They were underwater for several minutes. The fight was draining both of their energies. Kong’s lungs were burning up. They demanded oxygen. Estuar was gaining the advantage. It could go longer without air.
Kong’s strength was waning. There was not much time before he had to return to the surface. He was losing the fight. The water was Estuar’s domain. Kong could not best the kaiju there.
Using the last of his energy, the beast-god released Estuar and raced for the surface. The water crashed back to life as Kong broke through. Estuar now circled Kong.
The kaiju was creating a whirl pool that Kong was stuck in the center of. Estuar’s presence was lost under the churning water. Its spiny back emerged from the water only to disappear again.
Kong looked around for an escape. The only escape was up and out of the canyon, and that would leave Estuar alive to continue guarding the city.
Then Kong retreated to the canyon wall. He fought through the whirl pool that Estuar was creating. The current dragged Kong through the water, but he was able to overcome the mighty waterway. Caudatas floated all around Kong. They had lost the battle against the water’s current.
Kong hit the canyon wall. Pinned against solid ground, Estuar saw the beast-god as easy bait. Estuar approached its prey. It remained at the surface on its approach. The kaiju was a dark shadow on the water.
As it got closer to Kong its mouth began to open revealing rows and rows of jagged teeth. Its first strike took hold of Kong’s arm. He threw it up in defense to keep Estuar from biting something more valuable.
Then Kong struck the canyon wall with his free arm. The blow vibrated through the earth. The ground at the top of the canyon cracked and collapsed under its weakened state.
A new avalanche poured down on top of the two kaiju. Kong brought Estuar closer to him with the attacked arm. He pounded the canyon wall again. More debris fell from the sky onto Kong and Estuar.
Kong then grabbed hold of Estuar, and flung the kaiju over his shoulder. Estuar was balanced across Kong’s shoulders with a fireman’s carry, but its belly face up. In this state it was near powerless against Kong.
Then Kong struck the canyon wall again. The rocks that fell hit Estuar directly. Each blow landed on Estuar’s soft belly. The giant alligator cried out in pain. It struggled to break free from the storm of boulders.
Eventually, Estuar’s moving slowed down. Its limbs only twitched in Kong’s arms. The rocks had stopped falling. Kong could now stand freely in the canyon moat.
The ground build up even offered many of the surviving caudata a place to land and rest at the canyon floor.
Then Kong repositioned its grip of Estuar. He started to bend Estuar across his neck and shoulders. As he bent the kaiju the sound of bones snapping echoed across the canyon. Kong’s strength was unmatched. Estuar snapped in half with one final break of the spine.
Kong tossed away the dead Estuar. Its body crashed into the water and floated on the surface. The beast-god let out a roar of triumph. He beat his chest several times to let the world know of his victory.
Tol-in-Ar was furious. Kong was the undoing of Mu, and he was not going to stand for it. But before he could act Kong was on his way back up the canyon.
To his surprise, Kong did not climb up on the city side. Instead, Kong returned to the side of the canyon with the Doiar and the rest of the caudatas that had been dragged out there.
Kong dripped blood and water as he towered over the others. His shadow cast across the Doiar and his guards. He roared at the soldiers.
With only one step forward by the beast-god, the soldiers and guards began to scatter. They circled around their Doiar and retreated away from the oncoming Kong.
Kong did not pursuit them. He watched as the guards left the remaining slaves to fend for themselves against the colossal Kong. There were still thousands of slaves standing motionless at Kong’s feet. They feared any movement would set Kong off again.
Kong looked back at the city. Estuar was dead. It was no longer guarded. Kong roared one last time. It was not triumph. This was frustration. Then Kong turned its back to the city.
Ryugu-jo no longer offered what Kong was looking for. Lord Tatsumi was gone. Kong would have to look elsewhere for his adversary.
Without another bother, Kong began his walk away from the city. He left the slaves to their own choices. They had been abandoned by their leader and now disregarded by Kong. They were on their own.
Kong’s charge was done.
PART 5
DENIAL
Chapter 29
Noah woke up the next morning refreshed. When he first opened his eyes he felt a bit of panic. He did not know where he was. Then he slowly remembered that Cassandra had brought him to the interrogation room, and he fell asleep soon afterward.
His neck was sore from sleeping on the hard metal floor, but he did not care. That was the first night he had slept the entire way through.
Weathers was asleep in her chair. Her feet were still propped up on the table. Noah was always amazed at Weathers’ ability to sleep anywhere and in any position. She never looked uncomfy.
After Weathers woke up, she got Noah and herself some food. There were still several hours for the stay in the interrogation room.
With nothing to do other than talk, Weathers and Noah shared stories from their childhood. Cassandra talked about growing up in New Mexico with her mother and her grandparents. Noah kept his stories light on the details. He talked about going to private schools, and learning to mountain climb, but he rarely mentioned his family. A lot of his childhood involved his grandfather and he did not want to talk about that.
The day rolled on into the evening. It was almost time for Noah to return to his cell. As they approached the last hour of interrogation Weathers had one last thing to ask Noah.
“I have a favor to ask,” she said.
“I owe you for today. What’s up?” replied Noah.
“You’re friends with Randal McClare. Do you trust him?”
Noah stood up straight in his chair. He could feel the conversation jump to a more serious tone.
“Yeah,” he said. “Randal’s a good guy. Why? Is he in trouble?”
“No, I’d just like to talk to him. Next time you see him can you tell him to come my way?”
“That’s your favor? Sure. Why don’t you just do it yourself?”
“I want to keep it down low,” said Weathers. “I have no official reason to talk to him. It could raise some eyebrows.”
“What’s going on?” Noah asked.
Weathers looked around as if others were listening in on their conversation. “I’m thinking about enhancing.”
It took a second for Noah to catch on to what she was saying. He had forgotten the terms for making the jump into mutanthood. When he did remember he also remembered all the baggage that came along with it.
“Really?” Noah asked. “Why? Why now?”
“Just a lot has changed, and I think I need to change with it. That’s why I want to talk to Randal. I want to know what his opinion is of the whole thing. What it’s like?”
“Then why all the cloak and dagger crap? Just go talk to some of the doctors about it,” said Noah.
“I don’t want my name on the record yet,” said Weathers. “Things get touchy when you start looking into enhancing. A lot of commanders aren’t fond of the idea still. It’s another thing you can be discriminated for.”
“Then why are you thinking about doing it?” Noah asked. “Isn’t it dangerous? People have died going through the process.”
“Yeah, there are risks and side effects, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it.”
“What could possibly be worth it? It sounds like you’ll just have a harder time at your job. I’ve only ever heard of the mutants going into the front lines. You’re a pilot, not a ground soldier.”
“It’s about the new mechs, okay,” confessed Weathers.
“The new mechs?” Noah asked with curiosit
y. He had been locked up for so long he had no idea what was going on in the outside world.
“Mechiju provided aid with the Mighty Men,” explained Weathers. “They are five smaller versions of Robo-Kong, but only mutants can fly them.”
“And you want to make the jump to fly one,” said Noah. His eyes grew wide as Weathers explained the situation.
“Yes, it’s the only way,” said Weathers. “Robo-Kong is destroyed. Who knows how long it will take until it is ready to go again, if it will ever be ready again. It could be too late for me, but I can still have a chance at flying one of these.”
“Don’t do it,” said Noah.
“What?”
“I said, don’t do it.”
“Why?” asked Weathers.
“I’ve just… I’ve got a bad feeling about it,” said Noah. “There must be a reason only mutants can fly them. It sounds risky. Don’t do it.”
“It’s about protecting the machines. That is all. They need pilots with the best reflexes possible. The Mighty Men are expensive and are on loan from Mechiju. The UN does not want to take any chances.”
“Don’t do it,” said Noah again. This time more sternly. “I don’t care what they say their reasons are. Do not enhance just to fly one of the Mighty Men. You will die.”
“I know it’s dangerous, but that’s where I want to be. I want to be flying one of the greatest creations we have.”
“Those things are a death sentence,” said Noah.
“What? What are you even saying? How do you know this?” Weathers enquired.
“I’ve heard rumors,” Noah lied. “I know some tech stuff. The Mighty Men have popped up here and there on internet forums. They are not safe.”
“They are what’s protecting us from the kaiju,” said Weathers. “They would not give us a defense that would blow up in our face.”
“Cassandra, please, just please listen to me,” said Noah. “You have to let the Mighty Men go, hell, let Robo-Kong go. Mechiju cannot rebuild it.”
“What the hell do you know?” cursed Weathers.
“I just know,” said Noah. He did not want to push the fact, but he did not want to see Cassandra ruin her life. She was chasing a nightmare, and she did not know it.
“You have no idea what you are talking about,” said Weathers. “You’re just some rich kid who ran away to live the apocalyptic adventure. You were headed towards death until Jordan and Randal found you. I know what I signed up for when I came to Japan. Don’t you dare tell me what I am doing will kill me. Better people than I have died on this island. What makes me worth the life?”
Noah did not say another word. Clearly, he had hit a nerve for Weathers. He hoped that he could talk to her later when she calmed down.
“I’m sorry,” said Noah after a few moments. He didn’t look Weathers in the eye. She was fuming with anger.
“Yeah,” said Weathers. “You should probably get back to your cell. Don’t worry about that favor. I’ll find someone else.”
Before Noah could say another word the proximity alarms started going off. The sirens blared throughout the facility. A kaiju was approaching on the horizon.
Chapter 30
The stars disappeared in the once clear night sky. The guards stationed at the watchtowers of the facility thought it was fog when they first saw it. The air got thicker and visibility became limited. Then the smoke kept spreading. The smell of burnt timber and rotten eggs grew heavy in the air. It became difficult for the guards to breath. Despite the difficult atmosphere the guards held their positions. Then Enra struck.
The smoke wafted through the air. The shape of a claw emerged in the smoke. It was big enough to wrap around one of the soldiers. The man screamed out in pain. The smoke wrapped around him and in a single gust it threw the soldier off of the watchtower. The smoke roared as a warning to the others. The sound spread out across the smoke surrounding the facility. It could be heard over the proximity alarm.
Soon the entire facility was blanketed by the smoke. Anyone outside was struck first by the kaiju. They were knocked around by the powerful movement of the smoke and the tangible limbs that appeared.
Captain Malick rushed the rest of her squad to the Mighty Men. The other soldiers in the hangar parted ways to allow a path for the pilots.
Two of the Mighty Men were already doing their rounds outside. They had not seen the approach of Enra. The smoke monster had stayed close to the ground and hid in the cover of night.
“Benaiah and Shammah are waiting for us!” yelled Malick. “Fly straight up. Get out of this mess. When we are at full strength we fight together. Do not strike out against the thing until we are united. Am I understood?”
“Yes, sir!” yelled her two subordinates.
The three mutant soldiers boarded their mechs. The others in the hangar backed as a far away as they could from the hangar doors. The smoke swirled in the windows as if looking for a way inside.
Malick and the others were ready. The Mighty Men burst into the air. The three mechs lined up one over the other just a couple of feet from the doorway.
“Shift right!” Malick ordered. Her orders were transferred mentally through a link between all of the Mighty Men. In unison the three Mighty Men adjusted in the air. The mechs turned to the right. It put them sideways to the hangar door on their left.
“Open the doors!” Malick ordered.
On her command the hangar doors began to open. The smoke did not waste any time. It rushed in like a dam breaking. The Mighty Men were knocked around as the smoke whirled past them.
Once the doors were opened far enough the Mighty Men rushed out. It was harder to fly through the smoke than normal air. There was resistance that the pilots were not used to.
“Get to the skies!” Icarus ordered. Her men were waiting for her.
“The smoke has made it inside the hangar,” announced a soldier monitoring the situation. He was in a satellite command center located in the living quarters for the soldiers. Many of the commanders were there including Colonel Honsou and Lieutenant Ishikawa.
“How did it get in?” asked Honsou.
“The remaining Mighty Men had to get on the field,” said the soldier. “It forced the door open.”
“Dammit, what the hell is going on?” Honsou cursed.
“We are under attack,” said the solider at the monitor. His eyes could not be torn away from the screen. The others around him peeked to see what was so captivating.
They were watching the video feed from the hangar. The smoke swirled around the room. The soldiers inside were tossed around like ragdolls. Visible in the smoke were claws striking out against the men. Then a monstrous face formed in the smoke. It let out another roar. There was no sound on the monitor, but everybody in the room could hear it. The monster’s roar came through every wall.
“Nobody leaves this building!” Ishikawa ordered. “Do not open any door, any window. Seal them all up!”
She rushed out of the room to make her orders a reality. Any soldier she saw she ordered to find things to prevent Enra from getting inside their quarters.
Whatever argument Noah and Weathers were having was put to a halt. The detention center was going haywire. The proximity alarm had shut off. Along with the alarm all of the lights went down. The emergency power kicked in, leaving the building in a dim state. Red lights were spread out through the hall and each room leaving several dark spots along the way.
The building shook several times. The power of Enra felt like an earthquake. Its presence was crushing the structure of the detention facility.
Next, the electronics started turning on and off. Computer screens, the alarm, the lights, everything jumped to life then died just as quickly.
“What the hell?” Weathers said.
“We have to get out of here,” said a wide-eyed Noah.
“No crap,” agreed Weathers.
“No, I mean right now. Whatever the hell this is they’re trying to break down the system. This buildi
ng is going to shut down under this kind of stress. Then a bunch of pissed off chasers are going to be roaming the halls. Do you want to be here for that?”
Icarus and the rest of her Mighty Men circled above the facility. The smoke kaiju, Enra, went no higher than Mt. Mitake. The five gorilla mechs circled around the situation.
“There are reports that the smoke has body parts, limbs,” said Malick. “We need to draw the attention of the monster and get it to attack. When it comes out, strike it down. I want to hurt this thing.”
“Yes, sir,” said the Mighty Men in unison.
The Mighty Men went into formation with Malick in the lead. They nose dived down into the smoke. The shell of the mechs groaned under the pressure of the dive and Enra. Tiny pebbles and debris rattled against the metal shells. The sound amplified inside the small space of the Mighty Men.
Visibility was down to only a few feet. Enra’s heat signature covered the entire area, blocking out anything else. It left the Mighty Men blind on the field.
They formed a circle with their backs to one another. The smoke knocked them back and forth, but the Mighty Men held their formation.
“Disperse a low level stun,” ordered Malick. “We do not know who else is still out here. Just grab the monster’s attention. Let it come to us.”
The chest piece opened up on each of the Mighty Men. A small burst of energy from their miniature blaster canon shot out. The blasts shot out and dispersed into the smoke.
An instant response was felt. The smoke shivered. It sent waves through the air.
“Keep your eyes open. Prepare for hand to hand combat,” said Malick.
There was a moment where the smoke went still. Then the attack came. From behind.
The smoky claws reached out from the center of the circle the Mighty Men had formed. The mechs were sent into disarray. Eleazar and Abishai started to fire wildly into the air. They struck out at anything that moved.
“Keep calm,” ordered Malick. “Wait for a clear shot!”
A hazy claw wrapped itself around Malick’s mech, Ishbaal. She was rocked back and forth from its force. She struck out at the limb with her mech. Her mechanical arm swung through the air, but it made no contact. Enra’s limbs were intangible. Malick sent blow after blow into the smoke and the direction of the claw that was attacking her, but she was doing no damage.
Realm of Kong: The Culling Page 12
