"Come on Cordula, hurry it up!" Rambo shouted. Cordula held back a groan as she followed her cousin to the gaming store. She had declined to see Mendel's new way of communicating with Godzilla test runs because she had to look after her 10 year old cousin who is "-sweet and too innocent for city life as opposed to his country life"
What I said to them is totally FALSE?!
Cordula was already at her wits end when Rambo took her out a few times just to play around every gaming store the city had to offer couple with his insistent walk around the city for a tour and Cordula felt her entire body was ready to collapse when her phone began ringing.
"If this is the Emergency Child Care Services please come as quickly as you can..." Cordula groaned out as she watched Rambo from afar "Cordula are you okay?" Nick's voice rang through her ears as she immediately shot up and flushed bright red in embarrassment. "Nick! Yeah Hi! I'm alright what's shaking? You know what, forget whatever thing I just said cause there is no need for whatever I just said back there cause I am perfectly fine dealing with my problem and I was stressed with school work about kids when you called and I was going to say how's it's going so...how's it going?" If anyone passed by Cordula they would have given her weird looks from the way she was acting right about now.
There was silence at the other end of the phone before Nick coughed "We had a call from the White House"Cordula straightened up "Something wrong? Is there another mutation?" Cordula asked "I'm not technically sure, the problem lies in Pauma which seemed to be invaded with spiders" Cordula blinked "Nick I don't follow, how is H.E.A.T team, which deals with mutations and other wordly things 24/7 related to this infestation problem of insects?" Cordula glanced to see Rambo sorting through the gaming files and sighed.
"I know, even I'm not sure about this but something tells me there's more about this infestation. We could be going after a mutation" Cordula sighed before nodding to herself "I'll see you after I drop off Rambo back at the house" Cordula said before ending the call and swiftly turned around to call out to Rambo only to face the boy himself smiling up at her "What was that?" Rambo asked, scaring Cordula slightly "None of your business little brat" Cordula said before grabbing his hand firmly "Now come on, I need to drop you off back at the house. I have work to do" Cordula said, leaving no room for argument as she gave Rambo a glare.
Cordula had a few minutes of sleep before Mendel shook her awake when they landed at their destination "What kept you up for you to sleep like that?" Elsie asked. Cordula gave her a look "I'd rather not answer that" Cordula said, waving her hand as if motioning Elsie to drop the subject.
Randy came out of the copter with a smile on his face "Oh yeah, I'm ready to work...on my tan" Randy said as he placed his sunglasses on his face before he was held back by Nick "Randy, not a vacation" Nick reminded him before there was a honk that got their attention and Nick was in for a shock when he saw -
"Major Hicks?" Nick blinked, wondering if what he was seeing is real "Doctors welcome to Pauma" Major Hicks greeted "Get demoted to bug patrol or is this a bigger deal than I was told?" Nick asked. He always knew that when Major Hicks was around, mutations or something big enough to threaten the entire city would be involved. "One man's in critical condition" And that was what the team was dreading for as they got inside.
"The soldiers that found him claimed they were attacked by hundreds maybe thousands of spiders" Hicks explained "I can't seem to recall any spider group with a sheer number of that. Most species of spiders tend to get territorial and attack any intruder" Cordula stated "As far as the Pentagon's concern, we've got a potential threat to National Security" Hicks added "Is there any evidence of mutation or are we just here to play exterminator?" Elsie asked "That's what you're going to tell me" Hicks said.
"I wouldn't be surprised if there is mutation involved. Like I said, spiders don't group this many. They're usually territorial on their grounds"
~oOo~
They didn't have time for breaks as the gang immediately suited up for another jungle expedition with a few soldiers leading the way, the team marched through the thick jungle with their eyes peeled open for any unusual signs of mutation or anything perceived as a threat.
Mendel grumbled as he tried swatting away flies that were buzzing around his face only to yelp when he tripped over a plant vine "Want some?" Randy asked, handing him a bottle "It's a sunblock and bug repellant all in one" Randy said. Mendel gratefully applied it to his face. Cordula looked at Randy who shot her a wink "Oh boy..." Cordula groaned, mentally slapping her head.
"Wow..." Elsie said as she picked up a bright and pink flower "Beautiful" Elsie commented before showing it to Cordula who took a small sniff "Smells lovely too" Elsie grinned and decided to pocket the flowers for souvenir. Nick looked at the trees for a bit before he glanced down and saw a spider crawling away. He quickly encased it in a jar before it got away. Elsie found similar spiders moving up on a tree and encased one as well "Lot's of these fellas around" Elsie commented as Nick stood beside her "Yeah, I noticed" Nick said with suspicion in his tone.
Cordula glanced at the jar that housed the spider and narrowed her eyes at the markings on the spider's back "I recognized that mark, I just forgot where I saw that" Cordula mumbled as Elsie placed the jar in her backpack and they continued on their way. What the group didn't know was that they were being followed as thousands of spiders slowly closed off the exit point of the group.
The group followed along the path until Hicks suddenly shouted "HALT!" The group stopped when they realized they reached a fork in the road "Let's split up into two groups and meet back here in 15 minutes" Hicks suggested and no one had any room for argument "Randy and I will accompany Major Hicks" Monique said to which Nick consented as the group went on their separate ways.
Cordula rubbed her arms and kept glancing around the trees and shrubs to the point Mendel took notice "Are you okay?" He asked as he also looked around, wondering what Cordula could be seeing or trying to find "I'm fine its just. Do you get the feeling of being watched?" That was probably the wring thing to say when Mendel suddenly looked around "Mendel would you relax, it's just a feeling" Cordula said before pushing Mendel towards the group "Remind me again why I took this job?"
Mendel asked "Because you love to research new things?" Cordula cringed, that was more of a statement than a question but it did made Mendel at ease on something rather than being afraid of something watching them based on a 'feeling'. "Ya think its possible those arachnids did all this by themselves?" Elsie asked Nick "On the normal level I would say impossible but if you that to a mutation level well..." Cordula frowned as did Nick as he considered Cordula's words before Mendel bumped into Elsie to which the woman turned only to scream out in surprise and for Nick and Cordula to hitch their breath to prevent reacting out loud.
Feeling eyes on him, Mendel looked at the three in confusion "What?" He asked and when no one answered for a few seconds, simply staring at him it mad him think there was something on him "What?! Is something on me?" Mendel asked as he turned and tried to swat at an invisible thing on him. "It-It's nothing be shocked at Mendel...it's uh..." Cordula stammering over words made Mendel slightly panicky.
"Cordula's right...sort of..." Elsie added "Uh...Its your face" Nick said with a weird look on his face. He had seen a lot of things in the past few months and this is the first time he's seen an immediate skin change of a human body "What?! What wrong with it?!" Mendel asked in a panicked state. "There's nothing wrong with it! It looks pretty normal" Cordula said, trying to calm him down.
"It is if your a mango" Elsie commented. Mendel looked at his hands and let out a startled noise "I'm orange?! How did I get orange?!" Mendel asked in a high pitched tone. Elsie chuckled as she inspected Mendel's skin tone "Maybe its the-uh-the sunblock. Some people have a funny reaction to it" Elsie said as she held Randy's sunblock high for all to see. The panic was all gone and now Mendel felt slightly ticked off.
"Funny?! I looked like bad shag carpeting" Mendel said "Don't worry Mendel, the effects will wear off some time. Just bear with it" Cordula said before they heard the telltale sounds of screams coming from the other direction "HICKS!" Nick screamed as he turned to the direction of the screams. The sudden loud pitter patter of something moving from a different direction made Cordula turn around just in time to see one large spider tackle a soldier to the ground although it was immediately flung off before it could bit him.
It was then that the group saw spiders of different sizes, big and normal sized, heading towards them with an intent to kill. What was so similar to all the spiders is that they had the same colored shaped mark on their abdomen in which Cordula took note of. Nick quickly aimed and fired at a tree which feel down directly on the path to the advancing spiders. "We gotta move!" Cordula shouted as she assisted Nick in helping the fallen soldier to stand up.
They immediately met up back where they split up "Get your people out of here we have a situation!" Hicks ordered "So do we!" Nick exclaimed. Cordula glanced back at the oncoming spiders before snapping her fingers "Widow Spiders! No wonder I recognized that mark!" Mendel grabbed her by the shoulder "Can we save that realization discussion later" He said as Hick and the soldiers threw smoke bombs in order to quickly escape without being spotted.
~oOo~
Thankfully only a few soldiers were injured from bruises and scratches but two were bitten quite badly. Cordula and Nick were busy analyzing the two spiders they caught and with Cordula slightly knowledgeable on spiders under the Theridiidae Family, it didn't take long for results to come in.
"These men were bitten quite badly" Monique said as she finished checking to make sure the bandages were secured. Nick turned away from the specimen to face Monique "As far as I can tell the venom's potent but not lethal" Nick said "Which is odd considering black widow spiders are known to have a venomous bite fifteen times stronger than a rattlesnakes which is quite fatal if bitten more than once" Cordula stated. Mendel gulped in the background.
"They need injections of Calcium Carbonite. It'll act as an antidote to stop the pain" Elsie said. "I'll go see if there are any" Cordula said as she went into the medical supplies for a syringe and Calcium Carbonate. "There's something odd about our new friends here" Nick said as he went back to the microscope "They've got the coloring and characteristics of immature black widow spiders but they're too big for infants" Nick said.
"Also some of their physical traits aren't consistent" Cordula said as Monique applied the antidote to the men "So, we're dealing with a new species" Elsie stated rather than question "I would say yes but their sheer numbers suggest otherwise" Nick said "Don't forget we also saw some of them sizing about the average human height and there were lots of them" Cordula added "She's right, if this gene has just evolved, there couldn't possibly b so many of them so soon" Nick explained.
Randy walked up to them "You know what I don't get, How could there be any black widows in the first place? I heard the females eat their mates I mean, you'd think the guy spiders would catch on after awhile" Randy said as he scratched his head "Actually that's a myth. A female only devours the male when they're both in enclosed captive surroundings for long periods of time" Nick explained. "And they don't always eat their mates Randy, unless the male isn't fast enough to escape after mating" Cordula added.
There was silence among the group as they watch Randy wrack his brain around what Nick and Cordula said.
~oOo~
After a few more minutes the H.E.A.T team were called in for a military meeting on what to do with this newfound problem and discovery "There's been a suggestion that we use Incendiary Devices in these areas to wipe out the arachnid population" Hicks said as he pointed to a specific location on the map "And in the process completely destroy the local eco-system. You can't do that" nick spoke up almost immediately after the suggestion was brought up.
"I agree doctor but not for the same reasons as you. To guarantee any kind of success we'd have to torch the entire island, including this base. The Pentagon isn't willing to suffer that loss. Therefore, the plan is to spray every inch of Pauma with FC-13" Hick explained "The Pesticide?" Mendel asked in clarification "I thought that stuff was bad" Randy added in "It is" Cordula confirmed.
"Great, that's a much better idea. Don't burn the place down, just poison it" Elsie quipped which earned her a stern look from Major Hicks "Who cares if thousands of innocent species will be completely exterminated" Elsie finished with a glare of her own. Cordula admired Elsie for her courage to stand up against someone who had a higher status than her. "Heavy trade winds are expected in that area so plans for an airdrop had been scrapped. Ground Spring starts at 06:00 hours" Hicks explained.
"Major with just a little more time to study these spiders we can find another way" Nick vainly protested "A bugs a bug doctor. A few hours of bug spray and we can all go home" The H.E.A.T team looked at one another and wondered if this was the only way to stop it.
~oOo~
While Hick's team were busy spraying the Pesticide, the H.E.A.T team members were busy wracking up their brains in order to find a solution that's better than the solution given. Elsie had just finished giving the live specimen another dose of toxins that should be fatal for spiders when she took out the flowers she picked up from the forest.
"They'd be lovely to be displayed" Cordula said as she handed Elsie an empty jar to which the Paleontologist placed the flowers in. After watching the spider move for more than a few minutes she came to a conclusion "Well, negative on Chlorinated Hydrocarbon" Elsie said "I'm not getting any response from the Organophosphate either" Nick said "Which puts us to to the conclusion that these hybrids are likely to be immune to just about every known toxin" Cordula stated.
"Including FC-13" Nick said before he stood up and tried to contact Major Hicks "Major Hicks, come in please, over." Nick spoke through as the team gathered around him "Nick, this is Hicks. Over" Major Hicks voice echoed through the radio "Our tests suggest these hybrids aren't going to be affected by FC-13. They're resistant to-" Nick warned but he was immediately cut off "Better check those test results again Doctor." Hicks said which threw Nick back in slight confusion "The pesticides working?" Nick asked incredulously.
Elsie looked at Nick in a state of confusion as did Cordula and Mendel. "Slowly" Hicks replied. Nick narrowed his eyes as his mind wracked for anything that could be wrong "Explain" Nick said for clarification "The spray is slowing some of them down. Others appeared to be retreating from the area" Hicks replied. "Are they even showing signs of being affected? Usually spiders retreat when threatened by something bigger than them" Cordula said as she rubbed her forehead while Nick tried to reason with Hick when they all heard the sounds of soldiers screaming in fear.
"I'm guessing that's not a good sign?" Mendel asked as Nick turned to Mendel "Something's wrong, signal Godzilla" Mendel nodded and began typing through his new model of contacting Godzilla "Craven use the beacon we don't have time to take any chances" Nick said "I made some adjustments, its gonna work this time, trust me" Mendel insisted before screams were heard outside.
Nick ran to look out from a window while Cordula raced outside only instinctively duck when something white hit a tank and covered it completely. Cordula blinked as she observed the white substance. "Is that...spider silk?" Cordula didn't have time to think more of it when Elsie, with Randy close behind her, went out as the ground shook and they turned their attention to the right to see a huge mutant widow spider walk through the base.
It definitely had the appearance of a Widow Spider with the mark so glaringly obvious on her abdomen, the only thing that's different was her height. "I'm guessing that's their queen" Cordula felt her lips form a straight line as she stared at the huge monster in front of her. Why does this remind her so much with the Queen Bee?
They received another shock when the Queen Mutant Widow Spider suddenly sprayed the entire base with spider silk. "Elsie come back!" Cordula shouted as she followed after Elsie who pushed a soldier in the way of the spider silk but that put her in the line of fire. Elsie closed her eyes as she felt it literally slowly covering her before a hand pulled her away before the silk could encase her further.
"Elsie! Cordula!" Nick's voice made her opened her eyes and turn to see Cordula struggling to release her and herself in the silk "This thing's so sticky like glue!" Cordula grunted as she fished for her pocket knife and tried to slice her way out. They felt a shadow over them and Elsie screamed and Cordula tried to work faster when they were both lifted up, with Cordula dangling dangerously.
"Elsie! Cordula!" Nick cried out as he ran towards the Queen Spider. "Hang on Elsie!" Cordula shouted as she tried to free her other arm. Cordula and Elsie could literally smell the toxic breath the Queen Mutant Widow Spider has as her giant moth drew closer and closer. Cordula screamed as she managed to release herself and loosen the cocoon Elsie was in just as the ground beneath the Queen Mutant Widow Spider gave way as Godzilla crawled up and flung the Queen Mutant Widow Spider to the trees.
Elsie and Cordula landed in a heap on the ground with some residue of the silk still clinging onto them. Cordula shakily stood up as Godzilla faced the Queen Mutant Widow Spider. "It worked! I told you the beacon would work!" Mendel exclaimed happily.
Cordula and Nick desperately pulled a slightly cocooned Elsie away from the battlefield. Cordula grunted as she tried to pry most of the sticky residues that stayed glued to her sides.
Godzilla tried to fry the spider with the use of his atomic breath but was unfortunately pinned down when it had no affect, switching to use brute strength, Godzilla viciously bit onto one of the Queen Mutant Widow Spider's legs. The Queen Spider stumbled and rolled back, destroying a few aircrafts before righting herself and letting out a vicious hiss.
Godzilla roared back at her before his entire being was suddenly covered with spider's silk. Not wanting the same thing to happen the second time, Godzilla made sure his eyes weren't covered before he ended up plastered to the side if a mountain.
"Godzilla! Move away!" Nick shouted out. "I don't think he can hear you from this distance!" Cordula shouted from all the roaring and the hissing noises coming out from both monsters.
Godzilla struggled and managed to loosen a few but the Queen Spider managed to slowly immobilize him, most especially his mouth.
"Go!" Nick shouted again as Godzilla "Don't worry, I'm sending him a command" Mendel said before pressing a key. The gang watched Mendel before their gazes went to Godzilla, wondering what he will do.
Godzilla blinked and even though people can't exactly see facial expressions of lizards, the gang could clearly see Godzilla was confused by the way he suddenly stood up and blankly staring up "Huh?" Cordula couldn't help but let out a confused sound. Why wasn't he doing anything?
"Command for what dude? Stand still and look confused?" Randy asked as he turned to glance back at Mendel. Godzilla forcefully pulled the web strings lose enough for him to let out another atomic breath and forcefully push the Queen Spider back. They circled each other before Godzilla let loose another atomic breath that forced the Queen Spider into the jagged parts of a mountain.
"Woah..." Nick gasped in awe as Mendel began typing another combination. However, Godzilla suddenly moved away and headed straight to open waters just as the injured Queen Spider scampered up the mountain "What's he doing?" Nick asked out loud. Hearing the sound of thousands of feet moving closer, Cordula turned and saw at least more than a hundred and more widow spiders coming out of the edge of the forest.
"Run!" She shouted and the team booked it towards the buildings. Nick looked back and slowed down to a stop when he noticed the spiders weren't after them but rather they were following the retreating Queen Spider.
The gang let out a breath of relief before they pondered over Godzilla's sudden change of behavior "The G-man could've finished that thing off. Why'd he bolt?" Randy pointed out. "Perhaps someone sent the wrong message" Monique said as all eyes turned to Mendel who went silent. "Any idea what happened to your protégé, Doctor?" Hicks asked as he approached Nick "Not exactly but evidently your spraying operation wasn't entirely effective either" Nick stated. Hick's eyes wandered to Mendel, suddenly finding the doctor stick out like a sore thumb.
"Ever thinkin' about using sun screen doctor?" Hicks asked. Randy and Cordula looked away to cover their giggles but then Cordula straightened up when she felt Mendel's glare directed at them, specifically at Randy. "Major Hicks!" One of the soldiers shouted for his attention "The leg of the arachnid! It's still moving" He said, pointing to the one that's been severed off by Godzilla when he bit her
"Woah, Narly. " Randy gaped at the still wiggling appendage. Feeling all of his lunch rushing up to his throat, Randy covered his mouth and turned away.
"UGH!"
Cordula had seen a lot of dead appendages in her biology lessons. She has been dissecting small animals since first year yet the sight of a moving appendage made her feel green to the point of grasping Mendel's shirt for support.
"At least the thing's wounded. Maybe that'll slow it down till we could relaunch an attack."
Hicks said with a hint of relief but Nick narrowed his eyes as he bent down and inspected the part where the limb was severed. "I doubt it major" Nick replied.
"This looks like a clean break, here at the top"
Nick pointed out "Meaning what exactly?" Hicks asked, feeling as if he was back in his school years and biology was simply not among his favorite studies. "Meaning that this creature is not permanently injured. Spider's are able to snap off their own legs in self defense. The leg regenerates in the next molting period" Nick explained.
Forcing herself to swallow the bile from rising, Cordula added "And knowing what we're dealing with is no ordinary spider, it's easy to assume she can regenerate her leg a little faster than ordinary spiders" Nick turned to Randy and gestured him to the wiggling leg.
"Randy, give me a hand with this"
Randy looked like he wanted nothing more than to be more than a few feet or miles away from that thing "Oh c'mon Jefe, I don't wanna touch THAT." Randy whined before adding "I didn't even like Charlotte's Web as a kid."
Monique rolled her eyes "My hero" She said sarcastically before moving to help Nick. "Hey! Cut me some slack, okay? You're French. You eat snails" Randy said "Snails and Insects are totally different Randy" Cordula clarified.
~oOo~
Back in the tent, the team is currently arguing about whether to use Mendel's new tech to call Godzilla. "That device is a liability to the mission" Monique said as she crossed her arms and leaned against a table in which Mendel was currently seated in.
"Wrong, everybody saw it work. I called Godzilla using the sonic language and he arrived" Mendel argued back "Yeah, I'm sure the fact that Nick and Cordula screaming had nothing to do with it" Randy's sarcastic words made Mendel scoff.
"Hmph! Coincidence" Mendel replied back "Like it was "just a coincidence" that he totally zoned out when you sent out the other two signals?" Randy said with quotation marks. Their argument was cut short by Nick.
"Enough okay?! We don't know for sure that Craven's signal had caused Godzilla to act like that way. His behaviors been erratic before" He stated before turning his attention back to the microscope. "Thank you Nick, it's nice to have the support of one's colleagues" Mendel said gratefully to Nick but Randy took it as sarcastic since Mendel's eyes landed on him the moment the sentence was out.
"Spare me.." Randy said, wanting to roll his eyes. Their conversation was cut off when Nick let out an noise of intrigue "Hello...?" Elsie tore her eyes away from the computer screen to Nick "What ya got?" She asked "The leg section that was left behind contained some of the giant spider's reproductive glands. From what I can ascertain from pur tests, her reproductive system's working overtime" Nick said.
"So all those thousands of other spiders out there could be...her babies"
"No I'm pretty sure those ARE her babies. They literally just followed her every command"
"And these mutations figured out how to speed things up even further. Hormonal indicator show that the spider can reproduce aesexually just like the first Godzilla"
That may be why she retreated into the jungle, to lay more eggs. Replace her own troops" Monique deduced. "And come back with reinforcements for a final showdown" Nick finished.
And now they all were feeling the pressure. If they don't stop this now, there might be another disaster coming for the whole world.
"Then we better start a new toxic panel. There has to be something these things can't tolerate" Elsie said as she moved her hands to gather a few scattered papers on the desk not knowing the jar containing the spider was there or that Cordula was sitting way too close with her back leaning on the desk and her hand on the table.
Cordula let out a shriek when she felt something crawl from her hand while Elsie let out a cry of surprise. For a moment, Cordula's body acted without thinking and immediately whipped her hand around to try and fling whatever was on her hand off.
The spider landed on the ground, dazed. Randy snapped out of the shocked stupor first and grabbed the closest thing that was suitable for a cage, a vase filled with flowers Elsie picked up.
He dove straight and managed to capture the spider while the others checked up on Cordula. "I'm alright. It didn't bite me" Cordula mumbled, her hand stopped whipping the moment the spider flew off but it did nothing to stop a small tremble from coming.
"Woah guys, check it out" Randy surprised voice made their heads turn to where he was lying down. The spider had turned and lay on its back, shaking as if it had received toxic shock.
Randy slowly pulled the jar up, not moving from where he was in case the spider moved back up before he finally stood up when he confirmed the spider stayed in its exact position.
"That's weird" Elsie said, moving closer with intrigue. Randy and the rest had no idea what had just happened "Is it...you know?" Randy asked, tone unsure. "Paralyzed...I think" Elsie said as Nick bent down and grabbed a pink petal before comparing it to the database of flora in the island.
"They're from the Chrysanthemum family. It's a natural Pesticide that causes sudden paralysis in the central nervous system"
Nick read the information given in the screen out loud as Elsie moved closer to stare at the picture of the flower she had just picked up on a hike.
"So it seems the way to fight mommy long legs and her kitties is with a little flower power"
~oOo~
With a plan formed and after a brief meeting with major Hicks, Cordula, Monique and Randy helped with the soldiers in collecting as much flowers they could get with the limited time they had while Nick and the rest will do the processing of making a bomb out of the flowers.
"How much longer Nick?" Major Hicks asked "An hour, maybe more. We have to finish processing the pyrethrum and I think we're only gonna have enough of this stuff to make one bomb" Nick said worriedly.
"What're we talkin' about in terms the bomb's total coverage area" Major Hicks asked "Limited area" Mendel replied "Otherwise there won't be enough high concentration of the Pesticide" He explained.
"Adult spiders don't leave their web that often, the babies usually stay close to mom. We should attack them there all at one time" Nick said "Before they attack us, one LAST time" Major Hicks replied.
~oOo~
The path to finding the web of the Spider Queen was easy, heading there was a bit difficult. On account of carrying a heavy pesticide bomb and the webs littering the forest area, the pace had been steady as the sun slowly lowered itself.
"Um...I have a crazy idea. Why don't we come back in the morning? You know when it's not so creepy out?" Mendel, who couldn't handle the light slowly dimming and the fact that it seems as though shadows were following them from the trees, asked Nick.
"Because we wouldn't find anything. Most arachnids create a habitat at sunset and destroy it by sunup" Nick explained. Randy patted Mendel in the back "Want to hold my hand scardy cat?" Mendel glared at him before moving close to Cordula and Elsie.
A soldier moving ahead of them suddenly raised his arm up, signaling them to stop. Nick, Mendel and Randy went up ahead and saw a giant web covering what appeared to be a crater sized ravine.
They followed an open path to the web and found...no one.
Cordula glanced up to see helicopters, guns, trucks and all kinds of human transportation and gadgets stuck on the web, probably used as a trophy display.
"Nobody's home. I knew we should've called in first" Monique let out a small grin as Randy's eyes glanced at her. "I thought you said adult spiders tend to stay in their web" Hicks said, keeping his voice low.
"The non mutated ones do" Nick replied before his face turned serious "Listen, all we have to do is plant the bomb, take cover and wait. She'll be back" Nick replied back. Cordula shivered when she felt too many eyes peering behind her.
"Ever get the distinct feeling that we're being watched?" She whispered to Mendel who almost let out a small whimper before replying "Please...don't..."
"Negative doctor. What I'd she's moved on, made another web?" Hicks argued back before shouting "The target's not been achieved. You men, stay here and radio if there's any activity. The rest of you let's move out"
From the corner of her eye, Cordula could see legs moving slowly towards Hicks who was already moving back. She let out a scream, which made Mendel scream as well in surprise, as the giant spider suddenly appeared right underneath Hicks.
"Hicks!" Nick cried out as Hicks instinctively pushed the men behind him back, using himself as a shield, as small spiders began to descend from their mother's back.
"Craven! Call Godzilla!" Nick shouted as Mendel fumbled with the keys, initial shock already worn off. "And get it right this time!" Randy shouted "Can't you just use the original call!" Cordula shouted before dodging a leg that swung around. The men carrying the bomb dropped the bomb for cover.
They moved out of the way just as Godzilla's Atomic Breath shot straight at the Queen Mutant Widow Spider's back. Godzilla roared as Mendel let out a cheer for himself "Is that right enough for ya?!" Mendel shouted before Cordula pulled him away from falling debris of rocks and boulders.
"Brag about it later!"
The Widow Spider pushed Godzilla to the edge of her web but was met with an Atomic blast to the face before she could begin to cocoon him.
"The bomb!" Cordula cried out as the bomb elevated as the Spider skidded itself right behind it. Nick stared at the bomb as it was slowly being covered with tiny arachnid spiders "Cover me with the flares!" He shouted before donning on the yellow suit to protect himself.
"Nick! Don't go in!" Elsie shouted as Cordula shouted for a flare gun. "Just do it!" He said. Cordula tosses a flare gun to Randy "We'll clear a path!" Cordula shouted "Same time chica" Randy said as the two aimed the flare guns at the spiders before firing them simultaneously.
Nick dashed forward as the spider cleared away from the flare as he manually started the bomb. He winced and let out a pained noise when tiny little bites that literally packed punch, but him everywhere.
Nick felt himself fall and land hard on the ground. "Get away!" Cordula shouted as she swung a stick around and hit a few spiders as Randy and Elsie grabbed him by the arms and pulled him away.
They dragged him to a safe distance and let him lean against a boulder. "Nick, just lay still" Elsie said softly as Nick removed the helmet and let out a weak answer "UGH...I-I' m okay. The remote!" Nick gasped as the two Mutant monsters battled right in front of them.
"Nick, what about Godzilla? He's gonna be right in the middle of the blast!" Randy said, hesitating for a moment before Nick shook his head "No choice." He said as Godzilla let out another Atomic breath at the Spider Queen just as she let lose her webs at him.
Randy waited when he saw Godzilla push her body directly above the bomb. Randy immediately clocked the remote as the bomb began to time itself to explode the Chrysanthemum flowers.
"See ya.." Nick said with a grin as the bomb exploded. Everyone covered their ears and ducked their heads for cover. When it was all finished, there was nothing but a paralyzed Spider Queen and a lot of smoke and fire surrounding her.
No sign of Godzilla.
"Where is he?" Randy asked as he let out a small cough. Godzilla let out a roar from the smoke as his image appeared from their vision.
The gang cheered.
"Yeah!"
"You're the G-man!"
Shots were suddenly fired as Godzilla let out another roar of surprise. "Hold your fire!" Hicks shouted as two of the soldiers let our several shots. They gave him a confused look and begged for an explanation "Don't even think about asking me to explain myself soldier" Hick said with a warning glare and the matter was dropped.
Cordula and Nick let out a small wave as Godzilla disappeared into the thick smoke.
~oOo~
"Next time we go somewhere and one of us goes down. We need to at least carry a stretcher" Cordula complained as Elsie gave Nick the anti venom shot. "Hey, you think that antidote might work on the great pumpkin here?" Randy asked. Mendel was not pleased "Knock it off. It's fading, right?" He turned to Monique for answer but the French woman did not reply.
Hicks entered the medical tent "I just got off the horn with the president. He sends his thanks"
They waited for more but that was it. Randy was stunned "That's it? No trip to the White House, no National Holiday, no...souvenir paper weight?!" Hicks gave Randy a look "I'll grab ya a pen the next time I'm there"
"Also Rands, I'm not even sure this thing could count as a National Holiday. This is basically our job" Cordula said with her arms crossed, face displeased. "There's nothing wrong with a little gratitude" Mendel said, seemingly unabashed by the reply of the president if it wasn't for the frown supporting his face.
"Oh please, he's pouting" Nick let out a grin to hide his laugh "Not a good look" Randy added "Especially with that fake tan" Mendel glared at him "My Sonic Signaler helped make this operation a success"
"Oh get serious, just cause Godzilla showed up twice doesn't mean squat. He shows up all the time" Randy said, still not believing in Mendel's work. "Fine, you want more proof? I'll give you more proof!" Mendel said, feeling challenged.
Cordula smiled at seeing the relaxed atmosphere especially Elsie. Being nearly eaten alive could bring up a traumatic experience. She blinked as a though crossed her mind.
Now that I think about it. This is the first mission wherein N.I.G.E.L wasn't blown up, burned, turned inside out, squashed, drowned, etc.
~oOo~
Back at the H.E.A.T base. Mendel typed in a few keys as Godzilla stared at him with curious confusion in his eyes "Just to make sure there are no more coincidences I will send him a command for roar"
As Mendel typed in the last few keys, Godzilla stood up and let out a roar when the annoying ringing sound came back. Mendel took it as a win and gave them a smug look "Well, I think everybody owes me one big fat-" The rest of his words were drowned out as a wave washed over him making him wet from head to tow and destroying the tech in his hands.
Everyone let out amused chuckles from above "I don't know if he heard you dude but the big guy definitely read my mind!" Randy said with his hands cupped together with a grin. Cordula and Elsie went back in to get some towels to dry off the now pouting doctor.