Chapter 6 - Coordination
"Dr. Serizawa?"
"Yes, Joe. How are you?"
"I'm doing well, thank you. What's with the sudden call, though? Has something happened?"
"I'm afraid so. Outpost 63 was attacked recently, and the Titan, Titannus Mosura, escaped into the wilds of China."
"Holy-… That's not good, is it?"
"Not necessarily. As far as we can tell from ancient writings and carvings in her temple, this Titan species is very passive. She is a moth, after all."
"I see. So why call me?"
"Because all of the evidence we've gathered suggests that her species has an ancient connection with Gojira. And in order to uncover the mysteries surrounding this connection, we need to find Gojira and attempt to communicate with him."
"How do you intend to do that?"
"I was hoping to start by receiving your assistance, if you're willing?"
"Of course. I'll hop on the first flight I can. But why do you need me?"
"You understood the MUTO's far better and more rapidly than anyone I've ever met in MONARCH. And your understanding of Gojira quickly caught to and, I believe, surpassed even my own. And I've studied him for almost five decades."
"Aw. Well, thanks Doctor. But I think you're giving me too much credit there."
"Not at all, Joe. Do you have a few extra minutes? I have a few more questions for you."
"Sure. Fire away."
"When you analyzed the MUTO calls, did you ever get the sense that their communication was… Say, 'out of the ordinary?'"
"Hm. I can't say I felt that way. Their communication was frequency based. So it came through on our seismic instruments."
"Okay. According to my daughters Gojira was heard by everyone at Outpost 63 during the incident. But none of the audio feeds picked him up. The girls say everyone heard his call in their minds, even the attackers."
"That's hard to believe. But if there's no call on the audio feed then there's not much else that would explain why everyone heard him, is there?"
"Exactly. Gojira has never displayed telepathic ability. But this new Titan, Mosura, or Mothra, if you prefer, has telepathy."
"Wait. Really? I thought all that psychic stuff was just fantasy."
"It's real, Joe. The girls and their family line have had telepathic powers and been in communications with Mothra and her species since ancient times."
"Unbelievable. But I'll trust your word, Serizawa."
"Thank you, Joe. Now, I know it's an odd question since you're just finding out about this. But do you think Gojira could also be capable of telepathy? And do you think it could be in any way related to his radioactive properties?"
"Yes, and no. If this Mothra is telepathic, and you said her species has an ancient connection with Godzilla, then I think it's entirely possible Godzilla has telepathy as well. But I doubt it has anything to do with his radioactive nature. Radiation doesn't just conveniently do what you want or think it can do, after all. It's just a way of describing molecular instability. And radiation kills basically everything it comes into contact with except the Titans. Even so, Godzilla being radioactive and feeding on radiation I don't think has anything to do with it. If he is telepathic, I think it has more to do with the size and evolutionary path of his brain which is something I'd be very interested in studying if we ever have the chance."
"Myself as well, Joe. Thank you. I'll talk with you again when you get to MONARCH headquarters."
"See you then, Doctor."
Three days later, Joe arrived at the Castle Bravo facility in the Pacific and was greeted at the helipad by Serizawa as his wheel chair was carefully assisted out of the chopper by the help of the accessibility team.
"Good to see you again, Joe."
"You too, Doctor."
"Come. There's much to show you."
In Serizawa's private meeting room, himself, Doctor Graham, and both of the girls were all present and made their introductions.
"Girls, please show Joe the footage."
A video recording of the incident in the security cameras at Outpost 63 were shown on screen. And as the screen rumbled with everyone being shaken off balance, it was paused.
"That's where we all heard Godzilla." Ilene said.
"But as you saw, the audio feed caught out voices and the rumbling. But not his roar." Ling added.
"You're right. The audio suggests it was just an earthquake." Joe remarked while stroking his chin.
"Look at this, please." Ilene said as she changed the feed.
In the seconds leading up to Godzilla's roar, Mothra had been struggling to free herself before going completely still. The rumbling shook the chamber. And even with debris falling right next to her head, she remained motionless.
"Both Ling and I could feel how calm Mothra was during those moments." Ilene continued.
"I felt her heart. She was comforted by what was about to happen." Ling added.
"Wait, wait. So she knew that was coming?" Joe asked.
"Yes." The girls replied in unison.
"I see. But you didn't pick up on Godzilla reaching out to her before his roars, right?" He asked.
They shook their heads.
"Interesting." He mumbled.
"What's interesting, Doctor Brody?" Graham asked.
"Based on how you described Mothra's communication with the Chen sisters, it sounds as if Mothra and her species have kept their hearts and minds open to them. But if Mothra didn't share that Godzilla was about to do this, she must have had her reasons. Don't you think?"
The Chen sisters looked to each other in shock.
"You're right… Ling, Ilene. You're sure you didn't notice that Mothra knew Gojira was about to intervene?" Serizawa asked.
They shook their heads.
"We had no idea. We felt her go calm, but we didn't know why until we thought about it after the fact." They replied.
"But wait, wait. Isn't Mothra an infant? You said she hatched and then immediately escaped, right?" Joe asked.
"Yes." Serizawa responded.
"Then how does an infant dream of the things you described?" Joe asked.
"Mothra's species share a genetic memory of their collected past." Ling replied.
"She can see the memories of her ancestors in her dreams, in that realm of sleep she lives within the memories as if they are her own." Ilene added.
"I see. A genetic memory, eh?" Joe mumbled.
"What are you thinking, Doctor Brody?" Graham asked.
"It's a bit of a long shot. It occurred to me that if I were in Mothra's shoes and I knew Godzilla was about to call out, and I also knew that there were people like you two who could feel and hear my thoughts and what's in my heart, I wouldn't want you giving anything away. Not necessarily because I don't trust you. But because I knew it was my only chance to get the breathing room I needed to get out of that situation. Does that make sense?"
The girls slowly looked at one another.
"It makes sense to me, yes. If Gojira gave her a warning of what he was about to do, and she knew that keeping it secret was the key to her escape, then not allowing it to be felt ahead of time would indeed be the safest path forward." Serizawa remarked.
The siblings locked hands.
"Girls. When Godzilla roared, did you feel anything from him?" Doctor Graham asked.
They nodded, and replied with a single word.
"… Rage." Serizawa whispered as his face lost some of its color.
"What's wrong, Sensei?" Graham asked.
"There are other ancient writings I've studied about Gojira. A few of which speak to his rage, and the wrath that follows. If Gojira perceived what those men did as an act by humanity itself against the Titans, he may be preparing to retaliate."
"Oh god." Graham replied.
"Vivienne. Have we found him yet?" Serizawa demanded.
"N-no, Sensei. He's been silent and off radar since the incident."
"We need to find him. Quickly! Contact Admiral Stenz and request military aid in reaching the Mariana Trench where Gojira was last seen."
"Yes, Sensei."
"Wait. Serizawa. You really think Godzilla would see the actions of one group of people as a threat to the Titans by all of humanity?" Joe asked.
Serizawa slowly turned his head to look at Brody.
"I do not believe Gojira is an enemy of human kind. But if we antagonize him I have no doubts he will defend himself and other Titans from us by any means necessary."
"Well… Shit."
"Joe. I need you to do me a favor. Please, go with Doctor Graham and find out all you can about Gojira's whereabouts. If you find him, try to communicate with him in any way possible. I know it sounds silly. But try reaching out mentally. See if you can ask him questions. Ask if he's all right. Anything. We need to make sure he's in a stable mindset after what happened at the temple before we do anything further."
"You got it."
Joe wheeled himself out the door after Doctor Graham, leaving Serizawa behind as he leaned on the table and coughed into his hand. As he pulled his hand away, a few specks of blood were there to greet him, which he quickly wiped on his black jacket before exiting the room himself.
