KellHound270's Work

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Chapter XII

Command Bridge of the Gotengo, en route to Outpost 54

"What the hell was that noise?" Foster asked, noting the loud droning sound that they heard when they passed Isla de Mara.

"It seems to be similar to the sounds made by the Orca," Stanton answered. "But that's impossible. We have it in a vault aboard this boat."

"Emma must have made a replica," Mark said. "I think it came from Isla de Mara."

"Yeah, I think so, too," Coleman added. "Outpost 56 is reporting that their charge is banging against the containment field they have in place. Normally, that thing is asleep."

"Sooner or later, that thing is gonna break out," Rogers said. "I think it's best that we evacuate the village as soon as possible."

"I agree," Jon interjected. "This thing was woken up rather rudely. If it can't get through the metal containment shields, it will dig through the rock."

"Alright," Foster said. "Rogers and Romanoff, you're in charge of the evacuation. Hudson and Wilson, you oversee the entire thing. Danvers, remain on standby in case that thing comes out."

"Should we put the Exes on standby?" Barnes asked.

"Might as well."

Barnes left the bridge, along with Martinez and Griffin.

"'Exes?'" Mark repeated.

"It's what we refer to our new aircraft as," the colonel answered. "Respectively, they're known as Super X-I, X-II, and X-III. They were originally made in case of a nuclear attack, but we've retrofitted them for fighting Titans."

"Tell their crews I wish them the best of luck."

"Will do."

Isla de Mara, Gulf of Mexico

Captain America and the Black Widow oversaw the evacuation, directing people to the nearest transports. Jon and Falcon flew overhead, watching for any lost or stuck civilians.

It wasn't long at all until a loud screeching was heard. The panicked screams of the natives were silenced and the frantic scampering was halted. They all turned to face the volcano, which was giving off trace amounts of smoke.

The metal became dented as the trapped Titan banged against the containment shield. Finally, the shield ripped, and a plume of volcanic ash flew into the air, accompanied by an angry chittering.

A winged arm rose from the scalding caldera, the bony fingers digging into the brown rock. Another arm did the same as a horned head revealed itself, lava falling off it's brow like waterfalls. A pair of yellow eyes opened and glared out at the scrambling soldiers.

With a loud screech, the Titan raised it's pterodactyloid wings. It's yellow eyes stared at the crowd flooding the streets.

Rogers couldn't help but feel like it was looking directly at him.

Command Bridge of the Gotengo, Isla de Mara, Gulf of Mexico

"Got a catchy name for this one?" Mark asked Chen.

"Local legends call it 'Rodan,' the Fire Demon," she answered.

"Well, that's comforting."

A loud beeping caught Coleman's attention. He turned to see what the issue was.

"Hey, guys?" he called out. "Remember the M.U.T.O. that just hatched out of it's chrysalis? Well, guess where it's headed."

"Doctor, that M.U.T.O. is coming here," Mark said to Serizawa. "It's responding to Big Bird's cries. A sudden response like that means it's looking for food, a fight, or a... something more intimate."

"What do you suggest?" the doctor asked.

The trio of Super X's flew towards the fiery avian, flanked on either side by fighter jets.

Rodan stared with a mild curiosity as the crafts took aim at him. Super X-I was the first to fire it's weapons, causing explosions to occur under Rodan's arms. The Fire Demon screamed in pain as the jets peppered him with more missiles. The other Super X's launched a few of their own missiles, drawing his attention.

Rodan raised his wings in preparation to fly after the annoying crafts. He took one step forward before launching himself at the aircrafts, the immense mass of his body creating hurricane-force winds as he pursued the Super-X's.

The crafts immediately turned around and flew in the direction of the winged M.U.T.O. Rodan followed eagerly, snapping his serrated beak at the straggling jets. The jets did full one-eighty turns and flew directly at the giant bird.

Their guns did little, as Rodan tore through the squadron with his beak and talons. Eight jets fell from the sky like flies.

Another squadron flew at the Fire Demon. Annoyed, Rodan slammed his wings together, creating a shockwave that threw the jets off-balance. Rodan used his higher altitude to dive in and destroy the remainder of the squadron.

The Super X-III continued it's flight as the Super X-I and II turned and launched their missiles at the fiery bird. The last squadron flew in to make their last stand.

Rodan, having had enough of these pests, did a barrel roll, his wings destroying the squadron with ease. His rapid spinning made him a much harder target for the Super X's.

Finally, Super X-III released a cloud of flares, disorienting Rodan long enough for the aircraft to escape notice. Instead, Rodan looked up and saw the black form of the male M.U.T.O.

The M.U.T.O. screamed as he swung his hooked legs at the Fire Demon. Rodan dodged easily and latched onto the smaller Titan's chest with his talons. The M.U.T.O. screamed as he slammed his legs into Rodan's chest, dislodging the talons from his chest. Rodan screamed and went in for another attack, only for the M.U.T.O. to swing a glowing red leg at his head, disorienting Rodan and triggering a shockwave of electromagnetic energy.

Using the opportunity, the male M.U.T.O. latched onto Rodan's chest and slammed at it with his smaller limbs. Rodan quickly recovered as he did a violent spin, throwing the M.U.T.O. off. However, the Fire Demon was falling at too fast a rate to pull up in time.

Rising from the smoking crater he had made in the hillside, Rodan watched in horror as a familiar sight lumbered up to him.

M.U.T.O. Prime.

He attempted to fly away, but the nymph held him in place. He could only watch as the much larger insectoid stabbed him in the shoulder with a spike from her massive foreleg.

Rodan screamed with agony as the venom burned in his blood. Finally, he lost all control as his eyes turned dark. He bowed in subjection to the M.U.T.O.s.

Command Bridge of the Gotengo, Isla de Mara, Gulf of Mexico

The display screen of the Gotengo showed everyone what happened between Rodan and the M.U.T.O.s.

"What the hell happened?" Foster asked.

"I think he's been zombified," Jon answered. "Some insects, like wasps, inject their prey with a venom that alters their prey's mind. The animal then does the bidding of the wasp and defends it's eggs from harm."

"So, the M.U.T.O.s just enslaved Rodan?" Stanton asked.

"Certainly seems that way," Jon replied.

"What can we do?" Graham asked.

"The only thing I can think of is let Godzilla and Anguirus handle it. A small percentage of animals enslaved by the wasp will survive when the egg hatches, but it's still a small chance."

"Maybe Mothra can help," Carol interjected. "Last time I was here, she used a stinger to incapacitate a centipede-type Titan."

"Maybe her venom can cancel out the M.U.T.O.'s venom," Graham proposed.

"We won't know for sure," Jon said, "until she does it."