(A/N: Um…I don't have much to say…so…Cheese rules!)

Amy—Updates come as fast as I can type them, and I've got a project to do during the weekend for school, so updates will take even longer to show up on the site. Ah! No! It's not fair, is it? LOL. Yeah…again, you're my favorite fan, so keep 'em coming, girl!

Chapter 6: Numb

I've become so numb…
I can feel you there.
I've become so tired…
So much more aware.

Goku sighed as he dropped the Special Saiyan form. It wasn't so much as a strain as transforming to Super Saiyan was, but it took more of his strength to let go of all that power than to actually grab it in the first place. That was an odd feeling. It used to be second nature to let go of his power when he wanted to, but now it almost seemed like he didn't want to leave it. He felt safer holding all of that power, all of it ready to leash out, ready to use on anyone that threatened him, anyone that was not Psyfoam. His power was great—it got rid of Frieza easily—but just not great enough to defeat Psyfoam.

So he sighed when he let the transformation leave, hiding back a sob. He hated Frieza—who didn't hate Frieza—especially after what he did today, though. Frieza had forced Goku back into being a warrior, with Chi-Chi being the innocent victim that died to force him back. And more than likely, it had been Psyfoam who had planned the entire set-up.

With Psyfoam returning, Goku knew it would only be a matter of time before he was forced back to living like a warrior again, but he had wanted to spend just a few more moments with his wife before he was forced back. Goku had never dreamed they—Psyfoam, Frieza, who cared exactly who planned it all—would use Chi-Chi's death to force him to use his power, playing with his emotions just enough to tick him off; he had guarded against everything else.

Goku stared at the still smoking ruins of his house and let the tears fall. That was his life, disappearing there, flying away in smoke. His house, his wife, his oldest son…Psyfoam was really hitting him where it hurt now. If Goten left next there would be nothing left to live for, nothing.

As if thinking about dead family had cursed the remains of those still alive, Reda's ki dropped significantly. She must be battling Psyfoam now, without Vee. Curious as to why he couldn't sense Vee, Goku delved deep to search hard for his sister's best friend, his friend's brother. Vegeta became clearer, as had Trunks, but both were losing ki fast, if not at such a significant drop.

Goten and Pan could be felt toward Gohan's new house; their kis seemed numb, as if they had both witnessed Gohan's death, a tragic event for Pan as much as Goten; both were begging for comfort and both were giving comfort.

Goku reached out further, feeling the kis of all the people of Earth, feeling the worry in almost every ki signature he came across. Piccolo's kis was tensed, not the same tension-filled feeling his ki gave off when he was training, but a calm, mournful tensed; that must mean that Piccolo had felt Gohan's death and was mourning it calmly like only an old teacher could. Krillin was also an easy pick-out. The strong human was in his "normal" state, his ki not moving from its stable position, but Krillin was growing more worried by the second; Master Roshi was as calm as a stone could…Goku smiled as the old hermit's ki reached a bright state, showing shock for sure; so, they were just now learning about Psyfoam's return on that island.

Another ki tugged at him, the ki of his father, Bardock. Insisting that he needed more training, Bardock had lugged off to travel the Earth with his two sidekicks: Kerchak and Dresco. The threesome appeared to be doing well with keeping identities secret and still learning about the Earthlings' way of life, most likely training as they went. Bardock was a good man, a good Saiyan; Reda said their father had changed a lot in all those timeless years as a prisoner of Psyfoam. Bardock had changed for the better because he didn't remind Goku of a ruthless Saiyan at all. Bardock didn't remind him of anyone or anything; he was just Bardock, his father.

Goku let go of his senses suddenly without finding Vee. Reda's ki was disappearing from his senses completely when he let go; she needed help now whether Vee was alive or not. That young kid would be very helpful, but Goku would not wait on Vee forever. Reda needed help now!

His energy surrounded him and he blasted off toward West City, toward Vegeta, Trunks, Reda, and...Psyfoam.

--

Goten looked at Pan, their eyes connected, and the nodded. Gohan was dead, Videl was dead, Pan was feeling alone because Vee's ki had now disappeared as well, and Goten was about to take up the responsibility of being her uncle. Pan needed comfort more than he did, and…

The son of Goku stood up suddenly, feeling someone else's ki drift away on the wind. Pan looked up at him, her innocent black eyes asking him what he had felt. Goten sighed with the wind as he felt the numbness in his heart—numb because of the shock at seeing Gohan's death.

"It's Reda," he said, his voice floating along the last breeze of the changing wind. Pan blinked, asking another question in those innocent, numb eyes—she was numb with depression the same as he was. "She went to help Trunks fight Psyfoam, I think, and because Vee's not there she's getting beat."

"Then she needs our help." Pan's suggestion sounded like something he should have said, but he had refused to say it for some odd reason.

Goten sat back down on the boulder after feeling his father's ki lift off and travel toward Psyfoam. He shook his head, feeling the numbness. "What can we do? When it came to power you and I got the weak share. If my father can't fight Psyfoam, if Reda can't even defend herself against Psyfoam, what can we do?"

The slap hit his cheek hard and he stared at Pan with shock and confusion. The numbness was gone from Pan's eyes and in its place was irritation. Irritation? "Don't you even start thinking like that, Uncle Goten! Reda needs our help and if Trunks is there, then Gotenks would give great help. Come on! I'll go by myself if I have to, but I'm not the one that has to fuse with Trunks."

Goten blinked. Pan really did have a brave heart, and she knew her power was no good against Psyfoam. And she still insisted they fight Psyfoam, try to save Reda, try to save the planet. "Why, Pan? What's the point?"

Gohan's daughter crossed her arms and glared at him, the wind blowing stray grass blades into her black hair. "The point is that we're going to show Psyfoam that no matter what he does we won't give up. Don't you see what he's trying to do, Uncle Goten? Psyfoam is trying to force despair down our throats and make us swallow it willingly. Well, I say we cough it out at him, trust to hope, and show him that the Z-warriors never give up, even when death threatens us or the ones we love. He expects us to fall, to stay here and despair until he enslaves the planet and it's too late. If we fight him in West City it'll be the last thing he'll expect."

Goten blinked and then smiled, getting on his feet. "You're right, Pan." You're right and now I see where you get that youthful bravery. She smiled back, but turned to West City with a frown and Goten did the same as soon as he saw a smoke cloud rising in the distance.

--

Goku: We did it once; we can do it again, Reda. Don't give out on me, yet. We need you, now more than anything. I'm coming, sister. Wait for me.