A/N: Hello! I fell in love with Newt and Hermann and couldn't resist writing something for them. I have many, many ideas about how the whole Precursor!Newt storyline could have gone, and this is what resulted. If you want to read my analysis of Precursor!Newt, read the end note.

Sorry about the formatting. This site is awful. Check out my A03 (same username) for proper formatting of this story, if you want. It's not much of a difference, but I style my writing a certain way sometimes.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pacific Rim.


In this world, Newt Drifts with a damaged Kaiju brain and gets information vital for understanding the enemy.

In this world, he's told to do it again.

He does, with Hermann.

He's already infected.

But they don't want Hermann.

(One human body is enough.)

(Some of Hermann's theoretical science and Breach knowledge has slipped into Newt's mind. The Precursors nurture it and help it grow.)


In another world, they do want Hermann.

They see he has more knowledge of the Breach, a more mathematical mind than the other one. Less enthusiastic for sure, but also less likely to admit it if he notices anything amiss.

(Stubborn, this one, more than the first.)

In one world, Newt notices fairly quickly. Hermann's mind is intact when Newt and others at the PPDC force the Precursors out.

In another world, Newt only finds out far, far too late.

(The world burns red.)

In yet another world, it is as in this world, with Newt looking on with horror as Not-Hermann, Maybe-Hermann gloats about bringing about the end of the world. It is Newt looking into the cell and wishing it had been him.

(It should have been him.)


There's a world where both scientists are useful assets to the Precursors. Newt's already exposed from his first Drift, and when Hermann links up so do the Precursors.

In one timeline, they comfort each other through the confusion and fear, bring the other back from the brink of insanity before either can give in. It's a long and tiring fight, but they're winning.

(It is a life-long battle, fully won only with the death of one side or the other.)

In another timeline, they succumb all too easily to the seductive manipulations of the species they don't fully understand. When Newt discovers Drifting helps- unaware of the strengthening link to his puppeteers- it is all too easy for Hermann to slip on the Pons device as well.


There are worlds where Hermann notices Newt's strange actions early on, and the Precursors never get a strong hold on the biologist's mind.

There are worlds where, if not at the start, Hermann notices Newt's oddness upon reuniting ten years after they win the war.

(The clothes, the arrogance that leans towards condescension, the lack of enthusiasm for Kaiju blood experimentation- the Precursors aren't trying very hard at all, are they, Hermann muses as he catches them off-guard.)

There are worlds where Hermann agrees to dinner to meet Alice.

Some timelines, he smashes the glass.

(Whether or not this frees Newt is another story.)

(Sometimes the Precursors drag Newt down with them as the connection dies.)

Sometimes, he sits tied to a table as the Precursors use him to blackmail Newt further into hiding.

(Unable to speak to Newt, and yet he still tries to break through. The mere moments that Newt appears, however, involve only apologies and frantic whispers to just do as the Precursors say, it's easier, it'll all be over soon.)

Others, he accepts the Pons device with shaking hands and accepts defeat.

(He could never allow Newt to suffer alone.)


There are worlds where Hermann never Drifts with Newt and the Kaiju brain at all.

(Newt dies in incredible pain, not able to warn the others that the plan won't work.)

(Other times, he's much more susceptible to the voices suddenly in his head.)

(Hermann never stands a chance.)


There are many worlds where Newt doesn't survive his initial Drift with the Kaiju brain at all.

(His senses fade before he ever hears the clack of the cane, or his rival-slash-sort-of-friend-slash-crush's shout of his name.)

(Perhaps if he had, he could have held out longer, if only to hear someone actually express concern about him- maybe he does matter.)


In this world, Not-Newt, Maybe-Newt screams about the end of the world from his chair in a darkened cell, and laughs.


A/N: *shows up four years late with Starbucks* I recently watched Pacific Rim for the first time and loved these two. I suffered through Uprising just for scenes that had them in it (after writing this fic, of course... So please cut me some slack as I hadn't actually seen more than a couple of Uprising scenes beforehand).

Anyway, analysis time! The reason I put "Not-Newt" and "Maybe-Newt," and "Not-Hermann" and "Maybe-Hermann," is because there's a couple theories I have about how the possession works. In one theory- the one that literally everyone writes fix-it fics for and I am living for it- is that the Precursors (Not-Newt) possess Newt's body and push him down. They are a separate mind from Newt. They have implemented brainwashing strategies on Newt (Newt saying he's not strong enough to fight, saying there's no point, even the Precursors' speech about why "Newt" would want to end the world sounds like things they've tried to convince Newt of- and at least partially succeeded). However, Newt is able to fight his way back up (inviting Hermann to meet "Alice," I would argue the way Newt dresses in Uprising is also a subtle cry for help, and obviously apologizing to Hermann while the Precursors are choking the guy).

My other theory- the one I haven't seen anywhere in fics and the one I'm a bit more interested in, but alas am not confident enough to write myself- is what I call the 'mind-meld' theory. That, after so much time with the Precursors in his mind as well as Drifting with "Alice," Newt's mind and the mind of the Precursors and the hive mind of the Kaiju have all melded together into one. Newt as we know him is effectively dead- this is a whole new person, but with the Precursors' motivations more in control. (Evidence: "Maybe that's why he did it- I did it"- the mind inhabiting the body isn't sure who he/it/they are anymore. Also going back to the villain monologuing of why "Newt" would end the world- the Precursors and Kaiju mind could be mixing in with Newt's there.) And thus that's where "Maybe-Newt" and "Maybe-Hermann" come from- because who knows if that is them, now?

Take the Hermann and Newt scenes as you will. However, Charlie Day- actor for Newt- has said he played his character as being in love with Hermann, so that's where that one line about Newt having a crush on Hermann comes from. Whether it's requited or not is up to you.

I just really love these two, and hero-turns-villain is in my top two favorite tropes so I have lots of thoughts about it (condensed into this fic). Thank you so much for reading!