A/N – Hello again Pacific Rim and Shingeki no Kyojin/Attack on Titan crossover fans! As some of you may recall, I've already dabbled in these genres with "Rogue Titan," the story of how Eren and Mikasa become Jaeger pilots in the Pacific Rim universe.

That story is still in the midst of being worked on, despite it being over 7 years since I last updated it…

Anyways.

This time, I'm going to do something a little different. This will be a true crossover involving both the PR and SnK universes, although most of the crucial plot will occur in the SnK universe.

For Pacific Rim, this story will not be compliant with the lackluster sequel known as Uprising or the anime The Black (haven't seen it yet, therefore I don't have too many opinions on it). As for Attack on Titan, I am incorporating elements of the lore into this story, but some things might be different as I have known for years (generally speaking) where I want this story to go and how I want this story to end.

With all that being said, I hope you enjoy the story.

Disclaimer: Pacific Rim belongs to Guillermo del Toro and Travis Beacham; Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan) belongs to Hajime Isayama; I own nothing.

Chapter 1 – To You, 2,000 Worlds Away…

January 12, 2025

Challenger Deep, Pacific Ocean

Stacker Pentecost glanced to his left at his co-pilot, swearing he had heard the Australian shouting something at him.

But that was impossible – Chuck Hansen was limp in his harness, immobile and unresponsive. The force from Slattern's attack – both its initial impact and then crashing into an undersea volcanic vent – had been strong enough to render Herc's son unconscious; thankfully, it had only dazed the older pilot. 'Just like Tokyo…' he thought.

Turning towards his control panel, he punched the link to LOCCENT and reported in, "The payload release is jammed!" Glancing back at Chuck's still form, he added, "Chuck is unconscious, but I'm fine." A warning flashed on the HUD, "And the hull's failing; half the systems are down. I'm going to override the-"

The Englishman stopped midsentence, bracing the Jaeger as the Category-V Kaiju charged at them again. It was incredibly difficult not only piloting the Jaeger solo, but also having to fight the first Cat-V Kaiju by himself. He was far from 'fine' at the moment. Stacker could already feel the wear on his body now that Chuck was no longer sharing the neural load; he tasted iron as the steady trickle of blood from his nostrils ran across his lips. Despite that, there was some small comfort in the fact that piloting the graceful Mark-5 by himself was marginally easier than his old Mark-1 had been.

With a bloodcurdling roar, Slattern had pushed Striker off the cliff it had been resting on. The two titans fell, stirring up tons of sediment as they impacted the ocean floor once again. Tumbling together in a ferocious dance, machine and monster fought for the upper hand.

Despite being thrashed around by the alien giant, as well as fighting his ever-weakening body, Stacker managed to thrust Striker's sting blades just below the joints of Slattern's upper arms. Straining, the Marshal lifted his arms higher, forcing the Jaeger's heated blades through alien muscle and bone, rendering the beast's arms useless.

Pushing itself away from its attacker in a flurry of neon blue blood, Slattern released another disturbing call. However, this time it was not a challenge that roared from its throat – this was a cry for help.

On the other side of the battlefield, the Category-IV known as Scunner was currently plotting its attack on the other remaining Jaeger. The Mark-3, Gipsy Danger, had just moments ago reduced Scunner's fellow Cat-IV, Raiju, to two mirrored chunks. However, upon hearing Slattern's cry, the beast turned its charred face away from Gipsy and swam off to heed the call of its surviving comrade.

Tendo's voice echoed in Stacker's helmet, "Both Kaijus are converging on Striker, fast!"

"Hang on, Striker!" Raleigh called over the comm. "We're coming to ya!"

"No!" Stacker shouted back, already knowing what he had to do. "Gipsy, do not come to our aid! Do you copy?"

"Hang on!"

"Stay as far back as you can!"

"We can still reach you!" Raleigh insisted, "We're coming for you!"

"No, Raleigh, listen to me!" Stacker commanded. "You know exactly what you have to do! Gipsy is nuclear! Take her to the Breach!"

The veteran Ranger was silent for but a moment, before finally relenting to Stacker's orders. "I hear ya, sir. Headin' for the Breach – now."

Removing his helmet with a groan, Stacker wiped away as much blood from around his mouth as he could. He had to say what needed to be said, and quickly. "Mako! Listen! You can finish this! I'll always be here for you!

"You can always find me in the Drift."

A channel from LOCCENT entered the Conn-Pod, "Stacker!" It was Herc, "What are you going to do?"

The PPDC commander almost chuckled, "I'm going to clear a path! For the lady!"

Stacker barely made out Tendo's whispered, "He's gonna detonate the payload."

Herc's voice came over the line immediately, "Stacker! Is Chuck still out?" Although the readouts in the command center told the Australian of his son's condition, he needed to know from Stacker firsthand.

"Affirmative," Pentecost replied as he flipped a series of switches, causing Chuck's harness to transition from vertical to horizontal, lifting him to the top of the Conn-Pod. "But don't worry, Herc, he's not going to die today."

The left hemisphere escape pod launched out of Striker's domed head and sped towards the surface of the Pacific Ocean.

"Thank you," was Herc's choked response. "It was a pleasure, sir."

"The pleasure was mine, old friend."

Reaching out to his control panel once again, Stacker began to hit another series of switches, resulting in an alarm blaring throughout the Conn-Pod.

The nuclear warhead strapped to Striker's back was now armed.

Slattern and Scunner began their attacks simultaneously, both heading towards either side of the Mark-5 Jaeger, its back now glowing a brilliant blue.

His hand over the last switch, Stacker paused for but a second. The comm. came alive for one final transmission.

"Sensei, aishitemasu."

He flipped the switch.

May 19, 2030

0130 Hours

Anchorage Shatterdome, Alaska

The ringing phone was an explosion to Mako's eardrums, and she sighed irritably into her pillow as the noise roused her from the embrace of sleep. As her eyes drowsily blinked open, she caught the time on her nightstand clock and noted it was still several hours before her alarm. Calls at odd hours of the night always ended up being important for one of three reasons, so she turned in her bed to grab for the phone, only for a hand to reach out and stop her.

"I'll get it, Mako," a familiar voice, also clearly quite groggy, told her softly. "It's my phone this time. Go back to sleep."

Smiling her thanks to Raleigh, Mako shut her eyes but remained where she was. She knew she wouldn't be able to fall asleep again – not until Raleigh told her who had called and why.

She heard the electronic beep as Raleigh accepted the call, "Hello?"

In the months and years following Operation Pitfall, the two copilots had received more attention than they had ever dreamed of – or desired. The world praised Gipsy Danger's pilots as the saviors of humanity, and everyone wanted to know more about the famed 'Rookie and Comeback Kid.' She and Raleigh had attended countless interviews, and in all of them, they were asked the same type of questions.

To which they gave all the same answers.

'How does it feel to be the saviors of mankind?'

"While we're honored people think so highly of us…," Raleigh would start.

"We were not single-handedly responsible for ending the war," Mako would continue, "The PPDC as a whole and all those who supported it are to thank, not just us."

'What will you do now that the war is over? With the Breach closed, I doubt there's much use for Jaeger pilots – or Jaegers at all – anymore.'

One would begin by saying, "There's still a lot of work to be done – rebuilding areas devastated by Kaiju attacks, reopening port cities, and so much more."

"And you're right – this world doesn't need Jaegers or their pilots anymore, but those of us in the PPDC will continue to help in any way we can," another would end.

'A successful Drift between complete strangers is estimated to occur in only one out of several thousand pairings. What do you think made the two of you Drift Compatible?'

Mako and Raleigh would exchange a glance, "We got lucky, I guess."

"After reviewing his record, I recognized similarities to my own," Mako had said, "I assumed it was a possibility, though probably a remote one."

Raleigh would smirk, "As soon as she picked up a Bo staff in the Kwoon, I thought we might be able to Drift." His smirk grew, "And as soon as she was done kicking my ass, I knew it."

'It was rather common for unrelated pilots to develop romantic relationships after Drifting and so the world is dying to know – what is the relationship between you two? Is it another great romance for the ages?'

"…"

"No comment."

This repetition had quickly resulted in the pair turning down interviews, booking their schedules to be unavailable, or simply ignoring the requests. While they still attended some – the PPDC was adamant that the beloved heroes remained in the public eye – Mako and Raleigh had done their best to seclude themselves from journalists, politicians, paparazzi, and unhinged fans.

Raleigh had convinced her years ago that he was going to build them a cabin, which they both had expected they would be living in by now. However, due to the unwanted attention and their current careers, it was easier – and far more private – to remain living at PPDC bases, many of which had been reacquired by the Corps following the end of the war. For the past two years, they had been living at the Icebox, despite the melancholy it could bring.

So, one possibility for this early morning call was to inform them that they would be attending an interview or appearance approved by the Corps at the last minute. Or one or both of them were being requested to assist at other facilities. Or something had gone wrong with the primary project that Mako was working on.

"Herc!"

Mako could hear Raleigh's smile as he spoke into the phone.

"How've ya been?" There was a slight pause, followed by the sound of the phone hitting the floor. Bolting upright as a wave – terror, disbelief, anger – crashed over her, Mako saw that Raleigh had gone pale but he reached down to recover the phone before she could offer. Shakily holding it back to his ear, the Alaska native asked, "A new Breach? Where?"

The fear she had felt from their ghost drift intensified at Raleigh's words. Memories, both hers and Raleigh's – and even some she knew were from Yancy – flashed through her mind. Onibaba tearing its way through Tokyo, news reels from around the world of the devastation dealt by Kaiju attacks and their increasing frequency, and snippets of the many battles Gipsy had fought over the years.

If Herc's call was genuine – and Mako had no reason to doubt the man – then all of those memories, all of those emotions, would soon become a reality all over again. The United Nations and the PPDC had been working on contingency plans for just such an event, but Mako only knew a fraction of those plans. And, as it had for most of human history, money and connections dictated what programs were funded and which weren't. Fortunately, Mako had fought alongside Herc to ensure one program received the funding it deserved – just in case.

"Understood, sir," Raleigh spoke into the phone. "We'll see you then." Another beep indicated the call had ended, the silence that followed deafening. After several moments, the blond released a shuddering breath, "I don't know if I can do this again, Mako."

The engineer moved over to sit beside her partner, interlacing her fingers with his, "That makes two of us." She sighed before bringing his hand to her lips, placing a kiss against his knuckles. "But neither of us is alone this time. Together, we can handle anything, remember?"

He nodded, "Yeah, I remember." He brought her hand to his lips, mirroring her affection. A gleam of determination returned to his eyes, "We make a pretty good team, don't we?"

"The best," Mako assured them both before placing a kiss against his shoulder, her eyes tracing the scars left behind by his circuitry suit years before. "So, where are we heading? And how soon do we leave?"

"Herc said the chopper should be ready within twenty minutes," he told her. He nodded towards their closet where packs they had prepared long ago for just such an occasion sat waiting, "Glad we checked those over a week or so ago, though we might want to pack some beach towels and swimsuits." Despite the dread looming over them, he smiled, "We're going to Hawaii."

Mako returned his smile, "I'll be sure to grab the sunscreen then."

Pacific Ocean, north of Oahu

Several hours later, after a transfer and refueling, Mako gently shook her co-pilot, "Raleigh, wake up – we're here."

"Hmm?" The blond blinked his eyes open, before following Mako's gaze out the side window. "Well, I'll be damned – the Corps' been busy."

Below them, the outline of the San Francisco stood out against the waters of the Pacific. Much like everything else in the PPDC, its fleet was an international mishmash of different vessels. The San Francisco-class cruisers began as the hulls of Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers but were instead gifted to the PPDC and then heavily modified. While not as effective against Kaiju as Jaegers, the vessels had helped to wound, agitate, or otherwise distract the beasts on several occasions. When the UN began to cut the Defense Corps' funding, the vessels were returned to the United States, with many expecting them to be sent to the scrap piles – like much of the PPDC's works, unfortunately – or be rechristened into service of the American Navy.

Surprisingly, the massive cruisers had been mothballed and remained relatively unchanged. Skeleton crews had been assigned to each vessel to oversee general maintenance and resupply, but the United States had been oddly content to retain the ships as a reserve fleet. And following the end of the Kaiju War, through its renewed popularity, the PPDC had requested the vessels be returned to their service for various functions throughout the Pacific Rim.

The San Francisco itself had just recently been relaunched after a series of extensive modifications and upgrades. The Manila was slated to be relaunched within the next few months, with the Cabo San Lucas following several months after that. The Sydney, Vancouver, and Hong Kong remained on active service with their original equipment, their own upgrades slated to begin over the next couple years.

Half a dozen or so support ships could be seen in a perimeter around the San Francisco, while several other helicopters were visible in the skies around them. Raleigh hummed, "I bet you that the media's been told it's just another training exercise."

"Until anything else is confirmed," Mako decided as their transport began to descend to the deck of the San Francisco below, "it might as well be. If this turns out to be a fluke, then that will probably be the official story anyways."

"…was rushed to The Queen's Medical Center two nights ago, following a rumored stroke while on vacation. There has been no official word from his family or the hospital on his condition, other than that 'he is stable.' Unverified claims posted online suggest that Jasper Schoenfeld may have slipped into a coma. We will continue to provide updates on this story as we receive them.

"In other news, the Arcadia Planitia Colony marked its third consecutive year of operations today – that is in Earth years of course – and an additional fifty colonists are set to arrive to the settlement in just over a week. To many, the Mars Colonization Program and Interplanetary Resource Recovery operations are signs of a bright future for humanity. Proponents of these endeavors claim they provide us with materials and goals to recover from the Kaiju War and advance our technology, as well as establishing a 'backup' civilization. However, not everyone is convinced. Critics cite the high cost of space travel and, despite the financial, scientific, and material return provided by these programs, maintain that focusing on revitalizing areas affected by the Kaiju War is of greater importance. Tonight, we will hear from…"

PPDC Mobile Command, UNS San Francisco

Herc watched as the chopper descended slowly to the deck, his heart heavy. He had been unable to keep his promise to himself – that none of the remaining Rangers would ever be put in harm's way again. He only hoped that the current situation would not devolve into anything that would require the pair aboard the transport to actually fight. The world simply wasn't ready for another Kaiju War, especially not with how devastating the first one was. Ignoring the lives lost and damage dealt by the Kaiju – both to human settlements and the environment – the war effort had unfortunately added to those problems as well. As unfortunate as the side effects of the war effort were, humanity's victory had given them the chance to rebuild their cities and do their best to restore devastated ecosystems. And except for the Kaiju cultists and any like-minded ilk, humanity very much preferred their present circumstances as opposed to the alternative.

But now, a mere half decade after the greatest triumph in their history, humanity stood on the precipice once again. All of their efforts to rebuild, to heal themselves and their world from the apocalypse, could be snuffed out in an instant if they weren't careful.

'Pitfall, Stacker's sacrifice – every Ranger that gave their lives – were they all in vain?' the Australian's thoughts were running rampant. 'Is this humanity's fate – to fight Kaiju until we run out of materials and men?'

The toll on the world's resources was heavy, however, and since the war's end, the effects were beginning to be fully felt. The coastal areas of the Pacific had dealt with rationing and shortages for years, but once the ports were reopened, the rest of the world began to experience much of the same.

Much of this news had made its way to his desk by virtue that as leader of the Defense Corps, he was seen as an authority on safeguarding humanity's future, just as Stacker had been.

Herc sighed as the chopper touched down on the deck of the San Francisco. While he would have never wanted to endure the waning months of the war as Stacker had, he felt his friend had been far better suited to the position of Marshal than he was. The PPDC had been such a small force at the end of the war – the 'resistance,' Stacker had called them – that Herc's 'battlefield' promotion to Marshal had been accepted with only very minor complaints or concerns. He had honestly hoped for more people to question his leadership ability so that he could step down and not be in charge of the whole damned operation. He'd been tempted to ask Hikai – or any of the other retired Marshals – to take over for him, but at the same time, he felt that doing any less than his absolute best would be an insult to Stacker's memory.

So, while neither of Gipsy Danger's pilots were active Rangers anymore, Herc had worked with both of them over the last few years. Mako remained employed by the PPDC as an engineer, her expertise and drive ensuring the success of numerous projects with the same fervor that she had shown when she had helmed the Mark-3 Restoration Program. Raleigh was often busy helping with rebuilding projects – big or small, sometimes even with the Corps – thanks to his experience in construction. They had found new ways to help the world after the end of the war.

Herc, and Chuck for that matter, had only ever known life in the military. So, he had stuck it out as PPDC Marshal to honor Stacker Pentecost's wishes while his son had remained attached to the Corps in whatever ways he could find.

That said, the amount of pure bullshit he was having to deal with now would probably have sent even Stacker up the wall.

Herc shook his head and withdrew a small med-tablet container from his jacket. He quickly swallowed a dose of ibuprofen to assuage the oncoming headache he felt. Served him right to spiral into a reflection of the state of the world right when it was about to be thrown back into hell. Or further into hell, considering the state of things. He cursed quietly to himself to try and focus back on the task at hand as the helicopter's stepladder unfolded before him. A pair of familiar figures descended the steps and moved to meet him where he stood.

"Raleigh, Mako!" Herc shouted over the helicopter's motor, "Welcome aboard the San Francisco. I only wish it were under better circumstances."

"Couldn't agree more, Herc!" Raleigh greeted loudly in return as the aircraft's motor died down. He grinned despite the situation, "It's good to see you, though."

Mako grinned as well, "We've been meaning to meet up. I guess we should have expected work to bring us all back together, huh?"

The Australian rolled his eyes, but smirked nonetheless, "Your co-pilot is a horrible influence on you, Miss Mori."

"It can't be helped, Marshal," she admitted. She looked out towards the open ocean, trying to guess where the new threat lay beneath the waves. Her grin fell, "How long has it been active?"

"Down to business – that's the Ranger Mori I know," Herc said. "It appeared approximately thirty-one hours ago, about the size of a baseball. It hasn't changed size yet, thank God, but we're prepared if it does and starts spitting out Kaiju." He gestured along the deck of the ship.

The Alaskan Ranger's eyes widened as he stared at the six plasma casters visible on the main deck of the San Francisco, wondering how he had missed the massive weapons. There were traditional armaments as well, but the casters were clearly derived from Jaeger tech; specifically, quite reminiscent of Gipsy's main weapons. "Damn, they weren't kiddin' about major upgrades."

"It's sheer luck the San Francisco was passing close to Hawaii when we received word about this situation. We're hoping she'll be enough, but I can't be sure," Herc admitted. "Which is the main reason I brought you two here."

"Dionysus," Mako whispered. Confusion marred Raleigh's face briefly before giving way to understanding, courtesy of the ghost drift.

"Precisely," Herc confirmed. "The Anchorage is on its way here now, expected to arrive in two days as the final emergency preparations are made. It's not guaranteed, but since our other ships are either in drydock, still on their way, or otherwise engaged, if the San Francisco falls, it's our best bet. You would know better than most."

The Japanese Ranger nodded in agreement, "Hopefully it won't come to that."

"On the phone, you said it wasn't as deep as the first Breach," Raleigh announced. "Is it shallow enough for us to see it?"

"Best get back on the chopper, then," Herc informed the pair. "I was about to head there myself but decided to accompany you both. It's not too far of a flight. We're just going to the Sandbox, after all."

Mako narrowed her eyes towards Oahu's shoreline, "It's near Hawaii's Shatterdome?"

The Marshal of the PPDC shook his head, "The bloody thing is in the Sandbox."

Oahu Shatterdome, Jaeger Bay 03

The crackling sphere of energy hovered approximately three meters above the floor, illuminating the abandoned launch bay in a cascade of colors as it rotated. Technicians and scientists in hazmat suits skirted around the edge of the new breach, placing various pieces of equipment, and taking as many readings as quickly as they could. While nothing suggested this second intrusion into their world would suddenly expand, they wanted to be prepared if it did.

"I've gotta be honest, Hermann," Dr. Newton Geiszler admitted into his radio, "from all the scans we're getting, this thing does not act like the original Breach."

Monitoring the situation from within mission control, Dr. Gottlieb replied, "While I would like to agree with you, Newton, I am concerned since we never obtained scans of the first Breach at a similar stage."

The younger scientist rolled his eyes, he could almost hear his friend's frown, "I know, but hear me out, this thing isn't even putting out any radiation! Or, at least, no damaging radiation. I shouldn't even need this suit right now!"

"Do not remove your protective gear, Newton, for God's sake," Hermann sighed. "The last thing I need to do is explain to your family again why you did something stupid."

"Hey now," Newt pointed accusingly towards the control room, "I believe the record shows that I was not alone in drifting with a Kaiju brain. That makes us both dumbasses." He grinned, "And rock stars, considering the Jaegers wouldn't have been able to destroy the Breach without us."

"While that may be true, let's not inflate your ego too much today, shall we?" Hermann smirked, "Besides, only one of us was crazy enough to drift with a kaiju twice. And the results are still inconclusive if there was any permanent brain damage."

After sending a rude gesture up towards the control room, Newt adjusted his instrument for a new scan, "Very funny, Hermann. Does the little Newt know his godfather is a deranged madman?"

"If said godfather continues to get insane ideas and act upon them, I don't think it will take Isaac very long to figure it out," the mathematician replied. Isaac Newton Gottlieb was born shortly after the end of the Kaiju War, named in honor of Isaac Asimov and his godfather, much to Geiszler's disbelief. Hermann smiled, "As we've told you before, Vanessa and I knew what we were doing when we picked you to be Isaac's godfather. Your particular brand of insanity, in small doses, may one day help him as it did me."

"Easy there, Grinch," Newt chuckled, "or your heart may grow another three sizes. And I don't think that's very healthy."

"Nor would it be healthy to expose yourself to whatever that is, Newton. Not until we know more." Hermann stared down at the sphere, the strange azure and amber hues created by the glow both unsettling and almost hypnotizing. "I don't trust it."

Eyes also focused on the sphere and its lines of arcing energy, Geiszler replied, "Don't worry, Hermann, that makes two of us."

Oahu Shatterdome, LOCCENT Mission Control

Raleigh adjusted his pack as he strode into the command center of the island's reactivated Shatterdome. All around them, consoles blinked with life after years of remaining on standby. A handful of engineers and technicians moved about the room, checklists in hand as they worked to bring the base back to full functionality. His gaze immediately went to the entrances to the massive verandas overlooking the four deployment bays below. After noting the strike troopers guarding the closed door to Bay 03's overlook, he walked into the Bay 02 balcony and approached the windows. Despite the years of disuse, his eyes quickly settled on a vacant berth. The grin on his face was immediately noticed by his partner, with Mako giving his hand an affectionate squeeze as she leaned into his side.

"Good memories?" She asked.

Her partner nodded, feeling the faint tendrils of her emotion and consciousness at the outskirts of his own. He focused on the memories, sending what he could towards her in response. "Yancy and I were stationed here for a few weeks. Hawaii had their Shatterdome up and running fast, but they didn't immediately have Jaegers to launch. The other Shatterdomes took turns loaning out their Jaegers." His brow creased as a realization hit him, "But you probably know more about that than I do."

Mako grinned, "Probably, but that's beside the point. It sounds like you and Yancy had fun though."

"We did," he acknowledged. "We went to the beach during our off days, hit up the bars, and uh, hung out with some people," his face grew red as he quickly trailed off.

"Found some nice girls to spend your time with, you mean?"

Raleigh cleared his throat, "Pretty much, yeah."

"When you get flustered, you seem to forget that I know you and your memories almost as well as my own." She shrugged, "Perhaps even better than my own. At least sometimes."

"Right, sorry," he answered with a shrug of his own. "I just, I don't know…"

"What was it you told me before Pitfall?" Mako brought a hand up to cup his face, her thumb stroking his cheek, "That you had spent so many years living in the past, you never thought about the future until right before what could have been the end of the world? I think when you were younger – when you were here before, you focused on the present too much. You enjoyed life at that moment – there was nothing wrong with that. But you've grown so much since then. We both have. The past used to hold us both back. Now, you and I, we both use it to guide us. We live every day to the fullest. And we always work towards a better future."

Raleigh grinned, his eyes shining, "You twisted my guilt over the cheap thrills of my youth into something beautiful." He took her hand and pressed a kiss to the palm before holding it to his chest, "You never cease to amaze me with your talents, Miss Mori."

Her brown eyes teaming with mischief, Mako returned his smile, "Mr. Becket, given that our minds were linked together, I think you ought to have an idea of what I'm capable of."

"Nah," the blond shook his head. "There's no fun in knowing everything. I quite enjoy finding ways to surprise each other."

"Is that so?" Mako quirked an eyebrow, "A good thing then, as so do I. In fact, perhaps tonight, after we've settled in, we can see just how much-"

"My God," a voice announced from the entryway, interrupting the pair. "I walk out for five minutes and this is what I come back to. A frickin' Mori-Becket love fest. Christ."

Raleigh grinned while Mako rolled her eyes. She glanced over to the newcomer, "Good to see you too, Chuck."

Chuck Hansen stood in the doorway, clad in his typical gray shirt, pants, and brown boots. Missing were his occasional cap – he had admitted he kept misplacing the 'damn thing' – and his Strike Eureka bomber jacket. The only accessories were the dog tags hanging around his neck and his characteristic scowl, which was much more subdued than it had been in the past.

The Australian Ranger shook his head in mock disgust as he approached them, "We've got what might be the world's biggest threat since the Breach down there," he jerked his thumb towards the wall beside them, indicating the neighboring launch bay, "and you two are getting mushy in here?" He shrugged, a slight smile appearing on his face, "I guess I can't blame you, given the situation. Glad to see you two haven't changed a bit."

"Back at you, Hansen," Raleigh acknowledged with a nod. "How're you holding up? You seem livelier than last we talked."

"Not that I would ever wish another war on us," Chuck immediately assured them, "but there's something nice about fitting into an old routine. Being on base, running drills, waiting…" He took a breath and exhaled slowly, "Though, if something does come through, all I've got is a standard-issue rifle to try and slow it down."

Mako grinned, "What, no flare gun this time?"

"Need I remind you that was my old man's bright idea?" Chuck laughed, "We got Leatherback's attention though, that's for damn sure."

"Need I remind you," Herc's voice called from the doorway, reminiscent of his son's arrival just moments before, "that it worked to distract the ugly bastard?"

The younger Hansen rolled his eyes and grinned, "At least my shot did something."

"Then how about next time, you try shooting with your off-hand?" He nodded towards the neighboring room, "Well, come on then, all of you."

The three rangers exited the room and followed Herc as he entered the now open door to the Bay 03 overlook. The strike troopers flanking the door quickly shut it behind the group, once again preventing any unauthorized personnel from accidentally happening upon the strange scene.

Herc strode with purpose towards the windows, calling out to the lone figure overseeing the project, "Dr. Gottlieb, have there been any new developments since we last spoke?"

"None, Marshal. The anomaly has not changed," the mathematician confirmed. He gave a quick nod and smile to the rangers in greeting. His smile faltered, however, as he added, "Though, after our separate research teams have now all analyzed this anomaly, we are doubting our original hypothesis."

Mako and Raleigh walked closer to the windows, easily catching sight of the vibrant sphere of energy in the launch bay below. The engineer turned to her colleague, "Just by its appearance, I would have been drawn to that same conclusion. But you're saying that the data indicates it is different from the original Breach?"

Hermann nodded, "Indeed. The atomic nature of this anomaly is distinctly different to that of the portal in the Challenger Deep. There are some basic similarities, but our best guess is that there are only so many ways to construct an interdimensional gateway." He stepped aside to allow Mako to look over the data for herself. "The electromagnetic signatures we have been able to analyze so far were never observed during the war. Additionally, the second-most terrifying aspect to this is that while the original Breach drew its power from the convergence of tectonic plates, we have no idea how or where this anomaly is drawing its energy."

Curious, the remaining rangers moved to stand beside Mako, glancing over some of the data for themselves. While their scientific knowledge and engineering aptitude were nowhere near that of the research team or Mako, the readouts were clear enough for them to identify the differences that Hermann had described.

"So, you're telling us that there's the possibility the Precursors could create incursions anywhere on Earth?" Raleigh paled as he paced back towards the overlook, while Chuck collapsed into a seat beside the window, "What could possibly be more terrifying than that?"

"Nothing!" Newt's familiar voice carried over the radio, "Absolutely nothing could be more terrifying than that. Isn't that right, Hermann?"

"Newton, you idiot!" Though just as quickly as his irritation arose, Gottlieb deflated. He sighed, exasperated, and obviously concerned, "You promised you weren't going to do anything rash."

"And I thought you promised you weren't going to tell!"

"I lied," Hermann replied simply. "And I did so because this is for your own good."

Herc resisted reaching for another ibuprofen, despite the headache he knew was coming. "What did Geiszler do now?"

"Just a few minutes before you arrived, he stuck his hand into the anomaly," Gottlieb explained, pinching the bridge of his nose. To Herc, his tone was clearly reminiscent of five years prior, when he had announced, "Newton created a neural bridge from garbage and drifted with a Kaiju!"

"I'm fine!" Newt reassured the group. He paused, "Though I'm already being led to quarantine, where I suspect I'll be for the next several hours, at least."

"If you're released with a clean bill of health," Herc informed the biologist, "you will not be allowed anywhere near the anomaly until I say otherwise, is that clear?" When his order was met with silence, he repeated, "Is that clear, Dr. Geiszler? Or am I going to have to transfer you to a different assignment?"

"Crystal clear, Marshal!"

After processing this new information, Raleigh regarded the situation with less apprehension and more confusion. "Ignoring Newt's stupid impulse, if this portal doesn't require Kaiju DNA to pass through it…"

From his seat, where he had been glaring at the anomaly, Chuck threw his arms up in frustration, "Then what the hell kind of a breach is it?"

"Where are we?"

"We're in between."

Confusion, "Between what?"

"Between moments, between seconds."

Understanding, "I get why I'm here, but why are you here?"

"I'm here to enact a trade of sorts."

Realization, "No."

"Why not?"

Irritation, "You're far more important to the world than I am."

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. It depends on what world you're looking at, though. Besides, I'm doing this for selfish reasons, too. You'll be free. And free to live a long life. I can't say the same for me. I cannot turn away from this opportunity just because of my concern for the future."

Disbelief, "So, you're giving up. You're choosing not to fight. If you don't fight-"

"-I can't win. If I don't win, I won't live. I know. But right now, I am free to make that choice. And I'm still fighting. It's just, I've been fighting for humanity's freedom for so long, is it so wrong to fight for my own instead? My end, finding peace after so much strife, that is my victory."

May 19, 850

Cadet Corps Training Ground, Southern Division (Wall Rose)

Eren Yeager bolted upright in his bed, his mind and emotions in turmoil. Gasping for breath, he turned and took note of his surroundings. The dimly lit interior of the male cadet barracks greeted his eyes, the rest of its occupants sleeping soundly within its wooden walls. From where he sat, Eren could see Bertolt contorted into one of his strange sleeping positions and hear Connie snoring away. The presence of his fellow trainees, alive and well, helped to calm his racing heart.

A familiar voice called out to him in a whisper, "Eren?"

The boy turned to meet his best friend's gaze, confused as to why Armin appeared apprehensive to speak.

"Eren," the blond paused uncertainly, "why are you crying?"

A memory from five years prior, from that day, came rushing forth, "Eren?" Mikasa had asked, concerned, "Why are you crying?" Pressing a hand to his cheeks to confirm his friend's statement, Eren hastily wiped away the tears running down his face.

"Bad dream?"

His brow furrowed, Eren shook his head, "Honestly, I don't remember. I didn't mean to wake you."

Armin shrugged, "You didn't. I woke up a while ago and couldn't get back to sleep. I suppose I'm just nervous about graduation tomorrow night."

"No sense worrying about it," Eren decided. "We've already made the cut."

Armin hummed, "True. Guess we should both just try to get some sleep, huh?"

Eren nodded quickly before settling back down in his bed, "Probably. Night, Armin."

If his friend replied, Eren didn't hear him. He couldn't remember the exact details of the dream, but he could remember what he had felt right before waking up. It was a feeling he and his friends were all too familiar with. He was grieving.

The pain of his mother's loss was familiar to him. The confusion and anger over his father's disappearance were also well-known emotions.

Then who had he lost in this dream to render him so utterly distraught? It would have to be someone with whom he shared a deep connection, a history.

That line of thinking would lead him down a path to conclusions he would rather not entertain.

However, there had also been a flicker of something else – peace, contentment, joy – at the end of his dream. Eren tried to hold on to that feeling, eventually falling into a restless sleep.

May 20, 850

Interior of Wall Rose, approximately 30 km northwest of Trost District

Mia yawned, accidentally pulling on the reigns of her horse, and causing her mount to drift towards the edge of the trail. Catching herself, she righted their path down the dirt road and glanced out across the countryside. From the hilltops they were currently traversing, she could see the varied fields, forests, and scattered towns within this part of Wall Rose. The setting sun cast the landscape in cascading shades of faded reds and yellows. Had she not seen the sight dozens of times before, she might have been inclined to stop and appreciate the view. However, her mind was set on getting back to her favorite tavern for drinks and cards with her fellow soldiers.

The only thing keeping her from pushing her horse faster was her present companion. Maxwell was one of the newer additions to their rural Garrison post, having graduated from the Cadet Corps almost a year ago. His dedication to his duties was admirable, but he had yet to take notice – or perhaps was remaining willfully ignorant – of the fact that the senior soldiers he served alongside were often far less devoted.

They weren't a bunch of slackers, by any means, but Mia and her friends had been much more laid back prior to the arrival of Maxwell and his fellow graduates. Their arrival coincided with the assignment of a new commanding officer to the region, one who rewarded those who worked harder. Thus, Mia had decided to invest more energy into her duties when on patrol with Maxwell or any of the other newer recruits.

"Did you see that?"

The older soldier glanced over at the blond teenager beside her, "See what?"

The young man pointed at a structure off in the distance, "I just saw a flash of light come from inside."

"You're too eager to find something wrong, rookie," she assured as she urged her horse forward, increasing their pace ever so slightly. "That old keep's been abandoned for over twenty years. Not as long as Utgard, but no one's been living there for quite a while."

The eager teen brought his horse up alongside her, "And what if it was squatters?"

"What if it was?" Mia sighed, "Look, we've been out on patrol since noon. It's an hour back to town and then we'll be done for the day. And we can finally get some ale at the tavern to clear our heads."

"But," Maxwell started.

"But nothing. If it was squatters, good on them for making use of a building no one has cared about for decades. Honestly though, the sun is setting – it was probably just a trick of the light."

"I… you're right, sorry I mentioned it."

The brunette shook her head, chuckling, "It's not a bad thing to be observant. You just need to keep in mind that the Garrison doesn't pay us enough to look into every unusual thing we see."

"Fair enough," the younger man admitted.

"But don't tell Captain Hannes I told you that," she decided a moment later. "I knew him when we were cadets and he used to be quite the drunk, a do nothing but the bare minimum kind of soldier. Ever since Shiganshina, though…" She shook her head and gestured vaguely towards the horizon, "Since you're good at keeping an eye on things, if you ever see what looks like a Titan running through the fields, please don't hesitate to speak up. That's what we're paid for. Now, let's get home. The horses need food and water; we need drinks."

"Right," her companion agreed. Though even as they stirred their horses onward towards town, the teenage soldier couldn't help but wonder what he had actually seen in the distant old keep. Or why it had at first intrigued him, only to unnerve him enough to accept his superior's excuses moments later.

She was certainly right about something, though. The Garrison did not pay them well enough to care about it.

Back in the old keep, a sphere of crackling energy grew, dispersing the shadows of a room long untouched. Debris swirled around the edges of the wall, some of it catching fire as bolts of energy arced outward from the sphere. And then, the blinding light began to fade as the sphere slowed. The disturbed rubble settled back to the floor, the flames burning down to glowing embers. The anomaly eventually reached a slow rotation, a faint pulse of amber light the only indication of its power.

And it waited.

A/N – I've had this idea for a long time, but I waited to post for a few reasons.

First of all, I had a ton of unfinished stories that I wanted to complete first. That hasn't really changed, so I just decided to say screw it and start posting this. Hopefully I'll get some inspiration to keep this story going.

Secondly, I didn't want two PR/SnK stories to juggle. Again, screw it.

And third, I didn't want to steal anyone's thunder so to speak because shortly after I came up with this idea, a crossover vaguely similar to this one was posted. Thankfully, my idea seemed to differ significantly from the other story, so I continued working on it.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! Kudos to anyone who spotted something of a Babylon 5 reference. Also, some OCs and some of the information that doesn't seem to impact the main characters, may down the road. Or it might just be me doing some world building - you'll just have to keep reading to find out. And like with my other stories, updates will be slow and probably not consistent, but I will do my best to update as much as I can.