Location: Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, Japan The young woman sighed, glancing at the clock. The garage was quiet for once, at least for the next hour or so. Her work for her classes were finished, so she had nothing to do for the time being. Digging into her pocket, she felt the familiar shape of an
old pocket watch. It had been a gift from her grandfather when she'd graduated high school. Unfortunately, he'd passed away last year.
"
Bidibidibidibidi!"
Emiko glanced at her phone screen. A text from Dad, back in the States. Attached was a picture of him in a Hanshin Tigers shirt, hot dog in one hand and a beer in the other. He'd been doing better since his operation last month. She quickly typed out a message before slipping her headphones on and selecting a playlist, closing her eyes as the music started playing.
"
Namida ga ikutsu afureta darou
Itami o nando kanjita darou..."
Location: Outpost 54, Jan Mayen, Arctic Ocean Dr. Otto Anderson took a sip of coffee from his mug, glancing at the monitor. "How's the big guy doing?" A young woman with blond hair stepped into the room. He gave her a scowl.
"Karen, what are you doing here? I thought you were on your way back to Copenhagen?" Karen rolled her eyes.
"You haven't been outside today, have you, Dad?"
"No." The bearded man pointed at the screen. "I've been keeping a close eye on Jörmungandr. His vitals have been changed the last few days. Heartrate and breathing are elevated, and brain activity indicates he might be coming out of brumation." Karen blinked in surprise.
"Should we be worried?" she asked. "When TERRA woke him up, he was... less than pleased, if I remember correctly."
"If you call snacking on a few construction workers less than pleased, then yes," Anderson replied.
The great beast was dreaming. It swam through the freezing depths, drawn by a call. It was a sound it hadn't heard in several millenia: another of its species. The last time it had heard the sound of its own kind, it led to a territorial dispute. It had won, and as far as the creature knew, its opponent had died of its injuries.
Then there was another sound: sharp and piercing, as if something was biting onto the beast's skull. But this one didn't disappear when it opened its eyes. The yellow pupils flicked around, taking in the sight around it. The air reeked of the tiny pink apes and their machines... and from some reason, the scent enraged the beast.
The monster reared its head, and let out an earth-shaking bellow.
Location: Five kilometers north of White Island, New Zealand