Mechnozoid’s been sitting very still in Kaijuville Square for about three years.
“We still have to do this?” says Orville. “He’s gotta be asleep by now.”
“We can’t take that chance,” says Ping. “Any hint of a threat could reactivate him. Do you want your selfishness to kill everyone in this city?”
Orville does not, so they stride out naked into the brisk bustle of a downtown day. They’re not the only ones, but kids point and laugh anyway. Orville tries to cover himself; Ping slaps him.
Mechnozoid rusts, the “UBIQUE LIBERTAS” plaque in his cockpit slowly bleaching in the sun.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
“Current kaiju forecasts call for Welbaru to rampage south-southeast this evening,” smiles Quentin into the camera, before Welbaru rampages north, directly through their studio. When the rain of cinders has slacked off, they struggle choking into suspended rubble-dust.
“Listen,” says producer Rayanne, “I think we can spin this so he actually went south after all.”
“South is relative,” nods Quentin.
“North!” snorts Rayanne. “Who needs north? North is what they’d like you to believe.”
Then they do a headcount and hardly anybody’s dead except the staff kaijologist, whom they were going to kill for this anyway! Oh, too soon.