Author’s Note: As promised, here’s a chapter from Destroyer, a novella I co-wrote some years ago with Monster Island Tourists Timothy Deal, Nick Hayden, and Nick’s wife, Natasha. It was part of what we called “the pulp fiction project,” where we took turns stories that would be in old pulp magazines or dime store novels. I chose monster story, to which one of my friends said, “That means you could do everything from Frankenstein to Godzilla.” So,I did both. The cyborg dragon, Rex-1, is created to end a future war between the American Alliance and the Russo-Chinese Coalition by famed scientist Dr. Steiner. In this chapter, the cyber-monster has destroyed a Russian military base, but the gung-ho general commanding the operation has ordered it to attack Moscow. Can you guess which Godzilla film inspired this story? Comment below or send me feedback via feedback@monsterislandfilmvault.com. The book is available in paperback and ebook on Amazon.
Rex-1 took flight. The wind from its wings fanned the flames consuming the base. The Nighthawk followed the cyber-monster to stay in the TP helmet’s range. Thousands of Muscovites scurried in panic below them as Rex-1’s shadow passed over them. Streets were clogged with traffic. Police car drones scrambled through the crowds trying to maintain a semblance of order. They were failing. Automated firetrucks hurried to burning buildings to snuff the fires, but panicked crowds either hampered them or started more fires. Chaos reigned supreme.
The Kremlin quickly approached.
“Yamamoto, land Rex-1 in Red Square,” ordered Gunn.
With a thought, Tomo relayed the commands. Rex-1 swooped down and grinded to a halt, leaving a 50-foot scrape on the Square. The pilots made the Nighthawk circle around the Square, always keeping Rex-1 in view.
Dr. Steiner expelled a long sigh and wiped sweat from his forehead.
The Kremlin seemed empty. Tomo had Rex-1 make an infrared scan of the building. Rainbow-colored blips could be seen throughout it. They were the Coalition’s European delegates, all trapped inside. The suddenness of the attack, the panic in the streets, and Rex-1’s arrival on the Square likely prevented them from retreating.
“Target acquired,” reported Tomo.
Eva never looked up.
“Terminate,” commanded Gunn.
Tomo closed his eyes to relay the order.
Rex-1’s mouth opened.
BOOM!
A screaming missile exploded against Rex-1’s back, pieces of burning skin flying in all directions. The cyborg roared in pain and Tomo cursed in surprise. Everyone grabbed their armrests for dear life. A second missile was blocked when the cyber-dragon’s energy shields activated. The pilots started evasive maneuvers as low-flying fighter planes roared over them.
“What was that?” Gunn demanded to know.
“Neo-MIG Shadows,” said O’Brian. “They’re stealth fighters!”
“I don’t care if they’re Santa’s reindeer! Take them out!” barked Gunn.
“I’m working on it!” shouted Tomo.
The Shadows—all twelve of them—circled around for another strike.
Rex-1’s horns glowed, its eyes flared.
The Shadows fired missiles. They all crashed into the cyborg’s shields. Cloaked in smoke, Rex-1 roared in defiance and blasted lasers. The Shadows scattered like frightened bees, but not before three exploded.
Rex-1’s gaze followed the planes to acquire a new target lock. But without warning, plasma shells buffeted its shield from below. It spun and saw a battle group of Coalition Supertanks emerging from a huge underground bunker near the Kremlin. No doubt it was the leaders’ personal defense force. Rex-1 growled as its eyes glowed again and fired. The lasers sliced two tanks in half while the others scattered.
A salvo of missiles exploded on Rex-1’s back. It looked over its shoulder and roared at the Shadows, only to be interrupted but a barrage of plasma shells from the Supertanks below. It roared even louder, enraged.
“You’re pissing me off!” shouted Tomo. He grimaced as he sent more telepathic commands to Rex-1.
Eva grabbed Dr. Steiner’s shoulders. “Dad!”
He turned to her. “What is it?”
“There was a huge spike in autonomous brain activity when Rex-1 was hit by the missiles when its shield was down.”
Dr. Steiner’s fear melted into confusion. “How’s that possible? Our tests said that would be dormant except for essential functions.”
This was a bad time for problems. How could they convince Gunn to call off a key mission for a random anomaly? No, it’d have to wait.
They watched as Rex-1 lunged at the Supertanks with a gaping mouth. It clutched one—twice the size of a normal tank—in its jaws. Its teeth dug into the thick titanium armor, crushing it like a can. Rex-1 thrashed it around a few times, then released its grip. The compacted tank flew into a building half-a-mile away. Rex-1 squatted, grabbing another tank with its teeth and clutched one in each hand. It clapped those two like an angry child breaking its toys. Then it tossed what was left of all three on the remaining tanks.
Just then, a red light flashed on Eva’s monitor. “Dad! There’s another spike! And the shield collapsed!”
There was no time to ask why. Dr. Steiner swiveled his chair to see Gunn. “Get Rex-1 out of there!”
Too late. Before Gunn could argue, they heard Rex-1 bellow in pain on their monitors. They redirected their attentions.
Neo-MIGs flew over Rex-1 as missiles exploded against its back. More skin flew off in flaming clumps. Three surviving Supertanks seized the opportunity, and fired. Plasma shells smashed into the cyborg’s chest, ripping into its grafted flesh. Rex-1’s eyes and horns glowed as it prepared to retaliate, but it was interrupted by another salvo of missiles fired by the Shadows. Finally, Rex-1 threw back its head and arms, and bellowed a primal scream.
A warning screen flashed on Eva’s computer and a siren-like alarm blared. Her eyes widened in terror. “Readings have spiked through the roof!”
Dr. Steiner jumped to his feet, but before he could yell “Abort,” Tomo was screaming.
Lightning-like electricity danced down the wires connecting the TP helmet to the Nighthawk computers. The flyboy’s eyes were wide and white, his facial muscles contorted into the face of a terrified banshee as the power surge electrified him. A white aura enveloped him.
“Get the helmet off before it fries his brain!” yelled Dr. Steiner, pointing at Tomo.
Daniels jumped from his chair, fighting turbulence, and grabbed the helmet. Even with gloves on, his hands burned. He grated a cry through his teeth, and ripped the helmet off Tomo’s head. They both collapsed on the floor. Smoke emanated from the helmet as it dangled from the wires.
Dr. Steiner immediately looked out the windshield.
More missiles and plasma shells hit Rex-1. Screaming in agony, the cyborg’s legs buckled, and it fell against the Kremlin. The building crumbled, burying the cyber-beast under tons of rubble. A thick black cloud of dust flew into the air.
Silence.
Dr. Steiner’s jaw dropped. No! It can’t be…
Suddenly, two red lights flared in the dust cloud, glaring at the Nighthawk. Laser beams fired.
Instantly, the Nighthawk spiraled out of control. The screams of sirens and crewmembers mingled in Dr. Steiner’s ears as inertia and vertigo slammed him against the wall. He forced his eyes open and watched through the windshield as the Moscow streets rushed up to them. There was an ear-shattering crash.
Everything went black.
TO BE CONTINUED…