Authors note: Hey! Thank you for clinking on my story! i just wanted to warn you that i changed a couple of things in the story (well it is a fanfiction) and everything should be clear in the story but of course, please let me know if something is not clear. I'm all about the productive criticisms reviews and feedback so please don't hesitate to share your oppinion with me. Stay excilent and don't forget to be awesome.

He was pleased with himself.

That's how he felt, pleased, happy, proud to have done this with his brother Yancy by his side.

Yancy was smiling.

"You've endangered the lives of millions for a boat that caries ten" Marshall Pentecost's voice boomed over the radio.

"With all due respect sir, we've managed to save the lives on the boat and take down the Kaiju with two shots of plasma cannon-" replied Yancy.

"You've disobeyed a direct order Ranger, get back to the Shatterdome now." Ordered Pentecost.

"Yes, sir." Obliged Raleigh smiling back at his brother. They had done it.. Pleased. Happy. Proud.

"Ranger the Knifehead is still alive, take the fishing boat and get to safety, do you hear me?! Take the boat and get to safety!" Pentecost yelled over the radio. But it was too late. Before they could act or think, The Knifehead jumped on Gipsy's left shoulder and tore it off. Raleigh yelled out in pain. Yancy yells at his baby brother to hold on and that he got this, charging the second plasma canon but before they knew it, Knifehead tore open the Conn-Pod and ripped Yancy out of the cockpit.

"NOOO!" yelled Raleigh.

He was breathless, in bed, covered in sweat.

He squeezed his eyes shot and tried to slow down his breathing. He could feel Yancy's fear, his panic and his anger inside himself. He set up in his bed, eyes still shut.

His throat felt sore. "no…" he repeated but this time it was a whisper.

It had been 5 years and 5 months since that day, but it was still vivid like yesterday in his dreams. The only difference that came with years was that he could shake it off faster now. It wasn't his own feelings he struggled with anyway, it was his brothers. They were still connected when he had died, and the anger, the shock, the helplessness his brother felt, kept on coming back to taunt and haunt him.

As he got out of bed he hit his pinky toe on the metal bedside table. Hard. "S-sshit!" he hissed. That reminded him where he was, he wasn't in Alaska anymore, he was in the Hon Kong Shatterdome in his own private room. He turned on the lights and took a look at the unfamiliar room.

It was 3:27 in the morning.

They needed him, that's what Pentecost had said. They had a plan to stop all this and they needed all operating Jaegers on board and so, Raleigh was to pilot Gipsy Danger once again with a co-pilot he had yet to meet.

He limped to his small bathroom, his toe still aching. He splashed cold water to his face then decided that wasn't good enough, so he got undressed and got in to the shower, letting the cool water run.

"Would you rather die here building the Wall, or in a Jaeger"

Those were the words that got Raleigh agree. He couldn't fight with that logic.

When he got out of the shower it was 4:15. He decided he didn't want to be up. His brain was functioning too much for his liking, worrying about every thing; what was this plan that would end all Kaiju? Who would be his co-pilot? Would any of the candidates even be good enough? Is HE good enough? Did he break his toe? Whatever the plan is would it even work? And GOD his toe hurt..

He got back in to bed with just his sweatpants and fell asleep to have nightmares of his brother again.

Mako Mori knocked on Raleigh Becket's door. It was 7:30 in the morning. She was always out of her room at 7:30. She figured waking would be a good idea so he could eat his breakfast and get ready for his co-pilot try outs that were tomorrow. She wanted desperately to be one of the candidates... But she told herself she needed to respect her step father Pentecost's decision.

When she didn't get an answer she started to make her way to the cafeteria.

Raleigh's opened his door. "Mako?"

Mako turned to see Raleigh Backet in only sweatpants, covered in sweat.

Mako blinked in surprise and staring at his bare chest a moment longer that she had intended. "Mr. Backet, I just thought you might want to get something to eat and then some practice before tomorrows tryouts.." she trailed off "but I suppose you already were?"

Raleigh looked at her for a moment without getting what she meant, he followed Mako's gaze and realized she was talking about his sweaty worn out look. With a smirk he said "Oh yeah, you could say that."

They stood there for a moment not knowing what to say.

"So you said you definitely wont be one of the candidates?" Raleigh asked crossing his arms as if to warm himself.

"No, I wont be" added Mako with a faint smile, "but as I said I picked the best suitable candidates."

Raleigh nodded his head "I still can't see how you aren't one of them with 51 kills at the academy."

Mako just avoided his eyes.

"Well I'll see you at breakfast Mr. Backet. The last team of Jaeger Pilots should be arriving right about now and I'll be bringing them there also if you'd like to meet them." said Mako slightly bowing.

"You can call me Raleigh." He said with a genuine smile.

Mako couldn't help but think he had a very charming smile. Or maybe it was just because he was shirtless, she couldn't decide. "Ok" she said and slowly added "Raleigh."

He flashed her one of those breath taking smirks and nodded his head. "See you later Mako."

Raleigh shut his door. It was curious to him that Mako was not one of, if not THE candidate to be his co-pilot.

While he was thinking about this he realized Mako had said another team of Pilots were arriving. But he thought they were already all here?

He counted all the operating Jaegers in is head; Chinese Jaeger Crimson Typhoon piloted by the Wei Triplets, Australian Jaeger Striker Eureka piloted by Herc Hansen and his (jackass) son Chuck Hansen, Russian Jaeger Cherno Alpha piloted by Sasha Kaidonovsky and her husband Aleksis Kaidonovsky And there was him with Gipsy Danger.

Well he'd meet them soon anyway.