Authors: Marc Cerasini
Dr. Markham sat down across the desk from him.
"I just heard from Lori," she announced. The general raised his eyebrows but said nothing.
"She's in San Francisco," the doctor continued. "She watched Godzilla arrive this morning. Now she wants to come back."
The general shook his head. "Out of the question," he stated flatly.
"Listen to me before you make up your mind, General Taggart," Markham insisted. "I think you should hear this..." As she spoke, she spread out handwritten notes on Taggart's desk.
"I was puzzled by Lori's apparent delusion - that some entity was trying to communicate with her through dreams," the woman said. "I conferred with a colleague at Brown University this morning. He told me that he had two cases in the last few weeks... cases very similar to Lori's."
The general's face remained stony, but he was listening.
"Two cases of normal, healthy young women with no prior history of mental distress suddenly having dreams about a winged angel or a giant butterfly," the doctor stated, almost tripping over her words in her haste to get them out.
"Each of these women was convinced that the being in her dream was trying to communicate with her."
The general sat up in his chair, still attentive.
"Then I called other psychiatrists that I know," Markham continued. "In Pittsburgh, Denver, Detroit... Every single one of my colleagues reported at least one patient who had developed a similar delusion. All of these patients are young women, and all showed their first symptoms in the past month!"
The general looked impressed. But Dr. Markham knew she had to hit him with something that he could understand, something concrete.
"Do you know what the statistical probabilities of such similar conditions existing within the same time span are? It's out of the ballpark, General... a billion to one, at the least!"
The doctor looked hard at Taggart. "I'm not always impressed with statistics or probabilities, General," she declared. "In this case, it was the brain scan that convinced me."
Dr. Markham pulled a copy of the brainwave pattern from the pile of papers spread out on the desk.
"Not even multiple personalities can have
two distinct brainwave patterns
. Yet that is exactly what Lori exhibited.
"Something else is going on here," she concluded.
"Just what are you suggesting, Dr. Markham?" Taggart asked.
The psychiatrist took a deep breath.
Here goes my reputation
.
"I'm suggesting that Lori wasn't suffering from a delusion," Dr. Markham said finally. "I'm suggesting that an entity of some kind was communicating with her... and that this entity has something to tell every man, woman, and child on this planet. But so far, at least, it can only speak effectively through Lori Angelo."
* * *
Despite the fact that the U.S. Navy was warning away unauthorized aircraft, an INN helicopter out of Mexico sneaked under the radar cordon and flew toward the
Texas Star
, so low that it literally skimmed the waves.
The other media helicopters had been chased out of the combat area an hour before, but the crew of this particular INN chopper was determined to broadcast pictures of Varan on live television. The team, which consisted of news director Mike Timko, Robin Halliday, the young on-camera intern, and their cameraperson, Linda Carlisle, were hot on the trail of a story they'd been chasing for weeks.
At the controls of the chopper was the young Mexican liaison officer Tony Batista. He'd stayed with the team since Jamiltepec, and Mike had learned to appreciate the man's talents.
They were so hot to get the story that Mike ordered the pilot to turn off the radio. That way, they didn't have to acknowledge the Navy's commands to clear the area.
But without the radio, the INN crew didn't hear the Coast Guard and Navy broadcasts warning that any unauthorized aircraft would be fired upon. As the chopper streaked past the bow of a Navy destroyer, the captain of the warship ordered warning shots to be fired at the intruder.
A Vulcan anti-aircraft gun opened fire, and bullets streaked toward the helicopter. As tracers whizzed past the cockpit, Tony Batista panicked and pushed the throttle forward. The helicopter raced past another warship, which also opened fire.
Soon, a Coast Guard patrol boat opened up, too. But this time, they weren't warning shots. Several rounds ripped through the helicopter's engine, shattering an oil pump. Black smoke began to pour out of the fuselage, and the helicopter stalled.
As the INN chopper plunged into the Gulf of Mexico, the noise of the gunfire startled Varan.
Awakened, the creature began to move...
* * *
As Godzilla's shadow loomed over the shattered ruins of Piedmont, the monsters booming roar of triumph echoed through the hills of Northern California. Even miles away, fleeing citizens on the Warren Freeway could hear the creature's ear-shattering howl over the sound of the bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Godzilla's devastating march through Oakland, and now Piedmont, went unopposed by the military. The Pentagon had decided that using weapons in populated areas would do more harm than good. Instead, they tried to predict Godzilla's path and evacuate the population ahead of it.
Three National Guard units were on the scene in Piedmont, carrying out the high commands decision to evacuate. They had their hands full dealing with the panicked, fleeing population.
Local emergency services had their resources taxed to the limit, too. They were busy evacuating the wounded and freeing those who were trapped in collapsed buildings left by Godzilla's passing. Fortunately, they had extensive training and experience in earthquake relief, and that knowledge served them well.
In Godzilla's wake, hospitals and clinics were jammed - except for those few that were in ruins. The fire departments and ambulance crews could not keep up with the spread of fire and destruction. Shattered gas mains fed the blazes, and emergency trucks could not get past the traffic that jammed every thoroughfare out of the cities. Humanity had been all but routed.
As the dreadful day progressed, Godzilla smashed his way across Skyline Boulevard and crossed the upper tip of Redwood Regional Park. Finally, he took to the high ground, climbing toward the tiny town of Canyon in the Berkeley Hills.
In the early afternoon, over a strip mall outside Moraga, a fleet of AH-64A Apache helicopters appeared on the horizon. Slowly, cautiously, they approached Godzilla. Each attack copter was equipped with two "quads" of Hellfire missiles - one on each tiny wing - and twin rocket pods with nineteen rockets each.
Sensing the oncoming threat, Godzilla swung his head toward the sound of the engines. The reptile's eyes narrowed and his lip curled, baring long, irregular teeth in a savage snarl.
Throwing its forearms into the air and bellowing a challenge, Godzilla faced his attackers.
* * *
As Varan began thrashing about, the
Texas Star
rocked like a rowboat filled with wrestlers. The crew huddled in the stern were dashed to the steel deck as the ship tossed on the waves.
On the bridge, emergency lights went on. Captain Dingle read the control screens, and the news was not good. The
Texas Star
was taking on water.
Because of the unique construction of ULCC tankers, it was very difficult to sink one. But Varan was doing its best to try. Captain Dingle ordered his first mate and wheelman off the bridge. When they were gone, he peered through the shattered window at the creature that was tearing his ship apart.
As he did, a sudden wind kicked up. Its violent gusts seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. It became more and more intense, and it felt much different than a normal wind.
The air felt cool... and it smelled sweet.
Then Captain Dingle realized what was happening. He'd been briefed over the radio on what to expect from the creature. Varan was about to take to the sky again. The effort caused the creature to produce great winds - gusts of pure oxygen.
As Dingle watched, Varan raised itself up on its hind legs, tilting the ship even more. While the gyrostabilizer fought to keep the Star level and afloat, Varan launched itself into the sky.
* * *
As the team of Apache attack helicopters approached Godzilla, they spread out in an irregular offensive line. The fighting machines closed in on the monster, and as they drew near, the sound of their propellers thrummed and beat against the creature's ears.
Godzilla grunted and blinked in an almost human gesture of surprise, as if he understood the massive amount of firepower that was arrayed against him. Acting as a team, the helicopters simultaneously opened fire.
The Apaches led the attack with their rocket pods. In a blast of smoke, the rockets left the pods in a sustained rapid spin to ensure stability. The accuracy of individual rockets was poor, but due to their sheer numbers, the attack was devastating.
The projectiles slammed into Godzilla's body, stunning and confounding the gigantic creature. It took almost a minute of sustained fire to empty the pods of their rockets, and when the four hundred projectiles were finally spent, the Apaches launched their ninety-six Hellfire missiles.
* * *
As Varan lifted off, the U.S. Navy warships aimed their anti-aircraft guns at the flying creature.
The military experts assumed that the creature would ascend slowly into the sky, and move equally slowly once there. The experts also assumed that Varan traveled on the winds of the upper atmosphere, and was not truly in control of its flight.
So everyone was taken by surprise when Varan shot into the sky as quickly as a helicopter. They were even more surprised when it stretched out its arms and legs and - with a sound not unlike a supersonic jet aircraft - streaked away.
Even as the ships opened fire, the monster was moving out of range. The Navy guns failed to inflict any damage.
The captain of the lead warship radioed a warning to his high command. He reported that Varan was heading due north, toward the nearest land. If it continued its present course and speed, it would be over the Texas coast in an hour...
* * *
Just seconds after Varan disappeared into the blue sky over the Gulf of Mexico, a rescue helicopter from one of the Navy ships moved toward the wrecked INN helicopter. The shattered fuselage was still afloat, though it was sinking fast.
Linda Carlisle kicked the door on her side of the helicopter. When it didn't budge, she kicked it again - this time with both legs. Water was already gushing around her feet from the broken windows in the front cockpit. She knew they didn't have much time before the wreckage sank.
Linda braced herself against the seat and kicked out for the third time. The door popped open, and a torrent of seawater rushed in, threatening to drown her then and there.
At least Mike made us all wear life vests
, she thought as she grabbed Robin Halliday, who was unconscious. Keeping Robin's head above water, Linda dragged the unconscious girl out of the wreckage.
Briefly, she saw Mike Timko trying to rouse Tony, the pilot.
"Get out!" Mike screamed at her.
Linda obeyed. She swam away from the sinking helicopter, dragging the limp intern with her. The rescue helicopter dropped out of the sky overhead, buffeting the two women with the wind from its blades. Two Navy divers in wet suits dropped out of the chopper door and splashed into the water beside her.
One took Robin out of Linda's tired arms, while the other grasped her about the waist. Exhausted, she surrendered to the sailor's strong grip.
A few moments later, Linda found herself being pushed into an orange rubber raft, next to the still-unconscious Robin. Then Mike tumbled in right next to her, followed by a man in a wet suit.
Linda sat up and looked around. A second man in a wet suit was clambering aboard. She didn't see anyone else.
Linda turned and looked at her producer.
"Where's Tony?" she demanded.
Mike, still coughing out seawater, looked away. Then he cleared his throat.
"Tony... Tony didn't make it," he whispered hoarsely. "He was killed when we hit the water..."
Sunday, June 13, 1999, 3:45 P.M.
Dan's Computer Store, Moraga Road Mall
Moraga, California
From the vantage point of his computer store, less than a mile away, Dan Burgleman watched as U.S. Army helicopters attacked Godzilla.
With rapt attention, the portly, bearded man witnessed this titanic struggle between mankind and mutant monster and concluded that he'd made the right decision to stay.
When the National Guardsmen had come through the area an hour before, everyone in the strip mall who had not already abandoned their businesses fled with the soldiers. Everyone, that is, except Burgleman.
He'd worked too long and too hard on his computer store. He wasn't going to abandon it now. After all, Godzilla was just an animal. A big animal, sure... but just an animal.
When Burgleman had woken up that morning in his apartment in nearby Canyon, he had turned on the radio. That was when he first heard that Godzilla was in California.
Instead of panicking, Burgleman drove to work and opened his shop, just as he would on any other Sunday. He wasn't about to leave all a he'd ever worked for to the mercy of looters or worse, just because some big dumb dinosaur was running loose in Northern California.
Burgleman almost changed his mind when he saw Godzilla in the flesh. First, he felt the earth tremble at the monster's approach. Next, the electrical power winked out, but came back on.
That was when he looked out of his shop's plateglass window and saw the gargantuan thing called Godzilla lumbering past on the main highway. The creature's tail thrashed, leaving a trail of smoke, fire, and destruction in its wake. Burgleman couldn't believe that anything that big could be alive!
To Burgleman's relief, the creature seemed to be passing the mall right by. Then the helicopters arrived. Now Burgleman watched in awe as the rockets struck Godzilla again and again in a seemingly endless stream. The explosions looked tiny against Godzilla's bulk, but there were so many of them that they soon obscured the monster in smoke and fire.