Adjusting to life in space was a process for Katie, spending two hours per day on the treadmill to work out muscles that didn't get much use in zero gravity. The pouched food consisted of meatloaf, pudding, and occasionally canned fish for special occasions. During downtime, she worked on illustrations, creating beautiful canvases of Earth. Glancing out the window at the Earth often gave her wonderful ideas.

Due to her extensive training over the years, none of this adjustment came with much shock, what had come as a shock was how active Godzilla had been these past few weeks. He had been seen more times than ever before in a short period. What did it mean?

As Katie floated past John, who was analyzing data, he waved his hand to control a satellite video showing clips of Godzilla.

"Magnetize the right claw," he commanded.

The screen zoomed as John examined Godzilla's pointed fingers. "This creature is incredible."

Katie slipped on an electronic glove, waved her hand around, and conjured holographic screens before her. "What are they calling this? Mechagodzilla? This machine is a true testament to Japanese technology."

John was too engrossed in admiring Godzilla to discuss a man-made machine. "This really is a nuclear God. Something forged by the power of atomic weapons."

"Which, in turn, led Japan to create their own mechanical God," replied Katie. "But what triggers his activity? He remains dormant for so many years."

"And he seems to favor the southern area of Japan over the northern region. Most animals stick close to their source of energy. Could something food-related be in that part of the sea?" John hypothesized.

Their screens flashed interrupting their brainstorming session — an incoming message from Earth. Katie pushed a button on the screen and connected. "Yes, Houston?"

"We might need you to switch what you are watching."

"Don't tell us another monster," John wondered.

"No, remember Voyager Two? "

Katie recalled Voyager Two, a satellite launched in the 1970s that sent back stunning photographs of the gas giants in our solar system. It had ventured into interstellar space after passing Neptune, its signal intermittently fading until it went silent about five years ago.

"Yes, what about it?"

"Well, it appears to be in contact again and it's sending messages to us. They seem to be symbols that we can't identify."

"What do you mean?"

"A bunch of graphemes that doesn't make any sense. We have a linguist trying to decipher it."

Katie lowered her hand and traded looks of concern with John.

"And that's not all, the signal is strengthening. It's heading back to Earth."

A cup of green tea sits steaming as a hand reaches for it. "Yeah, if we don't find him soon, it could be trouble," Kotoe remarked, raising the cup to her mouth.

"I only met him once. I couldn't tell you anything about him." Mai said.

"I'm told they are deep into an investigation on him." Hirooki shared as he sipped his drink. "This isn't a job you just disappear from."

"With the extensive background checks, I'm not even sure how Akio did it." Mai wondered.

Kotoe, Hirooki, and Mai sat at a square marble tea table in a bustling establishment. Surrounding them, other patrons enjoyed each other's company, indulging in snacks and drinks. The bar area stretched along the room's length, a long black marble counter where a skilled bartender expertly poured drinks for the thirsty customers seated on high-rise stools. Behind the bartender were decorative shelves lined with expensive selections of sakes and wines. Many of the patrons were dressed formally, appearing to have just finished work. It was a lively crowd for a Tuesday night.

"What a snapshot of humanity here, going about their lives ignoring a monster," Hirooki said.

"I saw on Twitter that websites are taking coin bets on where Godzilla will show." Mai annoyingly stated.

Hirooki couldn't believe it. "You have got to be kidding me. How is this a joke to some?"

Ships had deployed with sonar to track Godzilla but to no positive results. He remained hidden somewhere in the vast ocean.

"Hirooki, something has been bothering me. It just doesn't make any sense why the AI made that decision for me," Kotoe rested her hands under her chin as she leaned forward.

"Because that is what it is supposed to do," Hirooki responded.

The server arrived and set down a bottle of sake. Kotoe eyed it and then looked at Hirooki.

Hirooki chuckled and reached for the bottle. "Live a little, Kotoe. Plus, we might need some for where this conversation is going." He poured some into a small cup and handed it to Kotoe.

"This better be the cucumber one." Kotoe took a sip and nodded. She nods. "It is good."

Mai giggled as she took a sip of hers.

"As you were saying, or criticizing the power of our AI?" Hirooki grabbed a skewer of Mitarashi Dango and took a bite.

"I don't want it in control. I want final say, you know, the human."

"Statistics have shown that human error is much greater than AI, especially in high-stress situations. It's been a fact since GPT came out years back and proven it can handle human workload. Why not use the technology we have?"

"But even cars aren't fully automated yet. They can't account for all situations, they only have the past and data."

"And humans don't use their past and 'data' to make decisions?" Hirooki retorted.

"They do, but they also have something else."

"And what is that?" Hirooki questioned.

"Feeling, a soul," Kotoe said. "I'm worried you may have lost yours."

Hirooki frowned as he thought.

"Cars are pretty much fully automated." Hirooki circled back to the cars. The limits of AI were too grand to hold back and be afraid of. It annoyed him having to argue this point. "Human conciseness will never be replaced, don't worry about that."

"That's not what I'm worried about, it's control."

"Are there any save points?" Mai wondered.

"Save points?" Hirooki asked.

"Yeah, so like in a video game a spot you can revert to. What I mean is where the machine reverts over control?"

Hirooki sighed as he took a sip of his sake. "Mecha AI was designed to always, in any situation, save the Mecha." None of them spoke as they sipped on their sake in silence.

"I'm going to take down the creature, even if it's with weapons I can't fully choose." Kotoe finished her drink and stood up to leave. "I think we need to have a serious discussion on what has and hasn't been shared with the pilots."

A bright glow from a screen revealed heavy bags under Izanagi's eyes. His windows were covered with blackout curtains, shutting out the outside world. On his monitor, he watched through the eyes of MechaGodzilla, his fingers hovered over the keyboard. With a press of a key, he initiated a command, causing the eyes of MechaGodzilla to glow yellow for a few seconds before he quickly deleted the command.

On another screen, he reviewed the database and tracked queries within the transition table finding his prompt "eye glow" as approved and then processed. After confirmation he had found his trail, he then deleted it.

It was a dangerous thought but deep down, he couldn't shake the desire for Godzilla to make a grand appearance.