Hi to everyone that is reading this! I didn't write this before so I thought I should write this now. This is my very first fanfic and I just wanted to let everyone reading know that I welcome all reviews! Please leave a review if you read any part if it! I want to know what you think. The good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful. Whatever you want to say, say it. In this case, write it. If you want to see something happen in the story, let me know so I can try to put it in. I hope you all like this story and I hope that you don't get bored since I started it off so slow! Keep reading! Please! One more thing! Later on in this story, when I write a bulk of the story in italics, it means its part of the flashback. I just wanted to clear that. That's it! I hope you enjoy it! And keep reading! It's going to get more interesting and I'm going to clarify a lot of things that you might have been wondering. Thank you!
As she walked in, she heard guards snickering behind her. She felt their eyes on her. They didn't believe in her but she believed in herself. That was all she needed. She continued walking down the corridor, following the guard in front of her. This was taking forever. As she passed by the prisoners in the cells, she heard the taunts. She gave them no mind. She was deep in her thoughts, thinking about her mission in life. It didn't mean anything to them, but to her, it was the next step. It wasn't just for her, it was for females everywhere. It was to empower them, to inspire them. She was only one person, but she knew she could do a lot.
It was Shae's first case. She was nervous but confident. She could do this. She knew that she was assigned this specific case for a reason; to intimidate her, to make her quit before she started. She knew that even an experienced lawyer with many wins at hand would stay away from this one. But what could she do. She wasn't a quitter. However, this fact just added fuel to her fire. If those old lawyers couldn't do it and she could, it would wonders for her mission: women empowerment.
She wanted all the women everywhere, present and future, to know that they could do whatever they wanted. She wanted to prove that they didn't have to submit to society's definition of a woman. There's a whole world out there for them and they could have it all if they wanted it. She wanted to show them that. This was her life's mission. And it all rested in this 22 year old on-going case that everyone had given up on. But not Shae. It rested in prisoner 786's hands. It was up to him to help her. But most of all, it was up to him to help himself.
When Shae first read the case, it saddened her. How could someone be accused of such a thing and not even defend himself? There had to be more to it. This case was very one-sided and to get the other side, she had to hear prisoner 786's story. She had heard that 786 had not talked to anyone in the last 22 years. No one knew his story or who he really was. This intrigued Shae. There had to be something this man was guarding. A secret? But why? Was it more important than his life, his freedom? What could be that important? It could be a possibility that he was what he was accused of being. Of course, she wouldn't know for sure until she talked to him, until she listened to his story. It was going to be hard getting anything out of him. He had not talked to anyone in years. He didn't trust anyone. This was a challenge and Shae was up to it.
"You know, you might as well turn around and go back home."
Shae's thoughts were interrupted. She looked up. The guard she was following continued talking while they walked.
"There isn't anything you could get out of this guy. I'm saying this for your own good. Don't waste your time." He laughed. Shae knew that he was taunting her, trying to bring her down. He continued, "This man has been here for 22 years and yet no one has heard a single word from him. Maybe he's happy to be here. No fighting, no trouble, no nothing. Maybe he doesn't even want to be free."
Shae knew that explaining anything to any of these guards would be hopeless. Nevertheless, she snapped at him. "Everyone is born with the right to be free. And it's my job to ensure that. You do your job and I'll do mine." He gave her a look that Shae wanted to slap off his face. He then said, "Don't say I didn't warn you."
They continued walking, taking various turns until they finally reached prisoner number 786's jail cell. The guard yelled to 786. "Hey! 786! The lawyer is here to meet you. Hurry up and find your lost voice and say what you want." The guard took out his keys and started to unlock the cell to let Shae in. She had requested to talk to 786 alone. The guard opened the door and let her in. "There are other guards here to keep an eye on you," he said to her. "You have an hour to talk to this loser until you need to leave. Do you what you have to." With that, the guard closed the cell door and left.
Shae watched him walk away. Then she turned around and saw 786 slumped in a corner. She was nervous to talk to him. She wasn't scared, although she should have been since she was alone with a prisoner. Of all the things she was feeling, scared wasn't one of them. She should've, but didn't know why she wasn't.
Shae approached him. She cleared her throat. "Hello?"
No response.
She tried again.
"Hi. I'm your lawyer. I'm going to try to get you out of here."
Still no response.
Shae wasn't giving up. There wasn't a person alive that did not want freedom. So why was this man different? Would he rather be in a prison cell than outside free? Was he hiding from something? Someone? Didn't he want to go home to his family? Did he even have a family? Shae was getting restless and wanted her questions answered.
"Okaaaaaay. Let's start with names. My name is Shae. What's your name?" Silence. Shae continued. "Do you want me to call you by your prison number like the others do? 786? C'mon. Your name can't be that bad."
The quiet seemed to engulf Shae. He wouldn't answer.
"Hello! I've heard you been quiet for the last 22 years. It's your time to talk. Now. I want to help you. You need to have your story heard."
No movement. Nothing.
Then she said something that she knew would get his attention. Something that he had not heard in years; had not been called in years. She walked over to where he was sitting in the corner. He was looking down and away from her. She kneeled down to his level where he was sitting. His face was hidden.
"Son Goku."
Shae stared intently at his lifeless looking form. Moments went by. It felt like forever. Slowly, Son Goku lifted his head. He looked at her. His face didn't show any emotion. But Shae could see it in his eyes. They were confused, surprised, and full of questions.
And in that moment she knew he was Son Goku and no other. He was innocent.
