! He protected me when I was in danger, and in return I cooked for him and the others at Kame House. I took good care of him, tucked him in all snug in his bed, that kind of thing!" she explained cheerily with a reminiscent expression.

Bardock assessed her words and thought that she was the most innocent person he'd ever come across, but he wasn't sure about whether he approved of her essentially filling in the 'mother' role. "I see," was the very basic response he gave her.

Launch looked very shy and guilty all of a sudden. "Say, um… I'm sorry for all the trouble my other half gave him when he was little. Though I know how much she cares for him now. Come to think of it, I haven't seen Goku in a while."

"Your "other half"?" Bardock repeated.

"Mhm… She's very confident and strong, and though she might be a bit short-tempered, she still cares for everyone like I do. I think we've gotten better at managing our lives together. Oh, don't let me keep you! Your food will get cold! I hope you enjoy it, Bardock!"

Bardock was a little confused, but he acknowledged her with a farewell and went to eat the tower of grub that he'd amassed.

[Author's note: 'Rencontre' is the French term for 'meeting', and 'Arctium' is the scientific name for the burdock plant.

Also, Chichi dying to Evil Buu should've been when Goten realistically turned Super Saiyan 2 in my opinion, but it is what it is.

I just realised that I had Bardock talking about cardiac arrest to Yamcha a couple chapters back, and he ends up having it happen to him here.]