Part Two; DIAMOND DOG



Far above the Earth, somewhere between the orbits of Mans' many satellites, and that of the single, natural moon, lay an isolated pocket of radioactive fallout. Within that strange and deadly nimbus the monster Dogorah was born. Now, it has returned, drawing nourishment from the field, as if suckling from a breast. Soon the field is drained, but the creature still hungers for more!

Dogorah pulses, propelling itself slowly earthward. Though born in space, its natural element, it knows it must return to the bright blue orb. It must return there to feed...

*

Sato's lab.

Reports of the incident downtown blare continuously from the television, as Sato is finally overtaken by a fitful sleep. A sleep filled with devils that plague his conscience. He had known as soon as the deal was completed; he had allowed himself to create a monster.

"Wake up, kid," came a voice. Some new devil to torment him! "I said wake up!" A shout, then something struck him in the face! He sprang awake, this was no longer a dream.

"You!" He gasped. Beside him stood the old American. "What do you want? Why wont you let me be?"

"I'm your Jiminy Cricket, Sato. I'm here cause you screwed up. I warned you not to revive that thing, not to give it to those damn crooks!"

"You must know I could not get out of that arrangement, damn you! I would be dead now if I had not followed through." Sato flung back the covers to rise, and the stranger drew a gun. "So, you going to kill me now?"

"I'm going to make sure you pay for your mistake, Sato. I'm gonna, uunnggh!" The American dropped to the floor unconscious. Behind him stood another figure who must have somehow creapt in unseen.

"It's all right, Sato san," said the shadowed form now reaching to turn on the light. To Sato's relief, it was a voice and a face he recognized.

"Komai! Praise Bhudda it is you, that guy was going to shoot me!"

Komai said nothing, but flashed Sato a grim look. Gun in hand, the Police Chief approached the unconscious stranger and turned the man face up. A gasp of astonishment escaped him as he realized, he knew this man!

"What is it, uncle? Do you recognize him?"

"Hei. It is a face I have not seen for many years, since the monster Dogorah first appeared. Now it seems they have both returned." Komai took the man's weapon and checked his pulse. "He is an old enemy who became an old friend. His name is Mark Jackson."

*

G Force Command.

Paul and Shidori Iso hold each other tightly, awed by the tale their daughter has put before them. Kyoko too is spent from the telling, but greatly releived as well. She knows her parents believe her words are true.

"Kyo chan, you know too well of our own strange adventure with the Obake Varan years ago. You know as well that we doubt not a word you have spoken," her father reassured her. "We will get you out of here, my daughter. We will convince Nakano all you have said is fact."

"There is no convincing Nakano, father. Kenji knew that, and escaped," a tear fell at the thought. "How I have prayed for his safety since then! I even called upon the conch, in hopes of gaining the aid of the Selgan SeaGod of which I have told you."

"Keep your faith in the island spirits, daughter. We will summon the aid of our diplomatic associates. Perhaps they can influence the captain, force him to accept the truth!" Said Shidori, determined to help.

"Thank you, but I fear Nakano will accept only that which he wishes to hear..."

The guards step aside as the door slides open. Nakano has returned, and with him, an old but ageless looking man in the full dress uniform of a Defense Force General.

Quickly, Kyo whispers to her parents. "I am going to try a different kind of escape now. I will give him what he wishes to hear."

"Kyoko, I don't..." her mother began.

"Please! For mine and Kenji's sake, I beg you only listen. Do not contradict me now."

The Iso's share a glance of reluctant agreement, and nod in assent to Kyoko. "We trust you, Kyo chan. Do as you feel you must."

"I always have," she bowed before them. "I am coming, Kenji. I will find you!" She thought hopefully, preparing to give the captain the biggest line of bullshit she could think of!

*

Kyushu.

Nearly ten city blocks had been laid waste by the Space Monster's violent rebirth. Emergency response teams now faced the arduous task of penetrating the demolished area to search for survivors. They would not reach the center of the wreckage any time soon.

At that central point, Kenji Lawrence Bradley was slowly regaining awareness. There was pain, and the distant sound of sirens. Closer, too close, a loud and incessant yelping he could not quite place. A chill wind blew over the scene, punctuating a strange sensation. Something wet was nudging his face.

Ken stirred, and the yelping began again. He blinked open his eyes to see, groaning with the effort. The wetness returned, accompanied by what could only be rapid, shallow breathing. Then he realised what it was.

Forcing one eye to focus, he saw the small blonde dog that licked his face. "Good dog," he croaked. "That's enough. I'm up." The shaggy little beast yelped then backed away.

His vision clearing, Ken could see the terrier's eager, anticipatory expression. "Well, aren't you the cute one," said Kenji. The dog responded, doing a 'sitting pretty' routine with its forepaws in the air. Kenji smiled. "Smart too. Unusual traight for a blonde."

The dog dropped to all fours and gave a low growl at the joke.

"Sorry, Just kidding. I, oww!" Slowly, Kenji turned. Behind him, he could see his feet were trapped beneath a heavy length of timber. "Terrific," he lamented. "Um, help!" He shouted, and the dog gave a yelp. "Help?" He looked at the dog, ears perked and sitting pretty again. "Great. You are my help." The terrier gave two yelps in response.

Ken scanned the area, spying the totems among the rubble. The flask of Godblood was broken, pawprints trailing through the spilled elixir. Beside it, the staff. Both were just beyond reach. "Okay Einstein, let's see what you've got. See the stick? Go get the stick, baby! Come on, get the stick!"

Instantly, the mop haired pooch reacted, grabbing the runestaff in its tiny jaws and placing it right in front of Kenji.

"Holy..." Ken was awed! This dog was amazing! "Good boy!"

The dog growled mildly.

"Uh, good girl?" Ken corrected himself and his small savior licked his outstretched hand. He patted the terrier lovingly. "Good girl it is. Stand back a bit, honey. Can't have you getting hurt when I shift this beam." Obediently, the dog backed away.

Bracing the staff against a large chunk of shattered granite, Ken jammed it tight under the beam. He gasped, trying to work while sprawled awkwardly on his stomach. He tested his grip, and began to apply pressure. The little dog gave a whimper, then a yelp.

"It's okay, girl." She whimpered again, then continued yelping. Ken forced himself to ignore her as he pushed against the staff, praying it was truly as unbreakable as the Selgans had claimed. "It's okay. Just a little more. Only a little..."

The yelping combined with a pounding in his head as Ken shifted the timber and pulled his feet free. "Whoa!" He tumbled painfully down the pile of debris, the pounding made worse by his small friend's insistant cries. He looked questioningly at the dog, and found her gazing off into the distance. The pounding increased, and he realized it was not in his head.

Turning his gaze to match the dog's, Ken now saw the object of her concern. The source of the rhythmic pounding. It was the sound of giant footfalls coming from a massive form far out on the horizon. It was the sound of Godzilla approaching.

Ken's eyes went wide with shock. "Not again," he croaked, fainting dead away. The terrier whimpered at her freind's condition, then with a determined look, bounded off in the direction of the advancing monster.

*

Godzilla advances through the industrialized district. Around him, droves of the tiny humans flee, hoping to avoid his wrath. He sniffs the foul air, scanning the scene, searching for the source of the strange and powerful energy which has drawn him here.

To the south lay the ocean. Ahead, the humans were gathering just beyond the limits of the hive, marshalling their forces for an assault. But to the north there lay an area of vast destruction. That is where he would surely find his goal!

From somewhere high above there came a strange audible pulse. The sound grew louder and nearer, as the sky was lit with a harsh, diffused luminance. Godzilla looked skyward to see Dogorah breaking through the thick blanket of cloud that covered the city! Now there was no doubt, here was the source of the power he had sensed, the power he must now destroy!

The Space Monster bursts from the roiling clouds, and attacks! Its pseudopods churning the air, creating a massive field of static energy around its Radion enhanced form. Godzilla steps forth, into the whirling matterstorm, and roars his defiance at the beast!

Suddenly, Dogorah strikes! Its many tendrils coiling around the giant saurian, pulling him from the ground! The creature's touch burns, searing through Godzilla's armor-like hide. Godzilla howls at the assault, dorsals flaring with power and rage, and looses a mighty blast of Atomfire from his toothy, gaping maw!

Dogorah pulses, then screams as the beam sheers through it, slicing its tendrils and burning into its protoplasmic form! Godzilla drops free from its grasp, the force of the impact shattering buildings in all directions! Above him, Dogorah charges its static field, drawing its scattered body back into a single mass. The creature pulses madly at the Monster King, strange and unnatural energies dancing about its form. Enraged, the mutant Spacecell attacks again!

*

Sato's lab.

"Komai, I think he's coming to," said Sato, his uncle quickly by his side.

"Oh brother," said the foreigner. "Did somebody say 'Komai'?" The man blinked painfully awake and took a long look at the old policeman. "The years have not been kind, old friend."

"To niether of us it seems." A solemn look passed between them, then they broke into laughter!

"Man! What'd you hit me with anyway?"

"My hand," Komai smiled.

"I hear you made Chief, congratulations. Shouldn't you be retired by now?"

"I could say the same for you. As usual, I have no idea what your agenda here is, other than threatening my nephew."

"Now wait a minute, Chief! I think the kid might have something to clue you in on," he looked at Sato. "Or do I have to spill the beans?"

"Uncle, I..." Sato hesitated, searching for the words. "I'm sorry. Mr. Jackson tried to warn me of the results of my actions. I did not listen."

"Sato, what have you done?" Asked Komai.

"My work was not being financed by some corporation as I had claimed. It was being paid for by criminals. The Ginza jewel thieves."

"The jewel thieves? But how could your research help..." Komai slowly realized where this was heading. "Oh Sato san, no. You revived the Dogorah cell for them."

"Hei. I thought I'd figured out a way to control the beast so it would do the dirty work for them. Something must have gone wrong."

"Sato, how could you do this horrible thing?"

"I thought I could save my father, and I had no other means on earth to pay for it!"

"I'm sorry to hear that, Sato." Komai paused only a beat, to fix his gaze squarely in the young man's eyes. "I had come here tonight to tell you, your father died this afternoon."

*

Again Dogorah's pseudopods lash out, locking onto Godzilla's flesh. The Spacecell is glowing now, the radiance keeping time with its eerie pulse. The pulse builds, becoming a single steady hum, as Dogorah releases a massive discharge of Radionic force!

The power strikes Godzilla, and he roars! The strange energy which had drawn him here now courses through him, conflicting with his own nuclear spawned might. He falls, unable to assimilate the charge. The triple dorsals start to spark and flash, Dogorah's pulse builds, and before Godzilla can react, the discharge flares from the Space Monster once more!

Unable to focus the Atomfire, Godzilla knows he must use a different strategy. Grabbing Dogorah's tendrils in his scaly paws, he draws them closer and fiercely bites them off! Dogorah retreats writhing in pain, giving Godzilla a brief moment to recover. That moment is all he needs...

Driven by instinct, the mutant cell reaches forth once more, its energies building and pulsing around its form. But this time, it is not Godzilla's flesh its many arms contact, but the protective plasma field that surrounds the Monster King. Normally, it is a benign, secondary effect of his atomic powers, but now Godzilla has charged the field, creating an impenetrable barrier of nuclear force!

The Radion burst hits the plasma field and is repulsed! Rocked by the massive feedback, the Spacecell is staggered, but determined to try again. The pulse builds, the discharge flares, and is again turned back upon him!

Dogorah's body begins to change, transforming back into a stone-like substance as the feedback overloads its biochemical mass. The strange energy now vented from his system, Godzilla is free to strike. He grabs the creature's flailing tendrils, discharging his own mutant energies through the field and into the pulsing beast! The once deafening pulse slows and fades as more of the cell is crystalized, falling lifeless to the earth. A final burst of power and it is done, reducing Dogorah to a pile of smoking rubble.

Godzilla brushes the stony residue from his paws, and searches the unmoving mass for any sign of life. The power is gone from the beast, and Godzilla incinerates the remains with a deadly blast of Atomfire! The saurian knows, this creature was but the spawn of the power he had sensed, perhaps the first of many. Somewhere within this stinking human hive lay its true source. Godzilla turns, striding inland to seek it out and destroy it!

*

"Alright, Mrs. Bradley. It's time to move." The Defense Forces massed at the battlesite's perimeter, under orders to stand ready to attack. Air support was on alert, keyed to provide back up. The initial assault, however, would be led by a force of two; Captain Yoshi Nakano and his secret weapon, a woman called Kyoko Bradley.

The jeep sped madly through the decimated district, racing to get into position. In only a few minutes, they stood poised between the residential sector, and the advancing form of Godzilla.

"What am I doing?" Kyo thought nervously. She had lied to Nakano, finally admitting to him the one thing she knew he would accept as truth. She told him she could stop Godzilla. "Captain, we should not be doing this. You know how radioactive I am, you could get sick."

"The risk of limited exposure is well worth it to me, Mrs. Bradley, to learn your secrets. Secrets I can use to defend Japan."

"Captain, you should have let me come alone. I don't even know if this wiil work with someone...a non-believer, watching."

"Let you go alone? So you could escape to join your fugitive husband no doubt! No, Mrs. Bradley. We go together."

Together, they moved a short distance from the jeep. Kyoko pulled the Selgan totems from her bag and lay them on the ground. The conch, a length of rope, and a flask of the elixir the natives regard as the blood of Mikki, Spirit of the Sea. Kenji still had a similar flask, as well as the runestaff upon which was graven the instructions for their proper use. Without the staff, Kyo could only guess how to make these objects work, as well as exactly what they were supposed to do! Godzilla was coming closer, and Kyoko was running out of time.