Godzilla Lives!
A Godzilla fanfiction by Travis J. DeSantis
Chapter Twenty-Five
"Major Kuroki!" called a young woman's voice.
Sho stopped in his tracks and turned around, seeing the psychic Miki Saegusa and her partner hurrying towards them. The two women were jostled around like ping-pong balls as seemingly all of G-Force was frantically running through the halls.
"What are you doing out of the hospital ward?" Sho demanded, meeting them halfway.
"I--have--to help" Miki replied falteringly, gasping for breath. She had apparently dressed quickly and fought her way across the complex. Asuka was holding the younger woman's arm for support.
"You're in no condition to go out on the battlefield," the major replied in a tone harsher than he intended. "We can handle this, it's what we do. You should go back and rest."
"She can have my seat on the Super-X2, sir," Higa offered. "I'm only backup anyway and I'm sure you can handle it your...self..."
The sergeant trailed off with a cough, knowing by the look Kuroki leveled at him that he would be severely reprimanded later. Whatever anger that Sho felt was masked when he turned back to Miki, but his words were cut off by the look of determination on her face.
"You need me to get rid of him," she argued. "Whatever weapons you have, I'm the only thing that's been proven to work."
"Not so, Ms. Saegusa," Sho replied evenly. "We happen to have a device that proved very effective the last time it was used. So, if you'll excuse us--"
"Hang on, Sho!" Yashiro interrupted. The teen walked around Kuroki and stood beside the psychic. "I think she has a point. The sonic transmitter may have worked back in '84, but there's no guarantee it'll be just as effective now. For all we know, Godzilla will just ignore us. We know Miki's powers work on him and they've worked more recently."
~~~~~
"I can't believe I agreed to this," Kuroki bemoaned for the fourth time.
The major was eventually out-voted by his crew, a concept normally foreign in the military chain of command. They somehow managed to slip Miki onto the Super-X2 in place of Amane, who volunteered to keep the technicians at bay. There was definitely a different air in the ship's cabin with a woman present. Sho felt less like a soldier and more like a babysitter.
"Aw shut it," Yashiro countered with the reckless abandon of a civilian.
"I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble," said Miki. She sounded much more calm and feminine now that she had gotten her way. The way of women, Sho mused. "I hope your superiors won't be mad, but I just know I'll be more helpful here than in a hospital bed."
Preparation of the Super-X2 proceeded normally and they took off. Miki proved to have a constitution no stronger than Yashiro's and the pilot prayed he wouldn't have to deal with the stench of vomit on this mission.
"Is it always this bad?" the psychic groaned.
"No, it's usually worse," Yashiro replied with mock cheer.
Almost immediately they could make out the massive black shape of Godzilla stomping through the streets of the Waterfront Subcenter. The Super-X2 remained at a high altitude so as to avoid the giant's notice. The tropical storm was just starting to roll in from Kanagawa, and a light drizzle was rising back up as steam as the rain was immediately boiled from the fires of the battlefield. That mixed with the thick black smoke of burning diesel, almost totally obscuring the air. From what they could make out, the Defense Forces had been scattered and were trying to avoid Godzilla's atomic breath, but the effort was in vain. Even from this height, the SX2's crew could see the rivers of glowing slag that flowed through the streets. Miki shuddered to think of the poor soldiers who spent their last moments being roasted alive in their own vehicles.
"All right," Sho said, breaking the uncomfortable quiet. "I'm going to bring us down behind Godzilla and hope he doesn't fry us before the sonic transmitter takes effect. Yashiro, fire it up."
Sho heard a series of rapid clicking behind him as the programmer typed in the necessary commands. He opened the sound file, which immediately began playing on the speaker system. It was also projected outside the craft, but probably couldn't be heard over the din of combat and massacre. The sound had a lilting timbre that seemed very much like music, but there was no apparent rhythm or structure. This was the undertone of a seabird's song that spoke of a meal fresh and bountiful. They hoped it was enough to wet Godzilla's appetite.
Minutes passed and nothing changed. The storm was starting to pick up, but the SX2 remained stable in the increasing wind speed. The black giant paid them no heed, continuing his grim work. Sho dared to bring them closer to the atomic monster. Still nothing.
Miki steeled herself. This is what she came to do. The young woman took a deep breath and psychically reached out to Godzilla once again. She tried not to shy away from his overwhelmingly negative presence and at the same time, she felt compelled to embrace it. It was like being in a foreign place and the only person you know is someone you hate. Miki's hands shook, anticipating when the monster's awareness would finally notice her.
Inexplicably, Godzilla closed his jaws and shut off the flow of thermonuclear plasma. The black giant turned in place and looked around in confusion just as he had on Oshima Island. When his eyes finally settled on the Super-X2, Miki shivered. There was a hint of recognition behind the smoldering orbs. A low growl escaped from his fearsome maw, but the dinosaur did not attack. At his size, Godzilla would never feel the caress of such a tiny woman's hand on his nose. However, Miki's psychic suggestion had the desired effect. The beast's rage had been quelled, however little, but it was still enough for him to finally hear the sonic transmitter.
Godzilla swayed in place for a moment, then slowly started to walk towards the Super-X2. The remaining JSDF were wise to take this opportunity and escape quietly. It would do no good to incite the monster's wrath with more useless attacks. The cabin of the SX2 was once again quiet, save for the birdsong, but this time it was because the crew was afraid any unnecessary talking would break the spell. It was too much to hope for that their impromptu plan would succeed.
Sho slowly led the atomic beast away from the carnage in the Subcenter and back to Tokyo Bay. He had to stifle a shout of victory when Godzilla unhesitatingly stepped into the water. The black giant was submerged up to his hips when all of a sudden, the bay erupted. His roar of surprise was nearly drowned out by some other ghastly sound, the hiss of an angry ghost. Godzilla was dragged down beneath the surface, which churned with the violent thrashing of reptilian limbs. Too many to be Godzilla's only.
