Chapter 9: Dreams of the Future

Apex was in shambles.

The UN, along with all of the core Apex design and engineering members, were not expecting Mechagodzilla to fail. Not only was the entire fight recorded and sent live to the UN Headquarters, but they had two perspectives. The pilot's and the command centers. The pilot one was the most gruesome. The video showed the pilot struggling to control the robot. When Wells went back and watched the footage he was shocked. The pilot was struggling to move the arms and the legs at the same time and whenever the tail whipped around he almost fell over. The pilot kept shouting "I can't control this thing!" constantly. And then when Battra ripped open the cockpit and tore him out Wells had to stop watching it. Clearly something was needed to help pilot the machine. And that is where Kiryu comes into play.

Wells was not only designing an entirely new robot, but an AI. An AI that will assist in the control and operation of the robot. Although the AI would not be in full control, it was able to access all of the controls and, if the pilot were to become unable to perform, it would take over immediately. The reason why an AI was needed was because they learn and adapt like humans do. And when you are fighting a giant radioactive lizard and his moth girlfriend you need something that is able to learn and process things on the spot.

Although the entire robot was torn apart, the internal skeleton was mostly intact. The skull however was in 15 different pieces. During the construction a hole was cut in the skull to allow the pilot to enter the machine. The large hatch cover was ripped out and this allowed Battra to split open the skull and kill the pilot. The jaw was broken and several of the teeth were chipped or destroyed. Many of the dorsal plates were blasted apart and the ribcage had melted from Godzilla's atomic breath. Other than that the skeleton was fully recovered. This made the construction of Kiryu to begin almost immediately. And about Kiryu, how is he different from Mechagodzilla?

Well Wells took notice of two things during the fight. 1 being how easily the chainswords were broken and 2 being how slow the robot maneuvered. To compensate for this Kiryu has several small thrusters that stick out of various places on the robot. One in each elbow, one in each shin, 5 on the back, one on each foot and one on each shoulder. These thrusters were powered by another fusion reactor and will allow Kiryu to have some ability of flight. Although not very far, he will be able to jump up into the air and to dodge attacks. The two thrusters in the elbow will enable Kiryu to punch faster and harder than ever before.

The large reactor fan in the chest now has a large circular plate of armor covering it. A small hole is still open to allow airflow into the reactors. Instead of chainswords, the primary weapon of Kiryu are two large blades that swing out from the forearms and extend outwards. These two prongs stick out like a meat fork and have the same strength as two individual swords. Each of Kiryu's arms have these blades. Each arm is able to transform into plasma cannons and because of how successful the Anti-Kaiju missiles performed each shoulder has launchers for them. Lastly, his most powerful weapon is the absolute zero cannon.

This prototype weapon uses large amounts of energy to freeze nearby carbon and nitrogen in the air to fire a beam of energy that instantly freezes anything. The weapon is deployed when both arms are slammed together at the chest near the circular opening. Both arms transform and shift until a hexagon shaped barrel extends from the mass of metal. Then, with a flash of blue and white light, the white beam bursts from the barrel. This attack sucks Kiryu of all stored and available energy and is only able to be used sparingly. This attack also damages the weapon itself and can't be used too many times or else the internal components will freeze and the robot will be destroyed.

Kiryu is also able to speak. Using the bones of the jaw and with an artificial tongue and mouth, Kiryu is able to speak to its enemies and allies. The pilot or the AI are able to use this feature. But most of all, the AI itself is complicated.

Wells and his team of designers, along with dozens of AI programmers have based Kiryu's AI on Dagon's recovered DNA. The reasoning for this was to enable a seamless and effortless installation period into the machine and for the AI to be able to control the robot easier. With this DNA framework, the AI is able to think, act, and function just like Godzilla. And when Kiryu is fully constructed, it won't fail like Mechagodzilla did.

Wells leaned back on his chair and smiled upon his work. Soon, he will watch as his newest creation finishes the mission he set out to do so long ago.

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After the fight, Mothra and Battra helped Godzilla make it to a safe place. It was far, but a deep underground fissure in the Himalayas was all they could find. When the trio crawled into the hole they knew they had to work fast. Mothra and Battra used their silk to seal the gaping wound left by the missiles and form as the scaffolding for his new flesh to form. Godzilla's entire right arm was blown off by the Anti-Kaiju missiles. Because Godzilla is a lizard, he is able to regrow missing body parts, but because of his species' biology, it would take him entire years to regrow his whole arm. They didn't have this time. Battra and Mothra concentrated all of their energy on his healing, and within two days, his flesh began to grow over the silk framework. Bones sprouted, blood vessels slithered out onto his new flesh, muscles and skin began to form and finally his thick outer skin formed. Battra then returned back to his lair to see if his Muto army was harmed. Mothra stayed with Godzilla. He almost died.

It was almost a week after the battle ended when Godzilla finally began to move around again. Covering his new arm was a thick layer of silk, mucus, and proto flesh that formed a cast. This was to protect his flesh from bacteria and the outside world. He flexed his arm and it cracked. Godzilla grunted and winced in pain as he peeled off the cast. When at last it slid off, he marveled at his new skin. It was not his normal dark grey color, it was an ashy white. The new scales and skin free of cuts and scrapes from years of fighting. He turned his hand around and moved his fingers. Each of them were clean and brand new. He chuckled as he moved his arm around and grabbed stuff in the cave. Rocks, chunks of trees, and large handfuls of snow. Although he loved having both of his arms back, he didn't like how this one was a different color. He turned around and looked at his sleeping mate.

Mothra's energy was completely drained. A week of healing and tending to Godzilla's aid left her spent. She laid curled up in a ball on a pile of tree leaves and dirt. Godzilla sighed and laid down next to her. He pulled her closer to his body and wrapped his tail around her. He felt her nuzzle his chest and then lay her wings across his body. Godzilla kissed her head and then drifted off to sleep. He couldn't be more thankful for all her help.

The next morning Godzilla sat up and stumbled over to the edge of their cave. He sat at the entrance and felt the cold wind nip at his face. Minutes later Mothra stirs and sits next to him. She senses his pain.

"Goji, what's wrong? You seem distressed."

He sighs.

"It's not that, it's just that I don't understand why the humans want to harm us. All we have done is protect them from the Mutos and they repay me by blowing off my arm? It doesn't make any sense."

"Well you heard Battra, he said these humans can't be trusted. I don't agree with him but maybe he is on to something."

"Maybe. Mothra, can I tell you something?"

Mothra turns her head and faces him. His face covered in small scars and cuts. She feels the pain of war in his eyes.

"Yeah, what's wrong?"

"Losing an arm has made me realize that I am not invincible. And with that thought I have been thinking about the future. How about we just...you know...leave this world? Me and you find a nice little island to live on and let the humans figure things out. We can decorate our little home with those cherry blossom trees you like so much."

Mothra giggles and blushes slightly. She raises one of her arms to his face.

"If only we could, I would. But we are part of something bigger. I want to leave here just as much as you do but we can't let Battra enslave everyone. You know that. You're our king, we need you."

"But do you? I am tired of being a king. I don't want all this responsibility. I miss when the only thing I had to worry about is if I finished my martial art lessons. I miss waking up in the morning and being able to do whatever I want. I miss the times when I wasn't forced to lead an army, or rule the Kaiju world, or when I still had all my limbs. I miss the days when I first met you in the dungeon of my fathers castle. Both of us naive of our feelings, so unsure about who we were or who we would become."

Mothra's antennae wilt slightly.

"The one thing I want most of all, Mothra, is a family. I want to be a father. I want to watch our kids grow up in a world where they get to feel all of those things. I want to go to sleep at night knowing that I won't get ambushed by a Muto or have to worry if you are still here or not. I want peace."

"Goji, you know we will never have that, it's not possible for you and I to-"

"I DON'T CARE! I am so sick and tired of being told everything I can or can't do! I know we will never be able to mate but you and I both know that I can't make offspring. You can. You can split your DNA and make twins. Even if they aren't related to me I want to feel like I mean something to someone."

Mothra feels her heart sink.

"You mean something to me."

Godzilla sighs. He turns away from Mothra.

"I just... I just want a family. I want that so bad. I know we can't make it happen but how can we know if we don't try."

"Goji, we have done it many times now and you know I don't reproduce like that. We are different species, we can't have children. Even if we could, I don't want them in a time like now."

Godzilla lets out a long sigh of defeat. He turns around and holds Mothra in his arms.

"I understand, even if we were to have children, what would we name them?"

Mothra scratches the bottom of her head. She often does this while thinking.

"Leo. I have always loved that name."

"I like Junior. Simple yet defining. What if it's a girl?"

"Hmm. I don't know. Lea? I never thought about having a daughter. Ever since the virus came all I wanted were sons."

"Same here. That virus caused the extinction of both our races. Even if I am the last of my kind, I want to spend my life with you, Mothra. That's all I want. You."

"Me too."

The two of them spent the rest of the day just cuddling in their cave. Even in a time like this, the two of them still find moments like this to cherish. Maybe the future isn't so grim after all.

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Author's note: A short but sweet chapter. I would have included it in the last chapter but the atmosphere felt dramatically different. I hope you guys are enjoying this story so far. I'll see you guys soon.

Random: Any tips for someone who wants to start drawing more? I absolutely suck at drawing but I want to be an artist so bad. All these great artists on Twitter and Instagram make me so jealous because I can't draw anything at all.