EPISODE 7: THE PRINCE STIRS, SOMETHING MOVING IN THE SHADOWS...

                In the massive cargo bay of the SS Venture, the air was frigid. A cool haze fluttered about from time to time from the combination of the fans and coolant. The center piece in the bay was the frozen sea dragon, Manda. Several Monarch scientists were in the bay with the massive beast as well; taking samples, readings, and whatever data they could obtain about the kaiju. During all the activity, Ken and Akira entered the bay from a door not far from the monster’s head.

               Akira’s eyes glazed open in wonder as he said, “Incredible… Simply incredible!”

               Ken was taken back by the kaiju as well. He looked over every detail of Manda’s dragon-like grimace.

               “To think,” Akira said as they began walking along its serpentine form, “we could be looking at the origin of all Asian dragon legends. The Naga, Shenlong, Zennyo Ryu; all of them could be from this creature here. Or maybe it’s a descendent? Or maybe it is one of them?”

               “Or it could be all of them.” Ken added. “We did do a carbon dating on a sample from one of its fore-claws and scans of its bone density. Manda is at least 3000 years old.”

               “Incredible,” Akira said. “That would lend further support to the hollow earth theory, maybe even the Mu or Atlantis theories as well. To think, this massive creature was here before the age of the samurai… before the birth of Christ… before Thermopylae… before Japan even existed… All those centuries just coming to the surface and disappearing back to the mantle at its leisure.”

               “We don’t even know if it’s the first or the only one of its kind.” Ken added.

               “So many questions and so many answers…” Akira said.

               “Which just raise more questions.” Ken said.

               “Your ESP scan showed that it was once worshipped. Do you remember any specific details about the civilization?” Akira asked.

               “None that I recall…” Ken said.” Kaiju typically don’t stop to take notice of the finer details. Even the Mosura line takes little notice to those outside of the Shobijin unless they go out of their way to make themselves known to them.”

               Akira paused for a moment and a pleasant thought came to his mind.

               “Akira-san?” Ken asked.

               Suddenly an image flashed before Ken’s eyes. The image of a giant butterfly-like silhouette flying off into the sunset.

               “Mosura…” Ken uttered.

               “You saw it too?” Akira asked.

               Ken answered, “Yes… though, it’s hard to tell if it was your memory or my own.”

               “That would be a thought powerful enough for you to see.” Akira recalled. “I’ll never forget the day Mosura saved us from Grand Ghidorah.”

               Ken shared his friend’s sentiment. “Yeah, neither will I…”

               A voice suddenly said over the speaker system, “Doctor Saegusa and Doctor Sahara. Please report to bridge. Repeat. Doctor Saegusa and Doctor Sahara. Please report to bridge.”

               The two looked at each other in confusion before returning to the door from whence they entered.

               At the Ogasawara Reserve, Miki was standing before the underwater window in Junior’s lagoon. She was joined by Dr. Kirishima and General Kuroki. The window was ominously dark from the fading light of dusk, yet the 3 of them stared out into the endless darkness.

               “It’s terrifying and at the same time, ironic.” Kirishima said. “The 3 of us were brought together by Gojira. In the beginning we were trying to destroy him. And now the 3 of us are back together again, watching over his son.”

               “Why is it also terrifying?” Kuroki asked.

               “If he knows that, well I’d hate to think what he would do with us standing in the open like this.” Kirishima said, half-joking.

               “He already knew.” Miki said.

               “What’s that?” Kuroki asked.

               “When Junior was still a baby, I visited his enclosure.” Miki explained. “Though he was peaceful with the others, he growled and refused to approach me. Somehow, he could sense it. He could sense I was an enemy of his father.”

               “Then how is it he came to trust you?” Kuroki asked.

               “It took some time, but I came to understand the Gojira family better. Saw the world from their perspective. I developed a respect for Gojira and Junior. Once my ways changed, Junior’s attitude towards me did as well.”

               Kirishima and Kuroki looked back into the darkness. Both began to question their views on Godzilla and Junior. None more so than Kuroki, who still had vivid memories of losing his best friend; Colonel Goro Gondo. Just then, the flashes from Junior’s plates lit up the ocean floor and the window.

               Kirishima hurried over to a panel on the wall immediately left and a screen came up displaying an infrared video feed of what they were witnessing. Though most of the screen was a dark blue, Junior’s plates were fluctuating between orange red and white. Further examination revealed subtle waves of yellow materializing from the small area of ocean floor immediately around Junior.

               Kirishima squinted and looked closer at the strange yellow waves, before saying, “Remarkable… It looks as though he’s drawing energy from the earth itself.”

               Kuroki looked over at the doctor in confusion and said, “That doesn’t make sense. I thought their kind only fed off nuclear material.”

               “That’s correct.” Kirishima said. “It’s likely there is a deposit of some kind under the sea floor. That still doesn’t make sense though. If he was resting over a deposit all this time, why now? Why would he feed on it now?”

               Miki closed her eyes and began concentrating with her ESP. Shortly thereafter Master Chief Barnes entered the room. He immediately took notice of Miki concentrating and respectfully remained quiet; merely nodding his head to the General and Doctor. After a few moments, Miki took in a heavy sigh and opened her eyes.

               “Anything new from the prince himself?” Barnes asked.

               “Not really.” Miki said. “He can something dangerous. Whatever it is though remains a mystery. There’s just some presence that he can feel that is putting him on edge.”

               “So, all this time he’s been lying dormant…” Kirishima speculated out loud. “Resting on top of a radioactive deposit but not drawing the necessary energy from it… waiting until he sensed something formidable that would give him a reason to use it?”

               “Makes sense.” Barnes said. “With as much trouble he and his father went through thirty years ago, I mean why wouldn’t he want to be left alone?”

               Kuroki looked out once more at Junior’s plates as they continued to flash.

               “You have to wonder though.” Barnes said. “After all this time, what would be out there that would stir him of all things?”

               Kuroki, Kirishima, and Miki quietly realized how true Barnes’s remark was. They all felt an uncomfortable chill crawl up their spines.

               Back on board the SS Venture, Akira and Ken arrived at the bridge. They were greeted by the captain, a squirrely gentleman with a grey mustache but with a firm demeanor.

               “Hello Doctors.” The captain said. “I trust everything is ok with our cargo?”

               “Yes sir.” The two doctors said.

               The captain nodded slightly, “Very good. Forgive me for pulling you away, but it would seem you have a guest.”

               The captain directed their attention to a gentleman in a dark suit with a long grey raincoat peering out a side window. The man carried with him a small briefcase in one hand and in the other was a closed umbrella, which he had the point resting on the ground like a cane. He turned towards the two doctors with a graceful and smooth motion to reveal a cleanly shaven face in its late thirties and neatly combed-back auburn hair that was thinning at the front. The man’s posture was very proper and at the same time authoritative.

               “Good afternoon.” The gentleman said with a pleasant, English accent. “Do I have the honor of addressing doctors Akira Sahara and Ken Saegusa?”

               “Yes sir.” Akira said offering a handshake to the gentleman. “I’m Dr. Sahara.”

               “Ah good.” The gentleman said accepting the handshake.

               He then turned to shake Ken’s hand, who introduced himself, “Dr. Saegusa.”

               Upon making contact with the gentleman’s hand, Ken picked up a strange feeling from his ESP for a split second that caused him to stammer the same brief amount of time. It was an uneasy feeling but not from the gentleman himself, but something on the gentleman’s mind. The man’s handshake was just as firm and proper as his mannerism.

               “You may simply call me Holmes.” The gentleman said. “I occupy a position in the ministry of defense with the British government and as it so happens, I am also G-Force’s representative to the crown.”

               “How might we be assistance sir?” Ken asked.

               “Well, not to put too fine of a point on things but I understand you have lost a member of your research team on this latest excursion.” Holmes said while casually examining the tip of his umbrella. “A Ms. Sara Wise?”

               Akira’s demeanor became slightly more somber as he answered, “That’s correct.”

               “A tragedy.” Holmes said strangely cold heartedly. “I don’t suppose you were able to recover her body?”

               “No.” Ken said. “The only thing we were able to recover was the hoodie she was wearing.”

               “I see.” Holmes said. “She drowned, yes?”

               “Correct.” Akira said. “One of our colleagues saw her heading to the front of the boat we were using and heard her fall in several minutes later.”

               “Fall in or jump in?” Holmes said with an inquisitive look in his eye.

               “Well…” Akira started to say.

               “We aren’t sure now.” Ken added.

               “I thought as much.” Holmes said. “It would seem Ms. Wise has a habit of disappearing.”

               Ken and Akira’s heads perked up and then the two briefly looked at each other in concern.

               “I’m afraid it’s true.” Holmes said. “Due to an… acquaintances’ investigation, in a fascinating turn of events, Sara Wise has been missing for the past two months.”

               “What!?” Ken and Akira said simultaneously.

               Holmes continued while retrieving a folder from his briefcase. “I’m sure you all know that identity theft is a very common crime all over the world.” He opened the folder and handed Sara’s personnel file showing her picture and her information. “Sara Wise’s identity theft, may be the greatest one of all.” He then handed them the same personnel file with the picture of a different woman and all the physical attributes listed adjusted accordingly. “This here is why having a paper trail on hand is beneficial.”

               Ken and Akira were at a loss for words. They looked back and forth between the two files completely dumbfounded by this revelation.

               Ken finally spoke up, “So this… this Sara, the one that was with us this whole time, do you know who she is?”

               “Unfortunately, we haven’t the faintest idea.” Holmes said. “We ran her photo through an international facial recognition database but there was no match. Nothing on file for all foreign agents Rolisica or Saradia either.”

               “Red Bamboo?” Akira asked.

               “Possibly.” Holmes said. “However, all our surveillance efforts show no sign of Red Bamboo having an espionage system anywhere near capable of rewriting an entire personnel file in our databases. All we know is that the real Sara Wise was seen leaving her flat two months ago and was expected to return two weeks later, but never did. This new Sara, did you notice anything substantial about her?”

               Akira blushed slightly.

               Ken was quick to say, “Nothing outside of what the file shows. She did at times seem rather concerned with Manda’s well-being though.”

               “I noticed that as well.” Akira spoke up, is blush still present.

               “Also…” Ken started to say before hesitating.

               Holmes inquisitively sharpened is gaze on Ken and asked, “Also?”

               Ken then recalled, “there was a night where I saw someone down by the beach. I’m not sure if it was her or not, but whoever it was seemed to be praying towards the ocean.”

               “Praying?” Holmes asked.

               “Yes.” Ken said. “Like I said I’m not sure if it was her or not, but it could be something worth noting.”

               “I see.” Holmes said. “Well, I’ll take all your information into account as we investigate the matter further. Should you find out anything else, I trust you’ll report it immediately to your superiors?”

               “Absolutely.” Ken said.

               Akira followed up, “I’ll begin looking into my team’s registration information to see if there’s anything there and I’ll also interview all my team members about her as well.”

               “Is there some way we can reach you directly, Mr. Holmes?” Ken asked.

               “Oh, don’t worry.” Holmes said as he casually rested the umbrella on his shoulder. “I’ll be in touch.”

               Holmes proceeded bridge’s exit where a black helicopter was waiting for him just outside on the ship’s landing pad. Ken and Akira watched him leave with the same charismatic and proper gracefulness in his stride that he displayed in their introduction. They then looked at each other with concern before looking back down at the two personnel files.

               Roughly one kilometer away on board the Saratoga, a maintenance crew was working diligently to repair any damages they could find on Kiryu. Outside, a few workers were going over schematics and others were welding any obvious damages they could find on the Mecha-Godzilla’s armor plating. Inside the cockpit, Bri was working on detaching the emergency back-up power supply from the console. On the console’s screen, a scan was being conducted of Kiryu’s systems with a completion percentage showing it was almost done at 98%.

               Bri was just finished neatly rewinding the cables back onto the power-supply when Ollie chimed in, “Diagnostic scan complete, Bri.”

               “Good.” Bri said before sitting back up to see the screen. “What’s word, Ollie?”

               “Luckily most of the damages are superficial.” Ollie said as its avatar appeared on screen wearing a stethoscope before a 3-d scan of Kiryu. “All the superficial damages can be handled by the crew of the Saratoga. However, there is one problem which must be handled at home.” Ollie then materialized a pointer-stick and directed it at Kiryu’s right arm. “Manda’s constricting was able to cause a decompression to develop in the joints of right shoulder and elbow. Nothing to be too concerned about for the time being, but should it go untreated, it will cause severe mobility problems in that arm.”

               “Alright,” Bri said. “Well then send the superficial damage report to the Saratoga crew and then the decompression report to the maintenance crew back at home-base.”

               Ollie replied with its avatar saluting, “Roger! Will do!”

               At that moment, Bri heard the cockpit door opening and closing. She turned to find Sergeant Peterson stepping in.

               “Ah, there you are.” Peterson said.

               “Good morning, Sergeant.” Bri greeted.

               Peterson replied, “Good Morning. Congratulations again on a successful first mission.”

               “Thank you.” Bri said. “Though, I wasn’t alone in this victory. I had plenty of help from my new partners.”

               Ollie’s avatar suddenly appeared on screen clutching its blushing cheeks and replied, “Aww, you know how to make an AI program actually feel something, Lieutenant!”

               “To what do I owe the honor of your visit though?” Bri asked.

               “We received word from Colonel Hayashida that there’s going to be an emergency meeting with homebase.” Peterson explained. “I’m not sure what it’s about, but all of Kiryu Squadron is requested to be present for it.”

               “I will be there then.”

               “Good. The bridge in about,” he said while looking at his watch. “45 minutes.”

               “Roger that.” Bri said.

               Peterson formerly snapped to attention for a moment before exiting the cockpit. Once he was gone, Bri turned to close the compartment where the emergency power supply was.

               “Bri, if you like, I can remotely guide the maintenance crew so you can get ready for the meeting.” Ollie said.

               “That will be fine then.” Bri said. “Thank you, Ollie.”

               “No problem.” Ollie said with its avatar giving her a thumbs up on the screen.

               Bri laughed a little before leaving the cockpit.

               In 40 minutes, Bri was arriving on the bridge in her OCPs. She proceeded to a conference room where Akane and the rest of Kiryu Squadron were waiting with Admiral Stanz. Before them was a blank screen with a camera lens at the top.

               “That makes all of Kiryu Squadron.” Stanz remarked as she sat down. “Just need the Monarch members to join us.”

               At that very moment, Ken and Akira entered the room a little out of breath.

               “Apologies for cutting it close.” Ken said as they hurried to two seats next to Bri and across from Akane.

               “Sorry, sorry, sorry.” Akira added while putting some documents on the table before them.

               “You made it just in time.” Akane said.

               Akira, who was too embarrassed and focused on his papers suddenly realized Akane was directly across from him. Almost immediately he turned bright red and became chocked up with his words.

               “I take it you two are the Monarch scientists.” Bri asked, slightly startling Akira.

               Akira grew even more red and awkward at the sight of Bri.

               As he hesitated to answer, he thought to himself, “There’s 2 of them now!? I can’t tell if this is a dream or a nightmare!”

               Suddenly he felt the chair being pulled away and moved over one space. As always Ken came to his rescue as he traded places with him.

               “Apologies he’s been through quite a bit.” Ken said as he sat down. “Yes, we’re with the Monarch team. Doctor Ken Saegusa, and my friend here is Doctor Akira Sahara.”

               He friendly shook hands with Bri as she replied, “Bri. I’m the new pilot for Kiryu.”

               “Oh, so you’re the new pilot.” Ken said. “Good work. That was an impressive battle you fought.”

               “Thank you.” Bri said.

               “Yes, very impressive!” Akira suddenly said. “Amazing even! You had us on the edge of our seats the whole time! Right up to that grand slam finish!”

               Bashful and a little awkward Bri kindly responded, “I’m flattered.”

               Akane annoyedly blushed in embarrassment and directed her attention back towards the screen.

               Ken attempting to change the subject, asked aloud, “So does anyone know why this meeting is being called?”

               After checking his watch, Admiral Stanz took up a remote that was sitting in front of him and answered, “We’re about to find out.”

               He aimed the remote at the screen and pressed a button. The screen lit up and a video feed showing the conference room at Ogasawara’s headquarters came up. Gathered at the table were Miki, General Kuroki, Master Chief Barnes, Colonel Hayashida, Captain Shaw, Goro and the Japanese Officer in the burgundy uniform. They were also joined by two other officers. One was an American Air Force Colonel and a British Army General.

               Miki greeted everyone once the video feed was in focus, “Good Afternoon everyone. I apologize for the abrupt emergency meeting, but a series of events have arisen which need to be addressed. Firstly, it was brought to my attention that there was a security breach in the Monarch division.”

               Immediately all eyes in the Saratoga’s conference room were directed to Ken and Akira who sat nervously like bad kids in detention.

               “Ken… Doctor Sahara, I trust you two are actively investigating the matter?” Miki asked.

               “Uh yes ma’am.” Akira said nervously.

               Ken maintaining his composure better, added, “We are tracking down all the information we can on the infiltrator. So far it would appear that whoever she was, she didn’t get anything that would compromise the reserve or G-Force personnel. Oddly enough the only thing she was after was Manda itself.”

               Hayama then asked, “Wait a second. So, someone onboard the Venture is after a Kaiju?”

               “No,” Akira answered. “She either fell overboard or jumped ship before the battle with Kiryu was finished.”

               “Sounds like things got too hairy and they bailed out then.” Peterson said.

               “We still don’t know what happened to her.” Ken said. “We’re presuming she’s dead as the result of a botched escape. For now, we’re just working diligently to uncover more information on who she really was.”

               “I’ve also assigned our cyber-security team to begin going over all elements regarding the breach as well, Ma’am.” Barnes said.

               “As soon as either group come up with any information,” Miki said. “Notify high command so that we can begin work on a counter strategy.”

               “It will be done.” Barnes said.

               “We will, ma’am.” Ken said.

               “The next pressing matter also concerns Monarch.” Miki said, drawing looks of concern and confusion from Akira and Ken. “Last night a team assigned to investigate signs of a potential kaiju in Papua New Guinea, went missing. They failed to report last night, and a few hours ago a recon drone discovered their campsite this morning. The site was completely abandoned with no signs of struggle nor sabotage. Ken, I need you or Akira to take a team to investigate it more thoroughly.”

               “I’ll do it.” Ken said. “Akira can remain here to assist with the investigation of the breach and the integration of Manda.”

               “Good.” Miki said.

               The Japanese Officer in the burgundy uniform then spoke up, “I’ll have a detail from B company meet you out there as well.”

               “Wow, the Bushmasters?” Akira remarked to Ken.

               “Thank you, Major Aso.” Miki said. “Moguera Squadron, I want you on standby as well.”

               “We’ll be ready willing for anything ma’am.” Captain Shaw said.

               “I know Kiryu Squadron has only just completed their last mission, but I want you at the ready to be Quick Reaction Force with the rest of the Elimination Division in case the Gotengo and Moguera need it.”

               “Understood, Director.” Akane said.

               “Very good.” Miki said. “With the timing of everything, this all seems far too suspicious to be mere coincidence. I don’t need to tell everyone how long it has been since we’ve had a triple event either.”

               “A triple event?” Admiral Stanz asked.

               “There’s a third kaiju?” Nakajima asked.

               “Well, it’s not clear yet but the signs suggest we could very well could be.” Miki added. She took in a slight breath before explaining the rest. “The last piece of information I have to share with you all is perhaps the most significant. Please try to remain calm. At approximately 1700 hours, Ogasawara time, Junior began showing signs of life.”

               Immediately upon hearing the news, everyone in the Saratoga’s room felt their hearts sink; everyone except Bri. Stanz, Ken, and Akane’s eyes widened in shock. The rest of Kiryu Squadron gripped the arms of their chairs to the point that Peterson and Nakajima’s knuckles turned white.

               Akira stood up in shock and asked aloud in his native language, “NANI!?”

               Bri looked around feeling like the black sheep of the group. She did not know what everyone was suddenly afraid of.

               “What is it?” She cautiously asked aloud.

               Akira looked down at her. He seemed almost insulted by her naïve question.

               The normally ecstatic scientist said with an ominous voice, “Gojira da…”

               Peterson then translated, “It’s Godzilla.”

               Bri, though not as profound as the others, understood the seriousness of the situation.

               “Auntie…” Ken asked, “Were you able to reach him?”

               “I was.” Miki said. “It seems something has disturbed him. We don’t know what it is yet though. Judging by the timing of its activity, it’s very likely being caused by a kaiju. Either the one that the missing team was investigating, or Manda. Which is why we need to investigate these mysterious circumstances because there’s always the possibility all these events could be linked.”

               “Well then, we’ll get right on it then ma’am!” Akira declared.

               “Seconded.” Ken added. “I’ll head to New Guinea as soon as possible.”

               “The Kiryu Squadron will be ready for anything as well.” Akane said.

               “Ready and willing.” Bri added.

               Miki smiled ever so slightly at everyone’s enthusiasm. Inside she could feel that there were undoubtedly dark times ahead. Something was moving in the shadows that was going to have serious repercussions. However, she felt a small form of relief knowing she had a good team to aid her in overcoming whatever lay ahead.