We pulled up in front of the Japanese restaurant in my car. This said car is, of course, no ordinary vehicle, but rather my specially-modified canary-yellow Edwardian roadster, affectionately known as “Lizzie”.
I was clad in my usual finery, including a frilled poet shirt, purple velvet suit, jungle boots, sunspecs, panama hat, and one of my favourite opera capes.
“‘Kaiju Kids Sushi and Teriyaki’,” said my companion, young Millie Drake, reading the sign on the restaurant, located there in the Canton area of the city.
Millie is an exceedingly beautiful young lady, petite and perfect with luxurious chestnut hair, enchanting blue-violet eyes, sun-kissed skin, and luscious cherry lips. The tight, short, magenta-coloured dress she wore only served to highlight the soft curves of her slender adolescent figure.
“Quite so,” said I, in answer to the girl. “The owner named the restaurant after his children, who apparently are fans of the Kaiju, those ancient creatures that ruled the planet Earth in the aeons of time before any other life had appeared here.”
“It should be a fun place to visit, then,” said Millie, “since we have encountered Kaiju before, including Pederosis himself!”
“Indeed, my dear Mills, indeed,” I agreed, taking the young lady’s arm in mine. “In sooth, let us enter this fine establishment and proceed to sample their Nipponese cuisine, hmmm?”
Our friend the robotic cat known as Kit-10 had stayed behind at our downtown headquarters. We missed her, but I am certain that she would have responded to my raw fish jokes by reminding us all that she was not actually a cat -- at least in the organic sense -- and did not consume edibles.
Miss Millie Drake and I had just crossed the pavement and were about to enter the Kaiju Kids restaurant when something extraordinary occurred. We suddenly heard a strange sound, forsooth, a bizarre churning noise that could only be described as otherworldly.
“Daniel, what is that sound?” enquired Millie. “It sounds like… ”
“An alien spaceship engine,” I said whilst we both turned around to face the direction from which the noise was emanating. “By the Triune Star, it is!”
At that very moment, hovering right there in the overcast skies above the waterfront of that affluent southeast Baltimore neighbourhood, was an extremely weird sight indeed -- a fleet of silver-grey saucer-shaped spacecraft! …
My name is RUMANOS -- DOCTOR DANIEL RUMANOS, Extraterrestrial Espionage Agent and Intergalactic Man of Mystery. Even though I have the physical appearance of an human being, I am in fact several thousands of years old and do carry within my blood the vastly superior genes of the legendary Aeternusians or “Watchers” of the Daemon-Star ALGOL. Originating ninety-three light years from Earth, we are the most intellectually advanced race in all of the known galaxies, whose technology is so sophisticated it often appears to be “magic” and “miraculous” to lesser beings.
Whilst most Algolites tend to keep to themselves, preferring to live in elitist seclusion from the rest of the Universe and thus merely observing the goings-on of the myriad races of the vast reaches around them, I am an Operative for a secret organisation known as the KOSMIKOS or Cosmic Intervention Department, tasked with maintaining peace and order throughout the farthest reaches of Space and Time. You know, “plausible deniability”, and all of that sort of thing. It is our ongoing mission to defend the weak, the unfortunate, and the innocent from those who would harm or exploit them.
Currently assigned to Earth, I protect its people (both upon their own planet and across the eternal void) from the hideous manipulations of the arch-villain known as Magister Don Wingus and his occult terrorist organisation, Spectral Paranormal; as well as from alien invasions, mad scientists, and indeed all manner of menace. Assisted by my friends -- the beautiful young Hollywood starlet Miss Millie Drake, and our catlike robot known as Kit-10 -- I am the living icon of Algol on this world. I am a Knight of the Eternal Spires. I am the sword of justice from the planet Daemonia. I am the cosmic crusader. I am the stellar swashbuckler.
These are my memoirs. This is my story.
I am -- THE DAEMON-STAR!!! …
“Who are they, Daniel?” queried Millie Drake. “Where could they be from?”
“I am not quite certain, love,” I admitted. “They appear to be of a manufacture I have not before encountered, perhaps from one of the dark areas of the Galaxy.”
I took the transonic turnscrew (an highly-advanced scientific instrument somewhat resembling a writing pen) from the pocket of my jacket, utilising it to scan the hovering spaceships.
“Hmmm,” I pondered upon glancing at the resultant readings, “they are indeed of an unusual design. The transonic is analysing the energy sources of their engines and will take a few minutes to complete the evaluation.”
Whilst I spoke, the alien ships themselves moved into several different formations there above the waterfront. In a few moments, there did appear in the centre of the circle of spacecraft a light; a light that then soon coalesced into a shape. It was the shape of an obviously extraterrestrial being, humanoid of form but having an head something like a fly or similar insect.
“It is a broadcast hologram,” said I. “It appears that our visitors here are about to make an announcement of some sort.”
“But… what are they?” questioned Millie Drake, huddling close beside me.
“They appear to be hybrid insectoids,” I replied. “That would indeed support the hypothesis that they are from the darker regions of the Milky Way Galaxy. There are numerous rumours and legendary accounts of such beings existing there, and having developed civilisation and technology.”
“So are they friendly or a threat of some sort?”
“That remains to be seen, hmmm? It looks like they are about to speak, so apparently we should soon know if… ”
“Greetings, people of the planet Earth,” then spoke an alien voice, its timbre darksome and loudly amplified. “We are the rulers of the DS-719 Erebus Cascade. We come as conquerors of your world and of your civilisation. Your race shall now only continue to exist insofar as it can serve us. Any resistance will only result in your complete and total destruction.”
“Daniel, it’s an invasion!” cried Millie Drake.
“Quite so,” I agreed, “but what could the energy source of their engines be? It is odd that the transonic turnscrew is having so much trouble analysing it. Nevertheless, they have affirmed that they are from the Erebus Cascades, one of the darkest and most unexplored regions of the Galaxy.”
Then the alien voice resumed its speech:
“As an example of what you will face, Earthlings, should you in any way attempt to resist our domination of your world… ”
A creature then appeared in the shimmer of a matter transport device just at the waterfront. It was hundreds of feet tall and a deep midnight blue of colour. Its shape was like unto an enormous insect, with six legs (the back two on which it walked), large glowing eyes, and a pair of grotesque antennae on its hideous head.
“Daniel, what is that thing?” enquired Millie.
“Apparently it is some indigenous being from their home planet,” I pondered. “Perhaps they have modified it in some way so that it can be utilised by them as a sort of enforcer -- an object of terror and intimidation.”
The alien voice then again spoke, interrupting my thoughts.
“This is the one that shall aid us in our conquest of Earth,“ it announced. “This is the horror of worlds! This is -- NYJO!”
With this, the gigantic monstrosity let out a bellowing buzz-like roar of challenge!
“Oh my goodness, Daniel!” exclaimed Millie. “Shouldn’t we… ?!”
“Yes,“ I agreed. “It is a great responsibility to do so, but it may be the only way this alien monster can be stopped. We must call Pederosis!”
I ran over to Lizzie with Millie Drake trailing close behind me. I then used the transonic device, aiming it at some hidden controls within the car’s dashboard. At this, a signal was sent out, in truth a signal that transmitted over the land and into the deepest oceans of the planet.
Whilst this was happening, the alien creature known as Nyjo had stalked forth and had begun to attack some of the buildings of the Canton area. With tremendous and obscenely terrifying roars, the giant monstrosity wrecked several rows of apartment housing, with people of the neighbourhood then running down the streets, screaming in terror.
Then the insect eyes of Nyjo glowed brighter -- and suddenly shot forth rays of energy that shattered the pavement and scattered the fleeing people!
“Daniel, that thing needs to be stopped!” cried Millie Drake in horror at what we were witnessing. “Where is Pederosis?!”
“He has no doubt been in hibernation,” I explained. “Pederosis has been asleep in the deepest depths of the sea for some time now. He should respond to the call when he receives it -- but when that will be there is no way to determine!”
Then, as the monstrous Nyjo continued its destructive rampage across the Canton neighbourhood, something else appeared upon the scene. It soared to-wards the area from the western skies, swooping down from the heights directly into the path of the alien terror.
The newcomer was slate-grey of hue and like an enormous flying crocodile, its wingspan easily more than two-hundred feet in width. It called out a roar of challenge as it approached the alien monster.
“Daniel, that’s… ” began Millie.
“It is Nodar,” I said, “the flying reptile Kaiju who is now a friend of Pederosis! He has responded to the call!”
Nodar slammed his enormous flying bulk directly into Nyjo, sending the extraterrestrial monstrosity careening to slam down hard against the concrete of the city streets.
I glanced away at the saucer-like spaceships. The hologram projection had long vanished, and they were again changing formation, as if planning some new method of attack now that their first had been countered.
Nyjo quickly recovered from its fall, jumping up and aiming the rays from its eyes at Nodar. The giant flying reptile received a glancing but obviously painful hit from the energy beams before he managed to fly out of their trajectory. Nodar then countered by vigorously flapping his enormous wings in the direction of Nyjo, the resulting winds like unto a controlled hurricane. The alien monster fought against the power of this and managed to stay upright, though unable to move forward to directly engage Nodar in battle.
“Well, it looks like Nodar can hold his own against the alien Nyjo, hmmm?” I observed. “Now, if he can just… ”
It was then that I was suddenly interrupted by another sound, in truth a noise like unto a chorus from hell. It came, incongruously enough, from high above us, as if its originator had just entered the atmosphere from the void of Space -- which was indeed the case. Millie and I immediately looked up to see what it was, and we beheld an horror indeed, forsooth an horror of something truly beyond all sane imaginings.
The thing was ebon black of hue, with bat-like wings and with three hideous heads on long snakelike necks. It flew down and shot bolts like lightning from its horrid mouths.
“Oh my gosh, Daniel!” cried Millie Drake. “Isn’t that… ?!”
“By the Eternal Spires!“ I swore, “The aliens have that terror at their control as well! It is Wingosus -- the Omega Monster!” …
Unknown to us at the time, at the very place where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Chesapeake Bay, a tremendous wake was caused by a travelling spray of saltwater that shot far up into the air. It was a wake caused by some awesomely big creature, a being that now turned its course directly to-wards the area of the harbour leading to the city.
In truth, if one were able to peer closely through that watery wake, one could descry the rows of serrated spikes that grow along the back of the mighty one who even now moved on his determined course into a battle of titans. …
Back in the City, the clash of monsters continued. By now, Nyjo and Wingosus had marshalled their forces against Nodar, but the giant flying reptile nobly continued the fight despite the incredible odds now against him. The mighty roars of the gigantic combatants pierced the air, and the very ground quaked at the incredible weight and awesome impact of the continued monster melee now happening right there in the Canton neighbourhood.
Then something else approached from out of the south. It was a squadron of jet airplanes, high-tech fighters bristling with advanced weaponry.
“Daniel, it’s the United States Air Force!” cheered Miss Millie Drake.
“Quite so,” I affirmed. “They have come to defend against the alien invasion.”
The US fighter planes then flew to-wards the formation of spaceships hovering over the horizon, immediately letting forth with a mighty barrage of missile launches to-wards the enemy extraterrestrial craft.
When the missiles reached the alien ships, they did cause them to quake to some extent, but there was no explosion or damage. It was as if the missiles just disappeared upon impact.
“The aliens have their ships equipped with some kind of energy shield,” I explained. “Those missiles are not advanced enough to get through.”
“Oh no!” cried Millie. “Look at that!”
It was then that the alien saucers shot energy rays, similar to the ones from Nyjo’s eyes, at the air force fighters. Several of the jets were destroyed in flames before the remainder then quickly changed course in retreat.
“That was terrible, Daniel,” said Millie Drake as I held the girl weeping in my arms. “It was such an awful thing to see.”
“I know, my love,” I told her. “I know. These invaders must be stopped. They must be prevented from ravaging Earth at all costs!”
Then, as if in answer to my voice, there came a sound. It was a long, strangely-toned roar -- in truth a sound like unto a challenge to any and all that would ever attempt to stand in the way of the astounding being that issued it. The other monsters immediately turned to behold the newcomer as he stepped forth from the water.
He was like unto a gigantic bipedal lizard, more than forty storeys in height, green of colour and with three lines of serrated spikes down his back. His subtly-slanted eyes bespoke of a keen intelligence.
“It’s him!” cheered Millie Drake. “He made it!”
“Indeed so, my dear Millie,“ I agreed. “It is our old friend Pederosis -- King of the Kaiju!!”
For those amongst our readership who are unfamiliar with the facts concerning the legendary titans known by the old Japanese term “Kaiju“, I should point out a few facts concerning their origin. These enormous creatures, of which Pederosis and Nodar are prime examples, came into being from the force of the radiation that existed in the earliest times after the formation of the planet now known as Earth. These monsters, being huge and distorted forms of life reverse-echoing -- by some bizarre form of mentalist emanation -- the appearance of creatures that would later develop in the natural evolution of the planet, existed for untold aeons and aeons before any other life forms appeared on this world. When the Age of the Kaiju finally came to an end, these mighty beings entered a sort of hibernation, after this only existing in the dreams and fantasies of the later inhabitants of Earth -- that is, until the days of the development of atomic and nuclear energies by human scientists; energies that, in sooth, accidentally succeeded in mimicking the very radiation that had brought the monstrous Kaiju into being in the first place, all those countless ages before. So did the Kaiju return to existence in these modern times; sometimes glimpsed, most often denied, but nevertheless a definite presence in the world -- a presence like unto a very force of nature itself!!
Upon reaching shore, Pederosis immediately let forth a blast of his radioactive fire breath directly at Nyjo, the results of this sending the giant alien insect tumbling to crash against a near by warehouse building, levelling the structure to the ground.
After this, the monstrous Wingosus flew at Pederosis, the two old foes colliding with a sound like a thousand thunders. They fell to the concrete together, locked in a grotesque wrestling hold, the results of this cracking open the streets in several directions.
By now, Nyjo had recovered and was hurrying in an attempt to reach Wingosus and aid the creature against Pederosis. This attempt was halted, however, by Nodar flying down and pecking with his pointed mouth against the alien Nyjo’s head. The unearthly horror then began flailing around his insect-like appendages in an attempt to keep the flying reptile from continuing this.
Pederosis and Wingosus had, by this time, again regained their feet, the two monsters standing face the face when suddenly Wingosus sent forth terrifying blasts of alien lightning from all three of its hideous mouths directly at the heroic giant lizard. The result of this was Pederosis having to retreat several steps, his gigantic tail knocking over an entire near by shopping complex.
All the while, the alien spaceships continued to hover over the area, observing the battle but not attempting to take part in it -- likely because they did not want their energy weapons to accidentally hit their own monstrous champions, the horrid Nyjo and Wingosus.
“Daniel, what do you think will happen?” enquired Millie Drake. “How can this invasion be stopped?”
“The problem is this, love,” I pondered. “Even if Pederosis and Nodar can succeed in destroying the two alien monsters, and in halting the invasion from the DS-719 Erebus Cascade, it can only be after their monstrous war has raged on and caused destruction -- a destruction from which the human race may never fully recover!”
My dear friends and most loyal readers, can you in truth even commence to recognise the complete and utter horror, forsooth the extreme and ungodly satanic terror of this supremely horrific and totally unprecedented situation? It had by now become quite evident that, even if the mighty Pederosis and his friend, the giant flying reptile known as Nodar, could succeed in defeating the horrific and unspeakable alien-controlled monsters Nyjo and Wingosus, the resultant battles necessary for this to possibly happen would create a gigantic swath of destruction that could possibly continue to pursue its path across the many cities of the entire planet Earth -- destruction that could succeed in devastating all of the civilisations of this world, in causing massive pain and unnameable terror to all, in destroying the very stability of the human race -- and in wiping out all the works of mankind!
There was then a signal sound from my pocket. I quickly reached in my hand and took out the transonic turnscrew.
“Of course,” I said upon scanning the readings. “According to the analysis, the engines of those ships run on the psychic emanations of a sort of insect hive-mind. If I can just succeed in switching the polarisation of their neutronic stream… !”
After making a few quick adjustments, I then aimed the transonic to-wards the formation of alien spaceships and activated it. A strange whirring sound issued from the device and, within a few moments, the saucer-shaped craft began to shake and tremble, somewhat falling out of formation.
“There, that should weaken their control systems that are guiding the alien monsters, Nyjo and Wingosus,” I announced.
“Hopefully, that will give Pederosis and Nodar a better chance!” cheered Millie Drake.
Indeed, within a few moments it appeared the fortunes of the monster battle were indeed beginning to turn. The evil Nyjo and Wingosus had weakened somewhat and were beginning to retreat from the fight against the heroic Pederosis and Nodar.
“The aliens have indeed now lost control of their monsters,” I explained. “Now it should be much easier to vanquish them, hmmm?”
Indeed, the two Earth Kaiju continued the fight against the extraterrestrial horrors, with the mighty Pederosis now sending awesome blasts of his fantastic radiation breath against both Nyjo and Wingosus, whilst at the same time Nodar continued to harass the two terrors by flapping his gigantic wings in order to cause winds and also in swooping down to peck against their heads. Wingosus still sent bolts of its lightning, and Nyjo shot the rays from its eyes, but they were no longer as powerful as they had been when bolstered by the guidance controls from the alien saucers.
Then, there was a sudden shimmer of light around the monstrous Nyjo. It was, of course, the activation of the matter transmission beam, and with this the extraterrestrial monster soon vanished.
“It appears that the aliens have taken Nyjo back on board one of their ships,” I explained, “where it likely exists in a somewhat smaller, unmodified form.”
We turned to look at the disc-shaped spaceships. They had by now completely broken formation, and, as the result of my use of the transonic setting against them, were having difficulty maintaining flight.
“Those ships,” said Millie Drake. “Will they crash?”
“Perhaps not,” I replied. “Look!”
The saucer-like spaceships had by now gathered close together and suddenly shot upwards into the sky, within a split second disappearing beyond the atmosphere of the planet.
The creature known as Wingosus then quickly followed them, the horrendous three headed alien titan flying straight up until it too had vanished from all earthly sight.
“Wingosus will go back to the depths of Outer Space,” I pondered. “It will return to those dark regions between the stars where it exists as the Omega Monster.”
“So the invasion is over?” queried Millie with a look of hope in her beautiful blue-violet eyes. “The aliens have really given up?”
“Quite so, my dear Mills,” I assured her. “Quite so. The invaders from the DS-719 Erebus Cascade have surrendered and have now left Earth. The crisis is indeed over!”
We then looked at Pederosis and Nodar, and beheld the two heroic Kaiju turn to each other with a bow of mutual respect, before Nodar then flew off to-wards the west, onward to-wards the heights of those remote mountainous regions that are his only home.
Pederosis then gave one final tremendous roar of triumph before turning and beginning to wade out into the water -- he to return to his deep sea hibernation until the day when he is once again needed to utilise his mighty strength in defence of the planet Earth!
“Bye bye, Pederosis!” waved Millie Drake as the head of the noble giant lizard sank beneath the water. “Thank you so much!”
I then looked around at the devastation of the area, observing the many buildings and structures that had been toppled in the astounding battle of the four monsters. The remaining United States Air Force planes had now returned in order to do reconnaissance of the area, to make certain that the enemy had retreated and that everything was now safe and secure.
“The city, backed by the federal government, will no doubt claim that all of this was just caused by some redevelopment of the area,” said I. “‘Urban renewal’, you know. They will rebuild it soon.”
“Oh look, Daniel,” said Millie. “The sushi and teriyaki restaurant was undamaged and is still open!”
I looked and saw that indeed, as if with legendary Asian fortitude, the establishment was continuing operation the same as if nothing unusual had occurred.
“Quite so, and it looks like we can have our lunch after all,” I mused, “and just think of the story we will have to share with the ‘Kaiju Kids’!”
***** DANIEL RUMANOS AND MILLIE DRAKE SHALL RETURN
