Gohan, Krillen, and Yamcha honed in on Goku's energy signature along with the rest of the Z-fighters who stood idly by as Goku gave the pasty white android a beating to remember. Gohan rushed to Piccolo's side a look of concern on his face as he watched his father deliver blow after blow.

"Woah Goku's really giving to that thing!? Looks like we won't have to step in at all!"

"Yea! My gosh, who knew a super sayian would be this strong, its totally eclisped his power from before!" The humans were all optimistic, no worries in for them as the future appeared to have been completely changed, but Piccolo and Gohan weren't so sure.

"What's going on? Why is dad rushing so much?"

"I see you've noticed it too. I'm not sure why he's going so hard either, but he should have much more power."

"Eh? What are you guys talking about, Goku has that thing on the ropes, there is no way he could lose."

Piccolo and Gohan kept their comments to themselves as they continued to watch the thrashing the full sayian delivered. It really did look as though the hero of Earth would win the fight, his opponent was hard pressed to block or avoid the blows let alone attack. Gohan glanced at the other Android, who watched the exchange stoicly.

As he turned his eyes back to the action Gohan could not shake the feeling of unease about his father. The past three years were the best he could remember, which wasn't saying much since the first memories he'd had was his abduction by his would be uncle. Together with his father and mentor, the three of them trained everyday growing stronger as they pushed themselves out of need. Piccolo was at least strong enough to defeat Frieza and then some while his dad's power was in an entirely different league one he transformed. Indeed even Gohan could give the evil tyrant a run for his money where he still alive. But now his father's output was barely over half his strength and the amount of strain on his face seemed to deepen with every punch.

Dr Gero's thoughts were also full of concern,'This transformation was most unexpected. If 19 can't find a way to absorb any energy then the gap in power will only increase before ultimatly he is destroyed.'

It was amazing to see just how powerful Goku had become in the four years that he'd taken his eyes of him. While he'd planned for a very substantial increase in ability for all the Z-warriors, he did not quite expect this, 'Still...if need be I'll simply retreat until i can properly configure 17 and 18.'

Almost on que, Goku knocked 19 down to the ground with an hammer blow to the back, but the mechanical man stood without hesitation or pain. Goku on the other hand was breathing heavily as sweat soaked into his cloths. 'Time to finish this...' Cupping his hands together and focusing his ki, Goku began the chant to his staple of a finishing move, "Ka...me...haaa...meeeeeee...HAAAAA!"

A beam of blue energy burst forth from his hands, rocketing towards the all white creature to seal his fate. Unfortunately it was not to be. 19 simply smiled before raising both hands to meet the beam head on, much to the amazement, and satisfaction, of those watching the energy was absorbed into the creation with no damage at all.

Yamcha was the first to react, "Oh-Oh no, i wasn't imaginning things then, the androids can Absorb our energy!"

"They can what?!"

"Yea-yea. When that old man grabbed me i felt myself getting weaker and eventually he completely overpowered me, but i thought that maybe it was in my head, that his attack was why i felt weak."

Piccolo scowled, this made things difficult but not impossible, "Goku, the androids can absorb energy, you can't use any blasts or beams!"

Goku meanwhile was panting from the effort of his last attack, 'What's going on...why am i so tired? I feel like, all my energy is slipping away.' He sucked in all the air he could muster as he prepared to continue the fight, but the android was through waiting.
With one fell swoop the tables were turned as the white being began to pumble Goku with ease.

The rest of the Z-fighters were astounded, never before had Goku looked so outmatched. Android 19 smiled before clasping his hands together and smashing them onto the back of his enemy's head, sending the mortal crashing into the ground.

"Goku! Are you ok?!"

Said warrior rose from the crater shakely, his breathing harder than moments before and his hands crossed over his chest. And then he did something no one had ever seen before. He backed down. Goku, the eternal challenger, a man whose courage and strength knew no limits, was backing down.

"You guys it's the heart virus!"

All eyes turned to Gohan who'd reached the conclusion faster than the others.

"The heart virus? Didn't he take the medicane that the future boy gave him?"

"No, he never got sick so he didn't see the point!"

Android 19 was not idle, as soon as it realized that Goku would not come to him he went on the offensive and was now throtalling the sayian with no hesitation. His screams were the back drop of their conversation as the realization that Goku would lose his life if they did not come to his aid.

"Alright we have to strike and get them away from Goku. Kirllen, Tien, and Yamcha, you three rush the old man but be smart about it and keep him off balance. Gohan and I will get the other away from Goku, one he's free then one of us can take him home to get the medicane."

"We won't have to do that Piccolo," Gohan reached into his cloths and pulled out a small purple bottle of liquid, the antidote given to Goku by Trunks, "I took it before we left. I know dad thought that maybe the future had been changed since he didn't get sick, but i couldn't shake the feeling that we'd need it."

"Nice going kid. Alright same plan, we just have to drive them off and then regroup. We won't be dying today got it?"

With several nods the group sprang into action, desperate to save the life of their friend.

The three humans charaged towards 20, Tien leading with Yamcha and Krillen flanking him. 20 engaged them with a smile, but soon it turned into a grimace as each of them proved to be much more of a challenge than his calculations indicated. He'd tracked their progress for a decade and then some, watching them push themselves hard for the battle with the sayians, learning their techniques. Of the three of them Tien was the only one who constantly pushed himself even in times of peace, and so his growth while still surprising was an added factor, but Krillen and Yamach? They trained only when a threat loomed before them, but now they too exceeded his expectations by a large margine, which meant that somehow they pushed much further than any other time but for what reason? Their combined strength was keeping him off balance, and if he did not find a way to break through them then he would lose what little advantage he held and be defeated.

Gohan and Piccolo proved to be more than match for the distracted Android as they were able to knock him away, halting the assualt on Goku who had dropped out of his super sayian form. "Dad here, its the medicane."

Much too tired to reply, Goku could only open his mouth as his son poured in the liquid which tasted bitter but at least it was grape flavored. Piccolo knocked 19 back, and almost tried to finish him off with a blast before he caught himself.

Android 20 saw all of this, and knew that if Goku was allowed to escape then his power would only grow. Not only was that a huge concern, but his allies were much stronger than he anticipated, should they press him then it was a high possibility that he would be destroyed an his ambitions left unfulfilled. So he took flight, an unexpected move but it gave him the breathing room from the three combatants who held off on chasing him, "Adroid 19, activate fail safe and dispose of Goku!"

The white doll was on his feet within seconds, charaging at Piccolo and Gohan who stood ready for a fight. But just before he arrived in striking distance he raised his hands which exploded with a white light to rival the sun's glare. At the same time 20 did the same, blinding not only the three humans, but the prince of all sayians who was about to step in. Unable to see, none could stop 19 from grabbing Goku by the throat and absorbing his energy, while 20 did the same with Tien. They were blind for just ten seconds, but in battle ten seconds could feel like a life time.

One Krillen and Yamcha recovered and saw the predicument their one time rival was in they were quick to attack, foring 20 to release his grip before he could deal the killing blow to the tri-clops. With his newly gained strength and their loss of one fighter it was childs play for him to defeat them.

Piccolo and Gohan regained their sight as well, but it was much too late. What they saw was Goku, silently screaming in pain as 19 forced his robotic hand through his abdomen, much like they'd done to Yamcha not minutes earlier. "NOOOO!" Gohan screamed in furry, the android withdrew his hand and tossed Goku aside as the squared off against an equally infuriated Piccolo.

Vegeta arrived his anger apparent and his hair golden, the aura of a super sayian around him, "You..I'll make you pay for that, Kakarot was mine to kill!"

"Hehahahah Another time perhaps! 19 come!" With those parting words both androids turned tail and fled, each one followed by Vegeta and Piccolo, the only two fighters able to give chase.

Gohan was by his father's side, tears in his eyes, "Dad hang on! I'll get the senzu beans from Krillen, then you'll be fine!"

"N-no Gohan...Its too late for that..I feel the virus attacking me. I can't fight...it any...longer."

"NO DAD PLEASE JUST HANG ON!"

"Its..ok...Gohan, i'm proud of you...You were the...b-best son...a father could..ask for. I know...you'll grow to...be a strong...man...and an even...stronger fighter...than any...of us...Tell...your mother...i...i love her...and...i'm...sorry."

It was with those last words, the Goku, savior of the Earth and known universe, died.