Part

Next day I couldn't find Mako anywhere until Ricardo reminded me that she had to meet Raleigh who Marshal retrieved from his working on the construction of the Wall.

When Ricardo came by to get me to launch to eat something (me forgetting the time again working on Jaegers) the mess hall was full of people. I spotted the Kaidonovskys and their crew occupying one of the first tables. At the food tables I almost bumped into Herc Hansen but jumped out of the way just in time as he turned around with two trays.

"Good save!" He chuckled good-naturally.

I smiled in return and went to stand in line next to Rico.

"Ohhh, take more potatoes!" Rico called over his shoulder already chewing something.

"Pig!" I shook my head.

We made our way to our usual spot which gave me a good vintage point of the Hansens and the guy I haven't seen before – my best guess was that it was the infamous Raleigh Becket. Herc seemed to approve, but Herc's a nice guy. But Chuck…he was intentionally picking a fight with the other Ranger.

"Jeez, what's wrong with him?" I asked only for Rico to hear.

"Whom? Chuck?" Rico asked, his mouth full of food. "Idonknow. Noborylovedimasakid."

"I'm sorry, what did you say? I was so engrossed in watching you working on your launch outside of your mouth, I couldn't hear what you tried to say." I sliced every word with sarcasm adding a look to fit the words as I threw a napkin at him.

"Very funny !" Ricardo used a napkin. "I said: maybe he wasn't loved enough as a kid."

I shrugged my shoulders once again looking at the opposite table. The tension there reached its peak: Raleigh had a murderous look on his face while Chuck went for a smirk enjoying that he got the reaction he'd gone for. Herc was just shaking his head in disapproval. Chuck then threatened the other pilot as the last straw and turned to leave, the other blonde glaring at his back. The bulldog followed the young Hansen obediently.

"You're interested…"

I looked at Rico confused. He was watching me intently, trying to read me.

"What?"

"You're interested." He repeated.

"I heard that. Care to elaborate?"

"I think, you're interested in Chuck Hansen." Rico said, taking a large gulp of water.

"And I think, you went nuts a little earlier than we expected."

From anyone else it would be considered a low blow and an unfair insult but Rico and I were like siblings so I knew he would get the joke.

"Wow, you're on fire today! I was just saying…"

"Well, don't! The guy goes around like he owns the place. Insults everyone he sees…"

"And still you keep talking about him." Rico said in his annoying sing-song voice.

I dropped the fork:

"See what you've done? I've lost my appetite. Gotta go check the progress on Gypsy."

As I stood Rico reached for my plate:

"I can have that, right?"

His puppy-dog eyes always sealed his deals. I just pushed my plate in his direction and turned to leave the mess hall, making my way to the LOCCENT.

I put my hair in a massy bun, blowing the bangs out of my eyes.

"Tendo!" I called when I saw the chief-technician going back and forth in his office.

"Oh, my beautiful pilot turned tech!" He was overly-excited.

"What is going on here?" I crossed my hands on my chest to look more serious but couldn't exactly keep the charade. "Tendo?"

"I'm just excited about Gypsy!"

At that I nodded and took the pad in which all of the characteristics were shuffled. "Looks fine."

"I'd say more than fine!" He grinned like a child getting a candy…lots of candies…like really-really sugar high. "The tryouts have already started, you go?"

I nodded again still enveloped in Gypsy's technical characteristics until Tendo ripped the pad from my hands almost making me gasp.

"Go, little bird! Watch the show!"

I pursed my lips but complied in the end. I could use an entertainment.

-\-

There was applause when I entered the Kwoon Combat Room. People gathered at the entrance to watch Raleigh fight, he was a new character, everyone wanted to know what and how he was.

Herc, seeing me, nodded his head and I moved to stay next to him:

"Any luck?"

"See for yourself."

Two more potentials went to waste.

"Why is he holding back?" I asked no one in particular.

"Maybe he's not." Another voice from behind me whispered into my ear. Not too close to be too intimate but enough to send chills down my spine. "Maybe he doesn't have it in him anymore."

"Chuck!" Herc warned while I simply rolled my eyes.

"He is holding back." I confirmed again and earned a nod from Herc, he agreed.

"And what do you know about bo fighting?" Chuck asked maintaining his position in the back.

"Wouldn't you like to know." I turned my head slightly to catch a glimpse of him. He stood half-foot away from me, had at least a head on me and as always was smirking smugly.

"Oh brave and bold…"

"Look who's talking! The cocky one."

That made his smirk grow even further:

"Who knew! A little tech has an attitude. Care to test your theory?"

"You mean the one where I kick your ass?" I bit back.

"Tonight. Here. Bring your bo."

"Behave, children." Herc barked but wore the most amused expression on his face.

I was so engulfed in our bickering with Chuck that I missed how Mako appeared on the floor. I thought Pentecost wasn't letting her participate…

"Remember, it's all about compatibility," Raleigh said as he circled Maco and came to a held in a stance. "It's a dialogue, not a fight. But I'm not going easy on you."

"Ok." One corner of her mouth turned upwards. "Neither will I."

From the first strike it was evident there was something between them. By the score 2:2 I was sure they could drift.

"Finally." Herc muttered from my left and I just nodded.

"Enough!" Stacker Pentecost's rough voice howled. "I've seen enough."

"Me too." Raleigh said, getting up to his feet and touching Mako's back lightly. "She's my co-pilot."

I was very happy for Mako at that moment but knew that Marshal wouldn't let her fight in the Jaeger.

"No! She's not!" Pentecost confirmed my thoughts. "Choose from the potentials on the list."

"Why not?" The blonde snapped.

"Because I said so, Mr. Becket!" Marshal's authority-sliced voice announced the finale of the argument. "Be in two hours in the Shetterdome, you'll meet your co-pilot there."

Pentecost turned to leave, the crowd started dissolving. I smiled sadly at Mako who was about to bend to put on her boots. She did the same, no words needed. We knew each other far too long.

I turned on my heels and came face to face with Chuck who I thought has long left. Well, to be fair my face with his chest. I blew out a breath of air and looked up.

Before I could say anything, he stepped even closer and spoke with a sly smirk:

"Don't forget, little bird. Tonight."

I just rolled my eyes again and made my way to Gypsy. It's going to be tested in less than two hours. I was nervous as it was.