Generations-K-Kakarot?

Disclaimer: Dragon Ball Z and related characters are property of Akira Toriyama. All other characters and situations are from my imagination.

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. "Geez, 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 armor 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.

Generations-The Son I Never Got To Know

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

It was morning when Bardock opened his eyes. He found that he was lying in bed, but it wasn't a typical saiya-jin bed to his recollection. All it consisted of was a thin mattress on the floor, bur quite soft and comfortable. He slowly pushed back his blankets to discover that his broken saiya-jin armor had been removed and his wounds were dressed with clean bandages. At first he thought he had been dreaming, but this place was foreign to him. He pondered over the strange surroundings and sat up with some difficulty, for he was very weak from his ordeal. He looked towards the door and saw a little boy standing there.

He appeared to be very young. Perhaps only seven or eight years old. His facial features resembled a miniature version of Bardock, save for the large innocent eyes and the lack of a scar on his left cheek. He was clad in an unusual blue garment with purple sleeves and trousers.

"Who are you and where am I?" Bardock demanded and tried to stand. His feet buckled from under him and he was sent to the ground with his limbs sprawling at his sides.

The little boy blinked like an owl at the injured saiya-jin. "I-I'm Goten," he stammered, "This is my family's house in the Eastern District near Mt. Paozu."

"I've never heard of such a place before!" grunted Bardock as he crawled back under his blankets. He was too injured to stand, let alone walk and he wasn't used to being around children. Even when Radditz was born he was often away on missions with his team.

Goten approached Bardock and smiled. "Are you a saiya-jin?" he asked naively. "Last time I checked," Bardock snorted. The child's sweet nature was making him feel rather uncomfortable, and more so the resemblance he bore to himself. He was beginning to think that this wasn't a dream at all. Surely that was his son Kakarot who he had beheld before and this young boy was his son.

A woman entered carrying a tray with a bowl of steaming broth in her hands. "Goten!" she snapped, "Didn't I tell you not to come in here? Now why don't you go and play outside and let your grandfather rest?"

"Gomen nasai, 'Kaasan," answered the chibi as he scrambled out the door.

The woman turned back to Bardock and set the tray beside him. He eyed her suspiciously as well as the broth. "Who are you, woman? What is the name of this planet?" he asked in a dominating tone, though not as arrogant as Vegeta's.

"My name is Son Chichi and this is Earth," she replied without an ounce of fear in her voice. Father or not to her husband, this saiya-jin stranger was a guest in her house and should abide by the same rules as the rest of the family.

Bardock felt too tired to argue with the female, so he simply nodded and sniffed the broth. He decided it was sage enough and lifted the porcelain bowl in his hands. He drank furiously as he hadn't realized how hungry he had been. The warm savory liquid was quite welcoming to his parched throat and slid down into his empty stomach. He sat the bowl aside after finishing off his broth and then lay back down. He turned his head back to Chichi and said, "Arigotou. Now can you please tell me how long I've been asleep? Everything's still so blurry."

Chichi knelt down beside the saiya-jin and gestured for him to allow her to tend to his left arm. "You've been unconscious for four days and five nights since my son found you by the river." she answered.

"Ah," said Bardock as he watched the woman remove the bandages around his arm and apply a poultice to his cuts. He sensed that she was an earthling, which meant that his son's children were hybrids of her people and his people. "Where is Kakarot, my son?" Bardock inquired.

"He's outside training with our eldest boy," the earth woman replied.

Bardock reached up and clutched one of Chichi's arms, though not to harm her. "Then I wasn't dreaming after all," he told her, "Please bring him to me. I want to see my son."

Chichi was at first startled by the saiya-jin's sudden action, but he seemed more to be pleading to her more than wanting to hurt her. "But don't you think you should rest a bit more first?" she suggested.

"Not until after I've seen Kakarot!" Bardock retorted, releasing the woman.

"Oh all right," sighed Chichi. She left the room mumbling to herself about how stubborn men were, human or saiya-jin.

It was a short while later when Goku entered the house. His heart beat rapidly with every step he took towards the guestroom. He opened the door and poked his head inside to find that his father was sitting up. Both father and son stood there for a long time as one does when he or she experiences deja vu. Goku finally came to his senses and sat down at the edge of his father's futon. He smiled and whispered, "Ohayo Otousan."

Bardock looked away from his son. "You're not like me, Kakarot," he whispered, "I was born to be a killer of worlds, strong and ruthless. I can feel that you are much stronger than I ever could be and yet you are so gentle and compassionate. The last time I saw your face you were only a mere infant. What I do not understand is why I am here when you are a grown man, Kakarot.. The last thing I remember before this waking is watching myself about to be engulfed with Planet Vegeta. I was supposed to die!" He struggled to stand, but his legs became like lead and he fell.

"Otousan!" Goku cried as he caught him by the arm. "You're still too weak to be getting up," he said as he helped Bardock back into bed, "I don't understand this myself, Father, but you are here and that's all that matters to me. Perhaps you have been granted a second chance."

"But why me?" Bardock roared, "Kakarot, why me and not the rest of our people? Can't you understand that I am a killing machine? I'm not ever sure I would know how to live another path in life than that!"

Goku nodded. "Yes I know what our race was," he answered his father in a more serious tone than before, "But you have a choice, Father. Deep down I can feel you have a heart, but you're afraid of it. You don't have to be. Father, and you don't have to worry about Freeza anymore. I defeated him with my own two hands."

Bardock's eyes widened. "I saw the vision!" he exclaimed, "But how did you do it, my son?"

"I will show you," answered the other saiya-jin. He stood up and walked back several feet. He clenched his hands together and began to yell. The floor trembled beneath his boots as the level of his ki skyrocketed. He was enveloped with a golden flame as his hair stood up like and his eyes sparkled green like two of the purest emeralds.

Bardock was astonished. "You have become a legendary super saiya-jin," he gasped, "Never before have I felt such power!"

Goku smiled as he reverted back to his normal self. "Indeed I have, Otousan, and surpassed it three times over."

"Tell me, Son," his father began, "Are we the only saiya-jin alive? You seem to know much about me for someone who hasn't seen his father since he was a baby."

"There were a handful of survivors, including Prince Vegeta," Goku answered him, "But now he and I were the last pure saiya-jin until you were found."

Bardock's eyebrows raised, though a little difficult to notice because of the bandages wrapped around his forehead. "Who were the other saiya-jin and what was their fate?"

"There were two of them. One was Nappa and the other was Radditz," Goku answered as his head bowed slowly, "Father, Nappa died at my own hand and I helped defeat Radditz, my own brother. I'm so very sorry, but I had to. They tried to kill my firstborn son and everyone I love. But I-I let Vegeta live after he was badly beaten."

A chill went down Bardock's spine as he heard his own son's words. "Kakarot, look at me!" he barked.

Goku complied, though his black eyes were trembling. He had been dreading this moment, but his father needed to know the full story about himself.

"Tell me everything," his father said, "You have not dishonored me, Kakarot, remember that."

And so the son gave his father his account of his life from his early childhood, of his defeat of Prince Vegeta, of his defeat of Lord Freeza and so on. Nervous he was, but Goku tried to conceal it from Bardock.

Bardock waited until his son finished his story before he spoke again. When the time came, he looked into his son's shiny black eyes and said, "Kakarot, I am beginning to understand now. You know the story about how I saw Planet Vegeta's destruction. What you do not know is that I was also given a vision of your future. I pondered over how you were growing into a strong warrior and yet you were different than your brethren. You fight not only because you enjoy it so, but you also fight to protect everything that you love. I envy that, for I could never understand nor think I could ever be like that. You are right that I am afraid. I cannot love as you can!"

"Can you hear your own words, Father?" Goku asked, his eyes narrowed as his facial expressions became more serious than before, "The fact is that you have loved before, even if it was only a hint of it. I know the story about the blood-soaked scarf you wore in memory of your friend. It hurt you when you saw him die in your arms. Then there was the night my son brought you in. You looked up at me with tears in your eyes. The reality is that you do love, but you are afraid to admit it because you think it makes one weak."

Bardock hid his bead under his hands and began to tremble like a cornered rabbit. "I am so confused, Kakarot," he whispered, "I am a saiya-jin warrior, and yet these emotions are frightening me. I do not know how to control them. So much is happening all at once. I should have been dead thirty-five years ago, but here I am alive in the future with the son I never really knew. Would you believe at first I didn't want to know you. I am sorry that ever could have thought that way. Kakarot, I...I..."

"Otousan," Goku answered as he reached out and places his hand on his father's bandaged shoulder, "I know you're forcing yourself to say it. I love you too."

The other saiya-jin gazed up at his son. He shook nervously as a tear slid down his cheek. He thought about his friend Toma and then about his mate Turnipi. His son, Kakarot, had been right that he had indeed loved, but now for the first time he did not hide it behind fear or anger. He was still afraid, but his son gave him a sense of reassurance. He might never find out why he was here, but Bardock made a vow then that he would try to love his son back. "Thank you, my Son," he whispered and then allowed sleep to overcome him.

A smile returned to Goku's face as he sat there beside his sleeping father. He leaned over and pushed locks of Bardock's tangled black hair away from his face. The other saiya-jin stirred a little, but he did not open his eyes. Goku was about to whisper something to him when his own hair stood up as he sensed a strong ki and footsteps coming from behind him. He stood up and turned around to find Vegeta standing a few feet from him with that trademark scowl on his face.

"Kakarot," Vegeta growled, "We need to talk."

The end of chapter two.

Generations-Getting To Know You

Disclaimer: Dragon Ball Z and related characters are property of Akira Toriyama. “Vegeta, what are you doing here?” Goku asked, feeling rather uncomfortable with how the saiya-jin prince was eyeing his slumbering father.

Vegeta narrowed his eyes and roared, “I’ll ask the questions, Kakarot. For starters, what in the hell is going on here? Where did that come from?” He pointed to Bardock and continued; “I thought my brat was playing some sort of a joke, but I see now that he wasn’t. Did you wish him here?”

The taller saiya-jin stared down at the prince. “No I didn’t,” he replied, “I have no idea how he got here. I contacted King Kai and told him the situation. He suspects that my father fell through some sort of time loop, and perhaps not coincidental. He’ll contact me when he can gather some more information.”

“Not good enough,” grunted Vegeta, “I don’t like this. Are you even sure that he’s for real, Kakarot? And how do you know he wouldn’t turn on you and your family? He is a saiya-jin after all.”

“So are we, Vegeta!” Goku answered defensively, “Look I don’t understand this, but I am convinced that is really my father and that he wouldn’t harm anyone. Not after today at any rate.”

Vegeta snorted and turned away, “You’re an ass, Kakarot,” he said, “But have it your way. Let’s just be fortunate that we no longer have a full moon.”

“All right, Vegeta,” sighed Goku, “I’ll keep an eye out for anything strange, but I suggest we finish our talk outside and let my father rest.”

“Fine then,” growled the saiya-jin prince.

Bardock awoke sometime during the early morning hours. It was still dark outside and a storm fell heavily outside. He sat up without much difficulty and peered out into the darkness of the room. His saiya-jin ears caught the sound of whimpering coming from the hall. ‘Blast it,’ Bardock thought, ‘I’ll never get back to sleep with that carrying on.’ He struggled to his feet and discovered that his legs were now strong enough for him to walk, though in a rather awkward and slow pace. Making his way to the door, he opened it to find Goten huddled on the floor. “What are you doing?” whispered Bardock, “You’re part saiya-jin. You’ve got to be strong.”

The small child looked at his grandfather with tear-filled eyes. “I don’t like thunder,” he whimpered, “It’s loud and scary.”

Bardock shook his head at his grandson. Then his knees began to buckle, and he nearly fell. He caught himself and leaned against the doorway for support. “I need to lie back down,” he muttered.. He turned back to Goten and gestured for him to follow.

“Arigotou Ojiisan,” Goten whispered as he closed the door behind him. There was no need to turn on a light since both could see rather well in the darkness of the room.

Bardock slid back under his blankets and lay his head back against his soft pillow. “So how old are you anyway?” he gruffly asked his young grandson.

The little half-saiyan sat down beside the large saiya-jin. “I’m seven. I’ll be eight in December.”

Raising a curious eyebrow, Bardock commented, “I can sense that you’ve surpassed my ki level and yet you’re terrified of storms.” He was quite puzzled at how sweet-natured Goten was, but then again it wasn’t surprising since this was his son’s child.

“I bet you’re not afraid of anything, Grandpa,” Goten smirked. He looked up at Bardock with huge admiring eyes. He then bent forward and gave him a hug.

The saiya-jin tensed. The boy was squeezing his waist and smiling. “What in the hell are you doing?” he demanded.

“Gomen naisai, Ojiisan,” Goten replied with a frown and large eyes. He let go and inched back to his spot. “I only wanted to give you a hug.”

“Why? What’s a hug used for?” asked Bardock, who had never heard of such a thing before.

Goten giggled. “You use a hug to show someone you care about them, silly,” he commented.

Shifting himself under his blanker, Bardock muttered, “On Planet Vegeta we fought to show how we cared about one another.”

“But I don’t want to fight you, Grandpa,” the chibi-saiyan protested, “You’d probably beat me.”

“I don’t know about that,” yawned Bardock, “But right now I want to sleep.” He lifted up part of his blanket and patted to a spot beside him.

The little boy obeyed and crawled down beside the his grandfather. He curled himself into a ball and closed his eyes.

Bardock placed an arm around him and looked down at his grandson. ‘Deep down I know you’re a tough little saiya-jin warrior,’ he thought to himself, ‘Yes, I can feel that you’ve even reached the level of a super saiya-jin. Amazing how powerful you are at such a young age. That makes me proud.’

The next morning Goku found his wife standing in the guestroom with her jaw dropped to the floor. “Why are you doing that, Chichi?” he asked with puzzlement.

Chichi made no verbal response. Instead, she pointed towards the bed with a shaky index finger.

“Heh,” Goku chuckled as he discovered his father still asleep with Goten snuggled up against him, “That’s a kodak moment, eh?”

Bardock stirred and opened his eyes. “What are you looking at?” he asked with a yawn, “He got scared of the storm last night so I allowed him to sleep with me.”

Goku smiled at his father. “Getting to know your grandchildren, father?” he remarked, “And here I thought you said you didn’t think you could ever be capable of having emotion.”

“Oh is that so?” replied Bardock, narrowing his eyes. His tail whipped out and wrapped around his son’s ankles and tripped him.

“Shimatta!” Goku shouted as he fell face-first to meet the ground.

Bardock broke into roar of laughter. “Perhaps you were right after all, Kakarot,” he said, “But either way, I’m here and you can’t expect me to lie in sloth all day. As soon as I’m strong enough, I demand that you spar with me and show me how a super saiya-jin fights.”

“Very well,” Goku answered as he sat up. He too found himself laughing. He thought that surely Vegeta was wrong. However, only time would tell…

The end of chapter three