The drift. It was my life. I'd learned everything there was to know about the process that moulded your mind into a machine and I was one of the leading researchers on Newton's team. I remember thinking, 'I don't want to be a sitting duck. I want to help.' And with that I thrust myself into my textbooks and made myself what I am today. An asset. Marshall Pentecost knows what I am. He knows that my knowledge is double what all the pilots know combined. In fact, he even knows that as far as the drift goes, I know more than Newton.
That brings us to the present moment. The moment where I've just been asked by the Marshall, 'do you think he's ready?'
Raleigh Becket is one of the most renowned Jaegar fighters there is, and so naturally I know he's ready to drift. But my worry, is that he'll get caught in the memory of him and his brother. He'll be overwhelmed, and everyone will suffer. However, this isn't a good enough reason on its own and so I have to give Pentecost the go ahead.
'Yes sir,' I replied, 'I believe Becket is ready to come back.'
Hours later and the first of the pilots were arriving. First the Chinese crew, then the Russians and finally, my favourite Jaegar pilots. Herc and Chuck Hansen. I've followed the pair for years, their bizarre bond always intrigued me and they taught me a valuable lesson about the drift. Just because they don't like each other, doesn't mean they can't drift perfectly. Raleigh would arrive in a few days. I pitied him for his loss, but personally I have no words of worship for his general fight style. He was reckless, and recklessness can get a lot of people killed.
In the line at dinner, I found myself in the presence of a certain young Hansen. As one of the only women in a 100 mile radius, Chuck zoned in on me almost immediately.
'Hello darlin' he said, with his trademark cheeky smile.
'How are you Mr Hansen.' I said without implying the question part.
'I'm a lot better now that I know I've got something to do this evening.' He said, the smile creeping into his voice.
'Ugh,' I replied and I left my dinner, I was totally put off, and not just by the food. I instead headed for the drinks and poured myself a coffee. Unlike Chuck, I did actually have something to do this evening, namely research. I settled myself in the back corner, the same corner I'd sat in for what seemed like eternity. A few minutes later a tray plopped down on the table beside me. I knew it was Chuck and so I just continued sipping my coffee.
'Excuse me,' a voice said, after clearing it's voice. They were still Australian, but it wasn't Chuck. I lifted my head and saw the towering form of Herc Hansen leaning on the table.
'Hello sir.' I replied in an almost military fashion.
'I noticed that you abandoned your dinner after my son harassed you and so I thought I'd give you this.' Mr Hansen had carefully arranged a selection of food on the tray. Judging from the state of his own tray, he'd been unusually carefully to make sure things didn't spill from compartment to compartment. I was speechless.
'Thank you sir.' I replied, 'that's very kind of you.'
'You're welcome, and please call me Herc. I've never gotten used to being a sir.' I smiled.
'Would you like to sit down?' I asked him and beckoned to the seat beside me, he was my hero after all.
'Thank you, I'd love to.' He said, but I did notice him glancing at the table with Chuck and the other pilots before making his decision.
'So,' he began, 'what's a young girl like you doing in a place like this?' he asked as he shovelled some peas into his mouth.
'Oh, I'm the leading drift expert.' I replied, trying to act casual.
'I thought that Newton guy was the drift expert.' he enquired.
'No, Newton is an expert in all things Kaiju, but the drift… that's my baby.' I relpied, by now, I was well used to everyone assuming Newton was the only researcher in the place.
'Well, in that case, I'm very pleased with your work.' He said, and I gave a small laugh which he seemed to appreciate.
After talking for twenty minutes, I told Herc I had to go to work, but it had been lovely talking with him. He nonchalantly said he'd 'see me around' and I left.