EPISODE 2: THE ROGUE SON

 

“Battle Simulation MFS-3” Blinked in bright blue letters on a black screen. Bri sat in a replica cockpit wearing a black and blue flight suit. Her hands were gripping two black control sticks to her left and right. Surrounding her were three consoles of switches and small monitors as well.

“This may be training but it is based off real battle data.” Sergeant Hayama’s voice said through her headset.

“Roger.” Bri said.

“Simulation begin.” A computerized voice said.

The screen loaded a video feed of the deck of an Aircraft Carrier from Kiryu’s point of view.

“Readying main thrusters for take-off.” Bri said as she flipped a few switches.

The mock-cockpit began to shake and vibrate.

“You are clear for launch.” Hayama said. “Target is 6 kilometers off our starboard side.”

“Roger.” Bri said. “MFS-3, Kiryu, initiating lift-off.”

She pressed a button on the left console and watched as the simulation lifted her off the deck of the carrier. She then tilted the right stick right; turning the video feed right. She then pushed the left stick forward and the simulated Kiryu began to fly over the water to a nearby shoreline.

“Activating TK-Tracking Device Scan.” Bri said.

A red-orange dot with a set of numbers appeared on the screen; gaging the target’s distance and elevation. She adjusted course until the dot was centered on the screen.

“Super X-3 is on station.” Captain Akane’s voice chimed in over the radio. “Maintaining altitude of 4000 feet. Kiryu: what is your ETA?”

“ETA: Two minutes.” Bri said.

Bri’s flight path took her from the shoreline of a lightly populated area to a dense and hilly forest. She maintained an altitude of only 1000 feet the whole way. As she passed over one of the larger hills, she discovered the target she was after was walking around the base on the other side; Gorosaurus.

“Objective spotted.” Bri said. “Landing now.”

As she landed in Gorosaurus’s path, the beast halted its advance and appeared perplexed by MFS-3’s appearance.

Upon landing, Bri flicked a few switches and said, “Arming weapons. Initiating challenge call.”

She pressed a yellow button, and it caused Kiryu to emit a strange-mechanized roar. Gorosaurus appeared to take a more aggressive stance; flexing its claws, lowering its head, and bracing its stance. It then let out a loud roar back.

“Good,” Hayama said. “It’s responding to your challenge. Begin engagement.”

“Super X-3 weapon systems armed and prepped.” Akane’s voice said.

“Heron 1: on deck.” Mizaki’s voice said.

“Heron 2: on deck.” Nakajima’s voice said.

Bri then said, “Kiryu: Beginning engagement.”

On the right console, Bri flicked two red switches. She then squeezed the triggers on the control-sticks. Kiryu launched a barrage of rockets from its shoulders at the massive therapod. In a matter of seconds Gorosaurus was engulfed in explosions. Once the barrage ended it remained still in a cloud of smoke and dust.

“Readying Absolute Zero.” Bri said.

She reached for a nob on the right panel. As soon as her hand began to turn the nob, Gorosaurus suddenly charged from the smoke and jumped into the air.

“Oh shit!” Bri shouted.

There was no time for her to react as her opponent delivered a powerful double-kick. The cockpit shook violently and the view went from a forward perspective to an upward one. The screen went black. MISSION FAIL appeared on the screen in bold red letters.

“What the hell!?” Bri cursed.

“Kaiju typically have strong hides able to withstand rocket and missile fire with ease.” Akane said. “A simple rocket barrage is not enough to immobilize them.”

“I don’t understand.” Bri said. “Why have useless weapons on this thing.”

“They still have their uses.” Akane said. “It’s all about how you use them.”

“Remember,” Sergeant Hayama said. “This was just a diagnostic test. That’s why we sent you in with little intel outside of the controls and what your weapon systems were; help break you in to your new equipment and give you an idea of what you’ll be up against. In most missions we have little more info than what you were given.”

“Roger.” Bri said a little more understanding.

“Come out and we’ll go over your performance.” Akane said.

Though Bri still felt somewhat discouraged by her quick failure, she was also relieved that it was just a diagnostic. She proceeded to unbuckle herself from her seat and then got of the cockpit.

Roughly 700 miles away, over Tokyo Bay, four Japanese fighter jets with blue and white stripes were flying in a perfect diamond formation at roughly 1000 feet. Then one-by-one they dropped down to roughly 100 feet feet above the waves into a new line formation. The force of their speed generated plumes of mist as they reached their new position. Adding a bit of visual flare, the last jet did a spiral nose-dive as it came down.

One kilometer away on shore a massive crowd of spectators watched and cheered from bleachers. Next to the bleachers were concession stands and small side attractions. At the entrance of the festival was a banner at the main gate, in kanji, that read “Tokyo Air Show.”

“Let’s hear it again for the Sky Sharks!” An announcer said in Japanese.

The crowd cheered and applauded as the four jets continued to fly low in a line. They then came around towards the crowd and banked hard enough that it created a massive wave of mist which sprayed some of the front-line spectators.

Among the thousands of onlookers was a lone man in his mid-fifties wearing a brown leather Jacket with black sunglasses and sporting a militaristic high-and-tight haircut. Though the top of his hair retained a natural shiny black color, the short sides were grey. Despite his age he had retained his youth very well. While those around him were cheerful and excited, this man had a face that was almost cold in its expressionless manner; a relic of the serious focus attributed to the samurai. His gaze was exclusively set on the last jet in the formation.

“And now,” the announcer said, “brace yourselves for their final act! As the Sky Sharks ready to perform the death-defying Devine Rescue!”

Most of the crowd, save for the lone man, were on the edge of their seats as the planes flew out across the bay. They then came back in the direction of the audience. The first plane then suddenly went upwards. The second banked left while the third banked right. The last jet remained on course for a few more seconds until suddenly it pulled up. Right as it went up, its engines shut off. The crowd gasped while the jet flipped through the air. On the downward plunge, people began to panic; except the lone man. Just when it seemed the plane was about to crash, as it was leveling back out, the engines kicked back on. A bright bluish burst of flame ignited from its exhaust and it took off back into the air and over the crowd to an eruption of cheers.

“And there we have it! The Devine Rescue done by Lieutenant Goro Kuroki of the Sky Sharks!” The announcer exclaimed.

It was at that moment that the man finally raised his hands and began clapping. Even in his applause, however, there was still a firmness in this posturing and movements.

A few hours later as the sun was about to set over Fuchu Air Base just outside of Tokyo, the four jet-pilots were in their locker-room changing out of their flight suits. They were all eccentric pilots in their late twenties, talking and boasting about their performance.

“I can only imagine how many girls were cheering us on!” One said.

“Another week of free food in the harbor for us!” Said another.

There was one that was more reserved though. While his three comrades were celebrating, he sat alone on the next isle of lockers. The most excitement he displayed was an amused grin at his friends’ energy. In terms of his age, he was somewhere in the middle of his fellow pilots. His eyes and eyebrows, like his brushed-forward hair, had a sharp-fierceness about them. He had more of the look and aura of a warrior than a stunt-pilot.

“Kuroki!” A voice called out from the doorway, getting his attention.

“Yes?” He replied.

“Report to Colonel Togashi’s office.” The voice said.

“Roger.” Kuroki replied.

He quickly finished zipping up his uniform and straightened up his locker.

“What did you do?” One of his teammates asked, standing at the corner of his locker.

“I don’t know.” Kuroki said.

His friend was joined by another who asked, “You didn’t get into another fight did you?”

Kuroki paused for a second, mildly annoyed, but replied, “No.”

He then shut his locker and hurried out of the room.

A short while later Kuroki was knocking on the dark metal door of an office.

“Come in.” A powerful voice said.

With proper and tight decorum, Kuroki entered the office, where the colonel was sitting on the other side of a large oak desk.

He saluted and said, “Lieutenant Kuroki, reporting as ordered sir.”

The colonel, a gentleman wearing dress-blues with combed black hair in his early forties, returned the salute and said, “At ease Lieutenant.” The lieutenant lowered his salute and stood at an at-ease position. “Another successful Air Show?”

“Yes sir.” Kuroki said. “We did not disappoint.”

“Very good.” The colonel said. “No more fighting?”

Kuroki got a little nervous but maintained his composure, “None sir.”

“Very good, very good.” Said the colonel. “It still pains me to see a good fighter like you, reduced to doing tricks in these shows. Your record in assisting America in its Civil War should have you doing great things.”

“It’s the path I’ve chosen sir.” Kuroki said. “I enjoy what I do as a member of the Sky Sharks.”

“Well it would seem your skills as a pilot have drawn certain eyes.” The colonel said. “It would seem you are being given an opportunity for a rare top-secret assignment.”

“What assignment, sir?” Kuroki asked.

“I am unable to give you the specific details.” Said the colonel. “All that I can tell you is that you can turn it down if you’re not interested, however if you do choose to do it, it’ll be three years working under the UN with select NATO forces and with the option for renewal.”

“If its combat sir, I am not interested.” Kuroki said.

“Its hard to believe that with a penchant for fighting that you would not want to see combat.” The colonel said. “Before you make that decision, you should know that this assignment is only given to the elite and you have been called by certain parties, beyond elite in your classification.”

“What parties would that be sir?” Kuroki asked.

“The only personnel in this world who would know you well enough to say that with the utmost certainty.” Another voice said from behind Kuroki.

The voice was not only authoritative but there was a familiarity to it. For Kuroki however, the familiarity was an uncomfortable one. He slowly turned around to find the very person he was fearing it belonged to. It was the man from the air show; with his sunglasses off, revealing a set of fierce eyes like the Lieutenant’s.

Half begrudgingly Kuroki said, “Hello father.”

On the other side of the pacific, off the coast of Vancouver,  a lone trawler was cutting through the waves. On board, Akira, Ken, Sarah, and other members of the Monarch Team were observing data they were collecting from the various devices on the ship.

Akira was observing a digital mapping of the ocean floor, showing numerous underwater peaks and crevices as the vessel moved over them.

“Well if our mystery guest is out here, then he certainly has plenty of places to hide.” Akira said. “There are so many places for him to hide, that unless it swims out into the open, it’ll be almost impossible to spot it on sonar.”

“That would explain why the fishing boat that first spotted it a month ago, didn’t register it on their sonar.” One of Akira’s colleagues said.

“Yes,” Akira said, “there’s too much debris and uneven terrain down there that it could have been easily camouflaged.”

Akira rubbed his face and ran his hands across his hair in frustration. As he sat back in his seat, he suddenly caught sight of Ken out on the bow of the ship; deep in thought. Akira quietly stepped away from the console and walked out of the bridge. He proceeded out onto the bow, next to Ken where he rested his elbows on the railing a foot to his right and playfully mimicked his posturing. Ken’s gaze remained fixed on the horizon. After a few moments, Akira suddenly sneezed.

Ken’s eyes looked over at his friend who was rubbing his sinuses and saying in Japanese, “Ouch! That one burned! There’s only one explanation for such a thing…” Akira sucked in his gut and stood heroically with his fists on his hips. “Somewhere in the world… A beautiful woman is thinking of me!”

Ken rolled his eyes while Akira laughed triumphantly.

Seeing that his friend was unfazed by his humor, Akira asked with a more empathetic tone, “Look, I know we’ve been out here for four days with nothing to show for it other than eyewitness reports and the scale, but its only a matter of time until we find our new friend!”

“It’s not that.” Ken said.

“What is it then?” Akira asked. “You look like your aunt right now.”

“She’s been trying to reach Junior again.” Ken said.

“So?” Akira asked. “If there’s anyone on Earth qualified to psychically reach Gojira, the great Miki Saegusa is that person.”

“I’m not so sure.” Ken said with a morbid tone. “Ever since Bio-Major and the Red Bamboo kidnapped her 15 years ago, her powers haven’t been the same.”

“I wouldn’t worry about her,” Akira said. “Her powers were the reason she escaped. Hell, I’m surprised she didn’t use them to put an end to both those regimes.”

“You forget it nearly killed her. She was in a coma for two months after the rescue team found her.”

“You have to trust in her.” Akira said. “She’s been doing this since before we were born.”

“Doctors?” Sarah said suddenly appearing behind them.

Akira, hearing her voice went flush.

“Do you have a moment?” Sarah asked.

Akira, still in a haze but making the seamless transition from Japanese to English, replied, “Yes, yes, of course.”

“I’m amazed you managed to get the words out.” Ken said quietly in Japanese.

“Well, I was curious as to what the plan is after we locate this new Kaiju.” Sarah said.

“Well, uh…” Akira stammered.

Ken quickly answered for his friend, “It’s unclear for now. We need more data before we can decide a course of action.”

“Doctor Sahara! Doctor Saegusa!” Another colleague called out from the bridge. “We are getting a signal!”

“Finally!” Akira said in a burst of excitement.

The three rushed into the cabin where the sonar console was. A few of the other researchers gathered around them as well.

“What ever it is, its massive.” The sonar operator said. “At least 80 meters at a depth of 60 meters.”

The group watched as a thin object remained stationary on the monitor.

“It’s keeping pace with the boat.” Ken said.

“You think it’s going to attack us?” Akira said.

“I don’t know, we definitely have its attention though.” Ken said.

“Wait a moment…” The sonar operator said as the objects position rose on the screen. “Its surfacing!”

“What!?” Akira said in a panic.

Ken rushed out to the starboard side and scanned the water intensely. Akira did the same thing on the port side with several of their colleagues joining them. Sarah and a few others raced to the stern.

“I see something!” Sarah called out.

Ken, Akira, and the others then joined her at the ship’s stern just in time to see a large wake forming at their five o’clock.

It started as a single mound of water that was keeping pace with them; roughly 50 yards away. Gradually it seemed to elongate and its wake undulated side-to-side. To most of everyone’s terror, the unseen pursuer drew 25 yards closer before suddenly the snout of a large head, about 25 feet long and 15 feet wide, broke the surface. It had all the hallmarks of an eastern dragon; shiny green scales, large snake-like eyes, two long whip-like whiskers protruding from its muzzle, a thick patch of dark-green fur that stretched from the top of its scalp down the whole length of its body. Additionally it sported four large horns that protruded back and up from behind its brow.

Out of fear and sheer awe, the group froze at the sight of the beast. Their moment of pause was broken when the creature’s head got even closer to the boat. Most of the group backed away, except for Ken, Sarah, and Akira; the latter of whom was screaming and flailing his hands. Sarah and Ken remained frozen as the creature’s head got within 10 feet of the ship. Ken was more awestruck than afraid, yet he still would not dare make a move.

Curiously, the leviathan maintained the distance from then on. Though it was not pleased with the boat’s presence, it also seemed inquisitive towards the tiny beings on board it. The large vertically slit pupils looked at the trembling Akira, then Ken, and then finally Sarah; whom it looked at for a second longer than the others.

To everyone’s surprise, the kaiju moved away from the ship and slithered back into the depths. Its exit so smooth, that it barely produced any waves. Nobody on board could speak or move for a few moments. They all stood with gaping mouths and stared at the wavy, azure abyss.

“THAT WAS AMAZING!” Akira shouted, startling everyone. “Hurry! We have to track it!”

As Akira raced back up to the bridge with the rest of his colleagues in tow, Ken remained at the railing with Sarah a few feet to his right. He remained still for a few moments, reevaluating the whole experience in his head. In particular it was the way the Kaiju’s eye looked at the three of them.

“Hurry, hurry, hurry!” Akira shouted from inside; breaking Ken of his trance.

As his eyes roamed around for a few seconds, reassessing everything, he briefly looked over at Sarah. Sarah had a look of awe as well. However, there was more of an aura of seriousness than fear to her stare. Additionally she had her fingers interlocked in front of her as if she were subtly praying.

“Are you all right?” Ken asked.

Sarah’s eyes blinked a few times and she came back to reality, almost embarrassed that some one saw her in that state.

“I’m sorry.” She said. “Yes. That was extraordinary wasn’t it?”

“Yes.” Ken said before returning his gaze to the ocean. “It was…”

Back at the Air Base, Lieutenant Kuroki and his father were walking through the hangar that housed the Sky Sharks’ jets. Though his father walked with a calm yet proper, militaristic grace, the Lieutenant had a look of discomfort in his eyes.

“Your skills as a pilot are truly impressive.” His father said. “To regain flight in midair after total engine shut-down is no easy feat.”

“Thank you, General.” Kuroki said.

“This maybe a military matter, but you do not need to address me as such, son.” Said the father.

“Apologies, sir.” Said the son.

General Kuroki glanced briefly at the Lieutenant before adding, “I understand your displeasure regarding my absence all this time, for which I do apologize for.” His son remained quiet. “Surely by now, you must understand how demanding this job can be, Goro.”

The son stopped and asked, “Permission to speak freely, sir?”

His father stopped a few paces ahead of him and replied, “Permission granted.” Though he did not turn towards him to hear what he had to say.

“It’s been twelve years since we last spoke.” Said the son. “Mother was in the hospital for a year; suffering, dying. We heard nothing from you. I didn’t see you at her funeral. All through my time at the academy, all through training; nothing. Why did you abandon us?” His father crossed his hands behind his back with no response. “Why!?”

His father, in an unchanged voice, said, “For six years my ongoing assignment was to defend our country against Gojira. I lost a great friend and many men in that first year. I went into seclusion. In that time is when I met your mother. She understood my duty and never once questioned my absence. Even after you were born, she never questioned my time away nor my sudden departures. She knew everything and understood everything; my mission with G-Force and our ongoing conflict with Gojira.”

“Gojira is gone father!” Goro shouted. “G-Force is gone!”

His father finally turned back towards him and said. “You are wrong. And, you are wrong.”

“What?” Asked the son.

“I thought so too when I saw Gojira melt down.” General Kuroki said. “But we soon learned it was the fall of one, and the rise of another. But that was not the end of it, there were new nightmares to come.”

“What do you mean?” Goro asked.

“You probably don’t remember. In 2001, when you were almost 3 years old, Grand Ghidorah came to our world. It abducted children from across Japan to harvest their life force… and you were one of them.”

Goro had a look of surprise flare up in his eyes. He stopped to think for a moment. He tried hard to remember.

“I intended to leave G-Force after you were born.” His father said. “But… nothing was more frightening than the day I saw you being taken, and I was unable to save you. Although I never held you and your mother closer than the day we were reunited, I knew that my mission was not over. That is why I have been gone. Even when your mother was ill following the Janjira incident, I couldn’t return. I was determined to find the creature that caused it and get revenge. I was dedicated to the mission; to make sure that no more families would suffer the same tragedies that befell ours.”

               Goro was still upset yet he also felt remorseful. Part of him did not want to hear these reasons, as if he still wanted to feel justified in his anger. Yet, though he was desperately clinging to his fury, he was still beginning to understand.

               “I understand your resentment.” His father said. “If you do not lose that anger towards me for all time, I will not blame you for it. And yet, I still hope you understand that my responsibility is far greater than you could imagine now. It’s not just Japan, but the entire world I must defend now.”

               Goro sighed and looked up towards his jet. Still desperately clinging to his anger but at the same time listening with a heavy heart.

               “Though I’ve been gone, I never stopped caring for you and your mother.” His father continued. “I was impressed when I learned you became a pilot. And I prayed for your safety when I learned of your battles. And I understand why you chose to step off the battlefield and become a Sky Shark.”

               “Do you?” Goro asked, half sincerely and half angrily.

               “Yes.” His father said. “I truly do. And…” He took in a sigh before continuing, “it is with regret that I have to say my responsibilities have reunited us, son.”

               “What do you mean?” Goro asked.

               His father approached him, “Because, now I must ask if you would be willing to share the responsibility; this 3-year assignment. I know it is very sudden and a lot to ask for anyone to be offered this. It is your choice if you do not wish it. As your father, I don’t want to ask this of you. Yet, as a General, I need to. It is without question that you are the most qualified person for such a task. G-Force needs you. The world needs you.”

               Remorsefully, Goro could not bring himself to answer. He looked at his father and then back up at his Jet.

               Sensing his son’s internal conflict, the General said, “You can have until the morning to think it over. We leave tomorrow at 10:30.”

               As his father began to walk past him, Goro said, “Father.”

               His father stopped two paces behind him and asked. “Yes, son?”

               “This assignment, will it require me to take human lives?” Goro asked.

               “It requires you to save them.” Said the General.

               Goro thought for a moment and said, “You will have an answer tomorrow morning.”

               His father replied, “Very well, Lieutenant.”

               Goro listened as his father’s footsteps faded away. He continued to gaze up at his plane. All the while, his mind was racing with thoughts. In those moments, he heard a strange noise; almost like a cackle but deep and menacing. He whipped around in a panic. It was familiar to him for some reason, yet he could not figure out why. For several seconds he was looking around, wondering where it came from.

               Goro realized that the few other souls in the hangar did not hear it. He paused and caught his breath; slowly realizing it was an echo of something in his mind. Something forgotten yet, still struck terror in his soul. On the other side of the hangar he saw the last image of his father before he disappeared from view.

Goro then heard another memory, this time it was his father’s voice and his mother’s as they shouted, “Goro-san! Goro-san!”

Goro looked back at his plane and whispered the only word that could explain the echoes, “Ghidorah…”