Godzilla vs. King Kong
By C. L. Werner
III
Unexpected Developments
"Gentlemen, things have taken a turn for the worse," Vander Van Hise said when the last of the MARS executives took his seat. "As you all know, the Mechani-Kong prototype was sent to battle King Kong, as we intended. Unfortunately for us, the military decided that they wanted Kong captured, not dead. In transporting the monster, Mechani-Kong's machine arm malfunctioned, ruining the operation."
"You said that under no condition was the robot to run beyond our mark-up margin!" protested a rat-faced man with a balding head. "The alloy we used could never have supported such weight!"
"Doctor, you are being confrontational," Vander Van Hise said menacingly. The scolded scientist returned to his seat.
"Our sources inside GARD tell us that the Pentagon is less than pleased with Mechani-Kong's baptism of fire. There is talk of taking the contract to another manufacturer." Vander Van Hise's voice dropped to a menacing whisper. "It seems that they still want a mecha-kaiju, but they no longer trust our firm to construct it for them."
Vander Van Hise stared at each man in turn before continuing. "When the Germans invaded Russia, the Russians retreated. But before they retreated, they razed the land, leaving not so much as a single grain of wheat to feed the Germans, not a single house to provide them shelter from the coming winter. If you must loose a battle, it is best to deny the enemy his victory."
"What are you saying?" inquired a middle-aged black man dressed in a pin-stripe suit.
"If the contract does not go to us, it will go to one of our competitors. I do not need to remind anyone how much money there is to be made on a $250 billion contract." Van Hise smiled coldly. "It has become necessary to remove all confidence in the program."
"What do you intend to do?" asked another of the MARS executives.
"What has already been done, gentlemen." Vander Van Hise folded his hands before him on the table. "Our agents within GARD can do more than listen and report."
One of the executives rose from his chair and started to walk toward the door of the meeting room.
"Do what you have to, Vander. I can't listen to anymore. What I don't know can't make me sick."
"I am afraid that we may have to replace Mr. Goldner while we are at it," Van Hise said when the man had left. "A conscience is such an ugly thing."
*****
The tourists on the whale-watching boat marvel as the pod of black and white shapes slid through the foam. They pointed and shouted with glee as the orcas came still closer. A few noted the unnatural speed which seemed to move the whales, the faint hint of fear that seemed to rise from their massive bodies. One and all would share in the marine mammals' fear when a huge form emerged from the water not a hundred yards from the prow of the ship.
Kong's fur hung in wet strands from his body as the monster ape rose from beneath the water. The huge ape reached forward with a giant paw to seize one of the fleeing killer whales. The whale was pulled from the water, writhing in Kong's powerful grasp. The animal vainly tried to sink its teeth into the monster's hand. Kong watched the animal's struggles for a second before advancing on the whale-watchers' boat. People screamed and leaped into the water as Kong raised the whale over his head by its tail and brought it crashing down into the deck of the ship. The orca's neck snapped and the creature's struggles ended as quickly as its life. Kong batted the lolling head to be certain of the kill and turned away from the sinking boat. Slowly, King Kong waded toward the shore.
Kong climbed the rocky surface of one of the small Aleutian Islands, disturbing a rookery of sea birds as he pounded up the craggy shore. The giant ape sat down on top of a cliff overlooking the Pacific and raised his catch to his fanged maw. Kong tore shreds of whale flesh from the dead orca, pausing in his meal only long enough to rip the remains of the machine arm from around his waist. Kong threw the twisted steel far out to sea and roared as the discarded reminder of his mechanical counterpart sank from view.
*****
"It is a perfect opportunity," Colonel Nomura insisted. "We need to test Gigan, what better chance will we ever have?"
"There is still some concern about the safety of your monster, Colonel," Commander Aso said, his voice a low, menacing growl. "There is a debate in Parliament right now about whether or not Gigan should be destroyed. I do not think the Prime Minister will sanction the use of the monster in such circumstances."
"We have a perfect opportunity here!" Colonel Nomura exclaimed. "The Americans have failed to stop Kong with their Mechani-Kong, this is our chance to show that Japan's defender is mightier than America's by accomplishing what they could not! The Americans can hardly protest if Japan wishes to spare them the suffering of a kaiju attack. Plus, the Aleutians are close enough that we can claim that we felt Kong's proximity to Japan constituted a threat to our national security."
Commander Aso rose from his chair and glared at Colonel Nomura. "And what if your monster proves uncontrollable, as everyone fears? The Americans could construe it as an act of war if Gigan starts attacking their cities!" The Japanese general held up his hand to forestall Nomura's protest. "Gigan stays where he is. There will be no debate."
Colonel Nomura saluted and stiffly marched from the office. Nomura stalked down the corridors of the UNGCC, making his way down to the hangar. He smiled as he greeted the technician examining the complex series of machines that controlled the cyborg monster.
"We have orders," Colonel Nomura stated. "Gigan is to fight King Kong."
The technician stared at the officer. A puzzled look entered his face.
"I received no orders. Who issued them? I thought they were still debating in the Diet?" the white-coated tech said. His eyes grew wider behind his glasses when he saw the short-barreled automatic in Nomura's hand.
"I am issuing the orders. Please, give Gigan the orders," Nomura said, his voice flat and emotionless. "If you don't, I will have to shoot you and do it myself."
Commander Aso swore as alarm klaxons reverberated through the complex. Quickly he gave orders for guards to make their way to the cyborg control room. The military head of the GCC looked over at the monitor on his desk. He watched as the main hangar irised open and a sleek, gold and black form emerged into the morning sky. The cyborg shrieked as it flapped its wings, small jets implanted in its back lending it greater speed. Commander Aso nodded as he watched Gigan head away, in a westerly direction.
"You have made your decision, Colonel," he said gravely. "May the gods grant that we do not regret your brashness."