Colossus By Design: Season 3 - Excerpt 37

[April 15, 2168]
[Jiran Island]
[Jiran Island Cluster]
[Pacific Ocean]
[Open Territory - G.U.D]

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It has been several years since the Legion Invasion that devastated the once beautiful island paradise that was Jiran Island, the largest isle in the Jiran Island Cluster. Although there were research teams sent to the island to study the effects of the Legion's oxygen-centric life cycle in the past few years, lately, the G.U.D. has become more lax in studying the unique accidentally-terraformed ecosystem due to having to deal with the Axis Alliance and, more recently, accommodating for the Exif and Bilusaludo.

Still, though, a small research outpost composed entirely of Separatist Mimetics, Synthetics, and Androids has been set up and maintained over the past year.

Within the confines of the surface outpost, an older model Synthetic and Mimetic Warrior are monitoring the pure oxygen levels of one of the island's explored sectors. As they do, a ping on their long-range scanners lights up, catching their attention.


(Ruby-B2143): Is it the one we were warned about?

(Separatist Warrior): Plausible. Heat signatures match predicted patterns

(Ruby-B2143): Alright. We'll recall our field researchers and continue to watch this one.


Away from this shack, as the surface outpost's residents foresaw, a massive entity is coming closer to the surface of the ocean around the island. In addition to its sheer mass, there are also boiling hot bubbles and a brownish-red substance trailing off of the swimming being. Soon enough, the unknown entity enters the shallows, unknown no more.

The same hyper-mutative Kaiju that emerged in Japan makes its way onto the shores of the former island of the Godzillasaur family. As it steps onto the ash-stained beach, the creature looks around; one can almost make out a sense of familiarity or nostalgia from its expressions as it takes in its still-ruined surroundings.

The Kaiju slowly walks further inland and continues to look around the dilapidated scape; its eyes start to get watery as it moves deeper into the heart of Jiran Island, though it quickly blinks a bit to remove these tears.

Throughout the beast's trek further towards the centre of the island, reconnaissance drones are following it, keeping track of its progress and relaying the data they've obtained from their scanners back to the research outpost hidden away. After several minutes of slow lumbering, the Kaiju reaches the base of the dormant volcano; it looks up at the peak of the mountainous formation and suddenly roars extremely loudly.

Despite the animalistic intensity of its vocalization, there is a sadness in the beast's cries, a hint of pain and agony that belies the ferocity and savagery.

For what seems like the longest while, all the Kaiju does is bellow loudly at the volcano before it. A few minutes into its pained roaring, however, something strange can be observed; wisps of purple energy waft down from the dormant volcano's peak and enter the animal's body, a sign of some kind of Ki absorption. How this is possible without any clear sources like P.E.M.F. veins or other Ki-using entities is unknown, but it's clear that this is what's being observed by the drone scouts.

As this otherworldly energy is taken into the Kaiju's body, the red veins running down its back begin to glow an even brighter red than normal; the air around it also becomes much hotter.

Whilst this is going on, a VTOL flies in from the direction that the animal came from.


(Ruby-B2143): [COMMS] Incoming personal VTOL, turn back. This is a restricted operation zone--

(Dr. Maximoff): [COMMS] This is Dr. Anna Maximoff, senior G.U.D. R&D consultant and member of the executive board. I'm one of the ones who got this mission greenlighted.

(Ruby-B2143): [COMMS] Alright, come on down to the outpost, then.

(Dr. Maximoff): Not just yet. There's something I need to do.


The transport VTOL suddenly takes a steep descent and flies in close to where the Kaiju is currently situated.


(Ruby-B2143): [COMMS] Dr. Maximoff, what are you doing?!? Please redirect!


The Synthetic's hail falls on deaf ears; Dr. Maximoff's VTOL continues to head in the direction of the Kaiju currently being observed. The research team aren't the only ones who have taken notice of the new arrivals, however; the animal turns around and maintains its gaze as the VTOL lands on an rocky outcropping nearby. From the passenger hold, Dr. Anna Maximoff and Dr. Wei Ho step out; they're garbed in HAZMAT gear in order to safely navigate the hostile conditions on the island.

The two scientists and long-time friends walk up to the edge of their rock platform, somewhat nervously.

As they do, the Kaiju lumbers towards them; it lowers its head a bit, putting its snout at eye level with the two Humans before it. Although the whole situation is quite tense, Dr. Maximoff manages to reluctantly reach out with her left hand.


(Dr. Maximoff): Jira...... it's really you, isn't it?


The Kaiju cocks its head to the side a bit as it looks at Dr. Maximoff; it puts its snout ever so slightly closer, allowing the scientist's hand to touch it. Upon contact, tears can be seen welling within the eyes of Dr. Maximoff and Dr. Ho.


(Dr. Maximoff): Shhhh...... We're together again, little one.


Now that everyone present is more relaxed and acquainted, Dr. Maximoff moves in closer, putting her entire body up against the Kaiju's snout; Dr. Ho follows suit. As the two scientists embrace the animal, it closes its eyes and starts to breathe in a more relaxed manner; this seems to coincide with the heat being emitted from its back lowering in temperature and intensity.


(Dr. Maximoff): I promise, Jira, we'll make this right.


Whilst Dr. Maximoff and Dr. Ho reunite with Gojira, confirmed to be alive now, an object can be distantly made out approaching from the airspace in the direction that the two scientists' transport VTOL came from.