Colossus By Design: Season 3 - Excerpt 50

[April 22, 2168]
[Roth-Ma Island]
[Pacific Ocean]
[Open Territory - G.U.D.]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A transport VTOL is flying low over the water; the insignia on its hull designates it as a C.D.F. vessel. Soon enough, the beautiful island paradise of Roth-Ma Island starts to come into view, though a small part of it is quite ruined due to the recent chaos a few days ago.


(Pilot): Alright, island's coming into view now. Emergency workers are already there providing aid to the locals. I'll drop your team off and return to the fleet.

(Anna Maximoff): Okay, thanks.


Aside from the esteemed Dr. Maximoff, most of the crew of the VTOL are C.D.F. security escorts. Of the few non-military team members present, there's a representative from the Exif and an Android investigator; the Android in particular is looking over files on her datapad, whilst the Exif priest is humming lightly.


(Anna Maximoff): So, Emmy, what interest could STRQ Industries possibly have in this Destroyer incident?


The Android looks up from her datapad with a smile on her face.


(Emmy Kano): Oh I'm not with the company-- I mean STRQ Industries anymore.

(Anna Maximoff): That so? Then why were you brought in?

(Emmy Kano): Simple. After a few months with Nick Valentine-87, I became his apprentice as a private investigator. This is my first solo assignment, and I want to show him that I'm fit to be his full-time partner.

(Anna Maximoff): Alright, then. Looks like we're touching down, now.


The VTOL gently touches down on the beach of Roth-Ma Island; its bay door opens up soon after. As the investigative research team steps out, several local kids run up to them and start plying the team members with questions, one after another; the C.D.F. security escorts surround the three research investigators and walk them down the beach and towards the village. The VTOL starts to lift off and heads back in the direction it came.

Despite being ignored the whole way, the local kids don't let up and continue to follow and pester the investigation team.


(Anna Maximoff): I'm surprised these kids are so energetic and lively, considering what happened.

(High Priest Endurph): They have religious conviction.

(Anna Maximoff): Oh? How would you know, Endurph? You've hardly ever left from that ship of yours.

(High Priest Endurph): I can see it in their eyes, in their confidence. The locals of this island have strong faith in this 'god' of theirs and the natural order of things. They have assurance in their beliefs that things will get better despite their losses.


After hearing High Priest Endurph's analysis of their liveliness, the local kids start to bombard the Exif representative specifically with their questions and requests. However, the alien religious leader simply goes back to his low humming. Soon enough, the group arrives at the village; the local kids disperse and run back to their families upon arrival.

The C.D.F. personnel disperse outwards to secure the area, allowing Anna Maximoff's team to explore around and gather evidence.

As the three of them look around, all of the natives move off to the sides. As they do, some of the emergency workers present notice why they're doing it and step towards the side as well. Soon enough, only Anna Maximoff is left unaware of what everyone's doing; she's a bit preoccupied looking at some of the damage that the Destroyers' Micro-Oxygen attacks did to the infrastructure of the village. It's only when she feels heavy breathing behind her that she's prompted to stand up and turn around.


(Anna Maximoff): Alright, what is it--


When Dr. Maximoff turns around, she comes face to face not with a local or a member of her team, but instead the larval Mothra offspring. The good doctor is unable to vocalize anything due to her shock; her freezing up seems to confuse the enormous caterpillar. After what seems like forever, Anna breaks into tears and embraces Mothra. However, the young monster goddess doesn't reciprocate and instead seems to be even more confused at this display of affection from this Human she's never seen before.

Upon noticing this, Dr. Maximoff backs off a bit and looks up into the giant larva's eyes.


(Anna Maximoff): You don't recognize me, do you?

(Emmy Kano): Anna--

(Anna Maximoff): She hatched from an egg deeper in the jungle, right?

(Emmy Kano): Yes, that's correct. The locals say she hatched as the Destroyer swarm were in the midst of their attack.


Anna Maximoff turns her back on Mothra and walks towards the tidal waves washing up on the beach.


(Anna Maximoff): I think I'm starting to understand what you were going through when Unit-01 had that episode, Jiro. The horror of realizing that someone you once cherished dearly was suffering immensely, though in my case not being recognized by one of your friends. Wei.... I hope you don't have to go through the same with little Jira.