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It all seemed
to be perfect... The three ships went back to recovery mode,
as crew members laughed and joked. Yes, the Navy seemed elated
with it's revenge... After sinking a symbol of their Pride, this
was justification. Few shined as brightly, as Stanton. It was, after
all... His team that had developed, and delivered this deathblow. Max
didn't understand, why Stanton would be so excited. With Godzilla
dead, what would FendTech have to do? But, now wasn't the
time, to ask.
By 4:30pm.
Max, Sue and Murphy were back at the hotel. Stanton had gone
back to the Skunkworks... Presumably to inform his uplinks. Stuff, the research
end, didn't need to know. Either way, with Stanton absent, Max
could express his concern. The three were now at the beach,
taking in some R+R. (At this point in time, alot of the
vacationers had cleared the beach. And there was plenty of space
to carry a quiet conversation.)
"So,.. Do you think,
we really killed it?" Max now asked. "He sank like a rock,
no motion at all!.. You were there, wern't you?" Murphy repeated. "Max
might have a point, Murphy... We really don't know for sure, do
we?" Sue defended. Max only felt puzzled for a moment, again...
Stanton wasn't there. It was now, safe to doubt. Murphy seemed
to understand, too. "I suppose your right... We could drop another sled,
get a good look at him." "John expects, to recover the animal
anyway." Sue added. This did, puzzle Max. "... I never, heared that?!" "No
offense, you were off, in your own little world..." Murphy said.
"I was kinda wondering, what FendTech was going to do, that's
all." Max replied,.. Only half true. "We got years ahead of us,..
If they do recover Godzilla, our end will study it, from
head to tail." Sue explained. "Yeah... If, they recover it." Max echoed,
doubtfully. The other two seemed defeated. "...We're talking about an
animal the size of a building! Probably, even heavier... In 800
plus feet of water..." Added Max. "Well, if all else fails, we
got plenty of *R.O.V's." Murphy said, trying to lighten up
the conversation. "True..." Said Max. But, there were other questions.
Nagging thoughts about Fendtech. Issues needing answers. Now was a good
time, to ask. Max thought
"Stanton wanted
you for your bio-research,.. Correct?" Max began by addressing Sue. "Yeah,.. I
published some work on D.N.A. Mutation, a few years back... It
landed on his desk, and here I am." "...Had alot to do with
radiation, I remember reading them,.. now." Max recalled, then continued.
"...And your thing, is deep ocean volcanos... Advanced electronics, and things
needed,.. To get there..." Addressing Murphy, now. "quite an advantage, when your
target's a marine reptile." Murphy supplied the rest. "...I'll
buy that... But, why am I here?" Max asked, finally. The other two
smiled, understanding he was still abit lost. "You really don't remember,
do you?" Murphy inquired. "...Remember what, exactly?" asked Max, confused.
"Once upon a time, you and John had a ripping argument...
Something to do, with the Periodic Table of Elements...Remember?" Murphy
inquired, trying to jog his memory. "Yeah, I remember... That happened
in college. I thought, he hated me ever siince!" Max exclamed. "Actually,
your argument was good... A little too good for a college
brat! That's what got you in the door!" Murphy informed. "... And
he's been watching me ever since??" Max asked, surprised by this.
Murphy gave a quick nod. "In fact, your argument, has been a
corner stone of my research, Max." Sue added. Max gave her
another look of amazed confusion. "You got all the right pieces,
but you're looking at the wrong part of the puzzle,.. Think cause,
not result!" Murphy explained, seeing the expession. "Opperation Overkill..."
Max connected.
"How much, do
you really know about Overkill?" Murphy asked. "Only what I read,
in the file... Some sort of Super Nuke, they tested. Something
went wrong, and they never tried it again. John thinks, it gave
us Godzilla." Max recalled. "But the how and why, isn't there...
Because the guys who tested it,.. Can't explain what happened!" Murphy
exclaimed. "...The only way we'll get real answers, is to study
Godzilla's physical makeup." Sue said. "So, you think you can
answer,.. Why he lived, in the first place?" Max asked. "Yes, I
think we can,.. And, it all has to do with your argument."
Sue said, smiling.
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By 7:30pm, the three had eaten... And were off to the hotel's
lounge to touch base with Tammy. The room was extremly busy
tonight. As if everyone felt a need to celebrate... With out
knowing why. There would be no way, to discuss today's events
in Maalaea Bay. Instead, the three caught Tammy's eye, and gave
a quick thumbs up. This would have to do, for now. Max thought turned his thoughts, to the night
before. The woman was right...We opened Pandora's box. Hard to
swallow, yes,.. But true. The other problem, as Muphy so pointed out,..
Was that he was smitten by the waitress.
But, she was
a waitress... Sure, she knew a whole lot about Godzilla, but how
does she fit the puzzle? Why did Santon want her? Max took
a quiet approach, whispering to Sue "I know Tammy's up on
all this, but she's a waitress... What's her part?" He asked. "She's
invested alot of tips, in college,.. Max... Taking alot of
class's in biology." Sue quietly said back. "She's got a few theories
of her own, then?" He inquired. "Oh yeah, just non-published."
Sue answered. This made more sense, Max thought. Now Murphy leaned
in... "Speaking of the lady, don't you have a date? Some unfinished
business??" He said, catching part of the conversation's subject. "As
a mater of fact,.. I think you're right." Max said, pulling
out a piece of paper from his work folder. He wrote out
a little note, handing it off to Tammy with her tip. She
took it, smiling warmly as the three left.
11:20pm. Max
waited by a palm tree. The night was warm... (Even for Hawaii.)
And could be one reason, for the large turnout in the lounge.
Either way, it was closed now... He saw Tammy's silloute, backlit against
the lobby windows. The woman gave a small wave, as she drew
near. "So, you did read it?" Max joked. "Of course, I
didn't want to think, I scaired you off last night." She
shot back. Max gave a light laugh. "So, I take it, things
went well?" She inquired. "Exceptional, they tell me." He said. She
gave a nod of approval, but Max could sense her unease. "I guess,
it's my turn,.. To ask you for a walk." She said, smiling
again.
The two strolled
down a moonlit beach. Before them, Honolulu stretched to the horizon,
where Dimondhead pushed out to sea. "Max, I don't want
you to think, that I doubt the Navy,.. Or you..." She started, then
gave a heavy sigh. "...But Godzilla can't be killed that easy!
He's beyond our touch... Like a hurricane, or one of your volcanos!"
She exclaimed, trying to bring the point home, for him. He nodded
silently. " I just wish, for a few minutes,..That you could see, what
happened to my family,.. What they've been through... What I continue
to go through... Then you might understand!" She expressed, her eyes
filled with pain. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get into this...
It's not your fault." She added, taking a few paces away... Trying
to compose herself. Max could stand her pain, no longer. It
was time for truth.
" I know, you
lost your Uncle... Dr. Serizawa. Creator of the Oxygen Destroyer,.. The man who killed Godzilla!" He admitted. The
woman wheeled around to face him. Stunned silent with amazed confusion.
"...Your family changed their name, and moved here, trying to leave
it all behind." Max continued. "...How, do you... Know??" She managed,
regaining some composure. He walked over to the shaken woman.
"I work for a group called FendTech,.. The Godzilla Deturent Force."
He said with a warm smile, taking her hands in his. "...Believe
me,.. I understand!" With this, she broke down.
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The full moon
was sinking over Molokai... The sun would rise soon. This island
was relatively quiet, compaired to Owahu. They still fished here...
Some of the locals were getting ready now. A group was
heading from Kaunakaka, down the coast toward Kamakou summit, when
they happened on it. The three men stopped in their tracks. Frozen
stiff with fear. In front of them, a mountian of flesh and
scails lay motionless. It's gray-black head pitched sideways. Pools
of thick blood, seeping from a monsterous wound on it's shoulder.
The trio ran back to spread the word.
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