Putting It All Together

Katsura stared at the control room screen. Will was being quiet, something he was not usually. He was still trying to get over it, over Kiko's death. He fell for her, he loved her, but she did not love him back. She was nothing more than a spy, using him, his friends, and his trust. Katsura placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him as best as she could. He pulled back from her hand, slumping over the control panel. A single tear ran down his cheek, disappearing in his reddish brown beard. Katsura glanced back at Kiryuu, shaking her head. Kiryuu stared at Will, his eyes shown his concern. The giant bio-mech was still being worked on. His blackened helm was hanging above the ceiling. Katsura shook her head at Mechagodzilla, knowing that Will was not feeling up to talking. Kiryuu decided to break the ice.

"Will," he began. "I know you miss her. She was a nice person to talk to."

"I don't want to talk about it, Kiryuu," Will sighed, tapping lightly on the keyboard.

"Will," began Katsura. "She betrayed all of us, not just you."

Will stood up, looking back at Kiryuu and Katsura. His eyes were downcast. Will began to wag his head in sorrow for a moment, then he returned his attention back to his work. Katsura and Kiryuu looked at each other. She began to shake her head in dismay.

"Nothing," Katsura shrugged.

"Give him time," Kiryuu softly and comfortingly rumbled.

Gordon walked into the control room. He glanced at Kiryuu, his eyes brightened up for a moment. Then, he looked at Will. Gordon Knight sat down beside Will, placing a hand on his back.

"Don't worry about it, Will," he said. "She…had issues. I mean, I suppose our governments would have killed her anyways for what she was doing, after torturing her and getting information from her."

"Gordon, that's not very comforting," Katsura scorned.

"I never said it was," he said. "But it's the truth."

"Look, you all really suck at sympathy," Will snorted.

"Well, don't get that attitude with us," Gordon growled back at him. "Look, Will. We all liked her, but she was a bad guy and she committed suicide. So, let's move on. I have some important news for all of you." He glanced at Kiryuu for a moment. "And I do mean all. Which includes you, yah big hunk of arrogant metal."

"So nice to be love, Gordon," Kiryuu smiled back.

"Well, I have to say this," Gordon began. "First to Kiryuu. Kiryuu—I…well…Don't quit your day job."

"Gordon," Katsura slapped him in the arm. "You were going to tell him something else."

"Right," he sighed. "Kiryuu, thank you. You're an important part of this team. And, I'm proud of you, how much you've grown and developed and…well, you turned out pretty good. You're still an arrogant bastard, but you're my arrogant bastard and I'm proud of you."

Kiryuu was silent. His eyes grew wide and his mouth hung open. Gordon walked out of the control room onto the catwalk beneath Kiryuu's head. Mechagodzilla cocked his head down, peering down at the small human smiling back at him. Gordon motioned for Kiryuu to come a little closer. Kiryuu leaned down, his nose only a few feet away from Gordon. Gordon leaned over, placing a hand on his snout.

"I'm proud," Gordon sighed. "I've always have been. You've changed so much in a year. And I do consider you a valuable member of this team. Now, if you would just change your arrogant attitude we'd be perfect."

"Gordon," Kiryuu's voice began high pitched with a small emotional sob. "I never knew…"

"Well, like you, I have a problem with feelings," Gordon laughed. "So, you're not the only one."

"Thank you, Gordon," Kiryuu smiled. "Thank you. I am honored to be a part of this team."

"And I have another announcement if all of you," Gordon called. "If you all will come out here to the bay area."

Both Will and Katsura walked into the bay area. Gordon positioned himself so that he could also look at Kiryuu while he spoke.

"People," Gordon began. "We are moving."

"What?" Will asked. "Moving?"

"Yes," he nodded. "Moving. The United States wants Kiryuu to come over to them."

"Godzilla has rarely attacked them," said Katsura.

"It's not Godzilla," said Gordon. "The US Geological Survey has discovered a moving epicenter. They've done some sonar tests and found it's actually a monster underground. They need this facility to be there just in case this monster surfaces. So, we are packing up and moving out. And, they are willing to fund our project with a heap a lot more money than what the Japanese government is willing to pay. This thing has already caused a lot of trouble for parts of Canada and the Northwest. Though, no one knows about it because the President is trying to keep this under a tight lid. You know, people plus monster equals big panic. So, we are to dismantle this base and Site B, and ship it back to the US."

"Er," began Will. "Gordon, how the hell do we transport Kiryuu?!"

"My boosters are not made for long range," began Kiryuu. "I do require a lot of refueling in order to make it over the Pacific."

"Problem solved!" Gordon cried. "I've three large, long range transport planes that can carry you across the threshold. They will be able to transport you, and support your weight during flight. And the President has ordered immediate rearmament of your rocket array. And something else as well, to take the place of the Absolute Zero Cannon."

"What else?" Katsura asked.

"Some gadget the government has been working on," he shrugged. "So far it's top secret. Now, Kiryuu, this is a surprise, so no peaking in their files. You'll know, we'll all know when we get there. Think of it as your first Christmas present."

"I will try hard not to peak, Gordon," Kiryuu nodded.

"Great!" Gordon yelped with glee. "That's my giant, Tonka toy! Anyways, what do you all say?"

"But what about Godzilla?" Katsura asked.

"We will still do our jobs as the first line of defense against the monster," began Gordon. "I'll never neglect that. I'll keep this base of operations up until we know for sure that Godzilla is heading into his hibernation, as Kiryuu pointed out. But, we've already started construction on the new base. We've had one in Salt Lake City, the place where we were building the body of Mechagodzilla before we shipped it here to be completed. It's still standing. But this team is going to Utah."

"It'll be great to go home," Will began. "And—forget…"

"Don't worry about it," began Katsura. "You'll be fine. You have us. We're your friends."

"Yeah," said Gordon. "Besides I need you all to be ready when we start leaving. It'll take us about a year to fully move out, but, hey, it'll give us time to recollect. But remember, more money for my company, bigger pay checks for you." Gordon turned back to Kiryuu. "And for you, nice wide open space to collect what ever data you want, and some new weapons."

"The weapons are not as appealing as the wide space for data," began Kiryuu. "I would like to test out how my systems can survive in a desert, and study the local wildlife."

"So, we are now working for the US Armed Forces?" asked Will.

"Yup," Gordon's grin grew. "Fun, huh?"

Will began to laugh for a moment: "Hey, Kiryuu! We're in the Army now, we're no longer behind a plow…"

Kiryuu was silent.

"Go download that song," Will cried. "Okay?"

"Okay," Kiryuu nodded, still a little confused.

"Don't confuse him, Will," Katsura smiled. "Well, I suppose it'll be good to go back to America. It was nice to be home, even for a little while. I miss the old desert base, anyways."

"That's the spirit!" Gordon cried. "Well, I'm heading back to my office. I'll catch all of you later. And Kiryuu…"

"Yes, Gordon?" asked Kiryuu.

"I'm going to trust that you'll not hack into the US government sites for this new type of weapon," he said. "Remember, Christmas present for you! And I want to trust you. You're my friend, and what do friends do?"

"They trust each other and don't back stab," Kiryuu smirked. "I understand. I will wait until we return to the United States."

"Good boy!" Gordon smiled as he walked out of the bay area. "You guys have fun now."

Will enthusiasm dropped as his mind returned back to Kiko. Katsura placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Are you going to be all right, Will?" she asked him.

"Yeah," he sighed in grief. "Sure. I'll be fine. I just need some time."

"Will," began Kiryuu. "Will it make you feel better if you and I play a few rounds in Halo?"

Will chuckled: "Thanks for the offer, pal. But this time I'll pass. But may be later, huh? I think I need some time to be alone and think."

He walked down the catwalk, leaving the bay area and Katsura and Kiryuu alone together. Katsura turned back to Kiryuu.

"He is taking it rough, Kiryuu," she said. "Just give him time."

"I never really knew the meaning of loss," Kiryuu began. "Until now. But there was something that Kiko said to me. She told me that some people are willing to sacrifice everything, even their selves to the cause they are fighting for, or to their loved ones. She was willing to sacrifice herself to prevent us from capturing her."

"She is right in some cases," Katsura began. "Many are willing to sacrifice everything they love to reach a goal, or protect their beliefs. That is true for everyone, not just humans."

"She asked if I was willing to sacrifice something," he sighed. "To save the people I love, like you. I couldn't answer."

"We can never answer that question freely," began Katsura. "It's not a question that can be given an answer. But when the time comes, you'll know if you are or not."

"I was," Kiryuu said. "But then, sacrificing myself would sacrifice you. I love you so much, Katsura. I wasn't willing to have us both killed. I could not stand that I was willing to kill both of us to save everything."

Katsura smiled slightly. She could not believe that Kiryuu was willing to sacrifice so much to save this world, after all what it has done to him. Kiryuu had grown into a noble creature, a person with both a conscience, feelings, and a heart. He was more than a computer, more than some gizmo with wires and for that matter—weapons. Kiryuu was special, in his own mind and in others. She loved him. She admitted that now.

"Katsura," Kiryuu began, breaking her thoughts. "About our relationship. I know you feel it will never work out."

"It will be a difficult one, Kiryuu," she said. "But, I think the link helps a little. You must be considerate of my feelings, as I shall be considerate of yours. But I do love you Kiryuu. I do."

"You kissed me, Katsura," Kiryuu rumbled pleasantly. "With that, I know that you do."

"Kiryuu…" she breathed. "This is going to be one interesting relationship."

"I am looking forward to every minute of it," Mechagodzilla rumbled pleasantly through the PA system.

To be continued…