Note: I do not own Dragonball Z or any of the characters in this story, excepting Serrik Zash and any other characters not found in the Dragonball Z anime or Manga.

This is my first fic, so feel free to read and review. I'm planning on about 7-9 chapters, regardless, but I would welcome feedback, positive or negative.

A Story Of Things To Come

Chapter One : Where It All Started To Go Wrong

Sit down... let me tell you a story. I know you're too young to remember the war against the androids... you've always lived in this age where man is united and there is nothing to fear. This age where people have begun to discover the awesome potential developing their fighting strength gives them. But some things... should never be totally forgotten. I tell you this so that we, as a race, do not make the same mistake again. This world is too precious to be destroyed by the foolishness of a small number who see only their own ends. I tell you this so that the evil fool we now know as Gero may not lay any further claim to the legacy of his generation.

My story begins about a week before the androids made their first appearance...

I couldn't believe he was dead. Son-Goku... dead. Nothing had ever shocked me more. He had always seemed so verile... so full of life. What had happened? How could a man... in the prime of his life and in absolutely flawless health... have just... died? It made no sense, but in the course of just a week, that is exactly what had happened. A man I had known for nearly seven years had simply... wilted, is the only word for it... to death. The mortician had said the cause of death was the effect of a genetic heart failure, but it seemed that such an innocuous end to such a stout hearted and strong man was simply ludicrus.

I found I only knew a handful of the men (with a woman here and there) who suffered the same grief as I did around me, but we were all united here for the same reason, that was assured. I had not truly expected to know many of them... I was actually surprised I knew any of them at all, excepting of course my employers the Briefs familly, and the daughter, Bulma's ahem friend, Yamcha. I vaguely recognized a short, bald man as having a friendship with Bulma, but other than that, I knew no one.

But the mourners were not a small group, have no doubt about that. Goku was a very friendly man and I was sure he had acquired many friends in much the same way he had, and at that moment his home- not a small dwelling - was literally jam packed with those who had loved the big hearted man like a brother, or at least called him friend. A few stood out - there were a trio of nameks, those alien refugees who had been thrust onto our world, also a giant of a man with three eyes, accompanied by what looked to be a doll... and a short man with the oddest hair I have ever seen. The father in law of Goku, the Ox King, was of course present, as was an old man in a giant turtle shell. But of all the mourners, one man stood out the most, to my recollection, though I barely took notice of him at the time.

He was an elderly, discheveled looking man, dressed in a yellow and black pinstriped pair of pants and a dress jacket, with a cap. I knew little of the customs of foriegn nations at the time, and assumed that he was some ally goku had made in some distant travel. But one thing did stand out to me at the time, though it was less strange than some things in the room at the time - the three eyed man, for instance, I vividly recall gawking openly at him, which seemed to annoy him somewhat - but it was strange nonetheless. Upon his cap, he bore the insignia of the Red Ribbon Army.

Shortly it came time for we mourners to take our seats. In Goku's religeon, it was customary for each mourner to have a few things to say prepared, and a few of them, chosen before the death of the desceased, would be given the honor of speaking. It was a curious custom, but out of respect for him, I was sure each and every mourner was well prepared, hoping that they would be allowed to speak on his behalf of his courage, valor, and ability, as well as his kindness, compassion and spirit.

The obvious speakers came first... the wife and son, both of whom looked pretty shaken up, though who could blame them. Next up was the short bald man - Krillin was his name - who told stories of when he had trained with Goku as a child. He remained strong through most of his speach, even slightly jocular... but near the end, he seemed almost crushed by the weight of his sorrow. He was followed by the three eyed man -Tien - and the doll - Chao Tsu- who told of Gokus kindness toward both his allies and enemies. They were followed by one of the nameks, Piccolo (the crowd almost all recoiled at the name- who could forget the terrible reign of King Piccolo the first), who told of Goku's self sacrifice in the name of his familly, though I doubted some aspects of his story about goku fighting his brother for his son. Even Goku, strong as he was, could not come back from death. At the time, I thought perhaps it was an alligorical story.

The short, spikey haired man came next - Vegeta, though he insisted that he be called Prince Vegeta of Vegeta-Sei - at the time I assumed it was just some far flung land. Vegeta told of how, in his land, a man's ability to fight was almost everything, and how "Kakarot" (I assumed he was referring to Goku) had been both a worthy opponent and ally, and had saved him from a tyrannical userper named "Frieza". I made a note to myself to look up the names at the library... even though the chance never presented itself, I learned later who Frieza was... but I'm getting ahead of myself.

The speakers continued... Yamcha, Bulma, the Turtle Hermit Roshi, the Ox King... all the obvious speakers. I was so enthralled that I almost missed my name being called - "Serrik Zash". I sat, dumbstruck for a moment. Out of all these people... he had remembered ME on his deathbed? I felt honored, and a renewed sadness at his loss, now that I knew he thought so much of me. I slowly stood up, and made my way to the podium.

I began to think over my speach, wondering if it would be appropriate to tell the intricate details of how Goku had met me as a scientist at capsule corporation, how I had wished to spar with him, how he had beaten me, and then in his kindness, had trained me to a world class martial arts level, had taught me - to some degree- how to manipulate energy in order to fly and to create ki blasts. It all became a jumble in my head, and I began to panic. What had been my opening line? My closer? I had lost the whole speech in my head! I reached the podium, and was silent for a moment, and though it may have seemed like a pause for dramatic effect, in fact it was a pause for me to damn my stupidity and recollect my thoughts. I regained my calm, but still, the speach eluded me. The silence became uncomfortable. "Oh well, what the hell," I thought to myself. "I may as well just wing it."

"Son-Goku was my friend. He was my teacher. He taught me martial arts, and in so doing, he taught me how to survive, both in a fight and in the real world. He taught me to cope with my problems with calm, and to fight only when nesecary. To live, he once said to me, is more than just survival. It is surviving the fight without becoming someone you cannot live with. I will say this, and only this - he may not have had the highest intellect of any man alive. He may not have been the wealthiest man to have ever lived. His views and convictions probably earned him as many enemies as friends. But of all them men I have ever met, he was wiser and stronger in his wisdom than any sage or philosopher I have ever met. Son-Goku knew well not only how to survive, but how to live. Let his life be a lesson to us all, that we may all live as well, instead of meerly surviving." And at this, I took my seat.

There were a few more speakers, but I barely paid them any notice. I felt the fool. I was sure everyone there had detected my on the go ramblings. "Is this how you honor the man? By forgetting everything you had ready to say about him?" I asked myself. Shortly, the service ended, and all the guests went outside for a meal, with the exception of the man with the cap bearing the insignia of the Red Ribbon Army, who went in close to the casket, as if to confirm for himself that the man was dead. He then shook his head, turned on his heel, and strode off in a military fashion. I later identified him in a picture in one of the few remaining libraries - Dr. Gero. I never saw him again.

As I walked outside, I overheard five of the speakers - Krillin, Piccolo, Tien, Chao-Tsu, and Yamcha - talking about something. Suddenly, the group walked up and took me into their ranks. I felt somewhat nervous - these men, now that I knew their names, were all familliar to me, and had all, at some point or another, been in the top tier of the world martial arts tournament. If they felt any desire to harm me, against any one of them I might have MAYBE stood a chance. Against all five, such an attack would be suicide. If they were there to hurt me, there would be little I could do to stop them.

Krillin spoke first. "Those were some very kind words you had to say about Goku. I can see why he wanted you to speak for him."

Tien turned to me. "You seem to have hit the aspect of him we all missed. No one will ever accuse Goku of having been a genius, but he was very wise, in his own way."

I was amazed. These... legends... these friends of goku were complimenting me and allowing me to mingle with them for a moment. I felt honored for the second time that day.

Piccolo spoke to me in a hushed tone, looking around for anyone who might be listening in on our conversation. "Mr. Zash, we would like to speak to you... privately, about a matter of some urgency. Can you spare us a few minutes? This will take an hour at most."

"Please, Mr. Piccolo, call me Serrik. And I would be honored to speak with all of you, but... shouldn't we be going back in to the funeral? We will be missed."

Tien spoke. "Under normal circumstances, I would agree... however, this is most important, and I'm afraid that it IS now or never. Will you speak with us? I assure you the familly will not be offended."

I hesitated, then spoke. "Well... allright. If you're certain."

Krillin patted me on the back. "Thanks. You won't regret this... at least not right away."

I gestured to them. "By all means... lead on."