Author's Notes: Well, I would have waited a bit longer to upload this since I didn't think feedback was enough. Yet I always found myself itching to write a new chapter so... here you have it!

I shall now change the rating to T due to some foul language courtesy of Hercules Hansen. Enjoy!

It has been a month since the detonation of Gipsy Danger and the collapse of the Breach. With the Kaiju threat quelled, mankind can finally live without the fear of being attacked by monstrous aliens.

Inside the Hong Kong Shatterdome, a once-bustling base that served as the home of the Jaegers, there was an empty air. Without the constant humming of machinery, the commanding shouts of the personnel, and the loud whirring of the Jaegers and the awe and power they radiated, everything about one of the largest Shatterdomes seemed dull.

There were a few personnel left. Only a handful stayed to clean up or look after the Shatterdome after it was decommissioned. It would stay that way until a few more weeks when the renovations would start. The plan was to convert the Shatterdome into a museum that tributes the Kaiju, the Jaegers and their pilots, and others involving the Kaiju War. During those few weeks, some personnel thought it would be best to stay.

Two of those personnel that volunteered to remain were Hercules Hansen, Australian and former Jaeger pilot, and Tendo Choi, Chinese-Peruvian and former J-tech chief.

They both were in front of LOCCENT's holographic screen, scrolling through a digital map of the entire world. They were still allowed access to the retired and decommissioned office since it didn't have any use after the war. It has become one of the Jaegers' most high-tech and helpful assistance and control system to just a computer room for leisure.

"With all due respect, sir. I already told you a lot of times. There isn't gonna be any chance those bastards would be crawling out of the ocean anymore," Tendo said as he ordered the map to zoom into the Pacific. He shook his head tiredly, trying to shake away his boredom and disinterest.

Herc frowned. "Just keep looking," he ordered sternly in his gruff Australian accent.

Tendo shook his head and sighed exasperatingly. "Well, I don't see how that's necessary. I mean, those bastards aren't going to cause us trouble when their little, underwater, ass crack portal blows up in their faces."

Herc scowled before bowing slightly and leaning towards the screen. "I don't know, either... It's just... I can't get this thought out of my head..."

Tendo stopped scrolling on LOCCENT's retired holo-screen to turn on his swivel chair towards the Australian. His brows were scrunched up in confusion. "What thought?"

Herc rubbed his forehead and eyes. "I-I don't know... It's just that... I don't think this is the end..."

Tendo's frown hardened. "What do you mean this ain't all over? Didn't we just stop the war clock last month? Are you saying that you're doubting our victory?"

"No. We won. Gipsy and Striker finished the mission. It's just... dammit, Tendo... I just feel like this isn't the end. Period." Herc stood straight before crossing his arms and pacing the floor.

"Sir, we didn't dub Operation Pitfall the final battle for nothing. I mean, just think of it this way," Tendo raised both of his hands like he was about to show off a magic trick.

"Gipsy Danger, a mark-III Jaeger resurrected from rotting in Oblivion Bay, and Striker Eureka, the only mark-V designed to be the most powerful Jaeger there is, jump into the Mariana's Trench to drop a super powerful bomb into the Breach. But then, they get confronted by two of the most reputed category-4 Kaiju, Scunner and Raiju, and the only category-5, Slattern," he narrated dramatically.

Herc quirked an eyebrow up musingly at Tendo's antics.

Tendo continued, reimagining the day mankind shoved victory into the alien threat's throat. "I can only imagine how badass it was when Gipsy tore Raiju in half with her sword... and when Striker blew up in Scunner and Slattern's faces."

Herc suddenly felt a tightening in his throat at the mention of Striker's detonation. He was one of the Jeager's pilots, the other being his son, Chuck Hansen. He didn't get to fight himself under the Pacific in Operation Pitfall, since he hurt his arm when they fought Leatherback and Otachi. He removed the splint only a few days ago, despite his doctor's protests saying that it was too soon. But being the independent and self-assured person he was, he brushed the cautious words off as paranoia and removed the splint. He still felt the fiery and numbing sensation on his elbow, but he thinks it's close to healing...

But that wasn't what he felt bad for. His son... The only family of his own blood left... The one who stood by his side despite their conflicts... He died.

Chuck died alongside Stacker when they detonated Striker to clear a way for Gipsy Danger. His son died in an underwater explosion, reduced to tiny molecules from the pressure-magnified, superheated, nuclear blast. He also felt sorry for his brother-in-arms, Stacker Pentecost, but compared to his son's death, it felt like it was nothing. He felt guilty about that, but he couldn't help it. To him, his son's death affected him the most.

Herc could only imagine how things would have been if he was there for his son. They would have fought beside each other, smashing down Kaiju with Striker Eureka's brass knuckles and mincing them with his Stinger Blades. They would have fought until the end together. They would have died with each other in honor and knowing that their efforts would not be in vain.

But during Operation Pitfall, inside LOCCENT, and organizing the mission, Herc felt... helpless. For a very long time, Hercules had never felt so helpless. He could only watch and listen as the Jaegers fought for victory in the Pacific. He could only watch his only family die. He could only watch his son fall into the merciless claws of the Kaiju, and he couldn't do anything about it because he just had one goddamn broken arm.

He could never forgive himself. He just wanted to forget everything. He wasn't one to end his own life with a gun on his head, but he suddenly felt the urge to walk out onto the Shatterdome's chopper landing area and jump off the ledge.

His eyes glistened with unshed tears. Herc grunted in annoyance before rubbing away the liquid from his eyes with his hand. In an attempt to hide his action, he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. But Tendo, after keeping attentive eyes for many years in front of the holo-screen coordinating Jaegers through their missions, can catch a man trying to hold back his grief. "Woah. Sir... You okay?"

Herc wanted to snap back how stupid the question sounded. Of course he wasn't okay! It didn't take a genius and a psychiatrist to know that he was trying to hold back from going into a tantrum, wrecking what was left of LOCCENT, and breaking down on the floor. But he kept that to himself, not wanting to make things difficult for him. "N-nothing... Just get back to what you're doing. I don't wanna talk about it..."

Tendo didn't buy it. "I don't think trying to hold back manly tears is anything good for you, sir. But in all seriousness, it's not bad to cry. We lost a lot of guys during the war... It's only good if we let it all out."

"I'm not crying... I'm just sleepy," Herc reasoned as he turned away and concentrated on keeping his damn tears away. A single traitorous tear rolled down his cheek, and Herc tried to suppress a shaky breath of defeat.

"I'm not buying it," Tendo said firmly. "I'm not a guy that can comfort people with soothing words and cheesy pep talk... But that doesn't mean I won't try. Look, sir... We've all lost many people, all of whom fought hard and died in honor drilling Jaeger fists into Kaiju asses. But we all gotta move on... Come on, I understand all your pain-"

Herc slammed his fist loudly on a nearby desk, effectively silencing Tendo. "You understand?" Herc growled in a hushed whisper. Tendo swallowed a heavy lump in his throat, mentally noting for the umpteenth time never to get on Herc's nerves. "You understand?!" The Australian finally snapped, as he turned around to reveal his teariness and brokenness. His eyes were cloudy, and tears were streaming down his cheeks. His face had an unhealthy red tint on them.

Tendo stuttered trying to retrieve the situation's calmness. He tried his best thinking up words that would comfort the Aussie, but none ever came up. He was afraid his words were going to make things worse. Like he said himself, he was never one of those mushy soothing kind of people.

"Do you understand how much pain I'm in?!" Herc screamed. "First it was Angela, my wife! She was killed by either that slimy fucker of a Kaiju, Scissure, or that goddamn nuke those insensitive assholes of a government sent to blow up Sydney and the thousands that screamed for help!" He clawed his ginger hair before screaming again.

"And then Scott! My brother! The one who helped me in my struggle through my miserable life without daring to leave my side despite his problematic qualities! The one who looked after my Chuck when he was still a kid when I wasn't there! The one who I first connected my mind and drifted with! The first one who I fought alongside with against those godforsaken Kaiju bitches! Just because of his goddamn womanizing and shit, I was forced to leave him! I reported him, and he was taken away. He deserved it, but he was still my brother! And ever since, I never heard from him!" He threw an unfortunate stapler that was right beside the fuming former Ranger's hand, the sound of plastic snapping against concrete echoing across the deserted room.

"And then- and then, Chuck... The only family I had left that wasn't mauled to death by an overgrown sea slug! One of my anchors to this world! The one that gave me a reason to live! The one that kept me from going insane! Dead! Exploded in the bottom of the ocean! Ripped apart from fighting that fucking cat-five!" Herc threw a porcelain cup which held some ballpoint pens. He was panting loudly, wheezing heavily with every labored breath. He clenched his fist before smashing his good hand into the table he stood next to.

"And you!" He screamed as he faced a for-once terrified Tendo. "How dare you say you can understand the pain I'm feeling right now! I'm the only Hansen left! I'm the only one in my family, and no one else is there to encourage me to live anymore!"

That was when Tendo abruptly stood up from his swivel chair, a disapproving and determined frown on his face. "Herc! Don't you dare say that on me! You're not alone! You still have friends, brother! You still have a reason to live! And besides, I thought you were a Hansen! Hansens aren't supposed to give up! You said it yourself!"

Herc growled in feral rage, trying his best not to deliver a painful uppercut on Tendo's stub of a chin.

"Listen, brother..." Tendo began, his firmness hardening every word he said. "I'm doing this because you're my friend. You're my brother-in-arms. Everyone cares for you..."

"No one does! I'm not even a Jaeger pilot anymore! Do you think people would ever give a damn and consider my presence if I didn't pilot Jaegers? I'm pretty damn sure they won't!" Herc seethed.

Tendo closed his eyes and shook his head in disappointment. "You're not alone, Herc. You're my friend and brother. We look out for each other. And don't tell me you got no family left. I'm still here."

Herc looked down onto the floor, his rage dissipating as Tendo's words finally got to him. Noticing this, the former J-tech chief continued on. "I'm here for you brother. Even though we're not connected by blood, we're family, too. And I'm pretty sure Angela, Scott, and Chuck would'a told you to suck it up like a man. They want you to move on. Angela wouldn't want her husband not able to forgive himself for her death. Scott wouldn't want his brother acting like a prissy. Chuck wouldn't want you to bang your own head on the metal doors of our bunks. What I'm saying is that you aren't supposed to live like this. They want you to move on, and so do the guys who're still kicking such as me. We want you to move on."

Herc pondered this for a bit before gingerly setting himself on the cold floor. He leaned back on one of the tables, brought both of his hands up to his face, and let the tears out.

Tendo silently walked over, kneeled down, and placed a brotherly hand on the weeping man's shoulder. "We've got to live on, carry the memories of their lives, and retell them alongside our own story. Besides..."

Herc looked up and stared at Tendo with an emotionless face. Tendo smiled kindly. "We'll always find them in the drift."

Herc brought his hands down and let out a shaky breath. "S-sorry, Tendo," Herc apologized as he gazed at the floor beside him. "I'm sorry I acted like a drunk Kaiju on steroids," Herc said as he gazed up at the Chinese-Peruvian before giving him a small smirk. "I guess you're right. They may be gone... but they won't ever be forgotten, and I'll make sure those memories live on... even if the ones who would know aren't of Hansen blood."

Tendo smiled and patted Herc's shoulder. "Good. It's about time the Aussie's stopped crying."

Herc smiled back before scowling. "Alright, enough with mushy pep talk. Now help me up before I lock you up inside those two scientists' freakshow of a Kaiju lab."

At this, Tendo laughed before standing up and offering Herc a hand. The former Jaeger pilot took it and the two of them returned back to the holo-screen.

"Alright, now where were we?" Tendo asked himself as he eased himself on his swivel chair and resumed scrolling the digital map. A confused frown made its way on his face as he realized something. "Um... Sir?"

Herc quirked an eyebrow up questioningly. "You didn't answer my question. Why'd you think 'this isn't the end'?" Tendo asked.

Herc rubbed his chin in thought. "It's... complicated. I'll explain when the time is right. In the meantime, just keep looking..."

Tendo's frown grew tighter. "What are we looking for again?"

Herc looked down on the floor with his arm crossed. "Kaiju."

Tendo quirked an eyebrow up. "Kaiju? But why? I thought the Breach was destroyed. Why would you want to find Kaiju when they aren't even here in the first place?"

"I don't know. I'm just trying to make sure there aren't any Kaiju bastards that managed to crawl through the Breach when it collapsed," Herc answered with slight uncertainty.

Tendo snorted. "There wouldn't be any of that. We could have detected movem. ent and radiation anomalies."

Herc nodded in agreement. "Yeah... But I'm also thinking about two Kaiju in particular..."

"You mean the one those Japanese reported was still alive even though Avenger Achilles finished it off?" Tendo snorted. "Those Japanese were probably too traumatized when Caitiff "woke up and ran towards the sea." And besides, that was a long time ago. It was what? 9 and a half months ago?"

Herc hummed in agreement. "Maybe so... But care to explain that disturbed pit of rubble that's suspiciously shaped like a Kaiju? We have recorded photos of it. And that teeny tiny spike of radiation that for some odd reason, resembles Kaiju blue anomaly patterns."

"Avenger Achilles reported its death, sir. I don't think one of our men would lie just to protect a Kaiju. I mean, everyone practically wants to shove a nuke up their alien asses. It makes no sense if our Rangers decided to leave Caitiff alive. And heck, we would have detected its signature," Tendo argued back.

"It had been two days since Caitiff was thought to be dead. By that time, we didn't manage to catch its signature when it stirred. We may have kept LOCCENT active at all times, but I don't think our detections systems are strong enough to locate a barely-alive Kaiju."

Tendo quirked an eyebrow up. "Another question, sir..." Herc frowned, bracing himself for the Chinese-Peruvian's question. "Why're you even arguing that a Kaiju might still be alive? I mean, I'm pretty sure you hate them a lot more after Strik..." Tendo trailed off, not wanting to mention Striker's detonation in front of Herc again.

Herc frowned harder. "I wasn't hoping for those bastards to be alive... It wouldn't hurt to be extra careful, now would it? You know what happened with Gipsy Danger and Knifehead, right?"

Tendo sighed defeatedly, half-convinced. "Yeah... I guess you're right. We wouldn't want to get caught off guard... But don't you think you're taking it too far?"

Herc snorted in amusement. "Too far? Sitting leisurely in front of a computer for a month is too far for you? And to think that this job doesn't even have the pressure and stress of your previous job..."

"Good point," Tendo smirked.

"Well, whatever the case... It better show itself before I get nauseous from continually monitoring the computer for the whole month," Tendo said as he snuck an accusing glare at an oblivious Herc.

The Aussie was staring straight ahead, his red eyes glazed over. He didn't seem to be very aware of his surroundings, his grief, guilt, and anger threatening to consume him from the inside.

'This is gonna take a while...' Tendo thought grimly.

Time Skip (2 months later)

Meanwhile, somewhere in the Pacific...

A large and scaly dorsal fin sliced through the waves effortlessly, the water cascading through the sides like waterfalls. The owner of the dorsal fin shifted itself to rise higher from the ocean, revealing its large back.

The back was an assortment of scales of different shapes and sizes, clumped together to form a hard and durable shell. Bioluminescent markings lined it, creating vague shapes along its back. The alien appearance suggested it belonged to a Kaiju.

But this was not Caitiff, the main Kaiju of this story. No, this one is much bigger, faster, and more powerful. It had the same Serizawa scale category as Caitiff: Category IV... Very powerful indeed. Although not as powerful as Slattern itself, the infamous Category V and most powerful Kaiju there is, it was still a force to be reckoned with.

The unknown Kaiju torpedoed through the water, using its four, powerful arms and equally capable legs to propel itself forward. It was looking for something...

The Kaiju had been casually swimming deep below the waves, resurfacing only once a day to take in a huge gulp of air to sustain it. During one of its brief resurfaces, it caught a scent. It was vague and barely noticeable, but the Kaiju still sensed it.

The scent was... familiar. It smelled like saltwater stained with sulfur. It also smelled like a rusty piece of metal was dunked under a bucket of formaldehyde and scrubbed until the rust mixed into it. It smelled alien... like another Kaiju.

And so with the scent captured and identified, it swam towards the source, eager to finally meet another one of its kind after the Breach was destroyed by those metal beasts.

The Kaiju rumbled menacingly at the thought of the Jaegers. The water below the surface boiled from the action, vibrations sending ripples throughout the water. The Kaiju frowned hatefully, remembering what the Jaegers did.

It was there when it happened after all... It didn't see how the Breach was destroyed, but when it awoke without the familiar feeling of it's creators' hive mind connection, it knew everything.

It didn't want to recall what went down there, but it found itself reliving the painful memory of it's brothers' and sisters' defeat.

...(uknown Kaiju's POV)...

The water was cold... Even colder than what it seemed.

The thought of facing those metal beasts again sent a cold, unsettling feeling through my veins. My throat suddenly felt dry, despite being 11,000 meters underwater and gulping down water constantly.

I growled under my breath...

My creators told me that fear was natural... for the weak. But I am not weak! I was created to destroy! A powerful being such as me cannot feel fear!

At least, that is what I would have liked to believe...

Even with my defiant denial of being afraid, I couldn't help the nervous and cold feeling in my stomach eating away at my focus.

A soft rumble caught my attention.

I spun towards the sound, and I softened up upon seeing my brother-in-arms...

'It is okay to fear,' he spoke to me through our mental link. 'Fear is natural. Everyone feels fear. Everyone can hide it under their own courageous and egoistic facade, but in the end, fear still resides deep within our hearts... And also... I am here for you, my friend... I will be by your side in this battle...'

I snorted my thanks. 'Thank you. I was in need of that... You truly are a good friend.'

He smiled at me, and I smiled back.

Just then, the voices of my creators blared in my head, alerting me of the oncoming threat.

I turned towards my friend. 'We must ready ourselves. The metal beasts approach.'

He nodded before swimming off towards the dark waters, away from the orange lights coming from the underwater volcanoes surrounding us.

I did the same, disappearing into the murky and dark depths of the cold Pacific Ocean.

-Time Skip-

My heart felt like it was being squeezed and wrenched out of my chest. My blood ran cold, freezing my body from the inside. My eyes glazed over in grief. I lost focus and everything around me became a blur as I saw my dear friend get torn in half...

His mangled body slowly settled down into the rocky and jagged ocean floor, his blue blood staining the water and creating a stench that smelled of sulfur... and grave death.

My glazed eyes slowly grew a red-tinted vision. I felt my cold blood heating up, burning my veins and fueling my rage. I roared in fury before surging towards the metal beast.

'You will pay dearly... You have taken away someone important to me... You have taken away his life!' I screamed at the metal beast. It didn't understand what I was saying, but it took it as a sign of daring. It's visor darkened in malice.

I roared again. 'And now your life I shall take!'

-Time Skip-

The heat was intense. It burned my skin and tore away my flesh. The shockwave winded me, knocking all air out of my enormous lungs. The shock that came alonf choked me, refusing to let me breath in much needed air.

I barely remember anything about it... All I ever recall was the pain...

My kin's destruction... My defeat... My brother's death...

Without knowing, a tear rolled down my enormous face before being swept away by the water rushing past me. My heart wrenched in grief and pain. I hate this feeling. It is not because I feel like it was meant for the weak... but because... because it reminds me how much of a failure I am and how reckless I acted...

My brother-in-arms died because I didn't act too wisely. I didn't watch his back like we promised each other. I left him to die...

I shook my head, trying to clear away those thoughts. My brother and best friend would not want me to think such things. He would have smacked me upside the head with his tail if he was still alive.

...If he was still alive...

My thoughts were cut short when an island came into view. It was obviously a volcanic island, since there was a relatively large volcano sitting in the middle of it.

The scent grew stronger... The other Kaiju is on that island!

With confidence that I will finally find another Kaiju and quench my loneliness, I urged myself to swim faster. My arms burned from the effort of swimming for days on end, but I didn't care. I wouldn't be alone in the metal beasts' world anymore. Another Kaiju will watch my back... We will watch each other's back...

I will make a new brother of this Kaiju...

...(3rd POV)...

Caitiff rolled on the black sand, enjoying the heat the beach absorbed from the sun.

Kaiju were cold-blooded, a trait shared with Earth's reptiles, and just like their scaly counterparts, they love heat. Caitiff thought basking in the warm sunlight wasn't enough, even though to humans, it would have felt like over a hundred degrees. The beach was especially hot today; hot enough to send birds screeching in pain as they attempted to land on the beach. And so Caitiff indulged himself there, rolling around the beach causing sand to fly in every direction.

But then he stopped rolling, his back on the sand and feet sticking up high in the air. He frowned as a familiar scent wafted into his nostrils. A loud hiss reverberated through the beach as he sniffed the air for the scent, further identifying it.

His eyes widened as he recognized the sulfurous, rusty, and salty scent... A Kaiju.

...(Caitiff's POV)...

Another Kaiju? But I am the only one here! It is impossible! My creators left me for dead... alone! There aren't supposed to be other Kaiju here! They should be in the Anteverse, sulking over their defeat or just simply mocking me behind my back!

It's not that I don't want another Kaiju alongside me in this world. I've been alone for a long time after all. It has been what? Months? Whatever the case, it has been a very long time, and I have been wanting company for an equally frustrating long time.

I had talked with the animals in this island lately, but I can't. It is either because they flee from me before I could begin, or I cannot understand their language. They were after all, still aliens to me.

Wait a moment... If there is another Kaiju here... then that means the Breach might have reopened!

Is the Kaiju here to retrieve me? Did my creators send it? Is it here to take me back to the Anteverse?

The thought made me both happy and angry. Happy, because my creators probably want me back! They must need my assistance and service! Maybe I'm not so pathetic and useless to them after all!

And I am angry because I do not want to go. My creators have treated me badly and so did the other Kaiju. I do not want to return to the place that will only cause me suffering. Earth is a better place than the Anteverse, and I have already accustomed myself to call this place my home. This is my home now... Not the Anteverse. I will not let that Kaiju take me away and drag me back to the Breach... that hellhole.

I rolled over and stood up, shaking off the sand that stuck to my hide. I gazed out onto the sea and ocean, sniffing as I scanned the horizon. Just then, I see the vague shape of a large dorsal fin slicing through the waves in the distance.

I watched carefully as the mass closed in, my eyes narrowing in anticipation. My claws clinked as I fidgeted my fingers nervously. My tail wagged back and forth slowly, occasionally uprooting trees unfortunate enough to be in the way.

A half hour passed, and the Kaiju drew closer. The scent was stronger now, and it smelled so much of sulfur and Kaiju essences. The dorsal fin grazed the few remaining waves before rising to expose the Kaiju's back.

The displaced water surged into the land as the Kaiju before me rose up.

First came its back: wide, stocky, spiky, and overall bulky. Next came its four arms which looked like the standard biped Kaiju appendages: thick and bulky, opposing to my thin and long arms. I couldn't help but notice that two of its arms -the smaller, lower left and bigger, upper right- were deformed like they were crushed by asteroids and had grotesque scars lining their length. One of its claws on its larger hands was chipped off, leaving a blunt stump in its place.

Finally came the head. It had a large and tall mouth with its lower jaw protruding out visibly. It had two, large, hook-like horns that bended forwards from the side of its face. One of the horns had a tear in it, making it look like something bit a chunk of it off. It had four small eyes which were nestled on top of a hammer-shaped appendage that sat on the top of its head.

To say that I was surprised was an understatement.

Upon recognizing the Kaiju, my throat tightened and my breath hitched. My blood suddenly ran cold and even without these so-called "hairs" on my neck, I could feel an unsettling and tingling sensation on the back of my head.

The Kaiju before me sneered upon recognizing me. He spoke to me through a mental link. 'Ah... With just my luck... The coward miraculously survives the war... I cannot help but express my surprise... Caitiff...' He said my name like it belonged to the least respectable person he knew... which I probably was.

I struggled in my lose of words, unable to bring myself to speak clearly. But I did manage to stutter out his name...

'S-Scunner?'