EPISODE 16: THE GREAT CALAMITY AWAKENS!

 

                The doors to Empress Tao’s throne room opened. In walked Priestess Luna, still dressed in her extravagant outfit. Tao sat at her throne, visibly tense but still maintaining her composure. To her right, Libra stood with her hands interlocked at her waste. Luna could tell something was wrong though. As always, she greeted the Empress with a customary bow and Tao returned the greeting.

               “Apologies for summoning you so suddenly Priestess.” Tao said. “I’m sure you are doing an excellent job in your field of diplomacy by bringing our guest into our cause.”

               “No apologies are required, your majesty.” Luna said. “I trust all is going well on the surface?”

               “Priest Pegasus appears to have run into some unfortunate obstacles.” Tao said, to which Luna tensed slightly. “We may require a more immediate approach in Ken’s re-education. That is unless you have already swayed the gifted one into our favor?”

               Luna remembered for a moment what she learned from Ken in their conversation and hesitated for a moment. Tao’s gaze tightened on Luna, noticing her reluctance to answer.

               Luna finally answered upon seeing the growing displeasure in Tao’s composure, “I must regretfully inform your majesty that, Ken cannot be swayed.” She continued to speak, despite Tao’s glare steadily growing angrier. “His will is strong… he has an unbreakable devotion to his friends and family…”

               “Were you not ordered to penetrate his mind?” Tao asked.

               “I did your majesty.” Luna said, half-heartedly.

               “Your gift is not as strong as your brother’s but surely you must have found a way to pierce his heart in just the right place.” Tao said.

               “I saw into his thoughts.” Luna answered. “I could not find a way to break his bond with the surface. And… it would seem that, we may have misjudged the surface-dwellers your majesty.”

               Tao stood from her throne. The guards in the room looked on nervously. Luna turned her gaze towards the floor; trying to remain as inoffensive as possible.

               “What do mean to say, Priestess?” Tao asked like an angry parent.

               Luna quivered a little before answering. “Ken and his friends are not the monsters that we had originally feared them to be. When I looked into his thoughts, I saw that he and his fellow people did indeed have good intentions. They mean us and our lord Manda, no harm.”

               Tao stood tightening her glare on Luna. The Priestess did not have to look up at Tao to feel the furious blaze brewing behind her crystal blue eyes. Libra was the only person in the room who did not fear Tao in that moment; watching curiously.

               “Your Majesty.” Luna said. “I humbly request to-”

               “Return to your temple.” Tao said with a direct tone, cutting off Luna.

               Luna finally looked up toward the furious Empress in shock. “Your Majesty?”

               “You have failed me, Priestess.” Tao said. “You were to look into his mind and seduce his desires. Instead you were seduced by his.”

               Luna, hurt by the sudden banishment, tried to plea further, “Please your majesty, I implore you to hear-”

               “I will hear no further!” Tao fired back. “The surface dweller shall be thrown in the dungeon with his kin and I have every right to throw you in there with him as well! You, Priestess Luna; you of all know the horrors brought upon by his people. I pray to our benevolent Lord that your soul has only been distracted and not lost to his influence. Now, before I change my mind, return to your temple!”

               Luna had a single tear roll down her cheek. She proceeded to bow customarily toward Tao as she stepped away back towards the door. Tao, still a raging storm under a steady yet cold exterior, did not return the custom. She watched as Luna left the throne room, yet her ferocious glare remained locked on the area where the Priestess was standing. The door closed, letting out a lower and more pronounced bellow than normal.

               A tense silence fell over the room. The Empress’s loyal subjects looked on hesitantly as she still stood angrily glaring at the spot where Luna was just standing.

               After a few seconds of tense waiting she suddenly said, “Leave us.”

               The guards promptly, with a hint of clumsiness in their normally robotic motions, headed for the door. They exited the room leaving only Libra and Tao. Once again, the door closed with an ominous bellow.

               Libra finally spoke up, “I would weep for your loss, your grace, but I know that you need more strength than sorrow right now.”

               Tao stood glaring still at the spot where Luna stood, she then said, “My family… my teacher… Lord Manda… Salunga… and now Luna… these greedy… insipid monkeys… all they do is destroy, take, and corrupt…”

               “Without the gifted surface dweller, how will you unleash the devil now?” Libra asked. “Right now, your gifted soldiers are busy sending the second wave to aid Priest Pegasus and the remaining guardian against the surface dwellers and Mothra. If Priestess Luna can no longer be trusted, then who else could possibly guide the great calamity to do your bidding?”

               Tao was lost in the words of Libra and her own anger as she quivered and spoke, “I don’t need a gifted one… the gift is a luxury… not a necessity…”

               Libra crossed the room behind Tao as she spoke, “But did you yourself say that the mental capacity for such control would strain a normal mind to its limits?” She came to a halt in her brief pacing to the left behind Tao and turned her gaze down towards her hands as she interlaced her fingers. “That power could overwhelm and kill an ungifted mind, could it not?”

               Tao still glared in the same spot, responding, “It’s a possibility… not a certainty… with a strong will… one could guide the great calamity without the gift…”

               Libra looked towards the furious Empress and requested, “Permit me to take up the task then, your grace. I do not possess the gift, but my will is strong. It would be an honor to be the guiding mind.”

               “No…” Tao said. “You have been the only subject to show me no sign of insubordination, Lady Libra. Despite being a surface dweller yourself, you have been more loyal than any of my brethren. For that I dare not risk your life for my cause.”

               “Then,” Libra started to ask, “Who will you choose to guide it?”

               Tao still looked down at the spot where Luna once stood as she started to speak, “In all of this vast Empire, there is no will, no desire to reap vengeance on the surface stronger than one; that will is mine.” She finally turned her gaze up from the spot towards the door, staring strongly into nothingness; nothing but her own vision. “I will be the guide for Red Moon.”

               On the surface, in Manilla, Salunga was frozen solid as a giant ice sculpture as Kiryu stood with the Absolute Zero cannon still opened on its chest. Bri sat in the mech’s cockpit in a similar braced manner as the MechaGodzilla itself. After a few seconds she smirked.

               “Another Kaiju-sickle.” Bri said.

               “You can open your own shop if you keep this up, Ma’am.” Ollie said.

               Akane circling overhead in the Super X-3, smirked as well before saying to herself, “Yatta ne, Bri.” (You did it, Bri).  She then spoke into the radio. “One more to go. Kiryu Squadron, converge and let’s give Mosura some help.”

               “Roger.” The rest of the squadron collectively said.

               Kiryu’s chest plates closed, and it turned in the direction of where Mothra and the Alpha Ropen were battling in the sky to the south.

               “Ollie, how long will Salunga remain frozen?” Bri asked.

               “Given its metabolic rate and then dropping temperature of the coming night, approximately 8 hours.” Ollie responded.

               “Plenty of time.” Bri said before she hit the boosters.

               Kiryu rocketed into the sky, in pursuit of the rest of the Squadron.

               Pegasus watched the squadron take off towards the Alpha and grit his teeth before asking his subordinates, “How much longer until the second wave arrives?”

               “They are almost here.” One of his men said.

               “How can the swarm stand up to them?” The other asked. “If Mothra uses that same attack, it will be pointless.”

               Pegasus sighed through his nose in frustration. As he watched, Mothra and the Alpha clash, he looked around at the city. Then his gaze shifted from the city to the Kiryu Squadron. He suddenly got an idea.

               Back at the Ogasawara headquarters, Miki, Akira, Kuroki, and the rest of the G-Force High Command watched the whole scene from the perspective of the drones flying over the area.

               “The odds are back on our side.” Barnes said.

               “Indeed.” Aso said. “Once we eliminate the last one, victory is ours.”

               Akira watched the screen with the glee of a child and said, “It’s all thanks to her.” He then looked toward the Shobijin as they stood before Miki on her table. “We owe you two and Mothra our lives once again.”

               At that moment the Shobijin looked at Akira and smiled at him. Akira blushed and quickly looked back at the screen. Miki, seeing Akira’s reaction, quietly chuckled. It was at that moment she was reminded of a sobering thought; her nephew was still missing. Kuroki watched on with the same concern in his mind as well but for his son.

               Down in the Empire, in a temple adorned with a golden statue of Manda at its center, Luna walked in and collapsed to her knees before the giant idol. Desperation was clenching her being in such a way that she felt weak and could not even bring herself to look up at the magnificent sight; one which would normally fill her with great faith and honor. She struggled with all her strength to look up at the statue’s face.  When she finally did it felt as though the Kaiju was looking down on her in judgement.

               She slowly began to interlock her fingers in prayer and spoke, “Great benevolent one… you who I have served with honor… I… I do not deserve it… but please, for the sake of her majesty… for the sake of my brother… bless me with your guidance for I am lost… Our Empress is lost… I fear my brother is now lost… I was led to believe that our goals were true and just… I was led to believe that the surface was our great enemy… but now I see that we are only causing more pain and suffering… we’re becoming the very monsters we believed the surface were to be… I beg your forgiveness… Please, if you truly are alive and well… I request that you send me a sign that will put me on the right path again…”

               At that very moment, she felt a presence behind her. Slowly Luna turned to find the pointed end of a Mu spear aimed directly at her face. She could not see the owner of the spear as the tip was so close to her face that it was her only concern.

               She closed her eyes and said, “We are even more lost than I feared. I suppose it’s what I deserve. Just let the Empress know that my last words were that I accept her resolve.”

               “I’m not here to kill you, nor do I know who this Empress is, but if you do what I say, no harm will come to you.” The owner replied, prompting Luna to open her eyes in confusion.

               Luna leaned slightly to enough to get a good look at the person holding the spear. It was revealed to be Goro, still wearing the Mu Soldier’s uniform.

               “Just chill out, I’m not here to hurt you.” Goro said tightly holding the spear. “Just tell me what I want to know.”

               “You’re a surface dweller.” Luna said. “How’d you get down here?”

               “Your soldiers’ security is lacking.” Goro said.

               She looked down at the spear and the way Goro was holding it, “Do you even know how to shoot that weapon?”

               “I didn’t even know it shoots, but I know I can at least skewer anyone with the pointy end.” Goro said.

               “What do you want with me, surface dweller?” Luna said snidely.

               “There was a group of men brought down here,” Goro said, “Where are they being held?”

               “What makes you think I would know?” Luna asked.

               “I lost track of them, but I saw you leaving that big ugly but important looking building, so clearly you have some influence down here.”

               “You’re 5 minutes too late, surface dweller.” Luna said turning her gaze back towards the base of the statue. “What influence I had, has now been stripped away.”

               “You still know where they are.” Goro said.

               “Ken was in the Palace.” Luna said. “He’s being taken to the dungeons with the rest to the south of the Palace. You’ll likely die at the front gate and if you’re lucky you’ll die in the dungeon.”

               “Well, it would seem that I will need more than your information then.” Goro said.

               “I’ll take the spear instead.” Luna said. “Dying by the weapons of the enemy is more admirable than dying by weapons of my own people.”

               Meanwhile, back up in the throne room, Empress Tao was brought a black chest lined with red trimmings by one of her subordinates.

               “I present to your grace, the Crowns of Red Moon.” The robed Mu servant said.

               “Thank you.” The Empress said.

               “Your Majesty, let me be the one to do this.” One of her royal guards said. “Should this fail, this Empire could not bear to lose you.”

               “I appreciate your concern, but your lack of faith is more concerning.” Tao said. “Now, remove my crown.”

               The royal subjects hesitated for a moment, prompting her to deliver them a deathly glare. Upon seeing her cold look of discontent, they proceeded in removing her sapphire and gold crown. They carefully set it aside in another chest. They then opened the chest presented to her. Inside there were two Golden crowns in velvet frames that resembled her royal crown. One of which was adorned with a double-heart shaped dark red ruby with a fragment of something in the shape of a crescent moon lodged at their center. The other crown was almost identical but with only an empty slot where the ruby was supposed to rest.

               “There are two?” Libra asked.

               “These devices were specially crafted by a forge-master thousands of years ago.” The robed subject said. “A second was made should the first one be destroyed or rendered inoperable so that Red Moon could still be sealed away as a failsafe.”

               “Thousands of years ago, our ancestors were faced with the Great Calamity, Red Moon.” Tao said. “When our benevolent guardians joined forces with the Cosmos and Mothra to defeat it, they did not destroy the beast, merely subdued it. After our Empire sank into the Earth’s crust, they found Red Moon and imprisoned it. Shortly thereafter, the forge-master who created the crowns used to guide our guardians forged these crowns to aid us should Red Moon ever break free.”

               “And now you’re about to use those same devices to wield it.” Libra said.

               “It may not be what our ancestors intended,” Tao said, “but in light of the threat now posed by the surface dwellers, it’s only right that they are to become besieged by the same calamity that befell us.” At that moment, her subjects removed the ruby-adorned crown from its holster. “Let the surface know that their sins and blasphemies will not go unpunished.” They slowly began to slide it through her black and red hair. “For all their greed, pride, carelessness, and destructive nature will now be delivered back ten-fold by we who now wake, Red Moon.”

               The crown came to rest upon Tao’s scalp. Her subjects stepped away. The most loyal of which watched with wary and terrified eyes. The Robed servants bowed their heads and backed away toward the center of the room. Tao took in a calm breath and closed her eyes. For a few seconds there was a nerve-wracking silence as everyone watched and waited. The Empress sat with her eyes closed, concentrating her thoughts. After a few more seconds, her breathing grew heavier.

               Suddenly the crescent moon-shaped fragment in her crown began to glow a bright red. Her subjects gasped. Her hands gripped the arms of her throne. Tao’s breathing grew even more labored.

               “Concentrate your thoughts your majesty” The lead robed servant said. “Focus your will into the great calamity.”

               At that moment she suddenly threw herself against the back of the chair and gasped.

               “Do not let go your grace.” The robed one said. “Focus your will! Call to it! Make it wake! Focus your desires into it!”

               Across the Empire was a large dark temple that boasted two massive 70-meter-tall doors at its front. Its architecture resembled that of a Cambodian-temple but had the look and feel of a prison. It even was surrounded by dozens of royal guards. From their posts, they suddenly began to hear a strange noise that resembled a deep and powerful heartbeat coming from within the temple. They all looked back nervously towards the noise.

               Back in Manda’s Temple, Goro still held Luna at the end of the Mu Spear he acquired.

               “Please, I don’t want to harm you.” Goro said. “I just want to free my friends and return home.”

               Just as Luna was about to respond they both suddenly heard a faint noise from outside; a distant roar. Though Goro was perplexed, Luna instantly realized what the source had to be.

               “How…” Luna started to ask. “There’s no way she could have done it…”

               “Done what?” Goro asked. “What the hell was that?”

               Luna remained oblivious to Goro’s question as she thought deeply and fearfully for a moment, when suddenly she realized what Tao was doing, “No…”

               Back in the throne room, the Royal Guards and robed subjects watched Tao as she struggled to sit forward in her chair, as if pushing back against some unseen force; every now and then gasping with great strain. The glowing moon in her crown got brighter.

               “That’s it your grace!” The robed subject said. “Focus!”

               Tao slowly continued to lean forward while still gripping the arms of her throne. At that moment she suddenly screamed.

               At the prison the guards outside started to panic as the presence inside roared again. The ground immediately around the temple began to shake. Some of the guards began to flee.

               “It’s alive!” One of them shouted. “The Calamity is alive!”

               Back in the temple, Tao screamed again, but this time it blended into the same roar coming from within the prison-like temple.

               At that moment, the temple’s massive doors where blown open by some force from within. Guards fled in terror in every direction to get clear. The commotion was then quickly followed by an eerie silence. Even in the throne room all fell silent once more as the Empress sat breathing heavily with her eyes still closed. Everyone, even the once calm Libra, stood with eyes wide with curiosity and shock.

               The guards at the prison slowly began to peer into the dark void of the open doors. A low, bellowing growl began to echo from the blackness. At the same time Tao began to sit back a bit more relaxed in her seat, though she still seemed strained. Just then, her eyes opened, simultaneously a pair of glowing yellow eyes opened in the temple as well.

               The guards brave enough to stay behind at the temple began to back away in fear. The large yellow eyes, which stood 50 meters off the ground, began to move towards them. A series of heavy footsteps from something on four feet accompanied the eyes as they moved towards the light of the doorway. A short muzzle like that of a tiger emerged just a few meters ahead of the glowing eyes, eventually giving way to a brutish but ferocious looking face. A sickle shaped red horn protruded from just above the center of the brow. The kaiju was mostly covered in a smooth yet tough looking skin, like that of a shark. The top of the head, shoulders and upper back were covered in a thick shiny black mane. As it continued to walk forth with the proud powerful stature of a lion it was revealed to have massive bat-like wings. The front limbs sported powerful claws and more areas of same shiny black fur on its elbows, feet, and a patch on the chest. Finally the hind legs came into view and were followed by a feline-like tail tipped with a tuft of black fur, whipping back and forth through the air.

               The monster let out a bellowing growl as it looked around the Mu Empire. The way it flexed its jowls, revealing its sharp fanged maw, one could see that it wanted to unleash destruction upon all those before it. It let out a loud roar, one that froze many of the Mu people in fear.

               In the throne room, Empress Tao and her subjects could hear the monster’s roar. Libra, curious to see this new beast, raced to the balcony with several other subjects. Libra’s eyes widened in awe when she saw the large red beast in the distance.

               “That’s the Great Calamity…” Libra said to herself. “…Red Moon.”

               At that moment, the group cleared way for Tao as she appeared in the middle of them. She still looked strained, and her breathing was labored, but she was more stable than before. Tao observed Red Moon with a most fierce and determined look in her gaze.

               “You’ve done it your grace.” The robed servant said. “Red moon is now the instrument of your vengeance.”

               Meanwhile down in Manda’s temple, Goro watched as Luna stood up with a most horrified expression.

               “She couldn’t have…” Luna said looking out the nearest window as the monster roared again.

               “Who couldn’t have what?” Goro said a little more anxiously.

               Luna looked back at Goro weighing her decisions in her mind.

               “I wish I had your ignorance.” Luna said. “I ask this, do you intend to kill any of my people.”

               “I don’t want to kill anyone.” Goro said. “Only if they try to kill me.”

               Luna looked back up towards the window for a moment as Goro waited with the spear still aimed at her.

               She looked back at Goro and said, “I will help you find your friends and help you get home. But know this, the agreement is off if you try to kill my people and know that I am not on your side. I do this because my Empress has become lost in her vengeance and has awakened a force more destructive than either of our sides.”

               Goro glanced around a little confused and said, “I don’t know what any of that really means, but I’ll agree to your terms provided you don’t try anything funny.”

               “Something tells me this is going to be a troublesome alliance.” Luna said looking briefly back towards Manda’s statue. “Come with me.”

               Luna led Goro out of the temple’s main hall through a doorway behind the statue. Meanwhile outside, Red Moon stretched and flexed its massive wings. Tao watched with her court gathered around as she began to close her eyes again.

               “Now your majesty.” The Robed servant said, “Focus your thoughts and your desires into Red Moon. Guide it towards your goal.”

               Tao concentrated as hard as she could. She kept her thoughts solely on attacking the surface with the prime target being Mothra. She started to wince and gritted her teeth. Red moon began to do the same, letting out a growl as it started shaking its head slightly.

               “Don’t give up your majesty.” Libra said to Tao. “Focus!”

               Tao started to groan in a pain and frustration. The Moon Emblem on her crown began to glow again. Red Moon looked as though it was still resisting, growling, and shaking its head. Tao continued to concentrate. She started to holler in pain but kept focusing. The moon emblem got brighter and brighter. Red Moon roared defiantly as Tao screamed defiantly back. Suddenly the monster seemed to stop resisting. It then flapped its massive wings and flew over the Empire towards one of the tunnels that the transports were arriving from the surface through. As Red Moon flew into the large tunnel, it destroyed the rail system and one of the transports as it made its way up towards the surface.

               Tao opened her eyes and sighed heavily with relief. She still looked strained but was much more relaxed than she was before.

               “You’ve done it your majesty!” The Robed servant said as he and the subjects around her rejoiced happily for her.

               Amidst the celebration, Libra stepped away and looked back at the chest that held the two crowns. Her focused narrowed in on the other crown for Red Moon. For a moment, she was about to give in to opportunity and started to move in the direction of the chest but was stopped when Tao started to make her way back to the throne.

               Back on the surface, Mothra was in hot pursuit of the Alpha Ropen, high in the skies over Manilla. Not too far behind them, Kiryu Squadron was closing in.

               “Damn they’re fast.” Bri said.

               “Alert!” Ollie said. “Alert! Manilla’s got company!”

               Bri looked down at the monitor to her right and saw a massive swarm of signatures appearing on the map just along the city limits.

               “What’s that?” Bri asked aloud.

               “It’s another swarm of Big Batty’s friends.” Peterson suddenly said over the radio. “They’re coming in through that hole we saw earlier.”

               “Chikusho!” Mazaki cursed.

               “We have to turn back and protect the city.” Akane said. “Mothra should be fine on her own. All craft turn back.”

               Bri looked back at the screen showing Mothra chasing after the Alpha. She reluctantly then turned Kiryu around and followed her comrades back down towards the city.

               At HQ, Miki sighed in frustration. The rest of the high command grew restless.

               “They’re trying to level the playing field again.” Aso said.

               “Yeah, we can’t help Mothra with the city being besieged.” Barnes added.

               Kuroki then said, “Aso-san.”

               “Hai.” Aso acknowledged.

               “Move the maser battalion into the city.” Kuroki ordered.

               “Hai.” Aso said before ordering one of the operators ahead. “Send word to Units 1 through 5. Have them move from their positions into the city to combat the swarm.”

               “Yes sir!” The operator responded.

               In Manilla the massive swarm of giant bats erupted from the hole that Salunga and the Alpha created like a fountain of black tar. The Ropen began destroying all that they could of the area. Suddenly a few of them were struck by bright blue bolts of energy. From a hillside nearby, a pair of maser cannons were firing their weapons into the swarm while Maser Units were making their way down towards the city via the roadways.

Back up in the sky, as Mothra closed in, the Alpha suddenly spun around and clapped its wings together, sending a massive shower of quills at the guardian monster. This time it was able to land several hits on Mothra’s wings and abdomen. The giant butterfly cried out in pain and started falling. The Alpha was now the one in pursuit as it dove after Mothra.

As the guardian monster flapped its wings to dislodge the quills, it looked back to see the giant bat closing in on her in a determined nosedive. At the last instant, Mothra threw her wings out to catch the wind and caused the Alpha to shoot right past her. The Alpha tried to stop its rapid decent by doing the same but just as it did, Mothra unleashed the same devastating burst of lightening that destroyed the first Ropen swarm. The bolts of electricity struck the Alpha and shocked it into paralysis in a dazzling display of sparks.

The kaiju fell limp as a rag as it descended. Mothra dove after the monster and latched onto its back with her six clawed feet. Just as she made contact, the bat sprang back to life. Before it could try to free itself from her grip, she hit the monster again with another burst of lightening. Once more the kaiju fell limp. Mothra suddenly tucked her wings in and raced towards the ground with the Alpha still in her grasp.

The two kaiju shot towards the earth with tremendous speed. The Alpha started to come too again but was too weak to fight back. As they continued to gain speed, the combination of their velocity and the altitude started to cause the Alpha’s wings to catch flame. Mothra started to have an aura of flame as well but seemed unaffected by it. The giant bat let out a desperate and painful screech as the membrane of its wings started to disintegrate in an explosion of flames.

The Kiryu squadron caught sight of the two kaiju’s rapid decent and were in awe for by that point they looked like a shooting star. Pegasus caught sight of two kaiju as well, but his expression went from awe to shock. Even those in HQ watched with stunned silence.

Mothra continue to plummet with the desperately screeching Alpha in her clutch until finally, about 1000 feet above the ground she released the giant bat and threw her wings out. The Alpha was helpless as it shot towards the ground engulfed in flames until finally it struck the ground just outside the city. The impact formed a giant plume of debris and dust. The ground shook from its force and a loud rumbling sound could be heard as far as where Pegasus and his men stood.

Pegasus and the other Mu warriors stood in shock as the plume billowed and blew away against the wind. The Mu Priest stood gawking for a moment. He then tried to focus his thoughts through the crown. His compatriots watched as he tried to reach the Alpha with his crown. After a few seconds he opened his eyes, and his serious expression grew grim and hopeless.

“Another one has fallen…” He said with a solemn tone.