Forged in Fire, Chapter 4

Hong Kong Shatterdome

Crew Quarters, Corridor 47B

April 28

0257

Mako awoke with a start, recognizing the feelings bleeding through the Ghost Drift. Raleigh's having another nightmare. I should check on him. Mako pulled on some sweatpants and a tank top, and padded silently across the hall. As usual, Raleigh's door was unlocked. It feels like another Alaska nightmare. He's cold, alone, and in pain. Mako quietly eased the door open, stepped into the room, and eased the door shut behind her.

Raleigh was wound up in his sheets, tossing and turning, muttering something in his sleep. Mako debated whether or not to touch him for a few moments. What could it hurt? If it reassures him, he'll calm down and go back to sleep. If it wakes him up, the nightmare stops. Either way, he can calm down and maybe go back to sleep. It's the least I can do.

Mako sat down on the side of Raleigh's bed, grasping his right hand between both of hers. "It's okay, Raleigh," she whispered, "it's just a memory." She thought back to their first Drift, and with a smile, whispered in his ear, "It's just a memory. Don't chase the rabbit." Raleigh stopped thrashing about, but still muttered something unintelligible. The emotions she felt emanating from him became less intense, but were still there. She stayed at his side and looked at Raleigh's rather Spartan room. Even mine is more ornate than his. And I though my room was simple!

His desk had several stacks of photos on it, presumably ones that he had decided to discard. Mako let go of Raleigh's hand, and walked over to the desk. Many of the photos were of his brother Yancy. He's letting go. Moving on… Mako looked around some more, and saw a small strip of photos stuck to the wall. She walked over to get a better look. Some were obviously years old, from Raleigh's childhood. Others were from his time with Gipsy Danger in Los Angeles, Lima, and Anchorage. Raleigh and Yancy posed in front of the Hollywood sign; in some ruins, probably Incan; and having a snowball fight with some techs. But sitting in the place of honor, in the center of all the photos, was one printed just a few weeks ago.

The celebration photo they took as we stepped off the chopper, Mako realized. Soaked from head to toe in champagne, grinning like idiots, on top of the world. Happy. Whole.

Raleigh stirred, and Mako turned to check on him. Not surprisingly, he was now awake. Mako blushed, bowed deeply, and turned to leave. "I'm sorry to have woken you, Raleigh."

Raleigh reached out and caught her hand. "Don't be." He looked her in the eye. She looked back. "Thank you."

Mako didn't know she could blush more than she was already, but apparently it was possible, since she was doing so now. Raleigh let her hand go, and she bolted out the door and across the hall. I know I have feelings for him, and he for me. We both felt it in that last Drift… So why am I so nervous about this? Mako rolled over and tried to sleep, but her mind kept coming back to the photo on Raleigh's wall. Why was she so fixated on it? Yes, they had been kissing, but that was out of joy, not an expression of love, wasn't it? Or was it? Mako's head reeled. Her mind drifted back to that afternoon, trying to make sense of it all…

-.-.-

Hong Kong Shatterdome

Helicopter landing pads

January 12, 2025

Mid-afternoon

The door of the helicopter opened, and Mako and Raleigh were nearly drowned under a veritable tidal wave of champagne and noise. Through the crowds of cheering techs and soldiers, Mako could see the senior staff approaching, a photographer in tow. They HAD to bring a photographer… Well, I would have too, if I were in Herc's shoes. Tendo got to them first, and wrapped both of them in bear hugs, being mindful of the bandages on their shoulders that covered their fresh circuitry suit burns. Newt and Hermann stood off to the side, looking proud and smug, respectively. Finally, Herc and the photographer worked their way through the crowds. Herc motioned the crews to quiet down. Then, he cleared his throat, stood in the doorway of the helicopter, and began to speak.

"Well done, all of you. Yes, it's a bittersweet victory, but a victory nonetheless. And I'll take a victory any damn day of the week." A cheer rose from the crowds, and Herc waited for it to die down. "We've lost many people over the last twelve years. Friends, family, coworkers." Herc paused to choke back the emotion in his voice. "But they'd tell us now, Marshall Pentecost excluded, to go have one HELL of a party. After all, it's not every day you help save the world." Another roar from the crowds. "Right now, don't mourn the lives lost; celebrate the lives yet to be lived. Celebrate the lives SAVED!"

Mako and Raleigh looked at each other and kissed. The camera flash went off, the crowds cheered themselves hoarse, and they were once again doused in champagne.

-.-.-

Mako smiled at the memories. And Raleigh is asleep without any further nightmares. She laid back and closed her eyes, and finally sleep came to her.

-.-.-

Crew Quarters, Corridor 47B

April 28, 2025

0930

Mako was getting dressed after her shower when a knock came from the door. "One moment, please."

Newt's voice came from the other side. "No worries. I'll go talk to Raleigh first."

Mako paused half of the way through lacing up her right boot. What does Newt want with both of us? Some sort of Drift experiment with his new Geizler Array? More questions about Operation Pitfall? Someone to test his new musical ideas on? She finished lacing her boots and stepped outside. Raleigh and Newt turned to face her. The look on Raleigh's face spoke volumes. It's a Drift test. Oh well, best get it out of the way. "What is it, Newt?"

Newt looked at his feet for a moment, as if he was working up the courage to ask the pretty girl at school out on a date. "I… kinda need some baseline data for the experiments with the new Pons variant I'm working on. The one I used to Drift with the Kaiju. I'm calling it the Geizler Array because, you know, I kinda made it, and if it works…" Newt trailed off as he realized he was rambling. He looked at Raleigh for backup.

Raleigh sighed, and took over the explanation. "We need to perform a lab Drift to help calibrate the interface for future experiments. We're the only remaining confirmed Drift-compatible team on hand right now." He shrugged. "It's one of Herc's Return On Investment projects."

Mako looked at Raleigh, then Newt. There isn't any escaping this. It's now, or later. Might as well do it now. "Okay, when do you want to start?"

Newt hesitated for a moment. "See, uh, that's the thing: the test isn't ready yet. I just wanted to make sure that you would be okay with it before I started making preparations. Because I didn't want to waste time…"

Mako held her hand up to hush Newt. "I understand. Just let us know when you're ready."

Visibly relieved, Newt headed towards the elevator. Raleigh and Mako watched him go, then headed towards the mess hall. They walked for a few minutes in silence before Raleigh spoke.

"So, about last night… Thank you for being there for me. It's been a huge relief having someone who understands what I've been through to be there for me."

Mako stopped, looking confused.

Raleigh turned around to face her. "You okay?"

Mako sighed. "Let's talk about it over breakfast, okay?"

Raleigh nodded his agreement, and started walking again, as Mako instinctively grabbed his right hand with her left. They continued to the mess hall without a word. It had become a habit while on their media blitz, going all around the world. It was also part game, as they tried to push the limits of the Ghost Drift and see if they could pick up anything from the other. Usually, there wasn't even an emotion to be felt. Today, however, Raleigh was feeling a storm of emotions coming from Mako. He said nothing about it, since they had already agreed to talk about it over breakfast.

As they entered the mess hall, the smell of fresh pancakes and waffles washed over them, bringing back fond memories of childhood to Raleigh. Mako felt some of the emotions that it triggered. Comfort, love, family. Something I wish to have in the future. Raleigh and Mako loaded up their trays with food, then hit the "patio" overlooking the harbor. They settled onto the same bench as yesterday.

Raleigh looked at Leatherback's bones, still towering over the port. "Looks like they finished the scaffolding on that rib. It's going to be interesting to see them demolish the skeleton."

Mako looked over to the port as well, remembering the fight like it was yesterday. She grinned as she said, in her best imitation of Raleigh, "I think this guy's dead, but, let's check for a pulse."

Raleigh roared with laughter at her impression, as she had done a fantastic job of it. Mako laughed along with him for a while, before digging into their breakfasts for a few minutes. Soon, however, it was time for the promised talk.

Mako set her dishes aside, and Raleigh followed suit. "Ok, you said you wanted to talk to me about something?"

Mako gathered her thoughts for a moment. "Yes. About last night… I'm sorry I ran out on you. It's just that… My mind was all over the place."

Raleigh nodded silently.

Mako gulped and continued. "You know I've never had a real romantic relationship before…" She stopped, blushing.

Raleigh sighed. The Talk. He'd heard the stories about how the Kaidanovskies Talk had gone. But that was the only example he had to go off of, and his relationship with Mako was very different from the late Russian couple. "Yeah, I kinda gathered that in our Drifts. What's the point?"

Mako looked at her feet, embarrassed. "I… I looked at the picture on your wall of us after we landed…"

Raleigh nodded. So that's the problem. "Look, that's the official photo…"

"It's not that… it's the feelings behind it. We were on top of the world. We'd survived. I was living in the moment." She froze up, choking on the emotions threatening to overwhelm her again.

Raleigh took her hands in his. "So was I. You know that better than anyone else."

Mako nodded. "It's just… I'm not sure if there was anything deeper behind it." She looked at Raleigh. "And that's what scares me. What if there is something more than just the Drift that's bringing us together?"

Raleigh wasn't quite sure how to respond. This was new ground for him, too.

Mako continued. "I know I have feelings for you that I can't sort out. Friendship, certainly. Respect, sure. But there's something that I can't quite figure out that's bothering me." She looked out onto the Pacific Ocean, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I wish sensei were here. He'd know what to do."

Raleigh laughed. "He'd probably give me a kick in the ass for leaving his daughter an emotional wreck." Mako laughed. Then, a light went on in his head. "Hey."

Mako looked at him.

"There is someone who you can turn to: Dr. Lightcap."

Mako's face brightened. "You're right. Or I could kick your ass for sensei. Care to dance?"

Raleigh got up and grabbed their dishes. "Of course. Can't have you getting rusty, now can we? OW!"

Mako giggled as she dodged a playful return swipe from Raleigh. "Now, now, Mr. Beckett. Only on the mats in the Kwoon."

"You're the one who threw the first punch."

"Point."

They reentered the Mess Hall, once again holding hands.