Author's Notes and Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of the 1978-79 Hanna-Barbera cartoon Godzilla: The Original Animated Series, Hanna-Barbera does, or should I say Warner Bros. does. This incarnation of Godzilla is owned by H-B and Toho. I only own my self-insert, Vicky and the OC Army men (not the names, of course). I also do not own the story that is based on the second episode of this series. Also, anything in bold when a kaiju character is speaking/thinking means that they are speaking/thinking in their native language. Also, there are some Japanese words in here, along with a translation of said words said by that character; if the words (and thus the translation) is inaccurate, let me know please.

Recap: The Calico crew have come to San Francisco to find it in trouble. They then meet an Army regiment led by Major Theodore Cassidy and embark on a mission into the city to find the cause of the sinkholes that are causing so much destruction and death, although one of his men, Sergeant Takamoto, claims it to be the work of a kaiju. Along the way, the major learns a bit about Godzilla. Suddenly, the youngest members of the Calico crew, along with Sergeant Takamoto and Lieutenant Messick, are almost killed by whatever's afflicting the city and, after everyone finds that they are safe and sound, discover a tunnel that leads deep into the earth. Now it's time to head down, down, down…

BIG WARNING: This is it. This is the chapter I've been giving constant head's-ups about. Brace yourselves for character deaths and a character being inflicted by severe trauma. There is also a slight curse word uttered by a character in here, but let me assure you, that's not me or my style; it's just part of the character and that character's voice. If you want to skip this chapter, go ahead. If not, well, you're very brave.

For those of you in that latter category, read with caution, and good luck…

CHAPTER 5

(En route underground)

It was a strange little parade that went down that tunnel: Eight army vehicles, with the Calico jeep in the middle, and Godzooky by the latter vehicle's side. Minutes before, the group had replenished their oxygen and the military troop armed their weapons, even adding miniature flashlights to the sides of their oxygen masks, ready for anything threatening that came out of the dirt and shadows. Unfortunately, if the size of the tunnel was any indication of its creator, it was more than likely that anything they had wouldn't do any good.

"What could have made a tunnel this big?" Brock asked, pointing his flashlights, one in hand and the two attached to his mask, around at the walls along with the others.

Deciding to reserve her steadily-growing, fearful feeling that Sergeant Takamoto may have been right all along, Dr. Darien replied, "My scientific training tells me…nothing we know. But I hope we can find out whatever it is."

"And stop it," Captain Majors put in.

"Right, Carl," Quinn affirmed. "Before the entire city is destroyed."

As soon as she finished that sentence, there was a startled cry of "Whoa!" and a screech of brakes that echoed from up ahead and the line came to a halt.

"Why'd we stop?" Vicky asked, a little nervous about the answer.

"That's a d**n good question," Major Cassidy answered in a growl. He picked up the receiver on his jeep's radio and proceeded to ask what happened and whose idea was it to hold everyone up without hearing an order from him first. Well, he did say that, but he also threw in a cuss or two, prompting Vicky to silently signal Godzooky to cover his ears by putting her hands over her own, those words not exactly appropriate for someone his age.

"Lieutenant Junior Grade Hanna here, sir," came a male voice over the radio. "Sorry 'bout that sir, but we've hit a rather steep decline, sir. Almost careened down head-first. Had to apply the brakes, sir."

"Captain Barbera here, sir," came another male voice. "It's true, sir. Our group was moving steadily when the front of our jeep jerked down and we started sliding. Had to put on the parking brake plus use some footpower. If I had to guess, sir, I'd say we're lookin' at a 60 degree decline of loose earth going down about 20, 30 feet below sea level that you could easily send a snowball down on. Recommend using extreme caution going forward, sir."

"Agreed, captain," Major Cassidy affirmed. "Attention all units, attention all units," he began once he switched the radio's frequency. "From here, we're goin downhill. Keep it slow and steady. Eyes on the road; no roving about. Estimation of descent, 30 feet below sea level. Stay alert and remain calm. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!" was the resounding reply.

"Then let's go ahead," the major stated. As the line of vehicles plus a kaiju started moving again, he wanted to ensure one more thing. He turned his head back to the Calico jeep, which was right behind his. "You folks be careful, too," he told them. "Depending on what we find, it may get ugly down there. If it does, you keep the kids away from it. You hear me?"

"Understood, Major," Captain Majors affirmed.

"And you three-Vicky, Pete, Godzooky-if and when it does, I want you guys to keep your heads down and stay with Majors. Are we clear?"

"Clear as crystal, sir," Vicky nodded.

"Yes, sir," Pete agreed.

Zooky nodded his head.

Major Cassidy looked at them for half a minute more before turning back around in his seat. He had already been unsure of bringing the children along, and was already regretting it. He had warned the crew of what they would find in the city, but Dr. Darien convinced him that they had the experience to stomach it. Now the possibility of a deadly confrontation was looming over, something he was sure they had no experience with, and an event like that would give those three children permanent mental scars that they were way too young to receive. He had them, but he was at least mature enough to handle it; the kids would never stand a chance. Especially Godzooky. If that little guy broke down into tears hearing about the long-terms effects of smoking on a human… Cassidy shuddered at the thought. Going through and learning to deal with his own traumatic memories of battle during his early years of service had been bad enough.

Dr. Darien sat in the front passenger seat, worrying over the same situation. Despite having assured Major Cassidy that they would be all right, she couldn't help but think that Pete, Godzooky, and Vicky-despite her gadgets that made her battle-ready-should have stayed behind on the Calico. In fact, she was wondering if Carl, Brock, and herself should've remained on the surface and left the investigation to someone else. Unfortunately, after exploring that one sinkhole and feeling that the walls had some sort of indents in them, her scientific curiosity was piqued and she had to follow through. But was that worth the possibility that three children, one of them her own kin, and another one Godzilla's kin, would be suffering their whole lives after this? How would Godzilla react to seeing Zooky in that condition? The possibilities of that last question terrified her immensely.

Meanwhile, the focus of those two people's worries was finding the stench created by the tunnel nigh unbearable, his stomach about ready to force up its contents. Vicky noticed this and began feeling the all-too-familiar pit of anxiety growing in her stomach.

After what seemed like an eternity, the decline ended and all vehicles were back on level ground. They came to a stop at the tunnel's end.

"Well, we finally hit bottom," Captain Majors commented.

"Move your lights around, men. Let's see if we can determine our surroundings," Major Cassidy ordered.

Following the major's command, everyone roved their light sources and eyes around. What was eventually found was that they were in a massive cavern, larger than the tunnel they had just come out of. It also seemed to be the main source of some tunnels that led to the surface.

Vicky let out an amazed whistle, glancing around with wide eyes.

"Wow! Talk about big!" Pete gasped in awe.

"Prob'ly as big as the Astrodome," commented a soldier with a Southern accent.

"Mm, I don't think it's that big, Huck," Lieutenant Messick disagreed.

"Well…off…offhand…sirs, I…I…I don't think…that's our…o…only problem," Vicky stated slowly, jerking her head at Godzooky, having noticed something that unnerved her.

The poor thing was desperately trying to keep his innards and jangled nerves under control. The mustiness and near airlessness of the cavern was soaked with the scent of death and the scent of whatever occupied this space was getting to him.

"Hey, Ted?" Messick asked the major in a low tone. "Maybe we should've cobbled somethin' together for the kid? I feel kinda rotten just looking at 'im right now."

The major nodded his head in regret and looked at Godzooky with empathy. He himself had made that face going through trenches and being holed up in places that had smelled of rotting flesh, dirt, and fear.

"Dr. Darien, could this cavern be a natural formation?" Brock questioned.

"I'm not sure what it could be, Brock," Quinn replied, looking around and trying to analyze the area with what light was available. "This earth isn't volcanic," she continued, with Vicky shaking her head in agreement. "And it looks like it's been freshly dug, or bitten into."

"'Bitten into'?" Captain Majors parroted. "What could—?"

The cavern began to shake and what sounded like a booming footstep sounded off. Then another, and another with another following shortly after. Vicky recognized that kind of pattern: something big and quadrupedal was heading their way.

"I think we're about to find out," Vicky whimpered, starting to slip out of her seat.

"READY ARMS!" Major Cassidy bellowed. "WHEN IT GETS HERE, DON'T GIVE IT A CHANCE!"

Though all were frightened, the order was obeyed. The patterned gargantuan footfalls continued until they became so loud no-one could hear themselves think. The wall ahead of them exploded, sending boulders toward them. Everyone ducked on instinct, some having to backtrack a-ways before they got crushed. Due to the limited lighting, no-one had a clear view of what emerged, but they could immediately tell it was huge. Some beams brought out earth-colored scales, others large, brown eyes. Some others found a set of antennae. Most of them found a maw that had an underbite that resembled a scoop that one would find on the front of a bulldozer or the rear of a backhoe. What was more horrifying than the gurgling-sounding roar it released were some red-brown stains on the teeth.

Vicky screamed, straining her vocal chords. The Calico crewmembers exclaimed their disbelief. Zooky fought the urge to open his mouth to cry out and let loose his lunch when he felt his insides jump again by putting his hands over his mouth, but some bile escaped his lips despite the precaution. The soldiers, after getting over their initial terror, began to let loose a barrage of bullets that sounded like hailstones being shot rapid-fire. Vicky shrieked again and took cover on the floor of the Calico jeep, hands over her ears like it would do any good to muffle the sounds completely. Zooky covered his ears, allowing more bile to dribble out. Brock also pushed Pete down to prevent him getting hurt.

"LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!" Captain Majors shouted over the din, needing to get his crew out of danger ASAP.

"GET GOING, MAJORS! WE'LL COVER YOU!" roared Major Cassidy as Majors slammed on the gas and turned the jeep in the opposite direction.

"COME ON, GODZOOKY!" Pete yelled from the jeep's floor.

Even with his acute hearing, the youngling could barely hear his friend over the roars of the creature and the sound of the guns. Not to mention his brain was trying to do so much at once and his stomach wouldn't sit still. Oh, how he wished his uncle was here! Godzilla would be able to take of this creature in a minute. Unfortunately, the reality was he wasn't here; Godzilla was probably still in the bay somewhere. He wanted to call him, but that would mean…ugh. And in another stroke of unfortunate luck, one the alternatives was currently focused on getting out with his crew intact and the other was currently scared witless. Something had to give.

It was the creature who struck the first major blow. Lowering its head, it pointed its antennae towards the tunnel the human-plus-a-small-kaiju group had come out of. It would've seemed strange, that is, if the split second after it did that, all the radios hadn't let out a screeching whine, making all who had them cry out in surprise and pain. As for Zooky…well, he was left with a ringing in his ears, an emptied stomach, a feeling that something burning was in his throat, and a foul taste in his mouth. At least the sounds going on were loud enough to mask his misfortune, if barely. The worst of it was that the same thing that did all that, also caused some boulders to come down and block the exit, forcing the red jeep, and the frightened youngling, to stop quick.

"We're trapped!" Captain Majors cried out. "Everybody keep your heads down!"

Quinn began taking back what she told Major Cassidy about her experience at Hong Kong; this was a thousand times worse.

Captain Majors, without thinking, put a protective arm over the biologist as she sat bent over.

Vicky's glasses lenses were becoming gatherers for her frightened tears and her screaming was threatening to tear her voice box apart.

Godzooky lay flat, tensed up, eyes shut and his hands over his ears. The yelling from the soldiers behind them was getting louder and more frightened and the roars and growls from the creature were becoming more aggressive. Zooky's mind quickly went to his new friends: Major Cassidy, Lieutenant Messick, the various young, green soldiers and privates whom he had cheered up hours ago, even Sergeant Takamoto, who had given him the cold shoulder but was now warming up to him. His friends couldn't lose; they couldn't! They had too much to live for! Zooky sat up and turned around to yell a retreat…just in time to see the monster swat one of the Army jeeps away like it was a toy. It rolled a few times before it stopped and the engine combusted. Those who had survived the roll, went down wailing in terrible agony. The other jeeps and a few soldiers who had dared face the behemoth on foot drew back. The beast swatted again, sending another vehicle and its occupants to a grisly end. Some of those on foot met their maker when the beast raised a foot and put it down. One soul who had gotten his legs stomped off promptly died of shock.

Godzooky saw the scene, his eyes suddenly unable to close themselves. All at once, everything else went away. There was nothing but him, the monster, and the remaining few souls ahead of him that were set for slaughter. He tried to back away, but his back hit a wall. His ears could pick up nothing but the gunfire, the roars, and the screams. He became hyperaware of the carnage unfolding: The smells of fear, burnt flesh, spilt blood, and death. The noises of the rapid rat-a-tat of the weaponry, the bellows and booming stomps of the beast, the major shouting orders, and sound of breaking glass and metal being bent as another vehicle was sent flying. The sight of burnt bodies, flesh, hair, and clothing being eaten away by the flames. Godzooky's chest heaved up and down rapidly as his heart threatened to burst out of his chest. His stomach rolled. He absently felt around with his hands and claws, trying to feel a way out. He kept trying to back up, but it only succeeded in loosening some dirt. He tried to call for Godzilla, but his voice couldn't work. Or was it, but he couldn't hear it? He kept calling, over and over, but there seemed to be nothing. He tried until his voice seemed to give out, but there was no immediate reply. The catastrophe continued. No Godzilla. No help. He was alone. He was going to die.

Out in San Francisco Bay, Godzilla had just finished another patrol round when his sixth sense went wild and his massive heart seemed to leap into his throat. Godzilla promptly surfaced, looking toward the ruined City by the Bay. He swallowed the lump that had somehow formed in his throat and scanned the area.

Something was very, very wrong.

His sixth sense went off once again. He let his mind follow the thread. It was met by overwhelming fear that hit him like feedback from a microphone, sending him back a step. There was only one thing that could affect him this way. Protective instinct going into overdrive, Godzilla stormed out of the bay and began a frantic search. No-one was going to kill his nephew. No-one.

With Godzooky's cries now joining in the cacophony, Dr. Quinn Darien could barely think straight. She tried to remember the other tunnels she had seen before the chaos started. Did any of them look like a way out? She glanced to her left, and, through the embers of a burnt pile of metal, she saw the fringes of one of those tunnels.

"Carl. Carl," she whispered to the captain, being close enough to do so. "There's another tunnel over there. It may lead us out of here," she added, pointing in its direction.

The captain followed her pointed finger and could just glimpse what she had seen. He instantly felt relief flooding in and internally gave thanks for Quinn's powers of observation, but it quickly ebbed as he realized that the creature would surely seal that tunnel as well. Unless… With a new determination, Majors sat up, put the jeep in reverse, spun it 180 degrees, put the shift back into drive, and floored the gas pedal.

Vicky, having been bumped around on the floor by the quick motions of the vehicle, her hands still on her ears, dared a peek up. She regretted it.

"ARE YOU OUTTA YOUR FREAKIN' MIND?!" she screeched on impulse.

"Carl! You're going the wrong way!" Quinn shouted.

"It's our only chance!" Carl replied to both terrified females. He then hit the brakes some odd feet behind what remained of their escort, then added while using his foot to hit a button on the floor, "Let's have some more light on the situation!"

That button activated the jeep's high beams, sending blinding lights right into the creature's eyes. It groaned and squinted in the rays, its eyes sensitive to the sudden flash and the accompanying light. Vicky, curiosity piqued by Majors' statement, peeked up once more to see this. The revelation cut through her previous panic and hit her like a lightning bolt.

"You're right! Living in the darkness, it can't stand the light! Plain, nocturnal animal sense!" Vicky exclaimed.

Hearing this, Major Cassidy ordered his remaining troops to train all lights on the creature to drive it off. Soon the creature was bombarded, and, not being able to do much else against it, retreated to another dark area to recuperate. But it wasn't done with those interlopers, not by a long shot.

Meanwhile, Captain Majors drew the soldiers' attention to an alternate escape route, which they began to make for with all possible speed after quickly gathering up what was left of their comrades.

"Godzooky, c'mon! We're getting out of here!" Pete called, not looking back at his friend.

Major Cassidy urged his men to put it into high-gear, and quickly noticed someone was missing. He darted his eyes around and found who he was looking for. Tears sprang to his eyes as deep remorse cut through him. The young, winged saurian looked like he had just gone through all nine levels of Hades and back up through them in reverse. This was what the major had been afraid of; that young Zooky would have seen what could only be called a massacre and now having to live with the memory of it. Cassidy wouldn't wish that on anyone, children most of all. He had to get the young one moving before that monstrosity got its wits back, and there was only one way he knew how.

Standing up in the jeep, he cupped his hands over his mouth, took the deepest breath he could, and roared, "GODZOOKY! SNAP TO IT, SOLDIER! MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!"

Like magic, Godzooky's previously catatonic form jumped to life, Major Cassidy's loud voice almost sounding like his uncle's roars. He quickly looked around, but the cavern, aside from some wrecked vehicles and corpses of those that couldn't be saved, was practically deserted. He began to wonder where he was and why his uncle was nowhere in sight when Major Cassidy's voice sounded off again, making him jump. He then realized the jeep holding his friends was nowhere in sight and panicked.

"Godzooky, where are you?!" Pete's voice carried from the tunnel.

Greatly relieved, Godzooky called back and began running toward the source of the voice, nearly running over Major Cassidy's jeep. Minutes later, said jeep stopped to find a hold-up occurring.

"This incline is steep, sir!" replied a very shaken lieutenant to the major's unasked question. "Likely steeper than the one we came down on!"

"We're gonna need a lift, sir!" came another soldier's voice, sounding desperate.

Major Cassidy's mind was racing, trying to not slip into panic and let the extreme guilt he was feeling win over. Only one way to do this.

"GODZOOKY!" Major Cassidy barked, making everyone still in one piece jump and those slipping into unconsciousness come back up for a moment. "THE WAY OUT'S TOO STEEP FOR THE JEEPS! YOU'LL NEED TO CARRY THEM OUT! TAKE YOUR FRIENDS FIRST! WE'LL BE FINE!" he reassured the unsure stare Godzooky had on. "YOUR FRIENDS ARE MORE IMPORTANT! MOVE, SOLDIER! ON THE DOUBLE!"

Too scared to put up an argument, Godzooky blindly obeyed the major's order, picking up the red jeep and running up and out with it as fast as his legs could carry him.

The ride back up seemed to last mere seconds and gave the crew more rattling than they could tolerate, but they made it. The minute Zooky quickly set the jeep down, he jumped back in to get the other survivors, leaving his friends to get over their severe adrenaline rushes and what were sure to be blooming cases of whiplash. The crew removed their oxygen masks, feeling suffocated as the realization that they had managed to live through the unbelievable settled in and they let out their emotions unashamedly.

Minutes later, the Calico crew, coming out of their shock, saw that two Army jeeps had been brought up. Had that many really been lost? Brock gave Vicky and Pete gentle shakes to wake them up from their stupors. Before anybody could ask what happened, Godzooky's rapid, ragged, raspy-sounding breathing was heard and he climbed out, the third and final jeep in hand. Shaking, he put it down, staggered slightly, gasping for breath, then, to everyone's horror, fell on his hands and knees, gasped loudly, put a hand to his chest, and collapsed.

Whether anyone had wobbly legs from nerves, it didn't matter as those still with legs to run with ran toward the stricken saurian, fearing the worst. Vicky, Pete, Dr. Darien, and Major Cassidy were among the first there. They found to their relief that Godzooky was still breathing, although it was more along the lines of hyperventilating. Using what little strength he had, Zooky managed to roll himself onto his back. Zooky's hand was still clutching his chest, his free hand moving about like it had a mind of its own. Tears were streaming like rivers from his eyes, which were blinking rapidly in a futile attempt to drive away the images that began to play over in his mind. Quinn had by now gotten so close she could've sworn she could hear Godzooky's frightened heartbeat. His voice was barely a whisper as he tried to get it to work, but the repeating sound he was uttering was clear to those who could understand: "Mommy. Mommy".

Pete, through his worry, was confused. Vicky gasped. That word was the very thing Godzooky had identified his uncle as before they managed to get family titles squared away. Now he had reverted back to using that name because what had occurred down below scared him so bad. None of them-except Major Cassidy-knew that Godzooky had made the mistake to look, so all they could do was assume that the action that had occurred had been too much for him. The crew and Major Cassidy, the latter who was still stunned at the sight, stayed by Godzooky's side until the youngling eventually came back to reality. When he did, Zooky felt like he hadn't seen his friends in ages and broke down into relieved, unashamed bawling. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around the humans in a hug, which they didn't mind at all.

Being part of such an action finally broke Major Cassidy's military stoic, and the tears fell. He wanted to cry like a child. He wanted to blame himself for what had happened. Wanted to tell Godzooky and the crew how sorry he was. Wanted to break into a rage at the creature responsible for destroying San Francisco and had claimed most of his men's lives. But all he could do was weep. He was thrust back to those sleepless nights when he woke up in a sweat, remembering comrades obliterated before his very eyes, looking at the faces of survivors with the wish that he could've done more, guns and explosions going off, some of them starting to sound like that…that…Eartheater's roar.

Vicky looked at the major and felt weak; it was frightening to see someone she considered brave reduced to this. Godzooky, sensing the major's distress, began to nuzzle him gently, knowing what he was going through. Cassidy wrapped his arms around the young one's muzzle, like he was hugging a giant, stuffed animal, and just continued to cry. Suddenly, he became aware of two presences behind him. He let go and turned…to find Lieutenant Messick and Sergeant Takamoto, roughly in the same condition as he-with Takamoto just barely keeping his emotions in check-right behind him. All nine of them let out a shout of relief, glad to see that they were alive. Hugs and reassurances were sent back and forth until everybody finally settled down into some semblance of normalcy.

"Man, Teddy," Messick gasped, trying to keep his voice steady. "I almost thought you went into the Great Beyond without me! Do you know what I'd do to you for goin' out on me like that?!"

Cassidy didn't say anything, just chuckled at his friend's little rant and gave him another bear hug. Vicky also giggled, wiping her eyes with her bare hands before putting her tear-smeared glasses back on and adjusting them.

"Doctor," Sergeant Takamoto said to Quinn, a grateful look on his face, "we owe you our lives. If you had not seen that other tunnel, we would all be in the afterlife right now. I am in your debt," he added, bowing deeply.

A few snickers slipped out when Dr. Darien's complexion turned bright red.

He then turned to Godzooky. "And you…You were willing to remain with your friends despite the danger, and what its effects did to us all. You even came back for us despite your fear. Gozuki-san, yūkan'na chīsana ichi, brave little one, you have my everlasting respect," he stated in solemn gratitude, bowing low again.

There wasn't a pair of eyes that wasn't wide in impressed amazement when that occurred, which turned into brief round of cheering when Godzooky returned Takamoto's statement with a nuzzle and a forehead-to-forehead touch (the best Zooky could, anyway).

Once all that was out of the way, it was time for the bad news. Major Cassidy straightened himself up, put his military demeanor back on, and asked Lieutenant Messick how bad their casualties were.

The usually happy-go-lucky lieutenant sighed heavily and responded gravely, "We lost five of our vehicles, and about 50 wounded. Some of them won't be able to survive whether we manage to get them to a hospital or not. The nearest one is miles away from San Francisco and most of the men are hanging on for dear life as it is." Lieutenant Messick took a breath before continuing. "Those who were lucky enough will be carrying those burns for life or…possibly losing a limb."

Major Cassidy hung his head, trying to keep himself collected. "And…who did we…?" he asked hesitantly, dreading the answer.

Another deep breath from Messick. "Lt. Jr. Grade Hanna's gone," he began. "So's Captain Barbera. Waldo, Weinrib, Kasem, Luke, Morris, Frees, Winchell, Owens, North…(sigh)…We lost a lot of our new men, sir. As for the rest of us…well…I wish I could say we were lucky, sir, but then you'd know I'd be lying."

Everyone present understood that last reluctant sentence; in battles, whether in human war or against kaiju threats, no-one was truly spared.

"Well, least most of us got out with our hides, or what's left of 'em," the lieutenant sighed. "That was as close a call as I'd ever want."

Godzooky sensed it was coming before the humans did. When he did, he tensed up, pulse picking up speed again, and, with a look of horror, turned his head towards the direction of the sinkhole they had crawled out of. The humans standing closest to him at the moment quickly picked it up.

"We're not out of this yet, lieutenant," Quinn stated, automatically gravitating towards Captain Majors.

"RETREAT, MEN! AWAY FROM THE HOLE! MOVE! QUICK, MOVE!" Major Cassidy bellowed, galvanizing the men into action. Those who could still walk assisted those who couldn't into the remaining three jeeps.

The Calico crew, with Major Cassidy, Lieutenant Messick, and Sergeant Takamoto in tow, rushed for the Calico jeep.

"We need big help! NOW!" Vicky yelled.

"Captain, hit the Godzilla Signal!" Brock suggested.

Captain Majors went to reach for the small, hand-held machine that would release a special frequency only Godzilla could hear, only to find it missing from his belt.

"It's gone!" Majors gasped. I must've lost it when we were digging the kids and the men out, he realized.

Before anyone could suggest anything else, the eartheater monster came crawling out of the sinkhole. Vicky guesstimated it had to be as big as Anguirus in terms of size, but the way it brought itself out suggested that it was a bit longer. Its feet were flat, the four phalanges on each foot looking squared at the end. Something that looked like a blocky cogwheel being whirled about on what was soon realized as a tail showed itself from behind. Its skin/scales tones were indeed earth-colored: browns, yellows, and greens. It also had new blood splotches under its front right foot, with which it had stamped a few of Major Cassidy's men out of existence.

Instincts kicking in, Godzooky called for Godzilla once more. Vicky did a facepalm as she remembered a factoid about Gojirins: besides a specific frequency, elders could be summoned by the call of young ones.

In another part of San Francisco, which was actually near the sinkhole that the human-plus-a-kaiju group went down hours ago, Godzilla was still searching for any sign of his nephew. His scent, plus the scents of the Calico crew and Vicky, had led him here. That was good. The bad news was, the scent began to go underground. Godzilla knew that he couldn't fit down there, not like he used to, anyway. He really didn't want to have to resort to digging up the whole city, but if that's what it came to to save his nephew-adopted, but his nonetheless-then so be it.

Then he heard them; Godzooky's cries echoing throughout the streets, clear as a bell. Relieved as he was that Zooky was still alive, that would only be temporary if… No. No, no, no, no, no, no! He would not allow it! He made a promise when he accepted responsibility for Zooky, and he was going to keep it! Protective instinct flaring higher than ever, yet still keeping enough wits to follow the roads without charging through buildings, Godzilla surged forward on his new course.

"Um, problem!?" Vicky trailed nervously, tone part-asking and part-exclaiming, noticing something was very wrong with the group's mode of transportation.

"We're not moving!" Quinn answered.

Lieutenant Messick leaned out and saw that the back wheels of the Calico jeep were spinning in the dirt.

"It's the dirt! It's too soft!" Messick observed. "We're not gaining any traction!"

"Sir!" rang out the voice of Private Butler from one of the Army jeeps. "We can't move!"

The eartheater let out another roar, sending the wounded and those whose nerves were still frayed into a screaming, terrorized frenzy. Godzooky was going stiff, his fight-or-flight impulse drowned out by sheer terror of what that thing had done. The eartheater began stepping towards the stuck vehicles.

"Godzooky-!" Pete began to call out.

"Wait! Pete, let me!" Major Cassidy interrupted, something that had seemed insignificant at the time making itself known as a full-blown revelation. Turning to Godzooky, he bellowed in the same tone he had used in the eartheater's tunnel, "GODZOOKY! WE NEED A PUSH! ON THE DOUBLE!"

While that bellowed order made everyone else jump in their seat, cover their ears, and/or wince in pain, once again, it snapped Zooky to attention. He lifted each vehicle by their rear bumper and gave each a push before following them at top speed, ultimately leaping over them.

"How did you do that, sir?" Pete asked, astonished by how Zooky responded to the major's voice.

"I think I know," Vicky stated, coming to a realization herself. "Sir, pardon me for saying so, but, when you yelled like that-a few seconds ago-you almost sounded like…like Godzilla, sir."

"Yeah, you kinda did, sir," Brock agreed.

"Him?! Sound like the Kaiju King?!" Lieutenant Messick asked in disbelief, gaping at his commanding officer and friend. He whistled and shook his head. "That's scary," he commented, grinning.

"I know, lieutenant; I scared myself just realizing it," the major admitted.

About five minutes later, the group came to the corner of Vanness and Powell. Nearly a split second later…

R-R-R-R-O-O-OA-A-A-A-R-R-R-R-R-R-OA-A-A-R-R-R!

"Ooh!" Vicky yelped, jumping in her seat.

"Nani…?!" Sergeant Takamoto questioned, startled.

"What was that?!" exclaimed Private Butler.

"That's Godzilla!" Pete answered, also a bit startled.

"Music to my ears," Vicky said. "…I think," she added unsurely, the tone of that roar having set her on edge.

"That…doesn't exactly sound like the Godzilla we saw in the bay this morning," Lieutenant Messick put in nervously.

"Nope, it doesn't," Vicky agreed.

She, and the Calico crew, knew what that tone in the roar was: the rage of a protective guardian. They had heard it before, most recently months ago, when Godzilla had battled a firebird in the Arctic. The footfalls of the quadruped eartheater became patterned with the running footfalls of a giant biped. Wait, running?

"Neither do those footsteps!" she added, going into a panic.

Two miles ahead, Godzilla, the whole charcoal-gray-green, 75-feet, reptilian, dorsal-plated, long-tailed, sharp-tooth-and-clawed nine yards of him, came to a near-screeching halt in their path, his tail hitting an empty building like a wrecking ball as he turned. He saw the vehicles, with Godzooky ahead of them. Their scent on the air was mixed with earth, death, and fear. And a look further back behind them led him to the source: a massive, quadruped, earth-toned reptile with an underbite, its teeth square-shaped. It had antennae, plus what could be considered an offensive weapon on the end of its tail. It smelled of earth and blood. That was all Godzilla needed to know to curl back his lips to bear his teeth at the thing, his eyes narrowing further.

And that was enough to send Vicky over the edge.

"BLANK LEFT! Uh, BLANK RIGHT! BL-BANK ANYWHERE! JUST GET OUTTA HIS WAY!" the preteen screamed, her words coming out rapidly, adjusting her glasses after each whip-around of her head out of habit.

"Everyone, follow me!" Captain Majors ordered, turning the steering wheel right. If Godzilla was in the state of mind Vicky thought he was in, then everyone had better get out of his path or risk getting crushed.

All followed Majors' lead. Well, except for…

"Godzooky!" Pete called. "Come back! You missed the turn! Godzooky!"

"It's no good, Pete," Quinn told her nephew as the four vehicles slowed to a stop. "Godzooky's so frightened, he's running on instinct. And that instinct is automatically leading him to the safest place he knows."

Godzilla noticed that Godzooky didn't follow the humans, but kept running on a direct course to him. As he did, the insistent tugging on his sixth sense came back. The strange beast let out another roar, obviously questioning him what he was doing in its territory. Godzooky turned his head back in fright at the sound and ended up tripping and rolling head over heels, landing on his front in a skid.

"Godzooky!" Godzilla roared in kaiju-tongue, worried that Zooky may have hurt himself.

The Eartheater roared again, taking a step towards the Kaiju Prince and his prone nephew.

"What are you doing?! Get moving, Zooky!" Godzilla roared insistently.

The young one tried to, but now he couldn't get his legs to work. His heart was pounding so hard he couldn't get a decent breath. The front of his body stung from sliding on the pavement. All he could do was try to drag himself along and look to his uncle, stark terror on his face.

Something's wrong, Godzilla realized with growing dread. Something's happened to him. "Hold on! I'm coming!" he called.

Godzilla took five steps toward Godzooky, then bent over, outstretching his right pointer finger, knuckle-side down, for Zooky to grab onto. The Eartheater started to continue forward.

"Help!-Mommy!-Help me!" Godzooky choked out, sobbing uncontrollably.

Godzilla's eyes widened. Godzooky hadn't identified him as "Mom" for what seemed like years. Not since Zooky hatched and imprinted on him first when he was found along with his sister. Holding his finger as steady as he could, he waited until Zooky had latched on tightly, slowly turning his wrist to help the youngling climb up, before slowly bringing his arm back to himself and straightening up so that he could get a better look at his nephew's condition.

On the outside, Godzooky was caked with dirt and, of course, there were the scratches from the concrete on his front, now hidden as he clutched his spot on his uncle's massive hand. But once Godzilla began taking in his scent; uncomfortably warm-like how he would get when he was sick, the smell of bile from his mouth, the overwhelming fear he had felt earlier as well as guilt and sadness, musty air tinged with spilt blood… Godzilla's nerve ends where Zooky was on his hand sent signals to his brain that told him of a frantic pulse and heavy breathing. Godzilla glanced over a building to see the humans in the vehicles below…and saw the soldiers who had been maimed and burned, fear and death lingering on them. He was dragged back to Hong Kong, to the humans who hurled curses at him in a language of humans he didn't understand, but he knew their emotion. They had been angry, angry because their lives, their families, their young, had been destroyed…by a monster. Him.

He shook himself back to the present and turned his gaze back to Zooky. The youngling was now looking at him with teary eyes that held a plea: Help my friends. Help our friends. Please. Godzilla nodded, silently promising his nephew he would. He then carefully deposited Godzooky with the humans. Then turned.

The Eartheater stopped suddenly, becoming wary as it looked at the face and stance of his opponent. All teeth were bared, nostrils flared, muscles tensing, arms raised with sharp claws pointing outward, tail raised and ready, legs spread out, and its expression with its burning, coal-black eyes…gave one finality: Absolute death.

"Uh, not to tell you guys how to do you your job or anything," Vicky began, the pitch in her voice steadily rising. "But…can we GET OUTTA HERE?!" she screamed.

"YOU MEN HEARD THE LADY!" Major Cassidy roared. "PEDALS TO THE METAL! MOVE-MOVE-MOVE!"

All drivers slammed on their respective vehicle's gas pedals and they all rocketed down the street with a screech, Zooky trying to keep pace. They had gone about eight or ten blocks before the brakes were applied.

"This…should be far enough," Captain Majors exhaled, relieved to have gotten away from the battle zone.

Vicky, unable to speak due to nerves, nodded, then pushed her glasses back into position.

"Begging your pardon sir, but what was that all about?" Private Butler queried.

"Would you want to see an angry King of the Kaiju tear into that thing because of what it did to his nephew? To us?" Major Cassidy replied.

Vicky had to resist the urge to correct the major on that title, as this Godzilla was technically a "prince".

"Not exactly something to think about," Lieutenant Messick agreed.

"It'll be a mess, that's for sure," Brock stated.

"At least there'll be no worry of human losses since the city's evacuated," Major Cassidy pointed out. "That oughta give Godzilla some free rein over how harshly he wants to beat that thing."

Oh, and did Godzilla want to. In fact, he wasted no time in starting; as soon as he knew his friends and nephew were far enough away, he charged at the Eartheater, then sent a forceful kick to the creature's neck, clawed toes nearly impaling the throat, making it choke and almost bringing it up on its hind legs. Its response was a bite on Godzilla's ankle. Godzilla let out a pained screech, shook his leg, then succeeded in getting it to release by bringing his fists down on its head. Godzilla went for a grab, but was hit over the head by the cogwheel-shaped bludgeon on the end of the Eartheater's tail. Needless to say, Godzilla was left seeing stars for a few minutes before his healing factor went to work. By the time he could see again, the Eartheater was moving away.

Oh no you don't, Godzilla thought, snarling angrily and following the Eartheater.

The quadruped, earth-color-toned monstrosity stopped for a moment in its retreat to use its bludgeon to knock a building over, thinking that would stop its furious opponent. It was quickly proven wrong when Godzilla stomped through the wreckage and let loose his laser-beam eyes.

The Eartheater shrieked in pain as the beams hit, stumbling backwards into another building, knocking it down and sending up a cloud of dust. Godzilla roughly waved an arm through the cloud, like one pushing through a curtain, not going to be deterred. Before Godzilla could even prep his lasers or his fire breath, the Eartheater stuck out its antennae…and Godzilla screeched in agony, covering his ears.

Miles away, Godzooky also covered his ears and Vicky winced, feeling like a knife quickly cut through her head. The others also had their ears covered to protect their hearing from Godzilla's pained cries.

"Aunt Quinn, what's happening?" Pete questioned his aunt.

"That's IT!" Vicky yelped, having an epiphany. "Sound waves! That's what happened underground!" she answered in response to the confused stares, massaging the sides of her head to relieve the after-effects of the pain.

"You're right, Vicky!" Dr. Darien realized. "The Eartheater uses sound waves on a specific frequency to bring its food source down, causing those sinkholes!"

"Not to mention mess up our radios and hurt our ears," Lieutenant Messick added, looking at Godzooky.

"Especially those with very sensitive ears," Dr. Darien put in, glancing towards the battle area as Godzilla's cries and grunts of pain from the noise continued.

"ACH-HHH!" Vicky exclaimed with a hiss at the end, holding her head once more. "Here we go again!"

Godzooky also yelped, the Eartheater apparently utilizing its sound waves once more. The sound of concrete cracking and a slight tremor followed by tunneling told the bystanders that the Eartheater had retreated. For now.

Meanwhile, Godzilla was nigh beyond furious at being disabled like that and letting his friends' oppressor get away. He was very tempted to turn the kaiju-made tunnels into an inferno by loosing a fire blast into the tunnel his opponent just made, but he realized that doing such a thing would not end well, for what was left of San Francisco and the ones he was protecting.

Speaking of which, the Calico jeep carrying the crew, Vicky, the major, the lieutenant, and the sergeant, along with Godzooky, soon came into view, surveying the aftermath. The other jeeps had been ordered back to the command post by the bay so that the wounded could be tended to and those dead, dying, or simply too traumatized to continue could be taken away.

All eyes turned from the newly-formed tunnel entrance to Godzilla. He was breathing hard, trying to keep restraint on the hereditary instinct telling him to destroy his enemy mercilessly, a growl being heard in each breath. His tail swished through the air, thumping the ground in agitation. His hands were clenched so tightly into fists that Vicky was afraid he'd make his hands bleed.

Quinn looked back at the tunnel and stated seriously, "We've got to make certain it doesn't get away next time."

"'Next time'?!" Captain Majors parroted, looking at his friend with surprise and concern.

"What exactly are you planning, Doctor?" Major Cassidy asked the biologist.

"Major," she began, "do you have any other weaponry; specifically canisters?" As soon as the major replied in the affirmative, she continued, "When we get back to your command post, I'm going to need a few things…"

Well, if you've made it to here somewhat in one piece, congratulations. Now, I have one thing to say: Please, please don't hate me! I like Godzooky, really I do, but I'm afraid I've had this story planned out since March of last year, so… I realize this is only my second story, and you're all thinking: "It's way too soon to have something like that happen to a character". Well, that's the thing about events like that: you never know when they're going to come. And this event will go quite a ways towards Godzooky's character development in later episodes and stories that he will feature in.

So, if you've noticed a way in which I am diverging from the original material, it's that there is more involvement on Godzilla's part, instead of him just being the "summoned hero". When he senses something's wrong, he goes with his instincts and checks it out. Expect a lot more of Godzilla getting a bigger role as time goes on.

Another thing you may have noticed, when listing the names of the soldiers lost, they are all voice actors (except two of them who were the founders of Hanna-Barbera) who had worked at Hanna-Barbera at one time or another who have by now passed away. May they all rest in peace.

Some tidbits: For those of you who got the connection that Major Cassidy got his name from actor Ted Cassidy, who provided Godzilla's vocal effects on Godzilla: The Original Animated Series, then you know why some characters say that the Major sounds like Godzilla when he yells.

We also learn that before Zooky referred to Godzilla as his uncle, Zooky referred to him as his mother due to imprinting on Godzilla when he hatched. However, in situations like this where Godzooky gets really scared, he'll start calling Godzilla "Mom" again.

Remember in the last episode where Godzilla would only turn to totally annihilating his opponent if it was necessary? Well, this is going to be one of those moments; but he'll have to restrain himself a bit if the humans and Godzooky are going to survive the upcoming battles.

Anyway, next time, a little reprieve from the horrors of this chapter and a plan will be set into action, but how will it go? And will they be able to defeat the Eartheater before it devours all of San Francisco?

Please read and review. Thank you.