Separated From One Another

Chapter Twenty-five: Heart Virus

You flew after them, not used to flying at the pace Goku had set. The ominous feeling you had never left for a moment; your eyes watching the androids closely.

"I see no reason to heading out any further," The android said, him and his companion abruptly coming to a stop, "You will no stall us any longer."

They both fell to the ground, stopping just before their feet hit the dirt; the rest of the group hurried after them. The terrain was rather flat, only some patches of grass; it was mostly rocky dirt. Though there were cliff faces jutting out of the ground a little further out, the androids had an advantage out here.

"Okay first of all, tell us how you two know about us," Goku was panting next to you, something was wrong; you did not think it was about the androids.

Tuning out the androids explanations you were focused on his heaving chest, now that you noticed his ki also felt a bit strange. His presence felt weaker than normal, like his soul was desperately clinging to his mortal body. Biting the inside of your cheek you watched as he began to power up, he was going Super Saiyan.

"You three stay out of this, I'm the one that these monsters want," Goku said, glaring down his foes.

Goku went up against the pale android; the pair exchanged blows in quick succession. At first the pair seemed evently matched, the android even trying to gain the upper hand by hiding behind some rocks and shooting a ki blast at Goku. Though as the fight went on Goku's prowess really began to shine through, knocking the android into a cliff face. The android quickly flew forward moving to attack Goku again; Goku simply caught the android by his head and kicked him up into the air.

The bad feeling held its ground inside of you; after another bout of blows the pair shot back from one another. Goku was breathing really heavy, he should not need to be breathing like that. They went back to brawling, exchanging blow after blow, the android taking the brunt of the assault.

Gohan, Krillin, and Yamcha landed behind you; glancing over your shoulder, Gohan mutter out, "Oh no."

"Don't worry about this one—Goku has it in the bag," Tein reassured.

Looking back at the fight, you were not as convinced of Goku's victory. Goku's fighting seemed odd, you had only seen him fight a little against Cooler but he seemed a lot more in control of his ki during that fight. He was rushing himself, but why?

"Gohan you see it to?" Piccolo cut through the silence.

"Er—yeah."

"His technique is all over the place; he is spewing ki left and right," Piccolo stated.

"What do you mean he is doing well," Tien said, looking at the Namek in confusion.

Piccolo glared at Tien, "What I mean is that if he was fighting at his fullest the android would already be defeated."

"It must be the androids energy syphoning ability," Gohan muttered.

"Energy syphoning," You asked, glancing down at Gohan.

"Yeah when I encountered them, they stole away my energy with an ability," Yamcha explained.

Goku kicked the android out of the sky, as the other's cheered the sour feeling solidified. The android emerged from the dust, covered in dirt but otherwise unharmed from the assault. Goku charged up a rather strong blast and shot the blue ki at the androi.d Raising his hand the android absorbed all of the energy. The group stared dumbfounded, this was not looking good for Goku.

Piccolo shouted up to Goku, "Don't shoot anymore ki, they can absorb it through their hands—don't let them grab ahold of you either!"

Goku was panting and sweating like crazy, you did not notice the android take any of his ki. You had been watching his energy closely, it was slowly draining from his body; even when the android was nowhere near him.