Realm of Kong: The Culling Page 5

  A black spec was seen out in the distance. It was moving across the horizon as the jets drew near. When they got closer they could see that it was Kong. The beast-god was on Mu.

  He walked determined in the same direction as the Russian fighters. Even at his incredible speed Kong would not make it to Ryugu-jo before the Russians could level it to the ground.

  “We are approaching Kong,” said the lead fighter pilot. “What are your orders?”

  “Leave him be,” said their commander on the ground. “He is not the target.”

  “Understood,” said the pilot. Then he raised his jet several hundred feet to further avoid any confrontation with Kong. The four planes behind him followed suit.

  Nina Malick sat in the cockpit of the last jet in the formation. As they passed Kong she turned her head to look back at the giant monster.

  She saw anger and rage in Kong’s face. He paid no attention to the planes overhead. She could tell they were none of his concern. It was only a fleeting glance before she looked ahead again. She had a mission to accomplish.

  Kong was once again a spec on the horizon only this time he was behind the Russian fighter pilots. The path was clear in front of them.

  Then a blip on their radar screens set off several alarms. A new threat was approaching from their right. A kaiju was flying in the air toward the planes. As it got closer its wings produced a loud buzzing noise.

  The kaiju moved fast. Its first strike against the planes went undefended. The pilots broke formation in the attack. One jet collided directly with the monster. It exploded against the kaiju’s exoskeleton.

  “We are under attack!” explained the lead pilot. He struggled to get his plane back under control. The viewers watching at home leaned to the edge of their seat.

  The planes all regrouped into formation. They were ready this time and got a clear view of the flying kaiju as they circled around. It was a giant mosquito, Cilici. Its wings flapped near invisible in the air. The kaiju circled around as well. It was preparing for another attack.

  “A new kaiju has appeared. Can we attack?” asked the lead pilot.

  “You have already been provoked,” said their commander. “Unleash hell.”

  Each jet was armed with laser cannons that were similar to the blaster cannons on the ground, and several missiles for defense.

  Cilici was on a direct course for the Russian pilots. The planes did the same. Several missiles shot out along with a cascade of fire power from their laser cannons. Each strike caused Cilici to screech out in pain.

  Before a collision the fighters spread out and flew around the giant kaiju. Once around the monster they regrouped and circled around.

  Malick kept her eye on the kaiju. It waivered in the air before it turned around to face the Russians again. The combatants were on another direct course for each other.

  The pilots fired at Cilici only this time Cilici dove before the laser blasts could strike it. The missiles followed the kaiju, but it was too late. Cilici rose back up into the formation of the four fighter jets. It destroyed one then as the missiles came charging in the explosion took out another jet. The last jet was the lead fighter.

  Malick was quick to adjust and get out of the way. For several seconds she was flying blind. Alarms pierced her ears as she began to fall to the earth.

  Then she was able to get control of her jet again and begin her ascent back into battle.

  “Siber 2, get out of there. Continue on to Ryugu-jo. I will hold off the monster,” she ordered the remaining pilot. With their leader gone she was now the commanding officer on the field.

  The pilot did as he was told. He began to retreat from the fight with Cilici and continue on with the mission to destroy Ryugu-jo. Cilici had other things in mind. The kaiju chased the runaway pilot through the sky.

  Malick regrouped and went in pursuit. She trailed behind Cilici. The kaiju was fast. The other pilot had to continually readjust his flight to avoid being struck by the monster. He always kept his distance, but no matter what he could not shake Cilici.

  “Just keep it busy,” said Malick. “I will clear the way for you.”

  Before she could finish her words a dark presence passed the corner of her eye. She turned to get a better look. Kong was racing down the land toward Cilici and the pilot.

  She had never seen Kong move that fast before. He ran across the ground using all four of his limbs. He caught up to the fight in no time.

  Kong jumped into the air. His body soared through the sky. He crashed into Cilici. The giant mosquito went into a tail spin.

  “What the hell?” cried out the other pilot. He was distracted by Kong’s sudden appearance. That one moment he looked away he was unable to avoid being tagged by Cilici’s tail as it plummeted to the ground.

  The pilot lost control of his plane. Smoke billowed out of its engines. Malick could hear the pilot cursing over the intercom.

  Kong wrestled Cilici to the ground. His strikes against the kaiju broke into the monster’s exoskeleton.

  “Can you still fly?” Malick asked the damaged plane.

  “Barely,” he answered back. “I’m not going to make it to Ryugu-jo.”

  “Then Godspeed,” she said. After that she cut off the communication link to the other plane. Her mission now was to continue to the Mu capitol.

  Every blow from Kong cracked more of Cilici’s armored body. Goo and puss covered the beast-god’s fists. The flying kaiju tried to escape, but Kong had it pinned down by its wings.

  Then the damaged Russian fighter pilot came charging in. It left a trail of smoke as it dive bombed the two kaiju. The plane crashed into the center of the two behemoths. The explosion rocked the ground around them. It knocked back Kong and drove Cilici into the ground. The explosions continued as the payload that the plane was carrying for Ryugu-jo went off in one direct spot.

  Malick watched the chaos envelope the sky behind her. There was only one of them left now. She had to make it to the city.

  She looked back again. To her horror she saw Cilici emerge from the destruction. The kaiju was burnt to a crisp and flames trailed behind it, but it was still coming.

  Malick broke her flight path and turned around. She would not make it to Ryugu-jo if Cilici was going to follow her. She had to put down the kaiju before anything else.

  She fired several shots toward the kaiju. They were warning shots. She just wanted to see how the monster was moving now. Cilici was slower than before. It could not outmaneuver her blasts like last time.

  Malick kept her distance as she struck Cilici from all sides. She circled around the monster, never relenting on her attack. Cilici struck out several times with its tendrils. Malick was quick to avoid them.

  Malick’s strikes were weak. She knew she could not take down Cilici with the weapons she was given. She dared not release her payload on the creature. That was reserved for another. She was only distracting the kaiju.

  Kong charged through the battlefield. A bit of his fur was burned off from the explosions. The beast-god sent a flying punch straight into Cilici’s side. The impact sent the kaiju tumbling to the ground.

  Kong did not stop there. In one swift motion he jumped back and struck out at Malick. She was unprepared for the attack. She had thought Kong did not care about the jets. Kong clipped her wings like a man swatting at a fly.

  Malick cursed for control of her plane. The world spun around in every direction. Unfortunately, Kong had already turned his attention back to Cilici.

  As hard as she tried Malick could not gain enough control of her plane to head for the two kaiju. She crashed to the ground a distance away from Kong and Cilici.

  The plane turned into a fireball of wreckage with Malick inside. It tumbled across the ground before finally skidding to a halt. The fire crisped in the air above the sounds of Kong continuing his attack on Cilici.

  The ground rumbled after every strike from the beast-god. Kong pounded his chest to the chaos all around him.

&n
bsp; Then the wreckage began to stir. Malick forced her way out of the mangled cockpit. Her body was charred to the bone. She stumbled across the hellpit of a landing.

  Her mutant enhancements had kept her alive. She took her helmet off and threw it to the ground in anger. The fire had burnt off all of her hair. Her skin was a charred black. Now, she stood and watched Kong finish the fight.

  Kong tore at Cilici’s wings. The kaiju cried out in pain as each wing was pulled out of its back. Kong threw them aside one by one. Once the last wing was gone, Kong finished off Cilici with a stomp to the head. His strength broke through the skull and crushed Cilici under his foot.

  Kong roared in triumph. Nothing would stand in his way of getting to Ryugu-jo or Lord Tatsumi.

  Nina Malick watched in awe and fury. She was angry. She was angry that she did not complete the mission. She was angry at Kong for bringing her down. And she was angry that she was still alive.

  Chapter 12

  It sounded like thunder rolling across the open land, but the skies were clear and the sun was shining. Two shadows streaked across the horizon. A battle was raging in the sky. Tengi was going after her next prey, the giant flying reptilian, Dracii. The chase went on for miles along the Japanese coast.

  Dracii soared through the air with the aid of leathery webbed skin flaps connecting its legs on either side of its body. It could glide through the air effortlessly only needing to land in the case of a drastic change in direction.

  This was one of those cases. Tengi could out maneuver Dracii in the air. She was stronger and faster. Dracii was on the run. The kaiju kept its distance from Tengi using its poison spit every time it landed. The range attack kept Tengi from closing in on Dracii, allowing the kaiju to readjust and continue on with the escape attempt.

  Dracii’s second defense was in its skin. The poison that Dracii could spit also was excreted through its skin glands. Touching Dracii would be harmful to the attacker.

  Tengi kept pace with Dracii. Every time Dracii took to the air Tengi would try to ground it again. She commanded the skies, but Dracii would not be brought down so easily.

  Tengi’s current conflict with Dracii was being watched closely. The two kaiju were getting dangerously close to the facility. Already the people at the base could hear the thunderous claps of Tengi’s wings, and the echoing crash of Dracii hitting the ground. The wind was beginning to pick up as a result of the clash of the two flying kaiju. Their chase was disturbing the atmosphere around them.

  The facility had gone into further lockdown. The only personnel outside were the pilots for Babel 4. The giant machine was at the ready, despite it not being at full power.

  Many scientists gathered into a conference room with the generals of the base and President Takao Kanno. They rushed over at the first message of a lockdown. Babel 4 was their pride and joy. They did not want to see it get destroyed like Robo-Kong was.

  “Babel 4 should not be put into combat,” argued one of the scientists, Dr. Hallett. “It is not fully charged. There are still several diagnostics we have to run.”

  “Babel 4 is running fine,” said General Ellis. He was one of the highest ranking men on the base. His word was law.

  “We have already had one incident,” said Hallett. “Babel 4 has shut down cycles. It cannot stay operational twenty-four seven. It needs a period to cool down. Putting it into a fight with either of those kaiju is a major risk.”

  “It is always a risk when we send the machines into battle,” said Ellis. “This is no different.”

  “Yes, it is different,” scolded Hallett. He was getting emotional for Babel 4. General Ellis looked at the doctor as if he was going mad. “Just because it is standing there does not mean it has been resting. Babel 4 has been on and alert since Robo-Kong was destroyed. There has been no rest period. I understand the dangers of turning it off, but if we do not then Babel 4 will meltdown in the middle of a fight with a kaiju. Then where will we be?”

  President Takao sat in his chair in a scared silence. He looked at both men debating with him about the situation. Drops of perspiration rolled down his face. He had to make a decision.

  “We can further discuss the dangers of leaving our base undefended after Tengi and Dracii are out of the area,” said the president of the facility. “Right now, Babel 4 will remain operational. Tengi has been on a rampage. Who’s to say if she will turn her attention to us? Return to your bunks. This discussion is over.”

  Very few residents of the Japanese facility returned to their quarters. The rumors of Babel 4’s battle status had been spreading through the base for weeks now. The windows facing Babel 4 were packed with spectators. Everybody wanted to see what was going to happen.

  A hurricane of wind rushed against the buildings of the facility. Each structure groaned in defiance of the massive power. Then the familiar sound of Tengi’s shriek carried through the sky. Dracii was the first to break through over the mountain range. It was followed closely by Tengi. Their gigantic bodies blocked out the sun leaving the facility in shadow for a brief moment.

  Dracii smashed into the field in front of the facility. The fences marking the UN territory collapsed from the impact. Babel 4 remained steady. The pilots inside had their orders. They could not attack unless attacked first.

  Dracii was close to the perimeter, but had not breached it yet. With Tengi so close they could not risk entering the fight prematurely.

  Tengi soared over the mountain top. Then she nose-dived for her prey. Her talons sprang out. Dracii tried to scare away Tengi with another poison attack. It spit out several globs of poisonous saliva into the air. Tengi took one hit on the right talon. The other globs went scattered into the air. It rained down onto the facility. Babel 4 was splattered with the residue of the attack.

  “Hold your fire,” Captain Serling ordered the pilots in Babel 4. “Dracii has not attacked us yet.”

  Tengi collided with Dracii. She kept her body in the air. Only her talons struck against Dracii’s poisonous body. Blood oozed out of the kaiju’s skin. It mixed with the poison turning into a spoiled purple.

  Dracii screamed out in pain. More poison spit spewed out of its mouth. It braced its back legs and spread out its leathery wings for another jaunt into the air. This time Tengi prevented the kaiju from leaving the ground. Her talons dug into Dracii’s head, scratching away at its eyes.

  Nearly blind, Dracii rolled away from its attacker. Tengi struck out with her wings. The sharp tips of her feathers scrapped across Dracii. When she pulled back the poison left a visible irritation down her wing. Tengi cried out. The poison burned as it dissolved away Tengi’s feathers.

  Dracii cleared away from Tengi. It did not turn its back from the giant crane. It kept backing up slowly. Dracii believed the fight to be almost over. It did not notice where it was backing up into.

  Babel 4 was at the ready. Dracii was breaking into the UN’s territory. The breach was enough to allow Babel 4 the chance to attack. They had the right to defend their home.

  Tengi shook off the pain in her wings. She screamed at Dracii. She kept to the ground. Her wings braced on the ground against her weight. She leaned forward with her long neck and screamed again at Dracii.

  The giant gliding reptile shrieked at the continued fight in Tengi. Dracii burst into the air. It aimed for the sky behind it, but instead it hit Babel 4. The two collided. Dracii fell back to the earth. Babel 4 was knocked back. The pilots were quick enough to stabilize the machine and remain standing.

  Frustrated, Dracii struck Babel 4 with its spit attack. The poison covered the machine. It dripped down ineffective against the armored mech.

  Dracii found itself cornered between Tengi and Babel 4. Tengi jutted into the air. Instinctively, Dracii jumped away from its pursuer. That took Dracii toward Babel 4.

  The kaiju charged forward. Nothing was going to stand in its way to freedom. Dracii tackled into Babel 4. The two were knocked back several steps. Babel 4 held its ground. It grabbed hold of Dracii,
but the kaiju slipped out of its grip. The poison coating of its skin was a slick slime that allowed the kaiju to wiggle free.

  “Bring that thing down,” ordered General Ellis to the pilots over the communicator.

  Babel 4 began striking Dracii. Its metallic fists pounded against the kaiju’s scaled hide.

  The spectators inside the facility watched in awe of the moment. Many of them held their breath at every punch from Babel 4. Many of the engineers worried that the next punch would be its last.

  Babel 4’s punches started to slow down. Dracii was a bloody mess at the feet of the machine. It slowly stirred as Babel 4’s attack began to relent.

  Tengi cried out again. She had kept her distance from the fight between Babel 4 and Dracii.

  “Dracii is still alive. Finish the job,” ordered General Ellis.

  “Sir, we’re having difficulties,” said Captain Serling onboard Babel 4. “The core is overheating. It’s slowing down, diverting power to cooling down the machine.”

  “Damn it!” yelled Ellis away from the communicator for only him to hear.

  Inside the facility, Dr. Hallett was watching the inevitable. He shook his head as the movements of Babel 4 were slowing down. It would not be long before Babel 4 completely locked up. In his head he could already smell the hydraulics leaking. The core could melt half the machine away before anything could be done about it. They had to end this fight now.

  Dracii felt the attack end. It hesitated for a moment then scurried out of reach from Babel 4. Its way of escape was over the UN facility.

  Babel 4 grinded to a halt. Its mobility system lost operations. The pilots watched as Dracii began to regain its strength. It was making for the skies over the facility and mountain range. Soon it would be gone.

  Tengi cried out again, almost encouraging Babel 4 to do something about the situation.

  “You have clearance for range attack on Dracii,” said General Ellis over the communicators.

  “Sir, Dracii will be over the facility in a second. It is too dangerous.”

  “I want that kaiju dead on the ground. Do you copy?” ordered General Ellis.