Author's note:This one's a little shorter, but the next one should make up for it. ;)

Forged in Fire, Chapter 8

Hong Kong Shatterdome

Gipsy Danger repair bay

May 7, 2025

1107

Mako grimaced. I can't have it happen now. Not during the demonstration! "Gaaaaahhhhhhrrrgggg…"

"MAKO!" Raleigh came running into the work space. "Please tell me you're okay."

"Raleigh, I don't know if I can do this without triggering an episode."

"I know you can, Mako. Focus on your movements, okay? Just roll your shoulder a little."

Mako did so, despite the feeling of pins and needles in her arm. "Is the arm moving?"

Newt, who had been standing well back from Mako, confirmed it. "Yeah, it's moving. Just like you are."

"Good." She clenched her hand, then looked over at the prototype. Its hand was clenched too. She rolled her wrist, and the robotic wrist followed. "Okay, Good so far…"

"I come from a land down under…"

Raleigh answered his phone while Newt snickered in the background, out of reach of Raleigh and Mako. "Sir?"

Mako realized that he was in reach of the arm, though… Let's see…

"Sir, we need a few more minutes… Uhm… Yeah, we'll do our best." He hung up.

Newt burst out laughing. "That's your ringtone for Herc? OW! Mako, not funny."

Mako giggled as she let go of Newt's arm.

Raleigh turned to her. "We've got one minute or less. Can you do this?"

Mako bit her lip. "Yes."

He walked over and hugged her again. "Anata wa, Mako o okonau koto ga dekimasu. Watashi wa, anata ga suru koto ga dekimasu shitte iru." You can do this, Mako. I know you can.

Mako straightened up and squared her shoulders. "Anata wa tadashī. Soredewa, kore o yatte mimashou." You're right. Let's do this.

Just as Raleigh backed away, Herc, Tendo, and the CTOs walked in, followed by a clearly tired Hermann. Herc nodded at Mako.

"Gentlemen, as you well know, Jaegers were commanded by the thoughts and movements of their pilots. The technology that drives this connection was derived from the work of Dr. Caitlin Lightcap. However, the Pons enables more than just the connection of man to machine: It allows the connection of machine to man." Mako proceeded to pick up a block of wood with the prosthetic prototype… even though the arm was behind her and unable to be seen. A respectful murmur rose from the CTOs. "As I just demonstrated, not only do I drive the arm and give it commands, it sends back information about its position and its environment. In particular, it gives haptic and force feedback, allowing me to do this." Mako then set the block of wood down… then reached over and picked up an egg. Without cracking it.

One of the CTOs spoke up. "We've been able to do that for years now."

Mako nodded. "Yes, but only with an invasive series of surgeries to redirect nerves and implant interfaces." She peeled off the circuitry sleeve. "This is now powered by brainwaves alone. No sensing muscle movements, no rerouted nerves. If you lose a limb, you never forget how to use it. It's all still in your brain. That is the beauty of the Pons."

Mako then proceeded to set the egg back into the cup she had pulled it from, then grabbed a rose. "I can't get textured from it yet, but I can get pressure and sharp points. So I'm still avoiding the thorns, even though they won't damage the arm."

Another CTO stepped forward. "Those are great examples, but I want to see something more… everyday."

Raleigh walked forward with two bowls of rice, each with a pair of chopsticks. He placed one in front of the arm, and the other in front of Mako .Mako expertly picked up the chopsticks with both arms at once, then proceeded to grab a bite-sized chunk of the rice. This drew a respectful murmur from the gathered CTOs.

The skeptical CTO had a gleeful look on his face. "That's impressive. No one has done that before with a prosthetic. Even Walter Reed Medical Center's experimental arms can't deal with chopstick like that." He turned to Herc. "I'm convinced. Thank you. You'll be hearing from the CEO soo-"

"AARGH!"

"MAKO!"

Raleigh raced to Mako's side as she fell over, grabbing her right shoulder. Raleigh caught her and eased her to the floor. "Newt, power it down!"

The CTOs were shocked. "What's happening?" "What's wrong with her?"

Herc sighed. "It's not an effect of the Pons, I promise. Mako and Raleigh were the pilots of Gipsy Danger during the mission to close the Breach. During that mission, Gipsy's right arm was torn off." He looked at Mako and Raleigh as Mako pulled her dress shirt off to reveal scars around Mako's right arm and shoulder. Raleigh began to work her shoulder carefully, helping restore the feeling to it. The CTOs gasped as they saw the scars. Herc continued. "This is one of the side effects. In a Jaeger, you feel any damage you take as pain. It makes you respond more quickly, I assure you. Imagine having your arm torn off. How painful would that be?" He paused to let it sink in. "Despite the lost arm being on Raleigh's side of the Jaeger, Mako seems to have taken the brunt of the physical and neurological damage from the loss of the arm. Our experts still can't figure out why."

Raleigh helped Mako to her feet. "You okay?"

"Yes, I am now." She turned to face the CTOs, bowed, pulled off the squid cap, and darted off, clearly embarrassed.

Raleigh shook his head in dismay, then took off after her. "Mako, come on. It's not that bad!"

Herc decided it was time to talk business again. "Gentlemen, if you'll follow me, we'll go to the LOCCENT to talk about some of the areas we're still improving on for this technology. Newt, come with us, please."

-.-.-

Crew Quarters, Corridor 47B

1121

"Mako! Please, wait up for just a moment!"

She had failed. She'd seized up during the demo. In front of the Chief Technology Officers of several major firms. She'd never live it down. The shame of it!

"Mako! Please!"

She reached their rooms and began to open a door. "I failed, Raleigh."

"No you didn't. You did a wonderful job."

"I appreciate the gesture, but I had an episode in front of all of those people." She turned to face him. "I failed." She hung her head.

"Hey." Raleigh put a hand under her chin and lifted it. She didn't fight it. "Look at me."

Mako had tears in her eyes.

"You didn't fail, Mako. You knew that there was a risk that might happen, but you went ahead and performed the demo. Not only that, but you completed it too." Raleigh smiled. "Also, you forgot your shirt."

Mako blushed as she realized that she had just run through the Shatterdome in a sports bra and slacks. "Thank you, Raleigh." She turned back to the door. Why won't it open?

"Uh, Mako…"

"Yes?"

Not again… "Remember after the first time we sparred in the Kwoon?"

Mako's face went pale. The day just keeps getting worse. "Excuse me…"

Raleigh felt sorry for Mako. She's having a really tough day. Raleigh decided to leave her alone for a while. "If you need me, I'll be up in the LOCCENT. Just call me."

Mako nodded, then closed the door.

-.-.-

Mako's quarters

Mako powered up her computer, then went to Facebook. Raleigh hasn't contacted Jazmine yet. I caught that through the Drift during the last test of the Geizler Array yesterday. So, let's see what I can find on her…

Mako input Jazmine's name into the search bar. Can't be too hard…

Half a dozen results came back.

Mako browsed through the results, looking for hints at an Alaskan childhood. One stood out. Sacramento, California? Isn't that where the Gold Rush started?

Mako wanted to send her a message, but that would be… awkward. Hrm… not many friends. Mako sent a friend request.

Less than a minute later, Jazmine accepted the request… and sent her a message.

Jazmine: OMG! Are you THE Mako Mori?

Mako sighed. Off to a great start, Mako.

Mako: Yes, I am.

Jazmine: So you know my brother?

Mako: You might say that.

Jazmine: Can you slap him for me, please? I've been trying to contact him for a year now, but he's not responded.

Mako stopped. How much about Raleigh's time after Yancy's death should she reveal?

Mako: He's been… busy.

Jazmine: I get him being busy after you guys sealed the Breach and all, but before? Where was he?

Mako: Alaska, working on the Wall.

Jazmine: Do they not have internet there?

Mako: You'll have to ask him.

Jazmine: Can you convince him to at least check his Facebook?

Mako: That, I can do.

Jazmine: Thank you so much.

Mako: No problem.

Mako logged off of Facebook, put on a t-shirt, then went hunting for Raleigh, a tablet in her hand and a grin smeared across her face. I am going to get him in touch with his sister, even if I have to physically drag him all the way to Sacramento.