Three o'clock sharp.
Raleigh, clad in a black pilot suit that fit like armor, stood inside the cockpit of Gipsy Danger.
With practiced ease, he lowered the connection device for the spinal clamp, waiting for his partner. He heard the sound of boots on the floor and knew she had arrived.
"My left arm was injured years ago. I'll take the right side," he said, not turning around, positioning himself by the right-side connection.
"I know."
A familiar voice responded.
Raleigh raised an eyebrow and looked to his side. It was Mako Mori, wearing an identical suit, standing by the left connection.
"Looks like he guessed right after all." Raleigh smiled, recalling the bet he'd made with Natsuki before entering the cockpit.
"Mr. Natsuki?"
"Yeah."
"He saw this coming."
Mako nodded thoughtfully at the comment.
***
Shatterdome Command Center.
Amid the monitors and holographic terminals, Marshal Pentecost watched Gipsy Danger in the bay. Once he confirmed Raleigh and Mako were ready, he nodded to Tendo Choi.
Tendo spoke into the console microphone: "Pilots in position. Connecting cockpit to Jaeger now."
Most of the base personnel were focused on the test.
The head-shaped cockpit was lowered from above and assembled with Gipsy Danger's body.
"Pilots' vitals normal."
"Gipsy Danger reactor online. Initiating neural handshake... 3... 2... 1!"
The moment the handshake activated, Raleigh and Mako snapped to focus.
"Don't get lost in the memories. Stay focused," Raleigh reminded her.
Mako gave a silent nod.
The displays in front of them simultaneously flickered. Their consciousnesses connected, and their past lives flashed before them—infant to child, child to adult. They weren't truly reliving the experiences, just skimming the surface of another person's existence.
Focus... Mako... focus...
This was Mako's first Drift. Despite knowing what was coming, nervousness crept in. She heard Raleigh's voice, a steady anchor soothing her emotions.
They quickly moved past the memories and returned to the present.
"Connection successful. Gipsy Danger left hemisphere calibrated."
"Gipsy Danger right hemisphere calibrated."
The cold, mechanical voice of the Jaeger system announced their readiness.
"Gipsy Danger, online."
Under the gaze of everyone in the Command Center, Gipsy Danger slowly raised an arm, beginning the flexibility test.
"They succeeded." Tendo turned to Marshal Pentecost, joy evident in his voice. Raleigh was an old friend, and seeing him pilot again was a relief.
"Yes," the Marshal agreed, breathing a small sigh.
The pilots had passed the most error-prone stage. Now, they only needed to complete the standard maneuvers. Reaching this point proved their compatibility.
In the bay, Gipsy Danger followed every instruction perfectly. Everything seemed flawless.
"It's a strange feeling, isn't it?" Raleigh said easily to Mako inside the cockpit.
Very... strange. Yes.
Mako didn't speak aloud, but the answer was immediate in Raleigh's mind. Their thoughts were linked, their intentions aligned. They didn't need words to communicate. The experience was truly extraordinary.
"My old girl—after the repairs, she performs better than ever." Raleigh controlled the Jaeger, feeling the gears turn, the engine roar. His blood was boiling.
Returning to the cockpit after years, the feeling was still addictive. He felt the massive Jaeger was his own body, capable of any move he could imagine.
You're welcome.
Raleigh had been about to thank Mako for the repairs, but she answered in his mind before he could speak.
She's a good kid...
How good?
"Uh, you can ignore that part."
Can I ignore it?
"Okay, no."
"Seriously, you're doing much better than I expected," Raleigh said, smiling. "Right now... you're the best partner I could have."
He meant it. He had thought he'd never be able to Drift with anyone again, but here was someone perfectly suited. Maybe it was fate.
It is fate. A memory surfaced in Mako's mind.
"Wait, we met before?" Raleigh sensed the shared memory.
Their first meeting hadn't been yesterday. Years ago, they had met—one-sidedly.
The Becket brothers were notorious troublemakers at the Jaeger Academy. Despite their skill, they constantly broke rules, giving Marshal Pentecost headaches. What gave the Marshal even more trouble was that his daughter often snuck off to watch them train.
"So you saw me back then? Why don't I remember?" Raleigh genuinely couldn't recall seeing her.
Because I hid well, Mako replied in his consciousness.
"Ha."
Academy life. Unforgettable memories.
Back then, he and his brother...
Brother...
Brother...
Wait... no...
Suddenly, Raleigh's breathing seized. He reflexively turned his head.
He saw a figure in a white pilot suit. His brother, Yancy Becket, mouth open, trying to speak.
The next second.
*BOOM!*
A terrifying beast with a bladed head tore through the Jaeger's cockpit. It opened its bloody maw, bit down on Yancy Becket, violently ripped him out, and swallowed him whole...
NO!!!
Warnings suddenly flashed across the Command Center screens.
"Damn it, Raleigh's connection dropped—no, both their connections are gone!" Tendo shot to his feet, calling frantically over the comms.
"What happened!?"
The instant the neural handshake broke, the experienced Raleigh snapped back to reality, fighting off the memory of his brother's death.
But when he looked at Mako—
"I'm fine, but Mako, she...!"
"Stay calm!"
"Mako, listen to me. Deep breaths. Calm yourself."
"Don't let the past memories trap you."
Mako was trapped. She was back in her childhood, standing in the ruins of Tokyo, looking up at a monstrous beast that blotted out the sky.
"No!"
She instinctively raised her hand to shield herself.
The neural handshake was broken, but the Jaeger's operating system was still connected to her movements.
Responding to her unconscious action
"Gipsy Danger. Plasma cannon charging." The cold, mechanical female voice echoed from within the massive machine.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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