Forged in Fire, Chapter 32
Mako and Raleigh's apartment
June 27, 2025
0655
Mako pulled up her email on her tablet to find a message from Jurou Himura. She rolled over to wake Raleigh. "Raleigh! Jurou sent an update."
Raleigh was instantly awake. "Well, let's take a look!"
Mako opened the email to find a video. "Hello, Mako. Just wanted to touch base with you and let you know that the preliminary polishing is done. Also, the wakizashi blade that Raleigh made has been finished." Jurou held up the smaller blade with a smile. "A few other things. You've sparked my granddaughter's interest in school again. She says it's because she needs to do well in school to get into the Academy. I hope that you have an academy by the time she's eligible in about, what, ten years?
"Anyways, let me know when you want the contact information for the metallurgists I know. You still owe me that sword."
Mako grinned. "I guess I need to find some stuff to start a new sword forge."
Raleigh smiled. "That you do."
"And you need to get ready for work."
"That I do." And with an impish grin Raleigh headed into the bathroom to shower.
-.-.-
Lima, Peru
1223 local
(1023 PDT)
Colin "Crunch" O'Malley heaved on the massive wrench with everything he had, trying to untorque the massive bolt that held the access panel in place. "Aki, a little help?"
Aki Otani came over to look at Crunch. "And you used to work on Jaegers."
"So did you, so quit staring and gimme a hand."
The younger Japanese woman also grabbed onto the wrench and pulled on it. "Not moving. God I miss the impact wrenches we had."
"I know, right? Grab that section of pipe. We'll use it as a cheater bar."
Aki handed the pipe to Crunch. "I have to admit, though, it's nice to be outside for a change, instead of being stuck inside a Shatterdome overseeing the repairs on Striker Eureka."
Crunch gratefully accepted the steel tube and slipped it over the handle of the wrench, then grabbed hold of the end of the longer handle. He leaned back, groaning with the load. "Come on, you stubborn piece of Taiwanese-"
With a screech of yielding steel, the bolt finally came loose, and Crunch flopped to the deck of the cargo ship. "Gah."
Aki laughed. "You do realize that you flopped down into a fresh pile of seagull crap?"
Crunch opened his mouth to reply when his cell phone rang with the distinctive opening riff of AC/DC's "War Machine." He whipped it out and answered immediately. "O'Malley."
Aki immediately worried. That's the ring tone for the PPDC. Why are they calling us?
Crunch's face lit up. "Raleigh! Good to hear from you. What's up with you and Mako? ... Sacramento? ... Wait… You're building what? ... Why do you need to do that?"
Aki watched the color drain from Crunch's face. The Breach must not be sealed forever!
Crunch was still listening to Raleigh. "Two years? Gimme the space to build her in, and I'll have her done in six months… Wait. COMPOSITES? You're building a Jaeger out of plastics? Why the hell do you want to do that? What can composites do that steel and titanium can't?" A long pause. "Okay, okay, I get it. Just tell us where and when, and Aki and I will get the Crews together. … Yeah, she's here too. We're in Lima right now. … Nah, we don't have much. We can be packed up and gone in a day or two. Anything you want us to grab before we leave?" A chuckle. "No, not gonna happen. You need to appreciate a good Scotch, my friend. I've seen you after a round of tequila. … Yeah, you went 'one tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor,' Raleigh. It wasn't pretty. … Don't worry. We'll be on our way tomorrow, if possible. … Okay, say hi to Mako for me… and to Herc and Max for Aki. … Yeah, see ya soon." Crunch hung up and turned to face Aki. "You wanted to have the impact wrenches back… Now you get to have them. The Jaegers are back."
Aki grinned and hugged the former Marine. "Well, then, let's give notice and boogie. We've got a world to save again!"
-.-.-
PPI R&D Offices
June 30, 2025
0930
Herc stuck his head into Raleigh's office. "Hey, you got a moment?"
Raleigh looked at Herc. "Yeah. What's up?"
"Come into my office real quick."
Raleigh followed Herc to his office, where Herc sat down and gestured to Raleigh to close the door. "I had Mako help me pick this out a while back… and now it's time to follow up with a visit to the artist behind it." Herc pulled up a render of the new Ranger Memorial. Raleigh looked closely at it and whistled. "Hell of a lot of detail, sir."
"Yeah. But I need you to hop on over to visit the artist. They're in Salt Lake City, so you'll be taking a flight late next week to go visit the artist, then fly home in time for dinner."
Raleigh became visibly nervous. "Sir… That's a hell of a day."
"Says the man who helped kill two Kaiju in one Drop."
"Point."
"Make sure you get to bed early, though; your flight leaves at 0630."
Raleigh whistled. "Okay, will do."
Herc and Raleigh both paused as the main door chimed as someone entered. Miranda's cheerful greeting drifted down the hall. "Welcome. How can I help you?"
Raleigh poked his head out the doorway to see Crunch and Aki standing there, looking around to make sure it was the right spot. Raleigh gestured to Herc to come see.
Herc's head poked out just in time for both of the Crew Chiefs to spot him. "Marshall!"
Aki raced back to greet Herc, while Raleigh and Mako went out to meet Crunch. Mako just wrapped the former Crew Chief of Gipsy Danger in a hug, while Raleigh waited for his copilot to let go. "How was the trip, Crunch?"
"Long, but relaxing."
Aki glared at the former Marine. "Hey, you slept on the plane."
"Anytime, anywhere. Basic teaches you that."
Striker's Crew Chief just shook her head as Herc laughed. "So, ready to get back to work?"
Crunch nodded. "Let's see what Mako's come up with this time, shall we?"
-.-.-
Pittsburg, PA
That same time
"I'm sorry, Sergio, but I wish I had better news." The oncologist looked at the former Ranger, sorrow written on his face. "But the cancer's back, and it's beyond our ability to halt it this time."
Sergio D'Onofrio nodded. "Is there anyone who can treat it this time?"
"Maybe. There's a trial about to start at Stanford's new center, out in California. They might be able to take you, but there's no guarantees. Your case is… unique."
"Hell, even if it doesn't beat the cancer back again, if they can learn something from it, it's worth it to me. Get me in touch with them."
The doctor handed Sergio a card with the contact information. "Might want to hurry, though. They're about to stop taking subjects."
Sergio smiled. "Doc, I might not be an active Ranger, but Cait and I still don't have much in the way of possessions. Rangers tend to live light. We'll be packed by tomorrow night if needed."
The doctor nodded. "Then good luck, sir. And thank you for your service with both the Air Force and the PPDC."
Sergio nodded his head once. "Thanks for the treatments, Doc. I just wish they'd taken better."
-.-.-
30 minutes later
Sergio walked through the door of the small duplex he shared with Caitlin. She was waiting for him, a concerned look on her face. "It's back, isn't it."
"Yeah."
Caitlin hugged her copilot and husband. "Anything the doctors can do?"
"Not here in Pittsburg. They want me to go to California to take part in a trial for a new treatment."
"How odd. That's where the Jaeger Program's setting up shop now."
"What, you want to get back into one?"
Caitlin smiled. "If they'd let us, yeah. But with my leg and your cancer…"
"Hey. Just because we're not in our prime anymore doesn't mean we can't help out. I suspect they'll need instructors for teaching new Rangers. And who better to teach Rangers than other Rangers? It'll be just like old times, back in Anchorage." Sergio grinned. "Besides, your job here's done now, right?"
"Just wrapped up yesterday." Caitlin looked around, remembering the times both good and bad they had shared here. "I'm going to miss this place, but you need to go to California for treatment, and I can help with the Jaeger Program full time."
"Or you could laze about. God knows we're never going to hurt for money."
Caitlin gently punched her husband in the shoulder. "Me, sit about doing nothing? I'd go crazy."
They were silent for a minute before Sergio spoke up again. "I'll start finding us a spot to stay."
"I'll get the tickets."
-.-.-
Mako, Raleigh, and Miranda's apartment
1835
Mako carefully stirred the vegetables in the fry pan as Miranda watched. "Doing good so far, Mako."
Mako was about to reply when a flicker of movement outside the window caught her eye. She looked out to see a little green bird perched on a nearby tree branch, seemingly looking back at her. "Miranda… Look! It's a hummingbird!"
The Australian walked and stood on her toes. "Wow! I knew they were small, but I didn't know they were that small."
With a whistling hum, the little bird took off for parts unknown, leaving the two women delighted. However, the sizzle of the fry pan brought them back to the task at hand, and Mako stirred the onions and bell peppers again.
Miranda looked at the onions and decided they were almost done. "See how they're getting translucent? That means that-"
Chuff.
Mako's head whirled to look out the window. "What the…"
WHAM!
Mako dove to the floor, tacking Miranda on the way down as gently as she could. "STAY DOWN!"
Raleigh chose that moment to walk in. "Why are you two on the ground? It's just a firework. Illegal, but not lethal."
Mako blushed. "Sorry. Sounded like a mortar."
Raleigh gave Miranda hand up. "Well, you're not too far off the truth. They're illegal in California, but Yancy and I got to set some off up in Alaska before the War. Might want to check on Sadie, though."
Chuff.
Mako covered her ears and counted to two.
WHAM!
A fuzzy grey blur tore through the kitchen area, headed for the gap between the sofa and the wall.
Raleigh laughed. "Never mind, we know what she thinks of fireworks now."
Mako looked at Raleigh. "Why the fireworks, though? Independence Day isn't for a few more days!"
Raleigh looked at Miranda, then at his copilot. "Girls, this is America. We'll celebrate anything at the drop of a hat if it means we get to do at least two of the following: Barbeque, blow stuff up, set stuff on fire, drink, and/or cause general mayhem. Fourth of July ticks off all those boxes, so the celebrations tend to span a few days… just so that things don't all happen at once and cause LOTS of problems."
Miranda just shook her head and went back to cooking. "Sounds like Australia at times."
Mako stared out the window. "So… we have to listen to this for, what, a week?"
"'Bout that, yeah."
Mako groaned. "Could be worse."
Raleigh didn't even get a chance to reply before a high-pitched shriek split the air. Mako clapped her hands over her ears. This is going to be a looooong week.
-.-.-
Author's Notes: Yes, Mako and Miranda are in for a long week. Sacramentans tend to be… enthusiastic about our Fourth of July celebrations. ;)
Side note: Yes, non-professional aerial fireworks are illegal in California. That includes bottle rockets, skyrockets, mortars, Roman Candles, and anything else that launches a flaming projectile into the air. Does it stop people from buying them out of state or in Chinatown and setting them off anyways? Hell no. Half the fireworks you see on the night of July 4 are aerial, some of which are quite large. Do they get arrested? Not likely unless they injure someone or start a fire. The police are typically busy spending the night chasing drunks and druggies anyways.
