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Earth-11808
New York City, 2008
The two ran deeper into Central Park, scrambling for cover beneath Greyshot Arch. As air raid sirens began to blare outside, they looked at the only thing they had left-a video camera-and turned it their way.
"My name is Robert Hawkins," began the first, as air raid sirens blared outside. "It's 6:42 a.m. on Saturday, May 23rd." Loud booms could be heard outside, muffled by their current cover, but getting closer. "Approximately seven hours ago, something attacked the city. I don't know what it is. If you found this tape… I mean, if you're watching this right now, then you probably know more about it than I do."
He glanced outside, hearing several loud booms, which began to get closer to their hiding spot. "Whatever it is, it killed my brother, Jason Hawkins. It killed my best friend, Hudson Platt, and Marlena Diamond, and many, many others." They heard something cry out outside. "We've crashed here in Central Park and taken shelter under this bridge. The military has begun bombing this creature and we're caught in the middle."
He turned the camera to his partner, a klaxon joining the cacophony of noise. "Okay, ready?" he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. Beth, look at me."
"I don't know what to say," she whimpered, on the verge of tears after all that had happened.
"Just tell them who you are."
"My name is Elizabeth McIntyre. I don't know why this is happening. But we're gonna wait here until this passes. We're gonna wait."
A fireball knocked the camera out of their hands, loose stone falling as the military's bombing got even closer, the creature letting out a cry of pain as the two humans screamed. Rob and Beth clung to each other, expecting to be crushed to death, but after a few moments, the noise and shaking stopped.
Daring to glance out from their hiding place, the two could see the monster on its belly, fresh marks dotting its skin. But standing above it was something that wasn't there before-some sort of giant humanoid, cool blue with a silver head and markings, with a fin sweeping towards the back of their head. They were generating some sort of forcefield above the immediate area, missiles harmlessly impacting on the surface.
Ultraman Cosmos-Luna Mode
Cosmos watched as the last of the payload hit the shield, turning his attention to the kaiju. He regretted not hearing about this until it had already caused a rampage, but at least now he could protect other cities from it, as well as protect the kaiju from humanity's wrath. It was obviously in pain, its legs struggling to hold itself up. Cosmos knelt down, checking to see if there were any irregularities with its breathing.
Suddenly, the beast lunged at him, wrapping its jaws around his leg. Cosmos let out a cry of pain, trying to shove the kaiju's head off of him, but its jaws were clamped tight. He had to resort to smacking its head, which finally got it to let go.
Cosmos dove away from the kaiju as it lunged again, just narrowly avoiding its jaws. Extending his arm forward, he was prepared to pacify it, when the sound of planes passing overhead caught his attention. As they nearly reached their location, preparing to unload another payload of bombs, Cosmos' appearance changed, his body becoming red with blue and silver spiral patterns, his head's fin now pointing forwards.
Ultraman Cosmos-Corona Mode
As the bombers dropped their payload, Cosmos unleashed a blazing wave of energy from his hands. The explosives erupted harmlessly in midair, but it wouldn't be long before more arrived. Turning back to the creature, Cosmos was briefly halted as objects began falling from its back. He soon realized what they were, as bug-like creatures hit the ground and grew to giant size. Perhaps when the creature bit him, it had absorbed some of his light, which was then ingested by the parasites. However it happened, they would be a danger to Musashi's family and the other kaiju on Juran, and thus needed to be dealt with.
One of them lunged at Cosmos, who gripped its gnashing jaws at the last second. Cosmos tossed the parasite at one of its fellows, the two bowling over, and finished them both off with his Naybuster Beam. As a third tried lunging at him, Cosmos kicked it in the face, smashing its head in, but was taken off guard when two jumped on his back, bringing him to his knees. His Color Timer began flashing red, Cosmos grunting as he stood up and slammed onto his back, crushing the bugs beneath his weight.
Standing back up, Cosmos reverted to Luna Mode and engaged Full Moon Rect. A golden flow of energy emerged from his palm, covering the creature. It went from crying out to docile in moments. Cosmos then gently petted the creature's head, and within moments the two of them were engulfed in a blue sphere of light, floating off into the sky and back to their home universe.
Rob and Beth stepped out of hiding, gazing up at the sky where the creature and that weird giant had disappeared to. They were silent for what felt like hours. It was Rob who spoke first.
"It saved that thing?" he muttered, fists balling up at his sides. "That thing destroyed the city, killed people, killed our friends, and that giant wanted to save it?!"
"Rob, please-"
"No, don't fucking 'Rob' me! That thing doesn't deserve any pity, it deserves to die! And if I…" Tears of anger brimmed at his eyes. "If I see that giant again, I'm gonna show it just how much hurt that freak it wanted to save caused."
Rob picked up a piece of rubble, letting loose a primal yell as he tossed it at a nearby tree. Beth took a few steps back, making sure not to turn her back on her ex-boyfriend.
A few hours later, a military convoy would discover the duo. They were the only survivors left in the whole city. After a series of interrogations regarding what they had experienced both in terms of the monster and the mysterious giant, they were allowed to go.
Rob still had his move to Japan to focus on, which kept his mind occupied, if only for a moment. He tried keeping in touch with Beth, but after a few months they slowly drifted apart. Beth honored the anniversary of the event, and all the friends she had lost, but over time she, like the rest of the world, moved on just like every other disaster.
But he'd never move on. Rob Hawkins had great anger in his heart, and it wasn't going away anytime soon.
Unknown Area
In the middle of the strange, spectral forest, a lone figure sat at the edge of a blood red lake, a fishing pole in his hands. From across the lake, Old Man Consequences could hear the sounds of this dimension's jailer taunting his inmate.
"I've been looking for you… and now I will never let you go…"
"I am given flesh, to be your tormentor."
"I assure you, I am very real."
"This is how it feels, and now you get to experience it over, and over, and over again… forever. I will never let you leave."
"What is this new prison? Is it me trapped, or is it you? Perhaps it's us both."
Henry Emily let out a weary sigh. Michael was too stubborn for his own good. He had hoped that the fire could grant him absolution from his perceived sins, but all that had done was deny him the revenge he felt he was owed. When Charlie told him about that hotel, Michael doubled down, believing his father would somehow find it and get off scot free for his actions. It was like he believed his father should be punished for his actions, but that he himself should also be punished for shifting him on that path.
From his spot, he could see a yellow shape appear on the edge of a lake, and waved at it. Hopefully the lost spirit within could at least recognize him.
"I'm worried about your brother, Cassidy," he confided. "I've tried talking to him, so has Charlie, but nothing's worked. The only one who could get through to him, I think, is you." Old Man Consequences gave a sardonic chuckle. "And therein lies the problem, we don't know where you are. Hopefully Charlie can find help, then you and Michael can put all this in the past."
With not much else to do but wait, he turned back to the lake and hoped for the best.