Author's Notes: Thank you all so much for the feedback! Please keep it coming!

Chapter Four: Pandemic

UNITED NATIONS LAUNCHES INQUIRY INTO JAEGER PROGRAM'S FINAL MONTHS

Jaeger supporters call the investigation a blame game against heroes who saved the world that had already turned its back. US Reps and former PPDC nations argue that the Jaeger Program still commands massive resources that need to be reallocated and brought under national control.

US President Jerald Lunk Calls for Congressional Panel on Jaegers and the Breach.

"We paid more than our fair share for winning this war and now we expect compensation from the countries whose asses we saved!"

Jaeger Program: Pitfall Rangers Still Recovering.

The Chinese government has refused to enforce the subpoenas delivered by multiple national governments for the surviving Rangers and leaders of the Jaeger Program, and Hong Kong Shatterdome medical staff insist that the pilots who fought in the battle of the Breach are still in recovery.

"How much are we gonna have to tell them?" Raleigh muttered, avoiding everyone's eyes during a briefing on the latest round of subpoenas. "Do they have to hear all about how brain damaged I am?"

"Not if I can prevent it," said Herc. He shot a quick glance at Chuck, but Chuck saw it and frowned.

Mako scanned the room. "What are they saying about Marshal Pentecost?"

Silence fell with nobody willing to meet her eyes. Raleigh tightened his grip on her arm. "Well?"

Sasha admitted reluctantly, "I think it was his plan that he be viewed as having gone rogue, so that any questionable actions were connected to him alone rather than the program as a whole."

"Oh, fuck, no," Chuck growled before Mako had even processed it. "That's not happening. They don't get to stain him after he died for them."

"We will go to the summit in Washington," said Sasha, standing up. "Sasha and I, and Marshal Hansen. We will bring a few of the medical personnel, Dr. Geiszler and Dr. Gottlieb. There will be plenty of information for them to examine, and we will convince them that they don't need the other pilots before them in person." She looked from Mako to Chuck and back. "They will not sully his memory. We won't allow it."

The hesitation in Chuck's voice threw everyone for a loop. "I…I…Dad – I mean, Marshal, I should go with you…"

Herc stared at his son for a long moment, and finally said, "No." Chuck flinched. "The medics haven't cleared you to travel." And even if they had, I still wouldn't bring you. At least, that was what Raleigh suspected Herc was thinking.

"Your presence there would be food for the sharks," said Sasha. "You should not go."

"What do I do, then, just sit on my arse over here?" Chuck muttered.

"That's what we will all do," Jin Wei pointed out. Chuck glared at the table but didn't say anything else.

Leave the Rangers Alone, Man!

Opinion By Matthew Davis, Harvard University

Six weeks after drift combat with injuries is next to nothing for Jaeger pilots. How sick that the US government is still treating those heroes as disposable puppets.

Hansen and Kaidanovskys to attend US summit, but not Becket and Mori.

Jaeger Program medics are adamant that the three pilots the UN wants to see most – Raleigh Becket, Mako Mori, and Chuck Hansen – are not able to travel in the near future due to injuries they sustained in the Battle of the Breach.

"President Lunk actually pounded on the podium, saying that he wants Raleigh Becket in DC for the first PPDC hearings during the White House press meeting," Chloe Warner reported at breakfast.

"President Lunk can pound whatever shit he wants; I'm not going," Raleigh retorted.

Cheung and Jin smirked at each other. "China will give you amnesty, you know. Our government would love for you to refuse Lunk and stay here instead."

"There's an idea," said Tendo. "If Jerry the Orange really wants to push it, we can all apply for amnesty."

Herc wrinkled his nose at his tablet. "At this rate, he may not even get me; Hong Kong's restricting outgoing travel due to the latest flu outbreak."

"Aw, hell, another one?" Chuck demanded. "Seemed like we were on a streak of not having outbreaks for awhile."

"Because everyone was hiding underground worrying about kaiju attacks," said Newton Geiszler. "Now they're out in public and celebrating in big groups again, shopping, going to visit family – wham. Epidemics in every major population center. This is gonna get worse for awhile before it gets better."

"Ladies and gentlemen, the sunny optimism of K-Science," announced Tendo.

"What, would you rather try and get on a plane with a dozen people coughing and sneezing?"

Herc laughed. "Fair point. I won't cancel off-base passes, but use them at your peril, people, and if you develop symptoms, medical better find out."

Mako and Raleigh were in the infirmary getting Raleigh injected with immunity boosters when Herc shuffled in. At first, they assumed he was just looking in on all the sick personnel.

"Are you all right, Marshal?" asked Sasha.

"'course I'm all right," Herc grumbled.

Startled, Mako and Raleigh turned around. Herc sounded...drunk? No, there was no crew party going on, and as hellish as the past months had been, Herc had never derelicted his duties. Raleigh knew that from Mako's memories, and neither of them believed he'd start now.

They'd gotten the medics' attention too, and Sasha, despite looking ragged herself, got in Herc's way. "Wait a minute, Herc. Wait. Sit down."

"Don't need to. 'm fine."

Mako slipped past Raleigh and put a hand on Herc's face without preamble. He sluggishly pulled away. "I think you have a fever, sir," she informed him.

"Nuh, 's not the flu - "

"I will be the judge of that, Marshal," Dr. Tan said sternly. "Stay where you are. And you two," he pointed at Raleigh and Mako," keep your distance. People are dropping like flies."

They obediently backed off, but didn't leave. After taking Herc's vitals, however, Dr. Tam was puzzled. "Hm. You've got a fever, but only one hundred. You shouldn't be displaying symptoms this bad."

"Maybe it's not influenza," Sasha said.

Herc looked near-delirious, disoriented and unable to focus on the conversation. Raleigh's blood ran cold, wondering what might be causing this if not a high fever - but it was Mako who worked it out. "Chuck. Where's Chuck?"

Dr. Tam looked around for Chuck to materialize at his father's side, then gave a brisk nod. "That's it. Run and find him, will you?"

"On it." Raleigh and Mako hurried from the infirmary.

But the task proved harder than expected. Chuck was absent from his usual haunts: Striker's Bay, Scramble Alley, the Kwoon, or the mess hall. He wasn't in quarters and neither was Max. "Max will be with him, especially if he's not feeling well," Mako mused.

"Where's Lassie when we need her," Raleigh quipped. Mako blinked and he waved it off, "I'll tell you later."

A survey of Striker's crew also yielded no leads, but at least it turned out half the Shatterdome's healthy residents to join the search. "Hell, the kid hates admitting he's sick," said Kyrra Taior, Striker's chief engineer. "He may be holed up hiding somewhere. Damn. Where's Devi Hassan when I need her?" At Raleigh's startled expression, she grimaced and explained, "Devi and Suze could always smoke him out. Especially Dev."

That gave Raleigh a pang so intense it almost staggered him. Of course, the Hassans had been the other resident of Sydney Shatterdome - of course, they'd been close to Chuck and Herc. They'd talked about Herc and their work a lot before Knifehead, ranted about Scott Hansen, and in hindsight, some of the things they'd said more vaguely, Raleigh now realized had been about Herc's then-minor son. Of course, they'd have gotten to know Chuck well.

Suze had once said Devi missed having Raleigh to fuss over. I bet she fussed over Chuck even more.

God, that hurt. He wasn't even sure why.

Mako's hand slid into his, though she didn't betray any emotion or even really distraction from her searching. He squeezed it and forced himself back onto the pressing issue.

In the end, they nearly bypassed Marshal Pentecost's quarters. Mako didn't want to go in there and they both doubted Chuck would be there, of all places. So she entered the code and Raleigh slipped past her for a quick check...only to hear Max whining.

Holy shit.

Chuck Hansen sat on the edge of Stacker Pentecost's bed, looking half-confused, half-despondent as Max paced back and forth at his feet.

Raleigh and Mako both stood paralyzed for a few seconds, but Raleigh broke out first and went inside. Mako hesitated a few moments longer before following.

"Chuck?" Raleigh asked.

No real surprise, Chuck stared past Raleigh at Mako. She forced herself to breathe, but couldn't find her voice. So Raleigh spoke for her. "Hey. You're sick. Let's get you to the infirmary, 'kay?"

"I..." Chuck swayed, his eyes glassy and skin pallid with fever. "Where..."

"C'mon, we've got you." Raleigh cautiously took his arms, but while he didn't struggle, Chuck didn't exactly cooperate. Damp heat radiated from him.

"You shouldn't touch him," Mako said. "If you got sick now, it would be very bad."

Raleigh shrugged it off. "I've been exposed by half the Dome; we both know that. I just need to get him down there. C'mon. One…two…three!"

They made quite an entourage stumbling down the narrow corridors, with Chuck staggering on his feet, Mako and Raleigh under each of his arms, and Max alternating between whining and barking as he ran back and forth in front of them.

Dome and crew personnel exclaimed as the three of them stumbled down the hall towards the infirmary, but Raleigh muttered a refusal to those who asked if they could help. Short of carrying Chuck outright, he and Mako had as many people supporting the kid as they could, and Max needed no encouragement to follow. Raleigh and Mako could hear Max panting as he trotted along behind them.

They could tell just how out of it Chuck was; he would have been a lot more ornery otherwise.

Herc was waiting when they got to the infirmary, though he didn't look much steadier on his feet. All he did was mutter, "Dammit," and slid in to pull Chuck from Raleigh and Mako's grasp, slinging Chuck's arm over his shoulder.

"Out of here, you two," Dr. Tan ordered. After a long pause watching Herc helping Chuck to a bed, they obeyed.

Only a few hours later, Mako dared to push back, and Raleigh found her near the quarantine ward, peering in at Chuck. Herc was asleep in the next bed, while Chuck looked a bit calmer, if still feverish and week. He was staring at Mako.

"You're confusing him," Dr. Tan scolded her gently. "Ask him his name, you'll get one of three options."

Raleigh put an arm around her waist. It was almost funny the way Chuck stiffened, like a suspicious dad who wanted to ask Raleigh's intentions. He managed not to look to challenging, though his instinct was to smirk. She's mine and I'm hers whether you like it or not. That'd be stupid and mean. Chuck couldn't help it now.

When Chuck blinked at the red-headed nurse and mumbled what sounded like, "Tamsin?" Mako practically bolted down the hall.

Raleigh chased her down. "It'll clear up in his head when his fever's under control," he promised. "Ghost drift fucks you up when you're sick." Fucks you up worse when your last real drift broke and your partner's dead, he thought, but didn't say out loud.

Mako sighed into his chest. "I heard from Jake. He's on his way. He'll be here in just a few days."

It gave Raleigh a funny twinge of anxiety to think of meeting Marshal Pentecost's biological son. Or maybe some of the twinge was just anxiety bleeding over from Mako, as if she was as nervous about seeing Jake again as Raleigh was about meeting him.

However, the damn flu epidemic kept on interfering. Since the night of the crew party, Mako and Raleigh had more or less moved into her room and shared a bed every night (and occasionally during the day).

But that night, Mako told him, "At risk of being a cliché, I have a terrible headache." Raleigh burst out laughing, only managing to stop himself when she winced even as she grinned, and pulled her into his arms.

He brought her an ice pack and even though she felt generous enough to slide her hand into his pants, he smiled and pulled it away. "Go to sleep. I'll live."

Hours later, Raleigh woke up feeling rather sticky and overheated, and wondered if they'd let the ice pack melt on the bed - no, they'd put it in the bathroom, so what...he put a hand on Mako and figured it out. Oh shit.

Mako wasn't burning up, but she was warm and sleeping restlessly. Raleigh fumbled out of bed and debated whether to wake her up or just carry her to the infirmary. He was still dithering when she stirred awake. "Wha's wrong - oh." She rolled over and swore into her pillow. "Don't make me go. Just go back to your room; lemme sleep it off."

"C'mon, be reasonable," Raleigh protested. "It's almost certainly the flu, and it's flattening everybody. You'll get worse."

"Nuh'won't," she grumbled. "Herc's getting better. Lots of them're getting better. I hate the infirmary."

Well, Raleigh didn't know anyone who particularly liked it, but that was beside the point.

"You should go," Mako insisted. "'f you get sick, it'll be worse."

"Uh-uh." Raleigh finally found Mako's first aid kit and checked her temperature: 101. "Look, if your fever stays low, I won't make you go, but I'm staying; between you and Chuck and everybody else, we all know I've been exposed."

Mako grumbled something unintelligible, but gave in and rolled back over. Raleigh laid back down beside her, but didn't manage to do more than doze restlessly for the rest of the night.

By morning, her temperature hadn't gone down, but it hadn't gone up either, and she was still adamant. "The medics are stretched thin enough." Raleigh had to wear her down to let him call the infirmary just to report she was sick and staying in quarters. He was a little sorry they didn't demand to see her, but maybe she was right. The medic on duty just told him to keep an eye on her and see if her fever went up. She ate and drank what Raleigh brought her, then went back to sleep.

Tendo called early that afternoon. "Hey, Jake Pentecost just got into the airport."

"Fuck. Mako's sick."

"I know, man, and Marshal just quarantined the whole Dome. Eleven more people are in the infirmary since yesterday. Allison and the baby are staying at the Hyatt. I'll see if I can get him a room."

"That'll work." Raleigh sighed. "I wanted her to come into the infirmary but she doesn't want to. She seems okay, just feels shitty at the moment."

"Hm. Keep an eye on her. Sasha got discharged; she and Aleksis came through pretty well, and so did Cheung and Jin. Herc's fever's stayed steady, but Chuck's still damn-near delirious. This thing can spike really suddenly. And you keep an eye on your own condition, Becket boy. The last thing we need is you coming down with this."

"I promise, I'll turn myself in," Raleigh said. "Hotel for - for Mako's br - I mean - Marshal Pentecost's son - that's probably the best thing right now. She can't have contact with anybody - hell, she keeps trying to get me to leave."

"You're at crazy high risk, Rals. I don't blame you for wanting to stay with her, but watch yourself.."

"I will, I will."

Tendo ended up arranging for another visitor to detour to the hotel as well. Hermann Gottlieb had come through the Dome influenza with minimal difficulty, but was sniffling and sneezing on top of his usual grumbling - and fretting that his heavily-pregnant wife had taken it into her head to travel to Hong Kong.

"I told her to stay in London! She could go into labor any day now, and the hospitals are filled with influenza patients!"

Much to Tendo's surprise, Newt Geiszler was actually trying to make Gottlieb feel better. "C'mon, man, she's a doctor too. She knows the risk; being on the same damn continent with her husband for the birth of your first kid's special!"

Hermann coughed heavily and cleared his throat - or maybe that was a growl. "I would rather the birth of my wife's and my first child be safe."

Tendo waded in. "I'll get her a room at the Hyatt, and she's already got a doctor booked for when she arrives. She knows what she's doing."

Hermann was still fretting and Tendo and Newt were still trying to reassure him when they spotted Raleigh passing in the hall...carrying someone. "Oh dear," Hermann muttered. "Was that Ranger Mori?"

"Shit!" Tendo bolted into the hall. "Rals!"

Raleigh didn't stop, but the sweaty, blue-streaked head on his shoulder confirmed Hermann's statement. "I need to get her to the infirmary. Her fever's spiked to 104."

Newt and Hermann caught up with them, and Newt ran ahead to open the infirmary doors. Dr. Tan just heaved a sigh when they came in. "Okay, bring her into the flu ward."

Mako was completely out of it, her arms wrapped tightly around Raleigh's neck, and she didn't want to let go when he laid her on a bed. "Ie," she mumbled, clinging to him. "Raleigh..."

"I need one arm," said Dr. Tan patiently. Raleigh managed to maneuver enough to make room for the IVs to get set up, and Newt took the vitals monitors from the frazzled nurse and started running them himself.

"Blood oxygen's good. Pulse and blood pressure are low, but not in the danger zone. Temp's 104...respiration's not great; let's get her on oxygen. This could turn into pneumonia." Raleigh flinched hard, and Newt patted him on the back. "Hey, hey, take it easy, guy. We'll get her through it fine."

"I should've brought her in yesterday," Raleigh murmured, bending over the right side of the bed to press his forehead into her hair.

"We still caught it early. Hermann just coughed and wheezed for a few days, and he's already out of the woods; she'll be fine."

Dr. Tan flapped a hand at them distractedly. "But not so fine that you need to be in here with all these active cases. C'mon, non-essential personnel, out!"

Hermann started to obey, but Raleigh glanced up, and the look in his eyes froze Tendo in his tracks. Uh-oh.

"No. I'm not leaving."

For a few seconds, the present vanished, and Tendo could've sworn it was Yancy at that bedside, not Raleigh. The nurses huffed and started over, but while Raleigh let go of Mako's hand and stepped away from the bedside, his feet were apart, and anybody who spent time around Rangers knew a fighting stance when they saw one.

Fuuuuck!

Newt, surprising Tendo again, came forward. "Raleigh, hey, listen. Dude, you're weeks out of radiation poisoning. Mako's gonna be fine, but you're immune compromised all to shit. This virus is a bitch, it's dangerous. You can't get exposed!"

"I'm already exposed," Raleigh retorted, his voice low and hard. Now Herc was rising from his bed next to Chuck, looking rather unsteady on his feet, but also in full Ranger mode, recognizing trouble brewing. "I'm not leaving her. I can't."

Mako whimpered something unintelligible, only half-conscious, but while Raleigh put a gentle hand on her head, he didn't take his eyes off the medics.

This wouldn't be the first time Tendo had had to drag a distraught Ranger away from their sick or injured partner, but...it felt different. For someone whose mind was undoubtedly swamped by fever dreams in the ghost drift, Raleigh was ready for an all-out fight.

Dr. Tan looked from the other medics to Raleigh to Herc, and Raleigh locked eyes with the ones holding syringes, but Herc spoke up. "No. Let him stay."

"Marshal - " Dr. Tan protested.

"Raleigh's right; he's been exposed already. There's nothing for it. Let him stay with his partner. Better way to keep an eye on him. Go on. The rest of you, go."

But while Newt and Hermann went, Tendo lingered at Raleigh's side as he relaxed - and swayed on his feet. "You sure about this, kiddo?"

Damn, wrong choice of nickname. Raleigh winced, but nodded. When he spoke, his voice was very soft. Again, Tendo could hear Yancy. "I can't, Tendo. Not again. Not ever again. I'd rather get sick."

Still watching, Herc met Tendo's eyes over the top of Raleigh's head and nodded grimly. "Okay." Tendo patted Raleigh's back (and surreptitiously felt his skin. No fever - yet). "Try and take it easy. She'll feel better if you can stay calm, y'know?" Seeing the medics bringing a cot to Mako's bedside, Tendo stepped back. "Get some rest." Raleigh just sat down on it, keeping a grip on her hand, now oblivious to everyone else. Mako shifted on her bed to turn towards him.

Dr. Tan and Herc were having a hushed argument back by Chuck's bed, and Tendo shamelessly went to eavesdrop - and back Herc up. "We'll risk it," Herc insisted. "He's been separated from his partner too many times. And be realistic; he carried Chuck in here three days ago and he's been in quarters with Mako since she started showing symptoms - and before. He's already exposed. If he gets sick, he gets sick. We'll get him through it."

"Marshal's right," Tendo spoke up quietly. "You know it; it was hard enough getting him and Yancy apart during quarantine before...before Yance died. It's fucking cruel to do to Rals anymore, not after...everything."

Dr. Tan sighed and gave in. "I'll keep him on the immune supplements while he's in here. If he comes down with it, we'll have to hit him with the entire drug regimen."

"Then plan on it," said Herc.

Behind them, Chuck mumbled something in his sleep. As far as Tendo could tell without going closer, he was breathing okay, but he looked like he was in pain and obviously still had a fever. Herc looked back at his son with a soft expression, then told Tendo, "Sasha's in command while I'm in here. Go on before you come down with it. She's short on support personnel."

"Yessir." Tendo smiled to himself and stole a glance at Herc returning to his son's side. Chuck stilled with one touch.

Raleigh was still clutching Mako's hand as the medics worked on her, but he'd calmed down a little. It's gonna be okay, kiddo. We'll get her through this. We'll get you both through this. We didn't survive Pitfall just to lose any of you now.

To Be Continued...

Coming Soon: Jake Pentecost arrives in Hong Kong only to be separated from his sister along with several other visitors, making a lot of reunions different from what our heroes hoped for in Chapter Five: Family.

PLEASE don't forget to review!

Original Character Guide

President Jerald "Jerry" Lunk: President of the United States. Billionaire hotel mogul who ran on a campaign of "make America safe again" in 2024, proponent of the Wall, now arguing over who has the strongest Jaegers. Likes to use Twitter. No, he's not based on anyone in the real world. Seriously. No, really.

Chloe Warner: K-Science officer, friend of Raleigh and Yancy's from their class in the Jaeger Academy. Drift-tested with her brother Christian but failed the second cut. African-American, mid-30s.

Dr. Steven Tan: Chief medical officer of the Jaeger Program, originally at Jaeger Academy, ended up in Hong Kong as bases closed down.

Kyrra Taior: Striker Eureka's Chief Engineer, mid-40s, aboriginal Australian, former lover of Vulcan Specter's left hemisphere, Susanti Hassan.

Devi and Susanti Hassan: late pilots of Vulcan Specter, mid-30s, killed in action in 2024, close friends of the Hansens, Australians, daughters of Indonesian immigrants.

Matthew Davis: classmate of Mako's from boarding school, son of Ranger Tanisha Davis, who piloted Yankee Star, America's Mark-2 (Gipsy Danger's partner against Yamarashi in 2017 in Los Angeles). Chose not to attend Jaeger Academy and was accepted into Harvard, studies art and English, his work is already known in advocacy for the Jaeger Program. His mother survived the destruction of Yankee Star in 2023, but was diagnosed with cancer.