[Years ago, before Future Trunks paid a visit to the past]

The sun beats down in the already arid desert-like area. Heat pouring from the ground makes the scenery hazy, but that doesn't stop Ria from having to change a tire. She grumbles to herself about the luck she has, not just because she blew a tire, but also because she just happened to have bought two spares before her journey. It also doesn't help that wearing cargo pants and black combat boots made her more miserable. At least the white tank top gave her skin breathing room. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she continues working to fix the problem, removing the last lug nut with a wrench and finally pulling the tire from the hub and laying it on its side, so it doesn't stupidly roll away.

Above her, in the sky, eyes are watching her and the surrounding area. Rarely does anyone come through, and most that stop find it hard to get out due to bandits or even passing out from the heat. The person wonders if they'll make it out, since they aren't the only one in the area, and they definitely don't seem like bandits.

Suddenly, the sound of a gun being cocked is the only warning the person gets before a shot rings out, barely missing a shoulder but damaging fabric. Peering down properly, he can see that the woman didn't even turn around, but there's definitely a gun fixed between her arm and torso.

'How could she even make that shot?' There isn't more time for questions as she turns fully to continue firing at him. Perhaps not hearing anything fall or explode causes her to make good on her attack. The distance of a few hundred feet from the ground is easily crossed, causing Ria to gasp when he suddenly appears in front of her. He goes to grab her wrist, which is easily caught, and forces the gun from her hand.

'The hell is this?!' Ria grits her teeth at the new foe, glowering at him, and a whirlwind whipping up around her. This catches her opponent off guard, making it too late to dodge the bullet aimed at his shin. He looks down, seeing that the gun he forced from her hand had never dropped to the ground, but is floating in the air. Ria uses the distraction to twist herself around, so her arms are crossed above her, and pulls them down as her attacker is still holding onto her wrists, causing him to land on the hood of her car. The jack keeping the car up still manages to keep doing so.

The attacker loses his grip on her wrists, and finds himself in quite the predicament. One gun, floating, but pointed at his temple, and another one at the other temple, held by Ria. Her eyes glow a light grey color as she grips her weapon. Getting a good look at him, she definitely hasn't seen anyone like him before. Green, pointy ears, really tall, and fast. "Who sent you?"

Piccolo growls a bit at her, wondering how he got bested by a human with guns. He can tell there's more to her than just that, but it doesn't make the sting of defeat less. "No one." That answer only makes her push the muzzle of the weapon into his head more, her finger ready to pull the trigger.

"Don't lie to me. You're with those guys that are following me, aren't you?" Ria gestures with her head to the small mountains and dips in the area. She watches his face, trying to read any lies from it, but all she sees is bewilderment.

"So you noticed them, too?"

Ria and Piccolo had little time to decipher each other as a machine gun goes off, pelting the ground next to them with a line of bullets that makes its way towards them quickly. Ria collects the floating gun with a swipe of her hand before rolling onto the hood and over to the other side. Crouching, she uses the time hiding to count the number of bullets in her weapons. The car moves behind her, signaling that the other person moved from their spot. Peeking over the edge of the car, Ria sees him surveying the area. An eyebrow is raised as she gives him a skeptical look. "Do you want to get yourself killed, green man?"

Piccolo only looks over his shoulder to her, his eyes the only real parts visible over his armor. "Fight if you want, but don't get in my way." He flies off, much to the astonishment of Ria. As if she didn't just see him fly earlier.

'Get a grip, Ria!' She tries to give herself a pep talk while watching the action unfold. Piccolo makes quick work of the small legion by dodging bullets, throwing low energy blasts meant to only toss them back upon impact on the ground, and simply getting too close for them to properly retaliate and throwing them far away. One assailant lifts up a rocket launcher to aim at Piccolo, only to be shot by Ria from her position some feet away. Unfortunately, the rocket gets launched due to a finger contracting around the trigger before she could get her shot in. This forces her to stand, place her guns on the hood of the car and outstretch her arms and spread her fingers, her palms facing the fighting area.

Turning around after hearing the rocket launch and head towards him, Piccolo feels a strong gust of wind form around him, but more specifically around the rocket. It changes trajectory, landing over to where the last of the small army was hiding beyond a hill. Watching the explosion and plume of smoke rise, along with screams that faded away, Piccolo still isn't sure what just happened. He looks over to where Ria is, seeing her stance and those same light grey eyes, which are returning to their natural dark brown color.

He makes his way over to her, using flight to close the distance. Ria doesn't move when he gets close to her. It's clear to him that she's either not afraid of him, feels confident that she could take him down, or that she didn't care if she'd die trying. Piccolo towers over most people, but her much more so, standing at barely five foot five. Ria looks up at him, eyes alit with determination, and sweat pouring down her face. It's still hot, after all.

"Teach me how to fight like that."