Chapter 4
Okay, you guys deserved another explanation.
Before everything else though, I will have to tell you a tiny bit of info about me because much of what I'll tell you won't make sense if I didn't.
For fifteen years, I have a tracheostomy tube in my neck, allowing me to breathe. Naturally, I also have a respirator machine to help me sleep properly.
Still with me? Okay, now for my long explanation.
First, I took a 1-week New Year break from writing after my last update. Supposedly, this chapter should have been up by January 11 or 12, along with my Transformers.
I wasn't able to do that.
On January 8, I had a flu. Nothing major. I mean, I always have it every time December-January comes. It's like a yearly event or something for me. XD
Anyway, I drank the usual medicine prescribed to me. A strong antibiotic and some decongestant.
It didn't worked. For the first time, it just didn't.
On January 9, I couldn't eat anymore. I lost my appetite. I couldn't cough out the phlegm. I couldn't breathe, couldn't relax even with the help of my respirator. In fact, it was so bad that I was already taking air directly from the machine rather than it giving me air on a regular basis. And it was really bad to the point that every breathe I take pains my lungs. I even wanted to puke despite eating only a few mouthfuls.
By 11pm on that same day, I was rushed on the hospital. Fifteen minutes after we arrived, it even got worst. My oxygen level fell down below 75-76. My blood pressure was as high as 200/180. My fever was at 38. They strapped various apparatus on me. Cardiac monitor. Some automated blood pressure thingy. A pulse oxemeter. And what else? Hmmm...
Oh yeah! The worst of them. An IV line on my left hand. XD
So, that's that. Including my respirator, I looked like a human Christmas tree. Except it was not fun. AT ALL. They did various tests on me. ECG. X-Ray. Blood chem. But they couldn't be certain of the problem. My pulmonologist thought it was pnuemonia or something. Except it was not yet full-bloom.
Yeah. You read it right. What I just experienced was not a full-bloomed pnuemonia. XD
Anyway, I stayed on a monitoring room for at least 12-15 hours. Fearing it might get worst, they immediately used an extremely potent antibiotic. By noon on Jan 10, I was feeling slightly better. My appetite finally returned, though I could only eat a few sips of soup. By 4pm, I was finally transferred on a private room. Which was too small. 16 sq m at best. Including the bathroom.
A total bummer.
So, yeah. The treatment was continued there. For two more days, I have nothing to do but watch Pacific Rim on a too small TV. Like, 16 inches small. Mount that on a wall 10 feet away from my bed, and you'll get the idea.
One of the worst days of my life. Watching giant robots punching giant monsters on a f***king small TV. T_T
Fortunately though, one side of my room is filled with glass windows. During those times I wasn't watching or sleeping, I was staring at the clouds roll by. Why, I even saw a chowhound-shaped cloud morphed into Garfield which shifted into an Arcanine which transformed into Appa from The Last Airbender! Best part was when I saw a giant cloud formation that FREAKINGLY looked like Charizard's head!
Hell yeah!
Cut to two days later, I was feeling really better. But no! My hospital adventure didn't end there! They decided to take a phlegm sample from me to determine the cause of my illness. You know how they had done it? By plunging an awfully long suction tube on my nose right down on my throat.
Horrible.
Anyway, on that same day, I finally returned home! :D
For a week, I did nothing but rest and watch our country's live coverage of Pope Francis' visit. By 18, I was finally able to find the strength to write once again! :D
All I can say now though, is that I'm back. I'm alive.
I'M HERE! *cue gunfire and Autobots Reunite theme*
And so, without further ado, here's your much awaited update!
February 12, 2029...
LOCCENT Mission Control, Hong Kong Shatterdome, 3:27pm
Marshal Hercules Hansen was completely baffled. Just two hours ago, they detected two Kaiju signatures right on an island several miles southeast of mainland Davao, Philippines.
Two Kaijus. Getting past under their very nose.
He still couldn't believe it. How can two large monsters reach land without them or any of the locals noticing it? There should have been signs. Dead people or animals or any of that. And even if they were juveniles, he doubt if they would be that small to avoid detection.
"Sir, Strike Group Hong Kong is now approaching the target zone." Tendo Choi announced from his console. "ETA: 13 minutes."
Herc sighed in relief. The past two hours have been quite tensed for them. They don't know when or where the Kaijus will attack, forcing them to send the entire Strike Group of Hong Kong. They still haven't issued any warnings yet though in the hopes of neutralizing the threats without making the citizens panic. Besides, Herc fears that the sirens might just disturb the Kaijus and prompt them to attack the nearest town or city.
"What about the bogeys?" He asked. "What's their location now?"
"Still on the same spot where we had first detected them." Tendo replied. "They seem to be staying close together."
Herc creased his brows in worry. The fact that the two monsters have not seperated yet sounds bad. Fortunately though, it will be easier for them to kill the two as they already know where they are. Unfortunately, they still couldn't discern just how large are they or what their category is due to the dense forest preventing their sensors from properly detecting them.
Suddenly, the intercom crackled to life.
"Unit 01 to LOCCENT, we are approaching target zone." A female voice said.
Vanessa Smith. Former pilot of the Mark-4 Shining Titan along with her husband, Jason. Now, they serve as the pilot of Sentinel Unit 01 along with two other pairs from the first batch of graduates in Hong Kong Ranger Academy.
"LOCCENT to Unit 01," Herc answered, "we read you. Just remember; stay cautious. We don't know what they look like or how large are they."
"Copy that." Vanessa answered. "We-"
"Kaiju signatures moving!" Tendo cried from his seat. Immediately, Herc rushed to his side and saw that he was correct; two red blips are fast heading northwest. He quickly glanced on the other side of the holographic map and noticed three green dots approaching the island from the east.
"Unit 01, do you copy?" Herc said through a mike. "Bogeys have suddenly began to move! You must intercept them now!"
"Copy that, LOCCENT." The female Ranger acknowledge grimly. "Disengaging transport."
"How fast are they moving and what's their route?" Herc asked Tendo.
"At least a 150 kph." The LOCCENT officer replied after looking at a bunch of readings. "It looks like they are heading towards the ocean."
Not good.
"Alert all cities and towns within a hundred-mile radius! Tell them to evacuate NOW!"
...
A car drove along the road with Newton Geiszler at the back seat. He shouldn't be here. He can't be here.
Just after Hermann called him to relay the news about two Kaijus within the area, he immediately called for a taxi to take him back to the airport. He knew deep inside that the Precursors have not yet forgotten about him. And he was very certain that due to the Hive mentality, all Kaijus have the basic instict to hunt him and Hermann own.
Which only means that he shouldn't really be here.
He glanced fearfully at the ocean to their left. The road they took was along the coastlines, much to his displeasure. To the right was a row of buildings. Houses, markets and several others. People were milling about doing their businesses, unaware yet of the current danger. Meanwhile, in the distance, Newt saw something that will surely get him killed.
Traffic.
He groaned, glancing at the ocean once more. He could see two islands on the horizon. One was big with a wide expanse of beach while a small one was hidden partially to its left. For a brief terrifying moment, he thought he saw the trees on the smaller one shook until he realized it was just his mind playing tricks on him.
Or was it? He doesn't know. He was too scared to know.
They soon reached the tail end of the traffic. He glanced anxiously at his watch and saw that it was already past 4 o'clock in the afternoon. The next flight would be at 6:09pm, a mere two hours away. But judging by the traffic, he might not be able to reach the airport.
Suddenly, he heard an all too familiar siren. A sound that hasn't been heard since 2024.
A Kaiju warning signal.
Talicud Island, 40 miles southeast off mainland Davao, Philippines, 4:23pm
Sentinel 01 waded through the water, the mech's stride smooth yet urgent. Trailing slowly behind, 03 scanned the area for any movements. The two were just coming up from the north, having dropped earlier than their pilots intended to. They were suppose to cut off and intercept the two Kaijus from the front while 02 comes from the other side, behind the targets. A good plan, except for the fact that most of the island was covered in trees, preventing a proper visual.
Soon, they reached the shoreline and the two Sentinels stopped.
Vanessa Smith surveyed the area along with her husband. The trees were not really that tall, probably at 50-60 feet at best, but their leaves and branches were so thick. Anything hiding in there could remain hidden without them noticing it.
With a sigh, Vanessa pressed a button on their console and spoke.
"01 to 02, what's your status?" She asked.
"02 to 01, we are 4 miles southeast of your location." A man replied. "No sign of the bogeys."
Vanessa shook her head in confusion. Inside the Drift, she could feel that her husband was just as mystified. By this point, the Kaijus should have attacked already.
"LOCCENT, do you copy? No sign of the targets." She said. A few minutes passed before they received an answer.
"That's impossible. The targets are just at the edge of the tree line." Tendo said, his voice tinny over the radio. "Right in front of you."
Vanessa glanced uncertainly at her husband. His face wore the same confusion that was etched upon hers. It was very unusual for a Kaiju not to attack, especially if it's a threat. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
Suddenly, the trees in front of them shook violently.
Unit 01 immediately shifted into a battle stance, it's servos raised in a defensive manner. Behind them, Unit 03's mortar cannons swiveled into the direction of the disturbance, ready to fire as soon as the targets were on sight. For a brief tensed moment, they waited. However, nothing came. No Kaiju. No monster.
"Er, honey?" John finally spoke after remaining silent during the entire time. "I think it's just-" He stopped in mid-sentence as soon as he saw the legs.
As the Kaiju fully emerged from hiding, they finally got a good view of it.
It looked like a cross between a wolf, a lizard and a dinosaur combined. The creature walked on all fours, with powerful muscular limbs and razor sharp claws on each of it's three-toed foot. Upon closer inspection, they realized that one of the digits in each foot is smaller but slightly bigger.
A thumb.
Its body is sleek like a wolf, but covered in thick hides with red bioluminiscent veins running all over them. Spikes protrude from its back while its long tail swished back and forth. The neck was short but strong. The head was shaped roughly triangular with two sets of glowing yellow eyes on the front. It also has a short snout, with a strong lower jaw filled with rows of sharp teeth.
However, it was the size that gave them pause.
The Kaiju was the smallest one they encountered so far in their whole career as Rangers. It was only 50-feet long at best, standing no higher than 35-feet. Possibly even less that. In fact, it was so small that it barely reach the Sentinel's knees. No wonder they had a hard time seeing or even detecting it. Its size allows it to perfectly hide in the terrain.
It stalked closer to them, its upper lip curling into a snarl.
Being the Strike Group Leaders, Vanessa and John was about to issue a command as well as contact LOCCENT for any new information when another movement caught their attention.
The second Kaiju emerged growling and stopped beside the first one, glaring menacingly at them.
The sight of it made Vanessa and John stepped back in shock, the Sentinel mirroring their action. Its appearance. They stared at it with wide eyes.
Because the second Kaiju looked clearly identical to the first one.
It was no clone though. They knew it because the veins were colored yellow while the eyes were red. A reverse of the first one.
Realization hit them like a brick smashing into their head. So hard that they spoke as one.
"Oh my God... They are twins."
Cliffhanger! XD
And yeah, that was kinda short. But don't worry, the next one will longer. And if you have already assumed by now, IT WILL HAVE A FIGHT SCENE! :D
HELL YEAH!
By the way, Vanessa and John Smith are two OCs submitted by Neo Dragon X. If you are reading this, I hope I did okay! :) I have changed their introduction a bit though.
Now, time to answer your reviews.
avidreaded: Hmmm... I'm not really a big fan of Xbox. Plus, I'm going for the games. Not the consoles. :D
Matrexmaster: I don't know when, but I can tell you that they will appear.
SigmaBlack: 1) lol Actually, I lived in the cities up north. So, no. My house won't get destroyed. :p 2) Yeah. That's why I did a rewrite. Because of that. :) 3) Don't worry, your beloved "children" will appear. I'll introduce more characters as the story advances, so expect some of them to appear very soon. As for the Jaegers, well, can't say anything about them yet. The focus of this fic right now is to establish the characters for my Pacific Rim 2. But, we'll see. 4) Actually, I have a PS2 Emulator. Sadly, my laptop broke. *sobs*
RStyle: 1) Thanks! 2) Definitely, Brazil will suffer an attack. I just couldn't say when. But they will.
kseitshiro from south africa: Thanks! And yes, I'm still accepting. :)
By the way, our poll has officially ended on January 7. Based on the result, expect the next update within the next 4-5 days. :D
Also, I'm still accepting Jaegers. This time though, you could submit either a Mark-8 or a Mark-9. I need at least four of each.
But wait! There's more!
What's a Jaeger without a Kaiju?
I'll be introducing 16 monsters in this one. Two of which are already here. I have at least five more OC Kaijus of my own making and another four more submitted to me. That's 11 now. That means I need five more, which YOU guys will submit. Please check my profile for the format.
Just remember, use your imagination to make your Jaeger or Kaiju as unique as possible. We don't want similarities to the canon ones.
Some bits of announcement too. Because of what happened to me this month, all the release dates of my upcoming stories will be pushed back by a month. Including Pacific Rim 2. :(
One more thing I forgot to add. Talicud Island is actually a tourist spot in our country. Complete with a resort. However, in this fic, it's been abandoned already. Hence, the lack of people. :)
And that's it! Again, sorry for the delay!
Please Read & Review!
Until next time!