Answers Breed More Questions
Everyone listened to the recording, hearing the wail call out from the ocean. It was haunting, a screech like a startled horse, only deeper—broader. Gordon leaned away, sighing in his chair as the recording cut off. They sat around the meeting room, eying the player. Kiryuu was there in holographic form, sitting beside Katsura and Maria.
"So, there's a monster lurking in the Atlantic Ocean?" he asked.
"Play that tape again, Kiryuu," Katsura said.
"Compliance," Kiryuu said, replaying the recording again. Katsura leaned in, holding her breath as she listened.
"Do you know it, Dr. Yugami?" Maria Vasquez asked.
"I've studied a lot of biology," said Katsura. "Some oceanic biology. Do you recall the works of a Japanese marine biologist named Dr. Akira Mafune?"
"I believe so," Maria replied. "A doctor that stated there was a dinosaur living at the bottom of the Atlantic Trench. He traveled all the way to the Atlantic Ocean to study the trench."
"Why the hell would a Japanese scientist travel so far to an ocean on the other side of the world?" Gordon asked. "It just seems unreal."
"The Atlantic Trench is the deepest trench in the world," Kiryuu informed. "Also is responsible for the separation of North America from the British Isles. It's home to an assortment of marine life that many believe shouldn't even be living down there. Because there is no light. And only volcanic vents to provide heat. No trench near Japan goes as deep as the Atlantic."
"He believed that this dinosaur was hiding there," said Katsura. "But he was laughed out of the science institute in Tokyo. They said he died in grief after that."
"What did he call this dinosaur?" Will asked.
"Titanosaurus," Katsura replied. "He had recordings made of the dinosaur. And the institute kept them. But they believed the sound was nothing more than some cheep effect. Even used it as reference to scientific failures. That's how I got a chance to hear it. It's same sound."
"So, Dr. Mafune was right all along," Gordon said.
"Mafune," said Will. "That name…it's familiar."
"Should be," Kiryuu said. "Remember Kiko Mafune?"
"Yes," he sighed. "I remember."
"Mafune is a common surname, Will," Kiryuu began. "She just used it to disguise herself from us."
"Titanosaurus," Gordon sighed. "And this dinosaur made you believe that Biollante came back from the dead, Kiryuu?"
"Yes," Kiryuu rumbled. "This dinosaur—is no dinosaur. Mafune may have been right about his existence, but wrong about the fact that he is a dinosaur."
"So, what is he?" Maria asked. "What animal?"
"I don't know," Kiryuu replied.
"Godzilla shouldn't be able to produce a nuclear blast, yet he's a dinosaur," Gordon said. "Explain that, genius."
"Godzilla is a mutation created by Man," Kiryuu replied.
"So, that means that it's possible that Titanosaurus is some sort of mutation as well?" Maria asked.
"Oceanus, calm thy waters," began Kiryuu. "Poseidon, be still thy wrath. Let it be clear and sun shine upon his path."
"You been dabbing in marijuana down in Miami Beach, Kiryuu?" Gordon snorted.
"Narcotics have no affect on me, Gordon," Kiryuu said.
"Then, what the hell did you just say?"
"Maria," Kiryuu began, his holographic form leaning closer to her. "Does the word 'Kraken' mean anything to you?"
"Kraken?" she asked. "Yes. It does. It's a mythological monster—a sea monster that Poseidon possessed. Had it locked up in an underwater cave. Some said it was some sort of giant squid that could sink ships, others, some sea dragon, or serpent. Percius defeated it when it was set loose upon the city of Thebes. He used Medusa's head against it—freezing the monster into stone with its gaze. Though, some other tails said that monster was not the real Kraken. That the Kraken had other abilities besides stomping on sea-side cities."
"Like what?" Will asked.
"He possessed the power to command storms," Maria replied. "And some illusions as well."
"Storms that no doubt spring up even when the conditions are not right?" Kiryuu asked.
"Well, yeah," Maria said. "These storms were magical, not created by nature."
"What are you getting at, Kiryuu?" Gordon asked, growling at the hologram.
"Maria was attacked by a storm," he replied. "A storm where there wasn't supposed to be any. Then, she hears that sound in the ocean. Reports around the area—by officials even, stated they have been seeing waterspouts spring up far out in the ocean where tornadoes of that sort shouldn't even form. The North Atlantic current wouldn't allow it. And a waterspout sprung up in the most unlikeliest place—Ogasawara Island."
"The South Pacific doesn't get tornadoes," said Gordon. "They get typhoons."
"I know," Kiryuu said. "My son told me he was sucked into one—right after seeing me appear before him."
"You weren't even on Ogasawara Island," Katsura said. "You were in Utah, with a part of you in Florida."
"That wasn't me who appeared to him," said Kiryuu. "Just like the image of Biollante appeared before me while I was trying to save Maria from that storm, my image appeared before Godzilla right before he was sucked into the waterspout."
Gordon chuckled: "Don't tell me you're starting to believe in magic, Kiryuu."
Kiryuu's image rose up from his seat, walking around the oval shaped room.
"Extraordinary things have happened to me that would make me believe the contrary, Gordon," he rumbled deeply. "I didn't believe in psychic powers until Biollante assaulted me. I didn't believe in extraterrestrials until the Simians came with their Mechagodzilla. And I certainly didn't believe in resurrection and reincarnation until your company came—and brought the bones of this 130 million year old, mutant dinosaur back to life. Or how 54 years ago, that same dinosaur managed to survive nuclear fallout from a 10-megaton thermonuclear bomb. Or, even how he and his son survived the extinction 65 million years ago. Now, tell me, Gordon, what else is there shouldn't I believe in when all these things that seemed impossible—even to an artificial intelligence such as myself—have happened? Magic? Sure! Isn't that the answer humans used one time when they couldn't explain the extraordinary? Years ago, no one would have believed that a computer could emote—even gaining sentience…but here I am! It's magic, Gordon! I can't explain how my son traveled from Ogasawara to Panama in a blink of an eye. He said he didn't remember traveling there. He was on the island, and now he was in Central America. I can't explain it, so, magic did it.
"For right now, it's the only answer I could come up with. And this answer only breeds more questions. I called Godzilla a liar because I didn't believe a word he said about not remembering how he came to Panama. I can't explain it either. And it bothers me."
"Alright," Gordon sighed. "So, this…mutation—whatever—is responsible for the damage done to Florida on those days where no storm was supposed to happen. And possibly for Godzilla showing up in Panama."
Will scooted closer: "I've been monitoring the big guy's movements. He hasn't left the area. He's still heading for the Atlantic."
"After I specifically told him not to…" Kiryuu sighed.
"He's a defiant kid," Will chuckled. "They never listen to their father."
"Kiryuu, Titanosaurus is calling him?" Katsura asked. "Why?"
"I don't know, Katsura," Kiryuu shook his head. "I would like to have Maria assist me in some Internet surfing. Titanosaurus has some sort of connection with ancient Greek legend. I want to know what."
"Greek legend," Gordon rumbled. "Okay. But no hacking! How many times have I got to tell you that? I caught you again, this time hacking into British files on a monster called Monster Zero."
"I have my own reasons for that, Gordon," Kiryuu said.
"I don't care, Kiryuu," he protested. "You're nosey hard drive can easily jeopardize this company's future, understand?"
"Then, I would appreciate you not poking in my log books without my permission," Kiryuu smugly smiled. "Look for those missing tables on how I was able to fire the AZC five times during my little fit of rage in Tokyo—when the cache is only two shots?"
"Those log books are company property!" Gordon roared. "Just like what you are—no matter how smart, how sentient, or how human-like you become."
"I passed the Turing Test, Gordon," Kiryuu chuckled. "Doesn't that legally make me an independent?"
"This world isn't ready to know how far you've come, Kiryuu," Gordon sighed. "To know what I had created—it would break the fabric of society itself. Many people—and I do mean many—religious people think creating a sentient AI is an affront on God. Shouldn't even be attempted. Then, here my company comes—with the state-of-the-art hardware and software—a skeleton of a dead mutant dinosaur, cloned sells, cybernetics and create you!"
"Man should never play God, is what you are saying, Gordon…" Kiryuu said.
"I've been trying to hide everything that proves your independent, free-will sentient AI, Kiryuu," he continued. "To protect you, to protect everyone—including myself—in this room from the world, and to protect the world from you. Which I'm failing at because every turn, a slip up happens and you flaunt around as if you were saying: 'Behold me, humanity. Where is your God to say I shouldn't exist?' And they will come and crush you, Kiryuu. They will come and crush you. Those pictures of you reclining in the sand at Miami Beach are no different! You're becoming too human in your body language—your expressions. I had to tell the media—who attacked me as I was coming to this facility, that it was Tochi who had a remote control on you, making you do those things. Because he's a fraggin'' show off!"
"The media knows there's an AI controlling Mechagodzilla, Gordon," Kiryuu said.
"An AI of a cockroach!" Gordon said. "And it's gonna stay like that. I can't keep covering for you forever. Sooner or later, everyone's gonna find out, Kiryuu. The only ones who know that your brain is smarter than a bug are the Japanese! One of them being that rotten Prime Minister! And you've pissed him off plenty of times, remember?"
"I remember," Kiryuu chuckled.
"You're good at covering your tracks on the net, but not out in the open," Gordon sighed. "Just stick to that instead. Reality is a hard woman to deal with. We're in the East now. It's different in the Eastern part of the US. There are more people here. More people to see you do things. You step out of this office; no doubt at least a thousand people would see you do it. That's why I built the main base in Utah. It's a desert; no one likes living in a desert—with the sagebrush rolling around. Everyone comes to places like this to live, paradise. And these people aren't used to monster attacks—or a giant robot roaming around their beaches! Japan's denser populated, but at least they've had their share of monster attacks to be a little desensitized by it!"
"Most people around here think Kiryuu's a hoax," said Maria.
"Good!" Gordon said. "Let them. That's fine by me. They believe it's some Hollywood trick, I can get Kiryuu passed their noses before they blink."
Gordon got up from his seat, sighing as he headed towards the door.
"I'm going to take my medicine," he said. "This whole thing is ruining my blood pressure. I'm about to have a heart attack over what you did, Kiryuu. I hope you're happy. Meeting adjourned."
Kiryuu lowered his head, sighing as Gordon stormed out. Maria glanced around at the others, noticing their silence.
"Um—does this happen regularly when you four are together?" she asked.
"Yes," Katsura replied. "Very regularly."
"Welcome to the team, Maria," Will said. "I'll be in the control room, Kiryuu. Why the hell did you have to sit down in the sand? We're still trying to clear some of that crap out from under your plating."
"I was trying to look non-threatening," Kiryuu replied, with a slight smile.
"It's my fault, Will," Maria began. "I told him to do it when that policeman approached us."
"Sand and electronics don't mix," Will began. "See you in the bay area."
He got up, leaving the room.
"Kiryuu, you really upset Gordon," Katsura said.
"Didn't call me as many names this time," Kiryuu sighed. "Just scolded me."
"I'm suspecting that the name calling is only on a good day," Maria scratched her head.
"It depends on the situation," Katsura said. "And your smug tone isn't making things easier on us, Kiryuu."
"I was more worried about the fact that thing resurfaced something I have tried so desperately to lock up within the confines of my processors, Katsura," Kiryuu eyed her coldly. It was the first time he had ever done that to her. Katsura shrank back, her eyes becoming downcast. Kiryuu hefted a growl, his holographic image darting out the room. Maria just stood there, looking at the door, then looking back at Katsura.
"I'm sorry, did something happen?" she asked.
Katsura looked up, smiling bitterly: "Kiryuu and I were once connected. We were close—maybe a bit too close. Mostly because of that thing he put in the back of my neck. I think the love we shared was because of it. Even he thought so. It wasn't real. It was forced. Ever since he gave me this plug to block his transmissions—we've been growing apart. He used me as a crutch, you know. Now, he doesn't have that crutch and he doesn't know what to do—even with himself. Some times I feel the need to yank the plug out of the data jack in my neck—to speak to him through our link again like we did before. Even to jack into his processors to be with him—even if it means he'd be leaning on me again. That love—he would feel for me again—that love he questioned when Biollante attacked him."
Maria's eyes lowered: "I—I didn't know it was like that."
"He still longs to feel my mind again," Katsura said. "And sometimes I long to feel his mind touch me as well. I want to help him, but now, I'm afraid I can't."
Katsura looked at the wall, her eyes growing distant.
"Sometimes, I don't think he wants to be Mechagodzilla anymore," she said with a slight sob inside her throat. "He wants to give up now—quit the battle. Biollante made him see that. I heard he almost killed Godzilla because the monster wouldn't return to his island. He's tired, mentally. Too much for him to take on. And I think it's other things as well. Memories from the bones and the cells within the syntech are resurfacing again—violently like they did before—when we were still in Japan. When Kiryuu decided to take on humanity as his enemy. I think our link helped him cope—or even suppress some of those memories. But now—they're coming back, and I'm frighten about what they might do to him."
She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.
"And it's not just Kiryuu, it's Gordon too," Katsura continued. "He's starting to question again—whether or not creating Kiryuu was right. Just like he did before."
"When you first launched Kiryuu in Japan," Maria amended.
"Yes," Katsura nodded. "He questioned then, and he's doing it now as well. Will—well, he's just taking it. I think he's been hiding it inside himself, when ever something like this happens. I've noticed him walk out a few times, going to bars and drinking just a bit too much. I hope he's not got some hidden stash somewhere. How much you want to bet he's not even in the control room right now."
"This is not the Mechagodzilla family I heard about," Maria shook her head in dismay. "Yes, I heard about Gordon calling Kiryuu all sorts of names and Kiryuu making a few witty comebacks—about your shyness on the fact that Kiryuu shares a part of your mind because of that link—and some of the bitter-sweet talk you begin about your relationship with him. I've heard about Will's little excursions into Kiryuu's cockpit to play video games a few times, laughing with the AI. Then, the two have 'manly' discussions about things. But this…this…what the hell is this? This is not what I expected. This is not the team that built the world's first freethinking AI. This, I don't know what this is. It's not just you and Kiryuu breaking apart, it's you, Kiryuu, Will, and Gordon falling apart at the seams. Kiryuu needs help. That link allows you to help him. Gordon needs help too, Will needs help, even you need help. And maybe I'm the person to see to it that you all get the help you need."
Katsura shook her head.
"Maybe you should unplug that stopper and let Kiryuu hear your voice," Maria said. "It could help some."
Katsura shook her head again, leaving the room and leaving Maria all alone. Maria sighed, beating her head against the wall. Something happened that stirred and inflamed everyone's emotions within that room. She got up from her own frustrations and walked out, taking her notes, her briefcase, and her cell phone with her.
I'm just going to tell Gordon that perhaps I should not be a part of this team, she thought. Just too stressful for me. Let them have their little soap opera without me. I'll leave some books, notes, and websites for Kiryuu to flip through on Greek mythology and be on my way back to my happy, cramped lab—studying the effects of syntech in water, where situations like this don't happen and things make more sense.
She strode swiftly down the hallway, her pump's heals hitting the tiled floor hard. The sound echoed as she walked. Maria's lip was bunched up and her brown eyes were crossed. Her shoulder-length, full, black hair flipping and bouncing as she walked.
If anybody asked me what it was like to work with the big boss, Will, and Katsura—as well as Kiryuu, she thought as she walked. I'll tell them: 'It's full of laughs! Until they start ripping each other apart with their fingernails.' Makes me wonder how this project lasted so long with those four at each other's throat all the time, questioning each other. It's like they don't trust each other—at all!
As soon as she reached Gordon's office, she knocked on the door.
"Come in," she heard the voice from inside call. Maria walked in, her olive-skinned face flushed with some red.
"Oh, Maria," said Gordon, with a broad smile. "Come right in. I'm sorry about my attitude back in there. I'm not always at wits end. It's just sometimes…"
"I quit," Maria interrupted.
"What?" Gordon asked, his blue eyes crossing with confusion.
"I mean, I quit this team," Maria said. "I want to remain with the Utah Foundation…but I quit this team. I can't work here."
"Why?" he asked. "Come in. Close the door. Sit down."
She closed the door behind her, sitting down at the desk.
"Now, please," said Gordon, his face showing his concern. "Tell me, why don't you want to work with us? I thought you were looking forwards to working with 'The Big Project'—and you're getting a chance to work with Katsura. You've written me letters, signed internal applications to make a transfer over to this project in order to work alongside Katsura. And when Katsura didn't come to Florida to help you with your project, you were more than happy to have Kiryuu…"
"I thought I could work with all of you," Maria said, shaking her head. "But it seems that you four have some personal issues to work out that perhaps I should even be a part of or even know…"
"Maria," Gordon sighed. "What you saw in there is a normal thing. I berate Kiryuu all the time like that…"
"That's not what I've heard," Maria said. "And it's not Kiryuu, or you, or Katsura, or Will, but it's all four of you together."
"What have you heard?"
"I've heard about the name calling," she said. "I've heard about the bickering between you and Kiryuu. I heard about Will's little jokes, or about Katsura's stereotypical Japanese bitter-sweetness…but after you and Will left, I heard things I probably shouldn't have. And I just don't think I can work here unless I'm told something."
"What happened?" Gordon asked, a bit startled now.
"The stories I've heard about this team," began Maria. "Were the stories told after the Tokyo incident. I'm now seeing things here that I've heard about that happened before and perhaps during the Tokyo incident. All four of you don't trust each other. Actually, it's more like—you, Katsura, and Will don't trust Kiryuu anymore. And I think he's starting not to trust you again as well. If I'm right, that's why the AI proved difficult to handle in the first place. I don't know about this Biollante—or what it did to you, but it's breaking you down—and reverting you into the four beings back in Tokyo. And I don't want to be a part of it. I'm sorry, Mr. Knight. Having Kiryuu help me with my project was wonderful. He was so helpful. It seemed he was happier when he wasn't with you three."
Gordon sighed again: "Okay. I understand. Don't worry, I'm not gonna put this in your file or anything. One of the reasons why a lot of times I'm an easy boss to work with. I'm sorry you feel that way. It's been stressful for all of us this recent month. We just got over Biollante. One of the reasons why allowed Katsura to return to Japan to visit her family. She needed time away from all of us. Another reason why I allowed Kiryuu to join you on your project. He too, needed time away from Will and I. I love that boy, Maria. Don't get me wrong. Kiryuu's like a son to me. And I mean that. Don't ever question it."
A smile appeared on her face.
"And you're probably right about us not trusting each other…" Gordon continued. He shook his head.
"I suppose it was different when Katsura and Kiryuu were—together…" Maria said. "It must have made things easier."
"It did," Gordon said. "But Kiryuu knew he did wrong to do it. So, he wanted to correct it without possibly killing her."
"I heard about that too," Maria said. "If she tries to remove it, it might kill her."
"He's thoughtful," Gordon said. "That's why he found this way of correcting the mistake he made then. He thought it wasn't necessary for him to be connected anymore to Katsura. He could emote on his own now, he could understand his feelings on his own."
"Katsura says that Kiryuu feels that he shouldn't fight anymore," said Maria.
"I know," Gordon nodded. "It's because those memories are resurfacing again. He's becoming confused."
He got up, holding his hand out to her. Maria took it, feeling Gordon's sturdy shake.
"I'm glad I got a chance to speak to you again, Dr. Vasquez," he said pleasantly. "And I'm sorry this wasn't the project you thought it was. I wish you luck on your project though. Kiryuu informed me about some of the equipment you have—how it's not up to standards. I'll drop a nice fat check tomorrow personally. Okay?"
"Thank you, Mr. Knight," Maria said.
"Gordon," he corrected. "Call me Gordon."
"Gordon," she smiled. "Give these to Kiryuu, will you? For his search on that monster."
She laid the books down on his desk.
"There's some websites he can look up as well," she said. "It should lead him on the right track. He told me about another monster called Leviathan. Leviathan was the guardian of the lost city of Atlantis. I think he might find it interesting."
"I'm sure he will," Gordon smiled. "Kiryuu's gonna be disappointed about you not staying to at least help him in his search. He was looking forwards to have you assist him—since he assisted you with your project."
"Tell him my regrets," Maria sighed. "I'm afraid if I stay too long, I might get caught up in something I shouldn't be caught up in. But he can always come by the lab and visit—if he wants to continue on helping me with the project. Maybe I could help him there. But not here, I'm sorry, not here. When this monster problem is over, he is welcomed to come back anytime."
"One thing though," Gordon began. "I don't want you going out in any boats while there's a threat of a monster in the water. Since Godzilla's heading here, that's trouble enough."
"I understand," Maria said. "Thank you for talking with me. I'll give you the reports on our progress when you come by tomorrow."
Gordon just waved as he watched her leave his office. He leaned back and sighed. It took a person who has never worked with any of them before to make him see the problems he was having. Still, he had to question about how right it was or wrong it was to create something like Kiryuu. It did not help the situation any at all.
Maria swiftly walked down the corridor, swiping her card and showing it to the guard near the glass gate leading down to the hidden area of Kiryuu's base. He dipped his hat to her as she left. She neared the lobby, seeing the glass, double doors come into view. She did not want to even look back, wanting to forget what she heard down there. Nothing seemed right to her. As successful as the Mechagodzilla project was, it seemed like it was about to fall and all because of the team that worked on it. She had to question as well, maybe it was wrong to create such a sentient AI as Kiryuu. If Mechagodzilla truly did have an AI with the intelligence of a cockroach, then what was going on down there would not be happening. She caught herself in that thought.
If Kiryuu didn't become what he is now, I would have never met him…she thought.
"Hey!" called a voice from behind her. Maria stopped, turning around slightly. It was Tochi. Tochi had his hands on his hips. "Where do you think you're going?"
"I'm getting out of this asylum," Maria snapped back. "Apart, they are wonderful people, but together—the are the most horrid creatures on this planet!"
"Oh, come on," Tochi whined. "You can't leave. Come on! You're Kiryuu's new girlfriend. You think he's gonna let you leave outta here? He might pull a HAL on you and lock the doors before you're able to step outside."
Maria shook her head, rolling her eyes as she turned away from him. Then, she heard another voice from behind her as well.
"Hey, Tochi," came the voice.
"Hey, Mike," Tochi said.
"Who's the new girl?" Mike asked.
"Oh, that's Dr. Maria Vasquez," Tochi replied.
"Ah, so that's Kiryuu's new girlfriend," Mike grinned. Maria snorted, turning back around. Mike nodded. "Nice. He can really pick 'em."
Maria rolled her eyes again.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Mike said. "I'm Mike Ginsburg, head of project Site B and Omega."
"The EMP emitter," Maria said.
"And I'm his partner," said Tochi.
"So that's where you first worked at," Maria said. "No wonder Kiryuu doesn't like you so much."
"I wasn't the one who fired the emitter on him!" Tochi protested. "It was Mike."
"Yeah, everyone around the Utah base refers to me as 'The Guy Who Killed Kiryuu the Second Time'," Mike smiled.
"Second time?"
"You know," Tochi said. "Since Kiryuu's the original Godzilla…in many ways. We're still having a debate on that. Anyways. The first one was killed by some Japanese guy and some kind of strange weapon, right? Well, when…Mike here fired the EMP in Tokyo during Kiryuu's raid—he killed the big guy the second time…"
"I get it," Maria said, her eyes narrowing a bit. "I gotta go."
She turned back around, heading to the door.
"Wait!" Tochi cried. "You can't leave. You have to stay, Maria. We all want you to. Maybe you're the thing that can knock some sense into the Fab Four's heads."
"Fab Four?" Maria asked. "You gave that insanity a name?"
"It'll get easier, once you work with them," Mike said. "Just give us all a chance. Besides, it'll be nice to have another pretty girl scientist around here besides Katsura. A refresher. We need a new face here."
"You've had new faces," Maria said. "And they've all left, from what I heard. One of them committing suicide when she left."
"Well, she was an alien spy," Tochi shrugged. "We were invaded by these monkeys that could take on human form…"
"I'm done here," Maria shook her head, not allowing him to finish. She turned back around again, pushing against the glass door.
"No, Maria, you're not," came a new voice. It was familiar, deep, dark, and very handsome. She knew whose voice it was. She did not even turn around.
"Yes, I am, Kiryuu…" she said. "I can work with you—and Gordon, and Katsura, and Will—but all individually." She turned back around, seeing the hologram. "All in separate rooms behind patted walls!"
"Maria!" Kiryuu called after her as she pushed through the door, darting out into the parking lot. His image faded away.
Maria rushed swiftly to her car—as swiftly as any person wearing 4-inch heel pumps could. As soon as she got into her car, she opened the door, flinging her things into the back of her Camero. She got in, strapping her seatbelt across her lap and turning on the engine. Maria put the car into gear, backing up, and speeding through the lot as best fast as she could. A shadow grew up behind her and she suddenly felt her car being scooped up into the air by an enormous, metallic hand. Maria gasped in surprise and in fear as the hand lifted her up to two, golden glowing optics set in a metallic face. She saw teeth as well. Her mind in all a blur, she let loose a scream, calling out slurs in Spanish and English.
"Maria!" called that familiar, calming, deep voice. "It's me. It's me."
"K—Kiryuu…" she breathed. Maria rolled down the window, realizing that her car was now being held tight by Kiryuu's metallic claw. "Let me go, this instant, chingado! Who the hell do you think you are?! Let me go! Put me down, now! Forget what I said to Gordon about having you come back to help me with my project. I don't want to be in the same county as you!"
"I think you and I need to talk about something," Kiryuu said, shaking his helmed head.
"¡Chinga te, gringo!" Maria screamed s Kiryuu powered up his boosters, lifting off from the parking lot. "¿Está usted loco? ¡Chinga te! ¡Salga!"
"If I do that, I'll drop you," Kiryuu protested. "And if you're wondering. I had Gordon Knight's permission."
"Oh, so I suppose you two are on speaking turns, then…" Maria began, glancing up at the massive head. She grunted, slamming onto the accelerator. She could hear the sound of her tires screeching against Kiryuu's metallic palm and she could smell the rubber burn.
"That won't make me let you go," he said. "Besides, I don't even feel it. Though, Will will be upset that you just put skid marks on my plating."
"Oh, I'm so sorry," she shouted sarcastically. "Another fight for you guys to get into. I just scuffed Kiryuu's shiny armor. I guess I'm the bad person now."
Kiryuu remained silent as he banked off, flying more inland. He knew of the perfect place to go in order to get away from everyone and everything. He glanced down, noticing the cityscape giving way to marshlands. As soon as he found a good spot, he landed over an enormous swamp. He glanced around, smiling within his helm at the spot he chose. Florida may be heavily populated, but this was not one of those places. This was nationally protected woodland. Maria glanced around, looking down from her car door as Kiryuu walked through the swamp.
"Where the hell are we?" she shouted up at him.
"The Everglades," Kiryuu replied. "One of the few places in the US untouched by civilization. America's famous swamp land." He lifted the car up to his eye level. "Where the gators roam."
"You brought me to a swamp so we could talk," she kicked from inside her car. "You are fucking insane!"
"It's growing dark," Kiryuu said, seeing the sun slowly set in the west. "I doubt anyone noticed us coming here."
"Good," Maria snorted. "Then they'll be spared the slurs I'm about to give you."
"We were such good friends earlier," Kiryuu sighed.
"Well, you didn't try to kidnap me and take me to a swamp when we first met," she snapped back.
Kiryuu sighed again as he found a dry spot to set her car down. It was on a sandbar out in the middle of the swamp. He wanted to make sure she could not drive away as soon as he put her down. Kiryuu squatted down, noticing how high the water level was to him. It was nearly up to his calves.
"This place brings back some memories," he sighed.
"They have swamps in Japan?" Maria snorted as she got out of her car.
"No, they have rice patties," Kiryuu chuckled. "What I mean is that this place brings back memories within the skeleton—the cells. Before the first Godzilla became the monster that attacked Tokyo in 1954, he lived in a place like this. All swamp. Interesting how land changes over 130 million years. I remember—my home—was like this. But—I was much smaller then—not mutated to this size."
"That supposed to give me comfort?" Maria sniffed, crossing her arms. "I heard about what some of those memories did to you. What they are doing to you now because Katsura isn't there to suppress them."
"Is that what she said?" Kiryuu sighed. "I won't say that she's wrong. She sometimes knows more about what's in my cells than I do. She was the one to figure out about the bio-feedback my CPU was receiving from the cells in the beginning. And this was without the link."
"I wanted to work with her, and with you…" Maria said. "Because of the fabulous work that has been done to create you. It's beyond anything I thought I could ever accomplish. She's a genius."
"Then, why are you leaving us?" Kiryuu asked. "What did we do to upset you so much that you would storm out like that?"
"I don't want to be a part of this thing that you all have become," Maria shook her head, turning away from him. "Guess it has to do with because I'm sensitive to emotions."
"Sensitive?"
"My mother said I was empathic to emotions," she shrugged. "That sometimes the slightest ripple would upset me because I could sense the negative vibes off of people. And there's a lot of negative vibes coming off of all four of you when you are together."
"You're psychic…" Kiryuu chuckled.
"No, I'm not psychic," Maria said. "Everyone's empathic to emotions—just some people are more sensitive than others. I can't read people's minds or anything like that. It has to do with the chemicals people give off."
"I'm giving off chemicals?" Kiryuu chuckled, glancing up at his claws. "I need to tell Will to fix that then. Who knows what kind of chemicals I'm giving off. Might be harmful to some people."
Maria could not help but to laugh at that. Kiryuu had a wit about him. She could not stay mad at him forever with that wit of his.
"No, it's pheromones," Maria giggled. "Different emotions give off different chemicals in the body which are picked up by other creatures in the area. That's how some fish communicate with each other—as well as electromagnetic impulses. I am a marine biologist, remember? Humans give off pheromones too."
"I doubt I give off pheromones," Kiryuu said. "I'm more machine now, than I am living."
"I think you do," she said, tilting her head slightly to look up at him. "Probably why Godzilla is able to find you. Why he is able to know you. He knows his father's scent. Our scent is like a fingerprint. Everyone gives off a different scent. You just probably didn't run those checks to see if you do."
"Because they weren't very necessary," said Kiryuu. "So, there are some humans who are more sensitive to the chemical changes given off by others at emotional moments. I never thought of that."
"The human mind is a 3-pound sack of chemicals, bioelectric currents, and hormones," Maria began. "You tell me. That's where human emotions come from. They're chemical changes in the human mind—and sometimes conflicting or interacting with the hormones. Brings about all sorts of problems. Anger, hatred, happiness, sorrow, doubt, depression. It's why there are so many screwed up people in this world. Sometimes, the chemicals and the hormones conflict with each other so much that there's no gray area between them. And they are all connected to our external sense, sight, sound, touch, taste." She lifted her hand out to him. Kiryuu leaned in a bit more. He managed to remove metallic plating around his claw—exposing the syntech muscle underneath. He touched her hand with the very tip of his claw. Maria blinked for a moment. She continued, though with a bit more hesitation: "Everything—gives a reaction in our minds. Humans—are still animals. We still rely on our senses to dictate our actions. Just like the fish. If we still didn't need to rely on these senses then we wouldn't be animals."
Kiryuu removed the helm allowing her to see the smile on his face. Maria withdrew her hand, taking in a shaky breath.
"Apparently like the chemical reaction you just got right now from touching my claw," Kiryuu chuckled.
"Well, that's why the call it chemistry," Maria sighed. "Wake up and smell the pheromones. Don't tell me you didn't get a reaction yourself."
Kiryuu chuckled: "I'm still learning new things about the 'human animal'. You had that look in your eye when you first heard the sound of my voice. Every female worker I've come in contact with has told me that I have a very handsome and alluring voice. It excites them."
"You have Gordon's voice," Maria said. "Will did really well by sampling it. That voice really does turn a lot of heads. Some of my workers—the girls mostly—have told me this over and over again. They said if you would appear in human form they'd be fantasizing about you. One of them said that if you had appeared in human form—looking strikingly handsome, and if someone hid the projector, she'd take you out on a date."
"The wine would go right through me though," Kiryuu chuckled. "Literally. What do you think? You think you could take me out on a date if my projected image was human?"
Maria looked back at him, with her eyes wide.
"Now what the hell kinda question is that?" she asked. "You know it's not nice to dip your pen in the company ink. Are you asking me out on a date?"
"No," Kiryuu said, leaning back. "I'm playing with your emotions to see what kind of reaction you would get. Get you all wired up, then ask you if you would come back to the base and work with me."
"Not only are you insane, but you are a liar too," Maria laughed. "That's why you got upset when I stormed out. You have a crush on me!"
"You're being foolish, human," Kiryuu snorted, turning away from her. "I don't have a crush on you. I'm in love with Katsura."
"Now who's being silly?" Maria crossed her arms. "You never loved her. Sure, maybe you did at one time—but I wonder if you ever looked at her the same way you look at me every time I walk down the hallway back at the lab. Even your holographic avatar turns red. Beside, the love you had with Katsura—it was all because of that link."
Kiryuu shook his head again, chuckling. But this time it was not his usual, arrogant, 'I-told-you-so' chuckle. There was some uneasiness in his voice. She could even see it in his face. It was not the first time she had seen that goofy expression on him. Maria could see that expression as the full moon rose, shining its light upon Kiryuu's face.
"And there's that goofy face too," she laughed.
"I do not have a goofy face!" Kiryuu protested. "My expressions are either shone in silent calculation, or manipulating satisfaction. Goofy is not one of them."
"You better add it to the list then," Maria smiled. "Because you're not expressing any of the others right now. You are nervous around me. You want me to come back. Gordon already gave me the 'OK' to leave this project and return to my own. He was sad that I didn't want to stay—but you—like a love struck, lost puppy, ran after me when I was about to leave. And then, when I left, you kidnapped me. I bet Gordon allowed you to do it just to amuse himself. Because even he heard the rumors about how I've become your new girlfriend."
"I respect your work," Kiryuu began. "I respect your intellectual mind, and you as a person. But you are, however, not my new girlfriend."
Maria laughed again, leaning against the hood of her car. She watched as Kiryuu ran a hand through his locks. She could tell that he was nervous. He was trying very hard to regain his cool, calm, serene composure. She could tell that Kiryuu was failing in that.
"Okay, I'll leave you alone about it," she said. "Listen. I'll tell you what. For one thing, Gordon is right about not letting everyone know about your true abilities. I mean not about the power that you have as Mechagodzilla, I mean about you as the AI inside Mechagodzilla. It would set the world ablaze if people found out. Unfortunately, though some would deny it, our world—even this country that was built on religious freedom—is still governed by some religion. And most religions don't include the possibility of an AI gaining sentience. It has to do with human arrogance; they like to be the ones who think that only God gave them sentience. It's a gift from God. It would really mess them up to find out that we are capable of giving that same sentience to a computer."
"There is another," Kiryuu said, his face finally returning to it serenity "Gordon also does not want the world to know what exactly is inside me as well. But that maybe something he will not be able to hold back for long. There will be cases where my true spines shall be exposed and everyone will see them."
"Probably because it might disturb some people to think that the Foundation not only used cells from a dead mutant dinosaur to clone their robot," she began. "But also use the skeleton from the same dinosaur that they cloned the cells from. Anyways, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'm going to sleep on this. Okay? I need to. I'll make my decision in the morning whether or not I want to work with the asylum down there in your bay. Perhaps I was overreacting myself to the situation. Sound like a fair deal?"
"Yes," Kiryuu nodded. "It does. I hope you will come back. We still need to finish on what we started."
"Okay," Maria said as she got into her car. "Pick me up and take me back to civilization! Get me out of this swamp, the nats are getting to me."
