Godzilla vs. Kong by Greg Keyes (read people like a book .txt) 📕

of those days observing Kong, who had done little but stare at that unusually clear sky and far horizon with what she believed to be intense curiosity. She had watched a rather spectacular sunset with him before the black clouds closed back in. But Jia’s people didn’t live on the coast. She may have never seen such a distant skyline.

The world is so big, Jia said. Is this all of it?

No, Ilene told her. Not even close. There is a lot more.

Is it all water? That’s all I see.

No, there’s plenty of land, Ilene assured her. You will see it one day.

Jia shrugged her ambivalence, then pointed at Kong with her lips.

He doesn’t understand, she said.

I know, Ilene replied.

TEN

“So you gotta ask yourself, loyal listeners. What is it about Pensacola that attracted not only a Monarch watchpost but also an Apex Cybernetics facility? If you ask that question, they’ll tell you it’s because of the Naval Air Station. That Monarch and Apex both like having the infrastructure of a military base around. And you know, that makes sense for Monarch. But Apex? Why do they need military protection? Because more than half of their income comes from the military–industrial complex? Or because they do contract work with Monarch? If there was only some way to know who came here first. Oh, wait, listeners, there is. Public records. The NAS had been here since 1913. Monarch is trickier, because they were covert for so long, but I have it on good authority they put in a station here in the 1970s. Apex? They built their plant seven years ago. A.G. After Godzilla.

“It goes in a pattern, people. Show me an Apex facility and I will show you a Monarch base nearby. The question is … why?”

Mad Truth, Titan Truth Podcast #212

The South Pacific

Let me go to him, Jia signed, for perhaps the hundredth time.

Ilene sighed and put her hand on the girl’s shoulder.

It’s not a good idea, she replied. He’s angry, confused…

Sleepy, Jia said. Sad.

They gave him something so he wouldn’t struggle. But that’s also making him confused. He might not know who you are. You stay here, with me.

She and Jia stood on the ship’s bridge, looking through glass at the heart-wrenching sight of Kong stretched out, manacled at his ankles, wrists, and neck by chains whose links were larger than most trucks. He was conscious, barely, his glassy eyes shifting now and then in their sockets. Beyond the transport, an armada of ships, both military and civilian, cruised the South Pacific, the largest navel expedition since the fight with Ghidorah and the Titans under its control.

Nathan approached from behind them, timidly, as if fearful Kong would not only tear loose at any moment but would know who to blame for this degradation and where to find him.

“Whoo,” Nathan said, as he came onto the bridge. “I can smell him from up here.”

Outside, she heard the clanking of chains, and saw Kong was dragging himself to a sitting position and looking up toward the bridge.

“He can smell you, too,” Ilene replied. “Still not a fan, huh?”

Coward, Jia signed.

Nathan noticed. “What’s she saying?” he asked.

“It’s just an Iwi expression,” Ilene replied. “It means you’re very brave.”

Nathan smiled at the girl. “Oh,” he said. Then he looked back out at Kong. He glanced at the control panel. The display indicated Kong’s level of sedation, which she knew to be over eighty percent. “Use a light touch on the sedatives,” Nathan said. “He’s our escort. We can’t have him comatose when we reach Hollow Earth.”

“What happens if Kong won’t go down willingly?” Ilene asked. “What do we do then?”

He shied away from her gaze, seemed to be searching for words.

The intercom saved him from having to voice his uncertainty.

“Dr. Lind, please report to the forward deck, Dr. Lind.”

“Excuse me,” Nathan said. “New arrivals.”

Coward, Ilene signed as he walked away. Jia smiled.

*   *   *

The woman from the helicopter carried a titanium briefcase and a lot of attitude. She had straight, glossy black hair; he guessed her to be in her late twenties. If she was impressed by the sight of a zillion tons of ape strapped to a freighter—or anything else for that matter—it did not show. Nathan felt dismissed the instant she laid her gaze on him, but he was determined not to get off on the wrong foot.

“Welcome—” he began.

“Wow,” she interrupted, taking off her sunglasses, staring at Kong. “Who’s the idiot who came up with this idea?” Then she looked at him, implying she certainly knew the answer to her question. Her eyes were so brown as to be nearly black.

Wrong foot achieved, he thought.

“I’m Maia Simmons,” she said. “My father sent me. I run point for Apex.”

“I’m Nathan Lind,” he replied, stretching out his hand. “Mission chief.”

She took his hand and gave it a perfunctory shake.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’m just here to babysit.”

She was already moving past him. Nathan followed her, confused and embarrassed, as the well-armed mercenaries she’d brought with her trailed behind him.

“The Hollow Earth vehicles are on their way to Antarctica as we speak,” Simmons said. “I know you people are cutting edge, but these prototypes we’re loaning you will make what you’ve been flying look like used compact cars.”

“I love compact cars,” Nathan said.

She plowed on as if he hadn’t spoken. “Forget about the price tag, which is obscene, of course. The anti-gravity engines alone produce enough charge to light up Las Vegas for a week.” She glanced over at him. “Feel free to be impressed.”

“Wow,” Nathan obliged. He had never been to Vegas, but he figured that translated to a lot. He had seen the blueprints, and he was impressed—but also uneasy. Why did Walter Simmons think he needed babysitting?

*   *   *

Night fell, and squalls blew in. The sky groaned with thunder. Curiously, Nathan’s spirits picked up; the darkness and the rain made the world feel smaller, as if he was holed up in his house on a stormy day, talking to friends instead