An Unwanted Visitor

Manda threw himself away from Alan, gripping his head tightly as he felt a painful, echoing ring inside his head. He let loose a painful bellow, coiling up into a tight ball. Alan gasped as he awoke, glancing down at the shivering blue mass of scales and fins before him. His eyes were opened wide in shock.

"What the fuck did you do to me?!" he shouted, glaring at Manda. As he saw Manda shiver and twitch, however, his anger seemed to fade away.

"Hey..." he muttered. "Are you alright?"

The door opened and Kiryuu stepped through, his eyes wide. He had heard Manda's cry through speakers he was listening with, and the surveillance camera caught the fall.

"What happened?!" Kiryuu asked, glancing down at the fallen Dragon. "Marx! Marx!"

Manda rose his head up, shaking as he got up. He glanced back at Kiryuu's holographic avatar.

"What's in Knoxville?" he asked.

"Excuse me?" Kiryuu asked.

"Knoxville…" Manda began. "Knoxville, Tennessee. What does that sleepy, little city have for you, Kiryuu?"

"I've never been to Knoxville," Kiryuu said. "Never."

"You killed your son there," gasped Manda.

"What?!" Kiryuu exclaimed, his eyes widened in confusion.

"You're helping King Ghidorah," Manda gasped. "Helping him destroy all life on this world."

"What?!" Alan cried, glancing back at Kiryuu. He shot an accusing glance at the hologram.

"Have you lost all of your marbles, Dragon?!" Kiryuu's lip lifted up in a snarl. "Why the hell would I do that? You're not making any sense. Godzilla is alive, for one, I've never been to Knoxville nor do I plan to go, for another—and why the hell would I want help the very demon that killed my mate and my children?"

"Tell me, Kiryuu," Manda began, leaning up against the table. "How long have you had the launch codes to every long-range nuclear missile?"

Kiryuu's golden eyes began to shift slightly.

"You've lost your mind," he began. "I have no such information."

"How long have you've been feeding your sub-matrixes through every grid in the world?" Manda asked. "Making copies of yourself and seeding them in dark places within the Internet?"

"What is he saying?" Alan asked, glancing back at Kiryuu, his eyes now even wider. "Is this true?"

"If I were to do that," began Kiryuu, giving Alan a reassuring expression, "then I would be cutting my processing power in half. The life of my AI's subsystems would be shortened. My mind would grow less and less functional and my life would be greatly shortened. And I intend to live for a very long time. I can't afford to make copies of myself and feed them into various places. You should know this better than anyone else that I've done other things to the grids around the world. Look what I'm doing to the CCI. You question what I do, but I assure you what I am doing, though it may seem wrong to you now, will be right thing in the end."

"You mean make you some sort of mechanical overlord?" Manda asked.

Kiryuu's eyebrows lifted up and he began to laugh at Manda's question.

"What logic would come of that?" Kiryuu asked, continuing to laugh. "Me, a mechanical overlord? And I suppose King Ghidorah would use me as such. You know this better than anyone else that he would not do that." He paused for a moment and stepped closer to the Dragon. "What happened when you were inside Alan's mind?"

"You were in Knoxville, you killed your son," said Manda. "King Ghidorah was there. And then, I saw nuclear blasts happen all around me. Your eyes were red. You were possessed. I must go to Mothra."

"Manda, now wait a minute," Kiryuu began. "Wait just a minute. What do you mean 'possessed'?"

"I don't know," Manda shook his head. "I have to go."

"Hold it!" Kiryuu cried. "Did you fix Alan's problem?"

"I couldn't," Manda replied. "Something got in the way. Forgive me."

"What?" Kiryuu asked.

Manda snapped his fingers and his form disappeared.

"Marx!" Kiryuu cried. "Get back here! Marx!" He turned back to Alan, but he really was not looking at him. "Why would I be in Knoxville? What's in Knoxville?" Kiryuu's eyes widened and his holographic form disappeared.

"Hey!" Alan cried as he got up off his chair. "What did that overgrown monitor lizard do to me? Kiryuu!" He raced towards the door when he found it was locked. "Hey! Hey! You bastard! Open this door!"

"I'm sorry, Alan," began Kiryuu's deep voice through the speakers. "But I need you to stay put for a while. I shall return later. Now be a good grandson and mind your manners and your own business."

Alan released a loud snarl from his throat, and swung his foot out and kicked the door. After doing that a few times with no results, he marched over to the table.

"He is really pissed," Will sighed as he watched the security monitor, watching Alan picking up one of the chairs and throwing it against the door. "Really pissed."

"Get me the hell out of here!" Alan cried. "Do you understand me, Kiryuu? I want out now! God-damn you, open this door!"

Kiryuu crossed his arms and shook his head. He turned back to hear his 'grandson' banging his fists against the door again.

"He's really mad at you," Will shook his head. He turned back again when Alan threw the other chair. "You know Gordon's taking that out of your account, right?"

"Someone has to pay for the damages," Kiryuu sighed. "Might as well be me."

Eventually, it dawned on Alan that trying to break the door down was a waste of effort, and so he sat on one of the surviving chairs, looking exhausted. Kiryuu leaned in, looking at the screen as he watched Alan tap his foot feverishly.

"What's this about Knoxville, Kiryuu?" Will asked.

"I don't know," Kiryuu replied. "For a moment I thought it had to do with the nation's only facility that still creates Enriched Uranium, but King Ghidorah isn't about that. No, he wants something else in that area."

"You thought this dragon would attack Oak Ridge?" Will asked. "Why would he need uranium? You said it yourself that he absorbs souls, not radiation. I can see Godzilla attacking that city, but not King Ghidorah."

"He wants life-force," Kiryuu rumbled. "Tennessee is rich with a variety of life. Millions of species separated and collected in their own environments and their own little ecological, natural spheres, divided by the oldest mountains on this planet would provide King Ghidorah with such rich flavour. No, he does not want Oak Ridge, though perhaps the city's biological preserve around the nuclear weapons plants might be a subject of interest."

"Hey!" Alan's voice called their attention again. "Hey! Give me a break. I need to go!"

Kiryuu sighed as he felt his consciousness enter the room. Alan stepped back as the holographic image of the bio-mecha appeared before him.

"Do you need something, Alan?" he asked.

"I gotta go," Alan began. He was doubled-over slightly and his thighs were clenched together.

"Go?" Kiryuu asked. "Go where?"

"Where do you flamin' think?" Alan cried back, stretching himself until he was staring into the hologram's eyes. "To the bloody bathroom! Unless you want me to take a wiz here too!"

"Say no more," Kiryuu sighed as the door itself unlocked. He opened the door allowing Alan to step outside. Kiryuu led him down the corridor and towards the restrooms.

"There you are," he said. "Don't be long."

"Yeah, sure," Alan sighed.

"I'm not going in with you," Kiryuu began. "Besides, I know you can't escape. I've got cameras everywhere."

Alan snorted. "I won't escape," he said. "There are worse places than this."

"Keep reminding yourself that, Alan," Kiryuu rumbled. "I don't think you need me to wipe your face off after you're done. But be sure to wash your hands. Cleanliness is next to godliness."

"Aren't you a loving grandad?" Alan muttered, rolling his eyes as he walked into the restroom. Kiryuu's image disappeared again.

***

Alan stood up and stepped out of the cubicle, flushing as he left. He idly wondered if Kiryuu had ever actually had to help out with the everyday chores around the base when he wasn't out fighting monsters or breaking into top-secret networks. He rolled his eyes has he figured Kiryuu would say that was below him, and that he was worth more than that. Alan also knew he himself would say the same thing if asked. He reasoned that both of them were indeed alike in that respect.

He crossed over to one of the white sinks lining the equally white wall. There he let the taps run for a little while, washing his hands and then splashing some of the cool water onto his face. He looked into the mirror just above the sink, at the face that he knew hadn't changed for the last five years. It was then that the fluorescent lights in the bathroom started flickering. Alan narrowed his eyes as he looked around, as one by one the lights died.

"Kiryuu," Alan called, sure that the mecha could hear him, "I think the bulbs in here need changing." As the last light went out, Alan could hear no reply from Kiryuu, nor see the holographic projection. Indeed, it was as if Alan's statement had fallen on deaf ears.

"Kiryuu?" Alan called again, then again, louder this time, "Kiryuu?"

Still no answer. Alan was now stood, alone, in total darkness. He thought he'd at least be able to make out some objects, or possibly more if Kiryuu was right about his eyes giving him improved night-vision, but nothing. It was completely dark, impossible to see anything.

Just then, there was a click, and a light behind him came on. Alan slowly turned, but as he did so, he heard a sound he'd hoped never to hear again; a sound like ever so many ringing bells of varying pitches. As he listened, the sound faded, giving way to a low, cold chuckle. As Alan faced the light completely, he saw it was the small strip light above the mirror, only he wasn't the only person reflected in it. His eyes widened in terror as he saw who was stood behind him.

"It's not possible…" Alan breathed, as he found himself staring at the figure that had haunted his nightmares for two years, the creature that had brought so much calamity to England, now standing only slightly taller than Alan himself. He recognised the bright golden scales, the enormous bat-like wings, the three serpentile necks, and the three dragon heads, rocking back and forth on the necks, all with manes of golden hair, horns and blood-red eyes, which even now were looking at Alan so intently. This was the monster now known to him as King Ghidorah.

"Long time no see, Tyler," the voice spoke again, a voice as deep, grand and handsome as Kiryuu's, and with that same undeniable menace. At this, Alan panicked. He spun round, seeing nothing but darkness where he expected King Ghidorah to be standing. Yet the demon could still be seen, as clear as day in the mirror. Alan shouted loudly for help, hoping to God that someone would hear him.

"Kiryuu!" he called, desperately. "Kiryuu!"

All he heard in reply was an evil-sounding laugh, and King Ghidorah's heads tipped back, seemingly in exultation. It occurred to Alan that the voice he was hearing was actually King Ghidorah's which only served to unnerve him even more.

"Your dear grandfather can't hear you," King Ghidorah said smugly. "I assure you, dear boy, we will be quite undisturbed."

Realising his shouting was proving unhelpful, Alan stared at King Ghidorah in the mirror, his fear gradually giving way to a murderous hate. He brought his hands down, and they found the edges of the sink, which Alan held in a vice-like grip, the tension searing through him.

"You don't know when to give up, do you?" Alan said angrily. "What's wrong? Didn't learn your lesson first time after the beating we gave you?!"

King Ghidorah only laughed, that same rich, grand, high-and-mighty laugh that Kiryuu often used. If what Manda said was true, Alan could see how Kiryuu and King Ghidorah could become very good friends indeed. Both were power-mad.

"It takes more than Mothra to exterminate me," he sneered. "I must admit however that I had not anticipated such powerful weaponry. I can assure that you that next time I will not be caught by surprise again."

"How the hell did you get in here?!" Alan snarled, his eyes burning. King Ghidorah only chuckled again.

"I am capable of many powers," he responded. "However, shrinking myself is not one of them. What you are seeing is merely a psychic projection; not too dissimilar to your grandfather's holographs."

"How did you-?" Alan began, his eyes widening, only for King Ghidorah to interrupt him.

"Know?" he responded in that same smug tone. "You'd be amazed what can be gathered from peeking into one small mind. Your grandfather fascinates me, Tyler, though I sense you yourself do not like him. Surely that is no way to treat your family? After all," he added, with an evil look in his eye, "they are the only family you now have."

Alan narrowed his eyes. As he watched, he saw both of his own parents appear behind him, their outlines softened into a blur. Both of them had looks of deep mourning on their faces. As Alan watched them fade away into the darkness once again, his grip on the edge of the sink became like a vice.

"Murderer…" Alan muttered.

"I prefer to think of it as doing them a favour," King Ghidorah replied coldly. "If I hadn't taken their souls, they would have continued to suffer until the governments of your world decided to drop all of their bombs on each other." He narrowed his eyes, and Alan was sure he could see cruel smirks on each of the heads.

"Humans are so weak…" the dragon continued. "They're a foolish race who will only succeed in destroying themselves, and the world around you… I am only making sure that the balance is restored; that this pathetic world is punished and cleansed from the scourge that infests it."

Alan snarled, all of his hatred towards King Ghidorah barely contained.

"Is that what you call it?" Alan half-shouted. "You think you're doing us a favour?! You took my family from me and now you want to take everything else away from me too?! You evil bastard..."

"Humans are so naïve too," the hydra replied, making a loud tutting noise. "Evil is merely a perspective, Tyler, and one that no longer concerns me. I have travelled widely, Tyler, farther than you can possibly imagine. I have visited many worlds, claiming their power as my own; the very power of gods now runs through my veins.

"In my travels," the dragon continued, "I learned that there is no such thing as 'good' or 'evil', or of 'right' or 'wrong'. They are just words, pathetic excuses used to justify lost causes, as well as far greater 'mass-murder' than even I can envisage. No, Tyler… There is only power, and those too weak to seek it. The strong who survive in harsh times realise this. Every leader who has ever walked your earth understood this; even those that your history has branded mass-murderers, and they were seen as saviours by many people. Humans celebrate destruction, conquest and murder. In that respect I am the biggest saviour of them all."

Alan was now thoroughly sick of King Ghidorah's words. He could not believe this monster was standing here, justifying the slaughter of tens of millions of people. He knew what Kiryuu had said, that King Ghidorah only wished to add to his own selfish powers through such slaughter, even if Alan still didn't understand how. He turned his eyes away from the mirror, not wanting to look at the dragon anymore.

"Trying to deny what the humans truly are?" King Ghidorah said, nastily. "Just look no further than yourself…"

As Alan looked back at the mirror again, he saw that his reflection had changed. He was now looking at Godzilla, instead of himself. The only difference was the eyes, which were still Alan's own golden colour rather than Godzilla's brown-red.

"I knew what you were, what it was you carried inside you, the minute I smelt your soul," the demon continued. "You cannot deny what you are. You are just one of the products of humanity's own need to destroy itself, just like he is. Do you not resent them for what they have done to you? You carry a truly incredible gift within you. Yet you squander it, denying yourself the chance at retribution, to bring your wrath and complete your revenge against the beings that did this to you. You would deny this chance not only from yourself, but from Godzilla too?"

Alan knew instantly what King Ghidorah was implying; that Alan would use his ability to completely take over Godzilla's body, and wipe out the rest of humanity with him. Alan did remember considering it once, but if he did that, Katagiri would win, and that was one thing Alan would not allow. It also occurred to him that both Kiryuu and King Ghidorah had another trait in common; they worked by manipulating others.

"Shut up," he said bluntly through gritted teeth, his Godzilla-like reflection's lips moving in synch with his own. "We beat you once, you fucking bastard, and we'll get you again. If Kiryuu doesn't get you, I definitely will, I promise you!"

At this, King Ghidorah only laughed, a cold, cruel laugh that send shivers down Alan's spine, even as his face remained contorted with fury.

"Ah yes…" King Ghidorah said, his reflection slowly approaching Alan's own. "Your dear grandfather. He is powerful indeed, but like all living creatures he has his weak point. He will not be able to resist my power, and he will fall, and know true pain. Once every last member of your bloodline is destroyed, the planet will fall easily…"

King Ghidorah was now right behind Alan, the heads now moving so that they wrapped around Alan, like some kind of bizarre embrace. The middle head moved closest to Alan's head, almost like he was going to whisper in his ear. Alan was now uncomfortably aware that he could feel King Ghidorah's body touching his own, and he could feel the monster's hot breath on him. If Alan didn't know better, he could have sworn the dragon was actually physically in the room.

"I do hope your Guardian friend enjoyed my little show earlier," King Ghidorah hissed. "For it is what will happen. It is how all that boundless energy on this otherwise worthless planet will be mine. As it was then… is now… and forever shall be. You will be reunited with your family… both of your families… for I will harvest your souls and reunite them in eternal damnation, as I do to all. That I can promise you, you pathetic little mutant."

Alan was now reaching breaking point. His right fist clenched, and he slowly raised his arm. The Godzilla reflection did the same, sharing Alan's look of intense fury, his sharp teeth bared.

"Get… away…" he muttered, before finishing with a loud yell, "from me!!!"

At this he swung his fist hard, and punched the mirror. The glass shattered into dozens of shards, and a loud smashing was heard as they smashed against the floor. Alan didn't care though; he just wanted to be rid of that terrible reflection, of that foul demon that had tried to twist his mind.

The lights suddenly came back on in an instant, and Alan knew he was still in the bathroom. He realised that he had been there the whole time; King Ghidorah's presence was only in his head. That didn't stop it from hurting him though, both inside and outside.

He breathed hard, slowly calming down after being rid of King Ghidorah's unwelcome presence. He slowly pulled his blood-covered fist away, several shards of glass embedded in it. He was faintly aware of the sounds of movement outside the door. This didn't matter to him though, as he closed his eyes, wincing each time he pulled one of the sharp mirror pieces out. It was as he was trying to wash the blood off his hands that the door opened and two guards ran into the bathroom. Alan assumed that they had been alerted on the surveillance system.

"What's going on in here?" the first guard asked, the confusion showing on his face. However, this confusion quickly turned to shock, and then to anger, as he saw the state of the bathroom, with Alan picking pieces of glass out of his fist, dropping the pieces onto the already glass-covered floor.

"The hell?!" stammered the guard, glaring at Alan. "What the hell happened in here?! Are you insane?!"

Alan glared back at the soldier, his gaze made even more unnerving by his eyes, the slits of his pupils very thin. He evidently wasn't in the mood for lectures.

"Gordon Knight can bill me for all I care," he said coldly, wincing as he pulled the last of the glass out of his hand.

"Come on," said the guard, clearly annoyed. "We're not letting you out of our sight, so you can run off and damage more Foundation property!"

"I don't need a bloody escort," Alan muttered, as he walked out of the bathroom. However, the guards insisted on flanking him anyway, something which didn't help Alan's mood. One of them even grabbed Alan's arm. It took every last ounce of Alan's self-restraint to stop himself attacking the guard.

As they stepped out of the bathroom and into the corridor, Alan saw Kiryuu and Will stood outside, almost expectantly. Alan diverted his eyes away from them, knowing full well that Kiryuu would have seen at least one side of the argument with King Ghidorah.

"I see you are through," Kiryuu simply stated. He then proceeded to address the guards.

"That's enough, boys," he said to them. "Let him go."

"But sir," the guard said, almost indignantly, "Look at him! Look at his hand!"

Kiryuu glanced briefly at Alan's hand. By this time, the cuts had healed completely, and most of the blood had been washed off.

"I see nothing wrong with it," Kiryuu said, looking at the guard as if he was an idiot. "You are dismissed."

No doubt very confused, the guards left. With them gone, Kiryuu turned his attention back to Alan.

"I'm going leave you alone with Io, so you can say your good-byes," Kiryuu said. "I can't handle Katagiri myself; I've got King Ghidorah to worry about. Katagiri is still at the FBI, Shinoda's with him. We'll take care of Io until we can find a way to free Shinoda. But for now, Katagiri isn't going anywhere, and Japan's prime minister isn't too happy about what just happened. For now, things are going our way."

Before Alan could say anything, Kiryuu's holographic avatar disappeared. Alan sighed; straight to the point, no waiting around for answers. Now he was left alone with Will in the corridor.

"Come on," Will said, starting to walk away. "Io's waiting in the conference room."

"Wait a minute…" Alan said, walking down the corridor, following Will, "What did Kiryuu mean by 'saying my goodbyes'? Are you guys kicking me out already?"

Will just sighed, as he continued to lead Alan to the conference room.

"Kiryuu said he's got matters he needs to deal with," he explained. "Besides, we all saw what you did in the conference room. We thought it best that you get out of here before Gordon shows up."

"But what about Io?" Alan said, his anger rising. "What about Shinoda?! We can't just leave him with the FBI!"

Will turned around sharply to face Alan, a look of pure annoyance on his face.

"Listen, Alan," he said, trying to keep his voice level, "We've got our hands full as it is, with King Ghidorah about to call any day now! Kiryuu can't just snap his fingers and make everything happen; God knows he's tried. There's nothing we can do for Shinoda right now, you're just going to have to accept that! Just let us get on with our jobs and let us handle King Ghidorah."

Alan snarled, his eyes turning away from Will. He hated being left out of everything. Especially after what had just happened to him, he wanted to stay and find out everything he could about any plans being created to fight King Ghidorah. He could not believe Kiryuu was shutting him out like this, knowing full well what Alan had been through. He didn't speak to Will again as the two of them arrived back at the conference room.

Inside, Io was sat on one of the chairs that was still right way up. Alan only nodded at Will as he walked past him into the room. Will returned a nod, and closed the door behind Alan. Io perked up a little as she saw Alan, but her face fell again when she saw Alan's expression.

"What's wrong, Alan-san?" she asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Alan just moved over to Io, and sat at one of the chairs next to her. He had a lot on his mind, and some of it must have shown on his face.

"Oh, it's nothing…" Alan said off-handedly, speaking in fluent Japanese. "Just thinking about everything that's happened, about this place… Looks like you're being treated right here anyway."

"Yeah," Io said. "Everyone's being really nice. I hate not being able to speak English to them though. It just makes me feel awkward, like I'm just getting in the way."

Alan knew that feeling, since it was how he was feeling right now. He felt decidedly left-out of proceedings, feeling that he wasn't being told things he ought to know, constantly being left in the dark. To try and relieve some of this awkwardness, he tried to think of another topic to take his mind off it.

"How's my bike doing?" he asked. His Kawasaki was one of the few things he missed about Japan, aside from visits by Godzilla.

"It's fine," Io said, smiling. "Papa knows a few things about motorcycles; he's been keeping it working fine. Don't worry," she said, noticing Alan's awkward look, "He's not interfered with any of your 'modifications'."

"Thank God," Alan said. "My bike's the only thing capable of outrunning Gojira's breath; I want it to remain that way."

Io smiled briefly, and then she looked awkwardly as Alan spoke again.

"Listen, I've done what I came here to do," Alan said, looking awkwardly at Io, "and that was to check up on you. I've done that; I think I'd better get out of everyone's hair."

"You mean…" Io said, looking slightly upset, "you're running again?"

"I wouldn't call it 'running'," Alan said. "Katagiri can't get me now, can he? I just think I should go get out of the way."

This was an outright lie. He wanted to stay and help them, but he knew that Kiryuu would never agree. This was what was getting him annoyed, but he didn't want Io to think the Foundation was being unreasonable, for he knew they would keep her safe for as long as needed. It wasn't safe for her to travel with him.

Io looked very disappointed. She had wanted Alan to stay, but even he was saying he should go again. It still pained her, even if it was his decision.

"I see…" she said. It was then that tears started to form in her eyes.

"I missed you…" she said, trying to stop herself from crying. "I miss my papa… I just want him back. I don't want you to go again…"

Alan looked awkward. He hated having to leave Io like this, but he had no choice in the matter. Kiryuu clearly wasn't going to let him stay, no matter what he said.

"Hey, don't worry about me," Alan said, trying to look reassuringly at Io. "I'll be fine. You've got my grandfather looking after you…" He added, with a sly smile, "He'll have me to answer to otherwise."

Io chuckled. She knew Kiryuu and the others would never treat her badly, she just found it funny that Alan referred to Kiryuu as his 'grandfather', even if neither of them asked to be blood-related.

"You're both a lot like each other," she said. "It's not just your blood that connects you both. It's all of the little things; your mannerisms, how you deal with things. Neither of you let anything stop you."

Alan was taken aback by this. He could not believe Io was talking so matter-of-factly about this. Io had grown up well before her time. Her eyes looked straight at Alan's. Clearly she was not scared by those golden reptilian eyes.

"What do we do when King Ghidorah comes?" she asked. "What do we do?"

Alan really wasn't sure how to answer that. He honestly didn't know, especially not knowing what Kiryuu was doing right now about this.

"I don't know…" he said, his own eyes looking straight into Io's own. "All I know is, we'll all make it. You, me, your dad… We all started this thing together, that's how it'll end."

It was clear that Alan was trying to reassure Io any way he could. He had never wanted kids of his own, but he cared deeply for Io all the same, just as much as he cared for Gojira, and he hated seeing her in distress. He wanted to find where Shinoda had been taken, and get him back.

Io then stood up and hugged Alan, fearing that it may be the last chance she may have. Alan returned the hug, holding Io close to her, as if she was his own daughter.

"I promise," he said tenderly.

It was then that the door opened, and Will poked his head in. Alan turned and saw him, and figured that his time must be up.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said, "but Kiryuu wanted to say a few things before you left, in private."

Alan nodded. Giving one last hug to Io, he stood up and walked towards the door.

"Alan-san…" Io said, prompting Alan to turn and face her again. Io had a smile on her face, despite her fear-filled eyes.

"Arigato," she said simply.

"Douitashimashite," Alan replied, with a warm smile. Afterwards, he followed Will back out into the corridor.