2014, February 5 – 10:45 – Anchorage, Alaska, United States

"…I see. Did anyone get hurt?" Will Darcy had been on the phone downstairs for a good hour. Not that she was counting, or anything.

Greyson lay half asleep on her bed. The heater had turned off half an hour ago and their house was starting to get cold again. Or maybe that was her. Getting sick was annoying.

"That's horrible. But they survived — they're alive, right?" Her father's voice had travelled up the stairs and into Greyson's bedroom. That last words he uttered — alive — woke up her senses. Why was he asking if anyone was alive? What happened?

Greyson threw her covers away, sliding off the side of the mattress. She shoved her feet into her plush slippers before starting her tread down the stairs. By the time the fifteen-year-old teenager had gone into the living room, her father was just finishing his call. "Salamat, Jazz, thanks. I'll let her know."

Her mother's half-brother Jasper Schoenfeld was the one on the phone. Something bad must have happened if he needed to call.

"Tito Jazz called? Anong nangyari?" she asked monotonously; what happened? Her stuffed nose made it come out a little muffled. Greyson brushed the rogue, dark hair from her face, blinking at her dad. "Did someone die?"

Will set the telephone back on the receiver as he answered his only child. "Another one of those kaiju things hit the Philippines."

It was like feeling icicles in her veins; Greyson's blood ran cold. Of course, when she had asked who died, she didn't mean it literally. "Si Mama at Papa, okay ba sila? Dad, are Mama and Papa okay?"

"They're fine — they're okay," her father said softly, trying to reassure his daughter of the thought. "Tumawag sila sa tito mo when they got power back. They called your uncle. It's one in the morning there now, of the sixth."

Greyson nodded in understanding, asking only one question: "How long ago was the sighting?"

"It hit Batangas almost seven hours ago," William informed her, "and then destroyed its way to the Metro Manila area." He turned the television on and tuned into The Filipino Channel (rightfully installed just for Greyson — she was an Asian soap opera buff, even though he wasn't. William was born and raised in Manila. Jane Schoenfeld, Greyson's mother, was half-Filipina from her mother; she and Jasper shared a father).

TFC was airing a segment where they showed more camera phone videos of the new Godzilla-like monster. Both father and daughter watched. Greyson heard it, she listened to it intently, but she still couldn't believe it.

Though the newscaster was speaking in Filipino, the English subtitles were displayed at the bottom. "The kaiju landed in Taal hours ago. Most of Manila still has no power following the attack. Special Forces used a tactical nuclear strike to kill Hundun — it's what they're calling this one, according to officials in the Philippines."

"Damn." Her father's voice was so soft that Greyson almost didn't catch it over the volume of the television. "Your tito said he's flying them to California as soon as he can. Air transports and flights have been delayed."

"I'm going to miss a couple weeks of school, aren't I?"

William laughed a bit. "I think most kids would be happy to hear that, anak."

2014, February 22 – 11:40 – LAX, California, United States

Greyson and her father had flown for five and a half hours the day before to make sure they were with Jasper Schoenfeld at the airport to pick up her grandparents. Jasper's seven-year-old son, Robbie, was there as well.

She had been on her cell phone for most of the day; reading online articles, updating her social media sites with pictures and statuses — typical teenager things. However, over the course of the last six months, Greyson's interest had been piqued by the kaiju. For so many years that it was impossible to count, mankind had always believed that if some alien came and landed Earth, it would be from the stars. But these monsters had come from the Pacific Ocean. For some reason, they only appeared there.

If her math teacher had told her anything about series, sequences, iterations, and things of the like, Greyson knew that absolutely nothing can be determined with only two occurrences. With the oceans hardly searched, Greyson was surprised that people were shocked that things like those kaiju even existed.

She overheard her father ask, "Weren't they flying in from Hawaiian Airlines?"

Jasper replied, "No, the airline let go of their Philippine flights, too expensive for them. I bought them tickets for PAL."

Greyson was stood behind her father and uncle as they stared at the flight schedules. Her grandparents' flight had been delayed an hour of departure. She told her dad that she was going to go looking for the Starbucks.

Robbie Schoenfeld ran after her before she got too far. He held her hand as they walked; a T-Rex toy was held firmly in the other.

2014, February 23 – 00:51 – Fullerton, California, United States

It was hot as hell in Jasper's house. Greyson had been staring at the ceiling for about an hour. She awoke from a night terror with tears coming down the side of her face, but she was too stubborn to wipe them away.

The adults were in the kitchen down the hall, speaking in hushed voices even though Greyson heard every word through her slightly open door. "People are getting antsy. Is the government not going to do anything?"

"What can they do, Will? It's not like a terrorist threat."

Greyson's grandfather said, "Sabi mo nga, wala naman ginagawa at tapos parang surprise kung mag-revolt yung mga tao."

Jasper asked Will, "Uhh… translation?"

"He said, nothing's being done yet the government is surprised when people revolt." Will took a beat before continuing, "In any case, fighting these monsters require international handling, right? Like, what's the United Nations done to—"

A voice spoke into Greyson's ear: "Sonny, I can't sleep."

The girl in question nearly jumped out of her skin, cursing. Robbie was standing beside the bed, eyes wide and worried. Greyson sighed, trying to compose herself. "Jesus, kid, don't scare me like that."

Robbie all but ignored her, asking quietly, "Can I sleep with you?"

Greyson pulled the blankets back without question and made room for her little cousin. He climbed in beside her, scooting close. In a whisper, she said, "Are those monsters keeping you up again?"

"Yeah," the little boy replied, pulling the blankets under his chin.

"Don't worry, buddy. Those kaiju would have to go through me first before they even think about hurting you."

"Pinky promise?" Robbie raised his little finger, and Greyson linked hers with his.

"I promise. Now go to sleep."

2014, September 15 – 01:43 – Anchorage, Alaska, United States

After many months, things were finally looking hopeful. There was a new dawn for humanity. Not nine days earlier, twenty-one so-called 'warrior states' along the Pacific Rim came together to form the Pan-Pacific Defense Corps. No one knew what it was really meant for yet.

Her room was dark; the only light came from the screen in her hands. Greyson stared intently at her phone, watching the end of the live stream of the first PPDC conference from Seoul, South Korea.

"…That's why we're here, today. It's the only question that matters — what will it take to grab this monster by the throat and drag him back to hell?"

A man by the name of Stacker Pentecost was giving the closing remarks, staring down thousands of people in the hall. The cameras panned to the crowd when someone spoke up. Greyson sat up in bed, surprised, when she recognized her uncle's lanky frame.

"I might be able to answer that!" he called out. "Dr. Jasper Schoenfeld, sir. If I may."

When they brought him on stage to relay his presentation, Greyson knew she would be watching until the sun came up.

Sleep was for the weak.

2014, November 9 – 16:09 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

After the Seoul conference, Jasper Schoenfeld was given the funding for his 'Jaeger Project'. They were placed in an abandoned factory outside of Pittsburgh. His former student, Caitlin Lightcap, had left DARPA to pursue the project with him.

Jasper had decided to move across the country temporarily, leaving his ex-wife and son in California. And since schools were out on a four-day weekend for Veterans' Day, William and Greyson had flown to the continental States to spend their vacation on the East Coast.

Ever since the new alliance of the PPDC, funding of the project had been questioned. The world wondered if the project was even viable. On that day, the special liaison Stacker Pentecost had arrived to assess their progress. Greyson had convinced her uncle to let her tag along that afternoon. He knew how much she enjoyed STEM and in the end, what was the harm?

Uncle and niece entered the secure factory, and the latter's eyes widened in awe upon seeing the flurry of activity surrounding the lone arm mecha in the middle of it all. She stopped fumbling with the Visitors badge on her shirt. She breathed out a small "wow," to which her uncle responded with, "Impressed already? This is just the beginning, Gracie."

They drove a cart to the middle of the factory, closer to the platform. A man was waiting for them. Greyson recognized him immediately from the Seoul conference. "Ah, Stacker, we've been expecting you," Jasper greeted, shaking the liaison's hand formally. "I'm glad you're here."

Greyson stood behind her uncle sheepishly, smiling a bit at Pentecost. Their eyes met and his smile was kind. "And who might this be?"

"This is my niece, Greyson. She and my brother-in-law are here for the weekend."

The young Filipina stuck her hand out to the other man. "It's such an honor to meet you, sir." Stacker's hand engulfed hers, but she kept a firm grip as they shook.

"The pleasure's mine."

After a curt nod to the doctor, the three of them stepped towards the science project that hung overhead. It was a crude robotic arm with exposed mechanics and inner workings, held up with cables and two cranes. A tech center was raised beside it.

Pentecost's eyes roved over the limb, almost judging it. "An arm? Where's the rest of it?"

Jasper replied, "You've seen my cost estimates." The price must be ten times what the Corps initially gave if all they were able to do was one arm.

"And you've worked out the control interface?"

"We might have something."

A voice from behind them piped up. "It's called 'the Pons'."

Stacker turned back with Jasper, eyeing the newcomer. "Who's this?" he asked, taking in the sight of a young, blonde scientist.

"Doctor Caitlin Lightcap," he answered. "Caitlin, this is Stacker Pentecost."

As she walked up, they exchanged a handshake. Caitlin waved at Greyson. Stacker further introduced himself. "Special Liaison. I'm here to evaluate your progress. Did you say 'Pons'?"

"It's Latin for 'bridge'," Jasper elaborated.

"I know what it means in Rome, doctor. What does it mean here?"

Caitlin shifted the tablet in her hand. "It's a neural bridge between a biological brain and a robotic armature." She gauged the man's reaction.

"So you can move this thing with just your thoughts?"

"In theory," Caitlin admitted, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "We haven't tested the uplink."

"Why not?"

"Funding," Jasper told him. "We put in a request to recruit proper test subjects. We're still waiting to hear back."

"With all this new PPDC bureaucracy, you could be waiting a long time." Stacker Pentecost unbuttoned his suit jacket and tossed it on the nearby cart. "May as well hook me in and see if your theory works."

"You're serious?" Jasper looked between Stacker and Caitlin, dumbfounded.

Stacker pulled off his tie, nodding. "Of course."

Warily, Caitlin cut in. "I don't recommend that, sir."

"Why? Will it kill me?"

Greyson's uncle and his pupil answered at the same time. Jasper said, "Probably not," just as Caitlin muttered, "We don't exactly know."

"I'm rooting for you guys. I really am. I hope this idea will save lives." The PPDC liaison unbuttoned his cufflinks, finishing with, "But I need to come back to them with something if you want more cash."

With no other choice, Caitlin Lightcap began leading Pentecost to their control room. Jasper started to follow suit before turning back to his niece. He grinned. "Do you want to see something cool?"

"Are you sure? I'll probably just get in the way," Greyson replied, thinking that she'd come on a bad day.

"C'mon, Gracie, it's not every day you get to see history being made!" He extended an arm, nodding ahead. Greyson beamed with excitement, running to his side immediately.

In less than an hour, Stacker Pentecost was hooked up to electrodes, a brainwave transmitter, and had his right arm encased in a robotic sleeve resembling the mecha's limb. Greyson watched from the preview window as her uncle and Caitlin told the control room techs to set up everything.

"Okay…" Jasper glanced at the monitors, nodding slightly. "You're live."

"Feels… strange. Like my hand is in wet concrete," Stacker illustrated, lifting his arm out. More than a handful of electrodes were attached to his chest and back.

Caitlin had shoved her hands into the pockets on her lab coat. "That's resistance from the datastream. The interface isn't calibrated to your neural profile. Just try to wiggle your fingers."

It seemed like everyone was holding their breath as they watched Stacker Pentecost struggle to focus. He seemed hard in concentration, trying to remind himself how to move his hand.

For a minute, nothing happened. Then, Pentecost spread his fingers, fanned them out. An incredibly loud klank was heard at the same time.

Greyson's jaw dropped. "What the hell was that?"

Stacker made a fist, and from where they stood, the entire facility watched as the mechanical arm followed his movements.

Jasper whooped. "It's working!"

2015, April 24 – 18:34 – Anchorage, Alaska, United States

"Anak!" William stuck his head out from the kitchen, yelling up the short flight of stairs for his child. "Dinner's ready!"

There was a loud thud before Greyson started trotting down the steps. She made a beeline for the living room first, switching the channel from the Supernatural marathon to the Channel 11 news.

"—the Pan Pacific Defense Corps. Less than twenty-four hours since a kaiju surfaced near Canadian waters." The screen switched out to feed of a giant robot and the monster they codenamed Karloff. "Citizens near Vancouver are on Cloud 9 now that the Jaeger Program is in tow. Around the world, people are…"

Greyson had turned the volume up on the television set before pivoting on her heel, moving towards the dining table. "Our counselors at school have been asking us where we were planning to go after graduating," she told her father as she helped finish set up the table.

"Oh?" Setting down their food, Will asked, "So, what were you planning?"

She spooned freshly cooked rice onto her plate before answering. "I was thinking… taking a year off?" Greyson replied cautiously. "Or, you know, not. UAA and APU have contacted me." The girl shrugged slightly. "Maybe I'd join the National Guard, or the Army, or the Jaeger Program — who knows?" She pulled the plate of food closer to her. "I bet Tito Jasper can get me a shot. They're recruiting their first group of pilots soon."

"You want to go into that training?" William inquired, raising a questioning brow. "Even going into tech could be dangerous." He gave her a glance, ready to put his foot down, if need be.

"Oh, come on." Greyson took a bite of her dinner, listening to her dad's words. "You know I've always wanted to go into something that would help people. I mean, there was that FBI phase."

"Oo, alam ko," her father muttered. Yeah, I know. "And I also know that in times like these — no one gets out alive. Especially with those fuckers coming out of the ocean."

2015, September 23 – 12:09 – Anchorage, Alaska, United States

"You're kidding, right?" Greyson was standing with Raleigh just inside the door of the classroom. One minute until the lunch bell was going to go off. "Rals, tell me you're kidding."

"Not one bit!" Raleigh was leaning against the door frame, shaking his head at her. The Becket's hair had grown out in the month since school had started up again – their junior year.

When the bell rang, the two of them were the first to exit through the door. Raleigh slung his arm over her shoulders as they walked down the ever-energetic hall. "Just imagine it with me, Sonny. Forget about the National Guard; we could be in the Jaeger Academy in less than a year!"

She swung her backpack to her front, rummaging in its numerous pockets for her ear buds. "I can show you a Jaeger," she started in tune to Aladdin's 'A Whole New World'. "Shining, shimmering, splendid!"

Raleigh shoved her lightly, rolling his eyes meanwhile. However, he couldn't help but laugh. "C'mon. Six months for training after recruitment."

"That is if you get recruited," she guffawed, maneuvering her way in between walking bodies.

Defensively, Raleigh muttered, "Well, shit, that ain't so bad."

"Yeah, it is. What about school? You know — graduation?" Greyson's eyes bulged out of their sockets, trying to make a point. "College? Have you even applied for anywhere?"

Raleigh tossed his backpack under the cafeteria table they usually sat at with his sister Jazmine and their friends. Greyson set her own bag beside his chair, taking a seat to his left. As Raleigh took his seat, he answered her; "No, Yance and I decided we're not going to college. We're joining the Rangers."

Monty, a kid with an outdated mop top, sat at Greyson's other side, setting down his lunch tray. "What's this about joining the Rangers?"

Greyson turned to him, over-exaggerating her actions. "Raleigh thinks he should go train with the PPDC to be a Jaeger pilot."

"Ranger Raleigh Becket." Monty tested the name out. "Sorta has a ring to it, dunnit?"

Raleigh reached over gave Monty a high-five in gratitude. He turned to Greyson again. "I mean, they've already gotten the first line of Jaegers out. And Brawler Yukon was such a badass." He ran a hand through his shaggy, blond hair. "Did you see her take out Karloff? Holy shit!"

"Yeah," she agreed, a proud smile on her face, "Caitlin and Sergio are total badasses."

"So," Raleigh started, unceremoniously scooching his chair to her side, "you coming with us to join the big leagues?"

"Ask her again when you're actually old enough to join," Jazmine laughed, kicking her brother under the table.