Striking The Heart
The Man Behind The Mask
He had been sat there for over an hour now. The sun had diminished and dark clouds smothered the once blue sky. The wind had picked up it's pace, blowing his wild hair out of place. All was quiet now. Nobody was in sight, except for the few remaining officers and Tien. He could hear the howling of the wind and taste the dryness and the salt from dripping tears in his mouth. He just sat there beside her thrashed grave, legs crossed and arms hanging nimbly from their sockets. It still hadn't sunk in. The fact that she had died had only just been realised in his heart, but now this…
His ear caught the sound of tires upon the dirt track as another large white van approached. The van belonged to forensics. Those who pick up clues and suspicious marks to find the trail of the criminal. Goku looked around the grave at the blue police tape that blew slightly in the wind. It was starting to sink in now that she had been taken away from her grave…taken away from him…
His hands formed into furious fists and his eyebrows knitted together, expressing his feelings right now. He had never hated someone so much in all of his life. Not Frieza, The androids, Cell or Buu…nobody.
Forensics and Tenshu approached him silently. As he peered at them, they gave him a look…almost begging to let them enter.
"On your permission sir…could we please ask you to leave the area so we can begin our work" one man asked. He looked frightened of Goku. Goku didn't reply. They all hesitated for a while until he finally stood up, looked down at her grave and walked off.
His small journey ended him at a tree a few meters from her grave. He leant back and slid down the bark, not really caring if it hurt. He was beyond pain now…nothing else could hurt him…there was no pain left to feel…
Glancing down at the muddy terrain beneath his tired body, he was in a lost trance…another world...one where time seemed to stop. He wasn't thinking he wasn't hearing and he wasn't feeling…it was like he had been taken into space. A sudden crack of a twig caught his attention.
He rapidly turned his head and stood up, catching a glimpse of a dark figure. He walked around the tree and toward the area in which the figure was posed. There was no one there. He stopped in his tracks, searching around and trying to feel the stranger out. He was about to turn away in defeat when he come up against the stranger himself.
Goku backed away at the sight. It was like as if a nightmare of his had come true. The figure was taller than him, tall and thin, a dark hooded cloak clinging to every part of his body. His cloak was black and torn, reaching his feet and covering up every part of his flesh. Goku glanced at the stranger's face, not seeing anything but darkness beneath the hood. Goku felt this was suspicious.
"Who are you? And what do you want?" Goku demanded. He was suddenly startled by the figure's reaction. He extended his arm, a piece of what looked like paper at the end of it. Goku took it slowly and opened it carefully. He began to read…
Goku, this is Dr. Wilhem, I am the one who you met down the hospital and I helped with your wife's condition. I was hoping you could come by my place this evening at about eight. You see, there are a few things I could help you with, answers that have been unanswered. I would really be privileged if you'd come alone.
Come by my warehouse behind the mountain of Poutz. You will find it easy enough I am sure
Dr. Wilhem
Goku read it over once more ad peered up at the figure…but he was gone…
Goku stood a little confused and very uneasy. Wasn't it just a coincidence that this…stranger…appears just after his wife's disappearance, and then suddenly a man claiming to be Dr. Wilhem wants to help him? This was all becoming a bit too suspicious for him.
"So, first of all your wife's body is taken, then a stranger comes by at that exact moment dressed in black with a note, and this doctor wants you to meet him ALONE in a wore down warehouse" Piccolo said in his deep voice.
"That's right" Goku said, sitting back in his arm chair, little Gosha sleeping in his arms.
"I'm not sure about you Goku, but don't you think that it's a bit obvious that something is going on here?" "Alone…in a wore down warehouse…a doctor wants to help you and his servant is some dead guy in a cloak" Yamcha said, leaning his elbows on the window sill.
"Look…I know it sounds suspicious, but what if it really is Dr. Wilhem? What if he can help? He said he has answers for me…what if he can help me find my wife?" Goku asked.
"Look…Goku…I know you want answers and I know you want them now…but this is dangerous…he might not be Dr. Wilhem...he might be some bad guy who wants to kick your ass" Krillin said.
"Yeah Goku. What if this is all a big trap?" questioned a worried Yamcha.
"Guys…I understand your concern. But I have to do this. Dr. Wilhem or not. I'm gonna get answers and don't worry so much. I'm Son Goku…I am fully capable of taking care of myself okay?"
"But daddy what about momma?" Goten whimpered, tears in his eyes. He may have been a child, but he had to know about the situation. Goku had told Piccolo to tell Goten about the incident at the cemetery. Goten was heart broken. Goku gave Gosha to Gohan.
"Goten" Goku began, falling to his knees to meet his youngest' height, "I know a lot of things…a lot of bad things and sad things have happened to us. I know you're deeply hurt and I know you're also angry. I am very angry. I promise you son, I'll find out who did this and I'll find momma okay?" he questioned, his voice croaking with every word. Goten sniffled and nodded. Goku gave him a quick hug and stood up. He noted the time was seven fifty. It was time to go. He made for the door, only to be stopped by Vegeta.
"Vegeta?"
"I understand your anger and your intensions Kakarot. But you must understand this is a trap. I know you must go…but just keep your eyes open and stay on guard at all times and…be careful…I guess" he said looking down at the ground. Goku smiled.
"Thanks Vegeta…I will" he said leaving the house.
Krillin watched his best friend leave with pained eyes. He really felt for Goku lately. He really felt terribly sorry for him. He himself had a family, a wife. If he had lost eighteen…he'd just curl up into some void and perish. But Goku…he was so strong. He was hurt. Krillin knew that. He could see it clearly every day…getting worse as time went by. He knew Goku tried to cover it up, but it was as clear as the window that Goku was suffering tremendously. But he kept his head up and carried on, fitting his strong sturdy reputation…just like Chichi…
The house was quiet now. Thoughts, regrets and doubts filled the minds of the Z Warriors and in the back of each of their minds…
…they knew something bad was going to happen…
Goku touched down on the cold hard ground gently. His nose caught the scent of familiarity and his eyes caught the view of the warehouse. He smiled slightly and flew over to it.
Opening one of the eroded wooden doors he stepped inside, only to be attacked by darkness and silence. He walked in a little more, the smell of dampness filling his nostrils. He peered around, glad he had good eyes, able to see large objects scattered around the large room. The door abruptly slammed shut, and there was a coldness in the air that sent a fearful shiver down his spine.
"Son Goku" came an old voice from the left. The lights suddenly flickered on and there stood Dr. Wilhem. Goku stood slightly surprised, yet very happy.
"Dr? Dr. Wilhem…its you"
"Who else did you think it would be?" he asked, adjusting his glasses.
"Well…no one I guess" Goku replied. Goku let his eyes wander over the contents of the large warehouse room.
"What is all of this?" Goku asked amused by it all. There were machines, technology he had never seen before. Computers were everywhere, and a large screen was fitted to the far wall.
"This is what I call my study" Dr. Wilhem said.
"Your study? This looks more like a lab. I thought you were just a doctor"
"I am a doctor…this is just a hobby if you wish" he said putting on his white coat. Goku was quite surprised…a doctor in the medical area, with a hobby like this.
"So…you wanted to see me?"
"Ah you received my message" Goku remembered the earlier encounter with the strange cloaked man.
"Yeah…was he a friend of yours?"
"Yes…and let me guess, he looked a little suspicious?" Goku nodded, "Yes I know, he gets that a lot. He's just a bit shy that's all" Dr. Wilhem said. He walked next to Goku and put his arms around the taller man's back; "Come with me, there's much to show you and much to tell" They walked past the computer network and nearer to the large screen.
"I have lived and worked here since I was twenty seven. I have always enjoyed building and creating machines to make the world a better place" they stopped at a particular machine. Goku scanned it over in curiosity, "This is my newest creation"
"What is it? It looks like a giant…needle" Goku said, a little uneasy.
"Ha ha…a giant needle yes. It has the purpose of a needle by extracting…but it is used in a different way"
"I'm sorry…I'm lost" Goku said confused.
"It extracts things running through your blood by the use of these cables" he said picking them up, "They all stick to certain muscles on the outside of your body and the sharp end you see here", he said, pointing to the needle like end, "It extracts the substances that needs to be extracted"
"So you don't inject people?"
"It doesn't even touch your body"
"That's a relief"
"Yes I heard you had a fear of needles. That surprises me you know…a big tough guy like you"
"Yeah it surprises everybody" Goku mumbled, quite embarrassed.
"No worries Mr. Son. Everybody is afraid of something" he returned. Goku was a little uncomfortable when he heard the tone his voice was in. It was cold, chilling and somewhat…not normal.
"So...you are probably wondering why you are here?"
"Yes, actually. But in your letter, you said you might have answers for me. What do you mean by that?"
"My dear boy, I meant what I said. I have answers for you"
"What about?"
"About everything" he whispered loudly as they came in contact with the screen. Dr. Wilhem was busy pressing some buttons whilst Goku stood anxious.
"Sir…" Dr. Wilhem turned to face him, "Do you know where my wife is?"
"Yes I do" Goku gasped, "In fact…I know who took her"
"What? How? Who?"
"I know everything Goku. I know who caused that explosion and killed your wife. It was all done by the same person" he said coldly. Goku shuddered by the sudden coldness that flowed in the air.
"That's impossible" Goku said, feeling nervous around the man, not believing what he said.
"Nothing is impossible Mr. Son"
"Who are you?"
"You know who I am…I'm Dr. Wilhem"
"No you are not! Dr. Wilhem was a doctor at the hospital who helped my wife the best he could. He didn't have some freaky hobby and a machine that takes stuff from people's blood!"
"Didn't he?"
"You can't be him! You can't have done this! YOU WOULDN'T HURT ANYBODY! YOU'RE A DOCTOR WHO HELPS PEOPLE!" The man sniggered loudly and removed his glasses.
"Mr. Son…there is much for you to learn" he replied, his eyes changing from the colour blue to the colour yellow. Goku stood back and watched in terror at what was happening. Dr. Wilhem's form began to change. His once old featured face brightly shone and vanished, soon replaced by a smooth black layer of skin, only his eyes and mouth could be seen. His body grew taller, much taller than Goku…muscles became visible and large spikes stood erect from his arms and legs.
Goku stood speechless and in disbelief. Was he in some sort of nightmare or was this really happening?
The ware house shook and the tiles from the tall ceiling began to fall down, smashing loudly when they reached the dirty floor. Goku could barely stay on his feet by the power and destruction the man in front of him was creating. Dr. Wilhem screamed in rage as his transformation came to a powerful end. The shaking demished and tiles fell no more. There was silence in the building…only the sound of the doctor's evil laugh could be heard. He looked like some sort of alien…a gothic Frieza in Goku's eyes, but much larger and much stronger.
"Hahahahahaha! You see Goku! That's why you should never judge a book by its cover" he said. His voice was deep and evil (like Darth Vader…K?)
"You bastard! How could you do this? How could you betray so many people like this!" he demanded.
"Betrayal is just the beginning my friend. I've done much worse than that"
"You cold-hearted man. You're going to regret everything you have done! YOU WILL REGRET TAKING HER FROM ME AND MAKING MY LIFE HELL! I'M GOING TO RIP YOU APART YOU HEAR ME!" Goku screamed in range, his eyes turning green and watering up as he did. The doctor laughed.
"You won't want to do that just now" he said in his menacing voice. Goku was about to scream in rage.
"Where is my wife!" he demanded in a livid tone, his angry eyes becoming more threatening with each passing second.
"You want to see your wife? Alright. I'll grant you that" he clapped his hands once and the far door opened. Goku quickly watched the door fury still raging through his veins, like a bullet piercing his heart. But that all departed when the figures came into view.
He saw the strange cloaked man he saw earlier; with two others just like him but when he saw the fourth person…he thought he was dreaming. His heart stopped beating rapidly. His eyes watered up, spilling down his once angered face. His hands began to shake and his form trembled. He couldn't believe what he saw.
It had been two months…and there she was…there was Chichi…his Chichi…
…she was alive…