“Hold your breath,” Serling ordered. His last ordered breathed in some of the smoke of Enra. Serling started to cough at the agonizing pain the kaiju caused him.
He stood his ground at the entrance. He would be the last one to enter the mech. The soldier, red faced, ran for the door. Enra’s claws waved through him. The pilot was brushed to the side, but he kept his run going.
Then the man was through. Captain Serling followed suit with the door behind him. Enra clashed against the door. The wind howled against the metal. The rain of debris and dirt clattered against the entire mech.
Serling coughed violently. Black smoke was coming out of his lungs. Through his struggles to breath he pointed for his pilot to get to the cockpit. They needed every man they could to join the fight.
The pilot did as he was ordered. He left his commander to recover from Enra’s attack. The captain leaned back against the corner of the entrance room he was in. He did not have the energy to move yet. His lungs burned. He looked at his watch. Two minutes.
Noah and Weathers stood across the rubble from Kest. Enra’s smoke was only knee deep. It shifted and swirled at their feet. Kest was kneeled down. He rested his hands on the ground. He swayed, half hiding in the smoke.
“Noah, get out of here. Join the others,” Weathers told him.
“Noah, get out of here. Join the others,” mimicked Kest.
Weathers glared at the man-fox across the room.
“I’m not leaving you,” said Noah.
“How noble,” mocked Kest.
“That was an order, Noah,” said Weathers.
Kest chuckled at Weathers’ outburst.
“I’m not running!” Noah screamed at Weathers.
Kest chuckled again. “A chaser not running? Delightful.”
“Screw you,” Noah told Kest.
“I’ve seen your kind, Noah,” said Kest. “You’re like bugs buzzzzzzing around the heads of giants. You don’t knoooow why you do it. You’re just drawn to them. They are your light. Do they sing to youuuuu at night?”
“We need to both go,” Weathers whispered to Noah.
“Where do you think you will goooo?” Kest asked. “Hold up alllll you want, but you cannot holllld foreeeeeever. Tengi thought she could do it. Mu thought they could do it. Yet, here weeee are. Do you really think you stand a better chance than them?”
“What do you want?” Noah asked.
Kest smiled under the smoke. His ears perked up. “I want what you want, Noah. I want our freedom!”
“You are free. Go,” said Weathers.
“No,” said Kest. “Not until we are all free. Lord Tatsumi has fallen. Tengi will not staaaand. Your leaders must crumble as well. This world has lost all meaning. Tengi failed us allllll. The scraps of order you hold on to have to be washed away. Raisha is coming to cleanse this world. Tengi’s culling will PROVE fruitless. Raisha will FREE US all.”
“What is Raisha?” Noah asked. He did not realize it, but he was stepping closer to Kest. He was drawn in by the mystic’s words.
“The Riven Mother,” said Kest. “The failed mother is always resentful of others. But those who survive her wrath will have nothing to fear.”
“How do we survive?” asked Noah.
Kest smiled once again. “Come with me, and you will have the chance.”
Dr. Macy crawled on his hands and knees. Mellora was toying with him. Her spirit wafted around in the smoke. It was never far from Macy.
“Please let me go,” begged Macy. Every word was a struggle against his coughing. The smoke was unbearable. He scratched at his chest and lungs to try and relieve the pain. Every time he stopped Mellora would kick him in the gut. He was never given a chance to catch his breath.
There is nowhere to go that I will not be. We are joined now. I will not let you go just as you will not let me go.
Mellora’s hand dug across Macy’s back. Scratch marks started to bleed against his clothes.
“I was just trying to do what was right,” said Macy. “It was for the greater good.”
No, you were doing what made you curious. You do not care about the world.
I was going to help you. I could have offered you all kinds of knowledge. Instead you chose to dissect me.
“I’ve learned so much,” said Macy. “All thanks to you.”
You have a wretched soul. Now, I am in your hell, Dr. Macy. You put me here and I will drag you down with me.
Babel 4 powered up against the smoke that tried to smother it. Its lights leaked through the hazy air. Then exhaust vents released a surge of air. Enra blew away, clearing the runway for one quick view of the field.
“Head towards Tengi,” ordered Captain Serling. He had recovered from his smoke inhalation and was back in control. “We will fight off the wolf together.”
Babel 4 began its march unhindered by Enra.
The crowd in the satellite command center cheered at the sight of Babel 4 making its way toward the fight between Tengi and Garou.
It was a sign of hope to see Babel 4 back on the field. All eyes were glued to the monitors. They watched as Babel 4 charged ahead. It slammed into Garou from the side. The kaiju wolf did not see it coming. Tengi cried out as an encouragement for mankind.
Garou wrestled with Babel 4. It bit down several times across the arm of the giant machine. Only small dents were left from each attack. Then Garou managed to squirm away from its metallic grip. Quickly, the wolf disappeared into the smoke.
Babel 4 regained its ground. It and Tengi formed a barrier between the open field and the buildings of the facility. That is where they would hold the line.
The group in the command center cheered again. Garou’s retreat gave the soldiers another boost of confidence that they could still win this fight.
Honsou shook the hands and high fived many of the soldiers around him. They were all excited. Then through the celebration Honsou noticed the quick glance of Arikura outside the room. She was standing by the viewing window. Nobody around her was aware of her presence. She stared back at Honsou. Arikura did not move, but Honsou could tell she was asking him to join her.
He shuffled his way through the celebratory crowd. Arikura was a blind spot to the others. They moved around her like she wasn’t even there.
“What are you doing here?” Honsou asked when he got close to the old woman.
“Randal needs your help,” she said.
“A lot of people do,” said Honsou. “We’re under attack.”
“They are going directly for him,” said Arikura.
“Why?”
“Randal led them here,” said Arikura.
“What?” Honsou asked. “What the hell was he doing?”
“It was not his fault. Kest set a trap. Randal was just a pawn. He brought Kest here after they injured an innocent man in the wild.”
“What do they want with him?”
“Kest wants to humiliate him,” said Arikura. “Then they will kill him.”
“What are we supposed to do?” asked Honsou. “There is no place we can go. The smoke is everywhere. How do we defeat the smoke?”
“Enra must be smothered out,” said Arikura. “Water will disperse the creature.”
“Where the hell are we going to get that kind of water? The smoke is completely covering the facility.”
“And it will cover the world if we do not act fast. Enra is growing stronger,” said Arikura. “Kest is gloating right now. He is taking his time because he wants followers. He will leave the rest of the world unprotected and out in the open for the arrival of Raisha. When Raisha is through the survivors will follow Kest.”
“What else have you been keeping us in the dark about?” Honsou asked. “What is Raisha? What is it going to do to us?”
“She will kill everything if she is not satisfied,” said Arikura. “Kest wants to see that happen.”
“What can we do?” Honsou asked.
“Focus on Garou, the wolf,” said Arikura. “Tengi will tend to E
nra. When there is an opening get your people out of the facility. If you find Randal then you will find Kest. If Kest is gone then Enra will lose its master. It will not hold its form for long.”
“Then get us an opening,” said Honsou. “We’ll find Kest, and bring him down.”
Weathers had pleaded with Noah to leave the area, but Noah was no longer listening. He stayed put in the middle of the rubble and smoke to listen to Kest.
The man-fox was slowly losing all of his human features. Kest’s fur was growing thicker. He sat on the ground. His arms braced up the top half of his body. His head grew thinner and longer.
Through all the commotion Weathers could hear murmurs coming from her communicator. She could tell orders were repeating over and over again. She turned the volume up slightly for a better chance of listening to it. She did not want to divert her attention away from Kest or Noah, but she had her orders.
“…looking for Randal McClare. Our attackers are searching for him. Please report if anybody sees Randal McClare. If we find him we can find our attackers.”
“This is Cassandra Weathers,” she said. “I do not know about McClare, but I have our attacker. He is in the detention center. I repeat, he is in the detention center.”
Then Weathers stopped her communication. She watched as Noah kept his gaze on the mysterious Kest.
“There arrrrrre others,” said Kest. “They are waiting for us UP north. They wait innnnn the graveyard.”
“The north?” Noah repeated, starry-eyed.
“Yes,” said Kest. “Tengi’s little secret, the kaiju graveyard. Would you like to seeeeeeee it?”
“We have to get out of here,” said Weathers once again. She pulled on Noah’s arm, but he did not budge. She tried several more times, but Noah just shrugged her off. He was mesmerized by Kest.
“I’m so sorry,” said Weathers. Then she pulled out the remote to Noah’s proximity collar. She pushed down on the controls.
Electricity flowed through the collar. Noah screamed out in pain. He fell to the floor. Noah entirely disappeared into the smoke on the ground. His only presence was his screams of agony.
Kest growled at Weathers. She released the switch on the remote. It turned off the collar. Then she rushed over to console her fallen friend.
Before she could kneel down to comfort Noah, Kest charged ahead. He attacked Weathers, barked at her and snapped his jaws. She jumped back to keep her distance.
“Stay away from him!” Kest yelled. He leaned over Noah, guarding him from Weathers. “You willllll not hold ussss back any further.”
Tengi flew off into the night. She left Babel 4 in defending the facility. Many watching from other parts of the facility grew worried that Tengi had abandoned them, but to those in the satellite command center they knew it was a part of the plan. Honsou had informed everybody of the true threat of Enra and how to stop it. They were reaching a world scale attack.
Babel 4 stood at the ready. Garou had been seen pacing in the smoke. It had tested its limits several times against its new combatant. Garou would charge then feint, retreating back into the smoke.
There was a howl in the night. Garou was calling its shot. Its footsteps were heavier than ever. The wolf charged out of the smoke toward Babel 4. Its head was down revealing the banged up skull top.
Missiles fired from Babel 4. They did not stop the charging kaiju. It dodged any direct hit and brushed through the explosions like they were nothing.
Garou struck Babel 4 on the right leg. Metal screamed as it bent from the impact. Babel 4 returned the favor with several blows to Garou.
The wolf retreated back into the smoke, but not before taking damage to its hind legs. The pilots noticed a limp in the kaiju as it ran away.
Kest now had one hand resting on Noah. He glared at Weathers with an added snarl. Noah was starting to come to. His body was stiff and every part ached. He looked up at Kest, and then over at Weathers. He was too weak to try to move.
“Noah,” called out Weathers. “Noah, are you okay?”
Noah tried to reply, but his throat did not work. The burn marks across his neck from the collar started to flare up from his movement. He looked over at Weathers, and shook his head.
“I’m sorry,” said Weathers. “I had to do it.”
“You had to dooooo nothing,” scolded Kest. “There are no oooorders in this room. You are the master of yourself. You chooooose to strike out at Noah. Nobody else.”
“No,” said Weathers. “You are lying.”
Kest began to pet Noah. His paw gently graced Noah’s hair and cheek. “I will not hurt you, Noah. If you come with meeee I will show you the paradise you have dreamed of. The kaiju will roam, and youuuuu will roam with them.”
Then Kest’s head jumped up. He looked in the direction of the hole in the wall Garou had left. The smoke built up around the edge. A wave rolled in. It approached Kest and Noah then dumped off a body.
Weathers was ready to run, but the wave spread out and leveled off with the rest of the smoke.
“Gooooood job, Enra,” said Kest. “I knew you could do it.”
Kest looked over the newest member to the party. He rolled over the body to reveal Randal McClare. The mutant soldier gasped for air. Kest held McClare down with his hind leg. His clawed paws hugged against the soldier’s heart.
“Careful, now,” said Kest. “I would hate to kill my guest of honor beforrrrre the time was right.”
Weathers turned to her radio once again. “He’s here. McClare is in the detention center. They have him. I say again, they have him. Send reinforcements immediately.”
McClare stirred. He reached over to break free from Kest, but Kest struck out. He gave McClare several lashes across the arm.
“Get off of me,” said McClare.
“I want to thank you,” said Kest. “I’m so neeeeeew to this world now. So much has changed. There I was thinking Tengi had everything under control. I hated that. Then you came along. You were something else. You spoke with authority. You needed informatioooon.
“When I came to the village I thought I would tear it all down and let Tengi burn in the ashes, but instead… you led me here, this glorious place. Your people have flourished, far more than I would have imagined. Mu is nothing comparrrrred to what you have built.
“Then I met more of you. Ohhhhh, the way you all treated me. It’s a shame reaaaally. I could have been your savior. I could have brought your people to a new world, but you beat me down. Your people are no better than those in Mu. I would see none of you rule this world.”
Kest kneeled down and put his face within inches of McClare’s. His breath stank of rotten meat.
“Your people thought they could conquer the kaiju?” continued Kest. “The ambition is wonderful, but you reached tooooo far. Even with Kong by your side, you will never reign innnn this world. It does not belong to you. Weeee are too powerful.
“The kaiju will once again roam the Earth, and this time IIIIII will lead the way. This is the beginning of a new age, and it is alllll thanks to youuuuu.”
Kest pointed at McClare. His claw poked the soldier’s nose. Then he dragged his nail down McClare’s face. Kest’s paw continued to scratch down McClare’s body until it reached his chest.
McClare could feel the claws begin to dig into his skin. Kest was strong. Several ribs started to break in his chest.
Then Kest was knocked off of his feet. Weathers had dived down and thrown her into him. The two of them tumbled into the smoke and debris of the building.
Weathers rolled onto her feet. She looked all around for Kest, but he was hidden in the smoke. It was too late when she realized Kest was right below her.
He grabbed hold of her ankles and pulled her down to the ground. Weathers went with the fall and tried to recover. Kest did not let go of her. He crawled up her body leaving claw marks along the way.
Weathers started to fight back. There was no more time to wait for reinforcements. It was up to her to save Noah
and McClare. She swung wildly into the smoke. Her fist made contact across Kest’s face.
He barked in pain. Weathers continued the assault. She struck at the monster with her knees to loosen his grip.
When she was free she stumbled back toward McClare and Noah. They were both still on the ground. It was now her duty to protect them.
“This is Captain Cassandra Weathers,” she said over the communicator. “I will handle the enemy.”
The damage to Babel 4’s leg did not stop it from defending the facility. Garou attacked two more times, but the pilots were ready. They were able to sidestep and knock Garou away without a direct hit. After every attempt Garou would go into hiding. It kept stalling the fight. Babel 4 was never able to hold on to Garou long enough for a final blow.
Suddenly, a waterfall fell from the sky. Tons of water drenched down onto the facility. The smoke cleared from the field.
It was Tengi. She had returned with a beak full of water. She sprayed it out in bits to keep Enra from fully forming again. The smoke had holes and Garou could no longer hide.
The pilots in Babel 4 caught sight of the wolf. They went on the attack. Babel 4 charged forward. Garou ran away deeper into the smoke, but Babel 4 stayed close. The machine grabbed hold of Garou’s tail. It stopped the kaiju in its tracks. Then Babel 4 tackled the monster.
Tengi started flapping her wings to create a further open perimeter around the buildings of the facility. With Garou distracted she was able to fully concentrate on Enra.
“It’s working,” celebrated Honsou in the command room. He had his doubts about Arikura, but she had their interests at heart. Tengi was defending their base.
“Tengi is clearing a path for us,” said Honsou. “We need to get the buildings evacuated and we need to Weathers and the others.”
As Tengi started to clear the field with air and water, soldiers started to pour out of the buildings. Many of them were evacuating the area. Others were running inside the main building.
Honsou and Ishikawa led one of the teams staying on the field. They rushed inside the building under the cover of Tengi.
When they were inside they saw that Enra’s smoke was still there. It bubbled at the ground. A soft purring emanated from the smoke. Honsou looked all around. He did not want to risk moving through the smoke. Then he looked up.
Realm of Kong: The Culling Page 14
