Dragon Ball Z: Paradise Found

Sweet Hellfire

"My, my... What's this here? Two scamp monkeys that survived until now while avoiding running into the Ginyu Special Squadron. How did you manage that, I wonder?" Frieza's black lips turned upward as the space emperor became more sheepish in his approach to his chance meeting with the two petrified Saiyans.

"Damn it..." Bardock cursed, grinding his teeth so hard that it seemed like he'd shove each row all the way down into his gums. "Frieza, you bastard..."

"What was that?" Frieza raised the bony ridges hanging over his beady eyes as he turned his head to the side and placed an open palm by the hole at the side of his head that served as his ear. "I didn't quite hear that, but I can't help but think it sounded like something that wasn't very nice."

"Gine," Bardock turned half of his attention to his wife cowering behind his left side and trembling. It didn't take a grandmaster of combat to realize that meeting Frieza wasn't just bad news–it was a death sentence. "I want you to haul ass as hard as you can. I want you to run toward the old abandoned hospital facility. That's where Kakarot and his friends are holed up. Just tell them your name and they'll be happy to help you. They're a trusting lot, obnoxiously so. Pisses me off sometimes."

"B-But... Bardock..." Gine tried muttering something. Bardock's glare widened in terror. He dived toward Gine and tackled her to the ground. He was just a few seconds early before a rocky hill flew and grazed across the planet floor with velocity intense enough to shatter either of their bones upon impact. The black dots in Frieza's eyes had a malicious, violet gleam to them that died out not too long after the telekinetic hill stopped moving.

"I understand you are just barbarian primates with no understanding of manners, but ignoring me is just plain rude. You must forgive my outburst. I must admit that this day could have gone better for me," Frieza chuckled to himself while his tail whipped about in excitement. It was as if he fed on the dread that he inspired in his subjects and soothed his own insecurities and toxic personality by seeing others scared of their peril.

"Go! I've been lucky enough to meet our son. I'll die before robbing you, his mother of a chance to meet him too! Get the hell of my sight, Gine! Find Kakarot!" Bardock roared out, giving the absolute fewest amount of shits if anybody heard him or if Frieza understood what he was talking about. The Saiyan warrior lifted himself off the ground, rising to Frieza's level in mid-air.

"What is this supposed to mean?" Frieza bent his head to the side, looking baffled for a few blinks, but his bafflement faded away and became exasperation.

"Damn it, why is it that whenever I run into you scum bastards, I always find myself beaten to a pulp and unable to draw out my full power?" Bardock clenched his fists, recalling his clash against prince Vegeta back on Planet Earth. An intense, transparent aura blasted out in violent ignition as the rebellious Saiyan did his best to build up his Ki as high up as he could so that he could put up all ounces of resistance against Frieza that he could and that he could give Gine all the time he could for her escape.

She wasn't quick enough, nor was she strong. If he dies immediately, Gine would be screwed as well. Frieza would take no time at all catching up to her and killing her. That meant that Bardock had to show Frieza some real good time if his wife was to finally see her son. Over twenty years ago, exactly twenty-five years ago, Bardock had a nasty feeling that he might have died rebelling against Frieza. For whatever reason, this dwarf rascal halted the destruction of Planet Vegeta back then, which Bardock was sure he'd bring and made him into a fool in the faces of his fellow Saiyans. Yet now, when he had the sacred duty of reuniting a mother with her son, this asshole shows his face. The absolute nerve... Bardock smirked, transitioning into a subtle laugh.

"Hmm?" Frieza broke out of his grumpy exterior. "Is your answer to my question supposed to be somehow funny? Maybe we should make a game of it. If it is funny, I'll let you run along. Go ahead, try me, monkey. Be warned, however, that this day has provided me with many bumps in the road so entertaining me might be a daunting challenge."