"Yes," Ken nodded.
"But didn't Frieza say not to let any of us leave Planet Vegeta for now?" Lutra grumbled in a deep voice.
"That's his problem. It has nothing to do with me," Ken replied flatly, turning to leave.
"This brat sure is cocky…" Lutra gritted his teeth. "Does he still think he's the genius prodigy he used to be?"
Bardock silently watched Ken's back as he walked away, his expression growing more serious.
"Super Saiyan…" Bardock murmured.
——
Bardock soon returned to his home.
"Gine, I'm back," he called out to his wife, who was in the kitchen slicing meat.
Gine, Bardock's wife—and the mother of Son Goku—was a logistics worker, responsible for food prep and other support tasks for the warriors.
Not all Saiyans were fighters. Many with lower battle power took on auxiliary or support roles.
After all, the strength of a race wasn't just about its warriors—it also relied on the backbone of its logistics.
Since Gine's combat power was low, this was the work she could contribute to.
"Bardock!"
Gine's face lit up with joy as she ran to embrace him.
The couple hadn't seen each other in a long time, so this reunion was a rare moment of warmth.
But perhaps this brief reunion would only lead to parting again tomorrow.
Such was the harsh reality of life for the warrior race.
"The streets are so lively," Bardock said with a sigh. "It's been ages since I've seen this kind of crowd."
"Yeah, everyone's come back," Gine nodded.
"What about Raditz?" Bardock asked.
"He went out to play. He's already been promoted to warrior rank and will be teaming up with Prince Vegeta on his next mission," Gine replied.
"Teaming up with that difficult brat?" Bardock wiped his forehead.
"Yup," Gine said cheerfully.
"And Kakarot? Still in the incubation pod?" Bardock asked again.
"He's been in there for three years. It's about time we took him out. Want to go see him?" Gine offered.
In the inner room, Bardock looked at the sleeping infant Kakarot floating inside the incubation pod.
Kakarot looked just like Bardock—clearly his son.
"He's grown so much," Bardock muttered.
"Yeah, especially that unique hairstyle. You're practically twins," Gine smiled.
A short silence.
"After it gets dark… I'm going to steal one of those spherical pods and send him off to another planet," Bardock said solemnly.
"Huh? Why would you do that?" Gine asked, confused. "Why would you put him at risk and make him a banished child?"
"It's for Kakarot's own good," Bardock sighed softly.
"What happened?" Gine suddenly felt uneasy.
"Frieza… he's plotting something. I can feel it. I have a strong sense of doom," Bardock said, his face growing grim.
That night, Bardock stole a spherical pod and carefully placed Kakarot inside.
Carrying the pod on his back, he and Gine made their way into the remote wilderness.
Cold wind swept through the desolate mountains, carrying a chill.
There wasn't a soul in sight.
"You know," Gine said with a smile, "it's pretty unusual for a Saiyan to worry about their child like this."
"Guess I've caught your soft-heartedness," Bardock smiled faintly.
Inside the pod, Kakarot cried nonstop, as if sensing he was about to be separated from his parents.
"Kakarot, quit crying," Bardock said gently.
"Bardock… why don't we run away together?" Gine suggested.
"It's no use. Their scouters will find us in no time," Bardock shook his head and set the pod down.
"I've programmed it to head for a distant planet called Earth," Gine said after pressing a few buttons. "That planet has plenty of food, but its resources aren't of much value. It's a peaceful place—if this is all just your paranoia, we'll come pick you up soon."
"Remember, don't stare at the full moon for too long," Bardock instructed.
"I'll tell Raditz that too," Gine added.
"You must survive," Bardock said softly, waving to his son inside the pod.
"Goodbye…" Gine whispered, reluctant to part.
Inside the pod, Kakarot stared wide-eyed at his parents, his baby face full of confusion.
Mom, Dad… are you abandoning me?
Whoosh!
The space pod lifted off, soaring into the sky and quickly disappearing into the distance as Bardock and Gine watched.
——
10:00 PM sharp.
Ken arrived at the spaceship launch base right on time.
A total of five Saiyans were gathered at the launch site.
Besides Prince Vegeta, there was Goku's older brother Raditz, Nappa, and two other Saiyans.
Of the five, only Nappa was a grown adult—the others were around Ken's age.
"Hey, Ken! You're late," Raditz called out.
"Thanks. No need to thank me," Ken replied casually.
Raditz: "???"
"I wasn't complimenting you…" Raditz muttered, wiping his brow.
"Let's move," Vegeta ordered, addressing the group.
"Um, Prince Vegeta… can we even leave the planet right now?" Nappa asked hesitantly. "Didn't Lord Frieza give strict orders that no one was to leave Planet Vegeta?"
"Hmph! I go where I please. Frieza doesn't control me!" Vegeta scoffed. "Come or don't. I don't care."
Nappa lowered his head quickly and pledged to join without hesitation.
One minute later—
Whoosh!
A small Saiyan pod blasted through the planet's atmosphere and soared into the stars.
——
Vast starry skies. The boundless void of space.
Floating in the nearby sector of Planet Vegeta, a disc-shaped spaceship hovered quietly.
Inside sat none other than the emperor of the universe—Frieza.
"Super Saiyan… and Super Saiyan God, huh?" Frieza grinned, lounging in his baby hoverchair, eyes filled with playful mockery.
"Lord Frieza, I believe that's just a cliché myth," said Berryblue, shaking her head.
Berryblue, who looked like a humanoid frog, was Frieza's longtime attendant and caretaker—responsible for his daily needs.
"I know," Frieza said with a smile, "but I won't tolerate even the slightest unease."
His eyes narrowed as he looked toward the blue glow of Planet Vegeta in the distance.
"Saiyans are arrogant, prideful creatures. They'll never truly submit to me. It's time to erase them. Of course, I'm merciful—so I'll let them die with their planet."
"A shame, really. The Saiyans are such excellent fighters," Berryblue remarked.
"And besides," Frieza added, "this was Lord Beerus' order."
"Lord Beerus? You mean… the God of Destruction?!" Berryblue's voice trembled.
"I don't want a third person knowing about this," Frieza said, narrowing his eyes at her.
Just then, a subordinate walked in to report something… only to freeze mid-step after hearing Frieza's last sentence.
He didn't know whether to walk in or turn around and leave.
(End of Chapter)