notes –
this will be a 5-parter (or 4?) and the rest of the dex holders will appear in subsequent (and longer) parts! i've got most of everything sorted out and this is just something fun i wanted to try out since i miss writing for pokespe and i adored pacific rim! my aim is to finish this short chaptered thing before the new year, but let me overcome my finals first ehehehe
(1 – flare blitz)
"Outta' the way! Outta' the way! You aren't building an entire Jaeger from scratch, are you? Move it!"
Someone pushes past him carrying piles of blueprints in their arms. The person isn't very tall, and he's dwarfed by the sheer amount of papers he's attempting to carry.
Ruby might have have offered to help if he hadn't been shoved aside. 'Might have' is just an expression, of course.
A second man brushes past Ruby with a toolbox. He's more average in height, trailing after the first man the way you'd expect an assistant to follow his mentor. The man looks over his shoulder, and Ruby feels the need to tell him to catch his breath. His complexion is unflatteringly pale.
"Sorry about that! He gets really caught up with work," the man wheezes. He nods once in apology before scuttling down one of the multiple corridors after his friend.
"Wait – excuse me?"
Ruby harrumphs as he realises that he won't be getting any help. He wants ask where in the world is the exit. He's been meandering around the deepest recesses of the Kanto Shatterdome for what's seemed like hours at this point. It's ridiculous how big and empty it is –he thinks 'hollow' is the most suitable word, and it sends a shiver down his spine. There aren't many people around. It's probably because the interior design here is abysmal. No one would want to hang around in such a gloomy, questionably hygienic place like this. Every intersection of hallways looks the identical to the last.
The longer he stays here, the more upsetting it will get. He needs to find the way out before he ends up meeting the person he wants to avoid the most.
As Ruby rounds a corner and is nearly bowled over again, he wonders if he should just give up on this whole running away thing. Clearly, something is plotting against him. He staggers away from the two men, barely catching his balance.
"Sorry 'bout that! You okay?" the one with hideous, messy hairstyle asks.
Ruby adjusts his hat, more than ready to launch into a barrage of complaints. "If you must know, I've been wandering around this dreary metal facility for ages, getting pushed this way and that, my feet are killing me and –" he stops midsentence as he takes in their appearances. It had been hard to recognise who they were since they're wearing uniforms instead of Drivesuits.
"Hold on. Aren't you two…?"
The redhead doesn't react, but a wide smile appears on other's face.
"You got that right! Do you feel honoured that you're standing before Flare Blitz's crew? The great Gold and Silver!"
Silver cringes at the overenthusiastic introduction.
So these two really are who he thought they were. Gold and Silver, the co-pilots of Flare Blitz. Flare Blitz had been one of the newest, breakthrough models in the past – the first Jaeger to be powered by digital technology. Now, it's fallen behind all the other newer models, but Ruby knows that Gold and Silver have all the advantages of experience, skill and youth. The thought makes him feel bitter for some reason.
"… You look more well put together on TV," Ruby says. "And younger."
"No way!" Gold shouts. "Doesn't the camera catch all my good angles? They promised they would."
"The same way they promised that they would get back to you about that ad campaign," Silver mumbles.
"You mean they aren't?!" Gold is shocked by the truth.
Silver rolls his eyes before turning to Ruby. The way his gaze is both measured and nonchalant makes Ruby think he's done something to upset him. To be honest, these so-called heroes have always rubbed Ruby the wrong way. Sure, they deserved some recognition and merit for what they were doing, but… he could never understand how anyone in their right mind would want to be a Ranger.
How could people put their lives on the line, knowing that their safe return wouldn't be guaranteed? Even if they did come back, it didn't necessarily mean that they could come back in one piece.
Ruby starts to feel sick as he thinks about this. He wants to escape. Now.
"Excuse me, I wanted to ask – "
"Sorry, but we have to get going." Silver had already started walking before he'd even finished his sentence
"Wait!" Ruby throws his arms out to block the way. "I need to find the exit. All I'm asking for are some simple directions."
"Well, why didn't you say so? Come on, we'll just show you the way out!" Gold offers. He exchanges a brief look with Silver. "Yes. We. Come on, Silv', we've got time. Let's make a little detour."
"No, we don't. We're supposed to report to the LOCCENT."
Gold waves a dismissive hand in the air. "You and I both know that Blue always shows up half an hour late for meetings anyway. Let's just help this poor guy out."
Being called a 'poor guy' makes Ruby indignant, but he's in no position to complain. "Thank you," he says as Silver sighs quietly and Gold begins to lead the way.
"I never forget the little people." Gold nods, apparently proud of his humbleness.
"So, how'd a new recruit get lost in the Shatterdome?"
Ruby balks. He's offended by such a baseless assumption. "I'm not a recruit! What gave you that idea?"
Gold gives him a sidelong glance, backing to the side slightly. "Woah, woah, relax. You just looked about the right age. The PPDC's becoming less stingy with recruits lately. They take them in as young as eighteen now."
"I'm twenty-one," Ruby informs them. "Still far too young to even consider endangering my life in those tin cans."
"Tin cans?" Gold laughs, loud and boisterous. "Blitz might have seen better days, but she can still pack a punch. And me and Silver started out at your age. Look at us now, three years on and still going strong!"
Gold beams. Silver's expression doesn't change.
"Well, this job isn't for everyone, but at least it's something. Plus, it's cool."
"Cool?" Silver echoes. "Hardly."
"Exactly!" Ruby has finally found someone who talks sense. "But, if you know that, why are you even a part of this whole thing?" he asks.
Silver glares at him with the very same look from earlier. Ruby edges away, wondering if he's overstepped some invisible, fragile boundary.
"Everyone has their reasons!" Gold cuts in, saving Ruby from further intimidation. The older man points just ahead. "And we're here!"
They come to a stop in front of what seems to be a lift. Gold scans his namecard on the wall and the three of them file into it once the doors slide open. Silver presses the buttons indicating the ground floor and the sixth floor.
"Well, here's your stop," Gold says the lift ascends to the ground floor. As he leans against the wall, the expression on his face shifts, like he's been struck with a sudden realisation.
"Hey, if you aren't a recruit, what were you doing down there in the restricted area?"
"Goodbye!" And then, Ruby rushes out the lift.
It takes a bit more manoeuvring down long corridors, but with the helpful signs along the way, Ruby eventually finds himself reaching the entrance hall of the Shatterdome. The setting sun is casting a warm light through the glass panes of the building, and Ruby's eyes are on the prize – in less than fifty metres, past those huge main doors, freedom awaits!
He can't help but whistle as he strolls towards the doors. Despite all the trials and tribulations he's been through up to this point, he stuck to his guns, and it's so nice to know that there's nothing some good, old resilience can't solve.
Suddenly, an alarm siren goes off.
As the bustle of people around Ruby comes to a standstill, he watches in sheer horror as the whatever light streaming into the building gets blocked out by the heavy, metal walls that are covering all the doors and windows. No. This can't be happening. Not now. Whatever belief in the concept of resilience flushes itself out of his mind.
Overhead, a young woman's face appears on the gigantic screen overlooking the hall. Ruby doesn't know who she is, but her pigtails and star-shaped earrings are admittedly quite stylish.
"Attention everyone, a Kaiju is surfacing off the coast of Kanto and Johto. All personnel, report to your stations immediately. Civilians, please move in an orderly manner to the indoor shelter for precautionary measures. Rest assured that the Shatterdome is now under lockdown. Nothing is getting in or out."
Something is plotting against him.
As Ruby is dragged by the tide of the crowd moving towards the shelter, he scans the area around him desperately. He has to find somewhere to hide until this whole fiasco has blown over. Squeezing between shoulders and arms, he survives the push and pull of the crowd and emerges near an empty corridor. All the other officers and important-looking people are going down separate ways. He hesitates, wondering if this is a safe enough path. Hopefully it will lead him to a broom closet or something.
When Ruby spots a familiar-looking figure in the distance, caught in the evacuating crowd, he nearly jumps out of his skin. He has no second thoughts as he bolts down the empty corridor, crossing his fingers.
He glances over his shoulder – no one's following him. That's goo –
"Oww!"
Third time's the charm. Ruby really does fall over this time. He hits the ground hard, and the person he's banged into also lands with a hard 'thud'. He doesn't know how much worse this day can get.
"Sorry 'bout that, I was rushin' t– " the girl starts to say as she gets onto her feet.
As she holds a hand out to him and raises her head, Ruby feels his heart screech to a halt.
'Worst' can't even begin to describe what's happening now.
"… Ruby?"
It's Sapphire.
