Chapter 14- The Travelers
Hey there guys, gals, and non-binary pals! Tardispilot297 here bringing you another new chapter of Godzilla: New Dawn. Now this was another fun chapter to write. And I hope you all enjoy it.
Once again, and I cannot stress this enough, I do not own Godzilla in any way shape or form. The only things that are my own are my OCs. If you have the means and the chance I highly implore you to support the official release. With that out of the way, ON TO THE CHAPTER!
The snow falls onto the large fortress as the sky turns gray in the early morning. Looking out through one of the windows is a man dressed in a white military uniform. The markings on his arm signifying the high rank of captain. His face scowling as he looks down at the view of the nearby village. Behind him Gordon is standing up wearing a golden heavy silk robe and leaning over a table with a paintbrush in his right hand. He takes slow and careful strokes with the brush on a piece of paper. He glances over at the captain with his bright-red eyes.
Gordon: Exactly how long are you planning to stand there and scowl like that? It's putting a damper on my morning flow.
The captain answers him without turning around.
Captain: Perhaps if you had bothered to inform me of your unsanctioned departure off the island my mood would be a bit more positive.
Gordon: It was just a small late-night visit to an old friend. Hardly worth all the hassle and paperwork.
Gordon continues painting.
Captain: Regardless, you should count yourself lucky that it was me who discovered your little "late-night visit" instead of one of my other colleagues in the JDF. I was barely able to sweep it under the rug without raising suspicion from the higher-ups.
Gordon: I'm sure you went through a great deal of trouble on my account. Course then again, that's your job isn't it? To keep tabs on me for those stuck-up bigwigs you work for?
Captain: Nevertheless, I would at least like to be notified when you decide to pull a stunt like this. Like changing your mind about killing the girl and having her brought to you alive instead.
Gordon: What, and leave your little spy network without anything to do? Really now, Katagiri. Not even I am that cruel.
Katagiri lets out a heavy sigh.
Katagiri: In any case your Shadow was supposed to relay a signal when the girl is secured.
Gordon: You send people out to do a job you don't wanna think about, so you don't have to think about it. It's the whole point of having people.
Captain Katagiri looks over his shoulder towards Gordon.
Katagiri: Not everyone can be relied on.
Gordon gives Katagiri a sideways glance.
Gordon: Oh believe me, I am very much familiar with that premise. Course if there's one person that I would trust to deliver, it would most certainly be Maya. You could stand to learn a thing or two from her example.
Katagiri turns away from the window.
Katagiri: Oh come now, Gordon. Every year, do I not promise you delights beyond imagination? And every year, do I not deliver?
Gordon looks up from the table and turns his head towards one side of the room.
Gordon: Yes, well. Every year, my imagination continues to expand.
He turns back to the table to continue painting.
Gordon: The Golden Week is the one time of year that I'm allowed off this fucking island.
Gordon's teeth clench as his face scowls before becoming relaxed again.
Gordon: I trust that the preparations are going smoothly?
Katagiri: I've been planning for the trip all month. Surprises for you at every stop along the way to Kyoto.
Gordon: Hmm. (looks up from his painting at Katagiri) And when we get to Kyoto?
Katagiri: Rest assured our little surprise for JDF high command is almost ready. Afterwards,
you'll be free to go anywhere you like. Anytime you like.
Gordon looks back to his painting and dips the brush into the black paint next to the paper. He brings the brush back to the paper to finish the final strokes.
Gordon: Aaaaaand….. Done.
Gordon straightens up to look over the painting allowing Katagiri to walk over and examine it himself. The portrait is that of a man being violently disemboweled by a raging bull. Their entrails entangled on the bull's horns and spilled out onto the ground. Katagiri raises his hand to his chin looking impressed.
Katagiri: Hmm. I must say, After all these years, you have truly mastered the brush.
Gordon looks at the painting with a cold stare.
Gordon: I. Hate. Painting.
He slams the brush down loudly onto the table.
Gordon (inhales) I hate woodblock and ceramic and calligraphy and every other useless human art that I mastered to help while away the hours.
He picks up the paint container and furiously swings it back and forth dousing the painting with black streaks and blobs. He then picks the paper up and starts crumpling it into a ball as he walks over to the large fireplace.
Gordon: (throws paper ball into the fire) But what I hate most of all, is that I have "time" for painting. And if I have time to paint, then something is definitely wrong.
He places his hands behind his back as he stares into the fireplace. The paper ball burning up within the roaring flames.
Gordon: The JDF allows us to operate across the wastes so long as their leaders can deny my very existence. Very soon, they will no longer have such a luxury.
Katagiri looks down at the table and picks up the brush.
Katagiri: Hmm. Pity, I'd have liked that in my room.
He turns his gaze to the subject of Gordon's art, a fresh naked human corpse splayed out over a large chest with a severed bull's head planted next to it. The body's entrails strewn out and a large trail of blood leading to the door on the other side of the room. A decade or so ago Katagiri would've surely vomited at such a sight. However, spending years being assigned to monitor Gordon's every move has long since dulled his sensitivities to such gruesome acts.
Gordon turns away from the fireplace and walks over to a smaller table with a wine bottle and wine glass placed on top. He grabs the bottle and pours its contents into the glass in his hand. He rotates his wrist to cause the red liquid to swirl inside.
Gordon: Anyway, as much as I have enjoyed your visit, It's time for me to take my morning stroll.
He turns and walks towards another door with the bottle still in his hand and passes by Katagiri.
Gordon: Do give my regards to your superiors the next time you happen to see them.
Katagiri places a hand over his chest and bows his head slightly.
Katagiri: But of course. Until next time.
Gordon leaves the room and begins walking through the large dark halls. The only portions of light being small streams from the upper windows and a basking glow coming from the doorway ahead of him. Gordon walks right past but then stops to take a few steps back. He looks inside the room through the doorway and decides to enter. The brightly lit room is large and vast with a single large object the size of a double-decker bus placed at the very center of it.
He walks up to a wooden bench set up in front of the object while taking a sip of his glass and takes a seat placing the bottle down next to him. His left arm stretches out along the bench as he sits silently looking up at the large object in front of him. He soon feels a small itch on his hand and glances over to see a small spider crawling along his skin. He lifts his hand up slightly looking at the spider as it crawls over his fingers.
Gordon: I never asked them to give me this, you know. They just assumed someone of my… "background" would want a special memento of their history, and put it away from prying eyes.
He turns his gaze towards the large object while slowly moving his hand causing the spider to crawl back and forth over his fingers.
Gordon: Now, We were never friends. In fact I haven't, uh, given a single thought to you for quite some time. Wouldn't do either of us the dishonor of asking for a favor.
He looks back and turns his hand over with the spider crawling into his open palm. He then slowly and gently closes it over the spider before turning back to the object.
Gordon: However, I believe that there may be something that I can do for you. (holds his closed hand out to the object) They've been nothing but ravenous parasites here for as long as they've been. You saw first hand what they did to the land and the seas. Once green and fertile fields reduced to irradiated deserts, the oceans choked with their trash and pollution, permanently toxified. Truly the real monsters, surely, these humans.
A smirk forms across his face.
Gordon: Fortunately for you, The ones in charge of the leftovers are a rather greedy lot. I plan to burn away the last vestiges of their cancer and reimagine this world more to my liking. Now, back in the old days, I'd imagine that you were rather indifferent to that sort of outcome? Hmm? Fair enough, fair play? Same as me to yours. But I'll tell you this, though. If this all truly goes my way, I will go ahead and take it for a sign that you tilted the scales in my favor, and I will, in kind, build unto my new kingdom a grand temple. I will send for the rest of your remains to be brought and reassembled to be enshrined for all that breathes to bask in your majesty. My thanks if you see fit.
Gordon turns away and stands up from the bench. He lowers his arm and opens his hand releasing the spider.
Gordon: It's no matter to me either way. The only thing that I've ever truly wanted… that has always been my greatest regret… is that I wasn't the one to kill you.
He picks up the bottle and leaves the room turning away from the giant dinosaur-like skull sitting at the center in silence.
Elsewhere, far, far away, The sun shines over a lush and orange forest. The serene sounds of birds chirping echoing between the trees. Sounds which are soon joined by loud voices.
Jaime: Ugh, let's just face it already. We're lost.
Angelo: No we're not. We're following the directions that the old driver told us.
The group walks along the dirt path. A small mixture of exhaustion and annoyance on most of their faces.
CeCe: And remind us, Ang. Just what were his directions again?
Angelo: Okay. I believe he said that the shortcut we need is located on the path that leads into the deep woods.
Goji: Right.
Angelo: Past the old oak trees with the sinister-looking branches.
Rodney: Check.
Angelo looks over and points at a uniquely shaped shrub with a batch of white flowers on top.
Angelo: Yeah, and there's that bush that's shaped like some famous woman from the old world. What'd he call her? "Eddie Bright"?
CeCe stretches her arm over at the bush.
CeCe: We've passed that thing THREE times already!
Angelo: Hey I'm just repeating what the old man said.
Jaime lets out an exasperating groan while sliding her hands over her face. She then turns her head to glare angrily at Angelo.
Jaime: Well this is just great! We only have a limited amount of time to get to the Monarch lab, and you're dumbass has to go and get us lost in the woods!
Maya turns her head disapprovingly at Jaime.
Maya: HEY! That's enough!
Everyone stops and turns their gaze over towards Maya.
Maya: The fact is we've been walking constantly for the last two days. We're all tired. We can't waste both time and energy snapping and yelling at each other.
Goji looks over the group.
Goji: She's right. We've already come this far together. Let's not tear eachother apart just yet.
He walks up to Jaime.
Goji: That goes for you too. Remember, we're all on the same side here.
Jaime looks up at him and nods her head with a small sigh.
Jaime: Yeah, I know. (looks over at Angelo) Sorry Ang.
Angelo gives Jaime a warm smile.
Angelo: Ah, don't worry about it. CeCe's called me much worse.
CeCe chuckles sarcastically while flipping Angelo off. Jaime faces forward and starts walking again.
Jaime: I just wanna see my mom as soon as possible.
Goji watches her continue on ahead and looks back to the others gesturing with his head for them to follow. They continue their trek until they come to a small stream near a waterfall. The group sits down to rest for a bit while Jamie walks a little ways away over to the edge of the stream and starts filling up her canteen. As she does, a small sound of rustling bushes makes her turn her head to the side. She spots a female deer stepping out towards the stream and looks directly at her.
They both stare at each other for a few moments until Jaime gets an idea and scoots a bit to the side. She looks away from the deer and continues filling her canteen. The deer stares in silence before slowly walking up to the stream next to her to start taking a drink. Jaime can't help but turn back to the deer next to her and smile widely with excitement at what was happening. Until now, she'd never even seen a real deer let alone manage to get so close to one. Her left hand lets go of her canteen and slowly moves toward the deer, getting just close enough to almost touch it.
When suddenly a loud noise, like the sound of an explosion, causes both her and the rest of the group to jump in surprise and cause the deer to lift up its head and run away. The group looks around and spots a group of birds cawing and flying off into the air just a few miles away from them. Goji and Maya both exchange looks and waste no time nodding to one another and grabbing their gear. The rest follow suit and the group starts running at full speed back into the woods. They continue running non-stop for what feels like miles before stopping to catch their breath. Before Jaime can ask what's going on, CeCe shushes her while one of her ears shoots up to listen. She listens carefully, tuning out all other nearby noises around them when she picks up on a loud noise starting to build up over the wind. A noise of several heavy engines heading fast in their direction.
And all the way out here in the middle of nowhere a noise like that meant only one thing.
CeCe: Jackers!
No sooner had she said that she immediately picked up on another noise like a loud whistle. She quickly pushes Rodney out of the way just as a metal object explodes a tree that was just behind him. The group then wastes no time and starts running again at full speed. CeCe's ears work overtime as she calls out to warn everyone about which direction to run in to avoid more explosives fired at them from long distance. More trees and rocks explode all around them as they try to find cover from the assault. Finally they jump over a large rock and slide down a steep hole on the other side. They pick themselves up to continue running but suddenly stop and stare at what lies ahead of them.
Hidden among the trees is what looks like a small village made up of metal spheres and machines with cables scattered about across the ground. In the center lies a large, white saucer-like building with a blue line along the edge of the ring and along the bottom with a blue colored dome on top. The residents are all dressed distinctly in black and gray vinyl suits. The men wear coverings over their heads which cover all except their faces and feature a single antenna on the top and two receivers on each side of their head over their ears. They also wear thin black visors that cover both of their eyes. The women all look completely identical, and do not wear any attire over their heads. All of them stare at the group frozen in place pausing the different tasks each of them are in the middle of doing. Some hold tools to work on different machines while others stand next to the largest building holding up plates of metal to attach to it.
The silent staring lasts for a few more seconds until the loud roaring of engines prompts the group to turn around and look back behind them. The large rock they previously jumped over explodes with pieces of rock and dirt flying everywhere. The dust settles to reveal several makeshift vehicles parked just above. Each one occupied by heavily armed individuals dressed in shabby makeshift leather clothing and headgear reminiscent of helmets and pilot caps. Parked in the center is a large six foot modified Mack DM Series monster truck. A man wearing a demonic-looking, black helmet with large horns and a black facemask steps up through the truck's sunroof and looks down at the group. He removes both to reveal a middle-aged man with black paint around his eyes, a thin white mustache and goatee, and light brown hair tied with a ponytail in the back of his head. One of the jackers calls out to him.
Jacker 1: So boss, is it her? Was I right!?
He reaches down and pulls out a dirty and wrinkled piece of paper. He looks at it and sees a picture of Jaime's face and compares it to Jaime herself. Just above it words read out "Wanted: Jamie! Alive! Reward: 20,000 Caps!". The boss addresses the jacker.
Jacker Boss: Yep. I'd say that's her alright.
The rest of the crew cheers as they take aim at the group. Goji moves to stand in front of Jaime. The residents look at the Jacker group with nervous looks. One of them ends up speaking out loud.
Resident 1; Uh Oh.
This causes the Jackers to turn their attention at them and look over the settlement. Including the amounts of food and supplies being loaded into the large structure. The Jacker boss eyes them with great interest.
Jacker Boss: Well look at that, boys. Seems we've stumbled upon quite the motherlode here.
Some of the Jackers leer over some of the women residents. Drooling slightly like a pack of dogs.
Jacker 2: I quite like the looks of those pretty things right there myself.
Jacker 3: I call dibs on the one on the right.
Another Jacker turns to the boss.
Jacker 4: Your call, Boss. Do we grab the girl, or ransack this place?
The Jacker Boss turns to him and back at the large bounty laid out before them. He shouts at the top of his lungs.
Jacker Boss: TAKE 'EM ALL BOYS!
The Jackers soon cheer and roar loudly while firing their weapons into the air. Their vehicles roar and speed forward flying over the group and towards the panicking and fleeing residents. Several buildings get destroyed while a few residents get scooped up by passing Jackers or run over and shot while trying to run away. Goji and the group easily take out the few jackers that jumped out of their vehicles and went straight for them. Goji and Maya with their swords and CeCe with her hammer. Angelo simply punches a few jackers, sending them flying through the air. Rodney picks up an AR-15 off one of the dead Jackers and uses it to shoot a few of them off the vehicles speeding around the settlement.
Goji, Maya, and CeCe go charging into the chaos while Angelo stays behind to look after Jaime. Goji swings his broadsword cleaving Jackers in half left to right. CeCe smashes a few of their skulls with her hammer while also crafting makeshift bombs made from bits and pieces of metal scattered about and tossing them all over. Maya takes to the sky and pulls out her bow to start sniping them from the air with her arrows. Finally the Jacker Boss looks over at CeCe still chucking bombs and turns his truck around to go straight for CeCe threatening to run her over. CeCe spots it and rolls out of the way in time, tossing another bomb underneath the truck. The Jacker Boss jumps out just as the bomb explodes and causes the truck's fuel tank to rupture and explode sending it flying through the air.
He stands up looking all around as his crew continues getting slaughtered all around him. He quickly pulls out a gun from his belt. Goji spots him and rushes straight towards him. He swings his sword just as the Jacker Boss aims the gun up and pulls the trigger. The gun fires up a flare that explodes high into the air. Goji's sword cleaves The Jacker Boss's head off and he falls to the ground dead. Goji looks down at the body and looks up at the flare still glowing up above. With the rest of the jackers dead, the group rejoins Goji and looks up with him.
Jaime: That light means something bad right?
Rodney: Very probably, yeah.
The residents all come out and gather around the group. One of them, a short man wearing a goggle-like visor looks up at the flare.
Goggle Resident: Well, according to my calculations, I'd say that our chances of leaving here are now approximately 6,352,271 to 0.1 against.
Another resident, a more portly man, begins shouting in despair, placing both hands over his head.
Portly Resident: Oh, No! After all this time, to go back to being slaves. I can't do it!
He falls to his knees wailing in despair and tears rolling down his round face. Another resident, a young man with a tuft of yellow hair peeking out from under his head covering, goes over to the portly resident and helps him back onto his feet.
Idealist Resident: Hey now, get a hold of yourself.
The portly resident pushes the young man away from him.
Portly Resident: Oh, sure. That's easy for you to say. You were barely a podling when the rest of us were forced to use our technology and superior knowledge to build all manner of weapons for the humans to use.
Idealist Resident: My age is irrelevant here. We can't just give up now. We still have a chance to pull this off.
Another resident, a slightly older man with a full beard, walks up to the two of them and makes a few comments of his own.
Analyst Resident: As a matter of fact, there is some substance to that theory. If we manage to launch our escape craft before the Jacker reinforcements mobilize and arrive on our position, we will easily succeed. On the other hand, The Jackers in this area are both incredibly tenacious and surprisingly resourceful, and knowing our precise position, would not only swarm us from all sides, but also use some unknown means to block our assent into the air, thus forcing us to surrender.
Another resident, a young female with straight light pink hair, pushes through the crowd and runs over to the small group.
Technician Resident: Everyone! Our sensors just picked up a massive energy source powering up just 400 kliks west from our position. The Jackers are most likely preparing to come after us.
This causes an uproar of concern and panic from the rest of the residents.
Portly Resident: You see? There is no chance of escaping now! We're all doomed!
Idealist Resident: No! There's got to be a way! We just have to calm down and think!
As the residents debate back and forth about what to do, The group just stands around unsure about what to do themselves. To their surprise Jaime walks up to the four residents and talks to them to get their attention.
Jaime: I'm sorry this happened to all of you. This only happened because those Jackers were after me.
Portly Resident: (pointing at Jaime) That's true! This is all your fault! You led them right to us!
The rest of the residents start shouting and accusing Jaime as well. Goji gets ready to speak up, but the Idealist resident shouts at them instead and quiets them down.
Idealist Resident: Hey, come on! That's not fair! It was only a matter of time before we were eventually discovered. If anything, her friends saved our lives. I mean didn't you all see how easily they dispatched all those Jackers?
The Goggles resident walks up to him.
Goggle Resident: Indeed. Quite impressive. In fact, the precise odds of five individuals wiping out at least 20 to 30 armed Jackers with swords, arrows, and hastily crafted explosives are about 6,923 to 1 against.
Idealist Resident: Wait a second, That's it! That's the solution to our problem!
The residents all murmur in confusion. The idealist resident walks over to the group.
Idealist Resident: Listen, everyone. If we count on these brave fighters to protect our craft, They may just create a large enough diversion to allow us to slip away unnoticed.
Portly Resident: That's impossible. Even KKs couldn't manage a task like that.
Goggle Resident: Actually, I've run the numbers and the odds of success are very promising. It's only 5,437 to 1 against.
Idealist Resident: You see?
The residents start to weigh their options.
Analyst Resident: This is certainly quite the predicament we find ourselves in. On one hand, we have to trust the fate of our survival with a group of strangers; On the other, we surrender ourselves to the mercy of a group of psychopathic barbarians and endure possible lifetime enslavement resulting in our eventual and horrible demise.
Technician Resident: Well I think we should give the strangers a shot. After all, they did save our lives already.
Portly Resident: Oh this is all completely pointless. They probably wouldn't even do it anyway.
The idealist resident turns and addresses the group.
Idealist Resident: Listen, I know that you all risked your lives already to save us, but right now we could really use more of your help. Please, will you help us?
Goji and the rest of the group look at each other in quiet deliberation.
Goji: What do you think?
Rodney: Well I think that these guys won't last five seconds without help.
CeCe: Yeah, they're basically pussies.
Angelo: As much as I hate to say it, I think we should try to help.
Goji turns to Jaime.
Goji: And you?
Jaime: Like you gotta ask?
Goji turns to Maya who silently nods her head. Goji turns around to face the residents.
Goji: We'll try to help you. However, the most we can do is fight them on the ground. Only two of us can fly.
The Idealist and Analyst look at each other and grin.
Idealist: Just leave that part to us.
After several hours, the residents start preparing the group for the upcoming battle. This included providing them special weapons, heavy plasma rifles with extendable barrels and ammo charges the size of old video game cartridges that attach to the side of the rifles, and modified suits composed of several armor plates (cuirass, greaves, poleyns, vambraces, brassards), fully head-encapsulating combat helmets, thick, hermetically sealed, protective bodysuits, and heavy duty belts bearing miscellaneous equipment; as well, pouches and other load-bearing features are included. The helmets and armor are covered in a digital camouflage pattern, composed of black and dark gray pixels imposed on a light gray background, while the bodysuits are predominantly black with a protective olive green under-vest and padding.
The group dons each of their suits with special modifications made for Angelo, Maya, Rodney for proper fitting and room for Rodney and Maya's wings. As well as allowing room for Goji, Maya, and CeCe to carry their specific weapons. Jaime, a little jealous for not getting a suit of her own, watches in awe as the others step onto a metal testing platform. All five of them look over their suits as the Idealist resident begins running diagnostics on their suit's systems.
Idealist Resident: Alright, everything looks good. Now, allow me a few moments to explain to you all your hand guidance control…
Suddenly he's interrupted by Rodney suddenly launching into the air and screaming at the top of his lungs after pushing a button in his glove, activating the jet thrusters in his boots. He is soon followed by CeCe, who shouts excitedly while flying in a spiral maneuver, Angelo, who goes flying in a zig-zag motion, Maya, who backward somersaults into the air, and Goji, who shoots straight up like a bullet out of a gun.
Idealist Resident: …system.
The group goes flying all over the place with Rodney and Angelo screaming, Maya and Goji trying their best to straighten themselves out and gain control, and CeCe going at top speeds loving every minute of it.
CeCe: THIS IS AWESOME!
Rodney continues freaking out while hyperventilating in his helmet. He looks at his hand again and pushes another button causing him to make a sharp turn in a different direction. The others each press different buttons in their gloves to get a handle on who to steer themselves. With Rodney and Maya both extending their wings to balance themselves. Goji flies into a figure eight maneuver and heads straight for a bunch of trees. Before he crashes into them, he quickly pulls out his sword and starts swiftly cutting the tops off as he goes. After a minute or so the group starts to get the hang of things and start flying around like professional fliers. Especially Rodney, who figures out how to change the sights on his HUD to show everything in black and green grid form so that he can't actually see that he's so high up.
Everyone on the ground looks up in astonishment at how well the group is flying through the air above them. The idealist resident turns to the technician resident manning a control console.
Idealist Resident: Alright, looks like they're ready. Dispatch the drones.
She inputs a set of commands into the console and in a few seconds several dozen small robotic drones shaped like silver curved horns. The drones fly towards the group and start firing small beams at them. They manage to dodge the shots with one of them being taken out by Angelo's tail swing. The group then readied their new plasma rifles and began shooting down the drones like a game of duck hunt. And when some of the drones manage to get close enough, Goji, Maya, and CeCe destroy them with their melee weapons. When the last drone is destroyed the group each strikes a pose in midair earning cheers from Jaime and the residents down below.
Night eventually falls and the residents throw a party to celebrate their escape tomorrow. Loud rhythmic music is played as most of them dance and converse amongst themselves. During this time the group is caught up on the residents' situation and reasons for building their escape craft. It turns out, they are a race of aliens known as Xiliens who had originally come to earth in order to conquer it by taking control of the Titans and using them to destroy the human race. Instead, the will of the Titans made them too great to control and their force ended up being decimated with the survivors forced either into hiding or in servitude to world governments who wanted them to make weapons to destroy both the Titans and their respective rival nations.
Jaime: So, now you guys just want to leave the planet and go back to your own planet?
Idealist Xilien: Exactly. Conquest means nothing to us anymore. All we want now is to just go back home.
Portly Xilien: Oh, I'm so excited.
Maya: And what will you do after you make it back?
Idealist Xilien: We'll start by casting aside our war-like ways and use our science and technology to do good for a change. No more conquering other planets.
Technician Xilien: No more building weapons of mass destruction.
Analyst Xilien: No more killer mutants or hostile raiders.
Goggle Xilien: Yes, and no more protection from building radiation within the atmosphere.
All the Xiliens around the group let out a deep sigh. Jaime looks at all of them in shock.
Jaime: Wait, you guys know about that?
Goggle Xilien: Of course we do, friend. We've been measuring the radiation levels for weeks now.
Analyst Xilien: In fact, we've calculated that unless the levels somehow drop and stabilize, the entire planet will be rendered lifeless in about 4 or 5 years now.
The group each jump up and shout in surprise.
Trio: WHAT!?
Jaime: Seriously?! But my mom said that we'd only have a matter of months!
Portly Xilien: Heh, you silly humans. Always making a drama about everything. We've been measuring the levels since day one. And the only place on this planet that would've been made lifeless in that amount of time would be that of the smallest continent.
Goggle Xilien: Correct. I believe your people call it "Australia".
Angelo: So that means we've got plenty of time to get you to your mom, Jaime.
Everyone looks over at Jaime, but instead of an expression of happiness, there s an expression of sadness on her face.
Jaime: I guess so.
Goji looks at her confused.
Goji: Jaime, what's the matter?
Jaime: It's just that, I wish I could see her tomorrow instead of probably weeks from now.
Goji looks at Jaime and places a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. The others all look at Jaime and then each other. The idealist Xilien starts pondering a thought and runs it by the rest of the Xiliens.
Idealist Xilien: Hmm. Instant transport. What do you say, everyone?
The Xiliens, picking up on his intentions, all start talking excitedly at once. Maya looks at them surprised.
Maya: Wait, you're saying such a thing is possible for you?
Analyst Xilien: Of course. It's very simple actually.
He reaches down and picks up a food dish with a small empty drink carton on top.
Analyst Xilien: Now, let's say this dish is the spacecraft. (picks up drink carton and places it underneath the dish) If you get inside the escape shuttle located at the bottom of the ship and detach once we've reached the mesosphere, the rotation of the planet below combined with the speed of reentry should drop you back down in a matter of moments.
Technician Xilien: Which would easily allow you to reach your desired destination in no time at all.
The group look at the Xiliens with astonishment.
Goji: And this would actually work?
All the Xiliens answer all at once.
Xilien 1: Oh, yes.
Xilien 2: Indubitably.
Xilien 3: The theory is quite sound.
Analyst Xilien: Just make sure that you enter the shuttle and detach the exact moment we reach the planet's mesosphere. Gravity will take care of the rest.
Angelo: Get in the shuttle. Detach when we reach the mesosphere. Got it.
CeCe: Sounds good to me.
Rodney: I just hope that the ride will be smooth on the way down.
Jaime jumps up cheering in excitement.
Jaime: Yes! I'm finally gonna see my mom again!
She goes over and hugs Goji tightly, catching him slightly off guard for a brief moment. He recovers and places a hand on her shoulder as she continues hugging him.
Idealist Xilien: Excellent! So we'll proceed with the launch first thing tomorrow mor- -
CeCe holds a hand up interrupting him as her ears perk up. Her expression turns very serious.
CeCe: I think you might wanna push that launch schedule ahead a little bit.
Her words and actions cause everyone to stop and look at her. From her body language Goji and Rodney can tell that whatever it is her hearing is picking up right now, doesn't mean anything good for them.
An hour or so just before dawn, the roaring sounds of dozens of engines made their way towards the settlement. Moments before they reach it, the large craft in the center powers up and lifts up into the air. The Jackers below can do nothing but look up and stare as the craft raises itself higher and higher into the sky.
On board the Xilens are strapped securely within the craft with Jaime and the group seated on the bridge with the Idealist, Portly, Technician, and Goggle Xiliens. Turbulence rocks the craft causing Rodney to shut his eyes and tense up while clutching his seat tightly. CeCe notices this and places a hand over his. Rodney opens one eye and looks over at her as she gives him a reassuring smile. Her expression tells him that everything is going to be okay. Rodney takes a few deep breaths and manages to calm down a little.
Jaime meanwhile looks out the closest window and sees the ground below getting smaller and smaller by the minute. Her eyes wide with wonder and excitement. Goji and Maya both can't help but smile a bit at the sight. The Technician Xilien makes an announcement.
Technician Xilien: We are now entering the stratosphere.
Suddenly a beeping sound emits from the console in front of the portly Xilien.
Portly Xilien: Long range sensors are picking up a large object heading straight for us from above on the port side.
Idealist examines the screen in front of him to locate the object. He soon spots something large reflecting sunlight off its metal hull. He zooms in on the object and discovers it to be a massive rigid-frame dirigible, held afloat by four giant gasbags inside the frame of the ship. He scans it to see it designed with heavy armor surrounding the main deck to protect the gasbags and all the people and equipment stored within from harm. The plating is designed to take plenty of punishment without losing the ability to fly, while the heart of the craft is a nuclear fusion plant, providing power to the systems and powering the main engines: Four massive propellers at the stern of the ship, supported by four large thrusters mounted on the flight deck. A large portion of the ship acts as a hangar filled with eight attack VTOLs for transporting troops.
Idealist Xilien: Damn it. Guess those Jackers had a way to block us off in the air after all.
He turns around to look at Goji and the others.
Idealist Xilien: You guys better get yourselves to the airlock, pronto.
Goji nods his head and unbuckles himself to stand up. The others follow suit and head down the lower deck to meet the Analyst Xilien at the airlock.
Analyst Xilien: Now remember, Goji. You and the others must be inside the shuttle and detach when we reach the mesosphere.
Goji: I understand.
Analyst Xilien: Good luck.
He pushes a button and opens up the inside of the airlock. Goji and the others step inside as the door closes. The outer door slowly opens up, sucking out the air into the sky around them. They all step out and take off into the air. They fly around the ship with Angelo and Rodney landing on top and readying their plasma rifles. Goji, Maya, and CeCe ready their own as the dirigible gets closer.
Meanwhile on the crafts bridge the captain in charge, a man with a full dark-red beard wearing a cloak made of a polyester-type parachute material, looks through a telescope at the Xilien craft rising up nearby them. He smirks as he lowers the telescope.
Jacker Captain: Looks like this lot are in a real hurry to get somewhere.
He hands the telescope to a jacker next to him and reaches over to pick up a microphone attached to a cable.
Jacker Captain: Launch the first wave.
Back with the group, they see the bottom of the dirigible open up allowing four VTOLs to drop and unfold their propellers to take to the air. The four smaller aircraft charge at them at full speed. Goji and the group charge up their weapons and get ready to fire. When the VTOLs get close enough Goji fires on the closest one taking out one of its propellers. The craft begins falling out of the sky when the sides open up allowing several smaller objects to shoot out into the air.
The smaller objects soon open up to reveal over a dozen KK jackers whose bodies are predominately grayish-black, sporting predominant light markings. Their heads are shaped long and triangular with the tops of their heads flat. They possess triangular jaws with seemingly-degenerated rows of sharp teeth. They have a sort of set of mandibles in their lower jaws capable of separating slightly, and two forelimb pairs are modified into his wings. They each have a pair of hind legs and glowing red eyes. They charge at Goji and the others screeching loudly. The three remaining VTOLs unleash their own swarms of flier KKs and proceed towards the Xilien craft. The group fires at the swarm of enemies. Goji, Maya, and CeCe fly around to try and out maneuver the flier KKs. Soon the three VTOLs make it to the craft and drop off several larger KKs onto the surface of the ship. These larger variants have two pairs of forelimbs and a smaller pair on their chests and have similar mandibles and red eyes.
Rodney and Angelo start firing, taking them out one at a time. With several shots needed to take down a single boarding KK. Back in the sky Goji switches from his rifle to his broadsword and starts cutting off several fliers' wings. Maya does the same and switches to her bow, firing arrow after arrow into fliers' heads. The aerial dogfight grows fierce as the boarding KKs start digging into the craft's hull like dirt with their mandibles. Maya, having killed a few flier KKs already notices this and swoops down with her sword to decapitate each of the boarding KKs eating into the hull. However, to her shock the heads continue eating despite no longer having bodies.
Maya quickly tries to come up with a plan to stop this when she recalls a memory from her village. Whenever a villager would have ticks burrowing into their skin, they would simply use a small hot stick to expunge the insect with ease. Acting quickly, Maya brings her sword under one of her boots and activates the thruster and super heating the sword's metal. Once hot enough, she begins stabbing her sword into one severed head after another. This causes them to finally release themselves from the hull and fly off.
Back on the dirigible bridge, the Jacker Captain growls in annoyance at how the battle is turning. He grabs the microphone and yells his orders to launch the second wave. Another wave of VTOLs launch and release another swarm of flier KKs towards the craft. Among them are a small squadron of beetle-like KKs with silver and gray tusks and claws with an orange-and-black carapace and wings. Their forelimbs terminate with two sharp, drill-like appendages. They make their way towards a part of the ship and start drilling into the section containing the craft's fuel tanks. CeCe spots them and charges in with her pipe hammer, slamming them off with one swing after another.
She strikes them hard, cracking the carapace around their heads, until one of them charges at her with one of its drill appendages. It manages to push her down against the ship's hull with her blocking the drill with her hammer which starts to slowly break in half. Just before it finally gives way, CeCe delivers a heavy kick to the beetle KK's stomach and sends it flying into the air. She quickly switches back to her plasma rifle and charges it up to full blast before firing at the beetle KK which explodes into a cloud of energy.
Back with Goji, another wave of flier KKs coming charging in armed with MK-153 rocket launchers. They fire a barrage of rockets at him, but he manages to dodge every single one. His moment of triumph is brief however, when he notices the rockets turning around and coming at him again. He quickly tries to outrun them but the rockets keep up and slowly gain on him from behind. Another wave of rockets is fired at him and Goji finds himself between two waves of rockets coming from the front and behind. Thinking fast, he flies right towards the second wave and stops in midair waiting for both waves to close in on him. At the last moment, he shuts off his thrusters and falls straight down as the rockets begin colliding with each other instead.
He turns the thrusters back on and flies straight toward the flier KKs with his sword ready. He begins cutting them down one after another. A few more fire rockets at him again, which he soon leads into other fliers, killing dozens in the process. This continues until every last flier is falling dead out of the sky. His eyes turn towards the dirigible which now lies just below them. He gets ready to fly down to it and take the fight to the jackers when he receives a transmission from the ship.
Portly Xilien: We are now steadily approaching the mesosphere.
Idealist Xilien: Goji, forget about them. You just get to the escape shuttle with the others!
Goji looks between the craft and the dirigible and flies back to the craft to join the others at the airlock.
Idealist Xilien: Maximum height and velocity will be achieved in t-minus 1.2 minutes.
Goggle Xilien: Stabilizing warp core.
Idealist Xilien: (To Jaime) You get down to the escape shuttle and join your friends.
Jaime nods her head and unbuckles herself from her seat. She runs up to the door but stops to turn back around to the Xiliens.
Jaime: Good luck you guys. I hope you make it home.
Technician Xilien: And to you as well.
Idealist Xilien: Say hello to your mom for us.
Portly Xilien: And tell her not to worry about her miscalculations. Quantum mathematics is an easy thing to misunderstand.
Jaime nods her head and exits the bridge to head down to the escape shuttle. Once inside, everyone buckles in with Goji and CeCe sitting in the front. The shuttle itself is a small, agile looking craft. The technician Xilien speaks to them over the commlink panel.
Technician Xilien: Alright, I'm going to lock you all in. Just to be clear this is going to be quite the ride for you all.
Rodney: Great, thanks for the heads up.
They become locked into their seats as the craft opens up underneath the shuttle.
On the dirigible, the Jacker Captain screams with rage and barks more orders.
Jacker Captain: Get after them!
Jacker 4: We can't. They've gone too hgh for us to reach.
The Jacker Captain growls loudly. The veins along the side of his head looking ready to pop.
Jacker Captain: This lot think that they can make a fool outta me and get away with it!? Fine, if I can't have their fancy tech, then I'll settle for the scrap metal left behind after I blow 'em to bits. READY THE BIG GUN!
The top of the dirigible opens up allowing a large Heavy Gustav artillery gun to raise up and slowly aim itself up towards the craft above.
Back on the bridge the Xiliens receive a weapons lock warning from their systems. The portly Xilien looks at the screen.
Portly Xilien: What is that?
The idealist Xilien stands up and goes over to look at the screen as well.
Idealist Xilien: It looks like the Jackers are preparing a… giant gun.
The image gets sent down to the escape shuttle for the group to see for themselves. Upon seeing it Goji's expression turns serious as he contemplates what must be done next. As a gun of that size could easily tear into the hull of a craft like this, he sees only one option left for them. He glances over at everyone else, each of them silently understanding what it is they need to do. He takes one look over at Jaime, who only smiles and nods her head. Goji looks over at CeCe who wastes no time reaching for the controls to unlock them from their seats.
A notification reaches the bridge of the escape shuttle getting ready to detach from the craft.
Portly Xilien: Goji and the others are getting ready to detach!
Technician Xilien: What?
Idealist Xilien: Goji, what are you and the others doing? We're almost at maximum height!
Goji: If that gun fires, it'll take the whole ship out of the sky.
Goggle Xilien: The odds of them hitting us at this height and speed are approximately 325 to 000000.1 against.
Goji: Well that's not a chance I'm willing to take.
Technician Xilien: But you'll never be able to course correct yourselves in time.
Goji's voice goes silent.
Idealist Xilien: Goji? Goji!
The escape shuttle detaches from the craft and drops down. The Jackers begin loading the first shell into the gun.
Idealist Xilien: Initiate the countdown to lightspeed!
Technician Xilien: But what about the others?
The idealist Xilien slams his fist against the console.
Idealist Xilien: Damn it There's no time!
The technician Xilien reluctantly starts imputing commands to begin powering up the warp core. Inside the escape shuttle CeCe grabs hold of the flight sticks and angles them to drop right towards the dirigible. All the while Rodney starts connecting four separate ammo cartridges at once to his plasma rifle and makes his way to the emergency hatch on top of the shuttle. The countdown to jump reaches 7 seconds on the craft as the shell is finished being loaded into the gun. At 6 seconds the emergency hatch opens up allowing Rodney to stick his head through and take aim with his plasma rifle which starts charging up for a large shot. At 5 seconds the jacker captain gets ready to give the order to fire the gun. At 4 seconds the shuttle drops closer and closer towards the dirigible. The barrel of Rodney's rifle glowing brighter and hotter by the second. At 3 seconds the gunner makes the final adjustments to fire at the craft. At 2 seconds the rifle barrel starts slowly melting from the extreme heat as the shuttle drops closer and closer to the dirigible. At one second the Jacker Captain gives the order to fire the gun. Rodney finally pulls the trigger, firing a massive plasma shot that pushes the shuttle violently away from the dirigible as it flies directly at its gas bags.
The gunner slowly squeezes the trigger when the dirigible suddenly explodes in its entirety, taking out both the bridge and the gun and engulfing everyone on board screaming in flames. The Xiliens on board the craft take one last look at the fireball below them before the ship's warp core activates and sends them speeding off into space in the blink of an eye.
Meanwhile the escape shuttle continues falling into a chaotic sideways spin back down towards the earth. Speeding downward in a field of heat and flame like a falling comet. Until at last it impacts the ground and sand below. Kicking up a huge dust cloud in the process. After a few silent minutes, Goji and the others exit the shuttle through the open emergency hatch. They drop down feet first onto the ground one by one. Rodney tosses away the now melted plasma rifle while the others begin removing their suits and tossing them to the ground. They then all look up at the starry night sky above just in time to see a single shooting star pass by overhead.
Aaaaaaand done! Man did this take awhile to write up, but in the end I think that it was well worth it. I hope you all feel the same. And that you enjoyed reading this latest chapter.
List of KKs
Goji: Godzilla
Jaime: ?/Oxygen Destroyer Hybrid
Maya: Mothra
Rodney: Rodan
Angelo: Anguirus
CeCe: King Caesar
Flier KKs and Boarding KKs: MUTO (Male and Female respectfully)
Beetle KKs: Megalon
And now replies to story reviews!
HEROS Central: I'm glad that you liked it. Both the chapter and the choice of music. And good guess on that monster question. It's gonna mean much more very soon.
So everyone, until next time, this is Tardispilot297 saying… ALLONSY!