King of the Monsters

by Shadowblade217

A reinvention of the Pacific Rim storyline, including elements of the Godzilla franchise in its continuity. As an army of alien creatures known as Kaiju threatens to wipe out the human race, Raleigh Becket must return to active duty and fight alongside his fellow Jaeger pilots and Godzilla, King of the Monsters, to put an end to the alien threat before all of humanity is destroyed.

4. Silver Dragon

Disclaimer: I do not own Godzilla or Pacific Rim.

Chapter 4 – Silver Dragon

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PPDC Shatterdome

Hong Kong

Raleigh glanced around curiously as he followed Pentecost and the other Jaeger pilots down the hallway. He'd never been to this part of the Shatterdome before, so he had no idea what to expect. Mostly, though, he was intrigued about this mysterious Jaeger Pentecost had been talking about.

Silver Dragon? I've never heard of a Jaeger with that designation before.

"This way, ladies and gentlemen," Pentecost said, gesturing to a large elevator at the end of the corridor. Raleigh followed Ozaki and Kazama into the elevator, ending up next to Newt, Gottlieb and Karkov.

As the elevator started to rise, Newt, who was standing beside Raleigh, checked his watch. As he did, the sleeve of his shirt slid back, revealing that his arm was covered in tattoos. Raleigh recognized one of them; the head of a Kaiju, one that he recognized.

"Hey, is that Dagahra?" Raleigh asked, indicating the image.

Newt looked over at Raleigh, then down at his arm in realization. "Huh? Oh, yeah. Got it a couple of years back, when I was working in Japan. You recognize it?"

"Well, my brother and I did kill it," Raleigh commented wryly. "Cut its head off, if I remember correctly."

Newt looked back up at Raleigh, his eyes widening. "Whoa… you're Raleigh Becket!" He shook Raleigh's hand enthusiastically. "They said you'd be here, but I wasn't expecting to meet you!"

"Well, the Marshall tracked me down, and here I am," Raleigh explained shortly. "I'd been out of the PPDC long enough."

"Well, it's fantastic to meet you!" Newt replied excitedly. "Not surprising that you'd remember Dagahra. He was one of the biggest Category 3's ever. Almost three thousand tons of awesome!"

Raleigh raised an eyebrow, and Newt seemed to realize his error. "I meant awful," he quickly rephrased. "Awful."

"He's a Kaiju groupie," Gottlieb commented sourly. "He loves the things."

"I do not love them," Newt argued. "I'm interested in them, that's all. I mean, the Kaiju are the largest and most complex life forms on this planet. Unlike most people, I want to see one alive and up close someday."

"Trust me, you don't," Raleigh said.

Newt's reply was interrupted as the elevator came to a stop. The pilots and scientists filed out of the elevator, with Pentecost in the lead, and walked down another highway, until they came to a halt in front of another large door.

"What you're about to see," Pentecost said, "is one of the greatest secrets of the PPDC. No one outside of this organization or the highest levels of government has any idea that this exists."

Tapping in a code, Pentecost led the group through the double doors as they slid open. The group walked onto a large metal platform, set on a track built into the wall. Opposite the platform was a massive wall of glass, stretching out of their sight in all four directions: up, down, left and right, the wall carried on for hundreds of feet.

And behind it…

Raleigh froze, his mind stunned by the shock of what he was seeing. Behind him, Chuck Hansen muttered, "Bloody hell…"

Clearly visible behind the glass wall, inside a massive room that was clearly filled with water, was a gigantic skeleton.

The skeleton stood upright on two legs, held up by a metal support frame. It had two legs and two massive arms. Its torso was huge, the rib cage strengthened and reinforced, and it had a long, reptilian snout.

At first, Raleigh didn't know what he was looking at. But then he saw the long tail stretching out behind it, and the rows of massive bony plates running down its back, and he understood.

"Yes, that's right," Pentecost said, turning away from the skeleton to face the group. "Godzilla."

Raleigh looked around, his eyes wide. The platform was level with the skeleton's head, high above the floor of the chamber where the remains were housed.

"How is this possible?" one of the Wei triplets inquired. "Godzilla's not dead!"

"This is the original Godzilla," Pentecost explained. "The one that attacked Tokyo in 1954. After it was killed using the Oxygen Destroyer, the remains of the First Kaiju remained on the bottom of Tokyo Bay. Four years ago, a scientific expedition in the area stumbled across it. We retrieved the skeleton from the ocean floor and brought it here for study."

"All right, but what does this have to do with this new Jaeger you've been talking about?" Chuck asked.

Pentecost smiled cryptically. "It has everything to do with the new Jaeger, Ranger Hansen." He gestured to the scientists. "Dr. Karkov? Would you care to explain?"

Nodding, Karkov walked forward to stand beside Pentecost, then turned to face the group.

"After the skeleton of the first Godzilla was retrieved and brought to Hong Kong four years ago," he explained, "we were able to extract samples of its DNA from the bones. While all of the tissues and internal organs were disintegrated when the Oxygen Destroyer killed it, the bones were left in perfect condition, and remained virtually undamaged over the years."

Karkov glanced back up at the skeleton. "From that DNA, we were able to deduce and examine some important information about Godzilla that we had not previously confirmed, particularly about the mechanics of his cellular regeneration and healing factor. But the most interesting thing we found was that his DNA can be highly useful at bonding together and coordinating various reactions."

"Meaning… what?" Chuck asked.

Karkov smiled. "Meaning that, by using Godzilla's DNA and combining it with the same technology that we use to control the Jaegers, we were able to construct something extraordinary, which had been theoretical up until that point. A DNA-based computer, faster and more efficient than any human-built system."

"And you used that new system for this fifth Jaeger, Silver Dragon?" Raleigh asked.

Karkov nodded with a grin. "You are a very perceptive man, Mr. Becket. I'm glad to have you working with us. Yes, Silver Dragon was built using this technology, combining Godzilla's DNA with the most advanced Jaeger technology we've developed to date. The end result was the fifth Jaeger of G-Force; a Jaeger specifically designed to eliminate Godzilla."

"Thank you, Dr. Karkov," Pentecost said with a nod to Karkov. "Now, if you'll all follow me, it's time for you all to officially see Silver Dragon in person."

The group walked back off of the platform, out of the massive hangar containing the skeleton, and down another hallway, with Pentecost and the scientists in the lead.

"So, this 'Silver Dragon'… that's what you two are piloting?" Raleigh asked Ozaki and Kazama as they walked.

"Yep," Kazama replied. "And trust me, she's worth every last bit of the time and effort it took to build her. If any Jaeger's going to take down the First Kaiju, it's this one."

"I'll judge that once I've seen the thing," Raleigh quipped.

"Trust me, you won't be disappointed," Ozaki replied. "Although you may be surprised."

"Surprised?" Raleigh asked. "Why would I be surprised?"

Kazama grinned. "Let's just say she doesn't look like your typical Jaeger."

"If I could have your attention, please?" Pentecost called as they came to a halt in front of another large double door. Raleigh, Ozaki and Kazama immediately refocused on the Marshall as all conversation ceased.

"Pilots of G-Force," Pentecost announced clearly. "It's time for you all to meet the fifth Jaeger of your team. I present to you… Silver Dragon."

He tapped in a code, and the doors slid apart.

Raleigh's jaw dropped in shock.

"Unbelievable…" Herc murmured.

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Federal Detention Center

Los Angeles, California

The man in black walked into the high-security prison virtually unmolested. All it took was a quick flash of his ID at the guards and a brief explanation for his visit, and they stood back and let him through.

When he arrived at the interrogation room where the meeting had been set up, he was satisfied to note that everything had gone according to his instructions. The prisoner was already there, seated – and handcuffed to – a metal chair on one side of the table. All that remained was a quick word with the guard on duty, instructing him to deactivate the security cameras monitoring the room and wait in the hall until he was finished.

As soon as the door closed behind the guard, the man in black walked casually into the interrogation room, immediately drawing the attention of the room's only other occupant.

Thirty-two-year-old Alexandra Springer, a member of the notorious Kaiju Cult, lifted her head to gaze coldly at her visitor. Her short-cropped blonde hair and the tattoos covering her arms and neck showed her origins.

"Who are you?" she said wearily. "I've had enough interrogations for one day."

"Oh, I think you'll be most eager to hear what I have to say," the man in black countered, leaning back in his chair.

Springer looked at him more closely, her eyes narrowing. "Do I know you?"

"Not necessarily," the man replied calmly. "But we do have common interests."

Springer's eyes widened, glancing to the security camera in the corner of the room.

"Don't worry, it's been temporarily disabled," the man in black said casually, clearly sensing her realization. "We can speak freely." He smiled. "Now, Ms. Springer…" He leaned forward, pulling up the sleeve of his shirt. "Who exactly do you think I am?"

Springer's eyes widened. Clearly visible, etched on the inside of the man's wrist, was a tattoo in black ink, identical to the one on her forehead. It was a circle with a cross contained within it, and eight curved lines emanating outwards from the center of the cross, two in each of the four quadrants formed by the cross.

"You…" she whispered, looking up at him. "You're one of the Order?"

The man in black smiled. "I am. And I have a proposition for you, Ms. Springer."

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PPDC Shatterdome

Hong Kong

Raleigh's eyes widened as he stared into the huge room. It looked almost exactly like the launch bays where the other four Jaegers were kept; the only real difference was its occupant.

"So this is Silver Dragon," he whispered.

The Jaeger that dominated the bay was simultaneously familiar and alien to Raleigh. It was constructed entirely out of gleaming silver metal, and was clearly created from the same origins as the other Jaegers. But its appearance was utterly different.

While Silver Dragon still had two arms and two massive legs, it also had a long, segmented tail that extended behind it. Its head was different as well, with a long snout and open jaws filled with dagger-like metal teeth instead of a smooth, vaguely human "face", and two large eyes that gleamed a dull yellow, with a red vein-like conduit that extended back from the corner of each eye. A large triangular plate dominated its chest, and its hands and feet were equipped with wicked-looking claws. But by far the most recognizable part of its design was the row of large metal plates that ran down its back, extremely similar to the spines on the back of the First Kaiju.

In short, Silver Dragon resembled nothing more than a mechanical version of Godzilla, as if the First Kaiju's appearance had been captured in gleaming metal.

"Silver Dragon," Pentecost called out, stepping forward as he walked along the lengthy catwalk that crossed in front of the Jaeger. "The first – and only – Mark VI Jaeger ever built. Specifically designed to replicate the First Kaiju's power and fighting style. This, combined with the rest of G-Force, is our best hope of defeating Godzilla once and for all."

"We knew that normal Jaegers, even the most advanced ones like Striker Eureka, weren't going to do any good against the Jaeger von Jaegers," Herc explained. "So the science boys, led by Dr. Karkov and Ms. Saegusa here, dreamed up this little beauty. She's the most advanced Jaeger we've ever created." A grin crossed his face. "Piloted by these two," he added, indicating Ozaki and Kazama.

"Although," Ozaki said as he walked over to Herc and Pentecost, "Silver Dragon is kind of a mouthful, so we came up with another name."

"Which they insist on using, even though it's not protocol," Herc muttered.

"We call it Kiryu," Kazama said with his usual cocky grin. "It means Metal Dragon, which is basically the same thing, and it's a lot quicker to say. Besides, I think it's catchier."

"Kiryu," Raleigh said quietly. "Interesting name."

"As Ranger Hansen was saying," Miki Saegusa continued, "this new Jaeger is the most advanced weapon ever developed by the PPDC, and as such it's our best chance of winning a fight with Godzilla. If any Jaeger can kill him, Kiryu is the one." She closed her eyes for a moment after speaking, and Raleigh almost thought he saw a hint of regret on her face.

Seeing that Miki was distracted, Karkov took over. "Kiryu's–" He cut off at an irritated glance from Pentecost. "Sorry, sir – Silver Dragon's weapons systems have been upgraded to the highest level possible. Missile launchers in its shoulders carry the same type of anti-Kaiju piercing warheads that Striker Eureka is equipped with. It also has twin blades in its arms, which can be used in hand-to-hand combat, and also have two alternative uses; they can conduct an intense electrical current into a target, or be used to fire energy blasts from a distance. An energy projector in the Jaeger's mouth can fire a powerful maser blast. Finally…" he indicated the large triangular plate on Kiryu's chest with one hand. "We have its most powerful weapon, the Absolute Zero Cannon. When fired, this weapon creates a blast of energy that will freeze matter to negative two-hundred-and-seventy-three-point-fifteen degrees Celsius, or absolute zero – the temperature at which all motion stops. With the target completely frozen in this state, any physical impact will cause the target to completely disintegrate. Even a Kaiju can be killed instantly with one shot."

Chuck whistled. "Impressive. But does it actually work?"

"I assure you, it works," Karkov said with a faint smile. "The weapon has been tested numerous times, and has been completely effective. Even Godzilla's regeneration would not protect him from the Absolute Zero weapon. That is why Silver Dragon is our best chance of defeating the First Kaiju once and for all."

"Thank you, Dr. Karkov," Pentecost said with a nod. Karkov stepped back, and Pentecost addressed the group again. "Now, I know that the prospects of this mission are most likely unnerving to some of you. This is Godzilla we're talking about, after all. But remember this; in all the years since the PPDC was established, we have never formed a more powerful or better-equipped fighting force than the one we have here. G-Force has the best Rangers and equipment it could possibly have obtained, and I have full confidence in all of your ability to carry out this mission." He glanced back to where Kiryu stood, a symbol of the power and effort that was being devoted to their mission. "I couldn't have asked for a better team, and I know that with all of us working together, we can get this done. Dismissed."

Turning, the Rangers and scientists exited the hangar, leaving Kiryu behind amid the bustling activity to ready it for combat status.

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Federal Detention Center

Los Angeles

The man in black led the way down the hall, followed by Alexandra Springer. Four guards escorted the prisoner down the hallway and out onto the helipad, where the sleek black helicopter was waiting for them.

With Springer handcuffed and ready for transport, the guards loaded her onto the aircraft. The man in black nodded to the lead guard, then shook hands with the prison warden. "Thank you for your help, Warden. I appreciate it."

The warden nodded. "Make sure that woman doesn't get herself into any more trouble. She's your responsibility now."

"I'm well aware of that," the man in black said calmly. "I intend to make sure she doesn't get out of line."

Climbing into the helicopter, the man in black seated himself across from Alexandra Springer and closed the door behind them.

"Sorry about the handcuffs, but there really wasn't anything I could do about it," he said apologetically. "It's standard protocol."

"It's fine," Springer said briefly. "As long as I can get them off soon."

The man in black smiled. "Don't worry; as soon as we get back, I'll remove them. And then we need to talk about my assignment for you."

"What assignment?" Springer inquired, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.

The man in black chuckled. "Nothing difficult. I need to find a colleague of yours for a special mission. I was told you could help me find him."

"Find who?" Springer asked.

The man's smirk widened. "I'm told you're familiar with a man called the Regulator."

Springer's eyes widened, and she inhaled sharply. "You're going to hire him? Why?"

The man grinned. "Because I have a mission that requires the best. And he is the best at what he does." He extended his hand, showing her the tattoo on his wrist again. "In exchange for helping me to find him, you will be given your freedom. Or, at the very least, a chance to hide yourself from the authorities. You'll still be on the wanted list, but it's better than prison."

Springer nodded slowly, held her hand out and shook his hand. "All right. I'll help you find him."

The man in black nodded in satisfaction, sitting back in his chair. "I was hoping you would."

Springer leaned back, looking out the window into the rainy clouds. Well, he's definitely one of the Order, and a high-ranking one at that, so I trust him… but what would this guy... what would anyone... want with the Regulator?

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PPDC Shatterdome, Jaeger Pilots' Quarters

Hong Kong

Raleigh followed Mako Mori along the hallway, towards his new quarters. After the briefing and the dramatic revelation of Silver Dragon, a.k.a. "Kiryu", Pentecost had turned Raleigh over to Mako's care again, instructing her to lead Raleigh to the room where he'd be staying during his time at the Shatterdome. Ozaki had invited Raleigh down to the cafeteria for lunch with the other pilots, but Raleigh had declined. He'd been on a plane or a helicopter for the past twenty hours, plus the hour or so he'd spent walking around the Shatterdome with Pentecost and the others, and he was exhausted. He needed sleep more than food at the moment.

His room wasn't very impressive, but he hadn't been expecting much. It was very similar to the room he'd shared with Yancy back at the Shatterdome in Alaska, except that this one only had one bed.

Dropping his duffel bag, Raleigh took a moment to stretch his arms, finally relaxing after the long hours cooped up in a military transport.

"If you need anything, my room is right across the hall," Mako said, prompting Raleigh to turn and face her. "You'll meet the potential candidates for your new partner at six hundred hours tomorrow morning. The best evaluations were taken to match them to your Drift patterns."

"What kind of evaluations?" Raleigh asked, his curiosity sparked.

"Well, I personally went over each of them myself," Mako said, "but they were also evaluated by Miki Saegusa. She's an expert on the Drift, better than anyone else we have."

"Really? What makes her so good at it?" Raleigh inquired, leaning against the wall.

"Well, as a matter of fact – although I know this may sound ridiculous to you – Miki is a psychic," Mako explained.

Raleigh waited for a moment, expecting a punch line. When none arrived, his eyes widened. "Psychic? Seriously?"

"Indeed, Mr. Becket," Mako confirmed. "She was a teacher at the ESP Research Institute in Tokyo when Marshall Pentecost recruited her for the PPDC. No one took her seriously at first, obviously; most people thought it was some kind of scam, until she was able to turn back the Kaiju designated Gezora from attacking Shanghai three years ago using only her mind. She was able to force it away from the city and into the ocean, where we intercepted it with two Jaegers and killed it. Since she's a psychic, she knows the Drift better than anyone else presently alive, so she's highly skilled at matching Jaeger pilots with their Drift partners."

Raleigh blinked. "Huh." Deciding not to press the issue, he refocused on Mako, becoming curious about her. So far, her role in the program hadn't been explained particularly well, and he was intrigued. "So… what's your story?" he asked. "The Marshall and Tendo told me you were in charge of the project that rebuilt Gipsy. Are you… some kind of engineer?"

Mako didn't reply, simply gazing back at him with an analytical expression on her face, as if she was studying him.

"Pilot?" Raleigh guessed again, trying to get a response.

Mako stiffened slightly at that question. "No," she admitted. "Not yet. But… I want to be one."

"Really? What's your simulator score?" Raleigh inquired.

She hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Fifty-one drops, fifty-one kills."

Raleigh's eyes widened in shock. That was an impressive total.

"Are you one of the candidates tomorrow?" he asked.

"No," she replied quietly. "The Marshall has his reasons."

"Must be some damn good reasons, with that kind of record on the simulator."

She paused, then, clearly in an attempt to change the subject, continued, "I hope you approve of my choices. I've studied your techniques and fighting strategies from all of your battles… even Alaska." She looked down as she said the last two words, clearly trying to avoid provoking his memories of that particular battle.

"Well… what do you think?" Raleigh asked out of curiosity. "What's your evaluation of me?"

"It's not really my place to comment," she protested.

"Ms. Mori, the Marshall's not here. Relax. You can comment. Trust me, I won't be offended. I've heard most things you could say already." He gave a faint smile as he spoke.

She looked down at the floor briefly, then appeared to come to a decision. "Honestly, Mr. Becket… I think you're unpredictable. You have a habit of deviating from standard combat protocols, and you've been known to take risks that have endangered yourself and your crew. In my opinion…" She faltered for a moment, then finished, "In my opinion, I don't think you're the right man for this mission."

Raleigh raised an eyebrow, surprised by the blunt nature of her response. Mako flushed and looked away, probably in embarrassment.

"Well… maybe you're right, Ms. Mori," Raleigh said eventually. "But in real combat, outside of a simulator… when you're in the real world with the Miracle Mile at your back and millions of people depending on you to save them… you make decisions." He looked her directly in the eyes, his gaze intense. "And you live with the consequences."

Mako remained motionless for a moment, then turned and walked across the hallway, into her room. She glanced back at him briefly, then closed the door firmly behind her.

Well, that was odd, Raleigh thought. He glanced at Mako's door for a moment, then turned and walked over to where his duffel bag was still lying on his bed. Stripping off his sweaty T-shirt, he ran his fingers over the scars on his chest and sides, created when his drivesuit's circuitry had overloaded and burned his skin on the night five years ago when Yancy had died. The burns had always symbolized the loss he had suffered… but maybe they could symbolize something else. Endurance. His will to return, back to the life he had tried to forget, and try again.

Raleigh nodded decisively.

However this turns out… I've spent enough of my life ruled by my demons. I'm done with the past. It's time to focus on the present.

As he rummaged through his bag for a clean shirt, Raleigh had no idea that Mako was watching him through the peephole in her door.

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PPDC Research Vessel Kongo-Maru

South Pacific Ocean

Dr. Emiko Takado, the senior scientist aboard the highly advanced Japanese research vessel Kongo-Maru, checked the readings on her instruments again, analyzing the data that had been collected by the ship's sensors and reinforced by its deep-sea ROVs.

I still can't believe we've actually found Godzilla, she thought as she gazed out the window at the dark night sky.

Dr. Takado had mixed emotions concerning the discovery. On one hand, she felt pleasure that she and her research team had finally found the legendary First Kaiju after over six months of scanning the South Pacific in search of him. But on the other, she was haunted by visions of what might happen if Godzilla were to awaken… especially in the light of recent developments.

Once again, she checked the data that the ship's sensitive instrumentation had collected over the past few weeks. There could be no mistake.

Far beneath the Kongo-Maru, Godzilla lay on the sea floor in hibernation. Over the past twenty-four hours, however, his heart rate had begun to increase, and his temperature was gradually rising. For whatever reason, he was awakening, slowly but inevitably.

Soon, the most powerful Kaiju in existence would emerge from his sleep, and there was nothing that anyone could do to stop it from happening.

Dr. Takado let out a sigh, leaning back in her cushioned chair and closing her eyes.

I should get some sleep, she thought wearily. I haven't slept for more than a few hours in the past week…

As Emiko Takado drifted into an uneasy sleep, she couldn't overcome the sensation that something was wrong…

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On the sea floor…

Twenty-two thousand feet below the Kongo-Maru, a massive dark shape lay on the ocean floor, partially buried in sand. Three rows of enormous, bony plates extended down the creature's back, its thick hide shielding it against the painful cold of the water.

Suddenly, a shudder passed through the immense creature, its entire body shaking, muscles contracting. A huge tail swung sideways, smashing through a large rocky outcropping and completely demolishing the structure.

An eye opened, glowing orange and filled with dormant anger. A deep growl rumbled in the creature's chest as it came to consciousness.

Godzilla, King of the Monsters, had awakened.

Slowly, Godzilla turned his head from side to side, rising to his feet with a massive swirl of sediment. His keen eyes, far more sensitive than a human's, could see his surroundings clearly even through the almost impenetrable darkness of the deep ocean.

A human who stood there would have been rendered blind by the darkness. In fact, a human who stood there would have been crushed by the pressure and frozen by the cold. Godzilla, however, was unbothered by the extreme environment. He could breathe as easily underwater as he could on land, so he had nothing to fear from the lack of air, and the nuclear energy contained within every cell of his body could easily withstand the cold.

Godzilla tilted back his immense head, his senses becoming aware of something. Something was wrong. His environment had changed. There was an intruder, far above him.

Someone had awakened him.

With a growl, the King of the Monsters pushed off from the bottom and rose swiftly towards the surface high above, accepting the challenge.

.

Aboard the Kongo-Maru…

Dr. Emiko Takado snapped awake as soon as the Kongo-Maru's alarms began to blare. Scanning the instruments hurriedly, she froze, a chill running through her even in the warmth of the South Pacific air.

"What's wrong?" one of the technicians asked as he rushed into the lab.

Without taking her eyes off the readouts, Dr. Takado answered, "It's Godzilla. He's fully awake now, and moving."

As the rest of the vessel's crew rushed to their stations, Dr. Takado raced out of her lab and ran at full speed to the bridge. She burst into the room to see the captain shouting instructions to the bridge crew.

"Captain!" she gasped. "We have to get out of here immediately!"

"Sir!" yelled the crewmember running the sonar. "Godzilla's rising – he's coming up right under us, and moving incredibly fast! Fifteen hundred feet! Fourteen hundred!"

"Get us out of here!" the captain snapped.

"There's no time! He's moving too fast!" another crewmember shouted.

"Twelve hundred! Eleven hundred!"

"Send an SOS!" Dr. Takado ordered.

"Nine hundred! Eight hundred! Seven! Six!"

Dr. Takado stared wildly out through the bridge windows, into the Pacific night. The water seemed peaceful, but she knew all too well what was coming.

"Four hundred! Three hundred! Two hundred!" the technician yelled.

Dr. Takado turned and had enough time to take one step towards the radio before a massive impact hit the Kongo-Maru. Crewmembers were knocked to the floor, instruments blew out, and the control panel in front of the sonar man exploded in a shower of sparks.

A deafening roar filled the air, and the entire vessel lurched under another devastating blow. The lights went out with another explosion of sparks.

Dr. Takado propped herself up, looking out through the cracked windows just in time to see flashes of blue-white light beneath the surface, illuminating the vessel from below. The sea's black surface glowed as if it was on fire.

Godzilla comes, Dr. Takado thought quietly, an eerie calm enveloping her. It is karma.

Then there was a blinding flash of light, and a tremendous beam of blue-white fire tore through the Kongo-Maru. A massive fireball engulfed the research vessel, its fuel tanks detonating in secondary explosions. Crewmembers and technicians were incinerated in the searing heat.

Finally, the Kongo-Maru simply vanished, torn to pieces by the blaze of multiple explosions, fire burning across a small patch of sea.

Three rows of huge, jagged spines broke the surface for a moment, then submerged as Godzilla swam away.

The destruction of the Kongo-Maru had been so fast, and so complete, that no message of warning had been broadcast.

.

AN: And here we are again. Hopefully you all had a great and successful holiday season, and Happy New Year!

As many of you guessed, Silver Dragon, the fifth Jaeger of G-Force, is, in fact, Kiryu. Props to everyone who got it right; hopefully you'll all enjoy this twist!

Also, relating to the two scenes involving the Kaiju Cult member Alexandra Springer and "the man in black"; yes, I am going somewhere with this. And yes, you will eventually find out who the man in black is, but not yet.

And, of course, the most exciting moment of this chapter; Godzilla has finally awakened! Hopefully his awakening was as spectacular as you were hoping, and next chapter we'll actually get to see him in action. Can't wait!

I actually have two end-of-chapter questions for all of you, so let's get to them. First, does anyone recognize the tattoo that "the man in black" has on his wrist? (Hint; it's from the Godzilla series). And second, does anyone know who I meant by the hinted character of "the Regulator", that the man in black is looking for? (Hint; he's a character from the Godzilla series, but he won't be exactly the same character as he is in canon).

Shoutouts to Prototron MJ Tornada, SupernalGodzilla, Wyvernsaurus, onyx95, Mister. Enigma, SpinoGuy, THEEVILDOER, redneck 141, Gunre The Swedish Spartan, Hercules8, PureAlphaBeast, Gojiran1954, and The-real-dragon-rider for reviewing! You guys are awesome!

And thanks to everyone who's read this story so far for more than 2,000 views! :)

As always, I appreciate feedback on my stories, so if anyone has a comment or question regarding this chapter or the story as a whole, please review! (No hate, please).

See you all next time!