Chapter 2: Entering The Land Of The Gods

Skull Island

19th, August 2019

Project Gjallarhorn, named so, after the suggestion of Dr. Aaron Brooks, is an attempt by mankind to piggyback off the back of the King of the Monsters himself. They have built a mechanized double of the Great Leviathan, equipped with a large arsenal of deadly weaponry. Ranging from a trio of powerful maser cannons located in the abdominal area, to an array of radiation absorbing pads in the tips of the claw-machine hands, and the tip of the retractable blade tail. Using these Claw Machine like grapplers, it can suck the radiation directly out of another Titan and add to its power supply by embedding the fingertips and or tail spike inside a Titan.

In the sides of the machine, exists a chamber that loads and fires advanced bunker buster missiles that can dole out heavy damage to many Titans when fired into the air. They are effective as they lock onto their targets via the build in targeting system which is controlled by the machines eyes. It possesses a mechanically generated Atomic Breath weapon nicknamed the 'Proton Scream' that borrows from the main power source, before feeding the stream directly to the mouth to be expelled out towards the unfortunate soul who dares face it in battle. It can also use hand to hand combat as well, but not as efficiently as Godzilla himself. Being a prototype, the mobility and fluidity of its movements is limited.

Inside, the machine is primarily powered with a tokamak reactor, and a backup experimental zero-point energy generator which, while powerful, will not enable the strongest weapons to be used. Such as the Proton Scream, and the chest's maser cannons. In the neck area, an improved model of the ORCA has been installed, with the main Alpha Frequency being a combination of Godzilla's, Kong's, Ghidorah's, and Humanity. Mixed, it sounds more like a shrill, metallic version of Godzilla's roar, with a lot more bass. They've enabled it to toggle which individual signals it chooses to use or mix them.

The intention to add the ORCA was made so that the machine can subdue other Titans that fall out of line when or if Godzilla is unavailable. While it can utilize Godzilla's bioacoustics to imitate Godzilla and fool the other Titans into submitting and returning from whence they came, should that plan fail it switches to its main alpha frequency to either make the creature forcefully submit or provide an opening for attack. The main purpose of the project was to provide humanity an emergency way to contain Titans inside their designated domains, to avoid needless conflict and destruction in the absence of the King.

Procedures have gone smoothly, the doppelganger having been launched through a specially built chamber of the facility in Level B2 which extends outwards away from the main building, built to house the machine as they assembled it and to deploy it when needed. The platform of which it stands on ascends at a slow and steady pace, before reaching the ceiling, which opens much like the roof on an indoor NFL stadium. Upon reaching the very top, the platform stops, and the roof plugs into, secures and locks the sides of the platform to provide maximum stability.

As the team begins to boot up their systems, Del La Rosa pulls a cigarette out of his coat pocket, lighting it up before bumming it and taking a drag, exhaling the smoke through his nose.

"10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1. Standby for activation." Del La Rosa Right types in the activation command right on cue, the machine begins to whir and eventually emits a silent purr as the internal generators and reactors start up.

The eyes and mock spines on the back begin to emit a faint crimson glow. With a start, the machine's head tilts up to face forward, seeming to await further commands. The machine has been installed with an artificial intelligence to help aid it in combat to account for human error. While limited, it is still a learning machine. The Central Processing Unit is a top-of-the-line experimental model developed just for this project, it enables the machine to react and respond at a Superhuman level, as well as simultaneously develop mid battle strategies on top of receiving commands from the control center.

The first systems diagnostics run come back with above average results. The machine is running at full capacity. "That's promising, the base systems and functions are running smooth as butter. All that's left is to test out the machine's combat." Yuhara observes.

Using the built-in scanners and a phased array radar, the Control Team issues a command to acquire a target and to pursue it. The machine raises its head, before turning and scanning its surroundings and the immediate area, taking a step forward, and another. Walking much like the actual Godzilla might, while not seeming to focus on any one thing until it stops and focuses.

Out of a large subterranean vent crawls a decent sized Skull Devil, a little over two times the size of the specimen the Island's Guardian had slain 46 years ago on the first expedition to the Island. The lone Crawler had avoided the wrath of Kong for 3 months now, it has been surviving by indiscriminately killing and devouring any creature that it comes across near the vents it crawls out of, before retreating to avoid being found.

It has been growing larger as the months passed, and only recently has it begun to change in subtle ways. Its skin has started to grow darker in patches after shedding numerous times. The skull has been changing to become more rounded. Its teeth beginning to jut out from its mouth. It's about to make the transition to a full-grown adult.

Aaron grimaces. "It's a good thing Kong killed Queen Bitch when he did. I don't wanna' think about what would happen with two of them running about, spawning tons of the Skull Devils."

Jill voices her agreement. "I agree. They would wreak havoc on the ecosystem here. Just as your father said." Aaron smiles sadly at that. Happy that his father is still as respected as he was. Sad that he's retired and not here to observe Kong anymore. 'Have a feeling you'd love to see what we're gonna' do next, dad.' Aaron considers.

The beast's tongue snakes out and flicks the air, tasting it. What it finds confuses it. It turns, catching the site of a hulking monstrosity staring it down. It moves to investigate the unnervingly still creature, which inclines its head at the serpent, jumping in alarm at a sudden jolt of movement. Not worrying about the repercussions of its actions, the crawler lunges at the Titan. Teeth sink into the hide of the creature, it thrashes, intending to tear a ragged chunk off its arm.

"Let's ruin this thing's dinner." Commands Del La Rosa.

Much to the Serpent's confusion, the hide appears to be too tough, and it loses a few teeth when trying to tear itself loose. Before it can react, the formerly unmoving creature begins to turn to face it fully and opens its mouth in a seemingly uninterested gesture.

Jaws hanging open, the machine begins to hum, the sound steadily increasing in volume. The spines begin to rapidly pulse quick flashes of red, before slowing down to a continuous red glow, and in a flash, a streamline blast of pure red radioactivity rockets out of its gaping maw, penetrating through the adolescent like a hot knife through butter before hitting the ground beneath it. A thunderous boom resounds through the craggy cliffside area, and a mushroom cloud is seen peering over the cliff on the other side.

Back at the epicenter, the machine stands over the smoking crater at its feet, the Skull Crawler now nothing more than some dust in the wind. The aftermath being transmitted directly back to the home base's computer screens due to the surveillance system they had installed around the Island.

LATER THAT NIGHT

Loud whoops and whistles sound in the Control room as the scientists and researchers celebrate the success of their project, at first being concerned if they could replicate Godzilla's natural ability with their machine. Pleased to see their years of hard work, research, and money have paid off. Aaron couldn't help but smile a little and give a light chuckle. It was impressive, he had to admit.

Corks can be heard popping as the team opens bottles of fine champagne, pouring it into the flutes and passing it around to every member in the room. In celebration of this momentous occasion where man has crossed the Rainbow Bridge into the land of the Gods, everyone cheers before downing their glass in a single gulp.

Doctor Yuhara is the first to speak. "Alright, team. I understand that you're still excited. Hell, I'm ecstatic! But I think we should return the Machine back to Home base, don't you think? We wouldn't want Kong to stumble across our little project and have things get seriously out of hand now."

"Oh, yes! Dr. Del La Rosa, should we proceed?" Jill queries.

Jill, the assistant to the Head of the project turns to face the man who seems distracted. She repeats. "Sir? Permission to proceed?" He snaps out of it immediately. "Ah, yes! Of course." Taking another long drag from a cigarette before putting it out on his ashtray.

Thinking nothing of the strange behavior, she issues orders to return the Mech to its holding bay for safekeeping. It's not that they're worried about Kong coming, it's just, Kong doesn't seem to like Machinery. As Monarch's time on the island has revealed, he's still very untrusting of Helicopters.

As the team wraps up for the day, Doctor Yuhara speaks up again. "Alright, people. I understand that you guys have been pouring all your blood, sweat, and tears into this project and doing crunching time the past year to make this day possible." Audible groans. Making a 'exactly my point' gesture, "So, with that in mind, I'd like to announce that you are all to take a couple months off to get some rest and spend time with your loved ones. Understood? Consider the experiment a success."

The room erupts into loud cheering as everyone once again fills up their flutes with more champagne at this relieving news. As things wind down and the team prepares to head back to their quarters to pack and head home, Del La Rosa re-enters the Control Room, before heading to the Main Computer, and inserting a thumb drive into the USB slot. The screen pops up with a window. [Install? Y/N] He selects Yes.

After the installation, he hurriedly removes the drive and places it into his back pocket, before shutting the computer off. He catches the light switch on the way out and locks the door to the room with his Keycard before joining everyone in the living area as they prepare to head back to the mainland.

143 miles south of Miami, Florida

30th, October 2019

A beautiful moonlit night, the many stars shining in the sky overhead present an air of tranquility and the night sea breeze gently blows, a large object rocks back and forth in the open ocean. The creatures inside going about their business. Feasting, resting, mating, and conversating. Life in its rawest form.

A large luxury cruise liner, the Carnival Breeze has just past by a small uninhabited Island on their way to Cuba. On board, a young part Pacific Islander man around 29 years old is standing outside on the deck in front of his cabin, gazing at the dazzling constellations overhead. Leaning on the deck with his arms over the railing, clutching a drink in his hands which he hadn't taken a drink of yet.

The server had said it was a unique specialty of a local Islander's. Steven "Marty" Martin, a United World News reporter by trade, but a lover of nature by heart has signed onto this cruise as a 'vacation'. But subconsciously, he realizes he's here for an entirely different reason. He's here to investigate the effect the return of the Titans has on the ocean's ecosystem, and if it will be able to fix his country's mistake in destroying the gulf in Isla De Mara. Mostly, he hopes to meet Him again.

Marty hangs his head down. Sighing, he muses to himself. 'What reason would He have to come down here, anyhow? I'm sure it was a fluke meeting Him that first time at all.'

Marty was a survivor of the 2014 Muto and Godzilla attacks, having been at the Airport in Honolulu at the time, he was the one who had recorded the first publicized footage of Godzilla and his battle with the male Muto that was broadcast to the world at the time. Marty had been vacationing that time, too.

FLASHBACK TO EVENTS OF GODZILLA 2014 (Or, alternatively, this will be alluded to in my rewritten version, coming soon.)

Why Hawaii? No reason… Other than he felt a comfortable familiarity with the Island. As if he had been there once a long time ago. Though he'd remember if he had, he believes. He had watched with reverence and a tinge of fear as Godzilla made his appearance and eventually, found himself meeting Godzilla face to face in one of the buildings. As Godzilla brawled with the male Muto, he had locked eyes with the Great Leviathan, and it had forever changed his life.

When Marty was still a child, his father, William "Bill" Martin, an ex-Marine had told him the story of how once on an atoll off the coast of Japan, he had met an extraordinary creature. he described it as a gargantuan Dinosaur that his superiors had been developing weapons to try and kill, but they never could manage to put it down.

Older and wiser now, he once had assumed that his father was telling him a harmless story to feed his imagination. But after meeting Godzilla, he put two and two together. His father was there with the military at Bikini atoll the morning of March 1st, 1954. And it wasn't a test. They were trying to kill that Dinosaur if his father was to be believed. And he can understand why now, seeing the beast up close, he can see the power that radiates off him in waves.

Godzilla's attention is stolen from the hunt momentarily, sensing something familiar nearby. Curiously, the apex predator searches the tops of the many human hives. Locating one of the humans, Godzilla gives a low nearly inaudible grunt at the discovery.

The intelligence in his eyes, the recognition. Godzilla had leaned in to get a closer look, the force of the exhalation from his nostrils rattling and fogging up the windows. Marty slowly inched closer, he was so close, he could almost touch the creature on its massive snout. Godzilla, resolute as ever, refuses to move, staring ever curiously at the daring little mortal who approaches him. To Marty's surprise, Godzilla seems just as enthralled by himself as he is of Godzilla. Marty's hand reaches out towards Godzilla.

Almost as if the fates had deemed this not the right time, the male Muto recaptured Godzilla's attention as soon as his fingers meet the skin of Godzilla, and with a soft growl and then a snarl he pursues the male once more as it takes off with Godzilla in hot pursuit, finally making his way back into the ocean.

END OF FLASHBACK

It wasn't until after the Mutos has been taken care of that he realized the look Godzilla had given him. He didn't understand why, there's no way Godzilla should be able to recognize him. But he had. 2 days prior to today, Monarch had sworn to full transparency. They had revealed decades of secrets to the public and it had answered many of his questions.

Musing to himself, he wonders. 'I wonder how Aaron is doing, last I heard from him was after he got rescued from that Island in the pacific, that was back in like, what, 2012? 2013?' "…Ah, it doesn't matter, he's been with Monarch since he was a kid, anyways… I wonder if I'll ever be able to join them some day. There's nothing I want more." Laughing at his own naivete, "Like that'll ever happen. I have none of the qualifications."

Closing his eyes, he brings his drink up to his lips, and downs it in one go, shivering at the odd taste and sensation it gave him. "What the hell? Why does this drink taste familiar?"

Before he could give it much thought, his thoughts are interrupted by a familiar rolling warble. The ship goes silent as the seas begin to churn, and small swells begin to knock harmlessly into the cruise ship. Out of the corner of his eye, Marty catches movement in the surf. Turning his attention to it, he's surprised by the blue glow that seems to come from beneath him. Suddenly the ship is rocked, and Marty's feet give out beneath him as he tumbles to the deck, his back slamming hard against the railing on the way down. Cursing, as the ship seems to lift slightly, before settling back down.

He shakily gets up, wincing heavily as he clutches his throbbing back. "What the hell kind of metal are these railings made of, painium?" He grumbles, rubbing his sore spine as he searches for the glass he dropped when he fell. In his peripheral vision he catches the blue glow in the water. Confused, he turns to peer out into the water.

The glow gets brighter, and larger AND brighter, as a large silhouette emerges from under the glow. Massive waves begin to crash into the ship. The water begins rising higher and higher, before in a massive waterfall, cascading down back into the ocean. Slowly the waterfall begins to recede, and the cause of the oceanic downpour begins to take shape as the shape produces a deep, guttural rumbling sound. Mesmerized, Marty can only stare in wonder at the massive form sitting half submerged in the ocean.

With a low rumbling growl, Godzilla rears his head back slightly, and bellows into the night, the moon and stars accentuating his imposing form. His spinal plates faintly pulsing with a beautiful sapphire blue glowing light. The display functioning to help him navigate the waters, even in the darkest reaches. The Great Leviathan turns, his eyes locking onto the massive human vessel beside him. Godzilla's inquisitiveness on full display, he leans into inspect the object, sniffing it, and nudging it with his snout.

His nostrils lock onto a familiar scent, two, in fact. Raising his head to the top deck, he locks eyes with a human. Familiarity blooms in his mind. Leaning closer to study this human, he sniffs, confirming the second slightly sweeter smell he had picked up on.

Marty cannot believe his eyes. He hadn't really expected to see Godzilla again at all, but lo and behold, here he is, and like he had 5 years ago, he immediately locked eyes with him. He watches in stunned disbelief, mouth agape as Godzilla leans in closer to him. Not even thinking, he raises his arms to reach out to Godzilla, who pulls back slightly, unsure, before leaning in even closer.

They're now close enough to touch, and touch they do. Marty touches Godzilla's snout, marveling at how surprisingly soft it is despite the obvious toughness. The texture is indescribable, a mix of course granular skin, like sand, but smooth like leather. Smiling like a kid who got to pet a puppy for the first time, Marty's smile is gone as he abruptly begins to feel dizzy as a surge of information floods through his brain. His brain firing off rapidly as images begin to clear in his mind and he clutches his head in pain while stumbling backwards and falling on his backside on the deck, before curling up into himself.

GODZILLA's POV

Godzilla watches as the human began to reach forward, he grunts, and pulls back, not sure what the human wants, slightly untrusting of them ever since his battle at sea with his rival of Old. Sensing no ill-intent, he eases down and leans in. He can faintly feel the human's paws on his snout, rubbing back and forth. Godzilla huffs contentedly, slightly closing his eyes. Suddenly, almost as soon as the contact had been started, the human begins to convulse and pulls back. He begins ungracefully falling, mouth agape in a silent scream while clutching his head. Godzilla stares on in piqued interest.

To Be Continued…