PROLOGUE
In the jungles of a small volcanic island south of the Japan sea, a spider is hunting. It advances stealthily, step and pause, remaining undetected as it draws nearer to its slumbering prey. An enviable feat for a spider nearly ninety meters long.
The giant arachnid's body seems to shimmer in the moonless night. A spectral aura now echoed by a pulse from its eyes. The shimmer settles there, among those eight black orbs. It is guiding the beast, guiding it toward Godzilla...
(Originally Featured In G-Fan #37)
Part One: KUMONGA
The Mari-Maru was a good ship, once. But that was a long time ago. These days she got by somehow, as did her captain. His name is Hiroki. He is passed out drunk.
"Excuse me," a voice cut through his stupor. "Sumimassen. Anata wa Hiroki, desu ka?"
"I don't know him. Go away."
"Come on Kenji. The man can barely speak, let alone charter a boat."
"Charter?" The sailor shot upright at the word, his head pounding in protest at the sudden motion. "Ooh, man. Charter where?" He asked, blinking woozily at the couple before him.
"To the mainland."
"For whom?"
"Kenji and Kyoko Bradley. That's us. Um, are you gonna be okay?"
"Don't know. Everything's still sorta rocking up and down."
"Could that be because you are on a boat, Mr. Hiroki?" Asked Kyoko.
Hiroki thought a moment, then looked at Ken. "She your wife?" He asked.
"Hei. Married her three weeks ago."
"I don't like her. Don't worry though, I'll get you to Japan okay. No problem!"
"We were hoping to leave tonight, captain."
"Sure, sure. Just give me a minute to pee and we're gone. You can stow your gear down here. And put some tea on, willya? My head feels like the inside of a pickle barrel!" Hiroki shouted as he slipped below deck.
Kenji approached his bride. "See hon, I knew we'd find a ship out of here!"
"Kenji, that is not a ship. It is a garbage scow, and that man down there is drunk!"
"People sober up. Besides, this looks like the only transport left off Kunashirshima. The airport's shut down. The natives' boats are incapable of the journey, and the Defense Forces are far too busy cleaning up after the battle between Godzilla and Varan. I think this is one of those 'Now or Never' deals."
Kyoko considered Kenji's words, then forced a smile. "Okay, Kenji. We'll go. But I'm telling you right now, I've got a bad feeling about this ship...
*
Open ocean.
The storm came out of nowhere, assaulting the tiny ship. Kyoko sat gripping the edge of the bunk. She could feel the wind rising against the hull, as well as the unbroken rhythm of her husband's snoring. Incredible, she thought. The man could sleep through almost anything!
"Hey!!" Ken awoke at Kyoko's scream, as Hiroki burst into the compartment.
"Quick, take these!" The sailor shrieked, hurling a pair of lifejackets at them and racing back out.
Kenji blinked awake to find his wife's expression not at all a happy one. "Aaaahh!" They jumped as the door flew open again.
"And put some clothes on for God's sake! I think we're about to get swamped!" Hiroki screamed and scrambled away.
Kyo looked at the bright orange vest and pondered; "Why do I let myself get talked into these things?"
"Because you love me?" Ken spoke, and kissed her sweetly. "I'm sorry, Kyo."
"I know, my love," she kissed him back. "Come on, let's go."
They were all on deck when the rogue wave hit. Watching as a sixty foot wall of ocean rushed to smash them. It was the last thing they saw before their worlds turned black.
*
The wind had risen steadily as the spider closed upon its prey. A light rain falling as its shadow cast across the giant saurian's form. The spider reached forth a clawed and knobby forelimb, and Godzilla's eyes snapped open!
The monster roared and grabbed the beast called Kumonga in its massive paws. Instinctively, the spider fired a thick spray of webbing into Godzilla's face, blinding him. Godzilla's grip tightened, dorsals flashing as a blast of intense atomic fire erupted from his jaws to blind Kumonga in turn!
Now, the storm breaks, echoing the fury of the grappling beasts! Again the blue shimmer rose from Kumonga, streaming and sparking along it's form, snaking down its many legs, and onto Godzilla. The monster paused at the contact, as if listening to a whisper. The shimmers began to enter his mind.
*
"Hey, Captain!" Ken shook Hiroki awake. The man was still clutching an empty bottle of sake. "We're beached, Hiroki. Wake up!"
"Aw, let me sleep will ya? I," a sharp crack punctuated the young sailor's unfinished sentence, courtesy of the back of Ken's open hand. "Hey!" Hiroki yelled, regaining a semblance of consciousness. "Uh, where's my boat?"
"Your boat?" Ken asked angrily. "Your boat is scattered for a mile up and down this coastline. We were run aground in the storm!"
"Storm?"
"The storm you drove us straight into! Didn't you check the weather conditions before we left port?"
"Of course I checked! I'm a drunk, not an idiot. That blow came out of nowhere, just like before."
"What do you mean?" Asked Ken.
"Never mind. Hey, where's what's her name, your wife?"
Ken remained silent for a moment, fighting back the panic he felt since he awoke and found her gone. "I don't know. I can't find her anywhere." He shook away the dread, knowing he must stay calm if he hoped to find her.
"Not again," Hiroki whispered through clenched teeth. With the words came awareness. He was sobering, and in a hell of a lot of pain.
"You hurt?" Asked Ken.
"Yeah. How about you?"
Ken had to think about that one. Strange, he could detect no injuries. "No. I mean, I don't think so. Listen, man, I hope you're gonna be okay, because we've got to find my wife!"
Hiroki peeled himself from the sand and looked around. The scattered debris of the Mari-Maru marked the Great Storm's passing. He had managed to reconstruct her once, this time there was little left to salvage. "I'll be fine. But I think we should stick together til we figure out where we are. Don't worry, Bradley. We'll find her."
Ken quickly nodded assent, and together they began to trudge along the beach, searching and calling her name.
*
Kyoko awoke coughing, the seawater a clog in her chest. She rolled onto her side, and puked over the edge of the bed.
Bed?
"Please take it slow, Ms. Iso. You'll be alright now." A soft voice spoke her name, snapping her to attention. She lay on a bed of satin in an elaborately decorated suite. An impeccably dressed woman, her expression one of caring and concern, faced her.
"Where am I?" Kyo croaked.
"I am Iako, this is my hotel," the woman began. "My staff found you washed ashore not far from here. You are a very lucky woman."
"My husband Kenji, is he here also?" Kyo asked, an edge of panic in her tone.
"Oh my dear, we found only you. How many in your party were there?"
"Three. Myself, my husband and Captain Hiroki."
"Hiroki? Hm. I will send search parties out immediately," the woman passed the command over a small radio transceiver she wore on her sash. "Do not worry, Ms. Iso, or rather, Mrs..."
"Bradley," Kyo replied.
"An American name? Bladrey..." Iako stumbled intentionally over the 'L's and 'R's, smiling. "Rest now. I want your husband to know you have been well cared for when we bring him to you!"
"Arigato, Iako san. Thank you."
*
In the weeks spent back on Kunashirashima, Ken and Kyo had made a strange discovery. There was something about the mists of lake Matsuko. Something that affected the Koshida natives, returning them their strength and health. Weather it was the chemical experimentation, or maybe the Gods themselves at work, no one could say for sure.
Ken felt it too. His physical condition was barely affected by the ordeal of the shipwreck. If Kyo was experiencing a similar condition, then their chances of finding her alive were greatly improved, for now. He would have to examine this further.
"Hiroki, look! People!" Ken shouted happily, racing ahead to greet the islanders.
"Oh hell," said Hiro. "I thought this place looked familiar." Grudgingly he joined the group, a few of the natives ran off to begin the search. Unfortunately for Hiroki, the two he was most hoping to avoid remained.
"Captain Hiroki, this is Riko and his wife Saki..." As he spoke the words, Ken realized the pair were glaring at the sailor. Hiroki was glaring back.
"Hello, Mother. Father."
"Got caught out in the Storm again, eh boy?"
"Riko, stop it! Are you alright son?"
"I'll be okay. I seem to have come up a passenger short though."
"We tried to warn you the first time," said Riko. "This time, let us hope we find your passenger still alive."
"Go to hell old man!" Hiroki screamed.
"Wait a minute," cried Ken. "These are your parents?"
"That's right, Bradley. What'd you think I was? Koshida? Japanese maybe? I'm a Selga native," Hiroki spat the words with scorn. "Just think of it as paradise, but without the booze."
Bonfire at the natives village. The Selgans dance to the manic pulse of the drums. The night now black and starless, cut only by the flames and the music. Suddenly, the music stops.
"Oh, brother. Here it comes," thought Hiroki as his father Riko rose to speak.
"My people," he began. "It has been decided. We shall confide in these two men before us; Mr. Kenji Bradley, and Captain Hiroki, my son." The word carried with it an all too obvious scorn. "We must help prepare them in any way we can."
Ken looked at Hiroki questioningly. Hiroki just shrugged.
"Mr. Bradley, please come forward," Riko bade him approach. "I have good news. I believe we have found your wife still among the living."
"You've found her! Oh thank you, sir! Where is she, I must go to her!" Ken cried in relief.
"Not so fast, there is bad news as well. We believe she may be in the hands of monsters."
"Monsters?" Asked Ken.
"Creatures from outer space," Hiroki cut in. "You're not really still going on about that, are you father?"
"You have not learned very much in your time away it seems," Riko retorted. "Listen, and you may learn something now."
From somewhere in the crowd, Hiroki's mother began to speak. "Decades ago, a spacecraft fell into the waters just south of Selga. It brought with it the alien Astro-Quasars. These evil energy creatures took the form of monsters which ravaged across our land. When the beasts were finally defeated, the Quasars began to possess people instead. A man named Obata sacrificed himself to destroy them, or so we once believed." Saki's voice was calm and even, meant to be taken seriously. It was working.
"A few years ago, the developers who had once planned to exploit Selga returned. It was then that we felt the Quasars return as well. The woman is known only as Iako. She is the host-body the aliens use to further their plans. The Selga Island Submarine Resort is their base of operations, that is where you will find your wife."
"There is a resort here?" Ken asked in disbelief.
"Hai, on the shore just south of here," Saki confirmed. "We will guide you there, but you must be on your guard!"
"Please, tell me more about these aliens," said Ken.
"They are... many small brightly glowing balls. They slither and flash, like sparkles. There is pain when they touch you, like ice," said Saki.
"Ice, okay. Anything else?" Ken probed further. "You mentioned a spacecraft?"
"Helio-7," said Riko. "An unmanned probe en route to Jupiter. We believe it was intercepted by the aliens, and brought back to Earth."
"Hm. Do you know its exact location?" Asked Ken.
"I know where to find it," Hiroki stepped up. "Went diving there once when I was little. Got my butt whipped for it too. Look, Bradley, you're not really buying any of this hokey 'Astro-Quasar' jazz, are you? These people are paranoid, superstitious! There are no sparkly little aliens here, none that I've ever seen."
"Insolent whelp!" Riko advanced menacingly, and Ken quickly stepped in.
"Listen fellas, let's not come to blows over this, okay? Hiroki, do us all a favor and quit pissing off your dad. Riko, my thanks for the warning about what's been going on, but could you please take me to Kyoko now?"
"Not quite yet, Mr. Bradley," Riko backed off a pace, but he was not backing down. "If you must enter the monster's lair, you will need more than forewarning to protect you," he gestured for his wife to approach. Ken watched Hiro back away as his mother drew closer. What exactly was the deal with these people anyway, he thought to himself.
Saki held forth a shallow bowl, ornate and ceremonial. An attendant tipped a large clay jug into the bowl, filling it with a strange liquid. "This is the blood of our God, Mikki. A Seaspirit who watches over our island and protects our people," Saki explained. "Drink. It will protect you too."
"Don't do it, Bradley," said Hiroki. "I've seen that brew have some strange effects on non-natives."
"Hiroki, I've been experiencing strange effects ever since I arrived here. I believe I will be alright."
"Don't say I didn't warn you," Hiroki spat, striding off.
Ken held forth his hands to accept the bowl, and raised the vessel high. "I love you, Kyo," he whispered, and brought the container to his lips.
*
Godzilla rises, hurling the monster Kumonga back to its jungles. The shimmers are all over him now. They whisper things in his head. Things he does not like. Behind him, the spider runs like hell.
Godzilla shakes and claws at his skull as the whispers become orders, commands, screams! Then Godzilla screams as well. The shimmers spark as if in pain, and rise to flow from him. Disrupted, the glowing mass retreats quickly into the sea, leaving Godzilla enraged and alone, save for the strange images still echoing in his reptilian brain.
They had tried to control him, possess him. The spider was but one of the forms of the Astro-Quasars, of the enemy. Their spoor was strong and unmistakable. The aliens would pay for this attack.
It was Godzilla's hunt now.