Knoxville, City of Ash
Mike chewed on his coffee stirrer, staring in anxiousness as he watch the blip on the black screen move across its surface. Tochi was busy as well, monitoring the trajectory of the blip. That blip was not Kiryuu, nor was it King Ghidorah. That space dragon had already made it to Knoxville, lying waste to the Marble City. No, that blip was none other than Godzilla. Tochi pulled out the papers that printed out on the back wall. He turned back around and slid his chair on over towards Mike.
"Here we go, buddy," he said. "Check this out. Godzilla is making a B-line up the Mississippi."
"Kiryuu's either gonna be happy to see him or very pissed," said Mike.
"Probably both, knowing Kiryuu," said Tochi. "We better radio this in. Where is he?"
"Flying over Memphis now," said Mike. "He'd better hurry. Monster Zero's in Knoxville, tearing the whole town up right now."
"Actually, that's Maryville," said Tochi.
"I think they pronounce it as Mar-ville," Mike commented.
"Mar-vi—Mar-ville…" Tochi made the attempt at correcting himself. "Tennesseans are strange. It's like they speak a completely different language. And I thought learning English was hard enough."
"I constantly questioned what language the South spoke," Mike chuckled. He typed over the keyboard and called up the channel to Kiryuu. "Hey, Kiryuu, you read us?"
"Somewhat…" Kiryuu replied, his voice breaking up here and there because of the static. "There's some interference coming from the satellite. It might be from the irruptions, but I don't see how since they've been quite small. What is the update, Mike?"
"King Ghidorah's in Maryville," said Mike. "It's about 15 miles south of Knoxville, located where Tyson McGhee Airport is."
"That's their local airport," said Kiryuu. "I'm sure it's shut down because of the ash fall. A millimeter of ash from a volcano is enough to shut down an airport. No doubt though the whole city of Knoxville has been evacuated. I'm coming up on I-40 now and I am about to disengage from the Shirisagi."
"Roger that," said Tochi. "Good luck, Kiryuu."
"Thank you," the bio-mecha replied.
Mike glanced back at Tochi; a concerned look appeared upon his face.
"What's wrong?" Tochi asked.
"You think he can win?" Mike asked.
"Sure," Tochi nodded. "He's—he's Kiryuu. He has to win."
"Yeah," Mike nodded.
"He has to win," Tochi repeated, trying to remind himself to keep the hope up as well. They stared back at the screen in silence as they watched the blip that was Kiryuu fly towards the other blip that was King Ghidorah. Mike reached over behind the desk and grabbed a cooler. He opened it up and took two beer cans, throwing one to Tochi.
"We're not allowed to drink on the clock," Tochi said.
"This is for when Kiryuu beats King Ghidorah," said Mike. "We crack these open and toast."
"What if he doesn't?" Tochi asked.
"Then, we crack 'em open and drink ourselves stupid until the world ends," Mike said.
"Good enough," Tochi sighed. "Kick his ass, Kiryuu!"
Godzilla swam through the maze of waterways in this enormous land mass. This was the farthest inland he had ever traveled into in any area. This land where Kiryuu, his father, made his home was massive. He was more used to the island, more used to the small island where the little creatures lived. But this, this was different. He sensed his father above the water, heading in the same direction. The river that he traveled through grew narrower and shallower the farther he swam. Soon, he would run out of water to travel in and he would have to make landfall. No one, not even the little creatures and their strange devices impeded his course through this continent. Perhaps King Ghidorah had scared them off. Godzilla paused, finding that he could no longer swim through the water. His feet were dragging on the soft clay mud beneath him and it slowed him down. He had no choice; he had to lift his head up. Godzilla was smart; he knew that traveling through the rivers would conceal his movement to the tiny creatures. At least this time he was obeying his father's wishes. Dealing with those tiny creatures would slow him down even more. But now, he had to raise his head. Godzilla lifted only his head partially out of the water, his eyes glancing around. Above him was a dark gray cloud and all around gray-white specks fell from the sky. He raised his head up further and glanced around again. So far, so good, and no tiny creatures. He was in a wooded area with sparse signs of civilization. There was a road though, but it was mostly gravel and not well kept up. He had to plow his way through strange stone walls barring his way through the river he traveled in every few 50 miles or so. There was a whole chain of them he had to go through straight from the large river he swam up from. The last one he went through had a scent of something that hungered him. Now, he was in this wooded area. That scent was still there though. Godzilla pulled himself up completely out of the water and stepped onto the land. And then, he saw what he smelled and his mouth began to water.
There they were, two rising coolant, bowl-shaped towers of a nuclear power plant. Godzilla glanced around for a moment and then glanced up. His father was not here. He sensed that his father was closer to King Ghidorah than he was. Perhaps his father will defeat King Ghidorah before he gets there and he could be there to congratulate him. Godzilla rumbled pleasantly when he crept slowly closer to the nuclear power plant. So far so good and no tiny creatures. No one was around.
King Ghidorah really did scare them off, Godzilla thought. Father will need me. I need to be in top shape.
He finally approached the building that housed the reactor core. Punching his claw through the roof, he grabbed the reactor core just as the sirens sounded. Godzilla understood what they meant, having done this many times before. Usually it meant that the reactor core could go critical, but he would just drain the reactor of its energy before that would happen. He absorbed the energy through his claws drawing in its power to fuel his own. He was starving and that long trek across the globe had tired him out. Godzilla closed his ruby-brown eyes and concentrated as he absorbed the radioactive energy into his body. Soon, the reactor core was dry. He reached back in and put the reactor back in its building. He felt stronger again and he reared back and bellowed powerfully. Godzilla sniffed the air and rumbled. The snack was over; it was now time for him to return to business. His father needed him.
"Shit!" Mike cried, tapping the screen. "Godzilla just attacked a reactor."
"What?" Tochi asked. "Tennessee has nuclear power? I thought they still ran off of wood."
Mike growled and shook his head. Then, he turned around and smacked Tochi on the back of the head.
"Ow!"
"They have two nuclear power plants, one in Watts Bar, and the other is in Sequoyah," said Mike. "Looks like Goji hit the Sequoyah plant."
"He must have been hungry since his trip over there," said Tochi. "Radio Kiryuu if you can get him."
"Kiryuu," Mike began. Static answered him back. "Kiryuu!"
"Mike…" began Kiryuu's voice, cracking up on the radio. "What's….ong…?"
"Godzilla hit the Sequoyah Nuclear Power Plant," said Mike.
"Can….ear you."
"I said Godzilla hit the Sequoyah plant!" Mike shouted. "Kiryuu?"
He leaned back, hearing nothing more than static over the speaker.
"Great," he sighed.
"Kiryuu will know what to do," said Tochi.
Katsura sighed as she continued to stare at the sleeping Gordon Knight. Io and Maria sat with her. Their minds were on Kiryuu and the fight, their minds were on Gordon. His breathing was becoming very faint. Katsura closed her eyes and tried to see if she could sense Kiryuu's location. She was having trouble being able to.
"Has Kiryuu made it to Tennessee yet?" Maria asked.
"I think so," said Katsura. "I can barely sense him. Will might know more than I do. Mike and Tochi are keeping an eye on things from the other base."
"The suspense is killing me," Maria sighed. "And Gordon…"
"This whole project has been his life," Katsura said. "And it's caused him so much grief but at the same time so much joy. It's sad though that he would be here instead of the control room. It's not right to watch Kiryuu fly off to fight some monster without Gordon watching him from the control room. But I think Kiryuu's latest lie was the final straw."
She glanced back just as Maria got up and turned on the TV set.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"I'll keep it low," said Maria. "But I gotta know what's going on."
Maria switched the channel over to the national news and sat back. Io scooted up to watch the news. Though she could not understand one word the reporter stated, but she saw the images well enough to know what was going on. They were images of King Ghidorah making his way east and laying waste to everything in his path.
"Most of the people in East Tennessee have evacuated out before Monster Zero made it to Maryville," said the reporter. "But at this time, the monster seems to be setting its eyes on Knoxville. We just got another report saying from eye witnesses that Godzilla is also heading for Knoxville. The monster was spotted just south of Chattanooga, emerging from the Tennessee River near Sequoyah. The monster attacked the nuclear power plant in Sequoyah, draining the reactor core of its radiation. Little damage other than that has been reported. And of course the Utah Foundation's Mechagodzilla is flying towards Knoxville as well in order to fight the horrid Monster Zero. The automaton of biosyntech is flying over Kingston, following Monster Zero's path of destruction."
Then, the scene changed as the reporter started up a new topic that caught the attention of both Maria and Katsura. They saw the image of Kiryuu, helmless and moving his mouth as if he was talking in the camera.
"Speaking of Mechagodzilla," the reporter continued. "We just got some reports from various sources about the AI of the giant mecha. Built by Intel, Mechagodzilla's AI, known as K-I, is the most powerful computer in the world. Containing four Quantum processors, each one capable of processing in the terabyte range, K-I has out done every powerful military computer in the world. And listen to this, it's sentient."
"What the hell?" Maria breathed.
"That's right folks," the reporter continued. "Mechagodzilla is sentient…"
Maria shook her head and flipped to another channel. Another reporter came on and another image of Kiryuu helmless was on the screen.
"Kiryuu," said the reporter. "Meaning machine dragon in Japanese is the first AI reportedly who has passed the Turing Test. Therefore, it—or he—because of the masculine voice the machine was programmed with—has become the first sentient computer. A Japanese report came in just today after the secret about Kiryuu's sentient AI was out that a press conference with Kiryuu on camera saying that he refused to use the government satellites to monitor Godzilla. Kiryuu vocalized his refusal to the Prime Minister of Japan nearly three years ago. Which has lead to many experts wondering just why did Kiryuu attack Tokyo after being released to fight Godzilla? Was it bugs in its system, or was it the fact that Kiryuu just decided to disobey his masters?"
"Oh God, no," Katsura breathed. "How did this happen? Who told?"
"I know I didn't," Maria said. "I love Kiryuu to much to do something like this to him."
"Now the question is," continued the reporter. "When Kiryuu defeats Monster Zero, will he remain on our side?"
"Of course he'll remain on our side!" Maria cried.
She glanced down when she heard a slight grunt from Gordon as he shifted deeper into slumber.
"Be quiet," hissed Katsura.
"Sorry," Maria whispered. "I just can't believe this!"
"Who told?" Katsura asked. "Who?"
She got up and went to the intercom, pressing the button to call Will Penter.
"Will," began Katsura. "Will, the secret's out."
"This is undoubtedly the best kept secret since Area 51," the reporter continued. "Though skeptics are demanding that Mechagodzilla retake the Turing Test, believing that the first one may have been forged as a hoax. Government officials are demanding the same thing. When Kiryuu is through with Monster Zero, he will have to take the Turing Test again."
"That's bad," said Will. "That's really bad."
"Can we cover it up?" Katsura asked.
"Not this time," began a raspy voice from the bed. Katsura glanced back to see that Gordon was awake. "No. This time, he'll do what they—ask. If they—want him to retake the Turing Test, then—he will."
"Gordon," began Katsura. "Did you have something to do with this?"
"I did," he replied. "And Kiryuu knows too. I did this—so that he can—become what he needs to become. He doesn't have—the Utah Foundation to hide behind anymore. He—owns the Utah Foundation now."
"Gordon, how could you?" Maria asked.
"I did what I felt was right and justified," Gordon replied back, using that statement Kiryuu had used often to explain a lot of things he has done. "Now, don't look down on me like that. You—realize how much trouble I would—be in if I hadn't done it this early in the game?"
"They think he might take over the world, Gordon!" Maria cried.
"And he's very well capable of doing such an act, Maria," Gordon chuckled. "If you haven't noticed."
"He's not gonna do that," she said defensively.
"Now he's not," Gordon agreed. "Because they're gonna keep an eye on him for now on."
"You planned this from the beginning!" Maria growled. "You horrible old man!"
"I'm—doing this for Kiryuu's own good," Gordon sighed.
"His own good," Maria growled. "Mierda…"
She grunted when she saw the satisfied look on Gordon's face. Maria stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Katsura sighed and sat back down on the chair. Io just sat quietly. She did not want to say anything right now. Though she did not understand most of what was said, she understood the tone of the conversation. This was not something she wanted to interrupt.
"It had to be done, no matter—if you wanted it or not," Gordon said. "Now—let's just see—how Kiryuu will fair against King Ghidorah."
"I wish you wouldn't have done this, Gordon," Katsura said. "And without my knowing, without planning—without…"
"I had this planned," said Gordon. "But yes, it was without your knowing. But Kiryuu already knows. And—yes he's—upset about it. But he will continue on no matter what."
Kiryuu narrowed his eyes when sensed that his connection had been lost. He had a contact from his 'Shadowrunner' who was trying to give him an important message. Something about his shields. Kiryuu growled again as he tried to connect again. It was useless. He could not get a proper signal with all of the volcanic activity going on. It seemed to get worse the closer he got to Knoxville. Kiryuu glanced down for a moment to see where he was. He followed I-40 directly and he found that he now was flying over Farragut. The damage around here seemed not as bad as he thought. Farragut was empty though as everyone around the area of Knoxville had evacuated before King Ghidorah arrived. Kiryuu slowed and flew over to Kingston Pike, landing in the street.
Kiryuu…
Kiryuu flinched for a moment when he heard that voice. Again, that was not Biollante.
Kiryuu, why are you in Farragut? King Ghidorah asked. Come to Knoxville. I'm waiting. I'm circling over the university right now. I wish to speak to you before we fight.
"Speak to me?" Kiryuu asked. "What for?"
There's so many things I wish to share before I destroy you, he replied. Come. Come and see what I have to show you.
"Tell me your plan," Kiryuu sighed. "And then you say: 'before I destroy you, there's something you should know'. A cliché villain statement I have ever heard."
Quit mocking me and just come, King Ghidorah growled. We'll have a better view from here of the renovations I've made to the Smokies.
Kiryuu sighed and once more leapt off into the sky, following Kingston Pike all the way to the University of Tennessee's campus. Kiryuu landed in the Strip near the McDonald's and stood there, glancing up just as the magnificent form of King Ghidorah landed a few paces away from him. Kiryuu once more felt his fear crawl up when he saw the golden dragon walk gingerly over to him. Knoxville also seemed to have survived much of the damage caused by the volcanic activity in the Smokies. A few buildings here and there were toppled and the rest was covered in a fine coating of ash. Ash continued to fall from the sky like sickly-gray flakes of snow. As Kiryuu continued to stand there, even he began to have a fine coat of gray on him as the ash fell upon his head. And this began to worry Kiryuu even more. Just a sprinkling of ash would all that is needed to mess with his boosters. Kiryuu even wondered if his gravity generators would work in volcanic ash. Kiryuu had a feeling that he was grounded.
Worried that you cannot fly because of the ash fall? King Ghidorah asked. No worries. I prefer a ground fight than an airborne one.
This ash fall may hinder my speed as well, Kiryuu thought and then kicked himself mentally, realizing that King Ghidorah must have heard him. Kiryuu tried to keep his other thoughts about what particular weapon he had with him away from King Ghidorah.
The gold dragon just chuckled as he came closer to Kiryuu.
Ah, Kiryuu, Ghidorah began as he sat down on his haunches like a great cat. Look around at my beautiful city. This is the perfect place to set up shop, no? Look at what I have done to the mountains. Do you see that glow there?
Kiryuu silently walked around the dragon and looked towards the southeast. There he saw the Smoky Mountains. They were tall, jagged, angled, and black against the horizon. He saw the glow of the mouth of the Clingman's Dome volcano as it continued to spew its fire and ash cloud all around the Knoxville area. Kiryuu glanced up to hear the sound of thunder and saw the flicker of lightning in the clouds. Though it was thundering, no rain fell, just cold, gray ash. It was static electricity caused by moving ash in the current of the wind. King Ghidorah shifted and turned around, placing a claw on Kiryuu's shoulder. The biomechanical Godzilla jerked at the unwanted touch of his enemy's paw on him and his eyes roved around.
Just think, when I'm through, began King Ghidorah. This whole world will look just as dead as this city. Dead—gray, smoldering like the volcano in the Smokies. I suppose the meaning of their name has changed, huh? No longer called the Smokies because they look all smoky from the haze, now it's because they are smoking.
"Get your hands off of me," Kiryuu growled at the dragon as he shook the claw free from his shoulder. Again King Ghidorah just laughed.
Kiryuu, he chuckled. I'm not done. There's lots more to show you. Turn around and look to the northwest.
Kiryuu did so and glanced towards where the clouds grew thinner.
Do you see over that ridge? King Ghidorah asked. You know what's in that direction?
"Oak Ridge," said Kiryuu. "The birthplace of the atomic bomb."
How interesting that you are here and that little town is over there, he chuckled again. Edward Teller, isn't that his name? The creator of the hydrogen bomb. Didn't he work on the Manhattan Project as well?
"He did," Kiryuu replied. "Along with Oppenheimer."
That city, began King Ghidorah. Has another secret. Yes, if it wasn't the City Behind the Fence, you wouldn't have the powers that you have today. You wouldn't be as big as you are either. That city even gives you the plasma you need to fuel yourself. It is your lifeblood, Kiryuu. You owe everything to that city—that little—Podunk town that's barely even noticed by most people here. Doesn't it anger you that if it weren't for that little town, you and your dear son would still be just normal dinosaurs? You wouldn't have died that horrible death. It's all that little city's fault, isn't it?
"If Oak Ridge had not built the bomb, someone else would have," Kiryuu replied. "So, it really does not matter who built it—it would have happened anyways and I still would probably have been mutated no matter what happened."
Oh, Kiryuu, King Ghidorah sighed, wagging all three heads. You're just no fun anymore.
Kiryuu turned his head towards the dragon slightly: "I'm not afraid of you anymore, either. Now, what secret is that city hiding?"
I shall never tell, King Ghidorah replied. Besides, it wouldn't be much use to you. Especially after I kill you and your son.
Kiryuu sensed the attack coming on and he leapt up into the air before the claw came down upon him. King Ghidorah reacted swiftly just as Kiryuu leapt into the air and grabbed his metallic tail. The space dragon spun around and slung his opponent into Neyland Stadium. Kiryuu collided with the bleachers on the other side of the stadium and his body toppled the Jumbotron. His fall reduced most of the Vol's stadium to rubble. Kiryuu glanced up, trying to get up off of his back. But he soon found himself pinned down by King Ghidorah's claws.
My dear Kiryuu…Ghidorah chuckled. I shall not go down so easily like those other monsters you've faced. But you knew that didn't you?
King Ghidorah grabbed Kiryuu's neck and raised him up towards his center head. Kiryuu felt the claws of the dragon dig deep into his mind and he felt his body freeze once more in terror. He could not move as he stared into those red eyes of King Ghidorah.
Kiryuu! Biollante called. Don't let him get to you!
Still have that guard dog to keep you company, King Ghidorah asked.
Kiryuu growled, extending out the silvery bladed tendrils from the spaces around his armor. They morphed together, forming one large blade behind his waist. Kiryuu growled again and thrusted the blade into King Ghidorah's chest. The space dragon let loose a wail agony and dropped his captive onto the ashy ground. Kiryuu glanced up for a moment and leapt into the air, grabbing two of King Ghidorah's heads, taking the dragon up into the air with him and then flinging him down into the rubble below.
Now that's my plaything! Biollante cackled.
Kiryuu landed onto his feet just as the space dragon growled and rose up from the rubble. Kiryuu kicked off the ground again, activating his gravity generators. Kiryuu slammed his fist into King Ghidorah's chest, knocking the dragon back again. Just as Ghidorah's tails whipped passed him, Kiryuu grabbed hold of them and flung the dragon again, sending him flying towards Hess Hall.
Malcho felt the tremor of the ground underneath him. He raised his feathery head up and shook it.
"It's obvious, muchachos," he began. "The fight has begun."
"I can't stand here, waiting for whatever outcome may be," Manda sighed, shifting around in his pot. "And this water is gettin' cold! Malcho, change me back now!"
"Alright, alright," the Feathered Serpent sighed. He snapped his fingers and Manda returned to his true form. "Come on. Let's see how Kiryuu is doing."
"Hey!" called Jo. "What about me?"
"Jo," Manda began. "It's too dangerous."
"I'm not staying here," she crossed her arms in defiance. "You're not leaving without me."
"For once, I agree with el puto," Malcho sighed. "It is too dangerous and if Manda and I have to get into the fight—what could happen to you? Stay here. The shield will protect you."
"You both could get killed!" Jo cried.
"No we won't," Manda growled as he pulled his Magnum. It was a modified Magnum, a weapon not regulated by the police force.
"And what the hell is that?" Malcho asked.
"My Caster Magnum," Manda chuckled. "Modified—55 caliber—shoots—these…" He held up one of the shells that his gun fired to Malcho. The Great Dragon ran a claw over them and sensed a peculiar energy coming from them.
"Enchanted bullets?" he asked. "With the lack of Mana energy you have been reduced to enchanting your bullet shells with spells. Of course with the world changing, you soon won't have to enchant objects to cast powerful spells."
"Oh, yeah, like you're the one to talk with that medallion around your neck," Manda snorted. "You can't even shape-shift back into your human form without it. And that enchanted storm you cast above my head—barely even a class 2. You're powers are just as weakened as mine."
"Not with the tower behind me!"
"That tower only has a radius of 30 square miles," Manda sighed. "Basically, the limit of the shield itself. Once you go outside of it, you're power will be greatly reduced. You'll have to rely on that medallion of yours to even muster up a gust of wind."
"Gringo!" Malcho roared, his feathers fluffing up with his rage. "We'll see about that! You stay here, chica. The pendejo and I have some business with a hydra. Luckily the shield response to he who casts it. So, we'll be able to get back in if the battle turns bad."
"Meaning if Kiryuu doesn't win you'll be flying with your tail between your legs, and hiding under a rock until King Ghidorah gets here," Manda sighed. "Figures. All bark and no bite. That's Malcho."
"I'll turn you back into a turtle, baboso," Malcho barred his fangs.
"No, you won't," Manda sighed. "You need some support if Ghidorah decides to eye us for a fight."
"Aye caramba," the Feathered Serpent sighed. "Very well, culo, afuera. If we fly there now, we may be able to make it there before Godzilla does."
"Godzilla is coming now?" Manda asked. "How the hell do you know?"
"I can sense him," Malcho replied. "Now, come on. ¡Vayamos!"
"Good luck," Jo called as she watched the two dragons fly off. Manda turned slightly and saluted. The two dragons flew through the shield, causing it to ripple. They swiftly flew southeast, following Western Avenue and landed just near the New Sentinel building. Manda glanced up as the ash fell. The air itself was a deathly cold. Malcho, being a Feathered Serpent, shivered in the cold. His kind loved the warm rainforests better than a frozen, ash-covered, lifeless wintry city. Though, he had lived in this area long enough to withstand even the blizzard of '93. But something about this made his old bones tremble. He glanced down at his feathery, colorful plumage and noticed a thin gray covering over them. It seemed the whole world itself, including him, was loosing its color. He began to worry about the fact that he was being weighted down by the ash. Malcho glanced over and saw King Ghidorah lying in the rubble that was Hess Hall. And there was Kiryuu, standing there, waiting for him to rise.
"Ghidorah isn't dead," Manda rumbled.
"Sí," agreed Malcho. "Kiryuu knows that though."
Kiryuu felt exhausted after that throw. He had a feeling that the ash was interfering with some of his electronics. Ash and machines did not mix well.
Weakening already? King Ghidorah asked, chuckling as he rose himself out of the rubble. The great golden dragon turned around, grinning sinisterly as he faced Kiryuu once more. Kiryuu's eyes widened when he saw that none of those attacks even phased Ghidorah. He let loose a powerful bellow and charged for King Ghidorah, pulling his fist back. His syntech blades sprouted out from between his plates as he thrusted his fist forward. King Ghidorah leapt into the air as the blades swung around—and he came back down on top of Kiryuu, grabbing hold of the green dreadlocks. He knocked Kiryuu flat onto his stomach and pulled the mecha's head back by his locks. Kiryuu let loose a powerful scream of agony.
Maybe you should have worn your helm! King Ghidorah chuckled as he pulled Kiryuu's head back.
Those cords of his—they were sensitive, though they had developed some toughness from prolonged exposure, they were still sensitive. King Ghidorah squeezing them in his claws and pulling them taunt was making the pain worse. Stars filled his vision as pain shook his body. Then, Kiryuu blacked out, his body falling limp.
I'm surprised none of the enemies you had faced ever tried to pull your hair, Kiryuu, he smirked. Like I said, I am not like those other creatures you've faced.
King Ghidorah licked his lips as his center head drew closer to Kiryuu.
Now, let's see what else you can do.
No! Biollante called. You will not have him!
Still guarding him? King Ghidorah asked, entering Kiryuu's mind once more. Kiryuu was lying face down in the middle of the void that was his CPU.
I will continue to guard him, Biollante hissed. He's mine! Do you understand, he's all mine!
We'll see about that, dear, King Ghidorah chuckled as black bars came up around Biollante. He smiled as she gripped her bars with her claws and her tentacles, shaking them. Biollante let loose a roar, barring her many racks of teeth. The enormous plant-gator reared back, spraying her acid at the bars that bound her. Though, it was a fruitless attempt. King Ghidorah had her locked in tight.
Mark my words, dragon, Biollante growled. I will find a way out.
King Ghidorah just chuckled as he glanced down again at the fallen Kiryuu. He picked him up in his claw and rolled him over to where Kiryuu was facing him. He leaned his central head down to him and whispered into the mecha's ear.
Godzilla heard the cry of agony and he stood there stunned when he saw the golden, three-headed dragon standing over his father.
Father! His mind screamed. Godzilla's lips curled back into a horrible snarl as he began to approach King Ghidorah. His back spines lit up bright electric, blue-white and opened his mouth up—revealing a glowing nimbus forming deep inside his throat. Just as King Ghidorah glanced up, he found himself blasted back by a spray of superheated, blue-white gas. The giant space dragon was blasted back, his back making contact with the Henley St. Bridge. His body rolled over, and splashed into the Tennessee River.
Father! Godzilla rushed over to him and knelt down at his side. Godzilla called out to Kiryuu, trying desperately to awaken him. Kiryuu seemed lifeless. Godzilla shook his head again.
Why does this keep happening? He asked himself. Every time—it seems he goes down like this.
Well, well, well, began a cold voice deep inside his mind. It sent a shiver up his spine. Godzilla looked up to see King Ghidorah rising out of the Tennessee River. It was like that blast did not even faze him. The prodigal son is here. I've been waiting.
Godzilla rose up, claws curled into fists. He bellowed out a call of challenge to the dragon, his spines flickering blue. King Ghidorah was going to pay for harming his father. Godzilla gave him a foul look. Then, he ignited his back spines again and prepared for another shot. Rearing his head back, he fired upon the dragon, but something blurry got in the way. The ray impacted on something that flew in front of King Ghidorah. When Godzilla was finished, he saw what moved in front of the dragon. There, with his right arm up and a purple, electrical shield extending out from it was his father. Godzilla was dumbfounded. His father leapt up from the ground and halted the shot he fired from reaching King Ghidorah with his energy shield. Why would he do that? As the metallic arm moved away, Godzilla swallowed. Kiryuu's face had his patented, sinister grin, but the expression just seemed twisted—wrong. Kiryuu's eyes were wide and he had a psychotic look on his face. Then, Godzilla saw the color. They were red—not gold.
Well, it looks like someone doesn't want you to harm me, King Ghidorah chuckled. Kiryuu, do me a favor. Complete what you were programmed to do. Eliminate him.
Kiryuu did not even reply. He just dipped his head in acknowledgement. Then, he fired his forward rocks at Godzilla. Godzilla raised his arms up to protect his face from the shrapnel that exploded out. Kiryuu fired the sidewinders, the heat-seekers arched over and collided with Godzilla's sides. Godzilla found himself in a billow of smoke and pain, letting loose a horrible roar. What was his father doing? He was locked in blinding smoke, coughing slightly as the debris tickled his throat. He glanced around for a moment, letting another bellow escape his throat. Then, he felt something explode over his head and he fell back. Godzilla shook his head slightly, feeling a mixture of metal and fire pelt his hide. He let loose another growl and glanced up, getting up off the ground.
Get him…
Godzilla's lit up when he felt a punch to his lower jaw, sending him flying back towards I-40. The monster's size took out an overpass leading off towards Western Avenue. Godzilla's head swam for a moment and stars filled his eyes as he tried to get up. As his vision cleared he found his father standing there with that wild look in his eyes. Part of his arm was exposed and two enormous syntech blades jut out from the back of his hand. Godzilla let loose a painful growl, begging his father to stop hurting him. Kiryuu jerked his shoulder and several syntech blades exploded out from the ground, thrusting up through Godzilla's stomach. Kiryuu reared back, pulling his exposed arm back, ready to slice his son with his blades. Godzilla's eyes widened and his mind screamed out. He had to get his father away from him. He had to wake his father up somehow. Godzilla ignited his back and grimaced, opening his jaws. He did not want to do this, he did not want to fire upon his own flesh and blood. Kiryuu's eyes blinked for a moment, a sign that there was some life still inside of him, trying to fight King Ghidorah. He had to jolt the rest of him out as well. Godzilla turned his head up and fired upon his father. Kiryuu's blades withdrew and like a blur, the bio-mecha dodged the attack. Godzilla cursed himself inside as he rose up from the ground, painfully holding his stomach. He glanced around for a moment, breathing heavily as blood splattered out of his wound.
Where is he? He thought. He had to stay alert, knowing that his father was lurking somewhere. After all this time, he knew his father would never do anything like this anymore. His father would never try to truly kill his own son. His father remembered who he was, despite the fact that he was now partially a machine. Godzilla had his father back, no matter how far apart they were. He knew this. His father loved him. His father would never want to kill him—not after that night in Tokyo. It only happened once, but it would never happen again. Godzilla let loose a sickly roar, calling his father out. Perhaps knowing that Kiryuu was causing his son pain would snap his father out of King Ghidorah's control. He knew it had to be King Ghidorah who was making his father do this. Godzilla turned and faced the golden dragon, noticing that King Ghidorah once more rested on his belly. Apparently, pitting father against son was a bit of an entertainment for him. King Ghidorah grinned, becoming amused when he saw Godzilla once more make an attempt to attack him again. Then, Godzilla heard something leap out at him and he felt a flat kick to his head. Once more the dinosaur was sent flying backwards, only to be bounced up into the air again by a knee. Kiryuu's movements were so fast he could barely even see him as he attacked. Godzilla blinked again as Kiryuu made a full inverted roundhouse, the back of his heal colliding with the back of his son's neck.
This fight is so one-sided, King Ghidorah snorted in boredom. Kiryuu! Finish the job. I grow tired of this dance. Do what you were supposed to do that night in Tokyo. Decapitate him!
Kiryuu once more did not reply. He merely dipped his head to his master and glanced back just as Godzilla rose up from the rubble of buildings, dust, and volcanic ash.
Kiryuu! Biollante cried. Don't! You need him! Stop this!
Come on, father, Godzilla thought as he rose shakingly back onto his feet. I'm your only son. You have to snap out of this!
Kiryuu ripped more of the metal and rubber from his right forearm, exposing more of the syntech underneath. The silver and blue metallic muscle looked dull in the muted, gray light. Godzilla bellowed again, trying to shake his father back to reality. Kiryuu's blood-red eyes narrowed and a fiendish, wild grin appeared on his face. His son charged his back up again, building the blue energy into his throat for another blast. Kiryuu growled, setting his jaw. It was just like Tokyo, just like that night. Godzilla was setting a trap for his father. He knew that if his father shoved the blades down his throat in attempt to kill him, he might wake up. Godzilla spread his legs wide, gripping the ground with his feet. He reared back, ready to fire upon his father. Then, he felt something sharp thrust its way down his throat. Godzilla glanced down and found his father's syntech trunk sticking out of his jaws. The glow disappeared and the spines relaxed. Godzilla growled and bit hard down upon the syntech, hoping to cause pain to Kiryuu and awaken him that way. Saliva dripped out of his mouth as the blades slid down his esophagus. He felt one blade poke at a sensitive spot at the back of his throat, preparing to piece its way through his tender, pink, tissue.
What are you waiting for? King Ghidorah growled. Do it! Make his head roll!
Father…Godzilla thought.
Kiryuu! Biollante cried, shaking her bars. She bit into one of them trying to twist it loose with her sharp teeth. Kiryuu! Stop! Please! We can't let him win. You and I, we're supposed to beat him so we can be together. You can't him make you kill your own son! Fight his control, Kiryuu!
She saw the mental image of King Ghidorah in Kiryuu's virtual world, standing over the fallen body of Kiryuu. He held in his claws Kiryuu's head. The way he was standing over the body almost seemed perverted—especially with that satisfied look on his faces. Biollante let loose a roar and finally pulled the bars loose. King Ghidorah glanced up as the enormous plant-gator leapt out of her cage, talking him under her great bulk.
Outside, Kiryuu's eyes blinked and he just froze. His eyes appeared to clear for a moment, turning a slight orange color. He glanced around. His body could not move. He had his arm extended out, his blades forced down Godzilla's throat. Godzilla also froze, not wanting to move to try and yank the horrible, sharp mess from his throat just yet. The last thing he wanted to do was tear up his insides with his father's blades. And so, he just stood there. Then, he felt the syntech twitch and one of the blades sliced something internally. Godzilla let loose a painful gargle, and tensed his body up. Kiryuu's head jerked back and he bellowed out a roar. Godzilla heard the roar and muffled slightly. The bellow was not a cry of triumph, or a cry to make a finishing blow to his opponent, it was a cry of agony. Godzilla could sense that there was something going on inside of Kiryuu. His brown eyes turned slightly over to King Ghidorah and noticed the space dragon flinched for a moment. Though he could not see what it was, he had a feeling someone was fighting—someone was helping to bring his father out of his trance.
King Ghidorah growled, glaring heatedly at Biollante.
You will pay for that, witch! He bellowed at her. How dare you break away some of my hold on him.
I told you, you oversized, bat-winged, three-headed pansy, Biollante snarled back at him. Kiryuu is my toy! Only I can have him. And I will fight anyone who dares to take him away from me.
King Ghidorah's two outer heads came up around Biollante's neck and bit directly into her. He let loose his breath weapon while the two heads were clamped down and sent an electrical bite through her body. Ericka let loose a wail of agony. Her own syntech sprouted out of her body, forming into blades similar to Kiryuu's, only green in color, thrusting deep into the dragon's sides. She reared back again and sprayed her acid upon the center head of King Ghidorah. The other two heads released their grips and all three heads bellowed out in anguish. Biollante felt her chance and her green lips pulled back across her many racks of jagged, dagger teeth. She leaned down and took King Ghidorah's necks into her jaws. She pulled away and began to drag him across the floor. King Ghidorah glanced up and painfully wiggled his body upright as Biollante dragged him. His red eyes narrowed and Biollante let go of him, screaming. She glanced back at him, controlling herself, feeling wave after wave of his own power press up against her. She turned around and grimaced at him, trying desperately to fight him with her own mind.
You want to play mental games, dragon? Biollante asked.
You are not even worth my time, little brat, King Ghidorah growled.
I'll show you! She called, spraying again her acid at him. The dragon dodged her attack and swooped in, swinging both of his tails around, knocking her to the ground.
My dear little Ericka Munson, King Ghidorah chuckled. While your powers are indeed impressive, they pale in comparison to mine. Your sweet little fetish and desires to Kiryuu will not save your or him from obliteration.
We'll see about that, Ericka sneered at the dragon.
King Ghidorah let loose a bellow and fired upon her, sending wave after wave of his electrical breath upon her. Biollante growled as she tried to dodge each attack. She glanced back again, seeing the still form of Kiryuu. He started to twitch for a moment, his fingers wiggling with life. Biollante smiled, and looked at King Ghidorah. She had to continue to fight. The more she fought with King Ghidorah's mind, the weaker the hold he had on Kiryuu. She swung her tendrils around and reared back, her lower half forming into two stout legs.
Yes, my dear, have at me, King Ghidorah growled as he reared back onto his hind legs as well. The two bodies collided with each other, claws scraping, jaws crushing. Acid and lighting sprayed everywhere. And as they were fighting, Kiryuu lifted his head up. He glanced back and saw Biollante underneath King Ghidorah. She looked fatigued, rich ichor poured from her open wounds. He rose up wearily and opened his chest. She had King Ghidorah distracted and Kiryuu saw his opportunity. A blue beam irrupted from his chest and clashed into King Ghidorah. The golden dragon felt his mind being ripped from Kiryuu's and he let out a bellow, falling down onto the rubble of what was left of the University of Tennessee. Inside Kiryuu's virtual world, Kiryuu smirked with satisfaction.
"Thank you, Ericka," he said to her. Kiryuu paused for a moment and found Biollante laying there on the ground, still like a stone. He approached her and knelt down. He heard her breathe. She was in pain. "Ericka?"
Kiryuu, Biollante breathed. N—nice shot.
"Thanks to you," Kiryuu smiled. "Are you alright?"
What does it look like? She asked, her form shrinking down to her human form. "Kiryuu, I'm—I'm sorry. I'm sorry that—that I—did horrible things to you. I—I just wanted you to—to love me too like you loved Maria and Katsura. I—want to be—apart of your family."
"Ericka…" Kiryuu rumbled.
"I know," she said. "I can't. I—used you. It's funny, only—at the brink of death do I see my errors. Look, I—I don't belong here anymore. You killed me—you set me free from what I was—but I wanted to stay. I forced myself to stay. Before I go—I want you to know that I love you too—I just had a hard time showing it correctly. So—I want to give you a gift that will help you defeat King Ghidorah for good. Take me in your arms."
Kiryuu took her into his arms and held her close. Ericka raised a hand up to his face and leaned in, kissing him on the lips. Kiryuu closed his eyes as she kissed him. He felt an energy being passed from her to him with that kiss and he opened them to see her body begin to fade away. He felt her power pass on to him and his mind was suddenly opened up new sensations that he had never felt before. Kiryuu dropped to the ground and gasped. And then, he awoke from his dream. Kiryuu's eyes blinked and he stared in horror when he found his right arm's syntech shoved down into his son's throat. And Godzilla looked up at him, his eyes welling up with tears of pain. Kiryuu slowly retracted them from his son, trying hard not to cut him. As the blades left Godzilla, the great mutant fell to his knees, coughing up blood and bile from his stomach.
"Son!" Kiryuu cried as he rushed over to him. He held his son in his arms, holding Godzilla's head to his chest. Godzilla's eyes drooped low, his strength began to fail him.
"I—I didn't mean it," Kiryuu gasped, feeling a sob come on. "I—I didn't mean to hurt you…"
"I know…father," Godzilla glanced up at him. "But—I hoped that you would so that you could—awaken from your nightmare. King Ghidorah was controlling you like—Biollante controlled me. Please, don't be mad at me."
"For what?" Kiryuu asked.
"I stole energy from—one of those buildings," Godzilla replied. "I had to—so I could be strong to face King Ghidorah and help you."
"Look around, son," Kiryuu began, swallowing another sob. "This whole place is dead. I—I don't think anyone will be living here for a long while. So—I don't think they would care. I know I don't. Besides—they've got other ways of getting power. What's one reactor? Son, rest for a moment. The dragon is not dead yet."