Prologue: Regrets

In the emptiness of space, flying along even faster than the speed of light, Piccolo found it was easy to think. For once though, he regretted that. Thinking to much brought back the pain. It felt like his chest would cave in on itself and he felt like crying. Crying! Something he had never done and didn't think would be possible for a demon like him. Even Kami didn't or couldn't cry.

So he tried other things. Training with Krillin didn't work either. Oh, the human had grown stronger during his training with Kami and the others, but he was still to weak and the ship to small.

And so, during the long hours of the flight, he meditated. Soon, they would catch up with the Saijyan and then Piccolo would get his revenge. After he and his goon had killed Gohan, Goku, the boy's father, had showed up and dealt with them both, Krillin and Piccolo both being useless except for when Piccolo had distracted that short one long enough for Krillin to through the Genki Dama.

Nappa, the big, idiotic, and muscle-bound Saijyan, had been killed by Vegeta, his smaller though stronger partner, after he was defeated by Son Goku. Goku had spared Vegeta's life even after he heard about how he'd let his son die.

Well, Piccolo wasn't so merciful. He was going to get his revenge and he would kill Vegeta. No matter what. That was why he had found his old space ship and taken off

Krillin had volunteered to come with him.

"Well, it's not like there is anything better to do, now that we beat 'em and the dragonballs will be stone for another year, so why not?" He had said, laughing very nervously.

"Fine. But remember this: We are going to fight the second strongest person in the universe and who knows how many other friends he has. Chances are, we won't come back alive. Are you prepared for that fate?"

He had gulped when Piccolo finished, but still he decided to come.

Piccolo knew he couldn't die yet. If he was gone, then there was no way Gohan could be revived.

***

Piccolo stood up and opened his eyes suddenly, surprising Krillin so much he fell out of his Namekien chair.

"Have a good nap?" Krillin said jokingly, then regretted deeply as he was met with a stare that could literally level mountains. Piccolo turned away from him, uttered that strange Namek language, then went through the door that opened from what Krillin had to be just a wall.

"H-hey, where you going now?"

Piccolo turned around, and for the first time Krillin realized how tired the Namek looked. His eyes looked a bit unfocused and his face was a bit gaunt.

"I'm going to operate the ships gravity machine. Normally, we use it to slowly acclimatize ourselves to a different planets gravity, but Goku used gravity training to increase his strength, so I will too."

"Can I come?" Krillin said halfheartedly. He had been reading a good mystery thriller and he was almost through. He was actually glad Bulma had given it to him before the flight. There was nothing to do here!

"No."

"Oh...why not?"

"You would be crushed into the ground and your heart would explode."

"Oh."

***

Gohan looked at the giant serpent road before him. It seemed to stretch forever, but his dad had crossed, and so he would to.

Yamcha whistled, "Man, that's gonna take forever to get across. Oh well, you guys ready?"

Tein and Choa-su both replied, "Yes."

"Hey, Gohan! You going or are you staying!" Yamcha yelled.

"What? Oh, y-yeah."

"All right, then we're off!" And with that, the three fighters took off so fast they were a blur. Gohan didn't trust narrow road or his footing well enough to do that, so he simply leapt as far as he could in the direction of the road. the wind on his face and through his hair felt good. Piccolo had trained him as hard as he could, and still Gohan had failed his hero.

Well, he would make Piccolo proud of him.