Thus we come to Chapter the Fourth, in which our plot continues to take shape. Enjoy!
Godzilla is © Toho
CHAPTER FOUR
Monster Island Research Facility
"Well, Professor," Commander Tagaki pressed, "You're the expert on this subject: what do we do with her?"
"My recommendation," Birchwood answered contemplatively, "Would be to bring her to this facility as soon as possible."
"With all due respect, Professor," Saeko brought up, "Are you sure that's wise? We've seen the protective instinct Godzilla demonstrates toward Junior; there's no telling how violently they might react."
"Hmm…" Birchwood thought. "Commander, how soon can we arrange for transportation back to Japan?"
"As soon as your plane's refuelled and we get the all-clear from G-Force Command," Tagaki recited. "Should be about a day, two at the most."
"Hold on," Saeko interrupted again. "Commander, are we sure we're doing the right thing here? This island is Maya's natural environment, after all."
Akiba hesitated before answering her. "Saeko, can we really leave a human being- such a young human being- alone on Monster Island, of all places?"
"Is she a human being?" Saeko argued. "Physically, maybe, but mentally, she's an animal; just like them. We all saw it. She's pure instinct."
"We have a duty to help her," Tagaki snapped.
"Does she need our help?" Saeko insisted. "Does she want our help?"
"This girl is a human being with human rights," Birchwood replied harshly.
"And the fact that she's perfectly happy where she is counts for nothing? What right do we have to decide that?"
"Dr. Hayama," Tagaki snapped, "You are a junior kaijuologist at this facility. I suggest you remember your position and, more importantly, maintain a professional position on this matter. Now: What course of action do we take?"
"Scientific and ethical debates aside," Akiba spoke up after a moment, "This facility is one of great scientific importance. Can we really afford to risk it for, really, one girl?" He flinched at his own words. Clearly he wasn't pleased with himself for talking about the girl that way, but as Tagaki said, they needed to be professional.
"G-Force has the funds and ability to repair the facility if need be," Birchwood replied, "But not a scientific opportunity of this rarity and value."
"Then it's settled," Tagaki declared. "We'll begin drawing up plans for a way of distracting the monsters."
Monster Island Beach
Muttering something to herself, Saeko stepped out of the small boat and onto the soft sand of the beach. The moon hung overhead and cast the jungle leaves an eerie silver, and this far out into the pacific the stars were brilliant and uninterrupted. It almost seemed impossible that a place like Monster Island could be so beautiful.
The last thing she heard about the plan to remove Maya was that the operation was to be carried out at night, when most of the monsters would be asleep. All they'd need to do was work out where Maya most commonly 'nested'. That was what Saeko, as well as a small number of soldiers, was there to do. As the soldiers moved into the jungle, Saeko absently noted the washing sound added to that of the waves lapping on the shoreline; the accompanying, sleep hiss informed her that the boat's engine had evidently woken Manda.
The search went on for about an hour, marching through thick jungle, before they finally found what they were looking for. Near one of the tiny inland lakes of the island sat a bed of large, soft leaves nestled in a small crook of rocks.
"This looks like the place," Saeko said quietly to the soldiers, "But I suggest we leave now. This could be a problem."
"Why?" A soldier whispered back. The young man was Japanese, and a recent recruit to the facility.
"Because," Saeko hissed, "This is where Anguirus sleeps!"
Everyone turned at once, looking up in shocked silence at what they had though to be a cliff face, but was now revealed to be the side of a torso where rough, elephantine scales met with a bony, spiked carapace. The soldiers froze, and then immediately turned back into the jungle. As she turned to follow, however, something caught Saeko's eye; a blur of movement to the right. "I'll catch up," she said quietly to the nearest soldier.
"Doctor?"
"Go. That's an order." Saeko stepped to the side, toward the rocks where the motion had come from.
The shape jumped up, perched on top of the rocks. Saeko took an involuntary step backwards as the girl she had recently named Maya bared her teeth and gave a savage, territorial hiss. Clearly, outsiders were not welcome in the monsters' nests.
"Easy," Saeko whispered as soothingly as she could, her hands raised defensively in an effort to show that she was not a threat. "See? I won't hurt you. It's alright."
A soft rumbling escaped Maya's head as she tilted her head to one side. She bristled like a dog determining whether or not to pounce, until something clicked inside Saeko's head.
Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a thin, shining shape in gold wrapping paper. Tearing off the paper, she held the energy bar it had contained toward Maya, who sniffed at the item and then turned her wide, curious eyes up to Saeko.
"You want some?" Saeko found herself smiling. Demonstratively, she broke off a piece and ate it. "Mmm. Good. See?"
Without bothering to use her hands, Maya grabbed the bar in her mouth in a whirlwind of motion, devouring it in a single bite.
"There, you see?" Saeko smiled as Maya looked inquisitively back up at her. Reaching out, she ran the fingertips of one hand over the fabric of Saeko's jacket. It occurred to the scientist that the girl had probably never come across the concept of fabric. A strange cooing sound of affection came from Maya as she leaned forward, examining this new and strange creature.
"You're a curious little thing, aren't you, Maya?" Saeko said, finding herself oddly amused. "I wonder… can you say that?" Maya just tilted her head again in curiosity.
"Ok," Saeko decided, placing her hand on her chest. "I'm Saeko. Say… ko…" she demonstrated. Maya responded with a sound that was somewhere between a coo and a purr. Saeko demonstrated again, and this tome…
"Ay-o?" She tried, evidently dropping the consonants like a child trying to speak early in life.
"Good enough…" Saeko thought out loud, now pointing to Maya. "So… Maya? My… ah…" Maya's attempt to reproduce the sound was somewhere between an 'ah-ah' and a 'y'.
Next to them, Anguirus let out a low snore, the snout of the creature flexing as it rumbled in its sleep.
"I should definitely go," Saeko thought out loud, stepping back as Maya looked curiously after her, until she disappeared back into the jungle.
After a moment, Maya, like a dog about to retire for the night, paced in circles on all fours on the bed of leaves, then settled herself down, curled up, as Anguirus snoozed nearby.
OK, we didn't get many plot developments there, but hopefully it was still a fun chapter. More to come, please R&R!