Forged in Fire, Chapter 24

I-80, eastbound towards Roseville, CA

May 31, 2025

1510

Mako looked out the window as Jazmine drove towards the Roseville Galleria. She tried to ignore the other woman, but Jazmine was insistent on talking to Mako.

"Come on, Mako. It'll be fun."

"Fun like the stomach flu."

"Mako… Relax. It's not the end of the world."

"It sure seemed like it the last time I went."

"I know you and Raleigh have a good thing going… When I'm done with you, he's going to become a quivering puddle when he sees you."

"Jazmine… I just need a swimsuit. That's all I need."

"No, you need some shorts, and some more comfortable clothing… Ah, here we are." Jazmine left the freeway and headed towards a parking garage. "Lots of shops to choose from. Let's see what looks good on you and work from there."

-.-.-

Ten minutes later

Jazmine opened the door to the dressing room, dragged Mako into it, then closed the door… with Jazmine still inside. "Right, strip."

Mako froze. "What?"

"Off with the shirt, pants, socks, and shoes. I need to see what I'm working with."

Raleigh… Please help me.

Mako… I can't come help you. I literally can't, as I have no car to drive… Or a license to drive with if we did have wheels. Need to work on that.

Jazmine cocked an eyebrow. "Done talking to Raleigh yet?"

Mako sighed and pulled off her shirt, making sure that her right shoulder faced Jazmine. "Yes, I am."

Jazmine smiled as Mako finally conceded and removed her shirt. However, the smile disappeared as the circuitry suit burn scars appeared. "Mako… what happened to you? What are those scars from? They look like…"

"Like electrical circuits?"

"Yeah, they do. What are they from?"

Mako folded up the shirt she had been wearing. "The drivesuit. When Raiju tore off Gipsy's right arm, the damage caused the drivesuit feedback to overload. That's where the burns came from."

"Does Raleigh have them, too?"

"On both sides."

"Knifehead?"

Mako simply nodded as she sat down to pull off her shoes. "However, not all of our scars are physical. I have some neurological scarring that can cause me to feel like my arm's been torn off again."

"Does Raleigh have the same problem?"

"Thankfully, no. It's also why he was able to pilot Gipsy solo for six hours when Yancy…" Mako stopped, not wanting to reopen old wounds for Jazmine.

Jazmine was thoughtful for a while. "No matter what you wear for a swimsuit, the scars are going to show."

Mako smiled shyly. "I'm not worried about the scars. Quite the opposite, actually. I'm rather proud of them."

"Then why don't you have any swimsuits?"

The Ranger blushed. "I have… modesty issues."

Jazmine's face lit up as she realized what Mako was talking about. "Ahhhh… Yeah, I can see that being an issue."

"Okay, Jazmine… Let's see what you think." Mako slid her pants off and did a slow spin.

"Mako, I wish I was built like you. So lithe and athletic."

Mako blushed even more.

"You'd look good in anything that you feel comfortable with."

"Thank you, Jazmine."

"Now, get dressed. It's time to raid the racks and find some candidates!"

-.-.-

20 minutes later

Jazmine held up a bikini, looking at it, then Mako. "Nope, too skimpy." She hung it back up, then grabbed a one-piece. "This shows promise…"

Mako shook her head in disagreement. "Not quite what I'm looking for."

Jazmine raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Then what are you looking for?"

Mako appraised the selection of swimwear, then grabbed a plain blue bikini with red trim.

Jazmine looked at Mako, then the bikini. "Try it on, Mako. Let's see how it fits."

Mako entered the dressing room and stripped bare, then put on the bikini.

"How's it look, Mako?"

Mako opened the door and stepped out. "You tell me."

Jazmine paused, fighting the urge to drop her mouth open. I wish I could pull that off. She looks like a model. Instead, she broke out in a huge grin. "We have a winner. Raleigh will never know what hit him." She paused, clearly thinking something over. "Actually, let's get you another one just like that. I have a friend who owes me a favor, and I know just what I want to do with it. In the meantime…" She tossed Mako a skirt and shirt. "Try these on!"

-.-.-

1615

Mako looked at the stack of clothing Jazmine had picked out for her. Four shirts, two skirts, two pair of shorts, a pair of flats, and two swimsuits. She picked it up and walked to the checkout counter. Let's hope it goes better than last time I went to pay for something myself…

Mako set the stack down at the counter and brushed her hair out of her face as she pulled out her credit card and paid for the new clothes.

The clerk looked at Mako for a few seconds before it clicked. "Thank you for what you did, ma'am."

Mako smiled at her with ease born of long practice. "You're welcome."

The clerk bagged Mako's new clothing, then handed the bag and receipt to Mako. "Enjoy the new clothing, Miss Mori."

"I will." Mako forced herself to walk calmly to the door, where Jazmine waited for her.

"See? That wasn't so bad…"

"Before we leave… are there any tool stores nearby?"

"What, like Sears?"

Mako thought for a moment before stopping. "Perfect. I've always preferred Craftsman hand tools." She smiled. "Lead the way!"

Jazmine grumbled, but set out for Sears anyways. "Fifteen minutes, Mako. Then I'm headed back to the car."

Mako grinned. More than enough time.

-.-.-

1635

Mako sat in the passenger seat, a new set of tools tucked beneath her feet and her new clothes in her lap. Smiling, she closed her eyes. Raleigh, we're on our way back.

How'd it go?

I got a new toolkit out of it, so I'm content with the trip.

Raleigh's bemusement traveled across the 10-mile gap between the Rangers. And who needs the first aid more, you or Jaz?

I think we're about equal.

Now… Remember our bet in Hawaii?

Mako scowled. Yes, I do. I have the money with me.

Actually, I was wondering of you'd be willing to alter the deal we had…

No, you're not going to get more money, Raleigh…

How does dinner at a fancy restaurant sound to you?

Mako blinked in surprise. Wait, what? What does that have to do with the bet?

You'd pay.

Mako pondered it for a moment. Sounds fair. What did you have in mind?

Ask Jaz. She'd know what's best.

I'll have something in mind when we get back.

Cool.

"Jazmine, what's a good place to go out to dinner around here?"

The youngest Becket thought for a while. "I know of this fantastic place in Old Fair Oaks. Don't recall the name, but it's on the south side of the town square."

"Do you think you could give us a lift?"

"It'd be my pleasure. However, does Raleigh have any clothes like what you'd where to church?"

Mako was about to ask Raleigh when he responded. Yeah, I've got something. You, however… Unless you picked up something today, you don't have anything..

"What's Rals say?"

"Yes, he has something nice to wear."

Jazmine thought for a moment, then focused on driving as they exited the freeway. "For you, I think if you were to wear that long blue skirt, the flats and that new blouse, you'd look phenomenal. Simple, but elegant." Jazmine pulled into the parking lot of the hotel. "Your hair, however…"

Mako had been letting it grow out ever since Pitfall, and it now hung halfway down her back in a loose ponytail. "What about it?"

They got out of the SUV. "I've got an idea. You'll look good, I promise."

Mako reached the room and swiped her keycard, then ducked into the cooler air-conditioned interior. Raleigh was still on the tablet, doing some sort of research project. "Whatcha up to, Raleigh?"

"You're really starting to have some of my speech patterns, aren't you?"

She lay down next to Raleigh. "I guess so."

"Anyways, I'm looking at what it would take for you and me to get drivers licenses here in California."

"And?"

"Shouldn't be hard. We just need to pass the written and driving tests." He set the tablet down. "So, what'd Jaz get you to buy?"

"Couple of shirts, skirts, and shorts."

"Nice! So, you have a place in mind for tonight?"

"I do."

Jazmine knocked on the door. "Mako? Raleigh? Can I come in?"

The two Rangers looked at each other and shrugged.

Raleigh got up and let Jazmine in. "Behave yourself, Jazmine."

"No worries, Rals. I'm just going to work on Mako's hair."

Raleigh raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

Mako sighed and got up to face her fate at Jazmine's hands.

"Relax, Mako. I'm not going to torture you by doing something really involved."

Raleigh grabbed his keycard and quietly left the room, intending to start hunting for a car for him and Mako.

Stay close in case I need you to rescue me.

Raleigh chuckled. Chill, Mako. She's probably just going to braid it.

Well that's not so bad.

I'll be outside. Let me know when you're ready.

Okay.

-.-.-

1700

Raleigh was browsing through Craigslist for a car or small truck when Jazmine came out of the hotel room. "Ready to come see Mako?"

Raleigh walked into the room… then stopped dead in his tracks. He'd seen Mako in everything from burnt drivesuits to ballroom gowns, but the simple ensemble she wore was far more beautiful than anything he'd seen her wear before. Raleigh looked her over from head to foot, taking it all in. Her hair had been put into a simple braid, running down her back. She wore a light blue blouse and a white shirt underneath, and a long blue skirt flowed down to the ground where her red flats just barely peeked out. A simple but elegant watch replaced her more typical Timex Ironman on her left wrist, and her Jaeger Academy class ring was on her right ring finger. "Wow, Mako. You look good."

Mako blushed deeply at the compliment. "Thanks, Raleigh."

"Jaz, the watch… I know that watch."

It was Jazmine's turn to blush. "It was Mom's watch. I never wear it, because my wrists are too large. It fits Mako perfectly, though. I figured she'd be able to use it more."

Raleigh walked over and hugged his sister. "Thank you, Jazmine," he whispered.

"You're welcome, Raleigh. Now, get dressed. You two have a dinner date."

Mako frowned as a thought occurred to her. "Uhm… How are we going to get there?"

Jazmine smiled sweetly. "I'll drive you two this time. Besides, Mr. Chau and I are going to go have a working dinner as we lay some of the groundwork for Pan Pacific Industries, starting with finding us a physical location to set up offices and a small workshop."

Raleigh ducked into the bathroom to change, still listening to the conversation via Mako. "Well, Raleigh, Herc, and I still need to get the museum sorted out first… But as soon as the PPDC stands down and PPI is formed, I've got a few ideas to try out."

"First things first, though Mako. We need to get you a driver's license, a car, and a place of your own, too."

"Raleigh's been looking into cars… But I'll need lessons. I never learned to drive."

Raleigh smiled and walked out of the bathroom, dressed in a button-up shirt and slacks. "We'll deal with that once the time comes, Mako." He hugged her and kissed her atop her head. "In the meantime, let's go get some dinner."

Mako looked up at Raleigh and smiled. "Sounds like a plan. Jazmine, you ready?"

Jazmine headed towards the door. "I've been ready for a while. Come on, you two. Time to have some time as just another couple enjoying an early summer night, instead of being the world saving crew of Gipsy Danger."

Mako and Raleigh held hands and walked out after Jazmine, smiling and happy in their own little universe.