This chapter is a kind of introduction to what is happening, further chapters will be more detailed and will contain more character development. I don't own Dragonball Z, or any of their characters or contents. Enjoy!

Chapter One - Helpless

Piccolo's boots collided with the ground as he ran, the dirt and rain blending in his vision, making the trees and paths blur. The sound of air ripping through his lungs and scorching the back of his throat made being covert impossible, despite his black attire. The thudding of his steps consumed his hearing, and only the slightest flash of movement reminded him of the unwelcome company. As he plummeted down a rocky cropping, he glanced at the blistered moon, glowering at the orbiting menace and its cruel decision to refuse any kind of illumination. Tripping and blundering, Piccolo felt the warm crawl of blood stream down his legs and older wounds attempt to close; he wasn't healing. Without even a moment to consider why he couldn't fly, or regenerate as normal he simply ploughed through the Earth's vegetation like a razor blade. Slow growls filled the atmosphere as the storm circled, and Piccolo felt the familiar and once comforting sharp electricity in the air. Halting suddenly, he darted left. Capsule Corp was only a few miles away and he needed help, desperately. He caught glimpses of speed and image as the creatures stalked him relentlessly, their strength and endurance far superior to the Namek's. He was injured in several places, as well as without the abilities that have saved him before. Seeing the white globe of the corporate giant spill into view, he forced his feet to race ahead.

Seeing the town more clearly, he slowed to observe the devastation. Stone was chipped and strewn across the street, people lay either dead or injured amongst the streets and buildings were seemingly decadent and empty. Brick decorated the Capsule Corp's previously groomed lawns and as Piccolo raised his eyes to the building he blinked back confusion. It was devastated, parts of the structure were missing and the broken door was ajar. The white walls were now grey and black, burnt and scathed. After a few seconds Piccolo realised his open position and he dived in; hoping that whatever had ravaged its walls was not still inside. Quietly, he padded through the halls. Bulma's labs lay in ruin, some simply riffled through, others with items torn from their wires and origins. This fuelled an interest in Piccolo, what they had taken was mainly medical. He had assumed his assailants had little intelligence or urge to pursue science, but the opposite was evident. Concern grew in his stomach, and he turned corner after corner in search of life. Each corridor was filled with broken stone and the once polished floors were dirty and cracked. The building's generators were providing some electricity for the few intact lights, which were buzzing and swinging in defiance to the mass black out. Stopping at the end of one excessively long hallway, he turned abruptly. Around twenty feet away was a man, or a humanoid creature, Piccolo could not distinguish if either were accurate. Standing as straight as possible, cringing at pain which would normally not bother him, he gripped his hand in a fist. The creature stood slightly taller than Piccolo, and its pale skin glowed through even the dark distance which stood between them. The Namek felt his heart quicken, and the apparent loss of his Chi made his mind reel in despair. The creature simply stood; its unforgiving coloured eyes boring into Piccolo. Realising the situation he was in, Piccolo searched for any plausible escape. The material of his black shirt tore as he plunged through the window on his left, and feeling a penetrating shame at his fleeing he closed his eyes as he ran.

His speed was unimpressive compared to the creature's sprint. Within seconds the heavier man had caught up the Namek, so close Piccolo could feel the heat of the chase creep through his body. With disbelief, Piccolo felt himself slip back momentarily, and in that instant the creature had collided into the Namek's back. Its nails clawed into his shoulders, and as Piccolo's face hit the ground it landed heavily on his back. Crushing the breath from his already damaged lungs, Piccolo's vision wavered and he blinked blood from his eyes as it swam down his forehead. He felt a piercing pain in his right shoulder and his body recoiled and thrashed, throwing the monster enough so Piccolo could leap forward. His green skin was marred with dirt and the purple of his blood, the rain refusing to rinse the stains from his skin. He tried to pick his feet up, leaning forward in hope of movement but despite his struggling, he only stumbled. Landing clumsily on the ground, Piccolo allowed himself to rest for a minute; the majority of his reasoning had long since vanished from his mind. The creature stood behind and looked down, seeing the collapsed Namek stop still. It watched for a short while, observing Piccolo's tattered black jeans and shirt, wet with rain and soil. Minutes passed, and it moved closer to Piccolo whilst glancing at the surrounding buildings. Looking up, the pale creature saw a group of men peer from the distance. Seeing their determination he turned to face them, laughing at their attempts at intimidation. Goku walked towards him, with confidence despite his evident lack of Chi, and he cocked his head in curiosity. As the Saiyan approached, the creature released long silver implements from his relaxed hands and its tail clad itself with the same apparent metal, sharpening at the end. The same colour filled his Iris' and they gleamed, flashing its wild and insane temperament. Thrashing his tail, it sliced the stone ground, each blade fashioning its own pattern. Lowering his silver eyes, the creature looked to his right at Piccolo's relaxed and injured form. Glancing towards the advancing Goku, he turned his back to the Saiyan and walked away. Goku stared in shock as the man quickly disappeared into its habitual darkness. Confusion filled his head and he could not think of a reasonable explanation for the creature's departure. Leaning down to tend to his friend, Goku lifted Piccolo carefully and carried him into the safe depths of Capsule Corp.

Bulma cleaned Piccolo's face and arms with a damp cloth, before applying the antiseptic spray. Goku, Gohan and Vegeta had required Bulma's attention earlier that day, and their surprise at their own fragility unnerved them. Piccolo was laid on a table, still clad in his unusual attire, which was damp and the extent of his injuries could be seen even through his dark shirt. Running her hands down his arms, in the clinical bright light of her medical room, she gasped and immediately alerted Goku.

"Goku, something's happened to Piccolo"

Rushing in, with a concerned Gohan at his feet, Goku emulated Bulma's shocked expression.

"What's happened to his arms, where's the pink?"

"I have no idea, but I'm running some blood tests to identify any infection or virus which could be causing it"

"A virus could change his skin?!"

"Not exactly, but it could affect his DNA, I have very little information about Namek you know!"

"Ok, ok. Is he ok? I can see from here that he's in pretty bad shape"

"I think so, he's quite badly injured but it will heal. He's obviously suffering from a lack of Chi as well though. Not to mention this nasty mess on the side of his neck. It looks like that freak tried to eat him!"

Goku tried to find the comment humorous, but the reality was that she was probably right. These creatures were tearing throughout Earth, with their endless destruction. They didn't look like the one he had encountered by Piccolo however; they certainly couldn't protrude metal implements from their skin. He mused for a few seconds, before Gohan's recent adult voice roused him from his thoughts.

"How long before he's able to get up Bulma?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself? He's waking up now. But be careful, I'm sure he'll be cranky. Even more than usual"

She said it with a smile, which reminded Goku of days when they could smile about such things. As the years passed, so did their spirit it seemed. As Bulma walked towards her lab equipment, he raised his concerned eyes to Piccolo when the Namek spoke.

"Gohan? What happened? I was so sure you were all dead…and where am I? I thought Capsule Corp was devastated?"

Bulma chose to intercede; explaining how the building had a safe and secure section, concealed enough to go unnoticed and strong enough to withhold a sizeable attack. Piccolo nodded in response, feeling like his body was tied together with string. In the adjoining sitting room the rest of their friends sat and stood, concerned and agitated. Goten and Trunks played on a colourful matt oblivious to the misery around them, taunting with their content laughter. The television was reporting the attack, some of them repeating as their stations had been destroyed. The monsters were killing and assuming control rapidly, despite all resistance from the military and even people themselves. Every few minutes, the signal would blur as local and national communications declined and despair was heavy in the empty air. Earth was being destroyed, and what was left would be in the hands of this ruthless race. Everyone in the room watched on and for the first time, they were helpless to stop it.

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