Omg guys, it's finally happening!
Thank you as always! Enjoy!
Sam's Plan
…
An hour after her trip to the cove, Amara made it back to the campsite. In the meantime, two tents were set up in the same area Amara and Mi Sun had theirs last time. Rick looked to be napping in a camping chair while Mi Sun and Sam conversed while putting a tarp over one of the tents.
"There you are." Mi Sun glanced at her from around the back of Sam's head. "Did you go down to the water?"
"Oh…yeah, just went to check it out."
Sam twisted around. "That's quite a hike just to go down to the water."
"It's worth the view. You should go check it out with sometime."
Sam glanced over at the snoozing man. "Yeah…sometime."
Mi Sun fastened the last piece of the tarp. "Don't worry Sam, I'll go down with you later." Her eyes found Amara. "Do you want to try making a fire? I could use some tea."
"Yeah, sure." Ah, a challenge. Making the fire last time proved to be difficult, but not impossible. The key was patience and perseverance.
The burnt remains of the previous fire were still scarred into the earth. Probably a good place to start, no need to destroy anymore of the beautiful grass.
Everyone pitched in to collect wood. Sam had shaken Rick until he finally got up. Amara picked up dead leaves scattered across the ground. They would make good kindling, wouldn't they?
Materials collected, Amara set up the fire. Though Mi Sun didn't have her trusty machete, she did have a knife Amara could borrow. In fact, it was the same knife she had lent her last time.
With it, she shred the wood into thin slices that curled as they fell to the ground. It didn't take long for her hands to throb. But doing it right the first time would be easier than multiple failed attempts.
Sure enough, when she lit the match and put it to the wood shavings and kindling, it caught. Blocking the sea breeze with her body, she cupped the flames with her hands and blew just enough to make them grow.
In a matter of minutes, a fire was born. Even Sam and Rick looked impressed at her feat. Mi Sun beamed.
They sat around the fire. Amara and Mi Sun drank tea while Rick and Sam drank coffee from a french press.
Amara's chair faced the ocean past the expanse of grass between the wooded area and the cliff. The water glimmered white with the sun's reflection, bright flashes almost painful to the naked eye.
This place was truly beautiful. Mothra's forest had the same sense of quiet and peacefulness, but it was dark and mysterious as well.
This place was warm and bright. Maybe it was the way the leaves fluttered in the wind in shades of green. Maybe it was the sound of the waves, or the familiar taste of sea salt. Maybe it was the soft grass between the toes of her bare feet.
It was strange. Life by the ocean wasn't new. She was born on the island, grew up near the sea, walked paths bordered by willow trees. What made this place different?
"What, do you see Godzilla or something?"
Amara's blinked and turned her eyes towards Rick. "No, just looking."
Silence fell upon the group. Everyone's eyes turned towards the water.
"This place is perfect, isn't it? I could build a house right here." Mi Sun's voice was airy.
Amara nodded. "Me too."
Mi Sun looked at Amara, her eyes shining.
…
Inside the tent was dim when Amara opened her eyes. Outside the leaves rustled and Mi Sun quietly snored from beside her. She sat up, bringing the sleeping bag with her. Godzilla's presence filled the void in the back of her mind. He had to be close for the feeling to be so strong outside of the water.
How Godzilla got there so fast was a mystery. Sure, it was probably the hollow earth tunnels that Rick went on about, but it was incredible none the less.
Amara leaned over and shook Mi Sun's arm. "He's almost here," she whispered.
Mi Sun was up and dressed before Amara could pull a pair of pants out of her bag.
Amara grabbed her Mi Sun's hand before she could unzip the tent. "Where are you going? He's not here yet."
Mi Sun kept her voice down as not to wake the others in the next tent. "I have to go down to the cove and check the sonar. We don't know he's here until we can see him, remember?"
Amara let go of her. "Oh, yeah." Good thing Mi Sun could think in the morning, because she sure as hell couldn't. "How far is the range again?"
Mi Sun unzipped the tent slowly. "Ten miles if I remember correctly. How far out do you think he is?"
"I'm not sure. He's not near anything I can use as a point of reference," Amara said, following Mi Sun outside.
"But if he was near something, you would know?"
Amara nearly tripped on a branch as they made their way down the path. "Yeah."
Mi Sun held her arm while she regained her balance. "How? Can you see it? Does he tell you?"
"I don't know, I just know."
"It's fascinating how your connection is so much more than just communicating. Even Ilene's machine shows physical evidence of your link though brain activity. I can't even imagine how it looks when you're actively talking to him."
Was she referring to the irregular activity in her frontal lobe? It did seem like proof that the thread existed. A physical manifestation of a metal connection. Possibly the only proof that it was real.
The path began to open up. Amara took the lead. "All I know is it's hard to think about. It's a weird feeling but at the same time it feels natural. At first our thoughts were so interconnected I couldn't tell the difference between them. Even now, my emotions feel jumbled up sometimes. I don't know if they're mine or his."
They reached the cove in record time. A layer of fog covered the water and clouds in the distance promised more in the future. Mi Sun picked up the sonar off the ground and put it in the water, plugging in the laptop she produced from her bag.
Mi Sun turned on the laptop. "Your connection with Godzilla is deep. It may take a lifetime of research to find out anything about it. Even your shared feeling of pain, it's…impossible."
Amara gave her a sideways look. "Everything about our connection is impossible."
Mi Sun turned on the sonar. The screen displayed green rings half obscured by landmass. The rest only spotted with bits of marine life. Maybe the dolphins were still around.
Not even half an hour later, an orange mass appeared at the far edge of the screen. Mi Sun sat up.
Amara got up from her spot further inland and joined Mi Sun at the radar. The screen refreshed and the mass grew larger, his body becoming more and more visible each time.
Mi Sun went for her phone, only to stop herself. There was no cell coverage down here.
She unplugged her laptop and passed it to Amara. She then pulled the sonar from the water. "Lets hurry. Sam's got a lot of people to call."
The jogged up the path. Amara was a ways ahead, Mi Sun's bag over her shoulder. It may have been a while since she last trained, but her endurance wasn't totally gone yet.
By the time Mi Sun made it back to the camp, Amara already had Sam and Rick up. Like Mi Sun, Sam was wide awake immediately. He had his list out and was making phone calls still in his pajamas.
Amara and Mi Sun made a fire.
In the following hours, helicopters filled the clearing. Men and women clambered out carrying all sorts of heavy camera equipment.
Sam and Rick mingled with the media crews, acting as if they were one of them, feigning ignorance.
Amara sat at the base of a tree, the hood of her zipped up jacket concealing most of her face. Beside her, Mi Sun fiddled with her digital camera.
The clicking of buttons was hardly noticeable over the conversations laced with confusion. Everyone here was well aware this was a publicity stunt, but they had no idea the magnitude. They had no idea they were going to be in the presence of Godzilla himself.
Would they scream in fear at the sight of him? Would they flee before she could show them his benevolence? Even docile, his presence alone made even the strongest of willed quake in terror.
No, these people were chosen specifically because of their views on Godzilla and the other titans. Despite their fear, they were the ones most likely to hold their ground. They were the ones who would see. They were her last chance.
His last chance.
Cease these spiraling thoughts.
Amara jolted from her slumped position.
Mi Sun's head snapped in her direction. "Is he here?"
The tread tugged at her mind, pulling her to her feet. "Yeah."
Mi Sun put the camera strap around her neck, letting it dangle over her stomach. "Like we talked about?"
"Act natural." Amara's gaze remained steady.
Mi Sun nodded. "Keep your back to the cameras as much as possible."
Amara walked on as Mi Sun fell back, remaining with the crowd.
The ocean ahead was veiled in thick fog. Both water and sky obscured in grey just beyond the cliffside. The wind was still, as if even it waited in anticipation.
This was it. The last chance. There was no turning back now.
She closed her eyes, more a habit than a necessity. Are you ready?
A foolish plan. Yet here I am, if only to placate you.
I'm sorry that you have to feel my emotions. If I could control them, I would.
It was the truth. He only went along with this plan because of her inner turmoil. Her emotions plaguing his mind with petty troubles. She had caused him to act time and time again because of it.
Yet whenever she mentioned breaking the bond, he disagreed. What did he gain from it other than unnecessary conflict?
Instead of an answer, the sound of breaking water filled the shroud before her. Loud like static on a TV left on in the middle of the night, it drew the attention of everyone on the island, their idle chatter ceasing.
After near minutes of the sound, the water grew silent once again. Still, no one spoke. Amara's ears buzzed in the silence. Was he there? Standing just beyond the fog?
Crashing water once again broke the silence. Then, an earth shattering boom. The island shook. Amara stumbled. A woman shrieked.
Again, another boom. Then another. Each footfall louder than the next. The wall of grey mist, unaffected by the titan's presence.
People frantically whispered behind her. The sound of movement indicated many were getting their camera's ready in case the fog gave way.
A man's voice raised above the rest. "Good afternoon, I'm Zachary Rangen and I'm here live at an undisclosed location where just behind me, is the King of the Monsters, Godzilla."
Then another voice, this time feminine. "Hello, this is Amanda Haze—"
"—Live here today with none other than Godzilla, thanks to an anonymous tip." Announced another.
Rumbling echoed across the clearing, so deep the leaves quivered. The mist swirled oddly. Twin spirals above where Amara stood. The newscasters went quiet.
With a groan, the wall broke apart, revealing dark grey scales and predatory amber eyes. His body was so close, his chest nearly touched the cliff. His neck was craned back, looking down at her.
Here I am.
She nearly swiveled around. His voice was so clear, surely everyone could hear it. Just stay there, let them see you're harmless.
Godzilla let out a sharp snort and pulled back his shoulders. Harmless, you say?
Okay, that was a poor choice of words.
So it was.
From behind, reporters resumed their broadcasts.
"He appears to be completely docile."
"Are you getting this? Look at his face, it's like he's thinking!"
Amara took a step closer to Godzilla. It's working!
Godzilla leaned down ever so slightly, his eyes never leaving her. I sense their fear.
You are the king of the monsters. It's hard not to be afraid.
Are you afraid of me? Godzilla's nostrils flared.
Of course. One careless move and he would crush her. Some one could do something to annoy him and he could kill everyone on the island in a single breath. What would stop him? Even she was nothing more than a nuisance to him.
Amara swallowed. A little bit.
"One fearless girl is approaching him. What does she intend to do?"
"He seems to be watching her intently."
"Are you getting this?"
Your fright is unfounded. I am aware of the consequences of carless action.
Even so, a creature of his size, it was difficult to comprehend. She was a spec to him. An ant standing before a lion.
She took another step.
Godzilla arced his neck, leaning closer. His nose only meters from her.
Teeth and scale filled her vision. Golden eyes fixed on her under deep set brows. Breaths creating wind gusts over the clearing, blowing loose strands of hair from under her hood.
The fresh scars on his face had noticeably healed into dark lines cutting through scale. Her eyes fell to his chest. There, were the gun had hit him was still blackened and raw. Why didn't it heal like the rest of his wounds?
You know as well as I that it no longer hurts.
Still… It was odd.
You feel the same as I. If it were painful, you would know.
"Look at the emotion in his face."
"Incredible. Who is this girl?"
The thread tugged. He was so close. She reached up, fingertips towards his nose. Could she touch him? Would he let her?
It is meant to be.
His head came ever closer, slow like a boat drifting with the tide. Closer and closer. The heat of his breath warming the palm of her hand.
Inches away.
This wasn't a part of the plan. No, this was better. No one knew who she was. No one knew about her connection. All they saw was a docile creature, capable of so much more than death and destruction.
The thread tugged. But not towards Godzilla. It pulled from her temple. Steady at first, causing an aching pain, the same pain after her dreams of darkness.
Not now. She clenched her teeth. Could Godzilla feel it too?
A flicker of his eye. A wince.
The mysterious thread yanked at her mind. Harder than ever before. It caught the side of her skull nearly pulling her over.
Pain like never before. Like her mind being yanked out of her head. She grabbed at her head, fighting to keep it in tact. A screech filled the clearing. Her screech.
Godzilla's reaction was simultaneous. His massive body recoiled. A roar of agony escaped from between his teeth.
A claw the size of a bus came up, crashing against the cliffside. The ground shook and crumbled. Earth flew into the air all around.
Amara stumbled at fell, her face hit the ground. Men and Women screamed behind her.
How? How could everything go so terribly wrong? What was this pain?
Free. Freedom from the darkness. A force pulling from above.
No, it couldn't be. The feeling from the dream. The pressure.
Another surge of pain yanked at her head.
Godzilla let out another wail. The ground thundered as he backed into the ocean. He clawed at the side of his head, as if he too felt the invasive thread.
Was it attached to him as well, or was it just shared pain?
Amara ground her teeth. Godzilla, what's happening?
There was no response. Only pain and anger.
Godzilla arched his back and fell, disappearing behind the veil. Water crashed as his body landed. Artificial rain pelted against the grass a moment later.
And then, silence.
The searing pain faded back into a dull aching radiating from her temple. Still, she lay there.
Helicopters whirred to life. People yelled.
This never should have happened. Why did she agree to this stupid, stupid plan? Of course it was going to end in disaster.
Jet planes flew somewhere overhead, engines shrieking across the sky.
There was no point looking. There was no point doing anything anymore. Anything she did just made things worse. At least laying her wasn't hurting anyone. The grass the filled her vision blurred.
More helicopters came. More shouting. Commands.
A hand touched her back. "Ma'am, are you okay?"
She shook her head, her nose brushing against the grass. "No."
"Are you injured?"
"I don't think so."
The solider helped lift her by the arm into a sitting position.
Around her, soldiers tended to other people in similar positions. Not too far away was Mi Sun, looking dazed. She held a cloth up to her forehead, blood soaking through. Rick and Sam were standing beside her. Both their faces were pallor, their frowns deep.
All around were people. Some gathered in groups whispering. Some helped others to their feet. Some just stared.
Debris from the size of small rocks to huge clumps of earth littered the grass. Was anyone crushed?
Ahead of her was the silvery vail. The once pristine cliff side was gouged. Godzilla had knocked it away with a single swing of his arm.
An unintentional act caused by her.
She destroyed the last chance Godzilla had a peace. Hurt her friend. Hurt strangers. Hurt Godzilla. Why did she even bother? Godzilla's fate was sealed the second she saw him in the water months ago.
"Why am I not surprised."
Amara craned her neck towards the familiar voice. It was him. It was always him. Tall and rather lanky. Mismatched eyes.
"I'll take care of her, Brody," he said to the solider at her side.
He nodded and headed towards the next person.
Amara's eyes met Whyley's. Without another word, he gripped her wrist and pulled her up. He wasn't gentle, nor was he rough.
"I was hoping you learned your lesson last time. But I guess that was wishful thinking."
There was no point in answering that jab. Her tank was empty, her head throbbed. The only thing that sounded remotely appealing would be to wake up and find out all of this was a dream.
Did Godzilla feel the same? His presence was still prominent in her mind, but his voice was silent. Knowing him, he was probably pissed.
Whyley pulled her forward, leading her to one of the helicopters. Great, he was taking her home once again.
He helped her up into the cabin before stepping in and sitting beside her. Strangely, it was only her, him, and the pilot inside. Wouldn't they try to transport multiple people at once? Or was she the last straggler?
The helicopter ascended high into the air. There was no window to look out this time.
Whyley pulled out his radio and switched stations. "I'm bringing her in."
There was static.
And then a voice replied, "Copy. See you soon W."
Oh no.
…