Goku's fist sliced through empty air as Gohan ducked beneath the attack.
They had been sparring for nearly an hour in the Imperial Palace's massive training arena, the polished obsidian floor reflecting their movements like a dark mirror.
"Good dodge, son!" Goku called out, genuine pride in his voice. "You're getting faster every day!"
Gohan grinned, dropping back into his fighting stance. "Thanks, Dad! I've been practicing that move with Piccolo."
As they circled each other, Goku's eyes drifted once again to the far side of the arena where three Saiyans were engaged in their own training session. Bardock, Nappa, and Turles moved through combat drills.
His attention lingered on Bardock - the man who had given him life, yet remained practically a stranger.
The scar-faced warrior who looked so much like him, yet carried himself with a hardened edge that spoke of a incredibly harsh life beyond everyone present.
His father.
The thought still felt strange, almost foreign. For most of his life, Goku had never questioned his origins. Grandpa Gohan had been all the family he needed. But now...
"Dad! Watch out!"
Gohan's warning came too late. His son's kick connected solidly with Goku's ribs, sending him skidding across the polished floor.
"Sorry!" Gohan called out, rushing to his side. "You seemed distracted."
Goku laughed, rubbing his side. "No, that was great! I should've been paying attention. My fault!"
From the sidelines, Chi-Chi and Bulma exchanged knowing looks. They sat on a raised platform designed for observers, with the sleeping form of baby Megumi in a floating crib beside them.
"That's the fifth time he's looked over there in the last ten minutes," Bulma noted, taking a sip from her water bottle.
Chi-Chi nodded, her expression a mixture of exasperation and concern. "It's getting ridiculous. They've been avoiding each other for weeks now."
"You'd think with Goku being Megumi's guardian and Bardock working with Vegeta, they'd have been forced to talk by now," Bulma observed.
"They're surprisingly good at avoiding it," Chi-Chi replied. "Goku's usually so direct about everything, but with this..." She shook her head. "I've never seen him so uncertain."
Bulma's eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she watched the two groups of Saiyans carefully maintaining their distance. "This can't go on. It's affecting everyone."
"What do you suggest?" Chi-Chi asked.
A slow, mischievous smile spread across Bulma's face. "I think it's time for an intervention."
--------------------------
"You need Bardock for what?" Vegeta asked, his arms crossed as he regarded Bulma with suspicion.
They stood in a corridor outside the training arena, Vegeta's royal armor gleaming under the crystal lights. As Grand Regent of Toji's territories, he had taken to wearing formal attire that befitted his station, though he complained about it constantly.
"A special assignment," Bulma replied smoothly. "Something only he can help with."
Vegeta's eyes narrowed. "What kind of 'special assignment' requires a Saiyan warrior but not the Grand Regent himself?"
"It's related to the palace's defensive systems," Bulma improvised. "We need someone who understands both Saiyan and Frieza Force technology. Bardock has experience with both."
"So does Nappa," Vegeta countered. "And Turles."
Bulma resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Bardock is more... detail-oriented. Look, it's just for an hour. Is that going to collapse Toji's mighty empire? You aren't breaking your promise to him, by lending me Bardock for an hour."
Vegeta scowled at her last words, remaining silent for a long moment, almost lost in thought, but with a sigh relented. "Fine. But have him back for the strategy meeting. We're discussing the southern expansion."
"Of course, Your Royal Grumpiness," Bulma replied with a mock bow.
As Vegeta stormed off, Bulma tapped her communication device. "Chi-Chi? Your turn."
--------------------------
"But why does Megumi need both of us?" Goku asked, following Chi-Chi down one of the palace's many ornate corridors.
Chi-Chi maintained a brisk pace, leading him toward the eastern wing. "Because he's been fussy all morning. You're the only one besides Toji who can get him to settle down when he's like this."
"What about Freeza? Isn't she his mom?"
"She's in meetings with King Cold all day," Chi-Chi replied without missing a beat. "Something about trade negotiations with the Galactic Patrol."
Goku scratched his head. "I didn't know they traded with the Galactic Patrol."
"They don't. That's why they're negotiating," Chi-Chi said, inwardly thanking Bulma for the detailed cover story. "Anyway, Megumi's in the East Garden. I've set up everything you'll need there."
They arrived at a massive door carved from some iridescent material that shifted colors as they approached. Chi-Chi gestured for Goku to enter first.
"Aren't you coming?" he asked when she remained in the doorway.
"I'll bring Megumi in a minute," she replied. "Go on in and get settled."
Goku shrugged and stepped through the doorway into one of the palace's most beautiful spaces - a garden designed to replicate various environments from across the empire. Currently, it was configured to resemble an Earth forest, complete with oak trees and a small stream- Bulma and Chi-Chi having wanted this.
The door closed behind him with a definitive click.
Goku turned, surprised, but before he could reach for the handle, he noticed he wasn't alone. Standing on the other side of the garden, looking equally confused, was Bardock.
(Both of them having forgone expanding their Ki sense beyond a couple feet, Vegeta, King Cold, and Freeza liked remaining at full power, their Ki blotting out the Galaxy, too bright and annoying.)
Their eyes met across the space, and understanding dawned simultaneously.
"You too, huh?" Bardock asked, his gruff voice carrying across the garden.
Goku nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. "Chi-Chi said Megumi needed me."
"Bulma claimed there was some security system that required my expertise," Bardock replied with a short, humorless laugh. "Should've known better."
Both men moved toward the door at the same time, but when Goku tried the handle, it wouldn't budge.
"It's locked," he announced unnecessarily.
A moment later, Bulma's voice came through a hidden speaker. "And it's going to stay that way until you two have a proper conversation. We're all tired of watching you avoid each other."
"Bulma!" Goku protested. "This isn't funny!"
"It's not meant to be funny," came Chi-Chi's voice. "It's necessary. You're father and son, and you've barely exchanged ten words since Bardock returned from Hell."
"We've been busy," Goku argued weakly.
"Not that busy," Bulma countered.
"You know we can blast our way out right?" Bardock interjected, arms crossed annoyed.
"You can, but then you'd wake Megumi with the explosion. You know how angry Freeza will get at that. I don't think you'd want to deal with that." Chi-Chi countered.
At Freeza's name Bardock froze for a moment, bad memories resurfacing. Hearing that Freeza did it on orders from the 'God' of Destruction Beerus, helped with Bardock not feeling as angry at joining back the Empire, despite he himself having chosen to simply to pay Toji back for saving him from Hell.
He still wanted Freeza dead, but was for one, still too weak for that,
Two, it would be counterintuitivie to him trying to pay Toji back,
And three, what happened was so... long ago, that he to an extent felt tired of the rage he held within Hell for centuries- the only thing then still keeping him going.
"We'll be back in a few hours. Work it out." Bulma stated.
The communication clicked off, leaving the two Saiyans in awkward silence.
"We could just wait them out," Bardock suggested, moving to sit on a stone bench near the artificial stream.
"Yeah, I guess," Goku agreed, taking a seat on the opposite end of the bench, leaving plenty of space between them.
The silence stretched uncomfortably. Water burbled over stones in the stream. Sunlight filtered through the canopy of oak leaves above them. Somewhere, a bird sang - whether real or simulated, neither could tell.
"So..." Goku finally ventured. "You've been training with Nappa and Turles?"
Bardock nodded. "Vegeta wants us combat-ready. Says we need to be prepared for anything while Toji's... away."
"That makes sense. Vegeta's always been big on training."
Another silence fell.
"Your form is good," Bardock said suddenly. "When you fight. It's not traditional Saiyan style, but it's effective."
Goku brightened at the topic. "I learned from lots of different masters on Earth. Master Roshi taught me the basics of the Turtle School, then I trained with Kami, King Kai..."
"The Kai who defended us in Heaven," Bardock recalled. "Odd fellow."
"Yeah, he loves bad jokes," Goku agreed with a laugh. "But he's a great teacher. He showed me the Kaio-ken and Spirit Bomb."
The conversation flowed a bit more easily as they discussed fighting techniques, but remained safely in neutral territory. After exhausting that topic, another awkward silence descended.
"What was it like?" Goku asked suddenly. "Planet Vegeta, I mean."
Bardock seemed surprised by the question. "You want to know about Planet Vegeta?"
"Sure," Goku replied with genuine curiosity. "I don't know much about where I came from besides some things Vegeta told me."
Vegeta being royalty and therefore not having the same experience and view as a low-class remaining unspoken, but understood.
Bardock studied him for a moment, then looked up at the sky. "It was... harsh. Red sky, high gravity, extreme temperatures. The landscape was mostly rocky mountains and deep canyons. Not much vegetation except in the southern hemisphere."
"What about the people? The other Saiyans?"
"Warrior culture, through and through," Bardock continued. "Every child was tested for power level at birth. The strongest were raised as elite warriors. The weakest were sent off-world."
"Like me," Goku noted without resentment.
Bardock's expression tightened slightly. "Yes. Though in your case..."
He trailed off, and Goku didn't press. Instead, he asked about Saiyan cities, food, and traditions.
Bardock described the capital with its imposing architecture, the spicy cuisine that reflected their aggressive nature, and the "Festival of the Full Moon" that celebrated their Oozaru transformations- things Goku know, but they were safe... topics, so he didn't point that out.
Finally, Bardock asked the question that had been weighing on him since his resurrection after seeing Goku's life through the Axis Mundi:
"Why have you never sought information about your biological parents? Before I appeared, I mean. You had wish orbs to my knowledge, had them before the Empire found out."
Goku blinked, surprised by the directness. "I guess I never really thought about it. Grandpa Gohan was my family. He found me, raised me, taught me everything important."
"Grandpa Gohan," Bardock repeated. "The old man who raised you on Earth."
"Yeah! He was the best," Goku said with a fond smile. "He taught me martial arts, how to survive in the wilderness, right from wrong... everything that matters, really. He was the only family that really mattered."
Something flickered across Bardock's face - a brief shadow of emotion quickly suppressed. "I see."
Goku, typically observant to subtle emotional cues, missed the reaction entirely. He continued talking about Grandpa Gohan, sharing stories of his childhood in the mountains, completely unaware of the effect his words were having.
Bardock listened in silence, his expression growing increasingly closed off. He had already seen and heard all this from the Axis Mundi, but hearing them from Kakarot for some reason affected him.
It wasn't like him- not like a Saiyan father, much less a Saiyan Warrior.
But Kakarot is what kept him going in Hell, the visions before his death, of Kakarot battling Cooler, seeing him achieve Super Saiyan, believing Freeza would meet her end much the same.
"Do you have any interest in knowing me at all?" he finally interrupted, his voice rougher than before.
The question hung in the air between them. Goku stared at Bardock, genuinely taken aback by the directness.
"I... I don't know," he admitted honestly. "This is all pretty weird for me. I never really thought about having another father."
"I'm not 'another father,'" Bardock said, a edge creeping into his voice. "I am your father. Your blood. Your heritage."
"I know that," Goku replied, scratching his head. "It's just... I never knew you existed until recently. I don't really know how I'm supposed to feel. Grandpa Gohan was the only father I knew until now."
Bardock stood abruptly and walked to the edge of the stream. His back to Goku, he spoke in a controlled voice: "I sent you away from Planet Vegeta."
Goku remained silent, sensing the importance of whatever was coming.
"I had... visions. A rare ability among Saiyans. I saw Freeza destroying our world, killing everyone. I saw you, grown up on Earth, facing Cooler." Bardock's fists clenched at his sides. "No one believed me. Not even your mother."
He turned to face Goku, his scarred face tight with old pain. "I fought my way to the launch area. Put you in a pod myself. Programmed it for Earth - a backwater planet Freeza wouldn't care about. Then I flew into space to face Freeza's army alone."
Goku's eyes widened. "You tried to stop Freeza? By yourself?"
"Someone had to try," Bardock replied simply. "I failed, obviously. But you survived. That's what mattered. I had to distract them."
His words hung between them, changing everything Goku thought he knew about where he came from.
Since the moment Raditz arrived on Earth and told him about the Saiyans, and what everyone else told him, he'd assumed he'd been sent to Earth as a conqueror, part of the Saiyan plan to claim planets for the Freeza Force.
But it seems the truth was completely different.
His father actually... cared about him.
"You saved me," Goku said softly.
Bardock looked away. "For all the good it did. I still ended up in Hell. I couldn't help you- train you to be the warrior to fight Cooler. To for once, on the behest of everyone- the Saiyans, your mother, their victims - spit in the face of the Cold Family."
"But you tried to save everyone," Goku insisted, standing up. "You stood up to Freeza when no one else would. That's... that's pretty amazing."
A ghost of a smile touched Bardock's lips. "Didn't do much good. One Saiyan against Freeza's entire armada? It was suicide."
"But you did it anyway," Goku pointed out. "Because it was right. Because you wanted to change things, right?"
At that Bardock fell silent, but his silence was answer enough.
Eventually after many minutes later, Bardock spoke again. This time of Hell - the endless cycles of punishment, the centuries of suffering, the gradual wearing away of hope until Toji's arrival had changed everything.
Tore the foundation of the realm apart, like a Savior from myth ignoring all the laws of damnation, and doing whatever he wanted.
Strength unmatched.
"Time works differently there," he explained. "What felt like centuries might have been less in the living world. Or more. It's hard to tell."
"What was it like?" Goku asked. "Being... dead?"
"Hell isn't just fire and brimstone like the stories," Bardock replied, his voice distant with memory. "It's... personalized- to an extent. Your worst fears, your greatest regrets, played out over and over. For me, it was watching Planet Vegeta explode, seeing my crew die, over and over. Knowing I failed to save them."
Goku listened intently, trying to imagine such an existence. "That sounds awful."
"You get used to it," Bardock said with a shrug that belied the horror of his words. "Eventually, I stopped feeling much of anything. Just... existed. Until Toji came crashing through like a comet, breaking rules I didn't even know could be broken."
The conversation shifted to Goku's life on Earth - his friends, his adventures, his family. Bardock listened with growing interest, occasionally asking questions about Earth customs or battles Goku had fought.
He knew a lot, but hearing his son talk to him still brought him... peace.
"So you defeated Cooler." Bardock stated, a hint of pride creeping into his voice. "My visions showed you facing him, but not the outcome."
"Yeah, on Earth," Goku confirmed. "After he killed Krillin, something just... snapped. That's when I first became a Super Saiyan."
"The legendary transformation," Bardock murmured. "We all heard the stories growing up, but no one really believed it was possible."
"And Toji's with Freeza," Goku said, shaking his head. "Life gets pretty weird sometimes."
Bardock's expression darkened. "That's been... difficult to accept. She destroyed our entire race, our planet. Everything. And Toji just..."
"Fell in love with her?" Goku supplied.
"Is that what you call it?" Bardock asked skeptically.
Goku shrugged. "I don't know what else to call it. They've got a kid together. He literally went to Hell and back for them."
"She's still a monster," Bardock insisted.
"Maybe," Goku conceded. "But people can change. I've seen it happen before. Piccolo used to be my worst enemy. Now he's one of my best friends and Gohan's mentor."
"This is different."
"Is it?" Goku asked. "Look at Vegeta. He was going to destroy Earth- the planet that is my home - when he first showed up. Now he's in charge of running part of the universe until Toji gets back. And in the way Toji himself would've wanted at that."
Bardock seemed unconvinced but didn't argue further. Instead, he asked about Goku's Super Saiyan transformation - how it felt, how he achieved it, whether he could control it.
As they talked, both men began to notice a couple similarities, but also differences between themselves.
"You fight to protect," Bardock observed. "Not for conquest or glory."
"Isn't that why everyone fights?" Goku asked.
Bardock's laugh was short and harsh. "No. Most Saiyans fought for the thrill of battle, for status, for power. Protection was... secondary, if considered at all."
"But you fought to protect Planet Vegeta," Goku pointed out. "To save everyone from Freeza. To save me."
Bardock at the last part fell silent- because yes, for some reason during those last moments when fighting the armada, Kakarot was truly all that mattered. Distracting everyone, making sure no one would focus or notice the spacepod flying away.
Even destroying the flagship to a great extent, invading it, and destroying any data he could in case it contained information about having noticed Kakarot's spacepod take off.
"I suppose I... did," Bardock acknowledged, "Maybe that's where you got it from."
The door to the garden suddenly unlocked with an audible click. Both men turned to see Bulma entering with Megumi in her arms. The baby was awake now, his violet eyes alert and curious.
"I thought you said a few hours," Goku called out.
"It has been three hours," Bulma replied with a smirk. "Time flies when you're having fun, huh?"
She approached with Megumi, who immediately reached for Goku with tiny hands. "Kaka!" the baby exclaimed, his face lighting up.
"Hey there, little guy!" Goku said, taking him gently. "Have a good nap?"
Megumi babbled happily, patting Goku's face with a lot of strength for an infant.
Bardock watched the interaction with undisguised interest. "He's strong for his age. Stronger than even the strongest Saiyan infants I've seen."
"He's Toji and Freeza's kid," Goku replied with a laugh. "Pretty sure he came out of the womb ready to be stronger than anyone."
Megumi turned at the sound of Bardock's voice, studying the scarred warrior with intense focus. The baby's head tilted slightly as he observed the similarities between Bardock and Goku.
Then, to everyone's surprise, he reached toward Bardock with both hands. "Up!" he demanded.
Bardock froze, clearly uncertain how to respond. He looked to Goku, who nodded encouragingly and held Megumi out toward him.
With visible hesitation, Bardock accepted the child, holding him awkwardly against his chest. Megumi immediately grabbed onto Bardock's armor with one hand and reached up to touch the scar on his cheek with the other.
"Kaka's Dada?" Megumi asked, looking between Bardock and Goku questioningly.
Bulma's eyebrows shot up. "Did he just try to say 'Kakarot's dad'?"
"Smart kid," Goku said with a grin. "He figured it out before we did. We had to be told."
Bardock stood rigidly, clearly uncomfortable with holding the infant but making no move to return him. Megumi seemed perfectly content, continuing to examine Bardock's face with intense curiosity.
"He has Toji's eyes," Bardock observed quietly. "The shape, I mean. But the color..."
"That's all Freeza," Bulma confirmed. "Along with that impressive glare she gives when she doesn't get his way."
From the doorway, Chi-Chi watched the scene with satisfaction. Her intervention with Bulma had worked better than she'd hoped.
"Dinner will be ready in an hour," she announced, drawing everyone's attention. "Bardock, you're welcome to join us. I've made plenty."
Bardock looked surprised by the invitation. "I... thank you."
The family dining room in the imperial guest quarters was modest by palace standards, but still elegant.
Crystal lighting fixtures cast a warm glow over the polished table where Goku, Chi-Chi, Gohan, and Bardock sat enjoying the meal Chi-Chi had prepared.
The conversation flowed more naturally now, with Gohan eagerly asking Bardock questions about Saiyan history and culture. The scarred warrior answered patiently, occasionally glancing at Goku as if to gauge his reactions.
"So Saiyan tails were really useful? Like Nappa always says." Gohan asked, fascinated.
"Yes. All Saiyans are born with tails for a reason. We are the Ultimate Warrior race. Everything about us is necessary for a reason when it comes to battle," Bardock confirmed. "Yet still, they're removed here for some reason."
"The Oozaru transformation is too destructive," Goku explained. "After I nearly killed everyone multiple times, Kami removed mine."
"It can be controlled," Bardock pointed out. "With proper training. Elites have a far easier, time, but us low-class can do it too."
"Maybe," Goku conceded. "But it's easier this way. Besides, I don't need it anymore now that I can become a Super Saiyan."
The mention of the legendary transformation caught Bardock's interest again. "I still can't believe it's real. I mean- I saw the visions, I believed in them, but still. In my time, it was just a myth, a story to inspire young warriors."
"It's definitely real. I've seen Dad transform multiple times. It's incredible! I'll transform myself soon enough!" Gohan stated with determination between bites.
"Gohan, don't talk with your mouth full." Chi-Chi scolded gently.
"Could you show me?" Bardock asked, trying to sound casual but unable to hide his curiosity. "Not now, obviously, but sometime?"
Goku's face lit up. "Sure! We could train together. Maybe you could even transform yourself someday!"
As they finished the meal, Chi-Chi brought out dessert - a cake.
"This is... unusual," Bardock commented after taking a bite. "But good."
"It's chocolate cake," Chi-Chi explained. "One of Earth's specialties."
"Earth has many good things," Bardock acknowledged, his gaze moving between the members of his son's family. "I can see why you chose to protect it."
Goku grinned. "Yeah, Earth is pretty great. And the food is amazing!"
As if to demonstrate, he helped himself to another massive slice of cake, much to Chi-Chi's exasperation and Gohan's amusement.
Bardock watched them, his usual stern expression softening almost imperceptibly.
For the first time since his resurrection, he felt something like belonging - a connection to these people who shared his blood but had lived such different lives.
The peaceful moment was interrupted by the arrival of Vegeta, his imperial regalia slightly askew as if he'd been in a hurry.
He didn't bother knocking, simply pushing open the door and striding in with the confidence of someone accustomed to command.
"Kakarot," he said without preamble. "I need to speak with you."
Goku looked up from his cake, mouth still full. "Can't it wait, Vegeta? We're having dessert."
"No, it cannot wait," Vegeta replied tersely. His gaze shifted to Bardock, a flicker of hesitation crossing his features before he continued. "The Hand has found two more Saiyans in the South Galaxy."
(The Hand, the code name for the Shadow Court.)
The announcement caused both Goku and Bardock to straighten in their seats.
"More Saiyans?" Goku asked, suddenly serious. "Survivors from Planet Vegeta?"
Vegeta nodded. "Their names are Broly and Paragus. They've requested asylum within the Empire."
----------------------------
(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all liked this chapter.
I wanted to put focus on Goku and Bardock- hope you guys didn't mind that.
Do tell me how you found it.
Also, Broly and Paragus. Finally, the Legend of the Saiyans is stepping on the board.
Do tell me what you think will happen. Is this Broly Super one? Or Z one? A mix of both?
Tell me what you think and hope for.
Well, I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)