Colossus By Design: Season 2 - Log 70

[March 10, 2166]
[Jiran Island]
[Beyond the Japanese coast]

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Jiran Island, once the home of the titular Godzilla and his daughter. After the events of the Legion Invasion unfolded, the formerly pristine jungle paradise was reduced to a barren wasteland, with excess oxygen creating an atmosphere toxic to most lifeforms.

Despite these perilous conditions, the newly oxygenated no man's land has resulted in one particular anomaly: the strange flower that produced the toxin utilized in the creation of the Oxygen Destroyer, originally found exclusively in South America, has mysteriously started to spring up in isolated pockets around the island, specifically in areas of particularly high oxygen concentrations.

This development has kick-started a new boom in botanical research by the Global Union of Divisions to further study the plants' biological makeup and properties, as well as maintain a quarantine of the flowers to prevent abuse of their power.

As of today, one such team has ventured into one of the danger zones; they're composed entirely of Synthetics so that they don't require rebreathers. The team brings with them several crates filled with their measurement instruments and other vital observational components for usage in the field.


(Dr. Crowley-87): *starts recording* Beginning field observations, operation 23. We've arrived at patch A3-21 for our daily measurements of the growth and spread of the toxic Death Lilly.

(Sr. Assistant Cole-08): Excuse me, ma'am, I believe you'll wanna see this.

(Dr. Crowley-87): What is it, Cole?


The whole research team becomes interested in what Cole-08 is showing the head researcher and begins walking behind the pair. As they walk through the field of Death Lillies, the two members of the group in the lead stop at one particularly large flower.

As Dr. Crowley-87 and Cole-08 approach, the plant's crab-like petals open up, letting out a small puff of its toxin which, though deadly to normal life-forms, does no harm to the two Synthetics. However, what's most interesting is that, besides being of abnormally large size, the seeds at the top of the stalk are shown to be home to a small crustacean that's deep red in colour and appears to be quite unlike many of the kinds normally seen in the modern day.


(Dr. Crowley-87): Is that what I think it is?

(Sr. Assistant Cole-08): Believe me, ma'am, I didn't believe my own sensors at first, either. But it's most definitely real. An actual animal, alive and well within this otherwise desolate wasteland of ash and toxic flora.

(Dr. Crowley-87): Is it an identifiable species, or something entirely new?

(Jr. Assistant Preston-80): Hold up, I'll look through the database.


The junior assistant scrolls through his datapad, eventually coming upon an image and information blurb showcasing a fossilized crustacean that slightly resembles the shape of the creature resting on top of the large Death Lilly. The rest of the science team are visibly in awe at this discovery, the head researcher Dr. Crowley-87 in particular.


(Dr. Crowley-87): My goodness, this is incredible! We've found a living specimen of the extinct Scuttle Crab!

(Jr. Assistant Preston-80): Well, ma'am, I don't think it's the exact same. For one thing, the specimen we found is much larger than any fossilized remains ever uncovered. As well, it looks to be somewhat different in physical structure. Didn't you notice it has wings like a dragon, and a horn on top of its head?

(Dr. Crowley-80): You're right. Perhaps the highly oxygenated conditions on this island have created a mutation in the Scuttle Crab's normal physiology. We must immediately divert resources into exploring this phenomenon! Cole-08, hand me that sample jar.


The senior assistant to Dr. Crowley-87 hands her a sampling jar. The good doctor carefully picks up the Scuttle Crab mutation; it begins to claw at the researcher, hissing at her constantly as it's sealed into the jar. As the head of the science team finishes the collection of the specimen, a strange droning is heard behind the crew.

As they turn around, the research team notices all of the Death Lilly pods beginning to open up as well. Within every single one, an instance of the crustacean is present.

All of the little crab-like creatures start climbing down the stalks of their homes, congregating into a massive swarm that starts moving in on the science crew; they surround them on all sides. Every single one hisses simultaneously; their combined voices create a buzzing not entirely unlike that of a locust swarm.