A/N: DB/Z is owned by Akira Toriyama only.
-Taken-
Desperation
Footsteps echoed down the hallways of Ladzhou's layer as Yamcha and Krillin ran at top speed in desperate search for Chichi.
"You reckon it was a good idea leaving Piccolo there?" Yamcha called.
"Dunno if that was a wise move! What if he turns on Goku, too?" Yamcha continued as the twosome came to a halt.
"Listen, Piccolo's not gonna turn on Goku anytime soon. He wants Ladzhou out of the way just as much as Goku. If anything, he will help Goku. Besides, Tien's still there too" Krillin reminded him, looking before him, "now which way to go" he questioned himself, looking at the two hallways.
"Ok I will go this way, Krillin, you go that way!"
"Oh why have I gotta go by myself?" Krillin complained, but it was too late, Yamcha had gone.
Goku's eyes were perched on Ladzhou, like a hunter hunting his prey. He had never felt like this before during a battle. It was strange. He'd never felt so angry at someone or so determined to beat them. He would do anything just so he could get Chichi back safely.
"It's quite pathetic that we let your race take over us. You're a worthless race, only able to do one thing right and that's to kill" Goku didn't say anything.
"Silence…is that all I'm going to get from you, Saiyan? Or is that your way of hiding your shame?"
"I am not ashamed of who I am. I fight to protect the innocent, nothing more" Goku spoke up.
"That may be so, but you can't deny what you really are. I know inside you want more" Goku's frown deepened.
"I don't want anything"
"You're a liar. You hunger for a fight, you need to fight! You like to see another fall; you love to be the victor!" Goku grit his teeth and crouched into position.
"No I don't! Fighting isn't all about killing!"
"Really, are you sure about that? Because you're fighting me now, Goku. And I know for a fact you want to beat me. I know you want to see me fall"
"It's…different. You're evil and I have no choice if I want to protect the innocent!"
"The innocent? You protect those people and none of them know you exist. None of them care about you or what you do. Why would you want to do something so stupid?"
"You wouldn't understand! You haven't got a pure heart!" Goku replied.
"Neither have you" Ladzhou spoke coldly. Goku's eyes widened as Ladzhou threw his large body at Goku, a punch landing right on Goku's jaw. Goku winced and stumbled backwards, holding his jaw. Ladzhou smirked and took Goku's moment of weakness to his advantage and swung around, kicking the young boy into the cave wall.
Goku hit the wall like a tonne of ice smashing into the cold sea. Tien's eyes widened in shock and Piccolo could only frown harder.
"He can't let Ladzhou take advantage of him again, not like that" Piccolo growled.
"C'mon Goku" Tien spoke under his breath, watching the rubble for a sign of movement.
Yamcha came to the end of the hallway where a few closed doors could be seen.
"Alright, let's check these rooms!" Yamcha told himself.
"Awe man, I always end up on my own. What do I do wrong?" he mumbled, "Aah well I suppose it will be quicker if I searched alone"
Chichi suddenly looked towards the door. She could hear someone talking and the voice sounded so familiar. It wasn't Goku, but maybe one of his friends.
"Hello? Can you hear me?" she called out in hope of an answer. Krillin stopped his musings and stood still.
"Uh yeah! Is that you Chichi? Where are ya?" He called out loudly, turning around to look at the two doors.
"I'm in here!" she shouted back. Krillin immediately opened the one door, which was slightly jammed and peered in to see Chichi sitting there, chained up.
"Chichi!" Krillin said relieved and running to her side, "been looking for ya! You alright?" he asked, taking the chains in his hands.
"I'm fine! Just glad that somebody can get me out of here!" Krillin broke her chains quite easily and helped her up.
"Boy, will Goku be glad to see you!"
"Goku? Where is he, Krillin?"
"Fighting that freak show out there, Ladzhou aint it?" Chichi nodded; fear upon her.
"Is he alright?"
"Well he was when we left him! But c'mon, let's get out of here!" Chichi nodded and the twosome left the room.
Yamcha barged open the final door.
"She's not here" he said after closing the door once more, "And she can't be anywhere else, there's a dead end"
"Maybe Krillin found her?" He guessed. All of a sudden there was a loud rumble and Yamcha found himself thrown to the hard ground. Rocks and dust fell around him from the walls and ceiling from the loud clash.
"I just hope that was Goku who fired that, not Ladzhou because that was powerful" Yamcha worried as he pulled himself up.
"Yamcha!" came a call from the hallway, "I found Chichi!" Krillin shouted.
The walls of the cave were crumbling and the ceiling caving in. The power from both fighters was astonishing and almost too hard to believe. Tien and Piccolo found themselves almost hiding behind some fallen pieces of rock, the impact of the blasts and attacks too strong to bear without cover.
"Piccolo, I know we are nowhere near acquaintances, but are you ready to jump in with me if the time comes?" Tien shouted to the rival. Piccolo briefly glanced over at him then looked back over to the fight.
"Yes, but I'm not doing it for you, Goku or mankind" he spat. Tien only nodded.
Goku fired another one of his mighty Kamehameha waves at Ladzhou, the villain only just dodging it. However, with a small smirk, Goku twisted his powerful wave and turned it back around. Ladzhou had his back to it but soon turned around to face it. His eyes widened as the wave hit him head on.
Piccolo and Tien tried not to cover their eyes from the bright light of the wave's impact, but it was hard not to. The explosion surged up and through what was left of the ceiling and smoke hung heavily in the air. Time almost stopped as the three warriors waited for the smoke to clear.
"I don't see anything!" Tien shouted; a slight bit of enthusiasm in his deep voice. Piccolo remained silent.
A little short of breath, young Goku landed on the uneven ground. He watched cautiously as the smoke cleared.
There was nothing.
Tien smiled, "It's over, Ladzhou's not in sight!" he jumped out from his hiding place.
"Goku!" he called, "he's gone! You hit him head on! It's over!"
Goku's eyes didn't leave Ladzhou's last position. It couldn't be over. Not that easily.
Could it?
Tien reached the boy and slapped him on the back with pride. Goku winced slightly but smiled.
"I knew you could do it Goku! You're amazing!" he said chuckling. Goku chuckled also.
"Well, you know what they say! Never let a man do a boy's job!" The two laughed.
Piccolo emerged from the rocks carefully. Something about it wasn't right. Ladzhou was a lot stronger than that surely.
"Hey Piccolo, don't be a wimp and get out here!" Tien laughed, "It's over! It's really over!" A lightening fast beam of energy suddenly shot out from the cave wall and pierced Tien's chest. Tien gasped, blood spurting from his open mouth as his body fell helplessly to the hard ground.
"TIEN!" Goku screamed, racing to his side. He pulled his injured friend to him, his face of worry as he scanned over his wound, "Tien?" he spoke quietly.
"I'm sorry…Goku" he spoke hoarsely before closing his eyes. Goku's mouth fell open, his bottom lip quivering.
Piccolo had joined Goku's side and threw off his cape and turban.
"I knew it wasn't over! Where is he? Goku get up and let's finish this!" he bellowed.
"Fool. He really thought it was over" Ladzhou spoke lowly as he suddenly appeared in their view, "he got what he disserved"
Goku clenched his free fist and closed his eyes tightly; a deep frown accompanying it. Anger. That's the only emotion he could feel.
"Goku get your ass up!" Piccolo shouted once more. Ladzhou took this as his time to attack, and he did, right at Piccolo. Piccolo winced as he was elbowed into the nearby cave wall, completely out of the blue. The same smirk plastered the villain's face as he watched the Namek hit the wall. The power, the pleasure, the ecstasy. He loved it.
Goku clenched his fists tighter and pounded the ground twice, his body heating up with power. He growled and snarled, almost unable to keep control of his temper. He had never felt like this before. He so desperately needed to do something! He looked at Ladzhou, that same smirk upon his face. He needed to destroy him and now. No more in-securities, no more letting him take advantage.
At that moment, he powered up to his maximum, a blue aura of energy surrounding his heated muscular body. Ladzhou backed off slightly, a little surprised at the sudden surge of power. However, this time, it felt stronger.
Yamcha, Krillin and Chichi entered the main cave and saw the scene before them. Goku, the mighty warrior was ready to finally take down the great villain, no matter what. Tien lay still and quiet behind Goku's glowing body, a gasp coming to the three of them as they stared.
"Tien" Yamcha whispered to the air, an expression of pain coming to rest on his face.
"This is it" Krillin said, "There's no turning back now. Goku's not going to let him win"
"Look at him" Yamcha gasped, "I've never seen such anger in him before"
"Lord Kami was right, about everything. He's not one of us; he's an alien, a powerful one at that"
"A Saiyan, I know" Yamcha spoke quietly, "I just hope that he will still be on our side when this is over"
Only time could tell. Goku had two battles to fight now; one with the villain, and one with his inner self. A war can change a man, but Goku couldn't let this war change him. He was a Saiyan, there was no doubt about that, but how long could he hold onto his human self? How long could he hold onto goodness?
He smiled to himself, his eyes on Ladzhou.
"I am an Earth raised Saiyan! I am protector of the innocent! I am pure! And mark my words Ladzhou, I will take you down, even if it means I go with you!" he bellowed with courage and confidence. Ladzhou no longer wore a smirk on his face.
This was it now. This was now the final showdown between good and evil.
Chichi held her hand to her chest, her heart beating fast and strong.
"Son Goku, I love you" she whispered, "Don't let me go home alone"