Sorry for missing a week. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Mina slid down the empty road, toward the nearest rendezvous point. In the windows, she kept catching brief glimpses of movement from the brawling kaiju, followed by bright flashes of blue.
At one point, Mina noticed the blue glow getting brighter. And brighter. She looked back. Uh oh.
Mina swung around a corner at full speed as Godzilla's atomic breath swept through the street behind her. The force of the blast threw Mina off her feet, but she flipped in the air and skidded to a stop. Mina activated the radiation gear on her costume, then slowly turned around to survey the damage. A large groove carved through the street, while the fronts of the buildings had utterly been destroyed.
Mina was about to leave when she heard muffled screams for help. There was only one thing to do.
Mina carefully stepped down into the mess, stepping over molten asphalt and past shattered building facades. She used her acid to dissolve rubble, revealing an injured woman.
"A Hero…" the woman said.
Mina smiled. "Yep, that's me."
Mina slowly dug out more stragglers. They'd been taking cover in the buildings, hoping the storm blew over. As Mina saved them, she kept giving them a bright smile to, as All Might put it, save their hearts as well as their bodies.
However, any relief they showed vanished when they looked at the two battling giants.
Mina watched as Godzilla tried to swing its tail into Rodan, only for Rodan to catch it and pull back (much to Godzilla's irritation). Godzilla yanked his tail free and shot Rodan in the face, embedding it in a building. Godzilla readied to fire again, but Rodan lunged forward and swung its wing into Godzilla's face, then slashed at him with its talons. Godzilla slashed back with a fierce roar.
Mina turned back to the stragglers. "While those two are having their pissing match, what say you we go head the other direction?"
A fourteen year old boy guffawed at Mina's choice of words while the rest slowly nodded. Mina then led them away, calling for backup as she did. Once they were in a safe spot, Mina signaled them to sit down and wait. Help would arrive soon.
Mina glanced back at the fight as Rodan came from behind and slammed its talons onto Godzilla's side. Godzilla roared as Rodan pulled up. Godzilla's back seemed to rise. Mina frowned. She narrowed her eyes and took a better look. Her eyes widened. No way. Mina stared as Godzilla's massive form slowly lifted off the ground.
Ochako lifted a piece of rubble away from the entrance. Nearby, Midori and Weld pulled a large chunk of concrete off a door and slowly led the people out. "It's alright," Midori said to one sobbing child, "Everything will be ok."
"How-how can you know?"
"Trust me, I know these things. I promise. No, pinky promise!"
The girl just kept sobbing.
Ochako stepped forward and knelt in front of the girl, "You should listen to my friend. He knows everything about giant monsters. We'll be fine."
The girl's eyes lit up. "Uravity?" she said. She gave a furtive, "Ok, if you say so…"
Ochako didn't miss the crestfallen look in Midori's eyes. Nevertheless, she got the girl to hold both their hands as they took her to the nearest shelter, far from Godzilla and Rodan. Just as they rounded the last corner, Midori suddenly let go of the girl and put a hand to his ear. Then, he said, "Ochako, hurry the girl to the shelter. We have incoming."
"What? What do you-" Ochako turned around. "You gotta be kidding me."
Rodan was currently in the air, carrying a thrashing Godzilla toward the mountain on the edge of town.
Ochako, Midori and the other Heroes hurried the civilians to the shelter. After dropping the girl off, Ochako carried him to the highest roof in the area. They watched as Rodan carried Godzilla past them. Midori said, "So he can do that." He turned to her. "Are those areas evacuated?"
"Yeah, they were some of the first-oh no," Ochako said. The area they were entering was-
"What?"
"That is the shelter where we were moving the most people. It's also where we had the field hospital. It's safe to hunker down in, but treating the wounded? While those two are brawling?"
"So they need to clear the hospital."
Ochako nodded, took his hand, then took off across the rooftops with him. While she was concerned about the civilians, Ochako worried about one individual in particular. Eri.
"All Heroes, move evacuees down from the first four levels." Creati said over the comms. "Medics, evacuate the wounded. Redirect any new arrivals to shelters-"
Kota Izumi scowled. "Great. We gotta empty the first four levels when everyone's already packed!" He slid his hand over his Hero costume's headgear (which like the rest was identical to his parents') in the same way he normally would his hat.
"Complaining isn't productive," said Satsuki, wearing an identical costume to her sister's first one.
"I know that!" Kota got up and hurried down the hall. He saw one of his classmates, Gojo, looking at the crowd, seeming utterly lost. Kota grabbed him by the shoulder and said, "Wingtip, go down the hall and grab Go-Gorilla. You and her usher people down the north hall to the stairs."
"Ok. Right!" Gojo said, hurrying down the hall.
"I'll go down the other way," Satsuki said.
"Use the walls."
"I was going to."
Kota looked up at the ceiling.
"Don't worry, she'll be fine. Ribbit."
Kota nodded. He took his place, ushering civilians toward the exits, where transportation Heroes were already waiting. "This way! Stay calm! The shelter should hold even against a brawl." Like that one that had a critical failure across town was supposed to.
"Water Hose!"
Present Mic rounded a corner. "Go help Restore evacuate the field hospital. If the situation gets too dangerous-"
"Get her out," he said with a nod. Knowing her, he and Aizawa would both be needed for that. She could be damn stubborn when helping people. Kota rushed down the hall, shoving his way through. Finally, used the water jets on his ankles, propelling himself to the wall. Another jet allowed him to leap off, an act he repeated, leaping from wall to wall toward the off-limits area, where he and other personnel could move in peace. Once he arrived, he sprinted up a stairwell and through the halls until he finally reached the wing where they'd set up the field hospital.
There he found a flurry of activity as the medics led patients to the alternative exit, used exclusively by the emergency personnel. Only a few patients could still move on their own power, the rest were escorted by medics. Kota looked around until he saw the familiar red and white Hero costume. "Restore!"
Eri whirled around. "Ko-Water Hose!" she said.
"How are the evacuations?"
She pointed at the doctors helping the patients to the exit. "The lightly injured are already out. We're moving the moderate and heavily injured." She used her quirk on a woman with a bandaged leg, then pulled out her knife and cut the cast off. The woman got to her feet and was rushed out. Her already shortened horn had gotten shorter still.
"I'm trying to heal the ones who'll be able to move on their own power."
"I'm sure the excuse to heal people didn't cross your mind at all," Kota said as he helped push a stretcher to one of the other Heroes.
"Hey! Getting them mobile isn't wrong!" she said, healing another. "Those kaiju should pass by, but we can't risk it. Healing them is hard enough without the floor shaking."
That wasn't a no, Kota thought. Before Eri could use her knife, Kota used the water jet on his slice open the cast with a razor thin jet of water.
"Thanks," Eri said.
Kota looked around the field hospital. There were still dozens of people being carried out. "Don't thank me yet. This could take a while-WHOA!" The entire bunker shook. Eri fell into Kota, who caught her in one arm while steadying himself on the wall with his other.
The lights flickered, then briefly went out, before turning on again. "Emergency Lighting Activated."
For a moment everyone was silent. Kota helped an embarrassed Eri regain her footing, then stared at the ceiling. "What the hell was that?" Kota said.
Moments earlier
Izuku watched as Rodan carried Godzilla past the town's limits, toward the mountain. They're past the last of the bunkers. Godzilla thrashed and growled as Rodan carried him toward the nearest cliff, clearly intending to smash him into it. Godzilla's spines glowed. He's about to use the nuclear pulse.
Rodan dropped Godzilla. Godzilla plummeted to the ground until he crashed on top of an electrical tower, hitting it on a very unfortunate spot. Izuku winced.
Rodan let out a series of screeches while Godzilla got to his feet, his eyes blazing with more fury than Izuku had seen in a long time. Rodan flew right at Godzilla, talons out. Godzilla fired his atomic breath, but it went wide. Apparently in his fury, Godzilla's aim had-
Just before Rodan hit Godzilla, Godzilla stepped off a small ledge and ducked. Rodan flew over Godzilla and smashed into the cliffside.
Godzilla turned around, throwing his head back for a long roar. Rodan flicked up its head, sending a boulder into Godzilla's face. Godzilla staggered, looking more surprised than hurt. He picked another the boulder and threw it back. Rodan swatted it back with his beak, which Godzilla hit back, only for Rodan to return it, until finally Godzilla smacked the boulder into Rodan's chest.
Meanwhile, Ochako carried Izuku to the exit of the main hospital wing. The two ran inside, where they found a long escalator where they were bringing some of the injured up. Others were being taken up the clogged elevators. A medic pushed a gurney into Izuku and Ochako's hands. "Take her to the transports!" The medic then rushed down the escalator.
The two rushed the patient out and into a waiting ambulance. Nearby, others were moved into requisitioned, military jeeps, and still more to transport Heroes. Ochako went to join the transport Heroes, leaving him to help escort the others out.
Izuku took the next injured person, this one in crutches, and helped hurry him out to the transports. He then went back in to get the next one.
Kenji hated this job. He was a psychic and analyst, neither of which should involve being carried like a ragdoll by Ingenium across town during a battle! Still, it could be worse. At least there weren't heights this time!
Ingenium set him down. Kenji steadied himself on a pole and resisted the urge to vomit. Ok Kenji, focus. You got this. This should be the last one. He stood straight and stretched out his mind. He traced the subtle pressure he recognized as the transmitter, trying to find a general direction. And…
"There," he said pointing. "That building."
"Excellent," Ingenium said.
Far off, Godzilla swung his tail into Rodan, slamming him to the ground. Rodan tried to get up, but Godzilla hit him again. Godzilla was about to hit Rodan a third time when Rodan flapped its wings full force while firing a windblast. Godzilla stumbled. The hill he was standing on gave way, sending the King to the ground.
Rodan let out a loud warble as it got to its feet.
Oh sure. Laugh and pretend you meant to do that.
Godzilla was no better, given how he immediately used his tail to trip Rodan, then got up and let out a series of growls, expressing what only Kenji knew was amusement.
"We need to get back to the others," Ingenium said. That was the only warning Kenji got before he was yanked up and carried again.
Between trips, he occasionally caught glimpses of Ochako carrying multiple people at once. He also saw Gale Force lifting more and flying them away. As Izuku carried another out, he saw paramedics swarm one of the patients trying to keep him alive. Izuku took one look and knew it would be futile. Those injuries were treatable, but not in the field.
However, the Zombie Hero Walker, wearing a blue trench coat and purple breathing mask, pushed the doctors aside. He strapped the patient down, placed a muzzle on him, then emitted a pink gas from his wrist gauntlet. The patient's skin turned gray, with sunken-in black eyes. He thrashed in his bonds.
Walker said, "That'll buy you enough time to get to the next hospital. Have them ready." He then said into his earpiece, "Restore, I used my quirk on the patient. Your assistance is unnecessary."
Izuku pushed the patient from the stunned medics to the nearest Hero, explaining what had happened.
"Walker? Alright, I'll watch out."
Izuku hurried back in. As he grabbed the next stretcher, he saw a boy in an outfit near-identical to the long-dead Water Hose Heroes next to that girl interning with Ochako, Eri. They were bringing up another civilian.
"Mr. Midori," Eri said. She flushed. "Sorry, Midoriya. Take this one." She pushed a stretcher into Izuku's arms. Izuku nodded and hurried the patient away. Then his comms went live. The Heroes have found the transmitter. They are preparing a strike team. Stand by.
"Got it," Izuku said. He then stared down the street. Slowly but surely, Godzilla and Rodan's fight was coming closer.
Izuku rushed inside and brought out another wounded civilian. Nearby, Alien Queen had arrived and joined the effort. Izuku wondered where Red Riot was. He'd be very helpful right now. Meanwhile, the kaiju drew closer.
At this rate, they wouldn't make it. Izuku was directed to join the medics at the bottom. He sprinted down the escalator. At the bottom, he saw that the only patients left had to be taken up by elevator or Hero, which would slow the evacuation even more. Nearby, the Water Hose boy was pulling Eri by the arm.
"It's time to go Eri! The others can handle the patients."
"Not until everyone's out of here!" she said. "You can go if you want."
"No, we're going together. The patients will be fine if we take cover, but you need to leave!"
"Not until these people are safe!"
The Water Hose boy looked around.
"Eraserhead is with the wounded up there," she said. "Now help me move these people, then I can leave!"
"Fine," the boy growled. He took a deep breath, then held out his arms and unleashed two torrents of water from the hoses on his arm. The torrents bent and moved down as if alive, gently wrapping around and lifting the gurneys and moving them to the lift. "There."
"KOTA!" she said. "Be careful! You could de-stablize them!"
"You'd rather have the kaiju do it? You said yourself that we need to move everyone now."
She growled as she checked the injured. "Alright, all of them are still stable. Good job."
Izuku then walked up to them and said, "Can you do that to move them up the escalator?"
The boy looked to Eri and said, "I could, but that would require a lot more water, meaning it'd be harder to control, so they could be jostled."
"Is there a way or quirk that could stabilize your water? Make them less likely to move? Maybe make it more viscous?" Izuku said.
The boy looked nervous. He fiddled with his headgear. "I dunno, Gell-Oh from Shiketsu might be able to make the water more viscous so it moves smoother? He's nearby-"
"Call him," Izuku said.
"Yes sir!" Water Hose said. He tapped his ear and hesitantly said, "Uhhh Gell-Oh we uh…" He slapped himself. "Gel-oh. We need you in the medical bay ASAP."
X glanced at their guard. He was so engrossed in the fight on TV that he wasn't even paying attention to them anymore.
X nodded to Mifune. Mifune reached up and lifted the button's plastic cover.
Water Hose and another boy (Gel-oh) both stood in front of the stretchers, readying their quirks. Meanwhile, various aid workers, Heroes, medics (and Izuku) stood by the stretchers to escort them up.
Water Hose sprayed a torrent of water that flowed around them, while the other one tapped it, causing the water to become thick like Jell-O. The wave lifted the stretchers, carrying them to the top. Once there, the medics pushed their way out of the flow, dropped off their people, then hurried the empty stretchers back down to help more out. Eri was at the top, checking the wounded, using her quirk on any who needed it. Izuku dropped off an old woman he'd been watching. He was about to go back down when he heard the thundering footsteps.
Izuku whipped around and saw Rodan holding the back of Godzilla's neck in its talons while Godzilla plowed through a building. One Hero futilely tried to create an ice wall while Izuku looked around for a weapon big enough to get the King's attention.
Ochako landed next to Restore, who was yelling into her comms. "Finish up and get up here now! What happened to us going together you hypocrite?! You finish saving them, and I'll be waiting here. You're not changing my mind."
Ochako grabbed Eri by the shoulder. "Eri, you have to leave."
"But there are-"
"We'll handle them. Your quirk is needed at the next hospital. Plus, you're my intern, and I'm ordering you to go!"
Eri threw a pained look at the shelter.
Izuku stepped forward. "You're needed more there than here."
That got the girl to give a shaky nod. She hurried to Ingenium, who carried her away, leaving Izuku and Ochako behind.
Godzilla's foot landed nearby.
"That's the last of them!" Water Hose said as he and Gel-oh rode the wave up.
Godzilla's claw scraped the edge of a building, sending rubble flying. Small pieces landed at the edge of Izuku's group. Several Heroes picked up the last of the wounded and bolted. Izuku then said, "Everyone below! Hurry!"
They all sprinted toward the shelter entrance.
Mifune looked to the guard, then to X. He nodded.
Mifune smiled, and pressed the button. A red light atop the transmitter flashed.
Godzilla and Rodan froze. Their heads turned toward the restaurant district, then glanced at each other once more. Izuku furrowed his brow. It was almost like someone has-
Godzilla and Rodan both took off in the direction they'd been looking.
No. There was no doubt. That was a transmitter signal.
X heard the panicked shouts. Their guard got to his feet and ran to the hall. "Hey! What's going on!"
The entire building was starting to shake.
Mifune said, "This had better work!"
"I'm well aware," X said. This was a gamble, but it was the only thing that could work. He'd just have to trust his technology and associates to see them out of this. He refused to die in a backwater place like this.
I love how if you look at it one way (like the characters here) this is an epic clash of the titans. If you look at it another, it's two jerks getting into a very petty brawl. (That gag with Godzilla falling on the electrical tower was taken straight from Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster)
I originally had them evacuating the full bunkers until I realized, wait, they're bunkers. They're made for this and I didn't think I'd establish enough by one collapsing to justify introducing it in this chapter. Evacuating the wounded on the other hand to somewhere they could safely be treated was another matter.
Hope you enjoyed! Reviews make me smile!