Realm of Kong: The Culling Page 15

  “Get ready to move,” said Honsou. He reached over to the wall. With one strike he broke the protective glass of the fire alarm. The alarm started to sound and the sprinkler system went off.

  Water rained down from the ceiling. It filled the hallway and the smoke started to dissipate.

  “Move! Get everybody out of here! Find McClare! When you find the enemy, shoot him down!”

  Tucked away in the medical ward of the soldier’s barracks, General Ellis was receiving updates about the situation. He was bed ridden from his injuries during the small revolt of scientists.

  Two guards were posted at his door as a way of protection from the attack. A nurse came up to the door. She held a phone in her hands. The guards let her through.

  She handed the phone over to General Ellis. He looked at her with surprise. Surely, there were others that could take the call.

  “They asked specifically for you,” she said. “Only you can take the call.”

  Ellis swallowed hard. He immediately knew what the call was about. He took the phone and excused the nurse. Ellis waited until she was out of the room and he was alone.

  “The situation is still in our control,” said Ellis. “We are asking for aid, but to a limit.”

  Ellis listened to the caller on the other end.

  “Tengi is helping us. Do not fire the bomb. We can still end this.”

  The call went dead. General Ellis threw the phone across the room. The guards rushed in to see to the matter.

  “Put the facility on red alert,” ordered Ellis. “The UN is about to end the situation once and for all.”

  Chapter 32

  New alarms started sounding off in every building of the facility. It caused a new level of fear in all of the men and women still inside. Most of them had not heard the alarm before and the ones that had knew exactly what it meant.

  “They’re going to bomb the facility,” said General Novile over the communications intercom. He had opened all channels to make the announcement. The teams still inside searching for people all heard the news.

  “What the hell is that going to do?” Honsou asked. “We have enough missiles on Babel 4 to blow this place to kingdom come and they are doing no good against Enra.”

  “Everybody needs to evacuate, now,” ordered Novile. “Those are Ellis’ orders.”

  “Tell them to recall the bombs,” said Ishikawa. “We can handle the other two kaiju. Tengi can take care of the smoke.”

  “It’s not that simple,” said Novile. “What they are sending is not just a bomb.”

  “What are they sending?” Honsou asked.

  “The bomb,” cut in General Ellis with an emphasis on ‘The.’ “They are going to hit the facility with the greatest weapon we have in our arsenal, an unstable miniature black hole bomb. They call it the Whisper.”

  “Oh my God,” said Ishikawa.

  “I suggest you all get out of the buildings and as far away as possible. You might stand a chance at surviving this,” urged Ellis.

  “There is no way,” said Novile. “We can’t evacuate far enough in time to get out of its range.”

  “How do you know that?” asked Colonel Honsou.

  “Because we’ve already seen one go off,” revealed Novile.

  “Russia,” said Ishikawa.

  “Yes,” said Ellis. “One of them went off during Lord Tatsumi’s attack.”

  “That whole city is gone,” screamed Ishikawa into her communicator. “You want that to happen here?”

  “There is no choice,” said Ellis. “They have seen the reports coming from the facility. They heard what Honsou said about the kaiju attacking us. Enra can spread across the entire world. We are not going to allow that to happen.”

  “Tengi can eliminate Enra. We just need more time,” said Honsou.

  “The rest of the world doesn’t see it like that,” said Ellis. We need a swift victory over this monster. Whisper took out Lord Tatsumi. It will take out this thing as well. The missile is locked on to the smoke’s heat signature. It will be a direct hit.”

  “There has to be other options,” said Ishikawa. “The death rate will be one hundred percent for all of us.”

  “There are no other options,” said Ellis. “The missile is already on its way.”

  After General Ellis’ words he cut off the call. They were left to stew in their own demise.

  Then another call came through to Ishikawa’s communicator. It was from General Novile.

  “Do you think we can stop the missile?” he asked her.

  Ishikawa turned up her speaker so Honsou could listen as well.

  She replied back, “If we can get to the command center. Maybe we can fire enough defenses at it we can destroy it before it activates.”

  “Do what you can,” said Novile. “I don’t want to see this facility fall because a couple of people got scared. This is pure political. Somebody high up wants this thing to go off.”

  “How many more are there?” Honsou asked.

  “There are just three now,” said Novile. “The US has two and China has one. It’s the US that is firing at us. The missile is coming from New Mexico. There is still time to stop it from your end.”

  Ishikawa looked at Honsou. Novile wished them good luck and ended the call. The fate of the facility rested in their hands now. They were the closest to anything that would have an effect on stopping the missile.

  “We have to split up,” said Ishikawa.

  “Weathers will have to deal with Kest. I’ll continue getting the survivors out. You head down to the command center and stop the missile.”

  “Thank you, sir,” said Ishikawa. The two of them broke up their team. Ishikawa took four soldiers and led them toward the command center while Honsou took the other six and they continued looking for their survivors.

  Outside, the battle continued in the smoke. Garou was too quick for Babel 4. It continued to squirm out of the mech’s grip. Its headbutts were doing damage to the shell of Babel 4. Alarms were going off in every department. They were sustaining heavy damage.

  Tengi had run out of water. She returned to the full strategy of keeping Enra at bay with the power of her wings. They had returned to a standstill.

  Weathers had to keep moving. She dodged every attack from Kest. He was ready for her now and did not allow Weathers to gain the upper hand again.

  Kest toyed with his new prey. He would lash out, drawing Weathers away from him. Then he’d bounce around and strike again. Weathers kept her calm while Kest attacked. Every opening she had she took. Kest’s fighting technique was sloppy. He taunted too often, and underestimated Weathers.

  She charged in and took down Kest with a tackle. When they landed she stayed on top of him and continued the fight, but her punches were doing no good.

  Weathers quickly grabbed a piece of debris the size of a baseball. She held it in her hand and struck across the face of Kest. His eyes told the story of the pain he was feeling.

  The missile was well on its way towards its target. It flew over the new continent of Mu like a shooting star. It carried the one wish to save the world from the house of horrors that was erupting in Japan.

  In the labs, Mellora tormented Macy. He was beaten and broken, but she would not release him or kill him. She was suffering and he had to suffer with her.

  Babel 4 was taking a beating from Garou and vice versa. Blood and oil spilled to the ground creating giant puddles.

  Tengi flew through the smoke to fight it off, but Enra was growing too unstoppable. The smoke monster had been out for far too long.

  Weathers continued her beat down on Kest. The mystic fox did not expect that kind of attack from a human. He had misjudged them yet again.

  Honsou and Ishikawa led their teams through the wet hallways of the facility. Every survivor they found they told to retreat from the building, but they never mentioned the imminent strike. If they didn’t already know about it then it was too late.

  On a secret call, members
of the Cabinet were discussing the coming future.

  “I am activating 37118,” said the member that originated the call. “It can give us a chance at salvaging this mess.”

  “Absolutely not,” said another. “It is far too risky.”

  “Then we will all die, and this dream is over. Everything our families have worked for will be gone if this building is obliterated. We need to throw everything we can at that bomb, and 37118 is the best chance.”

  “For the future.”

  “For the future.”

  Chapter 33

  Ishikawa arrived at the command center. The room was empty. The soldiers that were present at the time of the attack had all evacuated.

  “Get to the controls,” she ordered her men. “Prepare all of our counter measures. When that missile comes into view blow it out of the damn sky.”

  Ishikawa rushed over to one of the command computers. She began to look for anything and everything that could stop the missile or take down Enra.

  Macy no longer moved. Blood trickled down his lip. His throat burned from breathing in the smoke for so long. Mellora floated above him in the air.

  With your death I will be released.

  “Then kill me already,” said Macy. “Kill me. End this now. I made it merciful for you. I was generous.”

  You know nothing of generosity. You are a monster.

  “Then do it!”

  You lie. Do not beg for something you do not want. You do not want to die.

  “Because you are so beautiful,” said Macy with a bloody smile.

  Mellora wrapped her smoky hand around Macy’s throat once again. Macy did not struggle. He kept his smile as he looked into the eyes of his victim.

  Then the sprinklers went off. Water washed over Macy’s lab. His door burst open. Honsou and his team came charging in. They looked all around before confirming the room was clear.

  “No, no, no, no,” screamed Macy. “Where did she go?”

  “Who? Who was attacking you?” Honsou asked. He had heard Macy screaming from the hallway.

  Macy looked all around again. Mellora was gone. She was gone along with the smoke.

  “Nothing,” said Macy. “The smoke was making me see things. I need to get out of here.”

  “Then come with us, Macy,” said Honsou. “We’re on our way out.”

  Macy was helped to his feet by the soldiers. They saw that he was beaten and bruised, but none of them asked about it. Mostly they did not care.

  Together they left and continued their search for more survivors.

  “The missile is coming into view,” said one of Ishikawa’s men. It will be in range in three minutes.”

  “Get ready everybody,” said Ishikawa. “This thing was designed to take out kaiju. It will not be easy to bring down.”

  Still in the sky, the Mighty Men watched as Tengi and Babel 4 fought against the attacking kaiju. The smoke was spotty now and they could catch glimpses of the fight.

  Garou was still standing even after the beating it was taking from Babel 4. It frustrated Malick because as she watched the fight she believed she could take down the kaiju. Babel 4 was too big and too slow. Garou could easily defend itself against the giant mech.

  Then a flash of light caught her attention. It was a streak of energy that came from the stars. It was aimed for the facility.

  The beam of energy cascaded into the sky above the facility. Then it burst into the night. The air grew light. Everybody in the area could feel a change in atmosphere. Their hair stood up on its ends.

  Then it began to rain.

  Thunder clouds rolled in from out of nowhere. They unleashed a flood of water over the facility. It was a down pour. Enra screamed out in pain as the water started to wash away all of the smoke.

  Enra began to clear out of the way. The facility was growing clear of the attack. Garou was left vulnerable and wet. The cover of Enra was no more.

  The smoke shifted and moved farther and farther out of the rain. The clouds only stretched a little past the facility. They continued to spread out but it was slow moving. Enra found a dry haven out of the clouds. It was smaller now. The rain had injured it.

  Malick watched in amazement as the perfect opportunity presented itself. They were in the clouds and descending to the rain. When they were in view of the facility again she took her chance.

  “Dive! All of you! Aim for the wolf!” she ordered.

  Without Enra’s protection the Mighty Men could fly with no burden toward Garou. The kaiju wolf was charging on Babel 4 once again. Its attack was faster and more direct than before. It had nothing else to lose.

  The Mighty Men flew down and curved with the ground. They soared low toward Garou. The five mechs intercepted the kaiju’s attack on Babel 4.

  Malick dove underneath the belly of Garou. Her path bumped into Garou’s tree trunk legs. The collisions knocked Malick back and forth. Her ship scrapped across the ground sending sparks to light up Garou’s underbelly. In less than a second she corrected her course and aimed directly for the kaiju. She swiped a blade attached to the mech’s arm across the soft skin of Garou. The blade cut deep. It slowed down Garou allowing the four other mechs to attack the kaiju’s legs.

  They cut at its tendons. Garou crashed to the ground. Malick skidded to a halt several yards away. Both Icarus and Garou could no longer move. The Mighty Men had successfully brought down the kaiju.

  Then Babel 4 stepped up. It aimed its weapons at the giant destructive wolf. The remaining four Mighty Men were quick to get out of range as missiles fired on Garou. The explosion engulfed the kaiju ending its reign of terror.

  Malick watched the fiery display. Her cockpit began to heat up from the flames, but she already knew that she was going to yet again disappoint her country. She would live to see another day.

  The explosions were heard all across the facility. In the detention center it caused Weathers to have a moment of hesitation. Kest took the opportunity to throw her off of him.

  He was a mess and in pain. Weathers’ attack had left him dazed. He scurried over to the hole in the wall.

  “Nooooo,” he cried out at the sight of his ally, Garou, burning away in flames.

  “Beat this BODY all you want,” said Kest. “I will COME back. Vengeance will be mine. Tengi, Lord Tatsumi, you will allllll feel my wrath.”

  Weathers was stunned to see him still moving. She could have sworn she had broken every bone in his body. Yet, there he stood. His face was regaining its composure. He was almost as good as new.

  “Are you coming with meeeee?” Kest asked.

  Kest looked at Weathers, but then she realized he was looking past her. She turned around. Noah was standing behind her.

  “Noah, what are you doing?” she asked.

  “I’m going with him,” said Noah.

  “No, you can’t,” she said.

  “I am not staying here,” he said.

  “I will taaaake you to where youuuuu belong,” said Kest.

  “Do not go,” begged Weathers.

  “You do not have control over me,” said Noah. He grabbed her by the wrists and threw her to the ground. Weathers was more exhausted than she realized. She could no longer fight back.

  Noah dug through her pockets. He smiled when he found what he was looking for.

  “I’ll hold on to this,” Noah said as he taunted the collar remote in front of Weathers.

  Then Noah walked to the patient Kest.

  “Be sure you can keeeeep up,” said Kest. “We have to get out of here faaaast.”

  “Lead the way,” said Noah.

  Kest jumped out of the hole in the wall. Noah approached it and took another look back. Weathers was still laying in the rubble near a recovering McClare.

  Noah did not say another word. He simply pointed at his collar and shrugged. He had no other choice. Then he was gone.

  Weathers watched in silence. There was nothing she could say that would keep Noah around. McClare could still have been a
target.

  “The enemy is retreating,” Weathers said over the communicator. “McClare is down. Please send help.”

  The missile was making its final approach. It could be seen on the horizon. The facility burst to life. It fired its counter measures into the sky to try and thwart the coming danger.

  “Enra is still too close to the facility!” Ishikawa yelled to her men. “We need to take down the missile.”

  All eyes were on the sky outside. Through the rain they could see the missile exploding in the air against the lone streak making its approach.

  Enra remained just outside the cover of rain. It howled in frustration. Whisper was closing in. In less than a minute the entire area would be consumed and crushed into oblivion.

  Then Tengi swooped in. The giant crane burst through the clouds over Enra. Her wings were spread out as she descended on top of the smoke.

  All of the spectators outside of the facility watched Tengi’s magnificent display.

  Her body formed into a dome. Her wing tips dug into the dirt. She covered Enra from the ground up.

  The missile came down right on them. Tengi lifted her head, creating a break in the dome of wings. The missile went straight in. She cried out one last time.

  Then the bomb went off.

  There was a flash of light. Then it went dark. Wind and air came crashing in to fill the void left by the bomb.

  Chapter 34

  Honsou rubbed his face. He was still there. He looked around. They were all still there. The facility stood its ground. He patted himself across his body to double check that he still existed. He did.

  Then the cheers started rolling in. The fight was over. Out in the distance there was a crater where Tengi and Enra once stood. Tengi had taken the blast from Whisper and had contained it. She saved the lives of everybody at the facility at the cost of her own.

  There was celebrating in every corner of the facility. People danced in the rain. They were safe once again. The Mighty Men flew in circles over the base and fired several light shots of their cannons. It was a light show for the crowd.