(Chapter 10: Reunited)

Later the next morning, James Ford was hospitalized . This would end up being the last time that James would be with Monarch . A cast was given to Michaels, and was told to not to do anything active over the next few months. Beatrice Ford was in tears at the news of her sons crippled condition, and he would remain crippled for life. James Ford, her son, was to never walk without help again. The crippled condition would force James Ford to retire from Monarch, leaving his friend Charles, to take up the job.

While in the hospital, Michaels decided to share a few words with James Ford before leaving him to recover, and to have a peaceful life.

"James, in the brief while that I have gotten to know you, I appreciated it very much. To learn about Monarch, to discover these beasts along with you. I am sorry to hear that you won't be able to walk again, but just be grateful that God keeps you with us. I would love for you to have a son, or a daughter, and we can keep our friendship going strong. We can keep the family alliance going strong with our children. Stay strong, God bless."

Michaels returned back to the Ford residence, alone now. Beatrice would stay at the hospital with her crippled son all day long, and her husband was in a nursing home. It was sad to see the state that the Ford family was in, but he felt that they would bounce back from this unfortunate happening. As he sat on the bed, there was dead silence all throughout the house. The past few days, even weeks, have all been insane. Endless destruction from Barugon, Gamera's attempts to fight against the beast, seeing a new friend hospitalized.

In the midst of all the chaos and destruction that was unfolding, there was a feeling of mystical majestic aura given off by these creatures. These titans existed long before man, possibly living amongst prehistoric creatures, these beasts had trouble fitting in with the modern world since humans have essentially taken over their planet. There existed a hint of fear in the back of his mind, he feared that these monsters may one day awaken, he didn't know how many more were out there, but he knew if there were two, there was many more. Then Michaels thought about Gamera, how the beast coexists with humanity in a close friendship seemingly.

"Wow.." Michaels said to himself, in the back of his mind, he knew that Barugon was still out there. He only hoped that Gamera would be there to save the day for the humans in North Carolina, suddenly the phone began to ring from within the living room.

Michaels expected it to be either Beatrice or James, he expected them to be speaking with him about his future actions now that James was hospitalized, who was behind the phone, was someone that Michaels wasn't expecting.

The familiar voice of Robertson was singing Nearer to thee behind the phone, his voice was shocking to Michaels.

"Oh my God.. Robertson.. Robertson.." Michaels said in a shaky voice, instantly bursting into tears, he thought that Robertson was to be dead. His heart was full of relief, the tears that fell from his eyes were ones of joy. As he heard Robertson sing, he instantly had a brief memory of the two singing the same song back on Christmas Eve of 1974.

"I have waited to speak with you again, my friend. I have waited for such a long time, now we are able to hear our voices once again." Robertson answered, hearing the joyful sobs of his best friend since childhood.

"Indeed it has been a while, it has felt even longer. I thought you were dead, I prayed many times a day, many times a night. I never forgot about you, I thought about those old memories we have inside that chest."

Robertson and Michaels shared a moment of silence over the phone, both thinking about the day they buried the chest in the old backyard of Michaels.

"One day we'll go back, when we both are nothing but two old farts, and we'll watch them memories. One day we'll be in a nursing home, and we'll watch it to just enjoy the good times that have gone on by. When all of this chaos is over with, when North Carolina is finally free."

The two friends both agreed on finally retrieving the chest when their old town was finally cleansed of the destruction from Barugon, it would be an extremely long time for it to be cleaned up.

"Have you seen Gamera yet?" Michaels asked, wiping away a tear.

"Oh, the big turtle thing? Yeah! He's the thing that saved me and the survivor group, had it not been for him, I would have perished for sure. I owe my life for Gamera, it is good to know he is on our side." Robertson answered.

"Yeah, and apparently he has been on our side for thousands of years. Let's hope he is able to stop Barugon at some point soon."

"Yeah, Barugon is the rainbow lizard thing. He's the whole reason why we are apart from each other, but I am coming to Kannapolis tonight. Military is already moving up to the mountains, some of the military are already there, a friend of yours has a private jet at the airport, James Ford set it up for us to fly over to Cherokee tonight, and for both of us to get redemption, we'll kill Barugon off."

"Well, I've got one working arm, do you think I can do this?" Michaels asked, Robertson snickered at this.

"We're mountain boys, you can shrug it off."

This gave Michaels a smug grin, he felt empowered as much as Robertson was. The time has come to make Barugon pay, and to put an end to his reign of terror.

Later that night, Robertson and Michaels both met each other again at the same time at the airport. Robertson seen the destruction that Gamera and Barugon left behind when they first fought each other, Michaels had a serious look on his face. The boys from Cherokee had reunited once again, and with a handshake, they both entered the private fighter jet owned by Monarch, and with Robertson's flight training, they both flew towards the mountains until they seen a mass gathering of military forces.

"Keep an eye out for a large brown lizard, brother." Michaels said, Robertson snickered at his saying of brother.

"Brother? I am not your brother, heh." Robertson playfully said with a laugh, Michaels smiled.

"I know you aren't my brother, I don't call you that just because it sounds cool though.."

During their childhoods and up through their teenage years, not only the two of them considered each other brother due to how close they were, their families were close as well. Michaels went on to call Robertson a brother from another mother as they continued to grow up, this was their greatest moment, their moment of ascension, a potential last stand against Barugon was about to take place. Conflict at this point was inevitable, it was time to let them fight…