Oddly enough, this story seems to be doing pretty well so far (praying I didn't just jinx it) despite its noticeable lack of monstering so far. Well, I'm not complaining. Enjoy!
Godzilla is © Toho
DANGEROUS CONNECTION
"OK," Osaki started, with the members of G-Force, sans Takuya and Miyuki, gathered in the briefing room, "Since Takuya and Miyuki are both preoccupied with research," Either the others' imaginations were playing tricks on them, or there was an oddly painful ring in his voice at that point, "And Dr. Mason is out, this gives us the chance to discuss what happened with the computers last night."
"And the fact that everyone thinks it was me," Kazama spoke up, "'Cause it wasn't"!
"Nobody's blaming anyone," Osaki reassured him, "But our security system's been compromised. I don't suppose anyone's had any thoughts?"
"The doc doesn't trust me to help trace the signal," Kazama grunted.
"What about Mason?" Akane spoke up, attracting the others' attention, "He's an outsider, and he'd have had plenty of opportunities since he arrived."
"You think it was him?" Miki asked.
"We shouldn't rule out the possibility," Akane answered definitely.
The door suddenly flew open as Takuya burst excitedly into the room.
"We found it!" He near-yelled.
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The computer screen showed a clear cross-section of the seabed before the base that served as G-Force HQ, solid except for a single tunnel leading down and curving and up into an underwater cave that looked to be several hundred metres long.
"Godzilla's lair," Takuya breathed proudly.
"It took us ever since G-Force's formation to find this," Miyuki explained. "Since someone never mentioned that he went to the same place every night."
"You never asked," Miki answered flatly.
"Now that we can observe Godzilla at any time," Takuya explained, "This gives us the opportunity to learn a lot more about him."
"Your call, boss," Miyuki said to Osaki, who remained still and thoughtful for a moment.
"It could be dangerous," Osaki mused, "Approaching him on his own turf… Miki, you think it's a good idea?"
"I don't think he'd attack us, if that's what you're asking," Miki answered. "But he does like his privacy."
"What if we just set up a camera system?" Takuya suggested, "That way we could observe him easily."
"Sounds good to me," Kazama nodded.
"OK," Osaki announced, "Let's go."
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The small submersible that belonged to G-Force (which Kazama had yet to emblazon with the logo of his own design) descended through the water towards the gaping tunnel in the side of a huge mound in the ocean floor. There were even a few twisted girders, pieces of scaffolding and chunks of various military machinery strewn around the sides of the entrance or holding up parts of it.
"Incredible," Miyuki observed, "He actually dug all this out."
"So where'd he get all this stuff?" Kazama asked.
"What was left of the Marutomo Building," Miki shrugged, "His 'meetings' with the JSDF…"
"Maybe it's some sort of instinct," Miyuki thought out loud.
The sub followed the tunnel for several hundred metres, deeper under the seabed, until finally rising and breaking through the surface.
The cavern around them was vast, half-filled with water where the sub had just surfaced, stalagmites hanging down from the ceiling as jagged pillars of rock spread around them. Something about the dark, vast chasm, dangling with rocky teeth, seemed to possess an almost mythical air; a fitting home for what could easily be described as a latter-day dragon.
And, curled up out of the water with his tail almost touching the tip of his snout, was Godzilla. One blazing eye snapped open, regarding the sub as Godzilla moved to a crouching position with uncanny swiftness and an uneasy growl.
As Miki took a moment to reassure Godzilla through the link, the sub moved forward to the dry area of the cave, where its occupants disembarked.
"Nice place you got here, G!" Kazama called up to the saurian, who simply turned his head and snorted idly into the air.
"We'd probably be best setting up the cameras on the walls," Takuya recommended. "Miki, can you give me a hand with this one?"
"Fine," Miki answered sharply, virtually snatching the device out of Takuya's hands and marching towards the wall.
As they began setting up, Takuya found his curiosity finally piqued.
"So what's wrong?" He asked.
"Nothing," Miki answered in an I-don't-want-to-talk-about-it manner.
"Well you've been acting a little… tense… lately," Takuya pressed.
"I've got a reason," Miki snapped angrily, her fists clenched. "Just… forget it."
"What?" Takuya insisted.
"Why do you always have to do this?"
"What?"
"This," Miki almost-shouted, "Messing with Godzilla all the time. Running these tests and experiments all the time."
"Godzilla's a valuable specimen," Takuya answered defensively, "One-of-a-kind. That's a chance that the scientific community might never get again."
"He's not a lab rat!" Miki snapped, "Look, I don't mind helping set up these cameras; I know we have to keep an eye on him. There's no problem if you just study him by observing. But when you start messing with my brother's brain, then I can't just stand by. Hell, I should probably count my blessings that you haven't tried to dissect him by now!"
"Miki, Takuya," Osaki called from by the sub, "You two done?"
"Yeah," Miki shouted back, walking swiftly away from Takuya.
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G-Force HQ
Miki idly spun a coin across the windowsill she was slumped again, catching it between two fingers.
"'Sup?" She asked of the figure approaching behind her.
"I need to talk to Takuya," Akane said severely.
"Why?" Miki asked, turning around, concern starting to grow in her stomach due to Akane's tone of voice, "He do something?"
"Not him," Akane replied, "But after the incident with the data on Godzilla, I checked into Dr. Mason and the company he works for… Biomajor. It's a genetic research company in America."
"Biomajor…" Miki rolled the name over and over, "Sounds familiar…"
"They were in the news," Akane replied, "Under suspicion from the UN."
"So why's that?" Miki asked.
"It's believed that the company has ties to a… less than reputable organisation. One that we've dealt with before."
As soon as Akane spoke the name of that organisation, Miki's blood ran cold. After her last encounter with such people, how could it not?
"Red Bamboo".
Dun-Dun-DUUUUUNNN!!! Yeah, not such a massive twist, so is Mason in cahoots with the series' monster-terrorists? In any case, part of me feels that this story's been a wee bit… calm up until now. Y'know, more of a talkie. Well guess what: That's about to change…
I just realised, in these last two chapters, the title is really about only the last half… huh.
Also, if anyone has any more questions for the Q&A, feel free- more-or-less no topic is off-limits. If you have a really 'wrong' question, PM me and I'll add it anonymously.
All Reviews Welcome!
