Part Four: The Big Bang
Tokyo Bay, the present.
"Magu, where are we?" Asked Mako. "Somebody tell me where in blazes we are!"
"We're in the past. Back in my time, I think," Kenji spoke hopefully.
"I think he's right Cap'n. Our remaining sensors can't believe their own readings! Ozone and carbon monoxide levels are tolerable, and the water!" The first Mate shouted. "I swear, Mako, the readings are comin' in close to pure."
"Pure?" The Captain gasped, staring at Kenji. "Great SeaGod, we ARE in your time." Just then, the ship shuddered violently, and the Manda hissed again. "My orders still stand. I want everyone off this ship now."
"Mako, how much time?" Asked Kenji.
"We haven't decided, but soon."
"WE haven't...? Atragon!" Ken shouted. "Atragon, listen! You know Mako would not hesitate to give her life for you. Please, let her go."
"That's enough, Bradley," Mako countered. "You've got three minutes to get to the Safeships." Again the great ship groaned, and began quickly filling with water. "Leave now before I change my mind."
"Atragon, please!"
A strange electronic pulse seemed to echo through the sentient sea craft, its displays all aflash with a single message; "He's Right." With a click, the Atragon released its hold on the woman, and added, "Go."
Mako stood shivering at the console. Her hand was free. The Atragon must have overridden the suicide circuit. It was letting her go. Mako was frozen there, unable to move. Nothing like this had ever happened before between a Technoid and a Human, and the Captain had no idea what to do. Then the ship rocked fiercely, and Ken grabbed the woman and hauled her quickly away.
***
Shiro's eyes went wide at the sudden appearance of a second Manda across the bay. The beast seemed to be clutching something like some great sea craft, crushing it beneath the waves.
"Nani?" Said Munabe, his revolver aimed at Shiro's scarred face. "Not the old 'Look over your shoulder' bit. You wouldn't..." Just then, a vast black shadow fell upon them, and three people appeared. Shiro swore as he realized one of them was Kyoko Bradley. He swore again, gazing up into the jaws of a THIRD Manda. "What the...?!" Cried Munabe.
"Mrs. Bradley, look out!" Shiro screamed, scooping up the unconscious Miname and rushing toward the group.
Munabe fired his gun in vain as the monster's jaws closed around him. The others kept running, and did not look back.
The great serpent hissed with rage, the Spiritfire still burning at its foul essence. Then it heard another hiss in reply. And another. It turned toward the sea to find two more of its kind, each of them battling against some unknown foe. The creature almost smiled then, for it saw an opportunity to eliminate the two usurpers, and claim ascendancy for itself. The Hellsnake flicked its long forked tongue, licking the remains of Tatsui Munabe from its lips, and dove slavering into the sea.
***
"Tanaka! You don't know how good it is to see a familiar face!" Kyo threw her arms around the man and squeezed hard.
Shiro allowed himself a moment of laughter and hugged her back. "Mrs. Bradley, what a relief to find you safe! And your husband?"
"I expect that is him now," she said, pointing to a pair of small airships approaching fast from the bay. The ships slowed, then settled on the nearby shore. Kyoko ran to the craft as the hatches flew open and Kenji appeared.
They came together in a fierce embrace as the rest of the strange company gathered around them, staring at each other. "You doing okay?" Kenji asked with a smile. "And the baby?"
"Uh-huh," Kyo replied. "Miss me?"
"Uh huh. I love you, you know."
"I know," she smiled back. "I love you too."
A small buzzing object hovered closer. "This must be the old lady. Not bad. Cute butt."
"Bug!" Ken shouted.
"Kenji...?!" Kyo backed away in fright, then Kalen's spear shot out, barely missing the drone.
"Hey! Call him off!" Bug buzzed.
"It's okay," Ken assured his wife. "Bug's harmless. I think."
"Hello, Kenji," said Tanaka. "Any idea how to explain any of this?"
"Hiya, Shiro! Not a clue!"
"As I thought. Good to have you both back home."
"Thanks, but it looks like we're not quite out of the woods yet. Scope out the bay."
Among the waves the struggle continued, punctuated now and then by the monsters screams. A pair of Mandas now parried and hissed around Godzilla, darting and withdrawing, taunting him into a rage. The venom had left him blinded, unable to see his opponent. He could no longer feel the arm the beast had bitten. Now, he could hear two more of the creatures had come to join the battle.
Godzilla gave a thundering roar, loosing lethal blasts of Atomfire all around him. The power flared menacingly up his spine, coursing along his dorsals, then strangely settled upon his eyes. Godzilla forced them to open, and they burned with radioactive light!
As one, the serpents struck. The Manda from the Temple hit low, digging its fangs into Godzilla's meaty thigh. The Manda from the past went for his throat.
Godzilla looked right at the lunging serpent, finding the familiar glow of the Spiritfire burning around the beast, a glow he could somehow see. He grabbed for the monster and trapped it in his claws. The Manda screamed as Godzilla's grip crushed deeper, forcing the snake's head, fangs bared, right into its brethren's own scaly neck.
The Templebeast went rigid at the impact, its own jaws clamping deeper into Godzilla's flesh. Godzilla blasted the creature with a burst of nuclear flame, and finally, the beast let go. The burning Manda shrugged free, breaking away to join its remaining counterpart still struggling with some great metal ship. Godzilla screamed, and followed...
***
"No more,"said Mako, lifting her flyer from the sands and heading straight for the Atragon.
"Mako, don't...!" The first Mate shouted from the ground. "Aw, Mako."
With a prayer to the SeaGod Mako dove into the fray. Her Safeship had limited armaments; Four shocknet shells, a couple of Zero rockets, and a single Omnigun. It would have to be enough.
"Atragon, it's Mako. Please respond!" Desperately she hailed the ship, but there came no answer. Swooping closer, she could see the Manda had nearly ripped the ship in half. Mako screamed, watching as the monster slowly murdered her closest friend. "Atragon!!"
'Mako,' her monitors flashed. 'Go Quickly.'
"Atragon! Don't give up, sister. I've got you covered."
'It Is Too Late.'
"No, Atragon. Please! We could..."
'No My Sister. The SeaGod Calls Me. I Must Go To Her. She Says It Is My Destiny To Slay The Mandas. She Says There Is A Place For Me In Heaven.'
Mako cried with grief, watching the words scroll slowly by.
'Mako, Have I Gone Mad?'
"I don't know, Atragon," the woman sobbed.
'Will I Go To Heaven?'
"Yes, Atragon," she blurted out, realizing she believed it. "The SeaGod will protect you. She will sail you into Heaven."
An evil hiss cut the air, and Mako turned to find another Manda closing fast on her position. She targeted the snake and fired, blasting it with a salvo of rockets. "I don't want you to go."
'I Will Miss You.'
"And I will miss you too." The Manda reared beside her, and Mako fired the Omnibeam, holding the monster back. Beyond the snake's giant, coiling form, Mako spied another strange beast closing in. Some kind of enormous saurian with great flaring dorsal plates rising sail-like from its back. Mako cut the beam, and hit the Manda with a shocknet. "Goodbye, Atragon."
'Goodbye,' the monitors flashed. Mako fired off her remaining shells, then slowly flew away.
***
Godzilla followed the burning Manda's light. As long as the Spiritfire was upon it, its trail would be clear. Dimly, his eyes began to register other forms. The vaguest distinctions of light and shadow were beginning to take shape. The serpent's venom was finally losing strength.
Then Godzilla heard the blasts. Explosions, like weapons being hurled at the beasts. Godzilla could feel the waves of intense cold that followed the rockets screams, and knew it must be the humans doing. They were attacking, slowing the Mandas down. Godzilla pressed the advantage and surged closer.
***
Onshore, Mardsoon looked around in disbelief. "Kyoko, is this your world?"
"Hai, and this is my husband, Kenji," she said, taking Ken by the arm. "Kenji, these people are from ancient Kunashira. Mardsoon, and Kalen."
"Yeah, hi. Kyoko, what the heck were you doing there?!"
"Fighting for my life. Judging by your transport, not to mention your own companions, I'd say you wound up somewhere in the future?"
"Aye, that he did, Mrs. B. Allow me to introduce myself, the name's Magu," the old man cut in. "First Mate o' the good ship Atragon. The madwoman in the flyer's my Captain. Makoto Jones by name. I believe you've already met Bug."
"Yes, I do believe I have..." Kyo replied, looking slowly from Magu to Mardsoon, studying their features. "Kenji, look at them. They could be brothers."
"You're right. And they both kinda look like..."
"Like Matsu," Kyo confirmed. "Kenji, this whole mess is my fault. I wasn't thinking of San Francisco when we first used the Sphere. More than anything, I wanted to warn Uncle Matsu, before Varan could kill him."
Ken stared blankly at his wife. She was undoubtedly among the most intelligent and intuitive women he'd ever known, yet still managed to take the most unwinnable risks she could find! "Do me a favor, sweetheart; warn me next time, willya?" Ken replied, and hugged his wife tight.
The flyer swooped low and settled next to its twin. Mako activated the ship's external speakers and called to the crew; "Everyone into the ships, quickly! We've got to clear this area."
"Alright, you heard the Captain, let's move!" Bug buzzed around the group. "And watch it with that spear, buddy. I bite."
"He's right, folks," Magu agreed. "That ship out there is about to blow."
"Miname! Miname is waking up," cried Shiro.
"Tell her to be quick about it, soldier. We've got a plane to catch," said Kenji, he and Kyo now ushering the natives to the safeships.
Miname stirred, still cradled in Shiro's arms. The young woman's eyes slowly opened, and she smiled. "You came back for me. Thank you."
Shiro bent closer, and pressed his lips to hers. "You're welcome," he said, and they held each other tightly as they ran for the flyers.
***
The burning Manda coiled fiercely against the shocknet's tightening grip, twisting and thrashing through the waves. The energy lattice was cutting into its hide, digging at the wound left by the Obake's bite. Blood began to seep down the monster's frozen, lacerated flesh, and it screamed.
The final Manda looked up from its work at the sound of its brother's pain. The Futurebeast had been caught with one of the plasma-mesh weapons as well, but the Mu of the future had bred this Manda to withstand human assaults. The serpent abandoned the dying seacraft, bending its snaky neck within reach of its hindlimbs and tearing the shocknet free. It turned, diving through the sickeningly untainted water to go to its brother's aid. The monster that protected this world had already slain one of its kind, and the Manda knew it must now work together with its ancient counterpart to survive.
The Primordial Manda hissed at its brethren's approach, hatred burning in its eyes. The Futurebeast hissed back, its tone and movements indicating the common enemy closing fast from the shore. The Primal Manda turned to look at the saurian, and decided its brother was right. With a grunt, it slipped closer to its strange descendant and exposed its throat. The Futurebeast reared, bringing its foreclaws into play, and ripped the shocknet from its brother's hide.
The burning Manda screamed in pain, shifting to a strike stance before its kin. The Futurebeast grunted a warning, pointing its snout at the approaching saurian, and the Primal Manda backed down. Together now, they turned to rise before the mutant beast in challenge. Whatever the creature is, it is no Wild God, and together they would see it dead!
***
"Commander Tanaka, this is Kazuki. Do you copy?" Shiro's commlink sparked to life.
"Hai, Sergeant. Fixing your position and coming in now," he replied. "Magu, we must rendezvous with my squad. They are there," Shiro pointed. "Among those warehouses."
"Alright, I'll signal Mako. Hang on." The sailor dropped the flyer low and fast, sidling up in front of the buildings. Miname turned pale, waiting for her stomach to catch up with the rest of her. Their sister ship landed beside them, and the Bradley's emerged.
"Tanaka," yelled Ken. "Where are they?"
"Over here!" Came a shout. They looked, and there stood Anna leaning on Kazuki's arm.
"Oh my...Anna!" Kyoko gasped.
"Mom! Are you okay? What are you doing here?!" Kenji ran to greet her.
"Kenji! Kyoko! Oh my dears, Iwa was right. You have returned!" She threw her arms around her son, sobbing with happiness. Kyo ran to join them, and they hugged.
"Hey, you came looking for us, didn't you?" Asked Kenji.
"Uh-huh," Anna confirmed.
Ken looked at his mother in abject awe. "Mom, you are just too much," he smiled with admiration.
"Mrs. Bradley?" Came an unfamiliar voice, calling from inside the building.
"Alright, General," said Anna. Thank you for a moment to greet my family."
"I'm sorry, Captain," said Kazuki, stepping aside as a group of figures emerged. Sato was first, followed by G-Force's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Noto. Ken and Kyo cringed to see the stranger holding Mikki unmoving in his arms, and they stepped toward him.
"Stay right where you are, Mr. and Mrs. Bradley." A huge, imposing figure stepped from the doorway. The man wore the uniform of a Defense Force General. "I am Shinzo. I am here to take control of Tokyo Harbor, and see you all to safety."
Ken glared at the man. "If that dog has come to harm because of you, Shinzo..."
"Kenji, it is not his fault. The General and the Doctor have been as helpful as they can," Anna reassured her son.
"Where is Fujiko?" Asked Shiro. "And Tominaga, and Komai?"
"My apologies, Commander Tanaka, but Sergeant Yasuda's attitude toward my arrival here was decidedly negative. He has been relieved of duty and placed under guard. Chief Komai and his detective friend have been escorted back to G-Command to record their statements officially. You realize, Tanaka, that I must place you under arrest."
"There's a ship out there about to blow sky high. Do you still have personnel in the area?"
"Despite the tornado that attacked us, hai. The convoy waits about a mile North."
"Mako?" Shiro asked, not bothering to word the question. Mako shook her head 'No'. "It's too close, General. Tell them to pull back."
"Shiro," said Kenji. "I think it may be too late."
Across the bay, they could see the monsters fighting, silhouetted against the now flaring form of the sub. Mardsoon stepped close to Kenji, pointing at the runestaff. "Kyoko, that totem can aid us. I can sense it."
"The runestaff? How?"
"Both of you come with me," Mardsoon implored, urging them toward the surf. Ken and Kyo clasped hands and followed.
"I'm comin' too!" Buzzed Bug.
"General, I suggest we all get into these flyers," said Shiro.
Shinzo studied Tanaka's scarred features, then looked back to the battle in the bay. He decided the soldier was not a liar. "Corporal," he shouted to a subordinate. "Release Sergeant Yasuda, and signal the convoy to fall back. Way back. Tanaka, get these people out of here."
Sato and Kalen joined Miname and Magu. Anna approached the Doctor and held out her arms to take the dog. Not looked at Shinzo, then reluctantly turned the beast over.
Tanaka, do you know what they are up to?" The General inquired, indicating the Bradley's, Bug and Mardsoon.
"Not exactly, but whatever it is, I know they won't fail."
"Together now, you must hold the staff together,"Mardsoon instructed, with Kyo translating for Ken. As one they moved, dragging the staff's tip through the sand, forming a line that ran along the shore just above the mark of the tide. "Now we must call the tide inland to fill the small trench. Kyoko, you must blow upon the Selgan conch you told me of."
"The conch? Mardsoon, I left that relic in America. I don't have it with me!"
Across the bay, the Atragon flared brighter.
***
Godzilla's eyes blazed with power as he closed upon the serpents. His jagged dorsals flashed, and he loosed a burning bolt of Atomfire! The Mandas hissed and dodged the beam, diving below the waves. Godzilla roared, sending his immense tail slamming down upon the Futurebeast, and blasting it again.
The Primal Manda turned to strike. Again Godzilla's tail lashed out, striking the serpent clean across the jaws with a speed that threatened to take the creature's head off. The saurian could feel the Spiritfire surge as he sank his claws into the monster's hide and wrenched it from the waves.
Then Godzilla saw the ship. The huge machine was glowing, emitting particles in the singular pattern of a buildup to critical mass. Godzilla could sense the nuclear forces there about to erupt, and squeezed the wounded serpent tighter in his grip.
With a scream of defiance the Future Manda burst from the waves. It launched itself at its enemy, hissing and spitting venom. The Hellsnake's jaws unhinged, spreading impossibly wide, its fangs now aimed at Godzilla's heart.
Godzilla snarled and raised the Primal Manda's burning body like a shield, catching the Futurebeast's strike. The old serpent slithered free to latch onto its brother with its own deadly bite. The Mandas reeled, churning the water as they fought, the Spiritfire expanding to engulf them both.
Godzilla fired his nuclear beam, driving the struggling Hellsnakes away. He fired again, forcing them toward the warship. The Mandas panicked, writhing to get free, but the Spiritfire held them fast. Godzilla howled in victory, power arcing all around him as he blasted at the Godbeasts again!
Somewhere deep within the ship called the Atragon, a soft voice spoke. It said; "It is time." And the great sentient ship detonated, engulfing the area in a growing ball of pure Atomic force.
Tokyo Bay, the present.
"Magu, where are we?" Asked Mako. "Somebody tell me where in blazes we are!"
"We're in the past. Back in my time, I think," Kenji spoke hopefully.
"I think he's right Cap'n. Our remaining sensors can't believe their own readings! Ozone and carbon monoxide levels are tolerable, and the water!" The first Mate shouted. "I swear, Mako, the readings are comin' in close to pure."
"Pure?" The Captain gasped, staring at Kenji. "Great SeaGod, we ARE in your time." Just then, the ship shuddered violently, and the Manda hissed again. "My orders still stand. I want everyone off this ship now."
"Mako, how much time?" Asked Kenji.
"We haven't decided, but soon."
"WE haven't...? Atragon!" Ken shouted. "Atragon, listen! You know Mako would not hesitate to give her life for you. Please, let her go."
"That's enough, Bradley," Mako countered. "You've got three minutes to get to the Safeships." Again the great ship groaned, and began quickly filling with water. "Leave now before I change my mind."
"Atragon, please!"
A strange electronic pulse seemed to echo through the sentient sea craft, its displays all aflash with a single message; "He's Right." With a click, the Atragon released its hold on the woman, and added, "Go."
Mako stood shivering at the console. Her hand was free. The Atragon must have overridden the suicide circuit. It was letting her go. Mako was frozen there, unable to move. Nothing like this had ever happened before between a Technoid and a Human, and the Captain had no idea what to do. Then the ship rocked fiercely, and Ken grabbed the woman and hauled her quickly away.
***
Shiro's eyes went wide at the sudden appearance of a second Manda across the bay. The beast seemed to be clutching something like some great sea craft, crushing it beneath the waves.
"Nani?" Said Munabe, his revolver aimed at Shiro's scarred face. "Not the old 'Look over your shoulder' bit. You wouldn't..." Just then, a vast black shadow fell upon them, and three people appeared. Shiro swore as he realized one of them was Kyoko Bradley. He swore again, gazing up into the jaws of a THIRD Manda. "What the...?!" Cried Munabe.
"Mrs. Bradley, look out!" Shiro screamed, scooping up the unconscious Miname and rushing toward the group.
Munabe fired his gun in vain as the monster's jaws closed around him. The others kept running, and did not look back.
The great serpent hissed with rage, the Spiritfire still burning at its foul essence. Then it heard another hiss in reply. And another. It turned toward the sea to find two more of its kind, each of them battling against some unknown foe. The creature almost smiled then, for it saw an opportunity to eliminate the two usurpers, and claim ascendancy for itself. The Hellsnake flicked its long forked tongue, licking the remains of Tatsui Munabe from its lips, and dove slavering into the sea.
***
"Tanaka! You don't know how good it is to see a familiar face!" Kyo threw her arms around the man and squeezed hard.
Shiro allowed himself a moment of laughter and hugged her back. "Mrs. Bradley, what a relief to find you safe! And your husband?"
"I expect that is him now," she said, pointing to a pair of small airships approaching fast from the bay. The ships slowed, then settled on the nearby shore. Kyoko ran to the craft as the hatches flew open and Kenji appeared.
They came together in a fierce embrace as the rest of the strange company gathered around them, staring at each other. "You doing okay?" Kenji asked with a smile. "And the baby?"
"Uh-huh," Kyo replied. "Miss me?"
"Uh huh. I love you, you know."
"I know," she smiled back. "I love you too."
A small buzzing object hovered closer. "This must be the old lady. Not bad. Cute butt."
"Bug!" Ken shouted.
"Kenji...?!" Kyo backed away in fright, then Kalen's spear shot out, barely missing the drone.
"Hey! Call him off!" Bug buzzed.
"It's okay," Ken assured his wife. "Bug's harmless. I think."
"Hello, Kenji," said Tanaka. "Any idea how to explain any of this?"
"Hiya, Shiro! Not a clue!"
"As I thought. Good to have you both back home."
"Thanks, but it looks like we're not quite out of the woods yet. Scope out the bay."
Among the waves the struggle continued, punctuated now and then by the monsters screams. A pair of Mandas now parried and hissed around Godzilla, darting and withdrawing, taunting him into a rage. The venom had left him blinded, unable to see his opponent. He could no longer feel the arm the beast had bitten. Now, he could hear two more of the creatures had come to join the battle.
Godzilla gave a thundering roar, loosing lethal blasts of Atomfire all around him. The power flared menacingly up his spine, coursing along his dorsals, then strangely settled upon his eyes. Godzilla forced them to open, and they burned with radioactive light!
As one, the serpents struck. The Manda from the Temple hit low, digging its fangs into Godzilla's meaty thigh. The Manda from the past went for his throat.
Godzilla looked right at the lunging serpent, finding the familiar glow of the Spiritfire burning around the beast, a glow he could somehow see. He grabbed for the monster and trapped it in his claws. The Manda screamed as Godzilla's grip crushed deeper, forcing the snake's head, fangs bared, right into its brethren's own scaly neck.
The Templebeast went rigid at the impact, its own jaws clamping deeper into Godzilla's flesh. Godzilla blasted the creature with a burst of nuclear flame, and finally, the beast let go. The burning Manda shrugged free, breaking away to join its remaining counterpart still struggling with some great metal ship. Godzilla screamed, and followed...
***
"No more,"said Mako, lifting her flyer from the sands and heading straight for the Atragon.
"Mako, don't...!" The first Mate shouted from the ground. "Aw, Mako."
With a prayer to the SeaGod Mako dove into the fray. Her Safeship had limited armaments; Four shocknet shells, a couple of Zero rockets, and a single Omnigun. It would have to be enough.
"Atragon, it's Mako. Please respond!" Desperately she hailed the ship, but there came no answer. Swooping closer, she could see the Manda had nearly ripped the ship in half. Mako screamed, watching as the monster slowly murdered her closest friend. "Atragon!!"
'Mako,' her monitors flashed. 'Go Quickly.'
"Atragon! Don't give up, sister. I've got you covered."
'It Is Too Late.'
"No, Atragon. Please! We could..."
'No My Sister. The SeaGod Calls Me. I Must Go To Her. She Says It Is My Destiny To Slay The Mandas. She Says There Is A Place For Me In Heaven.'
Mako cried with grief, watching the words scroll slowly by.
'Mako, Have I Gone Mad?'
"I don't know, Atragon," the woman sobbed.
'Will I Go To Heaven?'
"Yes, Atragon," she blurted out, realizing she believed it. "The SeaGod will protect you. She will sail you into Heaven."
An evil hiss cut the air, and Mako turned to find another Manda closing fast on her position. She targeted the snake and fired, blasting it with a salvo of rockets. "I don't want you to go."
'I Will Miss You.'
"And I will miss you too." The Manda reared beside her, and Mako fired the Omnibeam, holding the monster back. Beyond the snake's giant, coiling form, Mako spied another strange beast closing in. Some kind of enormous saurian with great flaring dorsal plates rising sail-like from its back. Mako cut the beam, and hit the Manda with a shocknet. "Goodbye, Atragon."
'Goodbye,' the monitors flashed. Mako fired off her remaining shells, then slowly flew away.
***
Godzilla followed the burning Manda's light. As long as the Spiritfire was upon it, its trail would be clear. Dimly, his eyes began to register other forms. The vaguest distinctions of light and shadow were beginning to take shape. The serpent's venom was finally losing strength.
Then Godzilla heard the blasts. Explosions, like weapons being hurled at the beasts. Godzilla could feel the waves of intense cold that followed the rockets screams, and knew it must be the humans doing. They were attacking, slowing the Mandas down. Godzilla pressed the advantage and surged closer.
***
Onshore, Mardsoon looked around in disbelief. "Kyoko, is this your world?"
"Hai, and this is my husband, Kenji," she said, taking Ken by the arm. "Kenji, these people are from ancient Kunashira. Mardsoon, and Kalen."
"Yeah, hi. Kyoko, what the heck were you doing there?!"
"Fighting for my life. Judging by your transport, not to mention your own companions, I'd say you wound up somewhere in the future?"
"Aye, that he did, Mrs. B. Allow me to introduce myself, the name's Magu," the old man cut in. "First Mate o' the good ship Atragon. The madwoman in the flyer's my Captain. Makoto Jones by name. I believe you've already met Bug."
"Yes, I do believe I have..." Kyo replied, looking slowly from Magu to Mardsoon, studying their features. "Kenji, look at them. They could be brothers."
"You're right. And they both kinda look like..."
"Like Matsu," Kyo confirmed. "Kenji, this whole mess is my fault. I wasn't thinking of San Francisco when we first used the Sphere. More than anything, I wanted to warn Uncle Matsu, before Varan could kill him."
Ken stared blankly at his wife. She was undoubtedly among the most intelligent and intuitive women he'd ever known, yet still managed to take the most unwinnable risks she could find! "Do me a favor, sweetheart; warn me next time, willya?" Ken replied, and hugged his wife tight.
The flyer swooped low and settled next to its twin. Mako activated the ship's external speakers and called to the crew; "Everyone into the ships, quickly! We've got to clear this area."
"Alright, you heard the Captain, let's move!" Bug buzzed around the group. "And watch it with that spear, buddy. I bite."
"He's right, folks," Magu agreed. "That ship out there is about to blow."
"Miname! Miname is waking up," cried Shiro.
"Tell her to be quick about it, soldier. We've got a plane to catch," said Kenji, he and Kyo now ushering the natives to the safeships.
Miname stirred, still cradled in Shiro's arms. The young woman's eyes slowly opened, and she smiled. "You came back for me. Thank you."
Shiro bent closer, and pressed his lips to hers. "You're welcome," he said, and they held each other tightly as they ran for the flyers.
***
The burning Manda coiled fiercely against the shocknet's tightening grip, twisting and thrashing through the waves. The energy lattice was cutting into its hide, digging at the wound left by the Obake's bite. Blood began to seep down the monster's frozen, lacerated flesh, and it screamed.
The final Manda looked up from its work at the sound of its brother's pain. The Futurebeast had been caught with one of the plasma-mesh weapons as well, but the Mu of the future had bred this Manda to withstand human assaults. The serpent abandoned the dying seacraft, bending its snaky neck within reach of its hindlimbs and tearing the shocknet free. It turned, diving through the sickeningly untainted water to go to its brother's aid. The monster that protected this world had already slain one of its kind, and the Manda knew it must now work together with its ancient counterpart to survive.
The Primordial Manda hissed at its brethren's approach, hatred burning in its eyes. The Futurebeast hissed back, its tone and movements indicating the common enemy closing fast from the shore. The Primal Manda turned to look at the saurian, and decided its brother was right. With a grunt, it slipped closer to its strange descendant and exposed its throat. The Futurebeast reared, bringing its foreclaws into play, and ripped the shocknet from its brother's hide.
The burning Manda screamed in pain, shifting to a strike stance before its kin. The Futurebeast grunted a warning, pointing its snout at the approaching saurian, and the Primal Manda backed down. Together now, they turned to rise before the mutant beast in challenge. Whatever the creature is, it is no Wild God, and together they would see it dead!
***
"Commander Tanaka, this is Kazuki. Do you copy?" Shiro's commlink sparked to life.
"Hai, Sergeant. Fixing your position and coming in now," he replied. "Magu, we must rendezvous with my squad. They are there," Shiro pointed. "Among those warehouses."
"Alright, I'll signal Mako. Hang on." The sailor dropped the flyer low and fast, sidling up in front of the buildings. Miname turned pale, waiting for her stomach to catch up with the rest of her. Their sister ship landed beside them, and the Bradley's emerged.
"Tanaka," yelled Ken. "Where are they?"
"Over here!" Came a shout. They looked, and there stood Anna leaning on Kazuki's arm.
"Oh my...Anna!" Kyoko gasped.
"Mom! Are you okay? What are you doing here?!" Kenji ran to greet her.
"Kenji! Kyoko! Oh my dears, Iwa was right. You have returned!" She threw her arms around her son, sobbing with happiness. Kyo ran to join them, and they hugged.
"Hey, you came looking for us, didn't you?" Asked Kenji.
"Uh-huh," Anna confirmed.
Ken looked at his mother in abject awe. "Mom, you are just too much," he smiled with admiration.
"Mrs. Bradley?" Came an unfamiliar voice, calling from inside the building.
"Alright, General," said Anna. Thank you for a moment to greet my family."
"I'm sorry, Captain," said Kazuki, stepping aside as a group of figures emerged. Sato was first, followed by G-Force's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Noto. Ken and Kyo cringed to see the stranger holding Mikki unmoving in his arms, and they stepped toward him.
"Stay right where you are, Mr. and Mrs. Bradley." A huge, imposing figure stepped from the doorway. The man wore the uniform of a Defense Force General. "I am Shinzo. I am here to take control of Tokyo Harbor, and see you all to safety."
Ken glared at the man. "If that dog has come to harm because of you, Shinzo..."
"Kenji, it is not his fault. The General and the Doctor have been as helpful as they can," Anna reassured her son.
"Where is Fujiko?" Asked Shiro. "And Tominaga, and Komai?"
"My apologies, Commander Tanaka, but Sergeant Yasuda's attitude toward my arrival here was decidedly negative. He has been relieved of duty and placed under guard. Chief Komai and his detective friend have been escorted back to G-Command to record their statements officially. You realize, Tanaka, that I must place you under arrest."
"There's a ship out there about to blow sky high. Do you still have personnel in the area?"
"Despite the tornado that attacked us, hai. The convoy waits about a mile North."
"Mako?" Shiro asked, not bothering to word the question. Mako shook her head 'No'. "It's too close, General. Tell them to pull back."
"Shiro," said Kenji. "I think it may be too late."
Across the bay, they could see the monsters fighting, silhouetted against the now flaring form of the sub. Mardsoon stepped close to Kenji, pointing at the runestaff. "Kyoko, that totem can aid us. I can sense it."
"The runestaff? How?"
"Both of you come with me," Mardsoon implored, urging them toward the surf. Ken and Kyo clasped hands and followed.
"I'm comin' too!" Buzzed Bug.
"General, I suggest we all get into these flyers," said Shiro.
Shinzo studied Tanaka's scarred features, then looked back to the battle in the bay. He decided the soldier was not a liar. "Corporal," he shouted to a subordinate. "Release Sergeant Yasuda, and signal the convoy to fall back. Way back. Tanaka, get these people out of here."
Sato and Kalen joined Miname and Magu. Anna approached the Doctor and held out her arms to take the dog. Not looked at Shinzo, then reluctantly turned the beast over.
Tanaka, do you know what they are up to?" The General inquired, indicating the Bradley's, Bug and Mardsoon.
"Not exactly, but whatever it is, I know they won't fail."
"Together now, you must hold the staff together,"Mardsoon instructed, with Kyo translating for Ken. As one they moved, dragging the staff's tip through the sand, forming a line that ran along the shore just above the mark of the tide. "Now we must call the tide inland to fill the small trench. Kyoko, you must blow upon the Selgan conch you told me of."
"The conch? Mardsoon, I left that relic in America. I don't have it with me!"
Across the bay, the Atragon flared brighter.
***
Godzilla's eyes blazed with power as he closed upon the serpents. His jagged dorsals flashed, and he loosed a burning bolt of Atomfire! The Mandas hissed and dodged the beam, diving below the waves. Godzilla roared, sending his immense tail slamming down upon the Futurebeast, and blasting it again.
The Primal Manda turned to strike. Again Godzilla's tail lashed out, striking the serpent clean across the jaws with a speed that threatened to take the creature's head off. The saurian could feel the Spiritfire surge as he sank his claws into the monster's hide and wrenched it from the waves.
Then Godzilla saw the ship. The huge machine was glowing, emitting particles in the singular pattern of a buildup to critical mass. Godzilla could sense the nuclear forces there about to erupt, and squeezed the wounded serpent tighter in his grip.
With a scream of defiance the Future Manda burst from the waves. It launched itself at its enemy, hissing and spitting venom. The Hellsnake's jaws unhinged, spreading impossibly wide, its fangs now aimed at Godzilla's heart.
Godzilla snarled and raised the Primal Manda's burning body like a shield, catching the Futurebeast's strike. The old serpent slithered free to latch onto its brother with its own deadly bite. The Mandas reeled, churning the water as they fought, the Spiritfire expanding to engulf them both.
Godzilla fired his nuclear beam, driving the struggling Hellsnakes away. He fired again, forcing them toward the warship. The Mandas panicked, writhing to get free, but the Spiritfire held them fast. Godzilla howled in victory, power arcing all around him as he blasted at the Godbeasts again!
Somewhere deep within the ship called the Atragon, a soft voice spoke. It said; "It is time." And the great sentient ship detonated, engulfing the area in a growing ball of pure Atomic force.