VIII: A Temporary Peace
Miki grunted and groaned as she put every effort into moving Major Kuroki's body out of the damaged control room of Argus. The main lights in the room had lost power—the only illumination was that of half-operating control panels. Meru stood at her console attempting to find a way to remote control the rest of MechaGodzilla's body. Miki rolled her eyes at Meru's efforts.
"Meru, we need to get out of here. The battle is over." Miki sternly spoke as she opened the automatic emergency hatch door.
Meru did not reply. Instead, she continued to poke and prod at buttons. Miki's heart sank —that woman was not the friend she once knew. At that moment she realized that her intuition had warned her against befriending such a person months prior. The moment Meru insisted on luring Godzilla Junior to Destoroyah was an example of her true colors—she had no regard for life. Despite these disturbing yet enlightening realizations Miki managed to pull Kuroki out of the cockpit and leaned him against the outer wall. Groggily he meandered back into consciousness as Miki dabbed his deep forehead wound.
"Miki… what happened?" He mumbled as he attempted to open his eyes.
"The battle is over. Try to rest; I'm going to get Meru."
Miki re-entered the control room and found Meru still attempting to salvage the mission to destroy Godzilla. Despite all her efforts, Miki knew that MechaGodzilla could only function if it were taken back to base and repaired.
"Meru we have to get out of here. The mission has failed." Miki explained as she approached her former friend.
"You can leave. I'm not done yet. Godzilla has to die or we will."
"Enough is enough. You've basically killed him and brutally." Miki felt a lump rise in her throat as she felt Godzilla's life force dwindling.
"We punctured his heart and his second brain but that wasn't enough." Meru responded coldly.
Before Meru could continue prodding at her control panel, Miki reached into the energy control compartment on the console and ripped out the wires powering it. The lights went dark on the panel. Meru slammed her fists on the surface and turned her gaze toward Miki.
"Your selfishness disgusts me." Meru spat.
"Selfishness? I'm selfish?"
"Yes. You'd rather save the life of that freak of nature than save humanity!" Meru raised her voice and took a step toward Miki.
"You have some audacity calling me selfish," Miki's eyebrows furled as she also took a step toward her former companion, "I know why you want to kill Godzilla and it's not to save humanity."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Miki rolled her eyes and folded her arms—Meru was never proficient at feigning ignorance.
"The United Nations offered you a higher position on the Counter G Committee. I'm assuming this mission had to be a success for you to receive that position," Miki explained, garnering an annoyed expression from Meru with each statement, "You're in this for the power and money."
"How do you know?" Meru questioned coyly.
"I sensed your intentions from the beginning. You are the selfish one, Meru Ozawa. I'll be sure to report this to Aso."
"You'll regret that." Meru interjected as she stood face-to-face with Miki.
"Try and stop me." Miki turned to exit the control room when Meru leapt down from her station. Miki swung around and was met by the back of Meru's hand swiping across her face.
Miki fell onto the floor amid scraps of metal that had fallen from the ceiling. Her helmet flew off—allowing her thick ebony hair to dangle around her face. She gazed up at Meru and felt her heart freeze with anxiety. The expression on Meru's face seemed completely void of concern or care. She did not need to sense Meru's thoughts to know her intentions. She had no intention of allowing Miki to leave.
"Meru stop this. I don't want to fight with you." Miki pleaded one last time as Meru took a step forward.
Meru did not respond. Without blinking the Psychic lunged forward with her hands arched outward destined to grasp Miki's neck. Anticipating the assault, Miki rose to her feet and thrust her hand outward. The momentum of Meru's body halted as she fell against an invisible wall.
"What the hell is this? Telekinesis?" Meru screamed as her limbs seemed frozen as she remained suspended in the barrier. Her eyes tensed in frustration as she stared at her former friend.
"Yes. I've been honing my abilities. It seems as though our powers do not fade with age like you originally thought." Miki responded as she released the barrier, causing Meru to topple onto the floor.
"Godzilla will destroy us all." Meru gasped as she raised herself back onto her feet.
"I will not let you continue to torment him—so leave. And I will be reporting directly to Aso about your motives whether you like it or not." Miki sternly threatened.
Meru angrily turned away from Miki and stomped toward the emergency door. She knew that Miki reporting her actions would ruin her opportunities and continued employment with the Counter G Committee.
"I wouldn't get your hopes up regarding that prestigious position." Miki jabbed, sensing Meru's thoughts.
Meru did not turn back to respond. Without hesitation she exited the craft and ran across the beach toward the bordering forest. Deep down Miki suspected that she may never see Meru again; she knew that Meru would never forget what had happened.
Miki wearily strode out of the damaged control room and stood next to Kuroki who continued to rest. She stared toward the far end of the beach where Godzilla rested—motionless and lifeless. Not only was her friendship with Meru at an end, but she also realized her friendship with the Little One would never be the same.
Mothra rested her wings against the soft sand near Godzilla as she sensed his essence. Her antennae twitched nervously when she felt the misunderstood beast almost slipping away entirely. Mothra had thrived on the Earth for millions of years and never had she seen such terrible wounds inflicted upon a creature. Gently, she placed her right forewing over Godzilla's chest.
This world cannot lose you. Mothra reached out to him telepathically hoping that her voice would provide some sort of comfort.
Upon making the telepathic connection, Mothra received a rush of images nestled within the beast's unconscious mind. One traumatic image after another filtered through Godzilla's thoughts as he recounted the most difficult moments of his life before the end. She could feel Godzilla's fear upon battling Destoroyah and the absolute devastation of losing his father. Beneath that sadness, Mothra could feel anger welling within Godzilla like a volcano waiting to explode. Anger that he had held back since he was locked away in that crystal prison by the first embodiment of evil he had ever encountered.
Mothra released a low empathetic chirp as she felt a thread of hopelessness running through Godzilla's emotions. He convinced himself that he was going to die and ultimately wished for death. Godzilla did not understand why humans kept trying to destroy him nor why malevolent creatures yearned for his death. Images of him allowing himself to die along with the sensation of never having been born stabbed at Mothra's senses until she finally spoke.
You are worthwhile and you deserve to live. I won't let you die. Mothra's telepathic voice scattered the shadows in Godzilla's mind and he focused on her maternal voice. His psychic manifestation on the mental plane gazed at her like a lost puppy. Even though he did not completely understand her words, Mothra managed to project those emotions.
Mothra gathered the mana-energy within her body and infused Godzilla's carapace with it. Strands of white energy danced from the insect's wing and jumped across the opening of the mutant's wound—giving his cells the strength to regenerate. Godzilla opened his eyes weakly and stared at the brightly-colored insect. He gasped as breath returned to his damaged lungs. He didn't understand why this creature was attempting to save his life. For the first time he felt as though someone or something cared for his well-being.
Why? He asked.
Because you have every right to live—just like every other living being on this planet. Mothra responded with reverence in her voice.
I'm hated… Godzilla's voice trailed off.
Not all humanity is hateful. Have faith in them. Humans are capable of showing great acts of compassion.
Godzilla felt Mothra's confidence snaking its way into his heart. Deep down he admired her affinity for humans—unfortunately he did not share that same affection for them. He felt so much anger for the horrors he had endured both at the hands and at the expense of humanity.
Mothra removed her wing from Godzilla's chest as he continued to mend, thanks to the energy she donated. With one act of kindness she planted a seed in Godzilla's memory containing a moment of compassion. As the sun peaked over the eastern horizon, Mothra raised her wings and took to the sky. Her golden scales refracted the sun's light as she climbed toward the clouds—leaving the battlefield behind.
Farewell Godzilla. May you find more peace in life than your father before you. Mothra spoke elegantly as her multi-colored wings faded behind cotton walls of white.