Generations-A Tale of Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball Z and related characters are property of Akira Toriyama.

Flames of the fires below licked up eager to feed upon his body. He closed his eyes and accepted his fate to burn like the rest of his people, save for one. However, he did not mind, for that survivor would grow up to avenge the extinction of their race. Knowing that made a smile form across his battle-scared face as he fell down to meet the engulfed Planet Vegeta. He closed his eyes expecting to burn up at any second, but then a flash of light surrounded his body. The next thing he felt was a soft substance that oozed between his fingers and carried the smell of earth and moisture. This puzzled him as he tried to stand, but his body gave out and he fell back onto the muddy ground. He was physically weak from his wounds and exhaustion. Why had he not died? Did he not see the death of himself and of his people? Where was he now? There were so many questions, but they were to go unanswered, for he saw everything go blurry and then dark.

“Ack!” Goten screeched as a flash of lightning came down within a few feet of him. Both he and Trunks were soaked from the rain. They had been sparring in the forest when it suddenly began to storm. Naturally, Trunks wanted to continue, but he didn't want to get in trouble by his `kaasan, so they were obliged to return to the house. It was nearly suppertime anyway.

Trunks laughed at his younger friend. “Geeze, you're such a baby, Goten!” he jeered.

“I am not, Trunks!” snapped the younger half-saiyan, “I just don't like lightening.” He looked ahead and saw the river below them and his house just beyond it. Then his large black eyes spotted something else. It looked like a man lying facedown on the muddy bank. “Hey Trunks lookie there!” he said and pointed.

“Cool a dead body! I'm going to check it out!” Trunks replied and flew down toward the figure. Goten landed beside him, though not appearing particularly happy. Trunks turned to him and said, “I dare you to touch it.”

Goten shook his head. “I'm not touching it! I want to go home and eat supper. I'm hungry.”

“Baby!” Trunks taunted and started sucking his thumb to irritate Goten.

Goten began to throw a tantrum. “I am not a baby!” he screamed.

“Then touch it already!” snorted Trunks, “And if he's dead it's not like he's going to reach up and grab you.”

With a gulp, the younger of the duo approached the body. He could see that the man was covered with blood. Slowly his right hand drew out and felt the man's matted black hair. Goten sighed with relief when nothing happened. Normally, he wouldn't have been so timid, but this man made his hair stand on end. He turned to go when suddenly a large hand grabbed his left arm and pulled him down. He screamed with terror as he came face to face with the man. As suddenly as he had been grabbed, the hand released him. The man closed his eyes again and whispered, “Kakarot…”

“Maybe I was wrong about the guy being dead,” laughed Trunks as Goten ran behind him. He took notice of the dried blood on the man's arms and armour and added, “He's hurt bad anyway. Maybe we should take him to your house.”

“He called me Kakarot,” Goten whispered from behind his friend, “Isn't that what your `Tousan calls my `Tousan?”

Trunks scratched his head. “Yeah? So…” His words trailed off as he took notice of a mokey-like tail protruding from the man's rump.

Goten had noticed the tail as well. He bent down beside the figure and gasped, “He's looks like `Tousan!” He places one of the saiya-jin's arms across his shoulders and flew off towards his house.

“Goten wait!” yelled Trunks as he flew after him. He stared at Goten's burden and raised an eyebrow. “Maybe he's a clone of your father created some mad scientist and sent to terminate us!”

“That's not funny, Trunks!” the smaller half-saiyan muttered, “All I know is he's hurt and `Tousan would want to help him. Besides, I don't think he's so evil.”

They landed and entered into the house. “Where have you two been?” Chichi snapped. She then took notice of the injured saiya-jin her son was carrying and screamed so loud that the entire house shook.

Goku winced as he heard his wife. He grabbed a towel and hopped out of the bath, trailing water behind him as he ran down the stairs and into the living room. “I'm coming Chichi!” he hollered.

“He's hurt, `Kaasan,” Goten said to his mother. He laid the saiya-jin down on the sofa and pointed to him.

“Get that thing off my furniture!” Chichi ordered. She screamed again and jumped into Goku's arms.

Goku blushed. “Gee, Chichi, you really shouldn't do things like that in front of the boys,” he teased, “Now what's the matter?”

“Look what our son dragged home!” his wife wailed and clung to her husband's waist.

The saiya-jin turned towards the sofa and his eyes widened. “Where did he come from?” he asked Goten. He thought Vegeta and he were the only pure saiya-jins left, but who was this one?

“Trunks and I found him by the river, `Tousan,” answered his son, “And he's hurt very bad. He also called me Kakarot. That's what Vegeta calls you isn't it?”

Goku set Chichi down and slowly approached the unconscious saiya-jin. “Yes it is, son,” he said. He blinked as he studied along the saiya-jin's facial features. They resembled his, save for a long scar on the left side. He turned to say something to his wife when the saiya-jin's eyes fluttered open slightly.

“Kakarot…?” he whispered hoarsely, “Where…am…I?”

“Yes I am he,” Goku answered, “And you are in my house. Please tell me who you are.”

Tears began to trickle down from the other saiya-jin's weary eyes. He weakly started to reach out to Goku and whispered, “I…am…Bardock…your…” Bardock's words trailed off as he closed his eyes and coughed up a little blood.

“Otousan?” Goku murmured as he recalled what he had learned during his time on Planet Namek. He knelt down beside Bardock and held his hand. “I don't understand how this can be, but I believe you are he. I am glad to have been able to see you. I don't know what happened to you Father, but rest now.”

End of chapter one.

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