Forged in Fire, Chapter 17
Anchorage, Alaska
May 20, 2025
1800 Alaska Daylight Time
"Hello?"
"Jazmine, its Raleigh."
"Hey, Rals. What's up?"
"You sitting down right now?"
"Should I be?"
"Yes."
"One second…"
Raleigh waited.
"Okay, shoot."
"Bang."
"Haha, very funny. What's so important? You and Mako engaged?"
Raleigh looked at Mako, who was watching the waves go past as the command ship returned to port. "No, not yet."
"Then why'd you ask me to sit down?"
"We just recovered Yancy's body today."
-.-.-
Jazmine froze. Did he just say that they are only now recovering the body? "WHAT THE HELL TOOK YOU SO LONG?"
-.-.-
Mako heard Jazmine clearly, even though she was several feet from the phone, which was not on speakerphone mode. She walked over to Raleigh, ready to provide backup if needed.
Raleigh eased the phone back to his ear. "Jaz, we couldn't recover the body for a while due to the fact that there was a freshly dead and still decomposing Kaiju nearby, the brass were trying to figure out whether to try and retain me or kick me out of the program, and they were trying to figure out what to do with Gipsy Danger. By the time the PPDC was done with those, the attacks were ramping up again, and there just wasn't enough time to do an extensive survey to search for Yancy. The only reason we found him was because we were in the area recovering Gipsy's left arm for the museum."
Jazmine was silent for a while, fuming. Finally, she replied, much calmer. "Well, at least you found him. Any plans for his burial/funeral?"
"I was hoping you would like to come to the PPDC Cemetery in Hawaii for the ceremony."
"Hmph. I'm tempted to say no to make a point… but he's family. I'll be there. When?"
"I know its short notice, but… Friday."
"FRIDAY? Ohmigod, I need to call the office and tell them I'm not going to be able to make it in! Wait, airfare? Hotel?"
"We'll cover the expenses. You'll be flying on Hawaiian Airlines Flight 19 on Friday morning. It departs at 9 AM. You'll arrive at about 11 AM local time. The ceremony will be at sundown. You'll leave on Flight 20 at about 2 PM the next day and be back in Sacramento by 11 PM."
"No time to play tourist…"
"Nest time, Jaz. I promise."
"I'm gonna hold you to that, mister." She sighed. "Alright, lemme call the office and tell them I'm not going to be in on Friday."
"See you Friday."
"Okay."
Click.
Raleigh looked up and saw the docks approaching swiftly. Time to get ready.
-.-.-
1830
Raleigh and Mako were met by six Strike Troopers in full dress uniform. The Honor Guard. Mako had interacted with them before, when Tamsin had died. Now, however, Mako was old enough to be a part of it, if she so chose. However, she felt her place was alongside Raleigh as he prepared to finally lay his brother to rest.
The six troopers walked in unison to the casket, picked it up, and began to walk back up the gangplank. Raleigh and Mako followed, silently holding hands. Waiting on the dock was a hearse, chartered to take the casket to the airport, and a small sedan, which was waiting for Mako and Raleigh. They climbed in and headed to their hotel to collect their bags.
Halfway to the hotel, Mako looked over at Raleigh. I haven't seen him like this since the day after Pitfall. "You okay, Raleigh?"
"Yeah… Just lost in thought."
Mako closed her eyes and focused on the little tickle at the back of her brain she associated with the Ghost Drift. She'd been trying to feel out its limits, and if she focused enough, she could pick out semi-coherent thoughts from Raleigh. And it got stronger with every Drift they shared. Let's see how far I can push it this time…
Raleigh, listen to me!
Mako slowly opened her eyes, unsurprised. "Remember what you told me right before that last drop?"
Raleigh continued to look out the window. "Yeah, I do. 'All those years I spent living in the past, I never really thought about the future…'"
"Then think about the future. The past is unchangeable now. The future is what you make it to be."
Raleigh continued to look out the window, pensive.
Mako closed her eyes and laid her head back again. Then again, perhaps I should follow my own advice. What do I want to do with my life after the PPDC closes?
-.-.-
2130
The Boeing 737 roared aloft, carrying Mako and Raleigh on their way to Seattle, where they would spend a few hours of downtime before catching another flight to Hawaii. Mako has the window seat, as had become their habit during their world tour following the closure of the Breach. Mako looked outside, watching the night sky. Several minutes passed as Raleigh watched Mako looking out the window like a child, utterly delighted. She always does that. I wonder why? Eventually, Raleigh laid his chair back as far as he could take it, and closed his eyes.
Raleigh was just about to fall asleep into a nap when Mako grabbed his shoulder and gently shook it. "Raleigh, look!" She pointed out the window. "The Northern Lights." He leaned across her lap to look.
All around the aircraft, high above in the upper atmosphere, the skies came alive in ribbons of color. It started off in an unusual red, before becoming the more typical green. Mako was entranced. I've read about them, but I've never seen them before. They're beautiful. The cabin crew turned down the lights so that the passengers could enjoy the lightshow from above. Mako looked as high above as she could. They climb upwards for what seems like forever!
Slowly, the lights began to fade away as the plane moved south. Raleigh smiled at Mako. "Beautiful, weren't they?"
Mako nodded, eyes bright.
"I remember the first time I saw them, when I was out camping with my dad and Yancy."
"I'd like to go someday."
"Camping?"
Mako nodded.
"Well, I'll see what I can find around Sacramento while we're there. Herc said we wouldn't be spending all of our time working, and to enjoy ourselves."
"I'm sure Jazmine knows where to look, at least."
Raleigh lay back in his chair again. "She was always more of the big city girl. Wanted to go to the fancy college, go shopping, that kind of thing."
Mako rolled her eyes. She hated the mall.
"She'll probably drag you out to one, you know."
"She'll try, I have no doubt. But she shall not succeed."
"Mako, she's just as stubborn as I am."
"We'll see. There are days when I swear we could have used your skull as armor for Gipsy Danger."
"Ha ha."
"I thought it was funny!"
"Don't quit your day job."
"What is my day job, anyways? Ever since we finished up the tour, you and I have been without real jobs."
"Well… Huh, you have a point." Raleigh opened his eyes again. "Never thought about that."
"What would you want to do once we're done in Hong Kong?"
"What can I do? I never technically graduated high school after my mom died. I just went straight to the Academy. Then I spent a few years as a Ranger, then almost five being a construction worker on the Wall. Not a very good resume. You've got it better off, right?"
"Let's see… I never even made it to high school. I learned all I needed to in the Shatterdome or at the Academy. My life the last nine years has revolved around the Kaiju war. I think you have it better than I do."
"You've got the practical experience of rebuilding Gipsy. I'm sure that you've got plenty of engineering skills you can market."
"And you did steelwork, right? There's going to be a lot of rebuilding and fresh construction."
"Yeah, me and a half million others who worked the Wall. Face it, Mako. You have the better job prospects."
Mako looked back out the window. "I guess you're right. Still, what would your dream job be?"
Raleigh sighed and closed his eyes. "I've got no idea. I think I'm going to try a couple of different jobs and find out what I'm good at. You?"
"I think that's a good idea. I might try that. Although I might try college."
Raleigh cracked an eye and looked at her. "College?"
"Why not? I missed high school, so I want the experience of public school of some sort. Besides, I should be able to fly through any engineering program."
He put his head back on the head rest and closed his eye. "Heh. True."
"Would you go to college?"
Raleigh opened his mouth, about to scoff at the idea… then closed it. That's actually a good idea. "You know, I just might. If you want to go, I'll go with you. I'm sure there's something for me to study."
"Well, we've still got a few months to figure it all out."
"Yeah. Hard to believe that we're going to be civilians come September 1st."
"The severance package is nice, though. $7500 a month for life? We could both lead comfortable lives on that alone."
"Or pay for college tuition and a nice apartment for each of us."
"Raleigh, you say that like we'd be living apart. We've shared a bed, an apartment is well within reason. Even if it's in separate rooms." Mako paused. "Actually, I don't think I'd trust anyone else to be my roommate."
Raleigh smiled. "Mako, we've shared our minds with each other. Our deepest secrets and desires. There's no deeper trust than that." He opened his eyes and looked Mako in the eyes. "And no deeper bond. And I'm happy to share that with you." He kissed her on the forehead. "Now get a little shuteye, we've got a crazy week ahead. Yancy's funeral, checking out the memorial site, back to Hong Kong, then to California."
"Raleigh… would you stay in California?"
"A little warm for my tastes, but I guess I can adapt."
"Raleigh, I'm trying to have a serious conversation."
"And I'm trying to rest. Come on, Mako. We've got the layover in Seattle and the flight to Hawaii to talk."
Mako punched him in the shoulder. Hard.
"OW! Alright, alright. I'm awake now." He sat up and opened his eyes.
She gave him an inquiring look.
"Gah… I guess it depends on what there is to offer there." He rubbed his face. "Look, we can take a look when we're there, but we've got a lot to deal with first. Yancy, the memorial, the katana, the museum…"
Mako shook her head in dismay. "Raleigh Becket, you are avoiding the question."
"Mako, it depends on what's there for me."
"Try to think ahead, Raleigh."
"Mako, I don't know what I want to do for the rest of my life. And right now, I'm too tired to start doing so effectively." He laid back and rolled away from Mako. "Goodnight, Mako."
Mako stared at Raleigh. Did he just blow me off? Grrrrrrrrr…
-.-.-
PPDC Memorial Cemetery
Oahu, Hawaii
May 21, 2025
1530
Raleigh looked at Mako, concern visible on his face. She hasn't spoken to me since last night on the flight to Seattle… I really messed up. "Mako?"
Mako just looked out over the cemetery, seemingly ignoring Raleigh.
"Mako, I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to…"
Mako finally faced Raleigh. "Didn't mean to what? Blow me off in the middle of a conversation? Over a little sleep? While I was trying to have a serious conversation?"
"I didn't mean to cut the conversation off totally. I just wanted a break to think. It's hard to break habit five years entrenched of not thinking ahead."
Mako was about to reply, but bit her tongue instead. He's got a point. "Sorry, Raleigh. I'm just excited and nervous. I spent much of my formative years with the PPDC, and I don't know what life holds for me. But I'm going to take charge of my future. I'm done with having someone or something dictate my future. Not a Kaiju, not a Marshall, and especially not my past." She took Raleigh's hand.
"Mako, I wish I knew where my future lay."
"Who says I know where mine is? I'm going to find out, though."
"Care for some company on that journey?"
