OK: Time to begin our climactic showdown. Enjoy the violence today, because tomorrow I'm off to visit family in Wales over the weekend, so no more 'til at least Monday. To be cruel, I'll leave you with a nice cliff hanger.

Only the name of the Husks is © Me.

THE GRYPHON DESCENDS

New York

All voices were hushed in the command centre of USMCF HQ, all eyes turned toward the large central screen.

"Any second now…" Jill whispered. Outside, the streets were empty except for the occasional vehicle and the USMCF vehicles rolling into place, including the last NT-20 unit. Squadrons of F-18 craft circled over the city.

Finally, the massive, dark shape flew into view, swooping across the skies to swerve down towards the city.

"Target sighted!" A USMCF technician shouted, "Ready to fire!"

The Gryphon snarled down at the gatherings of metal creatures in the streets below, circling around the highest point it could find- the Empire State Building. Perching itself on top, claws digging into the top of the structure, it gave a vicious roar, stretching out its wings as it sat atop the building.

"Open fire!" Jill ordered, "Take that thing down!"

Three F-18s swooped forward, the missiles falling from their wings and flaring to life, blasting forwards to strike the Gryphon in the face, the creature snarling furiously.

Leaping downwards, the Gryphon rose with a flap of its wings, the glass surfaces atop the world's most magnificent skyscraper exploding into showers of shimmering shards as the Gryphon rose up, teeth and tail lashing out at once to smash one of the planes to pieces, sending the other veering away across the skies until it fell, crashing into the street below in a burning explosion. Even as the third craft fired a pair of missiles, the Gryphon swooped up at it, one missile striking as the other arced through the air, slamming into the side of the Empire State Building in a burst of flame as, with a swing of its clawed paw, the Gryphon smashed the F-18 to burning pieces.

"That was the goddamn Empire State Building," Plaqueze breathed. "Jesus Christ…"

The Gryphon shot downward, its claws hung down as it aimed right for the USMCF forces.

A hail of missiles shot forth, D-3s colliding with its hide and digging in, the drills spinning as the other missiles burst into flame, the Gryphon snarling furiously as it hovered to a stop, a gust of wind from its wings sending a cluster of tanks flying back through the air, crashing into other rows of machinery even as the shells and missiles of the other weapons shot forth, exploding against its skin and consuming the Gryphon in fire.

The snarling demon fell to the ground, swinging its head round to knock another cluster of attackers away.

A D-3 shot into its throat, whirring to life as the Gryphon turned with a rumbling roar, exploding as the Gryphon leapt forward, crushing the launcher underfoot.

Two Apache Choppers descended behind it, waves of missile shooting forth as the Gryphon flapped its huge wings, shooting up and smashing the choppers to pieces in its jaws, rising up with a satisfied snarl before it took off down the street, its wings extended. The wings sliced clear through the sides of buildings as the Gryphon flew forwards through explosions and showers of debris, roaring in glee before it ascended, two more F-18s catching its tail.

Rocketing higher and higher into the air, the Gryphon rose far above the rooftops of New York, the tiny-looking island city extending in all directions around it, before it shot down, its extended claws smashing clean through the two pursuing jets.

Swooping over the rooftops, the Gryphon allows its four clawed feet to hang down, smashing through rooftops as it flew forwards, buildings crumbling into showers of mortar and steel or bursting into flames, glass and cement raining down into the streets as the Gryphon descended, turning sideways so that its wing cut into the streets below, the street bursting into flame as the wing sliced through a gas main.

With a wave of shells, a company of tanks approached from behind it, their efforts doing no more than annoying the beast. Leaping forth, the Gryphon was upon them, all of them crushed underfoot as, effortlessly, it took to the air once again.

As another hail of missiles shot at it from behind, the Gryphon flew straight forward, blasting into Times Square before it hit the ground, whirling around as its tail smashed clean through the Flat Iron Building, the monument crumbling as the Gryphon's tail cut a clear path through it, even as the missiles collided with it.

Suddenly, waves of firepower assailed it from all directions, the Gryphon howling furiously amidst the attack. MRLS launchers closed in from four different directions, the Gryphon swatting angrily at the attacking missiles.

"We've got it pinned in Times Square," a technician reported, "Harriers are closing in…"

The Gryphon suddenly shot up, the missiles bypassing it and colliding with two of the vehicles, consuming them in fire as the Gryphon dropped down, its tail flicking its third attacker away effortlessly, before flying up and descending on the fourth, easily crushing it.

Rising into the air again, the Gryphon arced over the rooftops, turning its attention suddenly, downwards, sniffing at the air as it stopped, hovering in midair for a moment, before changing its direction.

"It's heading right here," A technician yelled, "…Mach 0.7!"

"Evacuate the building!" Jill ordered, "Now!"

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The alarms blared to life, red light and deafening sirens filling the entire building.

"It's coming here," Jack realised. "No way in hell it's that smart."

"It's me," Tina realised, Jack stopping and standing still at the words. "Just like when it jumped at the troops in Detroit. It's here for me."

"You and Tomoyuki," Jack realised fearfully. "Come on!"

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The door to Tomoyuki's cell swung open, the Japanese man looking up as Tina and Jack burst into the room.

"It's coming," Tina announced.

"For us," Tomoyuki answered. "That's why it came to New York. You should have left me in here."

"Can we skip the noble-hero-sacrifice stuff?" Jack asked hurriedly, "If anything, this is a good time to start that plan we mentioned before."

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As the personnel poured out of the USMCF HQ Building, the Gryphon suddenly shot down out of the sky, crashing down into the street, folding out its wings as it hunched down with a low snarl.

Before anyone could react, the Gryphon swiped them aside with its paw, their terrified screams mixing with its savage roars as it advanced on the building, and its prey.

"And," Jack breathed as he, Tomoyuki and Tina reached the entrance, "We… are… screwed."

Turning its eyes down, the Gryphon's eyes lit up with murderous glee…

Before, at the end of the street, the ground suddenly bulged, shaking to the sides as the street splintered, falling away as the massive shape rose up beneath it, the mountain of earth falling to the ground as that thunderous, echoing roar sounded, full of power and unimaginable rage.

Godzilla's orange eyes blazed their fury as he stood to his full height, glaring down at the Gryphon with a malevolent snarl.

"Godzilla," Tina whispered. "He's here."

The Gryphon turned to Godzilla, snarling angrily as the earth-born monster took a step forward.

"Know what?" Jack spoke up, "Mortal danger aside: This is gonna be good!"

At the two ends of the long New York street, the two beasts glared their hatred.

The battle was on.

I hope you enjoyed that, because it's all you're getting until at least Monday. MWAHAHAHAHA!!! But when I get back: THERE SHALL BE VIOLENCE!!!

All Reviews Welcome.