The sounds of the newly assigned and minted Golden Ambrosia distracted everyone from their daily duties, and almost every window facing the large courtyard of the Los Angeles Shatterdome were filled with interested faces of technicians and janitors alike, as they watched the gleaming new Jaeger being piloted by its new Rangers, Alice and Isabelle Devonshire, two American born British sisters who were the best combat fighters in Mako and Raleigh's class.

Against the Gipsy, the Golden Ambrosia looked all that much newer and better outfitted, but what they had in strength and brute force, her new Rangers lacked in experience, a fact in which Mako and Raleigh easily triumphed their students in.

"Let this be a lesson, that a Jaeger is only ever as good as its pilot." Mako echoed her foster father's favorite words, as she met Alice and Isabelle's frustrated look with a good natured smile, and grinned as Raleigh shot her an incredulous scowl, and moved the sisters aside to instruct them further, whilst Mako walked ahead to meet a satisfied, mildly amused Jasmine as she finished jotting down the last final adjustments she needed to make to the Ambrosia from watching the practice fight between the Gipsy and her newest creation. "How was it?"

"Not too bad. I think after a bit more training, we can proceed to send the Ambrosia to her new station. My boys in Hong Kong just finished outfitting the final two Jaegers I prepared on Herc and the PPDC's funds. They should be coming here soon."

"Are we being sent with them this time?"

"Depends." Jasmine replied, looking over as her brother walked over after sending the Devonshire sister's off. "I might send Herc and Chuck, if Herc is willing to leave HQ long enough, and if Chuck feels up to it."

"What do you mean I won't feel up to it? Stop making me sound like an invalid." A slightly miffed voice came up, and Jasmine cracked a grin as she crossed her arms over her chest and turned to smirk at Chuck. "You walk like a duck if you happen to sleep on the wrong side for too long. How do you expect to defend yourself?"

"Excuse me, Ms. Becket, but I can defend myself just fine. Care for a trial run?" Chuck retorted, but by now Raleigh and Mako knew there weren't any true fireworks running amok. Not the dangerous ones at least, Raleigh noted in mild curiosity, his amusement overridden by the fact that this was his sister in the equation. Had it been anyone else, the Becket brother would've started ribbing Chuck a long time ago, but ever since 3 weeks ago, about a couple of days after the Ambrosia's arrival, he realized that there was no longer any of the simmering animosity previously present in between Jasmine and Chuck.

And he wasn't the only one to notice it either. Having mentioned it to Mako, she shared his sentiments, and the two eyed Chuck and Jasmine in interest as Chuck smirked right back at the slight sized Becket female as she spoke, "I have no time to entertain your childish notions Hansen. I have work to do."

"Working on the Nighthawk?"

Raleigh frowned, his brows raised. Now how did Chuck knew so much about her schedule anyway? It seems there was always some hidden conversation in between their words these days, like they were on a level Raleigh just couldn't seem to get on. Scowling as his sister nodded, Raleigh cut in just as she was about to speak up. "Why does he seem to know so much about the Nighthawk?"

As if suddenly realizing her brother and Mako was still standing there, Jasmine blinked and then gave a sheepish grin. "He's been with me as I worked on the Nighthawk after dinner every night."

"What? Why?"

"I've been around Jaegers all my life Becket, is that really even a question?" Chuck hurriedly tried to defend, not really eager to explain that he was usually the one to seek Jasmine out in the hangar every night she was with the Nighthawk. Neither did he really want to explain that he wanted to seek her presence out, simply because he wanted to know more about her. Chuck celebrated every little tidbit she offered of herself, of the days she spent taking care of her depressed mother after Raleigh went off the radar, of how her days in the Academy was like. She has yet to say anything of her life before being fifteen, and of her cousin, but at this rate, Chuck would take whatever he could get.

That, plus he's been bringing her meals for him, especially when she didn't turn up at the mess hall at the designated meal times. The first time, she had been annoyed at him broaching on her working hours, but after Jasmine got used to Chuck just sitting there and watching her work, and as long as he didn't interfere as she jumped around and tinkered between fixing up the Jaegers and working on the Nighthawk, Jasmine ended up letting him stay, the occasional conversation popping up in between them in odd hours of the night.

Granted, the pair had matching eye bags now, but they also knew much more about each other, enough to go beyond squabbling and ribbing to having actual, normal conversations now.

Not that Raleigh or Mako knew all of that detail. The 'bonding sessions' happened past twelve at midnight, a time at which Jasmine found it most productive to work. But no one else knew, or were witness to their conversations and time, so to the rest of the Shatterdome, the friendship that had sprung up between Jasmine and Chuck seemed sudden, and with no explanation. So it really shouldn't be surprising that Raleigh had raised a brow at Chuck's defensive retort, and was about to say that it was his business, since this was his sister Chuck was hanging around. But before Raleigh could go further than "That's-", the red alarm outfitted at every corner of the Shatterdome blared loudly, a universal sign of a Kaiju breach that had all personnel abandoning their activities to run to stations.

The three Rangers and Jasmine ran as well, joining Tendo and Herc in the control room and shortly followed by the newly minted Devonshire sibling pilot team, before Tendo launched in to the LOCCENT report.

"Category IV Kaiju, codenamed Belobog attacking southeastern coast of South America, very close to Buenos Aires in Argentina."

"Hey, we had that before, me and Yancy in the simulator back at the academy. Medium toxicity, but very fast and has pincers like a praying mantis." Raleigh exclaimed as the simulator was brought up and the Kaijus picture was shown. Tendo nodded in confirmation to Raleigh's information, and continued as he brought up the stats on the screen. "320 feet tall, and 2300 tonnes heavy. Raleigh has mentioned its speed, but its only made more deadly by the fact that the Belobog has a very vicious and sharp tongue, capable of piercing a Conn-Pod in one hit, and expose the Ranger's to the Kaiju."

"The Striker Eureka. It's the fastest Jaeger we have now."

"Its Category IV Herc, the Striker can't handle this monster herself."

"Send Gipsy along, and bring the Ambrosia but on backup. The sister's need to learn, but they will not engage unless absolutely necessary." Herc embellished, and within moments, all the Rangers were running to the drivesuit room to get suited up, leaving Jasmine standing behind Tendo, the two having been left in charge as the Hansens piloted their Jaeger.

With her arms crossed on her chest as she watched the Rangers on the observation camera intently, Jasmine didn't even realize Tendo had been observing her until the technician spoke up. "Nervous?"

"A little." She replied with a gentle smile, looking down at Tendo. "I'm used to the adrenaline rush with a Kaiju breach alert. I'm just not really used to having nowhere to release all the adrenaline in my blood now."

"You miss piloting don't you?"

She paused, unsure of how she should respond. It was a no-brainer question, and Jasmine knew even as she brushed the PPDC dog tags she still wore under her shirt at all times, despite having been decommissioned as a Ranger. The dog tags represented her life, her every dream and desire, the only life she's ever identified with, being a Jaeger pilot. Having been out of it for 2 years, she itched to get back in a Conn-Pod, but Jasmine also knew she would have a hard time piloting any Jaeger without Gregory.

"It's no use talking about it Tendo. We both know it's not going to happen."

"If you don't try, you'll never know. You never tried looking for another co-pilot."

"Pentecost didn't think I was suitable."

Tendo opened his mouth to argue that Pentecost would've never said that, especially since the technician too had marveled at the way the cousins had handled their Jaeger, but before he could speak, Herc's voice crackled over the receiver. "Engage drop, Tendo."

And with that, the work flurried in the control room as first Striker Eureka, and then Gipsy Danger and the Golden Ambrosia were engaged in neural calibration, confirming firm neural handshakes before the three Jaegers were hooked up to the transport system.

"See you in Buenos Aires, boys and girls." Tendo echoed in to the speakers, as he finalized the systems on Gipsy Danger and Golden Ambrosia. Glancing at the new Jaeger being airlifted out of the hangar, Jasmine smiled at her handiwork, and then back at the control panel for the Striker Eureka as it buzzed.

"Striker Eureka, ready for takeoff." Chuck Hansen's voice buzzed, and Jasmine paused at his voice. Every mission was dangerous, every fight with a Kaiju risky. Sure, there were three Jaegers on the fight this time, but there was always a chance that the Ranger might not return.

Just like Gregory.

Before she could help herself, Jasmine replied back, "Be careful." In her soft voice, a voice that had Chuck's breathe catch as he recognized the faint thread of worry underlying her tone. And the recognition buzzed in the Drift he shared with his father, and Chuck looked over as he felt the questioning prod in his head, and met Herc's raised, amused brows.

'Don't ask.'

'What, I can't ask after my own son's well-being?'

'Just don't, Dad.' Chuck responded irritably, scowling at Herc before flicking a couple of switches as the choppers hooked up to their Jaeger took off.


"Preparing for drop in 3, 2..."

The familiar jerk of the Conn-Pod as their Jaegers were disengaged from the harnesses and hit the ground, was a familiar one to all Rangers, and the beginning of every adrenaline rush. This time was no different, and the constant twinge in his hip and various other old injuries faded in to the background as the Hansens simultaneously turned the Striker Eureka to face the vast coast of Argentina.

"Stay back there Golden Ambrosia, and do not come unless commanded to." Herc reminded their new pilots again, receiving affirmation in response, before the Striker and Gipsy waded further, eyes alert for any Kaiju movement.

"You have to stop reminding them that. You're just going to end up babying them until they get deployed." Chuck spoke up, even as the scanned the area, and Herc rolled his eyes, his exasperation at his son humming through their Drift as he replied. "They just got their first test run today Chuck, you can't expect them to be top notch Rangers."

"I just mean that-"

"Striker Eureka, watch out!" the warning came not a second too late, as the massive crustacean like Kaiju dove out of the water at the Australian made Jaeger. It was only due to the Striker Eureka's naturally fast reactions that saved their right shoulder from being ripped off, as the Hansens swung an arm out to knock the Belobog out of the air and right in between the Gipsy and Striker, whilst the two Jaeger's got in position.

"Pay attention Striker Eureka, now is not the time for conversations over tea!" Tendo's voice crackled over in admonishment.

"Noted Tendo. Sorry, momentary distraction." Chuck muttered, feeling his father's displeasure at him clearly through their Drift without needing to look up. As the Belobog got up, and made another dive at Gipsy this time, the analog Mach 3 quickly caught the Belobog by the neck, holding it away but unable to handle its sharp pinchers. "Gipsy, get its mouth out of your face or your Conn-Pod is a waiting disaster!" Jasmine's voice warned in worried tones, both her and Tendo watching from camera's.

"We're trying, can't you see!" Raleigh replied loudly, his voice heavy and labored as he and Mako tried their best, but the heavy Kaiju proved a little too strong for the beaten up Mach 3. Gipsy Danger ended up falling to its side as the Belobog wrenched itself out of its grip, and jumped backwards with an ugly cry, its vicious tongue clearly seen.

"This sucker needs to be taken down before he uses his tongue as dart practice. C'mon!"

Without exchanging or needing anymore words, the Hansens simultaneously charged towards the Belobog, directly engaging the Kaiju as the Jaeger grabbed one of its pincirs, pulling it as far away from the Kaiju as possible. The wrenching caused the Belobog to cry loudly in pain, clawing wildly as it tried to regain control. "Striker Eureka, watch its othe-" the warning came too late, and the whole Conn-Pod beeped in red as the pincer made contact before Chuck could duck out of the way. The sharp claw dug through the Striker Eureka's left chest, putting its chest launcher's out of service as reported by LOCCENT.

"Striker Eureka, respond on status report!"

"Chest launchers out of commission. Dad?"

"Got the left pincer's on that bad boy out. Its operating one-sided now."

"Gipsy Danger on its way!" Raleigh's voice came, as the Mach 3 got itself out of the water, and immediately jumped at the Belobog from the back, bringing the praying mantis like Kaiju in to the water with a pained cry. Water splashed sky high as the two struggled whilst Striker Eureka assessed its damage from within the Conn - Pod.

"No time Dad, let's go. Mako and Raleigh are in trouble!" Chuck cut them off halfway, but when Herc looked up, sure enough the Gipsy was in need of help. Somehow, even with one hand, the Belobog had managed to roll Gipsy Danger over, and the old Jaeger was now pinned beneath the Kaiju as it rolled over, and reared up loudly, its sharp mouth pincer's clicking. Just before the sharp appendages managed to make contact though, the Striker came up behind the Kaiju, pulling the Belobog off.

But what the Hansen's didn't count on, was the Belobog's extremely fast reflex, one of the fastest of all the Kaiju's they've ever seen.

Immediately turning as it was pulled off Gipsy Danger, the Striker Eureka had miscalculated the distance between the Kaiju and itself, something Belobog took advantage off. With its one remaining pincer, the Kaiju placed all its weight on the Australian Jaeger, and more or less pinned it to the ground, further embedding its pincer in the left shoulder of the Striker Eureka. In the Conn-Pod, all alarms were blaring, system's going haywire as wire's were snapped and power systems downed with water flooding its systems.

"Get it off you!"

"We're trying!" the Hansen's frantically replied Jasmine's taut tone. But before they could do anything, the Kaiju screeched, before it shoved its face in the screen of the Conn-Pod, and its tongue slithered out of its mouth in one swift, sharp motion, shattering the Conn-Pod and letting frigid water flood the Striker Eureka's Conn-Pod, with Herc and Chuck Hansen still strapped within.