The seconds dragged by like hours as the four Kaiju and two Jaegers engaged in their standoff, neither side moving or making more sound than the ambient thrum of the mechanical beings' engines. The black Jaeger had lowered its bladed arms, though its chest remained open to reveal its weaponry. The white Jaeger held its defensive stance, ready to unleash a salvo as soon as one of its monstrous opponents so much as twitched. The Kaiju, for their part, crouched tensely in place, ready to spring at a moment's notice.
Slattern kept her gaze locked on the two mecha, and by all outward appearances she seemed calm and stern. Unseen by anyone, however, her guts churned with worry. This wasn't how it was supposed to go down. They should be on their way now with Otachi's cub safely in their claws, not staring down their eternal enemies and waiting for an onslaught of missiles to tear them apart. It had all gone wrong, and she only hoped she could fix it before it went even worse for them.
Cub, she thought insistently, pushing the image of Otachi's youngling towards the mecha and their tiny pilots. Where. Cub.
I don't think they understand you, Knifehead noted.
However did you figure that out? Onibaba rumbled.
Hush, old one, Otachi growled. You too, Big-Nose. It's YOUR fault we're in this situation! You should have just let the big-eyed one kill them, not taken matters into your own claws!
It felt like the right thing to do, Knifehead insisted. I can't explain it… it just did.
Slattern fought the urge to turn around and cuff Knifehead over the head for his act of altruistic stupidity. Perhaps his sudden impulse to rescue the Jaegers from their predicament was just further proof that they were far removed from their un-Awakened Kaiju brethren… but she only hoped it wouldn't get the four of them killed before they found the cub.
The two Jaegers watched Slattern warily, and though neither moved she could feel the rumblings of conversation between them and their pilots. She tried to catch the gist of it, but these creatures insisted on framing their thoughts in their chattering, overly-complex language. She could pick up the gist of their emotions - shock, terror, wonder, dread, and a peculiar excitement from one of the pilots. None of it gave any indication that they understood her, though.
Cub, she tried again. Cub. Where cub?
The black Jaeger hesitated, then stepped forward. The white Jaeger reached out with a massive hand to pull it back, but the sleek mech shook off its companion and approached regardless. Behind Slattern Otachi and Onibaba growled, and Otachi's throat glowed as her acid glands kicked into overdrive, but a wave of Slattern's tails made them reluctantly subside.
The black Jaeger withdrew one of its arm blades - the other appeared too warped to retract fully - and raised its hands. Slattern cocked her head, wondering just what that gesture was supposed to mean. Was it showing it was unarmed? Trying to make itself look bigger and more intimidating? Asking to mate? This blasted communication barrier made everything difficult.
Cub. The reply was hesitant, nervous, but clear in her mind. Cub… here.
Where? Slattern demanded. The cub was obviously NOT here. Had this lump of melted slag misinterpreted a basic question?
Cub… The Jaeger hesitated, then projected a vivid image of Otachi's cub. The infant was trapped in some kind of transparent cage, and Slattern felt her hackles raise. They had kidnapped the child, doubtless to show off as a trophy or experiment on for their own disgusting purposes. She had half a mind to let the others charge the Shatterdome and tear it apart at the seams in a rescue and revenge mission…
But there were more images following that one. Images of the cub prowling around the Shatterdome, following one of the tiny organics as if it were its mother, swatting a barrel around with its paws, gnawing on a vehicle and raking at it with its hind paws. And overlaying all these scenes was a strong sense of security, of comfort…
Safe. That was what the Jaeger was trying to say. Cub… safe. Cub here, cub safe.
Slattern cocked her head, pondering. Was the Jaeger telling the truth, or just trying to placate her? Despite her hatred of these murderous constructs, she was inclined to believe the former - it was difficult to lie effectively through a communication method you were unfamiliar with. Still… these humans and their constructs hated Kaiju. Why would they go to all this trouble to keep one safe?
Then again, why would Split-Head and Big-Nose go to all the trouble of helping a Jaeger when we're mortal enemies? she thought. This newfound sentience made even the seemingly simple enmity between their kinds rather complicated.
The Jaeger lowered its hands, and "spoke" something else. It wasn't an emotion or an impression, but one of the humans' strange constructed words - part moan, part hiss, part clicking of the tongue against the front teeth. Slattern growled softly and sent a confused pulse of emotion back. Why couldn't these things just think plainly, instead of cloaking everything they said in fancy language?
The Jaeger send the word again, insistent. Mmmusssssss-Tayyyyyynnnn. Muss-Tayn. Mustang. It followed that up with a touch to its chest, a chest emblazoned with a crimson emblem of a four-legged creature rearing on its hind legs. Mustang.
Muss-Tayn, she thought back. A name, then. They couldn't even identify themselves without resorting to bizarre artificial terms. Why not call itself Claw-Arm or Black-One or something more descriptive? It would be far more fitting…
But then, this "Muss-Tayn" had given her an opening for further communication, so perhaps it wasn't completely ridiculous. Leader, she responded, resting a paw on her own chest.
Mustang nodded, then gestured back to the white Jaeger, who still stared tensely at the Kaiju as if expecting them to pounce at any moment. Hye-dra.
Hydra. She nodded at her companions Old One, Claw-Tail, Big-Nose.
Mustang repeated their names, then added some of his own. Leader… Slattern. Old One… Onibaba. Claw-Tail… Otachi. Big-Nose… Knifehead.
Slattern gave a warbling, confused growl, making Mustang recoil. What gave these creatures the right to change their names to suit their whims? Though she had to admit that, as far as names went, they weren't bad ones. Slattern and Otachi and Onibaba had exotic rings to them, and if Knifehead wasn't nearly as imaginative, it was still better than Big-Nose…
Otachi let out a shrill cry, and Mustang staggered back even further. Hydra whipped an arm up, ready to fire at the winged Kaiju, while Slattern instinctively moved between her comrade and the white Jaeger. Thrash it all, this had been going so well up to this point! Why had she picked now to throw a tantrum?
My cub! Otachi shoved Slattern aside with her snout. Out of my way, my cub!
Your cub is in a cage in the Shatterdome, Slattern reminded her.
Not anymore, she retorted, and she surged forward. Little one!
The two Jaegers braced themselves for an attack… only for Hydra to squawk in dismay as a tiny form bolted between its legs and rushed for Otachi. The winged Kaiju crooned in relief and lowered her head to nuzzle her young, licking its head with a tendriled tongue. The cub squirmed and squalled at the attention, but it rubbed its snout against her glowing chin and wagged its tail happily at the reunion.
How cute, Onibaba noted. That almost makes this entire escapade worth it.
Slattern had been watching the reunion, jaws gaped slightly in a relieved smile, but she shut her maw and turned back to the Jaegers. This "escapade" was far from over… and the fact that the two constructs hadn't taken advantage of the distraction to fill the four of them full of holes was only small comfort.
She gazed at Mustang, the black Jaeger cocking its "head" as it regarded the Kaiju curiously. Then she pulsed another thought towards it - an image of the five Kaiju slipping back beneath the waves and swimming away. They had the cub; there was no reason for them to remain here and menace the Jaegers and their Shatterdome any longer. Perhaps if they could impress upon these constructs that they had what they'd come for and would do no further arm, they would allow them to leave…
Mustang's reply made both Slattern and Hydra jerk with shock - Stay.
Stay? Otachi growled and pushed her cub underneath her belly with a wing knuckle. Is this construct mad? Why would we stay and allow them to gut us and chop us to pieces-
Stay! The cub darted out from the shelter of its mother's body, paddling in eager circles around Mustang's ankles. Mama, stay!
We are not staying, Slattern rumbled. We are going home.
Stay! The cub sloshed its way towards Hydra and wrapped itself around its leg, earning a surprised chirp from the white mech. Friends! Food! Toys! Stay!
Otachi growled and prowled towards the cub, only to halt in her tracks as Hydra raised a warning fist. Give me my child, you lump of sea trash. Little one, let go of that THING and come HOME. Unless you want me to drag you by your scruff again…
Stay! The cub coiled more tightly around Hydra's leg. Friend! Good friend!
What is he babbling about? Onibaba demanded.
In answer the cub poured out a stream of images and feelings, letting the adults see and hear and feel all it had during its stay in the Shatterdome. It hadn't seen its time in the Shatterdome as captivity, but as an adventure - it had been treated well, provided with food and entertainment, and generally coddled and spoiled by the humans and Jaegers. Yes, they had poked at it a little, taking samples and measuring and weighing it, but nothing painful. And it didn't want to leave what it saw as its newfound friends and playmates.
You ARE leaving, Otachi growled. You are already in trouble for running off…
Stay! it insisted, coiling even more tightly about Hydra's leg.
Stay, Mustang echoed, holding its hands out toward Slattern. No harm. Friends. It hesitated, struggling to find a way to frame its thoughts in images and feelings rather than words. Learn. Learn more. Teach and learn.
Slattern snorted, tails lashing. What Mustang suggested was insane. And yet… some part of her, some part that had long fought against the raging animal in her mind and pushed for the Awakening and all it entailed, was curious. Curious about these constructs and their intelligence… and the humans who had built them.
Leader - Slattern - what are your orders? Knifehead asked, tilting his head to one side.
Stay, Slattern replied. For awhile.
Have you gone mad? Otachi demanded. This is a trap. They want to lure us inside the Shatterdome so they can take us apart at their leisure.
If they haven't dissected your cub, I doubt they'll do the same to us. Besides… this may be the opportunity we were looking for. The chance to finally prove to the humans that we mean them no harm.
Onibaba gurgled a laugh, clacking her pincers together. Well, no matter how this turns out, it'll be interesting. And if this is how we meet our ends… at least we went out with a bang, right?
Enough, Old One, Slattern growled. Mustang… lead the way.
Alexis was normally a man of few words, but somehow he was the first of Team Cherno Alpha to respond to the news: "You are joking, of course."
"I wouldn't joke about something of this magnitude," Tendo replied, his expression serious over the video-call connection. "These aren't ordinary Kaiju - somehow, they're sentient. And they not only saved Hydra and Mustang from possible destruction, but they've managed to establish some kind of communication with Team Mustang. And they're settling in at the Panama City Shatterdome without problems… or at least without significant problems."
"That all sounds like the setup to a very unfunny joke to me," Sasha noted darkly.
Cherno Alpha just whimpered softly, hugging his knees to his chest and rocking in his seat. Aleksis looped a comforting arm around him, trying to soothe him, and he nuzzled his reactor tower against his father's side.
Team Cherno Alpha was en route to Panama, the miniature Jaeger and his parents settled in the Conn Pod of Cherno's battle chassis while the usual team of helicopters flew it over the ocean and towards the narrow neck of land that connected the two American continents. They had been geared up for a fight, thrilled to step back onto the battlefield after two years. Cherno himself had been nervous but excited, hoping that this new Conn Pod setup would work as well in battle as everyone hoped it would.
But then Tendo Choi had contacted them with the shocking news - four Kaiju had arrived at the Shatterdome, killed a fifth that had threatened to overwhelm Mustang and Hydra, and asked for their cub back. Asked. Actually established communication. And now the entire PPDC was thrown into disarray as they struggled to figure out what this revelation would mean for both the Jaegers and the world at large.
"I don't like it," Cherno fretted. "It's too different. I don't like it when the Kaiju start evolving - bad things always happen when the Kaiju change."
"None of us like this, little one," Sasha murmured, patting his arm in an effort to comfort him. "It changes everything we thought we knew about these creatures. Or… I assume it does." She frowned at Tendo through the screen. "I assume we are to return to Vladivostok? That we are no longer needed?"
"On the contrary, I want as many Jaegers as possible to make their way to Panama City," Tendo replied. "Just because these Kaiju are capable of communication doesn't mean we should let our guard down. Should they get aggressive, we'll need as many hands as possible available to subdue them. Just… don't come in swinging. Not yet."
Despite himself, Cherno perked up at that news. "All the Jaegers are going to Panama?"
Tendo nodded. "All Jaegers save Tacit Ronin are en route as we speak… and Tacit and I will be on our way as soon as we finish locking down the Hong Kong Shatterdome."
"Will that not leave our coasts unprotected?" Aleksis demanded.
Cherno's glee at seeing his fellow Jaegers again - Conn Pod to Conn Pod and not via a video chat - dampened at his father's words. Was this a ploy by the Precursors to get the Jaegers to abandon their posts, leaving the coastlines vulnerable to other, less friendly Kaiju? Or worse, another organic Jaeger? If anything happened to his homeland while they were occupied in Panama, he would never forgive himself.
"We have enough of our anti-Kaiju sensory network up and running to monitor most coastlines, and the militaries of the Pacific Rim nations are offering their aid in closing the gaps," Tendo replied. "If a Kaiju approaches a coastline, we should have enough warning to get a Jaeger there before they make landfall."
Cherno relaxed slightly at that. "Which Kaiju are there?" If it was Katschei or Razorback, one of the monsters who had killed Eden Assassin or Nova Hyperion…
"Slattern, Knifehead, Onibaba, and Otachi," Tendo replied. "Raiju is also en route according to Mammoth Apostle's information."
"And we're certain Raiju is… sentient… as well?" Sasha asked.
In response Tendo sent an image, the timestamp and website URL indicating it had been taken from an underwater webcam of some sort. Cherno gawked a moment, then burst out in the stuttering engine cough that was his laugh.
"You're joking," Aleksis muttered, staring at the picture of Mammoth Apostle astride Raiju's back, hunched low like a jockey riding a Thoroughbred to the finish line in the Kentucky Derby.
"I only wish I was," Tendo replied. "I honestly thought this was a Photoshop job until Mammoth assured me otherwise. Raiju is… not bright, to put it kindly, but he's oddly friendly."
"Friendly Kaiju… I do not like this." Sasha shook her head. "It's all too good to be true. And if this is true and these beasts ARE sentient, will they not wish to avenge their fallen comrades?"
"We've had that exact thought," Tendo replied. "Which is why it's all the more important to get our Jaegers to Panama. If these Kaiju turn violent, we want to be prepared."
Sasha nodded. "And if they are not violent? If they want something else from us besides our deaths?"
"Newt's already working overtime to establish a more effective means of communication with them, and determine just what's going on. In the meantime… all we can do is protect Panama as best we can. And for that we need every available Jaeger."
"Understood," Aleksis told him. "We will do our part."
"That's all I ask," Tendo replied, and cut the connection.
Cherno snuggled up to his father's side. "I'm nervous. This is different from anything we've faced before… and I don't like different."
"I know, little one," Sasha told him, stroking his reactor tower gently. "It's different for all of us. We will be strong, though… we will face it together, and deal with whatever comes."
Cherno nodded. This whole situation was new and frightening - the unknown was always terrifying, even for a Jaeger. But knowing his parents, his Rangers, would face it with him was a help.
And the other Jaegers will be there too. Crimson, Gipsy, Striker, Coyote, Brawler, Mustang… and the new ones like Mammoth and Hydra and Tacit. We'll all face this together, just like before. And whatever happens… we'll do what we must to save the world.
"Are you looking forward to seeing the others again?" Sasha asked.
Cherno nodded. "It's been a long time since I've seen the others. It will be nice to catch up."
"Duty first, but I'm sure there will be time for that," Aleksis assured him. "It will be nice to see the other Rangers again. It was good to return to Vladivostok, but I do miss talking to Beckett and Mori and the others."
"I as well." A smirk replaced Sasha's worried scowl for a moment. "I have a feeling it will be hard to talk to Dr. Geizler, though."
Cherno chirped in confusion. "Do you think he won't want to talk to us?"
"I think he will be extremely busy," Sasha replied. "Despite all he has been through, he is still fascinated by the Kaiju. And now, after being content with bits and pieces of dead ones, he has five living Kaiju practically on his doorstep."
Aleksis rumbled a laugh. "I am sure he is like a child in a candy store right now. Excited beyond belief."
They're beautiful.
That was the only coherent thought that passed through Newt's head as he watched the Kaiju lumber onto the shore outside the Panama City Shatterdome, shaking seawater off like dogs and clawing barnacles and other clinging aquatic life from their hides. The rest of the world could call these brutes ugly and horrifying and monstrous all they wanted - to him they were magnificent. And even being cornered in the Bone Slums by Otachi or chased by Armada's flying drones or facing down Wendigo just a few hours ago could squash that thought.
Slattern planted her forepaws in the sand and proceeded to stretch like a cat, back arched, lipless maw open wide in a deep yawn that sounded enough like a roar to make onlookers scatter. And there were a LOT of onlookers - not only had what seemed to be the entire population of the Shatterdome turned out to see these new Kaiju up close, but plenty of civilians had gathered to watch. And snap pictures, if the number of phones pointed up at Slattern's head were any indication.
Eh… we weren't going to be able to keep this secret long anyhow, Newt thought. The world knows we've got Kaiju here, and that we've made no move so far to attack 'em. The fact that they've done nothing to attack US will probably go unmentioned, but hey, bad news doesn't get as many clicks.
"My god," Hermann muttered as Otachi opened her wings to let the sun dry them, the amber rays seeming to illuminate the membranes like a paper lantern. "I hoped to never see one of these creatures so close without a Conn Pod to protect me."
"We don't always get what we want," Yasmin noted, staring up with a mingled expression of awe and fear. "What happens if they suddenly come after us? Can Mustang and Hydra stop them in time?"
"More Jaegers are on the way," Hermann assured her. "And Mustang and Hydra are strong. They should be able to hold them back until backup arrives."
"They've been around for hours and haven't so much as stepped on anyone," Newt noted. "If they were gonna attack us, they'd have done it by now."
"And how are you so certain of this?" Hermann asked. "Do talking Kaiju make landfall every day now?"
"Well, no, but the old Kaiju never went this long without attacking," Newt replied. "These Kaiju… it's not just the fact that they talk. They seem to have a pack hierarchy - Slattern seems to be in charge, with the others following her orders - and they clearly care about their young and about each other's safety. It's like watching a pack of wolves - not that I've ever seen wolves in the wild, just in a zoo, and any animal's going to act differently in captivity…"
"Get to the point, Newton," Hermann muttered.
"I think he's saying they're intelligent," Yasmin replied. "Maybe not as intelligent as humans, but at least as smart as, say, dogs or wolves. Right, Dr. Geizler?"
Newt nodded. "Not just intelligence, though… communication implies sentience. I think these Kaiju are sentient, or became sentient like the Jaegers did!"
Hermann's eyes widened, and he looked like he dearly wanted to argue with his fellow scientist but was finding it difficult to come up with a convincing counterargument. "Other animals communicate, however - dolphins and whales, elephants, honeybees - and they aren't defined as sentient."
"The jury's still out on cetaceans," Yasmin pointed out. "Literally - the United Nations is still trying to make a decision regarding whether to classify them as sentient beings alongside humans and Jaegers. But that's off the subject."
The ground beneath their feet shuddered, and the three scientists staggered, grabbing onto each other to steady themselves. Once they regained their balance they looked to the shore to see Knifehead had flopped directly into the sand and was rolling in it, twisting and snuffing like a dog rolling in something disgusting. Onibaba and Slattern gave the long-snouted Kaiju looks of such exasperated disgust that it took all of Newt's willpower not to laugh. Yasmin didn't even try to hold back and let out a giggle.
"Back up a bit," Hermann ordered, rolling his eyes at the spectacle. "You said 'became sentient.' But the Jaegers only became sentient through repeated drifting with their Rangers. Are you implying the Precursors somehow drifted with the Kaiju to make them sentient?"
Newt hadn't thought of THAT possibility, and for a moment the smile faded from his face. Then it returned as something incredible occurred to him.
"They might have, they might not have," Newt replied. "But we know for sure who HAS drifted with a Kaiju brain."
"Who…" Hermann's eyes threatened to bulge out of his skull as the implications set in. "Are you saying WE are responsible for this?"
"Hey, we've both drifted with Kaiju brains multiple times!" Newt replied. "Not just the first version of Otachi's baby - no offense, Big Mama…"
Otachi gave no sign that she had heard them, focusing on trying to dry her wings in the sun and keep her cub corralled with well-timed swipes of her tail at the same time.
"...but with the brain the Kaiju cultists had in their basement," Newt finished. "And the Kaiju have that hive mind, or at least the old ones did… so by drifting with one, we sorta drift with them all, right?"
"Are you saying… that WE turned the Kaiju sentient?" Hermann demanded.
Newt nodded enthusiastically. "If drifting with a Jaeger gives it a mind of its own… I guess it works with Kaiju too. Man… you think they'll let me get close enough to study them? This is an unprecedented opportunity!"
"I'd… let them get settled in a bit better first," Yasmin suggested. "I mean… we're all still getting used to the fact that they're not trying to kill us-"
The ocean erupted in a violent maelstrom not far offshore, and screams rang through the air in response. The Kaiju recoiled, hissing, and the Jaegers braced themselves… only to relax as Mammoth Apostle waded towards the shore, the crocodilian bulk of Raiju trailing behind.
"Another one… six of them," Hermann murmured. "And it's following Mammoth around like a puppy. Can this day get any stranger?"
"Dude, don't say that," Newt laughed. "That just guarantees it'll get stranger!"
"Well, it's not like NOT saying it will make things go back to normal…"
Yasmin smothered her laughter behind her hand as the two scientists continued to bicker good-naturedly. They were all so caught up in their conversation that they didn't notice that one of the onlookers hadn't just been filming the Kaiju, but the scientists as well. Said onlooker, a remarkably well-dressed man with sunglasses partially obscuring a scarred face, lowered his phone and thumbed a message, then sent it off to its recipient.
Update on Kaiju situation, Hannibal Chau - this gets more interesting by the minute.