EPISODE 13: THE SHOBIJIN'S REVELATIONS

 

In the throne room of Empress Tao, she sat overlooking her empire from her royal seat when suddenly one of her royal guards appeared from behind her.

               “Pardon my intrusion, your excellency.” The guard said. “Priest Pegasus wishes a remote audience.”

               “Very good.” Tao said. “Connect him through.”

               “As you wish.” The guard said.

               The Mu Empress’s chair rotated around to the room where a screen slid down from the ceiling. The Mu Warrior from the surface appeared on the screen.

               “Pegasus.” Tao greeted. “I trust our first skirmish went well?”

               “It was a hard-fought battle your excellency, but we emerged victorious.” Pegasus said. “Lady Libra and Priestess Luna’s intel was accurate. The surface dwellers do possess their own titans.”

               “Did we suffer any casualties?” Tao asked.

               “Regretfully, we did lose a good number of the Ropen warriors and the former Alpha Ropen.” Pegasus explained. “However, a new Alpha has been birthed and the invasion force did not require assistance from the second wave. One of their war machines and one of their Mechanical Titans was destroyed. We also took prisoners from a transport of theirs as well.”

               “Prisoners?” Tao asked mildly concerned.

               “Yes, your majesty.” Pegasus replied. “Warriors and scholars. They may yield more intel and provide us with a nice bargaining piece should the need arise.”

               “That was very bold of you, Priest.” Tao said. “However, your reasoning is sound so I will accept them. What more do you have to report?”

               “One of the prisoners I am having sent directly to you, your excellency.” Pegasus said.

               Tao’s eyebrow raised with a mild form of annoyance, “For what purpose?”

               “I understand your trepidation, your excellency. However, I do not wish to insult you. This particular surface dweller possesses an ability that I feel will prove most useful.”

               Upon hearing Pegasus’s revelation, Tao’s annoyance subsided into curiosity, “An ability? Are you suggesting, this prisoner possesses The Gift?”

               “I bared witness to it myself during one of my connections with the Ropen guides.” Pegasus replied with a confident smirk.

               “Magnificent work, then Priest.” Tao said with a smirk as well. “I commend your success.”

               “I am most grateful, your majesty.” Pegasus said. “What would you command of us next?”

               “Withdraw into a safe zone for now until the new Alpha’s gestation period is complete.” Tao instructed. “There is another titan at the enemy’s disposal which we must deal with and if I’m not mistaken it will be on its way to avenge the fallen comrade. Once the new Alpha rises, we shall attack the nearest large city, Manilla where we shall ambush them and decimate their remaining forces.”

               “As you command, your excellency.” Pegasus replied with a bow.

               The empress returned a slight bow in farewell, before the transmission cut off and the screen retracted into the ceiling.

               Just then a feminine voice spoke up from the balcony, “Congratulations on your first of many victories, your highness.”

               “Thank you, Lady Libra.” Tao replied with a triumphant smirk.

               It was then that a woman wearing a silver and white outfit emerged from the balcony from the Empress’s right. Wearing a silver robe that shimmered in the light, she had an unnaturally young face that perfectly contrasted her mature voice. Her eyes, though a beautiful blue were as pale and lifeless as her skin tone. Not lessoned by the fact her hair was as white as snow and her lips were as red as blood. She had the cold stare and appearance of a doll come to life. Her interlaced hands that she held before her were dorned with gloves that look as though they had been soaked in quicksilver.

               “You have been a great ally to us.” Empress Tao said. “Without your initial intel, we would not have been as well prepared for the battle ahead.”

               “And my organization will continue to help you and your empire for as long as you will have us.” Lady Libra replied.

               “You will forgive my initial distrusting though as we were not expecting a surface dweller to be willing to aid us.” Tao said.

               “It was expected.” Libra said. “Your good people suffered far too much at the hands of those above, that I was amazed that you did not kill me on sight. I am eternally grateful for granting me an audience.”

               “You will be treated with the utmost courtesy from this moment forth and I would be honored to have you as an advisor for Priest Pegasus and Priestess Luna for the duration of our campaign.”

               “I will honor our agreement.” Libra said. “I will send word of good will to my organization. If you desire any further support from us, we are most willing to assist.”

               “I will ask nothing further than your guidance and to send my thanks to the rest of your organization.” Empress Tao said.

               “As you wish, your excellency.” Libra said before stepping back onto the balcony.

               Tao turned back around towards the balcony as well, where Libra had mysteriously vanished, and looked out back across her empire with a victorious feeling washing over her.

NEW GUINEA, the captured soldiers and scientists of G-Force were being marched into the forest to one of the many rocky hillsides that littered the area. Ken was still unconscious, being carried on the shoulders of Sergeant Sanchez. After trekking in the woods for nearly twenty minutes, they finally came upon a large cave in the hillside. Its opening was at least twenty meters high and wide. The thick forest canopy seemed to conceal it almost completely from the air.

The prisoners’ eyes, though mostly facing forward, occasionally wandered about in awe at the site of the massive hole.

“Holy shit…” Nguyen said, allowing his concentration to noticeably break.

One of the Mu soldiers, jabbed him with the blunt end of his spear, “Move.”

Nguyen, annoyed but compliant, responded, “Alright, alright. Jeez, no manners.”

“Down to hell we go.” Paul said as he helped Dakota along.

“Yeah, it sure seems that way.” Dakota remarked.

As the group marched further in the cave, the were followed by Goro who was still in a distant pursuit. He too was in brief awe of the large cavern that they were entering. He proceeded cautiously in after them. Inside it was very echoey as the men’s footsteps and shuffling about made it sound like there were three times as many of them.

Further inside, it was revealed that just past the reach of the sun’s natural light, the cave was lit up by torches. As they came around a bend, the prisoners were shocked to find that they were to be greeted by several Ropen; hanging from the ceiling. At first the Ropen seemed just as alerted by the appearance of the Mu warriors and their captives.

“Oh hell no.” Sanchez said, as the group stopped.

“Move!” The Mu behind him said.

The Mu at the front that was leading them in said, “They do not attack us. Only Surface Dwellers with no escorts. Keep moving.”

Albeit slowly, the group continued marching into the cave. Just as they were about to move out of sight from the Ropen, they suddenly heard a loud noise from behind them; a roaring woosh that sounded like a whole squadron of jets on a fly-over. The Ropen became heavily alerted by the sound and began screeching in agitation towards the cave entrance. Suddenly they dropped down and flew in the direction of the sound. Goro, seeing the fleeting glimpses of the creatures’ wings coming around the bend suddenly ducked behind a large rock. To his relief, the Ropen flew right by him.

The giant bats came to a halt just before the caves entrance and waited aggressively but cautiously looking about. The roaring noise grew louder and louder. It was then that the fleeting image the Herons and the Super X-3 could be witnessed through the small openings of the Forest Canopy. With the Ropen distracted, Goro pushed into the cave after the group.

Outside, the three aircraft circled the area. Akane, seeing the wreckage of Moguera, lead the Heron’s into a lower sweep of the area. As they dropped to an altitude of roughly 1000 feet, they could also see the headless body of the Alpha Ropen and then shortly thereafter the Gotengo.

“Super X-3, to home base.” Akane said into her radio. “On station at objective.”

“Roger Super X-3.” The operator replied.

At Ogasawara, the operator announced to the Commanding Officers, “Kiryu Squadron have reached the objective.”

“Good.” Hayashida said. “Bring up visual on main screen.”

Colonel Aso’s eyes widened in shock when he saw the Moguera’s burning wreckage.

               “The enemy must have moved on if the picture is coming in that clear.” Hayashida said.

               “They really destroyed Moguera and downed the Gotengo.” Aso said in disbelief.

               The three aircraft continued circling the area with watchful eyes.

               “Pero-2” Akane said. “Begin scanning.”

               “Yes ma’am.” Pero-2 said.

               Nakajima, looking out the window of his Heron, remarked “Sozo dekinai…” (Inconceivable)

               “Karera wa… haiboku shita…” (They were defeated…) Hayama added.

               “Gotengo to Kiryu Squadron.” Shaw’s voice said over the radio.

               “Go ahead Gotengo.” Akane replied.

               “Glad to see you guys finally made it.” Shaw said. “We’re pretty banged up down here but we’re alive. Our scanning system is down and we have a ruptured fuel line.”

               “Roger, Gotengo.” Akane replied. “Scanning the area for enemy presence now.”

               After a few seconds of waiting on all ends, Pero-2 finally said, “Scan’s complete. No Kaiju present ma’am.”

               “Area’s clear.” Akane said. “Herons 1 and 2, begin recovery operations. Kiryu, upon arrival, find a high location and maintain surveillance until further notice.”

               Back at Ogasawara, Colonel Aso said aloud, “We’re going to need the Saratoga and Venture out there to help recover Moguera.”

               “I’ll get in touch with Admiral Stanz.” Hayashida said.

               “Gensui.” Aso said to General Kuroki. “What are your orders?”

               Sho looked on at the screen. For a moment he briefly lost focus on the operation as he pondered his son’s whereabouts.

               “Bring Moguera squadron home.” Kuroki finally said. “Once Moguera and Gotengo are extracted, we’ll keep Kiryu Squadron in the Celebes Sea. Director, is there anything you would like to add?”

               Miki responded, “I’ll get approval from the Indonesian government and the UN to stage additional units nearby if we need.”

               “If that’s the case then we’ll put the Maser units on alert. Once we get approval, we’ll stage them at a good jumping off point as well.” Sho said. “Carry out operations Gentlemen.”

               As the orders were being given out at Ogasawara, Heron’s 1 and 2 were hovering near the Gotengo.

               “Heron 1 to Gotengo.” Nakajima said. “Requesting damage assessment status.”

               “A number of weapons systems are offline including the deck cannons and surface charge.” One of the Gotengo crew members responded. “We have a ruptured fuel line in one of the main hover engines and one of the rear thrusters was severely damaged.”

               “Mobility?” Nakajima asked.

               Around the same time, Bri suddenly appeared in the skies overhead with Kiryu.

               “Kiryu is on station.” Bri said. “Locating viable surveillance point.”

               “Roger.” Akane replied.

               Bri slowly circled the area. For a moment she was in awe of the aftermath of the battle.

               “This is horrible.” She said.

               “No friendly casualties to report.” Ollie said.

               Bri replied, “That we know of… Hopefully they can find the ones in that downed aircraft.”

               “There’s a good vantage point on the ridge ahead.” Ollie said.

               “We’ll set down there then.” Bri said.

               While recovery operations began, below ground, the Mu warriors were still marching along with their captives. The tunnel they entered was lined with ancient art; some of which featured figures similar to the Ropen and Salunga.

               “Are you alright?” Sergeant McCall asked Sergeant Sanchez.

               “Yeah…” Sanchez said as he carefully readjusted Ken over his shoulders.

               “What the hell is that?” Nguyen said.

               Ahead of them was a train-like vehicle with six compartmentalized cars that sat before a darkened tunnel. There were several Mu soldiers guarding it and a group of them that were loading crates onto the cars. The rocky ancient tunnel that the group was traveling through seemed to give way to a developed industrial room that resembled the inside of a large warehouse. From another tunnel, another train appeared, parallel to the first one. The group took notice of the interesting way in which it arrived as it seemed to hover in.

               After a long trek, the Mu warriors finally brought their prisoners to a halt. The other Mu personnel in the large room, stopped briefly and observed the newcomers with a mix of curious intrigue and apprehension. While the prisoners waited, the Mu that was leading the group walked over to speak with one over by the first train.

               Back up the tunnel, Goro peered around to see the underground warehouse. He, like his imprisoned comrades, was taken by surprise by the scale of the Mu’s operation. With great care he crept closer, using the large rocks and creases in the cave wall to duck behind.

               He pulled out his mobile device and said, “Auto, send word to the Gotengo: Enemy transportation site located. Send our location afterward.”

               “Unable to establish communication.” Auto replied. “There’s a heavy concentration of mineral ore around us that is blocking our signal.”

               “Kuso…” Goro cursed before asking Auto, “Can you get a good scan of the area at least to see how far those trains or whatever are going.”

               “Roger.” Auto replied. “Scanning now.”

               While waiting for a response, Goro looked around the warehouse for some way he could get on board the train.

               “It appears those tunnels go well outside of my scan’s range, sir.” Auto said.

               “That must be their way home then.” Goro speculated.

               About that time the prisoners were directed onto one of the train cars. Once onboard, they were each bound with brass-like cuffs. Even Ken, though still unconscious was bound. A lone guard stood watch over them. The group was left in a painfully long wait as the Mu personnel loaded the car up with additional crates of supplies.

               It was around that time that Ken finally started to come to, though in a heavy daze.

               “Wha-…” Ken started to say. “Where?”

               “Doc?” McCall said, sitting across from him. “You all good?”

               “Where are we?” Ken said, flinching his eyes.

               “We’re on some kind of transport.” Lieutenant Joyce said. “I don’t know where they’re taking us.”

               “An express train to hell.” Paul sarcastically said. “Quite literally if you think about it.”

               “They must be…” Ken started to say flinching his eyes again. “Wait, how long was I out?”

               “Only about an hour and a half.” Joyce said. “What happened?”

               “I was trying something, and it strained me more than I was expecting.” Ken said. “It’s difficult to explain.”

               “Quiet!” The Mu guard demanded.

               The group quieted down and sat obediently, albeit annoyed. Their annoyance was exasperated by the wait they had to endure for the loading process. After another long 45 minutes, the doors of the train closed. The Mu guard moved to the front of the car and sat against the door with his arms crossed. After a few more minutes the train began to vibrate. They could see through the small windows of the doors, that the outside of it was lighting up. Then they could see the ridges of the tunnel going by, yet the feeling of movement was barely present.

               “Incredible.” Dakota said quietly, getting the attention of Paul and Ken.

               “Yeah, this is smoother than anything I’ve ever ridden on.” Paul said. “How do you think they do it?”

               “I don’t know.” Dakota said. “Probably some kind of special magnetism or something.”

               “To think, something this advanced was right under our feet this whole time.” Ken said. “No wonder we never knew of their existence until now.”

               As the train continued on into the depths of the earth’s crust, back at the Ogasawara base, Miki was staring out the glass of the observation room for Junior’s Lagoon. For some time, she had been looking out with her mind swirling with thoughts and anxiety. From behind, she heard the door open and shut, but did not look to see who it was.

               “Miki-sama?” Akira’s voice asked, though lacking his eccentric personality, to which she did not respond immediately. “Gomen nasai.” He apologized and was about to leave. “Mata Kimasu” (I’ll come back later)

               “Iie.” Miki suddenly said, stopping him. “Gomen nasai... Nondeshou?”  (I’m sorry… What do you want?)

               “Daijobu?” (Are you alright?) Akira asked as he stepped back towards her.

               “Shinpai…” (Worried) Miki responded.

               “Ken-san?” Akira asked.

               “Hai…” Miki answered. “Soshite hoka no subete.” (And everything else) She finally turned her gaze towards Akira. “Kore wa… hon’no hajimari ni suginai node wanai ka shinpai shite imasu.” (I’m afraid that this is just the beginning)

               Her feeling of anxiety was felt by Akira. He wanted to find some way to lift her spirit but anything he could think of to say, felt inappropriate or hopeless.

               “Wakarimashita…” (I understand) Akira finally said.

               “Miki.” A pair of familiar voices suddenly said; catching both Miki and Akira by surprise.

               “Sho-…” Akira started to ask with astonishment. “Shobijin da?”

               On the monitoring desk, in front of the monitor displaying the outline of Junior’s plates, the Shobijin were standing. Miki and Akira, whose ecstatic fan-boy nature was returning, stood before the tiny women; giving them their undivided attention.

               At the same time Barnes walked in, “Excuse me, Director but-” The moment he caught sight of the Shobijin his jaw dropped. “What… Who?...”

               “Master Chief Barnes,” Miki said in a humble manner. “These are the Shobijin. You probably have heard of them as the Cosmos Fairies.”

               Barnes was at a loss for words watching them as they bowed in greeting, “Well it’s nice to… I uh… Would you like me to just…”

               “It’s alright,” Miki said, “they are old friends of mine.”

               “Come, you will want to hear what we have to say as well, Master Chief.” The Shobijin said in unison; beckoning Barnes to join Miki and Akira. “We are sorry we took so long to return.”

               “You don’t need to apologize.” Miki said. “Though I’m afraid things have not been so well since you departed.”

               “We feared as much.” The Shobijin said. “It would seem the earth is on the verge of another dark era.”

               “We ventured to the Mu Empire to see if we could reason with Empress Tao.” The Left said.

               The Right then said, “As we feared, she has turned vengeful towards the people of the surface.”

               “She aims to bring destruction upon the Earth’s civilizations.” The pair said together.

               “Nani?” Akira asked.

               “Why does she want to destroy everything?” Barnes asked. “What did we do to them?”

               “Unfortunately, events that unfolded on the surface have brought a lot of suffering and destruction upon their home.” The Shobijin said.

               “Nuclear testing, wars, chemical waste, and environmental destruction.” The Left said.

               The Right continued, “All of the major catastrophes caused by everyone on the surface have brought a great deal of death and destruction to them as well.”

               “Furthermore, it would seem that more recent events have provoked her into taking such drastic actions.” The left said.

               The Right then explained, “The death of the Empress’s family in a recent cataclysm caused by the last war and the capture of their sacred beast Manda.”

               “Manda’s capture?” Akira asked, feeling guilty. “But we do not wish to harm or kill Manda. We just wanted to give it a new home so it could avoid such a fate if the wrong parties got involved.”

               “We understand.” The Shobijin said. “But the people of Mu saw it as the final blasphemy.”

               “There must be some way we can reason with her.” Miki said. “Some way we can negotiate peace.”

               “Unfortunately, Empress Tao is blinded by her desire for revenge.” The Shobijin said.

               “We tried to reason with her peacefully to prevent all this from happening.” The Left said.

               The right then followed, “But she would not listen for she felt we had abandoned her and her people.”

               “We were then banished from the Empire’s boarders.” They said together.

               “I’m so sorry that you had to treated as such.” Miki said.

               “No apology is necessary Miki.” The Shobijin said. “We wanted to do all we can to prevent the Mu Empire from taking such action. Now they have moved against the surface, a great catastrophe is on the horizon for the earth should they continue this course.”

               “A great catastrophe?” Barnes asked. “Like a nuclear holocaust?”

               “The Mu Empire has vast resources.” The left said.

               The right then said, “Aside from their great technology, they have certain members in their ranks with the gift that Miki and her nephew possess.”

               Akira then asked with a chill crawling up his spine, “ESP? Wait… that’s how they are controlling the Kaiju then!”

               “But we defeated one already and already decimated a large number of their forces.” Barnes explained.

               “The creatures known as the Ropen are not defeated.” The Left then said “Their colonies number in the tens of thousands.”

               The Right continued, “Additionally if the Alpha is defeated, another will rise to take its place. However, we fear that there is more than the Ropen and Salunga in their ranks.”

               “Another Manda?” Miki asked.

               “Much worse than that.” The Left said. “When we departed from the Empire, we felt a dark presence.”

               The right then said, “It was faint so it may be asleep, but it was indeed there.”

               “We thought it was defeated but it seems it was only imprisoned.” The Shobijin said. “The calamity known as Red Moon has survived.”

               Miki’s eyes widen in both shock and realization as she spoke, “That must be it then…” She then slowly turned towards the underwater window, “That must be the danger that Junior was sensing.” Her words provoked the same terrified awe from Akira and Barnes. “Something dark and menacing… it must have been this Red Moon…” She then turned back to the Shobijin and asked. “Do you truly think they have the ability to unleash such a monster?”

               “We do.” The Shobijin said. “The Empress is that consumed with rage that she very well could be pushed into such measures.”

               “There’s no way we could be able to handle all that though.” Barnes said. “With the Gotengo coming home for repairs, the Kiryu Squadron and our Maser Battalions won’t stand a chance against them all.”

               “Fear not Master Chief.” The Shobijin said, drawing everyone’s intrigue.

               “You will not be alone in this fight.” The left said.

               The right then said, “We do not wish to bring harm to the Mu Empire.”

               “However,” They said together, “With the threat they now possess in the form of Red Moon, we must assist you as well in defending the Earth.”

               “Sore...” Akira said with excitement in his voice as he started to say in Japanese.

               “Yes.” The Shobijin said. “Mothra will be your ally in this battle.”

               Barnes and Miki looked at each other with relief.

               Akira’s excitement reached a breaking point as he cheered, “YOSSHA!!!!”

               While the Shobijin were delivering the news to Miki and the others, thousands of miles away in a cavern, the Elite Mu warrior, Pegasus was walking with two subordinates into a large underground chamber. As they entered the torchlit room, they walked by dozens of Ropen clinging to the walls and ceiling. The giant bats watched respectfully and peacefully as Pegasus and his men walked by; like simple soldiers observing a general or some other high commanding authority.

               A strange noise was echoing through the chamber; a haunting yet strangely soothing inhuman melody that resembled hoots of owls mixed with the songs of whales. It wasn’t until they walked further into the chamber that the noise was actually coming from more of the Ropen that were encircling what looked like a giant pod or plant bud at first glance.

               The three men came to a halt a few meters outside of the hundreds of giant bats as they performed their bizarre chanting.

               “It’s time.” Pegasus said.

               “It seems rather early though, isn’t it?” One of his subordinates asked.

               Pegasus answered, “The Ropen are anxious to continue our crusade. Seems their hunger for more is invigorating their biology as well.”

               At the center of the chamber, the large object began to expand and contract like a giant lung. It even was making the noise like a respirator. The Ropen’s chant-like melody began to grow louder and more intense. Shiny black needle-like quills began to protrude from it in various places. The Ropen’s melody grew even more intense, and the three Mu warriors watched with gleaming eyes. Then slowly, like a blooming orchid, two large wings rose and stretched out to its sides: revealing a new Alpha Ropen. The patch of yellow fur on its chest flashed with a bioluminescent light. It stood to its feet and stretched its wings upward while arching its back as if it were awakening from a deep sleep. It then let out a chilling war like cry that slowly drowned out the lessor Ropen in the room.