Uncovering
Bardock smirked, eyes locked on the Ginyu Force, his gaze sharp and cold. There was no fear in him—only the fire of a man who'd bled, lost, and clawed his way through the worst.
Recoome gritted his teeth as he looked at Bardock.
At some distance, Jeice and Burter blinked in awe. This new guy had moved pretty fast. How could the scouter still not detect him?
As Bardock stared Recoome in the eye, the road to this moment came rushing back in jagged fragments.
He'd heard the rumors—Namek under siege. Aliens tearing through villages. He could've ignored it. He'd done it before. But this planet was different. He'd made a promise to protect this planet, and that oath dragged him into this fight.
What he found made his blood boil.
It was Frieza. That bastard. And not just him—his top dogs too. The elite. The executioners. Then came another grim news—Vegeta was dead. Another warrior lost. And an ally of Vegeta had been taken prisoner. That prisoner was the only thread he had to the truth. He needed to know—had Raditz truly gone?
That question burned in him until he found that prisoner, Yajirobe—seconds from death. Bardock tore through his captors and saved him. And in return, the fat samurai gave him something priceless: the truth about Kakarot.
Kakarot, the son he never had the chance to watch grow up, had become a warrior. A fighter. A protector.
For the first time in years, Bardock felt something other than rage—he felt pride. Real pride.
..
Then came vengeance. Dodoria died screaming. He didn't stop there. He joined forces with Kakarot's crew. Met the kid—his grandson, Gohan. Blood of his blood. A quiet fire kindled in his chest.
But deep down, he knew this peace wouldn't last. It never did.
Now, it all came to a head.
The Ginyu Force stood before him. Monsters in armor. Killers. And Bardock? He stood alone once again. Outgunned. Outmatched. Outnumbered.
He could've stayed hidden—ghosted through the battlefield like a shadow. No one would've sensed him. He was that good.
But then he saw Gohan.
Broken. Bleeding. Still standing.
And something inside Bardock snapped.
No more hiding! No more running! For the first time in over a decade, survival meant nothing. This was about legacy. About blood. About protecting his grandson, or die trying.
He took one last look at the Ginyu Force, heart hammering like a war drum.
Recoome snarled, his patience gone. "Enough of this!"
Bardock's grin faded into a focused scowl. In a smooth motion, he rose into the air—then dropped straight down in front of Recoome, landing with a solid thud.
The two warriors locked eyes, tension crackling between them.
Without warning—
BAM!
Bardock's fist slammed into Recoome's gut, doubling the brute over. Before he could react, Bardock spun into a roundhouse kick that cracked across Recoome's face, launching him backward.
Recoome skidded through the dirt, digging in with his hands and boots to stop himself.
"Recoome ASSAULT!" he bellowed, hurtling forward like a meteor.
His elbow crashed into Bardock's chest, forcing a grunt of pain from the Saiyan warrior. "Agh! "
Recoome seized the moment, slamming Bardock with a vicious haymaker that sent him crashing to the ground.
Recoome stepped forward, raising his leg to finish the job—but Bardock rolled aside at the last second.
Recoome lunged after him, but Bardock kept rolling, then flipped back to his feet behind his opponent.
CRACK!
"OW!" Recoome screamed as Bardock drove a sharp elbow into his spine, sending the hulking fighter sprawling face-first into the dirt.
From the sidelines, Vegeta's jaw tightened, his eyes wide.
'It really is Bardock… But how? How did he survive all these years? And how did he get this kind of power?!'
Bardock stood tall, charging energy into his palm. The air shimmered around him as he raised his hand forward.
DHISOOO!
A blinding explosion lit up the battlefield.
When the dust cleared, Recoome was sprawled across the terrain, his armor cracked, body twitching, barely conscious.
Bardock panted from effort.
Burter's mouth hung open. "Recoome…"
Guldo took a cautious step back. Maybe this wasn't the time to get involved… not with someone this powerful on the field.
Frost, however, simply smirked, his eyes locked on Bardock.
Floating above, Bardock hovered in mid-air, his hand glowing as it formed an energy blade.
"Hyaa!" he roared, diving down with the blade aimed straight for Recoome's exposed neck.
But just before the strike landed—
SNAP!
A hand clamped tightly around Bardock's wrist.
His eyes widened in surprise.
Someone had stopped him.
...
Bardock's gaze flared as a hand clamped tightly around his wrist. He gritted his teeth, struggling to free himself.
Standing before Bardock was Jeice, his teeth clenched, fury radiating from his glare.
"Enough of this!" he snapped. "Just who the hell are you—and what do ya want from us?"
Bardock met his gaze with eyes like steel. "I'm your worst nightmare made flesh. And what I want?"
His voice dropped to a growl. "Your blood."
Jeice sneered. "You want our blood, huh?" He yanked Bardock's wrist up and slammed a fist into his gut.
"Agh!" Bardock gasped, blood bursting from his mouth.
Without wasting a beat, Jeice unleashed a storm of punches and kicks, driving into Bardock with frenzied rage.
"You scoundrel!" he shrieked. "I'll teach you what it means to cross the Ginyu Force!"
With a roar, Jeice ended his assault with a savage left hook, sending Bardock staggering back.
Jeice stood, chest heaving. "Hah… hah…"
Bardock slowly straightened, blood dripping from the corner of his lips. He could feel his body break but he couldn't allow the enemy to enjoy his suffering. As his head stayed turned from the blow, his eyes locked onto Jeice—and he smirked.
"That was your best shot?" Bardock taunted, voice hoarse. "Color me unimpressed."
Jeice snarled. "You'll be far more impressed when you're dead!"
In a blur, Jeice lunged with his fist pulled back. Bardock avoided the punch, however, Jeice pressed on the offense. His kick hit Bardock's side, launching him into the air. In a heartbeat, Jeice appeared above him, slamming Bardock down with another brutal overhead kick.
Bardock hurtled toward the ground like a meteor.
KADAM!
Dust exploded into the sky on impact.
As the dust obscured the view, Vegeta growled. Disappointment was evident from his face. 'So much for the tough talk… Still, atleast he put up a good fight.'
As the dust cleared, all that remained was a scattered pile of rocks.
Jeice landed, breathing hard. He raised a hand and summoned a glowing red energy orb.
Then—movement.
The rocks shifted.
Jeice's eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, he hurled the energy blast. Bardock shot upward in a blur, narrowly dodging—but he didn't get far.
BOOM!
The explosion erupted below him, catching Bardock midair. He barely managed to cross his arms before the shockwave slammed into him.
Vegeta shielded his face from the blinding light and wind.
The blast rolled across the battlefield, kicking up a storm. Nail's fallen body was swept along the ground, tumbling until it finally slid off the island's edge and into the green waters of Namek.
As the smoke cleared, silence fell.
No one could see Bardock.
"Huh?"
Then—thud.
Bardock collapsed to the ground, just beside Vegeta. His form bloody and battered, his armor broken and cracked from various places.
He coughed, one eye fluttering open as he looked up. "Vegeta..."
Vegeta stared down at him, face unreadable. His eyes flicked over the battered form of the man who had once stood beside his father.
And for a moment… even he was at a loss for words.
...
Bardock winced, barely able to keep his head up. "We just need to hold them off... a little longer..."
Vegeta scoffed. "And what would that accomplish?"
"Kakarot," Bardock muttered, fighting to stay conscious. "He's on his way. He might be the one… the one who can finish this."
Vegeta snorted. "Kakarot? You put far too much faith in that clown. I've fought him. Sure, his power's impressive—for a low-class. But he's still leagues below us. And that's not even mentioning that he is a total moron. "
Bardock didn't reply. His jaw clenched, pain shooting through his body as he stared silently at Vegeta.
Suddenly, Jeice landed with a flourish, his lips curled into a smug grin. "Well, well. Look who's flat on the ground. Guess that just leaves Princess Vegeta now."
Vegeta growled, fists trembling. 'Damn it... I can't beat them—not alone…'
BEEP! BEEP!
Jeice's scouter let out a sharp ping. He frowned, beads of sweat forming on his brow. "What now? Who's showing up this time?"
Burter looked uneasy, glancing around. "Stay sharp, Jeice. No more surprises."
Jeice nodded, brows furrowed. "Yeah. I hear ya."
A figure suddenly dropped from the sky, landing between the two Saiyans and Jeice. His orange gi flared slightly with the wind, dust swirling around his boots.
Bardock's eyes widened as he looked up at the stranger. That hair… it looked almost like— 'No… it can't be him… can it?'
Vegeta narrowed his eyes, trying to place the face.
The newcomer smiled—calm, confident.
Yamcha.
Vegeta's jaw dropped in disbelief. 'That idiot? The one Nappa crushed like an insect back on Earth? What in the hell is he doing here?'
Yamcha quickly scanned the battlefield. His brow furrowed with concern as he spotted Gohan lying motionless nearby. His gaze shifted—Krillin. Beaten and bloodied, but still alive. Relief washed over him for a moment.
He looked up and gave a subtle nod.
High above, Dende understood. Without hesitation, the young Namekian swooped down beside Gohan, pulling out a few beans hidden in his robes. He chewed one thoroughly, then gently placed it into Gohan's mouth, helping him swallow.
Within seconds, Gohan's eyes fluttered open. "Dende?"
Dende smiled. "Hang on. I'll be back." With that, he sprang toward Krillin, repeating the process. Soon, the bald fighter stirred, groaning as his strength began to return.
Jeice watched the small Namekian suspiciously. "What's that little guy doing?"
Burter folded his arms, unimpressed. "Some kind of weird Namekian funeral ritual?"
Frost's expression darkened as he realized what was really happening. The boy—the bald one—they were waking up. Restored.
"Idiots!" Frost barked. "He's undoing all your hard work!"
With a flick of his finger, he charged a beam of energy and fired it straight at Dende.
Krillin's eyes widened in horror. 'No—Dende won't make it!'
But just before the blast could reach the Namekian boy—
FWASH!
The beam was knocked away mid-air, scattering harmlessly into the distance.
"What the—?!" Vegeta gaped, stunned.
All eyes turned.
Standing between Dende and the blast's path was Yamcha, arm extended, hand still smoking from the impact.
He locked eyes with Frost, his voice low and cold. "Try that again… and I'll make you regret it."
Frost snarled. "Is that so? Let's see you handle this—RAPID FIRE!"
In an instant, a barrage of energy beams flew toward Yamcha.
Yamcha didn't flinch. With a single hand, he deflected every last one, his palm moving in controlled, effortless arcs.
Krillin's jaw hit the floor. "Wha—how—?!" He stared, mouth agape.
Even Vegeta was shaking, a rare look of disbelief on his face. "I—I can't believe what I'm seeing…"
...
Smoke curled across the battlefield, carried by the wind like the ghosts of fallen warriors. Amid the chaos, Dende stood still—eyes scanning the horizon, searching.
"Hey, Krillin…" he said softly, almost afraid of the answer. "Where's Nail?"
Krillin hesitated. His face fell, shoulders slumping under the weight of the truth. He looked down, voice barely audible over the wind. "He's gone."
Time stopped.
Dende's breath caught in his throat. The world around him seemed to blur, colors fading, sound draining away—until only those two words echoed in his ears.
He's gone. He's gone.
His big brother...
Then the silence shattered.
"NO… NAIIIL!"
The scream ripped out of him like a blast of energy—raw, primal, soul-deep. It echoed across the battlefield, bouncing off broken stones and shattered dreams.
Gohan's heart sank. He turned away, fists clenched, guilt twisting in his gut like a blade. They were too late. Too weak. They had failed the last warrior of Namek—and the boy who had already lost too much.
Dende fell to his knees, trembling. Tears spilled down his face unchecked, cutting silent trails through the dirt on his cheeks.
"First Guru… now Nail… Why?" he whispered, voice cracking. "Why did you have to leave me too?"
And then, the memories came—rushing in like a storm.
Nail's stern eyes. His harsh words. The bruises from training. The fights he'd stopped. The enemies he'd faced for Dende's sake.
All of it burned behind Dende's eyes like a dying star.
Now… nothing.
Only silence. And the unbearable weight of being left behind.
Yamcha's gaze softened as he regarded Dende's plight.
...
Not far off, Bardock groaned, still weakened from battle. He'd seen Dende revive Gohan and Krillin. Now, hope flickered within him.
Yamcha's expression hardened again as he turned to the Ginyu Force. "Where's the tall Namekian who fought you? Answer me."
Guldo sneered. "That frog-faced freak? His corpse is in the water—right where it belongs."
Yamcha's jaw clenched as his eyes bore into Guldo.
Guldo chuckled darkly. "What's wrong? Wanna join your friend at the bottom?"
Ignoring him, Yamcha turned to Dende. "Hey... Dende."
Still teary-eyed, Dende looked up.
"Bardock's hurt. I think he could use one of those beans too."
Dende bit his lip, holding in a sob. But he nodded silently. Actions came before emotions and he knew that. He floated over to Bardock, crouching beside him. He chewed one of the last remaining beans, then gently helped Bardock swallow it.
Within seconds, Bardock's wounds vanished. His eyes widened. "Incredible… You really are as gifted as they say."
Vegeta, watching closely, stepped forward with a scowl. "Namekian. Give one to me as well."
But Dende shook his head firmly. "No. You're no better than the Ginyu Force. Maybe the situation forced you to work with us, but I know you'd betray us the moment it suited you."
Vegeta's fists clenched, rage burning in his eyes, but he said nothing. It was the truth, after-all.
Yamcha now turned toward Jeice, locking eyes with him in silence. His aura flared ever so slightly.
Burter dropped from above, landing beside his red-skinned comrade. "Figured you could use some backup."
Jeice smirked, though sweat beaded on his brow. "Appreciate it."
Yamcha clenched his fists at his sides, his expression grim.
A vein throbbed in Burter's temple. He glanced at Jeice, giving him a sharp nod.
Jeice nodded back.
Krillin and Gohan stood together, stunned into silence, their eyes wide with disbelief.
With the tide of battle shifting and the Ginyu Force rattled, could this unexpected warrior be the key to their downfall?
As destinies collide and powers awaken—
The real fight is only just beginning.
Next time, on DRAGON BALL Z: ONE!
To be continued...