In time she came to understand. The part of her that had been lost had been replaced. She had been activated again to see if she could still fight.

And she had failed the test.

As it turned out, she wasn't the only one to have fallen. So many had died, in fact, that there were only four of them left. Striker Eureka, Cherno Alpha, Crimson Typhoon, and herself.

But really, she didn't count. She couldn't fight a stiff breeze, much less a Kaiju.

"Suck it up," Striker had said. "Accept what happened and move on."

Striker didn't seem to understand. But why would she? She had never experienced anything like this.

Cherno and Crimson were much kinder. But Cherno, as handsome as he was, just didn't seem to know what to say. Not that he ever said much at all (she used to consider that part of his charm; the strong, silent type and all that). But she didn't need someone to offer her silence. She had enough of that by herself these days.

It was Crimson Typhoon, of all Jaegers, who knew what to say. It was she who kept telling Gipsy the latest gossip, fashion, and news in the world.

But even as it made her feel somewhat better, it also made her feel guilty.

All this time, she had thought and said so many hurtful things about Crimson. And none of it was true. She may have been flirty, but that rumor about her and those other three Jaegers was almost certainly a malicious lie. And even if it wasn't, what right did she have to judge? So what if those three arms made her asymmetrical? She was a wonderful Jaeger with all the same interests Gipsy used to have (well, except for basketball; Gipsy had no idea why Crimson liked it so much). And she was treating Gipsy like a friend.

Maybe the next time they spoke, Gipsy could humor her and compare plasmacasters. Gipsy owed her that much, at least.

However, it looked like that would have to wait, because the attack siren was going off.

She watched each Jaeger as they cast off.

"See you when we get back, Gipsy," Striker told her. "Maybe next time you can join us in kicking some Kaiju butt!"

Cherno simply gave her a respectful nod. Most of his communication was nonverbal. But by now she had learned to translate:

"Take care."

Funny. Him telling her to "take care", when he was the one going out there to risk his life. Typical, really. Why were men always like that?

That just left Crimson.

"So, I heard this nasty rumor about Shira. You know, that new popstar I told you about? Yeah, turns out she might be posing topless in a magazine! I'll tell you all about it after we get back from fighting these two Kaiju, okay?"

"Sure, Crimson," Gipsy forced out. "I'd...like that."

"Then it's settled! And don't think you can weasel your way out of it, either!" Crimson's eye went out of focus enthusiastically, as if to wink, and then left with the others.

For a brief moment, Gipsy felt almost happy, as she mulled over Crimson's words.

And then one particular part of those words sank in.

"...Two Kaiju?"