Note : Good news everybody! This story is nearing it's closing time. Well, in 2 or more chapters though. But don't worry I already written it to the end. Turns out I just realized that the writing got messy after it was published. Geez after all this time, so sorry about that.
Let me know what you think, drop a review. Thanks.
Raleigh grunts as he felt his sleep disturbed by the ups and downs of his bed.
"Kids, stop jumping…on the bed…"
The giggling continues. Raleigh moves to his side, the usual bundle of warmth wasn't there. His eyes still closed.
"Come on! You promised to take us to the museum today!", said a little boy's voice.
"Where's your mother?"
"Already up preparing breakfast!", replied a little girl.
The two small bodies threw themselves on top of Raleigh. Giving in, he opens his eyes.
"Will there be lots of Kaiju in the museum?", asked the boy.
"I don't think so, kiddo. Some, but probably not many. We caught a live Kaiju once but it was a lot of work."
"Did you really pilot a Jaeger and drop nuclear bombs on Kaiju's planet?",asked the little girl now.
"Well, of course I did." "
And mom?"
"She too. She was …"
Several weeks after the heated video conference, everyone was gathered. Everyone on the edge of their seats.
Elsa was biting her thumbnail, she never bites the thumbnail, well until now.
"Okay, run the scan.", said Hermann.
Tendo looked anxiously at the radar. There was a dot for a Jaeger, but now the dot changes to a Kaiju.
"We did it….", said Hermann in a slow and low voice.
"Yeah you did…", replied Tendo the same.
A strong arm belonging to Herc swatted Hermann's back so hard, he almost flinched.
"Boy, you did it!"
With Herc's laugh, the whole place was filled with cheers.
"Man, it's still you right?", said Tendo on the commline.
"Yeah, it's still me. Not a Kaiju."
"Oh God, we really did it."
"Judging from the noise, it's a success right?"
"Yeah, so switch it off now and look out for real Kaijus."
"Okay, I'm heading back."
Mako stood beside Elsa who looked like a heavy burden has been lifted off her.
"Congratulations."
"Thank you, now it's your turn the pilots now."
"The men seemed to be taking all the spotlight."
"Oh, I prefer not being in the spotlight."
"Said the one who wrote the Jaeger programming code."
"But you don't see my name there, no?"
"Well, you are quite the spotlight here though."
"Thank goodness the spotlight stays here. The pilots are usually more popular. The one who wrote the code doesn't matter."
"Well, there was a time when pilots were celebrities."
"I remember someone said to me that you need to be in the front line to matter to the world. Make your face seen."
"A colleague?"
"I don't know, I don't really remember."
A young man with a woman on each arms lounging on a big expensive looking sofa.
Who is that?
Elsa walked pass the three who clearly looks like they are enjoying themselves. She tried to walk faster.
"Ah, ladies, I haven't introduced to you to my sweet little sister." ,said the young man in a mocking tone.
"Ew, she's your sister?"
"She looks lame."
"This is Liz from our very highly respected Bellevue family, the genius nerd who finishes high school at 15.", said the man.
"What a nerd."
With a gasp, Elsa woke from her sleep.
What kind of dream was that?
Few weeks later, nearing Operation Day
Raleigh and Herc watches anxiously as Elsa was tested for the solo pilot program. Last time with the autopilot system, the unexpected happens.
Thankfully, that day went well.
"So, I really get a Jaeger on my own?", asked Elsa gleeful.
"Temporary. For now, we need all the Jaeger we have to drop as many warheads as we can.",said Raleigh.
"Great, what an honor."
"Besides, you piloted Gipsy Danger with Raleigh before, you did great.", continued Herc.
"Wow, thank you so much for it."
Raleigh and Elsa walked together to the dining room.
"You sure you can pull this on your own? I won't be there beside you.", said Raleigh. "
Hey, don't underestimate me. I made that Jaeger move in the first place."
"Okay, I won't, boss."
The Shatterdome got more and more lively by the day. Everyone was busier. Happens to all the Shatterdome across the world.
"We're finally ending this for good.", said Elsa. "
Yeah, too bad, we're getting really good at crushing Kaijus."
"I hope the other side doesn't do anything strange like evolving into superbly intelligent Kaiju or get suspicious."
Raleigh ran his hand on Elsa's head.
"They won't."
Elsa gave her smile as a response.
"Yeah, everything's going to be alright."
Raleigh and Elsa sat with their usual bunch.
"So, did Panama ask you to return for the final battle? You are theirs in the first place.", said Hermann.
"No, I said I stayed here and they said okay."
"Are the Panamas this flexible?"
"Not exactly, but I think I got some kind of special treatment."
D-Day
"Listen everyone. This is an order. I will want every single pilot dispatched here to come back here again after the operation. You hear me? Every single one. No one gets to die today. Only the Kaijus. Humanity made it so far, no one should die. Keep it in your mind, I want you back here."
Herc stood in front of a row of pilots already on their suits, ready to be dispatched simultaneously with the other pilots from all over.
The pilots moved all over to their repective Kaijus. Before they separate, Raleigh held Elsa's arm tightly.
"Be careful."
Last, he puts his hand on Mako's shoulder.
"I'll see you soon, partner."
'Okay people, I'll start the 60 seconds countdown.'
60 …. 50 … 40 …. 30 ….20 ….
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
'GO!'