Goku was trembling slightly, but both flew down and landed in front of three 15 ft. pillars. Standing on separate pillars were Vegeta, Trunks, and Bulma. Tied around they're necks was some kind of rope, only it was sleek and bit into their skin. The rope seemed just to disappear into the air, yet it was taut and holding everybody up. They weren't moving. Not an inch, you couldn't even see them breathing…if they were. Goku calls up to Vegeta, but gets no response. "Are…they dead…?" Gohan's voice was hollow and empty, as he gazed up at his best friend standing there. Gohan flew up toward Trunks' pillar, and stopped when he reached the top. Trunks didn't move, didn't blink, didn't twitch…Gohan reached out, but the second his hand touched Trunks, he was sent sprawling backward, colliding into the ground. Electrical waves sizzled in Gohan's hair. He made a choking noise and laid still. Goku ran over and helped Gohan up, which was a chore seeing how Gohan's body was refusing to work. "Ther-there's some kind…of barrier or something…" Once Gohan could stand up on his own, Goku walked over and pressed his hands on a pillar. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. No, if I were you I'd walk right back over to your son and forget about trying to destroy the pillar." Goku suddenly straightened, and walked over to Gohan with a dazed and far-away look in his eyes. "Dad…?" "Don't-worry-Gohan-I'm- not-going-to-destroy-the-pillars." His speech was choppy, halting, and robotic like. Then Goku shuddered and he was back to his normal self. Gohan was peering into the gloom between two of the pillars, where the cool, yet harsh voice had issued from. A dark shadowy shape emerged from the pillars' protection. And that's what it seemed he was…just a shadow. He was translucent almost, and he seemed to shimmer, like the air over a barbeque, it never seems to sit still. His eyes were glowing embers of fire, dark and red. He was draped in some kind of cloak or what not, and the cloth rippled and flashed around his body. A dark, evil force was radiating from his body. So evil, it even made Vegeta cringe when he entered the Briefs' home. "What are you doing to them?" Goku's voice was barely audible, as it felt the very air was snatching his breath away. "Oh, them."- he said the word with contempt and hatred, "Nothing, I'm just having a bit of fun, you know." "But…why are you doing this? What's the purpose? They never did anything to yo-" Gohan fell to his knees, opened his mouth, and made those same choking sounds. "Shut up brat! I do what I please, when I please!" The shadow-man flicked his wrist and Gohan flew over and smacked into one of the pillars. Goku turned to the shadow-man, hatred in his eyes, "You will pay for what you just did!" The man sneered, "Oh? We shall see…"