Disclaimer: I don't own dbz, I don't even own the title, that credit goes to Maphisto86. Thank you so much for letting me use the title.

The disclaimer counts for every chapter from now on.

A/N: hey, me is back. It took a while before i've finished this chapter but I've started school again and I'm stressed out already. (exams).

Well, enjoy.

In the shadow of Gero

Chapter one

A dark figure sat in front of an computer, typing in a lot of odd signs. Sometimes he would look around at two operation tables, on it laid two figures, two youngsters, a boy and a girl. The man in front of the computer smirked and pressed the "enter" button.

The signs on his computer where moving, words where formed on the screen. "Last parts for operation: Cell, will now be collected". The man pressed enter again, a machine started moving above one of the kids on the tables. It shot a thick needle trough an arm, and came out again with some blood. The same thing happened with the other person.

The man took the two vials of blood like his life depended on it. He treated them like the slightest thing could ruin him. Well, that was the case actually. The blood of the youngsters was the key to his lifework, his ultimate revenge, not just at the man who destroyed his former lifework, but on the entire earth.

He placed the two vials in a machine, the blood was drained out of it. He followed the blood with his eyes, it went trough tubes and ended in a large capsule filled with a green liquid. The tubes lead to a strange thing which was floating in the middle off the capsule, it looked a bit like an embryo.

The man placed his hand on the capsule like his child was in it. "Now grow, my little one" he whispered in his evil voice, "grow and get strong, until you are ready to become perfect."

"Doctor, can I do something for you?" a woman asked, standing in a door opening.

A man sat behind his desk with his hands in his hair. He was bowed over piles of files and papers, his computer was busy searching.

He didn't react to the question.

"Doctor?" the woman asked again, now a little bit louder.

"Huh?"

"Can I do something for you?" the woman asked politely.

"Oh erm no, thank you Jamy" the man answered.

"Are you researching again doctor?" the woman named Jamy asked.

The man nodded, "this guy intrigues me, I can't help it."

"Well, I can imagine, this dr. Gero is said to have a lot of knowledge about robotics, and that's your area as well, but he is also said to be an insane man."

"The Red Ribbon army was the most powerful army that existed, it could rule the world. The robots they had are primitive now, but in the time when the Army was active they where too brilliant to be true. And then the Army just disappeared, some say that dr. Gero is dead, but I don't believe it, he's still alive and active."

Amy sighted. "Doctor, why don't you get some coffee and continue to read later, you'll drive yourself insane."

The doctor smirked, "In trade for his knowledge, I wouldn't mind getting insane, but you are right Jamy, I'll go to the cafeteria."

He stood up from his desk and walked out of the door, Jamy was still standing in the opening and sighted.

Some years later.

A young woman was slammed in a mountain, for less than a second she was a little shocked from the blast she made. But very fast she looked up to see a man with a yellow glow around him fly towards her, quickly she jumped up, leaving the man standing in front of the mountain surprised.

She made a 360 degrees turn and kicked the man in his face sending him flying away. He landed on the ground.

The woman landed gracefully in front of him.

"Nice kick Eighteen" the man said.

"You let me win, stop doing that Goku, don't hold back on me because I have breasts" the woman answered.

The crowd that gathered themselves around the two fighters laughed. "Alright, anyone wants to fight me and WON'T hold back" Eighteen asked.

"Don't worry, I'll send you to the scrapheap android" a man in the crowd said.

"I knew I could count on you Vegeta" Eighteen said.

The two fighters took poses for their battle but they where stopped by a voice "food's ready."

"We'll fight after dinner" the Saiyan prince said and he flew away.

"Fine."

"Thank goodness" Goku sighted.

"That dinner is ready?" Piccolo asked.

"No, that Eighteen stops fighting for a little while, I don't know if you've noticed it Piccolo, but she's training incredibly hard the last days, and there's no serious threat."

"I've noticed Goku, we all have, perhaps nothing is wrong but we should keep an eye on the android, because she's gotten a lot more stronger and skilful lately, and she's pushing herself over her limits, that can be dangerous" Piccolo's voice, serious as always, sounded a little worried.

Goku nodded and he flew back to his house.

It was one year after Buu was defeated, every Z-warrior was taking the time to relax. Well, off coarse Vegeta never stopped training, but Eighteen beat the lot.

Since 5 months she has been training every single day, only stopping to eat or sleep. At first Krillin thought she was just PMS'y or (HELP) pregnant again, but it seemed to be something else.

Everyone could see her improve, off coarse she was always strong, but now she was more powerful then ever. Although her powerlevel couldn't be detected you could simply see and feel that she'd gotten stronger.

All the Z-fighters where now together at Bulma's place. Chichi wanted to hold a huge party because they have lived in peace and without needed training for a year (a record) but her home wasn't big enough.

When Goku suggested a sparring match Eighteen gratefully accepted it and shocked the whole gang with her new skills. True, Goku was holding a little back, but much, much less then he first intended, he had to fight stronger.

Dinner went peaceful. Everyone was laughing and talking, bringing up old memories. Eighteen was silent during dinner, she didn't had many old memories with the z-fighters and she didn't feel like talking. She just listened to the conversations.

"Thank goodness there aren't any threats right no, I'm glad things are peaceful now" Chichi said.

Goku just nodded, he mist the intense battles, but still he was happy earth was safe.

"At least we don't have to train ourselves to death" Yamcha said.

"Tell that to the android" Vegeta said smirking "Kakarrot was having trouble keeping up with her, which means she's gotten a lot stronger."

"I'm just training, is that forbidden?" Eighteen said hissing.

"No, it's not, but it's true what he said Eighteen, I had trouble keeping up with you. Why are you training so hard, there is no serious threat right now" Goku asked a little worried.

"Because there can be a threat sooner or later, and I wish to be able to fight if that happens. Also I just feel like training." Eighteens voice sounded a little irritated.

When she saw the shock in everyone else's face the apologized. "Sorry, but something is just telling me to train." Sometimes Eighteen had problems with dealing with human emotions. She could easily hurt or offend someone without realizing it.

"Well, I won't stop you. Just make sure you don't hurt yourself" Krillin said.

Eighteen smiled at him "I won't."

Suddenly Bulma's cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Yeah, that's me, what can I do for you?"

"Mmuuhhmuh".

"Yeah, listen I could stop by tomorrow or something. But I can't judge something by phone."

"Haha, no, bye"

Bulma broke the connection. "Why can't they leave me alone?"

"Business?" Chichi asked friendly.

"Yeah, some dr. Rayo, I heard of him. Runs a company that deals with A.I. and other forms of robotics. He says he has a project I might be interested in."

"Project?" Chichi asked surprised. "but aren't you officially competitors? Why would he give you a project?"

"Well, it's not uncommon for companies to work together, and besides, it's probably his gain as well. If he wants to launch his project but he hasn't got the money for it or something he can go to others for help" Bulma explained.

"Hey Bulma can we come with you tomorrow?" Goku asked like a little child asks his parents to take him to the zoo or something.

"Don't see why you'd want to come, it's not very exciting."

"Come on Bulma, there's nothing else to do around here" Krillin asked.

"Alright, everybody that wants to come, here, tomorrow morning" Bulma said.

"YAY!"

"Kakarrot you're nuts" the Saiyan prince said a little irritated.

When Bulma got ready to leave the next morning she found Goku, Gohan, Krillin, Eighteen and Yamcha in front of her door.

"So, you guys wanted to come?"

"Yeah" Gohan said "mom said it might be good for my science, and I thought it might be interesting."

"And we where bored at home" Krillin said very honest.

"That counts for me too" Yamcha added.

"Ok, get in the car" Bulma said.

Everybody looked at her like she was nuts, Goku placed a hand on her shoulder and the rest joined hands. Within a second the whole group was standing in front of a big company. Bulma looked a bit pale.

"You could've warned me" she hissed.

Goku smirked, 'this is faster, and better for the environment."

Suddenly a man walked out of the building.

"Bulma! You're here already, like you travelled with the speed of light."

Goku smiled, Bulma gave him a glare.

"Erm..yeah, I like being early. These are my friends, is it alright if they come with us, they really wanted to see you're company" Bulma said.

The man looked doubtful. Suddenly Gohan started.

"Mister? In science class I heard of your DNA project, and I was very fascinated by it, so I'd love to take a look around."

The man cheered up completely "really? Well kid than you're lucky, the project I was going to show dr. Briefs is something like it, I am dr. Rayo, please follow me."

"Good job Gohan" Bulma whispered and they all walked into the company.

A/N: Well, that was a small intro to this story. The next chapter will be more about Eighteen and it will also have to do with dr. Gero and stuff.

What did you think, good/bad/horrible? Tell me, constructive criticism is good, flames are also good as long as you give arguments.

See you next time (I hope).