Author's note: Why Sacramento for Jazmine's new home? Simple. I can add a lot of depth to the story there, as I live in Sacramento. It's also a logical spot for people to have moved from San Francisco after Trespasser and K-day. Plus, it allows… Wait, can't spoil some of the plot elements I have in mind. ^_^

Forged in Fire, Chapter 9

Hong Kong Shatterdome

LOCCENT

May 7, 2025

1145

"Thank you all for coming to see the demonstration, gentlemen. I'm sorry I can't go with you to the helipad, but I have an important conference call to make."

Mr. Airsick was still a little green around the gills, but looking better. "No, thank you for having us. And please pass along my appreciation to Miss Mori for her demonstration, even when she knew it could trigger the flare-up of her injury."

Herc nodded. "I will, don't worry."

Tendo guided them towards the door, gesturing at his watch behind his back. Watch the time, sir.

Might as well get on with it…

Herc hated dealing with the Ranger Memorial Board of Directors, especially since Operation Pitfall. "We're so sorry for your loss, Marshall Hansen." Yeah, right. I'm a grown man, I can take the loss of family and friends. Even if it is my only son and my best friend that were taken from me…

Herc put the phone on speaker as he dialed into the conference call. "Sorry about the delay. Had some VIPs looking at some of our tech."

"No worries, Marshall. We're glad you can join us. Now, we've narrowed down the main memorial statue design to 10 candidates. You each received the email containing the designs, yes?" Murmurs of consensus rumbled from the speaker as Herc pulled up the images in 3D on the LOCCENT display normally used to monitor Jaeger systems. Some of these are absolute bullpocky, but that's one man's opinion, and he has no say in the matter. I'm just here to "advise" the decision process.

"Okay, we're going to narrow it down to the top three designs today. Anybody have any last comments before we begin that process?"

Herc bit his tongue. I'm the Marshall of the PPDC. Can't come across as a sergeant, even if that is what I truly am…

"Okay, let's begin…"

Raleigh walked into the LOCCENT, saw Herc at work, and started to leave.

Herc gestured for him to stay. Someone to keep me from flying off the handle at these guys.

Raleigh sat down at a terminal and started checking news feeds and sensor reports from the Breach Zone… Until Mako walked in, a predatory gleam in her eye and a tablet in her hand.

Raleigh took one look at Mako and apparently decided he should make a run for it.

Herc decided to put on one of Tendo's headsets to continue the conversation, and took the phone off of speaker mode. Just in time, because a yelp from a surprised Mako filled the LOCCENT. Herc covered the mic for a moment. Without looking behind him, Herc put on his NCO voice. "OUT, BOTH OF YOU!"

Raleigh tore off down the hall, yelling something about jasmine and blackmail. Mako was close on his heels, shouting something in Japanese.

Herc shook his head. Dang kids. I'll deal with it later. But what does a flower have to do with blackmail?

"Marshall, are you still there?"

"Sorry, had to deal with something real quick. Where were we?"

-.-.-

Raleigh felt Mako's arrival more than he saw or heard it. Uh-oh… She's hell bent on something with me. He looked in her direction… and immediately decided it was time to run. Unfortunately, Mako was in his only path for escape.

Unfortunately for Mako, that is.

Raleigh ran right at Mako and scooped her up as he ran out the door.

Mako let out a yelp of surprise as Raleigh ran out the door with her slung over his shoulder, then stopped long enough to set her down. "Raleigh, we need to talk about Jazmine…"

"Jazmine? What? No, not now… Wait, what's that… You wouldn't blackmail me, MaAAAAHHHHH!" Raleigh tore off down the hall as Mako took chase.

"Koko ni modotte shutoku shi, anata!" Get back here, you!

"Gonna have to catch me first!"

"Ā, watashi wa anata o buji ni kyatchi shimasu. Shite kara – YAAAI!" Oh, I'll catch you alright. And then -

Raleigh had just run around a turn, barely missing a passing technician. Mako had had to slip between the bewildered man and the near wall, making it with inches to spare. She started to gain on Raleigh again, spitting curses the whole way.

Suddenly, Mako was in striking range. She leapt onto Raleigh's back.

"OOOOFFFFF!"

Both Rangers fell to the ground, Mako atop Raleigh. "Gotcha!" She wrapped her arms around him, making sure to hold on tight.

Raleigh stood up, taking Mako with him. "Leggo, Mako."

"Nope." She stuck the tablet in his face. "Now, look at the pretty tablet, Raleigh…"

Raleigh looked at the tablet, then looked over his shoulder at Mako's face. "Mako… Facebook? Really?"

"Yes, Raleigh… And I'm not letting go of you until you log in to your account."

"Then you're going to be hanging on for a while."

"That's fine. You're strong. You can take it."

"Carrying you around all day, or logging in?"

"Either way, I win."

"How do you win from being carried around all day?"

"Because eventually you'll get tired and log in, and I get to pester you all day."

Raleigh sighed. "Fine. You win. I'll log in."

Mako started to hand him the tablet… then stopped. "Promise me you won't just drop it when I hand it to you?"

"Drat, there goes my plan."

"I'm not letting go of you or the tablet until I can see you're logged into your account. And yes, I know which one is yours."

Raleigh hung his head in defeat. "Okay, I yield to the master of annoyance." Raleigh grabbed the tablet and logged into Facebook. "Happy, Mak-oh…"

"Yes. Now you see the problem. Why won't your sister contact you? Because you shut her out." Mako let go of Raleigh and walked around in front of him, arms crossed in dismay. "Why?"

Raleigh leaned against the corridor hall and ran his fingers through his hair. "I… just did. I guess because I wanted to be alone. After Yancy…" He stopped. "I need to make things right. But how do I make up for five years of not talking to her?"

Mako grinned. "By picking up the phone and calling her."

Raleigh was not convinced. "I don't have her number."

"Lucky for you, I do. Here, I wrote it down for you."

Raleigh took the piece of paper. "Mako…"

"Hush. Call her tonight. Come find me afterwards."

"Mako."

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

Mako bowed slightly. "You are very welcome, Raleigh." She turned to leave.

"Oh, and one other thing, Mako…"

Mako stopped. "Yes?"

"Anata ga hoka no dare sono gazō o hyōji shita baai wa... Watashi wa anata ga shawā-chū ni Bon Jovi ni utau no watashi no kiroku o shutoku suru hitsuyō ga arimasu." If you ever show anyone else that picture… I'll have to get out my recording of you singing to Bon Jovi in the showers.

Mako turned around, her face bright red in embarrassment. "You wouldn't…"

Raleigh howled with laughter as he started running away, a very angry Mako in hot pursuit.

-.-.-

Hong Kong

Kowloon Boneslum

May 7, 2025

1700

Newt had not wanted to go out of the Shatterdome for some time. Shortly after the victory party, actually. So, today he had forced himself to go. Shortly after leaving the Shatterdome, he found himself wandering aimlessly. Since he had no particular destination in mind, he continued to wander, taking in the sights of the city while not under the threat of a Kaiju attack.

I used to love Kaiju. I've got the tattoos to prove it, something that I will have to deal with for the rest of my life. Newt looked at a wrecked building still being repaired. Otachi changed that for me. Now I don't love them. Respect them? Yes. Admire the work that was put into their creation? Most certainly. Fear them? Oh hell yes.

But not love.

Newt looked around again. He was near where Otachi had shoved Gipsy Danger through a building. The amount of force that required… remarkable. All that remained of that building was a pile of debris. After all, Otachi had gutted the building while she pushed the Jaeger through. Newt remembered the after-action reports mentioning a spray of acid. He turned around, seeking the spot. Aha. There it is. Still being repaired. And down below… Yes! Scraps of melted steel and glass. Let's see what I can take back to the lab. Newt loved how he could still learn from the Kaiju months after the Breach had been sealed. This was a chance to study the potent acid Otachi had used, and figure out how to safely harness its destructive potential for the betterment of mankind. What could you use that for? Hmmm… Search and rescue operations in urban wreckage. Carefully apply it to a slab of concrete, and watch it be eaten away… No, too risky. Don't want to spill it on a survivor. Newt realized he was at the pile of debris. He casually pulled out a bag and a pair of gloves, donned the gloves, and collected a few samples. Now I can reverse engineer that acid! I hope. Putting away the gloves and samples, Newt began to wander again.

I love this city. It just bounces back from everything that gets thrown its way. A testament to the human spirit? Or to making a buck where a buck can be found? Either way, it's impressive… and a little scary. Newt looked around again. Fong and Tull? Huh. Time to go visit ol' Hannibal Chau. Can't wait to see what he's gotten into now. Newt retraced the route he had used almost four months earlier when he had sought out a Kaiju brain. He's one tough dude, cutting his way out of Baby Otachi with a knife. Newt stopped in front of the apothecary. The guards were there, so Chau was still in business doing something. Newt entered the store.

"Pssst."

Newt looked at the clerk behind the counter. "No, no bone powder. The last guy who offered me some got killed by a baby Kaiju."

The clerk recoiled in horror.

Newt smiles sweetly. "Can you tell Mr. Chau that an old friend is here to pay a visit?"

The terrified clerk nodded and picked up a phone. "Mr. Chau? An old friend is here to visit." A pause. "He wants to know which old friend."

Newt continued to smile. "Tell him 'Otachi.'"

The clerk was confused, but did as he was told. "He says 'Otachi'."

The shelves behind Newt ground open. Score. He turned around… and there stood Hannibal Chau.

Chau looked at Newt. "Give me one reason I shouldn't just kill you where you stand."

Newt panicked. Uhoh, should have thought this through. I am in deep trouble now, and no Jaeger is going to distract the monster this time. "Uh, I'd make a mess of your pretty shop?"

Chau thought for a moment. "You've got a point. Come on in here."

Newt walked into Chau's lair, and the shelves slid shut behind him. "I was glad to hear you survived. Not many others can say the same thing."

Chau turned around to face Newt again. "You're not here on a social call, are you?"

"Maybe. Depends on what you want to talk about."

"How about we talk about how MY ENTIRE EMPIRE IS ABOUT TO CRUMBLE BENEATH MY FEET? NO NEW KAIJU MEANS THAT NOW I'M OUT OF FRESH SUPPLIES, AND MY BUSINESS WILL FOLD IN LESS THAN A YEAR!"

"You're welcome."

"Cocky little bastard, aren't you."

"Yup. Helping save the world tends to do that."

"Huh."

"Look, if you're running out of Kaiju stuff… why stay in the market? Use your money to launch another business. One that's a little more… legitimate."

Chau leaned in towards Newt. "What do you have in mind?"

Uhoh… I'm still stuck. Where's Gipsy Danger when you need her?! Stall for time Newt. Think! "I'm a scientist, not a businessman."

"If you were, you'd be a terrible one."

"No argument from me."

Chau stood up straight, and walked to the window. "Most Kaiju dealers are running towards drugs or arms. I, however, agree with your idea of becoming more… legitimate. The trouble is, what to become?" He rounded on Newt. "You, Dr. Geizler, have some wonderful technologies at your disposal."

"Like?"

"Don't play dumb with me. The Drift. The Pons."

"So?"

"I want them."

I am SOOOO dead…