Colossus By Choice: Book 1 Verse 20

3001 P.G.E. (Post-Godzilla Era)

[Universal Date: Day 119]
[Planet: Pyrestar]
[Capital: Silver Sun City]

[Location: City wall limits – eastern inner farmlands – Falc Family Farmstead]

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After accepting and stashing away their payment from Cerato Falc, Taum and his companions begin checking their current equipment and item loadouts while they’re still seated at the picnic table behind the Falc family homestead; Yun-Tao starts sharpening her Giant Jawblade with a whetstone, as does Skrill with his Matched Slicers; Taum rifles through his backpack and pulls out the city contract to hunt down the Iwi-ki invaders’ commander, Primatus Joa. When he pulls it out, Cerato seems particularly intrigued by its contents from just a glance.


(Cerato Falc): What other quest do you have?

(Taum): This is an official contract with the city to take down the Iwi-ki commander that headed the invasion of Silver Sun City’s eastern districts and outer territories.

(Cerato Falc): You know, despite the Monsters invading these farmlands, we were never actually hit by the ape men. My family’s privately owned acres were also minimally affected by Rodan and that giant monkey.

(Taum): Wait, you knew that was Rodan?

(Cerato Falc): Of course! Papa always tried to make sure I wouldn’t grow up as just some dumb farmgirl, so he ensured I was well-read during my studies. Here, let me show you one of my favourite textbooks.


The pippy young woman quickly spreads out her wings wide and flaps them hard to ascend high into the air; she glides onto the deck of her home’s topmost level, folds her wings, and heads inside. Taum looks a little down on himself after seeing Cerato take flight and looking behind him at his own lack of wings currently, but he quickly gets rid of his brief sadness and jealousy when she comes out from the door and jumps down in front of him.

The Falc family’s heir is holding a large book with a rather old and ornate hardcover decorated with gold trimmings and glyphs across fine leather; even while closed, one can easily see a large number of makeshift notes poking out from the pages. Cerato Falc puts the book down on the picnic table and opens it up, revealing a page that contains an ancient cave drawing of what looks to be Rodan alongside some accompanying information about it. When Taum sees this page, he leans his head in close to get a good look; the young Rapteaglet farmgirl looks quite proud of herself.


(Taum): This is—

(Cerato Falc): The Pyrestar Historia Argent, one of the few surviving copies in the entire universe detailing some of the earliest findings about Humanity, the Kaiju, the True Titans, and countless other records gleamed about Pyrestar’s ancient past. Daddy made sure I had access to the very best.


The youngling Draconi is in awe at the piece of history he’s currently beholding, which only serves to further fuel the smug pride that the youngling Rapteaglet is displaying. While he scans the pages he’s looking at, Yun-Tao and Skrill take notice of this and stand up to take a look at what their comrade is so interested in; they don’t look anywhere near as impressed as Taum does.


(Yun-Tao): What’ve you got there, Taum?

(Taum): What have I got…… This could hold some of the keys towards our investigation, to figure out some of the ancient information regarding the old order that prompted the Iwi-ki invasion!

(Skrill): Like what?

(Taum): Like the fact that it has information from ancient Human records that might tell us exactly why the Iwi-ki targeted Rodan specifically! Here, take a look!


Taum flips through some of the book’s pages and comes onto a chapter containing a picture of an ancient tablet mural. The mural holds several impressions of known Kaiju guardians such as Rodan, Varan, etc., as well as many other creatures that nobody in the universe has glimpsed within living memory; they’re grouped together in 4 quadrants, though what the groups represent is unknown. What’s most strange of all, however, is that the Iwi-ki’s own home world, the one that the mighty Humans hailed from long ago, is shown at the very centre of the 4 sections of Kaiju.

Yun-Tao and Skrill finally start to see just how important this book has been.


(Taum): Look here, that’s Rodan in the right quadrant.

(Skrill): And there’s Varan in the top section.

(Taum): You notice anything about their positioning?

(Skrill): Not really, no.

(Taum): Yun-Tao, could you pull out a map of the universe?

(Yun-Tao): Oh, sure thing.


At the youngling’s request, the Oxbul forge-widow reaches into her inventory bag and pulls out a large star map that details the general divisions of the known universe; she lays it out across the table next to the open Pyrestar Historia Argent. Just like the mural, the universe map is also divided up into 4 primary quadrants.


(Taum): Look again, this time at the Kaiju we know about in their sections and how they correspond to the universe map.


Skrill, Yun-Tao, and Cerato Falc all look at the universe map and compare it to the organization of the Kaiju on the book page. They’re overcome with surprise and look back up at Taum; he’s still stoic and focused as ever.

As it turns out, the positions of the Kaiju on the mural also match up with their celestial positions in the universe; Rodan is in the eastern universal quadrant where Pyrestar is located, Varan is in the northern quadrant where Shadow of Sunder is located, and all the other known guardian beasts’ positions also correspond to where they can be found in old records.


(Taum): See? This mural shows all the Kaiju we know about corresponding to their known locations in all of existence.

(Yun-Tao): Funny thing, this. And this information in the book is all from here on Pyrestar?

(Taum): Yeah. According to the blurbs here, this ancient mural was one of the Draconi species’ oldest preserved records.

(Cerato Falc): Experts believe that this mural was made after discovering some Human ruins that now lie underneath Silver Sun Mountain.

(Taum): We figured the Iwi-ki were after the Kaiju anyways, but this mural shows that Erde-Tyrene is somehow connected with the Kaiju. And with the Iwi-ki hailing from Erde-Tyrene, their goals of taking down the Kaiju must have something to do with their home world, perhaps even Humanity itself.


This speculation leaves everyone speechless, including Taum himself; nobody has a rebuttal or response, and everyone is uncharacteristically silent. After what seems like eternity, the youngling Falc family heir breaks the silence with her usual youthful and energetic vigour.


(Cerato Falc): Well if the answers to finding out what that Iwi-ki commander wants lie in the ancient Human ruins beneath Silver Sun City, I guess we just gotta go there!

(Skrill): And how would we do that exactly, youngling? The deep layers aren’t exactly publicly accessible.

(Cerato Falc): Why me, of course! My uncle’s an archaeologist with special privilege access, and he can take guests with him. We’ll just head on over and ask him to take us there for your investigation!


Yun-Tao and Skrill turn to one another, share a high-five, and otherwise get themselves pumped for this course of action; however, Taum seems a bit less enthused despite his love for natural history. This reluctance doesn’t go unnoticed by Cerato who tones things down a peg; she shows a bit of confusion at the lack of enthusiasm he’s showing.


(Cerato Falc): What’s wrong, Taum?

(Taum): It’s just…. You’ve already done so much for us. I don’t wanna feel like I’m taking advantage of your hospitality.


At this comment, the Rapteaglet youngling displays a particularly annoyed expression; this puts some worry on Taum’s face. After a few moments of annoyance, Cerato’s expression changes to that of her pippy self once more; she laughs a little before then giving Taum a playful punch to his shoulder.


(Cerato Falc): Oh don’t worry about it! I needed to get away from here for a little bit anyways, and papa will be fine with it so long as I tell him it’s for “educational purposes”.

(Taum): Oh, uh…. Okay then. Are we settled on this course of action, everyone?

(Skrill): Yeah, sure.

(Yun-Tao): Always good to understand your enemy before you crush their skulls!


Cerato Falc walks around her house to the front and heads in through the door to talk to her father about this proposition. While the mercenary trio wait for her, Skrill and Yun-Tao converse among themselves regarding their clear new direction.


(Skrill): It’ll be nice to go back to the city again for something a bit more relaxed.

(Yun-Tao): I’m just glad we’re getting closer to figuring out what Joa wants. That means we can bring plan around him better, get him into a vulnerable position.

(Skrill): Yeah yeah, that too. Say Taum, that was some smart thinking there, I—Taum?


Unlike his companions, the Draconi youngling seems a bit uneasy, even conflicted, despite the fact that he was the one who helped to string everything together in the first place. This hesitation and deep thought starts to worry Skrill and Yun-Tao greatly, though none of them have any time to mull this over once the youngling Rapteaglet comes back out; she’s joined by her large father, which puts the elder Radent smuggler on edge.


(Tyrann Falc): Calm yourself, Radent. I’m not gonna eat you or anything else so beneath me.

(Skrill): Apologies if I don’t believe the imposing bird of prey that looks down on a little rodent like myself.

(Tyrann Falc): You said it, not me.


The wheat farm owner walks past Skrill and Yun-Tao and stands directly in front of Taum; he looks him right in the eye, to which Taum responds in kind.


(Tyrann Falc): You’re the young man that discovered this connection to Silver Sun City’s new enemy, that right?

(Taum): That’s right, Mr. Falc. It’s a tenuous connection at the moment, but lacking any further evidence to go on, it’s our best bet right now.

(Tyrann Falc): A high stakes bet indeed, youngling. But I made plenty of high stakes bets in my days, and they ultimately paid off given where I am today. So I’m willing to allow my daughter to escort you 3 on this expedition on 1 condition.

(Taum): Name it.

(Tyrann Falc): She returns to me once this excursion is done, no ifs ands or buts. No crossing me on this, no crazy wild adventures. You go together on this trip, and you part ways after it. Understand?

(Taum): Perfectly.

(Tyrann Falc): Then we have a deal.


Tyrann Falc and Taum Thunder-clan Pyrestar shake hands to seal the deal. The farm owner then whistles with his other hand, prompting one of the servants in the house to come out and kneel before him. Mr. Falc hands the servant a sealed envelope; the seal is of pure gold colouration and is prominently emblazoned with the Falc family sigil. After taking the envelope, the Rapteaglet servant unfurls the wings on her back and takes off into the direction of the other farmsteads in the distance.


(Tyrann Falc): It’ll take some time to get a response back from Veloc, so I suppose you 3 will have to stay for the night.

(Cerato Falc): Yes! Guests! I better help the servants prepare the guestrooms!


Cerato Falc quickly takes flight and heads up through the deck door of her house’s uppermost level; her father sighs and walks back around to the front entrance, leaving Taum, Skrill, and Yun-Tao alone for the time being.

Now that they’re all alone once more, the 3 bounty hunters sit back down at the picnic table to wait things out and further discuss their next course of action. With their hosts gone for the immediate moment, Taum’s companions can properly confront him about his sudden and unexplained hesitation and unease.


(Skrill): Alright, youngling, what’s come over you right now?

(Taum): What? What do you mean—

(Yun-Tao): Once you started connecting the dots and that lovely gal wanted to help out, you’ve looked like you’ve been getting cold feet about this whole thing. What’s wrong?

(Taum): Look it’s nothing—

(Skrill): It’s not nothing! We’re counting on you having your head in the game for this mission. We need you, and if something’s up, we need to know about it.


Skrill’s blunt but straightforward read of the situation briefly takes Taum by surprise, but he eventually relents and seems to relax a little; he even seems somewhat relieved to have been confronted about his behavioural shift so directly.


(Taum): Alright, no tiptoeing around it. I…. I don’t want to get Cerato involved.

(Yun-Tao): Why not? She seems eager to help, and you already promised to bring her back to her father safe and sound.

(Taum): I’m just worried, you know? It’s one thing for us 3 to get involved in this investigation. We were all directly impacted by Primatus Joa, and it’s natural that we might end up as potential targets. But Cerato Falc and her family? They weren’t even directly affected. What if they become a target because of us?

(Skrill): Taum, that is…. Absolutely mind-numbingly dumb.


Once again, the direct and blunt statement by the elderly Radent smuggler takes Taum by surprise, though less pleasantly so this time around.


(Skrill): It’s unavoidable having to deal with other people on a mission like this. And if these apes are even half as crazy as we think they are, then everyone is a target. So we worry about making sure to take him out before anyone becomes a target, alright?


In spite of his astonishment, Taum can’t help but smile; he puts his hand on Skrill’s shoulder, to which the old man nods in a reassuring manner. Before the harsh truths and reconciliation can continue, the youngling Rapteaglet comes out from her deck door.


(Cerato Falc): Hey, the rooms are ready! Come on inside!


The Falc family heir dashes back inside as quickly as she came out. The bounty hunter trio can’t help but shake their heads in amusement at the sheer level of energy that comes off of Cerato. They get up from the picnic table and walk around the large homestead toward the front door.

As they pass through, the interior somehow elevates the fanciness level of this house even further despite how high quality the exterior was. In contrast to the clean white painted outer walls, the inside is layered in colours of all kinds that range from ocean blues to lime greens and everything else in-between. There is a large chandelier hanging over the main hall that the trio have found themselves in and a decorated staircase leading up to the upper levels, as well as glass cabinets holding a wide assortment of various fancy silverware and fine porcelain dishes dotting the walls.

What’s most prominent of all, however, is the large set of Elder Dragon trophies decorating the walls lining the staircase; there is a Kirin horn and some tufts of its mane, the beard of a Teostra, some skin from a Chameleos, and even what looks to be some frozen lava fragments from a Velkhana.

While Taum, Skrill, and Yun-Tao are taking in the breathtaking view of the simple but high-class décor, Cerato Falc comes sliding down the handrail of the stairs and jumps down in front of the group.


(Cerato Falc): Follow me, and I’ll show you to your rooms.


The 4 of them begin walking up the winding set of stairs to the upper levels. They pass by the second floor and continue heading directly up towards the third floor. Here on this floor, the hall they walk through is smaller but no less high-class and fancy. Soon enough, the young Rapteaglet woman reaches the end of the hall where there are several rooms; she stops by the right wall where there are 3 doors with a dark mahogany finish; opposite to these doors are 2 doors composed of a steel finish, much higher protection while still somehow being of equal or greater aesthetic craftmanship quality.


(Cerato Falc): Here we are, your rooms for the night. Go right ahead.

(Yun-Tao): Will do. I need to look over my equipment.

(Skrill): And I need to lie down for a second.


Skrill and Yun-Tao head straight into their rooms without hesitation and close the doors behind them, leaving Taum and Cerato alone in the hallway.


(Cerato Falc): Here, let me show your room.


Cerato Falc takes Taum by the hand and opens his room’s door. Yet again, like most of the house, even the guest room is very ornate and high-class. Whether it be the polished Ancient Dragonwood flooring, the pale lightish-red walls, the marbled drawers and cabinets, or the king-size bed with its own privacy shroud, there’s plenty to get overwhelmed by, especially for a Draconi farm boy like Taum.

Taum looks down at his hand, which is still being held by Cerato’s own. He then looks back up into her eyes, to which she responds in kind; she then looks down and sees she’s still holding his hand, prompting her to quickly let go.


(Cerato Falc): Oh, sorry, I forgot.

(Taum): It’s fine. Oh right, I brought that book of yours with me into the room. Here, I’ll give it back—

(Cerato Falc): Nah, it’s fine. Actually….


Taum’s fellow youngling takes the book out of his other hand and flips through some of its pages. She seems dissatisfied by what she finds and throws the book onto the bed; she then sits down on the bed and motions for Taum to sit down next to her, to which he obliges.


(Cerato Falc): I know this is a bit weird to ask, but would it be alright if I told you about the origins of the Rapteaglet species? Going back through this ancient history just put me in the mood for it.

(Taum): Of course. I’m all for learning more about the universe and everything that lives in it.