The twin suns of Planet Vegeta shimmered over a world bathed in crimson heat. The skies were stained with a permanent dusk, and the cries of young warriors echoed across the stone-paved training grounds.
Rykon, a five-year-old Saiyan child, sat cross-legged with dozens of other children in the dusty courtyard of the dojo, the air thick with sweat, pride, and discipline. His spiky black hair waved slightly in the breeze, his sharp black eyes wide with curiosity.
Master Totoma, a scarred veteran with a power level burned into his every word, paced in front of them, speaking with a heavy tone.
"—And when you absorb 17 million units of Blutz wave energy through the retina," he grunted, pausing to breathe, "a transformation is triggered in the tail... giving birth to the Oozaru. Remember—real moons are better than artificial ones. They unlock your full, unfiltered strength."
He exhaled deeply. "Any questions?"
A heavy silence fell.
Rykon's hand trembled slightly as he raised it. "N-No, Master Totoma! I think we all understand now!"
Totoma's lips twitched. "Very well. Five-minute break. Dismissed."
A unified chorus answered, "Thank you, five!"
Laughter and chatter returned to the children like water breaking through a dam. Rykon stood up and dusted his knees off, stretching his limbs. **His two closest friends, Akchoy and Ruccollo, circled around him.**
Akchoy, bored as ever, scoffed, "This stuff's totally lame."
Rykon smiled faintly. "Maybe a little... but we'll need this if we want to become elite warriors. I want to win battles—like my dad."
He threw a small punch into the air—but it ended with a soft whimper.
I just... wish I got to see him more.
Akchoy folded his arms. "Hey, you're lucky. At least your dad didn't abandon your family for some new woman. Totoma says Saiyan couples barely last a year."
Ruccollo clapped Rykon's back with a grin. "Yeah! So cheer up already! You've got a family, and on top of that, you've got a crazy strong power level—probably right behind the Prince!"
Rykon blinked. "Y-You think so...?"
Ruccollo's voice rose. "You might even be the Legendary Super Saiyan!"
Akchoy groaned. "*Not this again.* Come on, Ruccollo! That fairy tale? Again? You got clowned last year for it."
Ruccollo's eyes narrowed. "I don't care what they think. It's been almost a thousand years since the last one appeared—and now Rykon's here. They stopped picking on me when we became friends with him."
Akchoy stepped forward, fire in his voice. "He's strong, but he isn't *that* strong! Just stop, dude!"
"Maybe you should stop believing all of Frieza's propaganda, you idiot!"
Their foreheads bumped, growling.
"GUYS!" Rykon yelled. "Enough already! You always fight about this! Super Saiyan or not, I don't care. I'm going to the shop to pick up food for Mom. They've got limited edition Kuzako meat."
His grin returned. "Come with me! I've got enough gold for everyone to get something."
Ruccollo threw his fist up. "I'm in!"
Akchoy shrugged. "Sure. Let's go."
They all leapt into the sky—Ki flowing beneath their feet like wind—toward the city lights glowing beneath the dying sun.
---
*Later…*
*The streets had grown quiet. Rykon carried stacks of groceries taller than his head, arms straining beneath their weight. The meat was pricey, but worth it. His father's pay as a squad leader came through just in time.*
*But it's getting dark...*
He turned a corner—
*Thud.*
The bags wobbled as he bumped into someone. He peeked around them—and his stomach sank.
A tall Saiyan teen with a scowl scowled down at him.
"Tch. Watch where you're going, brat. Or did you do that on purpose?"
Rykon took a step back. *Why does everyone want problems with me?! I just want to go home and eat!*
"Yeah, I *totally* risked dropping all this food for fun," Rykon snapped sarcastically.
The teen's eyes flared. "Smart mouth, huh? I'm Corget, remember that. Now I'm going to teach you a lesson!"
He launched forward, fist blazing with Ki.
Rykon's body moved on instinct. *Groceries down. Windmill step. Right hook—NOW.*
*CRACK.*
Corget hit the ground, groaning.
"S-So strong... Who the hell are you?!"
Rykon glared. "Rykon. Son of Gine and Bardock."
Corget's eyes widened. "*T-The* Bardock?!"
His whole body shook.
"N-No hard feelings, right?! Haha—!"
"Go home."
*Corget rocketed away.*
*Geez. Dad's name really does carry weight.*
---
**Rykon's House—Later That Night**
The smell of sizzling space meat filled the air. The warmth of home washed over Rykon like a blanket.
"I'm home!" he shouted.
"Put the groceries on the counter, sweetheart!" his mother, Gine, called from the kitchen.
He collapsed onto the floor dramatically, gasping for air.
"So," she asked, flipping food. "How was your day?"
"Totoma taught us about Ozaru forms," he said. "Kinda cool, kinda scary. And Ruccollo and Akchoy fought *again* over the Super Saiyan stuff."
Gine chuckled. "Those two never stop. Clean up your room. Your father's coming home soon."
"Right!" Rykon beamed. "I can show him how much stronger I've gotten!"
As he flew down the hall, something caught his eye.
*Kakarot's pod...*
He hovered beside it, watching the bubbles rise.
"You just float in there, huh? No training. No chores. Lucky."
He smiled softly. "I can't wait to spar with you someday."
He sighed, walking into his messy room.
*Alright. Let's clean this mess up fast—*
He paused as he picked up a white bandana.
*Dad gave this to me after our first mission together... He let me come along, even though I begged him for weeks. When I finished the mission, he tied this on my arm.*
*It's just a bandana—but it means the world to me.*
---
Back in the kitchen—
"Mom, how much of the food is done? Like, percentage-wise!"
Gine laughed. "Maybe 60 percent?"
"Ooooh, is it space ramen?! Or space eggs?! Or—WAIT—is it the Kuzako steak?!"
A voice out of nowhere: "*WE GET IT! YOU'RE FROM SPACE!*"
"Who said that?!" Rykon blinked.
Gine smirked. "Grocery list, genius. It's steak tonight."
But she froze—eyes locked on his fist.
"Rykon... your hand... is that a bruise?!"
He hid it. "I-It's nothing! I'm fine!"
"No lying!" She barked, rushing over. "What happened?!"
"I just punched a guy once! That's it!"
She sighed. "Who started it?"
Rykon opened his mouth to answer—
*SLAM.*
The front door flew open.
Rykon leapt forward, guarding his mom—only to stop.
"...Dad?"
Bardock entered, armor dusty from travel.
*He's home...!*
Rykon darted forward, unleashing a flurry of kicks and punches. Bardock blocked each one with practiced ease.
"Still too slow," Bardock smirked, locking him in a tight—but careful—chokehold.
"ACK! Okay, okay, you win!" Rykon pouted.
"Getting better. Still reckless."
Gine called out, "Don't start sparring again! I just finished cleaning from last time!"
But Bardock's smile faded.
"I didn't come back early for fun. Frieza recalled all Saiyans to Planet Vegeta."
Gine's eyes narrowed. "Why?"
Bardock hesitated. "We'll talk outside. Now."
Rykon watched them leave. He pulled a chair to Kakarot's pod and sat, resting his chin on the glass.
*What's going on...?*
---
**Later, in the forest.**
The stars shimmered above. A single Saiyan pod sat open behind them.
Gine clutched Rykon's hand, trembling.
"Mom...? What's wrong?"
Bardock knelt, his voice heavy.
"Rykon... we're saying goodbye."
Rykon laughed nervously. "Wait—am I going on a trip or something?"
"Planet Vegeta is going to be destroyed."
The words slammed into him like a blast wave.
*...No. That's not real. This is some kind of training test. It has to be.*
"Dad... you're joking, right?"
"I wish I was."
Rykon's hands trembled. "No! I won't go! I want to stay with you!"
Bardock placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Frieza fears us. He'll wipe us all out. Your brother's already been sent to Earth. You'll follow him. You'll live."
"I DON'T CARE! I want YOU to come! I won't leave—!"
Bardock pulled him close.
"I love you, Rykon."
*—WHAM.*
A swift knee to the chest. Rykon's eyes widened—then fell into darkness.
Gine collapsed in tears as Bardock lifted his unconscious son into the pod.
"We love you, Rykon!!! DON'T FORGET US!!!"
The pod closed.
*And with a roaring blast, it disappeared into the heavens.*
---
**Far above the red world...**
Frieza's laughter echoed through the void as a glowing sphere of destruction formed in his palm.
*Planet Vegeta—home of warriors, dreams, and families—vanished in a single flash of white.*
And somewhere in space, a small pod carrying a sleeping boy named Rykon sped toward an unknown future.
---
**To be continued…**