In the darkness of the night, two figures dressed in black crept silently past the security system of the building. One of them cut the wires in the cabinet housing the security system, then gave the thumbs-up sign to his partner. "Security disabled."
She nodded, and they silently crept past the guard they had previously gassed, into the ward where inmates were held. They came to a room. The woman took out a skeleton key and unlocked the door. She went in while her partner stood guard at the door. Inside the room, she approached the sleeping occupant and put her hand on the startled man's mouth. "Shh. We're here to rescue you." The old man's eyes opened wide in shock, but then he calmed down. When she was certain that he wouldn't make any noise, the woman released her gloved hand from his mouth. "Listen," she looked him in the eye and spoke in a quiet but even tone, "We're taking you out of here. Our leader wants to cut a deal with you. Do you understand me?" The old man nodded silently. "Then let's go."
Half an hour later, they arrived at their secret headquarters, having successfully retrieved their target from the Western Capitol Mental Hospital. Their leader awaited them. The two figures bowed to him, with their rescuee standing between them. "Sire, we have successfully completed our mission," the woman said. They took off their masks, revealing the faces of Shuu and Mai. "Excellent." Pilaf said. "Now, Dr.Gero," he turned to the old man. "Let's talk business."
Later, the silence of the night was broken by the appearence of the magical dragon Shenlong, summoned from the dragon balls and a special chant by Pilaf. "I can grant any one wish. Name your wish." The dragon said to the group of four assembled in front of him. "This is my wish," the old man said, staring at the dragon,"I wish to have my genius restored." "Granted!" proclaimed the dragon, then it disappeared and the dragon balls now turned into ordinary stones, scattered all over the planet.
Pilaf and his followers cheered. "With Dr. Gero's genius we will finally rule the world!" "Congratulations!" "Long live emperor Pilaf!" Dr.Gero just smiled wickedly. "When I've created the ultimate cyborg, I'll get rid of you, and then I will rule the world." He laughed silently to himself.
***
One year later.
"MASENKOSEPPO!" The earth shook from the impact of the blast, and where there was previously a mountain of rock, only a pile of rubble stood. Piccolo floated over to inspect his handiwork. He nodded to himself, pleased with the improvement in his trademark attack.
"Piccolo," a voice in his heart said. "That's the third mountain you've destroyed today. Be careful or you'll destroy the whole place." Piccolo grunted. "Yeah, yeah." Damn that Namekkian Nail, he didn't even know his name when he agreed to fuse with him on Old Nameksei. Or it could be Kami-sama, watching him from his floating palace again. "Damn him too," he muttered to himself. "Always trying to make me 'nice'..."
"I heard that.!" the voice said. "Shut up." Piccolo growled. He could easily imprison Kami-sama in a bottle and throw him into the depths on the ocean and then he will rule the world again as the Demon King. But of course he wouldn't. Gohan, and Goku had changed him. As much as he tried not to show it, he has changed. But sometimes he does feel tempted...
Piccolo sat cross-legged in midair and started his meditation. Even after more than 20 years he still kept to his rigid training, unlike the other Z warriors. Gohan is now married, with a child. He used to train with Piccolo, but now that he had a family and a double career, he didn't train as much although he did come to visit now and again. Waste of potential, Piccolo thought. But then again Gohan never really liked fighting. He was more comfortable studying his books but Piccolo was sure he had great power within himself, never fully tapped. He had seen glimpses of that power when they fought Radditz all those years ago, and later when they fought Freeza and his father. Gohan might even be able to become a Super Saiyajin like his father Goku. He had the potential. Piccolo actually missed Goku at peaceful times like this. But Goku is dead, and they couldn't bring him back since his cause of death was natural, a heart disease he contracted shortly after the fight with Freeza and Cold. And it was the last great fight for all of them. After Goku's death, peace reigned on Chikyuu. No evil conquering aliens or megalomaniacal locals trying to take over the world or anything like that. Well, there was Pilaf, but he was hardly a serious threat. Then there was Dr.Gero, the raving lunatic who sent out his defective cyborgs to take over the world, but they always broke down in the middle of the process, before they could do any real harm. That stopped 10 years ago, when Gero was finally institutionalised for stalking a famous rock star. But recently he's escaped, and his creations have improved significantly from the last time. But it's still nothing that the Great Saiyaman can't handle. Poor Gohan, surely he's destined for greater things than this.
The rest of the Z warriors had gone their separate ways after Goku's death. Kuririn still lived with Kamesennin on Kame Island, Tenshinhan got a job as a bodyguard of a famous actress and Yamucha had a successful career as a baseball player, and now he's a coach to one of the most successful teams in the world. His marriage to Bulma though, was another matter.
Piccolo opened his eyes. He's meditated for at least 6 hours now. He could go on for longer, and normally did. But for some reason his gut feelings were telling him that something big was going to happen. He didn't know what, but he feared that the peace the world is enjoying now will be threatened.
High above on his floating palace, Kami-sama looked down in concern. "What is it, Kami-sama" Mr.Popo asked. "I don't know, Mr.Popo," Kami-sama answered. "But something big is going to happen to this planet. Piccolo feels it too. I don't know what it is, but we better be prepared."
Next: More peeks into the new tineline: A day in the life of the Great Saiyaman.