PARANOIA (10)

"Godzilla is back. Reports have just come in that Mt. Mihara has erupted leading to the release of the monster. The creature was sighted hours later at Odo Island by the island's inhabitants, sightseers, and visitors from Osaka University. The monster's rampage lead to the deaths of 27 people and 68 more injured along with massive amounts of property damage. Survivors of the attack are being taken back to Osaka to recieve further care. Authorities have no trace of the monster's whereabouts, however it is expected to make landfall anywhere between Nagoya and Shizuoka within the coming hours. Evacuation protocals are being put underway and the JSDF is on high alert for the monster's arrival. Any one within these areas is instructed to leave immediately, and to take with them only what is necessary." The anchorwoman explained as Nagamine and her team were clearing out their equipment from the lab.

"Reports of massive earthquakes have also been popping up in Akita, as well as the Iwate and Fukushima prefectures." Nagamine managed to hear before she turned the T.V. off.

"Damn lizard. As if Gamera and the Gyaos weren't bad enough." One of Nagamine's companion's complained.

"And we were just starting to get somewhere with our specimens as well." Another added.

"How can you be so insensitive. The whole city could be destroyed and you only care about our research." One of the objected to the others remarks.

"Mr. Saito wants us to conduct or work efficiently." One of them retorted.

"I don't care what Mr. Saito wants." Nagamine said in a vexed tone. She didn't know if Asagi or Ayana were alright or not. She'd been listening closely to the news ever since she heard about it earlier that morning, trying to get as much information as she could. Nagamine had tried calling them but their cellphones weren't answering. Having to deal with the evactuation wasn't helping matters.

As she was carrying her documents out to the truck, she saw others evacuating as well. She could almost fell the tension in the air as she saw the people around her packing their belongings into military vehicles. Even after

Nagamine however was more curious than she was afraid. She as she loaded her documents safely in the truck she wondered how the monster had managed to survive for as long as it had. How it had managed to live while the rest of the dinosaurs died. Despite how curious she was though she didn't dwell on it for too long. Once she was finished gathering her research she wanted to go to Osaka to make sure Asagi and Ayana were alright.

"Are you alright Miss Nagamine?" Haruto asked her as she was loading her notes inside the truck.

Nagamine considered telling him that she was fine, but she thought against it when she saw the look on his face. "My friends were on that island, Haruto. I just want to know they're safe." Nagamine told him.

There was a short pause before Haruto spoke. "Go to Osaka. I'll take care of everything here," He said empathetically.

"No, I-I can't leave all this responsibility to you."

"We'll be fine, Nagamine. Go on. Your friends will probably be needing you more than we will," Haruto said.

Nagamine paused for a moment before she thanked him. "Thank you Haruto. But are you sure you can do this without me?"

"I'll manage," He assured her before taking the paperwork from her hands.

"I owe you one, Haruto." Nagamine said as she began to leave.

"Don't mention it." Haruto replied.

/

Nagamine watched in anticipation as she and several others waited for the boats to the arrive. As she looked out at the bay she thought about Asagi and Ayana. Although it wasn't likely that they were hurt, Nagamine was still worried about them. As the wait continued though, her thoughts became more anxious, but she did her best to remain level headed. Thankfully she didn't need to wait very long.

"There they are!" One of the onlookers exclaimed joyfully.

Everyone on the docks turned their gaze to the direction the person pointed, and cheered. Nagamine felt a small wave of relief wash over her when she saw the boats approach, but she paused her celebration until she knew her friends were safe. Fortunately she didn't need to wait too long for that either. As the boats came closer, she could see Asagi and Ayana peering over the corner of one of the boats. Nagamine gave a comforted sigh when she saw them.

As the survivors of last night's attack made their way off the boats, Nagamine came to see if they were alright.

"Nagamine," Asagi and Ayana exclaimed when they saw their friend.

"Are you both alright?" Nagamine asked I tried calling but your cellphones wouldn't answer."

"We're alright Nagamine." Asagi assured her.

"Thank you for coming." Ayana said gratefully as the two hugged each other.

"Nagamine?" Someone said behind Asagi and Ayana. Nagamine turned see the young man standing behind them who'd spoken.

"Excuse me ma'am, but are you Mayumi Nagamine... as in the Mayumi Nagamine from the Kaiju Research Center in Nagoya?" The young man asked curiously.

"Yes, I am." Nagamine answered. Ever since Nagamine had began working at the KRC, she'd gained alot of unwanted publicity. That was yet another reason why she hated working for the government, but compared to everything else she had to work with it was the least she had to deal with.

"You guys never told me you were friends with one of the leading scientists of the KRC." The young man said.

"There was nothing to mention." Ayana said to him.

"I take it you're Asagi and Ayana's friend?" Nagamine said.

"Yes ma'am." The young man answered. "I'm sorry about that, Miss Nagamine. I'm Tadaaki Ogata It's an honor to meet you." He introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you as well." Nagamine said as she shook his hand. "C'mon let's talk somewhere more appropriate."

"I agree," Ayana concured. "I don't want to be anywhere near the ocean right now."

/

"Thank you for helping us clear the stuff out of the truck Tadaaki." Nagamine thanked him as she settled her things inside the school's lab. The government had issued a request to many of the surrounding research centers and school districts if they could make temporary accomidations for their kaiju research teams.

Osaka University was one of the many institutions who answered the call, and after a couple days of preparation Nagamine and her team had been given the arrangements.

Despite how stressful relocating was, Nagamine was thankful for the opportunity. It gave her a chance to spend more time with Asagi and Ayana. Plus the working conditions would become more bearable now that Mr. Saito wasn't breathing down her and her team's necks.

Since Godzilla had reamerged the government and the JSDF had been put on high alert. Tanks and trucks were on the streets day and night, ships were guarding every square inch of water between Tokyo and Mikawa Bay, and jets were patrolling the skies regularly for any signs of the kaiju. Still for as much fire power as missles, ships, tanks, and jets were, they hadn't been enough to stop it the first two times. Far from it in fact. As such the government was discussing of other methods they'd use to kill the monster or at least drive it off. Nagamine had even heard reports on the news that they were planning on using new experimental weapons should the monster ever arrive.

Naturally with all of this in mind, Saito and the Department of Defense would have to much on their plate to worry about what Nagamine and her team were doing. Nagamine smiled at the thought of his misery.

As she was unloading her belongings from the truck Tadaaki took the opportunity to speak to her. Possibly learn something from the foremost expert on the Gyaos species herself. And that's what happened.

As the two spoke Nagamine learned a lot about Tadaaki as well. The boy had a keen interest in mythology, which complimented his expert knowledge of history, both in and outside of Japan. If anything she ended up learning more from him than he did from her. For the parts where she was teaching him though, Tadaaki was open and paid very close attention to everything she had to say.

From all this she got a sense of who Tadaaki was. He was smart, ambitious, kind-hearted. Nagamine could also sense that Tadaaki was a little shy, and would often get anxious and excited from time to time, but despite his flaws she could see that he meant well. For that Nagamine admired the youth. He was bright and cheerful boy. Nagamine hoped that someday she'd be blessed with a son who was like him.

Once everything was cleared from the truck they began setting everything up. As they did they listened to the news reports on the Lab T.V.

"Despite searching for several days now, there has ,so far, been no sign of Godzilla. The JSDF however has shown no signs of letting up on its defenses and is currently in the process of expanding its reaches in search of the kaiju. Meanwhile the Japanese government continues its debate of possible countermeasures to employ should the monster manage to make landfall. One such idea proposed by the Secretary of Defense is the use of new experimental tanks. The Type 04 Maser Cannons." The anchorman said before segueing to a shot of one of the tanks firing at a series of targets.

Tadaaki watched in awe as a stream of electrical energy was fired from the satellite dish-like head on the front of the cannon. The beams effortlessly tore through the targets, almost completely vaporizing them.

"I'd almost feel sorry for anyone on the receiving end of that thing." One of Nagamine's colleagues commented.

"There going to be using them on Godzilla, idiot." Someone esle pointed.

"That's why I said almost, stupid." he jabbed back.

"Good ridance, damn lizard." Another scientist.

Tadaaki cringed when he heard him say that. For as much as it frustrated him to hear them say that, Tadaaki understood that they didn't share the same enthusiasm for the creature as he did. Again Tadaaki did not think that Godzilla was intentionally hostile, however he could not deny that the kaiju was dangerous, regardless of what he thought. So long as the monster was still around lives would be endangered. For that reason he agreed with them. Godzilla had to go. But he didn't want them to kill him. Heck he wasn't sure if they were able to kill him.

As he thought about that, the reports continued.

"In other news reports of strange tremors continue. These reports began several days ago starting in the Akita prefecture and have continued their way south into the Gunma prefecture, and it is expected that they will also be making their way into the Yamanashi prefecture as well. Also numerous planes have mysteriously gone down in the Kumamoto, Miyazaki, and Oita prefectures. Several people have also gone missing Aso-Kuji National Park. Survivors of the plane crashes, stated thay they saw a U.F.O. The object was reportedly moving very fast as it travelled, and it easily managed to catch up to them. Eyewitnesses visiting in the park also came forward with signs and evidence of this mysterious object." The anchorman continued before a picture of the object was brought up on the screen.

Nagamine took notice of the picture almost instantly. The picture was blurly given the speed at which the monster was travelling, but she could make out wing-like structures on the objects body along with a small head. Nagamine stood there fixated on the picture for a couple seconds trying to make sense of it. At first she thought it was a Gyaos, but then she realized that the object was going after a plane. The Gyaos weren't that fast. Still the familiar structure of the object left her questioning.

As she was thinking about that, there was an abrupt disturbance outside the room. Nagamine, Tadaaki, and the others with them looked outside the room and saw students running and speaking loudly. They weren't in a panic, but it sounded pretty close to it.

"What's going on?" One of Nagamine's colleagues asked in a worried tone.

"I'm going to go find out." Tadaaki said curiously.

Nagamine decided to follow him.

As the two made their way down the school's hallways they tried to figure out what the commotion was all about. They tried asking some of the students but none of them replied. As the two continued with the crowd to find out what the cause of the disturbance was they ran into Asagi and Ayana.

"Asagi, Ayana!" Tadaaki had to scream in order to be heard.

"Tadaaki!" They replied.

"What's going on?" Nagamine asked.

"You guys haven't heard yet?!" Ayana questioned.

"Godzilla has just been spotted in Suruga Bay!" Asagi said.