By Juuhachi-gou and Bulma

Part Four
"Keep On Calling Me"

Light and warmth on his face, ground and grass under his back.

Gokou lay where he was for a few minutes, letting those two things melt into him. He had no idea how long hed been lost in the shadows, but right now the feel of the world supporting him and the sun on his skin was the final definition of pleasure. Still, there was something about it, something not quite right, and at the same time something that fitted him to perfection. Puzzled, he sat up and opened his eyes, looking around.

A dusty plain, ragged rocks off to his right hand side, and a clear sky above, with two suns--

Two?

"Nani..?" he whispered, scratching his head. This was too much for him. He got to his feet and swayed, taking a little half-step stumble before catching his balance. His body felt unaccountably heavy. Like being on Kaiou-samas planet. But this is way too big! Where am I? And where are the others?

"Theyre right where theyre supposed to be."

Gokou turned, looking back over his shoulder with a scowl as Bardock moved towards him. The other man hesitated, one hand starting to reach out, but faltering as his eyes met Gokous. With a sigh Bardock let the hand drop, then folded his arms. "This," he said simply, "is home."

Gokou blinked, then glanced around again, eyes widening. "Vegetasei," he said.

"Hai. Vegetasei."

"But its blown up! Long time ago!"

"It lives here." Bardock tapped his forehead. "Were not really anywhere, Kakarott. This is... a dream, I guess you could call it. A dream made up of my memories. I brought you here because I... I wanted to..." the Saiyajin fell silent and Gokou could see the inner struggle skating over his face as Bardock tried to find words to express himself. "I wanted to know you before--"

"Before you eat me all up." Gokou turned and leveled a finger at his sire, not even trying to be polite. "Thats what it amounts to, ne? Youll swallow me like candy, wont be anything of me left. All you."

"Its not that way!" Bardock clenched his fists. "If youd only see sense, I might be able to leave you to take care of things for me! Kakarott, you have to admit, I have a point. Is it right for our whole race to be wiped out? Did we deserve to be cut down, crushed out like bugs?"

"Thats not my decision."

"Yes it is. If you continue to oppose me, youre as much as killing the Saiyajin all over again. A hundred thousand lives or more, Kakarott, glorious victories scattered across the stars. Can you throw them away? Theyre your people and mine! Their blood is in your veins, their spirits in your heart. You owe them your allegiance, not some miserable weakling race that cant hold its own against one Saiyajin baby!" Bardock mastered himself with an effort. "Kakarott. If it worries you that much, I suppose we can let the humans live. There arent that many of them, and they seem to be pretty smart. They could be useful, if theyre kept under control and taught their place."

"Yamero!" Gokou made a cutting motion in the air with one hand. "I dont know any of these things youre telling me. You try listening yourself to somebody, youre so smart!" He shifted a little, looking out across the windblown plains that felt strange and familiar both, and continued more softly, "Anou...youre right about that one thing you keep saying, its not right for a whole people to be gone. But taking chance to live and love and be free from somebody else just so you can have it isnt right either. Maybe thats Saiyajin way, taking and not caring who suffers, but its not mine. Chikyu isnt Vegetasei, and you dont have right to try making it into Vegetasei, because all youll do is spoil things."

Bardocks gaze sharpened. "I mightve expected it," he said bitterly. "You remember nothing of the pride of the Saiyajin. That damned soft little blue worlds bled all but the dregs of a warriors fire out of you. You consider them your equals, dont you? You idiot!" Bardock straightened, rage sparking in his eyes. "There is one race fit to own the universe, and thats our race. The Saiyajin. Ours is the strength and ours is the right to rule. Dont tell me you havent felt that much at least in the heart of your battles!"

"Iie." Gokous mouth twisted. "I want no part of you if thats way you think of things, nothing but fight and kill and steal. Every living thing, small or big, they all deserve to go on living without you and people like you coming down to crush them out. Those tiny lives, theyre as important as mine, they matter as much. You dont get that, you dont get me."

"Id hoped I could reach you." Bardock slowly reached up and took off his scouter, fingered the red headband he wore. "Do you know what makes this red? Its the blood of my team, the ones who died first at Freezas hand, because they were my battle-mates. They fought to live and Freezas men cut them down. I swore Id avenge them if it took my blood to do it." In one swift movement Bardock had launched himself at Gokou, knocking him down and locking his hands around Gokous throat. "My blood--or yours."

Choking, Gokou slammed his palm upward under Bardocks chin hard enough to rattle the other warriors teeth, grabbing at one of Bardocks thumbs with his other hand and wrenching it hard, twisting the grip loose enough to grab a breath. Bringing his knees up to the other mans chest, he kicked out suddenly, freeing himself. Bardock stumbled, caught himself, then came back, fists flying. "Give up," he growled. "Youre exhausted and this is my world, my mind, my memories. You dont have a chance!"

The only answer from Gokou was a fierce little grin as he flung himself into the fight. Back and forth they moved, almost like a dance, the only sounds a low grunt now and again as a blow struck home or the sear and crack of energy. But the longer they fought the more Gokou realized the truth of Bardocks words; while he was getting tired, the other Saiyajin seemed to be drawing strength from his surroundings. More and more often Gokou found himself forced into defense rather than offense, and Bardock showed no signs of slowing.

And once he, Gokou, was beaten down, what then? His heart ached at the thought of his hands, his body, but Bardocks soul, raging over the Earth with no one to stop him from doing whatever he wanted. Vegeta would never bow down to Bardock, and so he would have to be killed. Trunks would be put down without a moments thought. Gohan might survive a little longer, but even though he was strong, Gokou knew... had always known...his sons deepest heart belonged to things other than fighting. Gohan would fall to Bardock too. Piccolo and Juuhachi-gou? Worthless to Bardock, as worthless as sand on the beach. Their futures were in his hands, and he was failing them--

Bardocks fists crunched into him and Gokou flew backwards, fetching up hard against one of the rock outcroppings. Before he could move aside Bardock was on him, hands shutting off his air again. That face, so much like his own just to look at once and so very much unlike once you saw the spirit behind it, leaned in, voice low and urgent. "Last chance, my son. You can live, I swear it, only swear in turn youll let me guide you. Theres a place for you at my side. Throw off that weak humanity youve learned. Be who you truly are. Accept that you are my son, born to fight and kill and beat down all those who dare stand in our way. We are the bringers of death and fear. Accept your heritage, Kakarott!"

Fury rose up in Gokou, firing his hair gold and his eyes luminous aquamarine. He took hold of Bardocks hands in his own and with a single jerk broke their grip. "Iie," he said in a low growling voice that made Bardocks eyes widen. "Kakarott janai." The growl rose to a shout that shook the world. "SON GOKOU DA!"

Beneath their feet the ground shattered, and Bardock cried out as they fell through, into the void. Gokou didnt. He only shoved the other man away from him and cradled all his anger, all his love, all that meant anything to him at all, between his hands, letting it grow till its light was all he could see. "KAAAME HAAAME--"

"Kakarott!! NO--"

"HAAAAAAAAAA!"

* * * *

"We should kill him now." Vegeta scowled at the other Senshi, then down at the motionless body of Son Gokou. "Before Bardock finishes taking over and comes for us all."

Gohan only raised his fists a bit. "Vegeta-san," he said softly, slowly. "Iie. I respect you, you know that, and I hear what youre saying, and I know its wise. But not my Otou-san."

Piccolo moved up to stand at Gohans shoulder, saying nothing. He didnt need to. His intent was clear enough: You fight Gohan, you fight me. Trunks swallowed hard, looking at the trio, wondering which side hed take if it did come to blows. His father was right; if Bardock took full control of Gokou-sans form, there would be no stopping him. Gohan-san was right; killing Bardock now would kill Gokou-san too.

At their feet, Gokou stirred. Instantly every hand leveled at him. Slowly he sat up, eyes opening and looking around. Then he laughed, one hand tucking back behind his head and the other flashing a "V" sign. "Ossu!"

"Kakarott." Vegeta made a face and let his hands drop. "Damn."

"Im happy see you too, Vegeta." Getting up, Gokou dusted himself off.

"Otou-san!" Gohan clapsed his fathers shoulders, grinning ear to ear. "Youre okay!"

"Hai, Gohan-kun."

"Wheres Bardock?" Piccolo asked.

Gokou pondered a moment, then shrugged. "I dont know. All I remember is..." he trailed off. "We fought, and we fell, and I kamehamehad him, it was so bright..." he trailed off again, one hand stealing up to his forehead and rubbing it lightly. "Hes not here," he finished quietly. "Where he is, if hes anywhere, I dont know. But hes not in me."

Piccolo studied Gokou a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, youre right. Theres no one in that empty head of yours but you."

"Gohan-kun!" Videl came pounding across the ground, Bulma and Juuhachi-gou following at a more sedate pace, and all but threw herself at the young warrior, who caught her purely by instinct. "Youre all right!"

"H-hai, Videl-san!"

The girl smiled up at him. "Gohan.... Videl-chan. Ne?"

"Ahhh..." Gohans face lit up. "Sou da!"

"Well, this is nice," Bulma said, looking around in disgust at the battlefield, which included a good portion of Capsule Corporation. "Now what? Itll take weeks to repair all this!" She gave Vegeta a hard look. "And dont you dare disappear on one of your little training trips like you usually do when theres repairs to be made."

Vegeta only lifted an eyebrow and grunted noncommitally.

Trunks moved over to Juuhachi-gou, who was watching Gokou intently. "Hes all right," he said quietly.

"I know that." Juuhachi-gou swept back her hair. "But now I understand something, finally." She scuffed the ground a bit with one foot. "Gero always told us that Son Gokou was the most dangerous man alive. Having met him, I couldnt see that. Vegeta is more ruthless and skilled; Gohan is more powerful, in terms of pure measure of ki. But it was Gokou who won the day." She straightened, still looking at Gokou. "Its not the strength or the fierceness or the level of training," she finished. "Its that no matter how many times youre beaten down, you wont stay down. You keep coming back, and eventually you win. Because you can be beaten... but you won't be, cant be, defeated. Ever."

Gokou smiled, just a bit. "Sankyuu, Juuhachi-gou," he said. "Demo... do you think theres a chance the kitchen survived all that?" He jerked a thumb at the ruins of Capsule Corporation. "Im starving!"

"The appetite on legs speaks," Piccolo muttered. "Damn, Gokou, is that all you care about, whens the next meal or fight?"

The smile faded on Gokous face, replaced by something deep and thoughtful. "No, Piccolo," he said very very quietly. "How much I care about, youll never know." Then he laughed again. "Right now, though, I care about my stomach most of all!"

-Fin..or is it?....