"Bardock? You're still alive?" Vegeta asked, staring at him. "What's with that outfit? Why does it look so similar to that mouse's style?"
"Nothing special," Bardock said. "Because I'm the same as him now. I'm a God of Destruction."
"A God of Destruction?" Vegeta's eyes widened. "You're saying you're a God of Destruction too?"
"I'm the God of Destruction of Universe 9. That mouse you saw earlier is the God of Destruction of Universe 4," Bardock replied.
"You've become a God of Destruction?" Vegeta blurted. "Didn't you die when Planet Vegeta was destroyed?"
"I'll explain it later," Bardock said. "Ken is the reason I became the new God of Destruction of Universe 9."
"You… what?" Vegeta's voice shook with anger. "Ken wanted me to be a God of Destruction! Then why is there another God of Destruction at all?"
"I don't know. Ask Ken," Bardock said, shaking his head. "Maybe another universe was short on one too."
Vegeta fell silent, his expression complicated.
"Kakarot, why are you on this planet?" Bardock asked.
"Ah… it's like this," Goku said, briefly explaining what happened on Earth. One of his friends had died once already, and Earth's Dragon Balls couldn't bring him back, so they came here.
Bardock nodded and didn't press.
Seeing his son again—out here, so far away—still made his chest tighten.
"Kakarot, once I find your mother, I'll bring Raditz back too. Then our family can finally be together again," Bardock said, patting Goku's shoulder.
"Huh? Together?" Goku shook his head right away. "No thanks. I don't want to reunite with Raditz. He even tried to kill Gohan!"
"Gohan?" Bardock paused, then turned and looked to the side.
Gohan mumbled, almost to himself, "My dad's dad is… Grandpa…"
Bardock went quiet.
"That's your son?" Bardock looked at Gohan, then back at Goku, and nodded with satisfaction. "Yeah. I can see it."
He reached out and gently rubbed Gohan's head.
"Grandpa…" Gohan said softly.
"Good kid," Bardock said, clearly pleased.
So many years… and I'm already a grandpa.
Time really flies.
At the same time, Piccolo and the two Namekians, Nail and Dende, rushed in from far away and spotted Bardock on the ground.
Piccolo stopped in midair.
Nail and Dende halted with him, hovering nearby.
"Frieza's ki is gone. What happened?" Nail asked, confused.
"Who is that?" Piccolo stared at Bardock from afar, frowning. "Did he defeat Frieza? He looks exactly like Goku!"
"Maybe he's family," Nail guessed.
"Family?" Piccolo's brow tightened. He saw Bardock rubbing Gohan's head. "Goku's family isn't exactly friendly. What is he doing to Gohan?"
Piccolo's eyes widened.
Is he about to smack Gohan's head like a watermelon?
Without hesitating, Piccolo shot down in a green streak.
"Let go of Gohan!" Piccolo shouted.
He dove from the sky and slammed a fist down at Bardock.
Bang!
Piccolo's punch landed squarely on Bardock's forehead.
"Huh? Piccolo?" Goku blinked.
Bardock let the fist hit him and didn't even flinch.
"Piccolo, what are you doing? Don't hit my dad!" Goku shouted.
"Piccolo-san, don't hit my grandpa!" Gohan shouted too.
Piccolo froze.
This guy is Goku's father?
"A Namekian?" Bardock frowned at Piccolo. Then his eyes brightened slightly, like he'd remembered something.
"Goku… what is this?" Piccolo pulled his fist back, baring his teeth from the pain. "Is he really your father?"
I punched him once… and my knuckles almost split.
How is Goku's father this strong?
Nail and Dende landed as well.
Dende looked around for injuries, but everyone was fine. No one was hurt.
Dende scratched his head, baffled.
Did someone already die…?
"Piccolo, he's my dad," Goku said, then introduced them. "This is Piccolo, my friend. This is Krillin, my best friend."
Krillin teared up on the spot.
So I really am his best friend.
"Piccolo," Bardock said, "who's your father?"
Piccolo: "????"
"You don't know?" Bardock blinked.
"He's the child of Katas," Nail answered.
"Katas… so it really is him," Bardock said with a sigh.
"What do you mean?" Piccolo asked, confused.
"Come to think of it, I should thank your father's father," Bardock said with a small smile. "My wish back then was granted through Katas's father. When I first met Katas, he was only about this tall."
He pointed at Dende standing off to the side.
"You made a wish?" Piccolo nodded, half understanding.
"So you came to Planet Namek a long time ago," Nail said, getting it now.
"That's right," Bardock said. "About a thousand years ago, I found Planet Namek by chance and got along well with the people here. Later, I summoned Porunga and wished for a two-thousand-year lifespan. That's how I survived to this day."
"Two thousand years?" Vegeta's eyes widened. "So that's the maximum lifespan Porunga can grant to Saiyans?"
"Correct," Bardock said, nodding.
Thinking back on it, Bardock's expression grew a little distant.
After that, he continued chatting with Goku and the others.
…
Universe 6, Earth.
Ken waited outside for a while, then saw a sphere fly out from Bulma's lab.
It was about the size of a soccer ball, floating in the air, flashing with light.
Ken stepped forward and lightly touched the sphere.
Ai's light flickered again.
"You've suffered," Ken said.
"Ken, what are you saying? I haven't suffered," Ai replied, her light pulsing in speech-like waves.
Just then, a dark green streak dropped from the sky and appeared beside Ken.
Broly returned to Earth and immediately noticed Ai. His eyes went wide. He rubbed them hard, like he couldn't believe it.
"L-Little…" Broly said, overwhelmed.
"What're you looking at?" Ai snapped.
"Y-You… what're you looking at?" Broly blurted.
"I'm looking at you. So what?" Ai shot back.
"So… what," Broly answered carefully.
Crack!
A bolt of lightning struck Broly.
Broly burst into tears.
That familiar lightning.
It feels so real!
"You're weird…" Ai said, staring at Broly in confusion.
Broly stepped forward and hugged Ai tightly, refusing to let go.
"What are you doing? Let go of me!" Ai's light flared even harder, and bolts of electricity burst out.
Broly glowed from head to toe.
Even so, Broly laughed happily.
Ken stayed silent.
Did Broly just find true love?
Whether it was Ai… or Cheelai…
It didn't matter anymore.
"Ken… what's going on?" Broly asked, excited. "Did you make a new Ai?"
Ken was about to explain, but Bulma walked out.
"Bulma, you explain," Ken said.
"She's still the same Ai," Bulma said. "But the memories between you two have been sealed away. Maybe she'll slowly unseal them when the time is right."
"Sealed?" Broly froze.
"Maybe the memories were too precious," Bulma sighed. "Or too painful. Whatever the reason, only Ai knows."
Broly lowered his head and looked at Ai.
"Ai doesn't know! Ai didn't seal anything!" Ai argued.
"But didn't she disappear?" Broly asked.
"Right before she disappeared, the Grand Priest saved her," Ken explained. "But there was still backlash. Her chip shattered into several pieces. Bulma barely managed to repair her, so that's why she's like this now."
Broly finally understood. He nodded and looked down at the round robot in his arms with a gentle expression.
"What're you looking at!" Ai snapped again.
Broly smiled softly, rubbed her smooth surface, and said quietly, "Ai, from today on, we're never separating again. Come with me, okay?"
"Give me ten seconds to think," Ai replied.
Broly: "…"
Ten seconds passed.
"Okay. I'll go with you. From today on, I'm your study companion robot," Ai said innocently.
"Ken, Bulma… is that okay?" Broly asked, looking at them hopefully.
Ken nodded.
"Of course," Bulma said. She didn't object.
"Broly, go do what you want to do," Ken said. "Right now they're heading for Beerus's planet in Universe 7. Get over there."
"Got it. I'm going to become the Great God of Destruction," Broly said with a grin, hooking his thumb toward his nose.
Ken: "…"
"Don't do that gesture," Ken sighed. "That gesture is asking to get beaten up."
"Huh?" Broly scratched his head.
"Use your index finger instead," Ken said.
Broly switched fingers and pointed at his nose with his index finger, looking confused.
But with the index finger, it didn't feel as imposing.
Whatever. Not important.
"I'm heading out, Ken," Broly said. He bowed to Ken, then rose into the sky.
Pop!
Dark green light burst around Broly. He shot off into the distance, carrying Ai, and quickly left Earth behind.
"I hope Ai will be happy with him…" Bulma murmured, watching him disappear. "Happy… does that word sound strange?"
"Because it's a human and a robot?" Ken asked.
"Yeah," Bulma nodded.
"Love probably doesn't care about species," Ken said. "And from a god's point of view, robots count as people too."
Bulma: "…"
"In Universe 3, there are robots that can turn into cars or planes," Ken added. "They count as people as well."
"Huh? Robots like that? They can become cars and planes?" Bulma's eyes lit up.
"Want me to catch one for you to play with?" Ken asked with a smile.
"No," Bulma shook her head immediately. "If they're really people, they have minds. If I treat them like toys, one day they might slap me to death."
Ken didn't argue.
Bulma thinking that way was the right call.
"Goku and the others are doing fine, right?" Bulma asked casually.
"Want to go watch?" Ken asked.
"We can?" Bulma blinked.
"If you want, then go," Ken said. "I was planning to visit Planet Namek too. There are old friends I haven't seen in a long time."
As he spoke, images of the Grand Elder and Moori surfaced in Ken's mind.
Moori and Delta had probably met with disaster.
But the Grand Elder was still alive.
It was time to go see them.
"Let's go," Ken said, holding out his hand.
"Right now? Let me change!" Bulma said quickly.
"What style do you want? I'll change it for you," Ken said, smiling. He raised his staff and pointed at her.
Pop!
In an instant, Bulma's outfit changed into a brand-new bikini.
Bulma: "…"
Bulma quickly covered her chest and glared at Ken.
"Don't you wear this when you go swimming?" Ken asked, puzzled. "Why are you acting shy now?"
"Is that the same thing?" Bulma snorted. "Can you make it a little less?"
"Sure," Ken said, raising his staff again.
Bulma went silent again.
I was just saying that. Are you really going to keep messing with me?
"Alright, I'm done joking," Ken said. "I'll give you something comfortable."
He swung the staff again and changed Bulma into a fresh outfit, like activewear, fitting snugly and showing her curves.
Bulma looked it over and moved a little. It fit well.
"It is comfortable," Bulma said, then frowned. "But it feels like I'm not wearing anything."
"Stop nitpicking. Let's go," Ken said.
Bulma nodded, stepped forward, and wrapped her arms around Ken's waist.
"Off we go!"
Ken lightly tapped the ground with his staff. Starlike light burst around him.
Whoosh!
Ken carried Bulma into the sky and flew toward Universe 7.
…
About ten minutes later.
Ken spotted Broly flying ahead in the distance.
Whoosh!
Ken caught up, drew Broly into his light, and suddenly boosted their speed.
"Ken?" Broly blinked.
"I'm heading to Universe 7 too," Ken said with a smile. "I'll take you along."
"Bulma, Ken, hello again," Ai said in a childish voice, her light flickering. "Ai is going on a space trip for the first time! Ai is so happy!"
Broly stayed quiet.
They flew on. Ken crossed the World of Void and entered Universe 7.
"Ken, which galaxy is my sister in again?" Bulma asked suddenly.
"Over there," Ken said, pointing into the distant starfield. "Not too far. About three thousand light-years."
Bulma: "…"
Three thousand light-years… and he said it wasn't far.
That's three thousand years at light speed.
In this kind of space, light speed really is nothing.
"Can we go see her?" Bulma said. "I miss her."
"Ai misses Tights too," Ai added.
Broly looked at Ai, then at Ken, at a loss.
Ken told me to go to Beerus's planet. Ai wants to see Tights.
What am I supposed to do?
"Then we'll go together," Ken said. "Beerus can wait a bit."
Broly nodded quickly.
Ken led them in a wide arc through space, heading straight for Galactic Patrol Headquarters.
"Oh, right, Broly," Ken said. "Your battle armor has cracks. I'll fix it."
He pointed his staff lightly at Broly's wristwatch.
A layer of angel power covered the watch.
In an instant, Broly's battle armor was fully repaired.
Broly glanced at the watch, hesitating.
"This armor doesn't do much for you anymore," Ken said. "Still, keep it. Save it for someone who needs it."
Broly nodded.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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