Striking The Heart

Giving Everything Up

He stood motionless, shocked, in complete disbelief. His eyes refused to blink and his heart refused to stop beating at the incredible fast pace that it was. Was he dreaming? Was this some sort of cruel nightmare that showed him things he wanted to see…then it would vanish? He allowed himself to swallow as he watched her struggle within the hooded men's grasp. She was eyeing him too, a small smile spread on her lips once his eyes caught hers.

"Goku" she whispered.

This was real. It had to be. She was there…moving…talking…breathing…doing everything an un-dead being would do. His mouth became dry and he licked his lips to moisten them. He suddenly remembered why he was here and who he was here with. He let his gaze wander from her to…him.

"How is this possible?" he managed to say, still in shock.

"What can I say? I am a genius" he replied with an ugly grin.

"So she's…"

"Real? Yes, oh yes! Very real!" Dr. Wilhem finished for him.

"Then…I can have her back?" Goku asked, almost in a plead.

"Of course you can" he stopped and grinned, "But of course…I need something in return" Goku swallowed.

"I'm listening" he said keeping his focus on the doctor.

"You see…I am a powerful being Mr. Son…but not as powerful as I would like to be"

"Then what do you want me for?"

"Well that's it Mr. Son…You are the key" he replied in a gruff whisper. Goku became nervous.

"What do you want with me?" Goku asked silently. Dr. Wilhem paused for a few seconds before continuing.

"I want you to trade me your Saiyan powers" Goku looked confused.

"I'm sorry…that is impossible. My Saiyan powers run through my veins. You can't just simply take them! They were born with me. It's who I am"

"Yes, yes I quite understand…but there is a way for me to take them…a very…painful way" he spoke coldly.

"But…to take my powers you'd have to…" realisation hit him. The place, the machines and technology…the giant needle he had shown him earlier…

"Wait a minute…that machine you showed me…"

"Now it's all clicking into place" "Your very smart Mr. Son"

"You've been planning this from the beginning! You caused that explosion to kill my wife! You did that to get to me! Then you knew how much she meant to me…so you brought her back and thrashed her grave, making me come to you for answers. You did all of this…all of this to get my powers…everything I have worked my life to achieve"

"No Goku! Don't listen to him! It's a tra-" Chichi shouted. Her mouth was covered by the hooded figure's cloaked over hand. Goku looked at her and then glanced back at the doctor.

"So what you're saying is…if you do this to me…I'll just be…"

"As weak as a human basically"

"But how? How can you do this?"

"A simple procedure. I simply take out your blood and put in another's"

"That's impossible! I would die before you took mine out!"

"Mr. Son…I am a genius. I have found a way to do it and I have worked on it for over fifty years. I have even tested it myself. And it works perfectly" Goku was in disbelief. That machine…that needle…it could take away his blood and put in someone else's? Then he'd be weak…a mere human being? Goku still found it hard to believe.

"But of course…if you didn't want to accept the trade…I can handle that" he said walking over to Chichi. Goku watched his every move with worried eyes.

"I gave her life" he spoke as he cupped her face with his large hand, "And I can take it away quite easily"

NO!" Goku begged. Dr. Wilhem waited for him to speak. Goku looked into his wife's trembling eyes. He could see the fear, the worry and the doubt. She shook her head as if to tell him no. He swallowed.

"So if I agree with this…she will live…and she will not be harmed!"

"Of course" Dr. Wilhem agreed with an evil grin. Goku thought about for several seconds.

Everything he had achieved, everything he worked so hard to get…everything he died for…it would all be lost…

But...

...She was everything he achieved, died for and lost. He couldn't loose her again…no pain could match the pain he felt when she was taken from him. Giving everything up would hurt…he knew that. But it wouldn't be so bad, knowing she'd be there when it was all over.

He didn't care about the world right now, or its people. He just cared about her and the fact that the amazing woman who carried his heart was alive. He wanted her…he needed her…he could hardly survive without her. He didn't care about himself…not anymore. This was all about her now…

He looked up at the doctor.

"Okay…" he said quietly, "I'll do it" he finished. Chichi shrieked out a 'NO!' when his answer came forth. Dr. Wilhem smirked pleased by his decision. This moment was one he had been waiting for, for fifty years. He had planned and worked at it for so long. He could remember the pain and agony of preparing and building…the restless nights and fantasies of finally being the strongest man in the universe. As a young adult, he witnessed Goku's second place winning at the tournament when he was a child. He remembered that day well, and since then…he wanted his fantasy to become a reality.

Now it was coming to life…

Goku stepped forth towards the large monstrosity of machinery and silently prayed to Dende for the confidence he needed. He sauntered closer…closer to his un-doing…closer to changing what he called himself…

He reached the destination and stood in position as the darkpersons of Wilhem strapped him in place and began to attach large cables to his body. He prayed some more when he saw the needle before him. He needed Optimism…he needed courage…he begged for that. When the adjustments were made all became quiet. Goku's head started to form sweat droplets…his breathing nervously quickened and his mouth dried up intensively. He hated needles…his phobia was escalating. The fact that it was so close was putting him on the edge. Dr. Wilhem walked forwards.

"Now Mr. Son. This is where the games end…and your pain begins" he sniggered and pressed a few buttons upon the board, bringing data and images onto the large wall screen. Goku rapidly turned his head to see two of the cloaked creatures filling up a large test tube with blood…human blood. Goku swallowed tensely once more.

His eyes caught a glimpse of Chichi as he turned. She was frightened…Dende, so frightened. She had glittering tears falling from her eyes, sobs starting to conjure up as the tears increased. Goku just smiled warmly at her the best he could. By that smile, she could tell he was afraid…she could tell how nervous he was. She hated this…all of this! In a way, she wished she was still dead…She had caused him so much pain…but now the list of grief was getting longer as he was about to give everything up for her.

Dende…he was doing this for her. What courage…what devotion and what love her had for her in his large Saiyan heart. He truly cherished her…maybe even worshipped her. She knew that now. She could see it running through his dark orbs as he tried to hold back the fear. She took in a deep breath and returned the smile, tears still racing down her soft cheeks.

He wished he could just wipe them all away…just stop her sadness and her anxiety. If only he could express how much he loved her…how much he cherished and adored her. He was so lucky to have her…Dende knew this.

"Alright Mr. Son" the villain spoke distracting the warrior's thoughts.

"It is time for the trade to begin"

This was it. This was the end of what he was…the beginning of what he wasn't. He only prayed that she would be safe…if it all came to a dire ending…