The teen jaegers never expected to come home to find a military standoff in their front yard. They never dreamed of watching their pilots jump from helicopters to punch people in the face, nor to see Marshal Pentecost in nothing but a pink bathrobe, warding off intruders with an RPG.

They stood on the crest of the hill, gaping down at the black OJRP vans tearing into their yard, blacked suited men yelling at the house while hordes of PPDC veterans poured out from whirring helicopter into the backyard, where a half-naked Newt was babbling orders.

"You take one step closer, and I can't promise that you'll survive this," Pentecost stood on the porch, legs spread and shoulders back like an iron muscled guardian of old. The pilot teams: Danger, Alpha, Typhoon, Eureka, they were all there, grim faced and fists bloodied from beating back intruders.

"We have more guns than you," General Briggs shouted from behind a wall of bodyguards. "You only have a few assault rifles and a rocket launcher. What makes you think you can win this?"

"I only have to hit one person: you."

Fuzzy brow twitching , the General tried to regain his composer, "All I need to tell the U.N is that you were running illegal experiments, maybe flash them a little paperwork, and I can kill you without any backlash. You really want all these people to die? Give me the PPDC and I'll let most of them live."

"Give us back our jaegers, then we'll see who lives and who dies," Mako's icy voice cut through the crowd as she went to stand by her father, who flashed her a proud look.

"Hmm…let me consider your proposal. Guess what, I decline," he lifted a hand, "shoot her."

"DON'T YOU DARE!" A black and red blurred sprinted down the hill, only to trip at the bottom and slowly roll across the lawn to Raleigh's feet. Gipsy Danger was only stunned for a second, quickly jumping to her feet and pointing an accusatory figure at the General. "DON'T. YOU. DARE! IF YOU SHOOT HER I'M GONNA SHOOT YOU! IN THE BUTT!"

"Gip!" Raleigh gave a jubilant cry and pulled her into a hug.

"Raleigh, let go! I'm trying to sass our enemies into submission!"

Scowling faces turned to smiles as the rest of the jaegers tumbled down the hill to tackle their pilots. The tension was briefly interrupted by warm hugs and tear jerking reunions.

General Brigg's felt his wife slip her arm around his, both of them grinned simultaneously at the frail body cradled in the Marshal's arms. They had found Coyote Tango. All loose ends would soon be six feet under, or assimilated back into the program.

"Open fire," he announced, breaking all the warm feelings. Rifles were raised on both sides.

"Like 'ell, you will!" Herc shouted, pushing a frightened Striker behind him. "You don't know how the U.N works if you think you can get away with murder!"

"Oh, we'll get away with it!"

"I beg to differ," a mysterious voice said. Everyone quickly turned to face the driveway, where…

*QUE DRAMATIC MUSIC*

A muscular, bald man with dark sunglasses stood, briefcase in hand. His dark suit and pitch black Mercedes parked behind him gave him an official look. He also gave off an intimidating air, considering that the local law enforcement was pulling up behind him.

"The U.N is not an international police force, they are merely a band of governments come together to discuss and fund ways to benefit and protect mankind," his Scottish brogue was thick with icy indifference.

"You…represent them?" General Briggs suddenly looked less confident.

"For right now, yes. Thing is, the men in charge of running the world might be idiots, but even they know when to cut and run when one of the programs they're funding turns out to be a secret kaiju worshipping organization. That's political black lash they don't want."

"Ah, Mr. Thornton," Pentecost smiled at Brigg's confused look, "I called the U.N, Newt told them everything. They notified the local government to put a bounty out, and let law enforcement take care of the rest."

The Scott almost smiled back, "General Briggs, you, along with everyone other member of the OJRP, are under arrest."

"NO! YOU BASTARDS WILL BURN! KILL THEM, KILL THEM ALL!" Red faces and seething with sweat, he turned to his men, letting out an inhuman screech at their blank faces. "I ORDER YOU TO FIRE!"

"It's over, my love. We're caught, let it go," Angelique went to touch him, but he shoved her away.

"SHUTUP! NO!" His neck cracked viciously as he turned around, eyes locked onto Nova Hyperion, Romeo Blue, and Brawler Yukon, who stood behind him. "THEY CAN"T DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE OVERLORD! KILL COYOTE! LET THE INFORMATION DIE WITH HIM, AND DIE WITH US!"

"No, we're done, " Nova said quietly.

"Tacit Ronin was right, we don't have to fear you anymore," Romeo picked his nose nonchalantly.

Frothing at the mouth, the General turned to Brawler. "KILL HIM."

"With pleasure," the tiny woman grinned sadistically, then charged. With warning she bolted, reflexes too fast for a normal human, nothing but a mad blur running towards the house. Before anyone could say a word, she had kicked Raleigh in the stomach, pushing off of him and flipping over the Wei Tang triplets.

Dodging Aleksis's punches, she sprinted up the porch stairs, knocking Striker Eureka aside with a quick punch to the face. She laughed as she heard something crack, ducking with fluid motion to dodge Marshal Pentecost.

She had one chance at this, only one chance.

"Die, Moron," pressing her steel toed boot against Coyote Tango's neck, she pushed down.

He would of died, too, if someone hadn't come up from behind Brawler and hit her over the head with the handle of a katana, instantly knocking her out.

Tacit Ronin, bloodied and ragged, but very much alive, scowled, "how many times do I have to save you idiots?"

"RONIN!" Pretty much everyone exclaimed. Some were more happy than others.

"HOORAY FOR PLOT-CONVENIENT CHARACTER APPEARENCES!" Gipsy whooped.

'Ronin? Thought you were dead," Cherno gawked.

"Well, I got better."

"But, how did you get here so fast," Crimson wondered.

In response, she pointed to the hijacked police car that was crashed into a nearby telephone pole. "Am I going to get arrested for that?"

"No, we're too busy arresting these guys," Thornton nudged the sheriff, who commanded his men into action.

"NO! YOU CAN"T ARREST ME! IM A GENERAL! PRECURSOR'S KILL YOU ALL!"

The men and woman of the PPDC clustered around the house, silently watching the disbanding of the OJRP. Marshal Pentecost set down his RPG, placing a hand on Mako's shoulder as the pilots and their jaegers clustered around him.

After a few minutes, he finally spoke. "….maybe we should get Coyote Tango to a hospital. "

Three weeks later

"Got everything, Gipsy?" Raleigh craned his neck down at his adopted sister as they pattered down the halls of the Hong Kong Shatterdome.

""Yeah, I think so," she huffed, fingers scraping against the light pink fabric of the bulging carry-on bag strung across her shoulder. "I got all my shirts and my sleeves, my action figures, my toothbrush…you sure I don't need to bring my bed?'

"A bed will be provided for you in Anchorage, don't worry. We'll make sure it's comfortable," Mako smiled beside her, the new engagement ring flashing on her slender fingers.

"I just wanted to make sure, because Raleigh sometimes forgets important things like that."

"Gipsy!" Laughing, the jaeger pilot lightly pushed her.

"Sorry! I mean, I just can't wait to finally be able to live with you guys, I mean, hanging out with Marshal Pentecost was fun, but I really missed you-"

"HEY, BUCKET HEAD!"

The trio turned to see Striker trailing them. Raleigh noticed Gipsy reddening slightly from the sound of his voice, but whether it was from anger or shyness, he didn't know.

"We'll meet you two outside," Mako hinted, before dragged her protesting co-pilot away.

"Here, help me with some of my stuff," immediately a duffle bag was thrown at the American jaegers face.

"Ow, watch it! Carry your own stuff," she protested, batting it aside with a clatter.

"Hey! There are valuable materials in there!"

"What? You talking about your stuffed animal collection?"

'You shut up about that," he grumbled as he picked up his bag and began to walk with her. He had been particularly sore the last few days, especially after he realized that Gipsy had a growth spurt and was now an inch or two taller than him, officially making him the shortest of the group. "Besides, you gotta admit that it's going to be weird not living in the same house together. I mean, waking up and yelling at you losers was the highlight of my day."

"Yeah, I guess I'll miss it," she replied thoughtfully," not the yelling part, but the fact that we were all together. It's always been like that since I became sentient, I don't know if I can handle anything different…"

"Don't worry, Gip,' footsteps, then a panting Crimson joined the duo, stooped slightly from his over loaded back pack. "It's not like we're moving to different parts of the globe. We'll still be together at the shatterdome in Alaska. It won't be that different, besides maybe there will be less burnt toast."

"That'll be because Pentecost banned you from ever shoving anything into a toaster, ever," Striker snickered.

"For one thing, I think I'll be glad I don't any to share a room with any Australians anymore," Crimson said pointedly, much to the outrage of Striker and amusement of Gipsy.

"Yeah," Gipsy piped up," but will we be able to see each other?"

"Dah, " Cherno suddenly appeared behind him, too stealthy for a man to of his size. Puppy was with him, waggling happily on his leash. 'No doubt Marshal keep up together, we still family. We still eat together, train together. Hopefully no one gets kidnapped and we stay together."

"I won't let that happen again," Striker exclaimed, "especially after all the new training I'm going to put in!"

"I'll train too!" Gipsy added.

The Aussie paused, mid thought. Then, hesitantly, 'Hey, Gipsy….and Cherno and Crimson too, I guess…well, I used to be the best, Striker Eureka, savior of humanity and all that. But…that was in my old body." He looked down at his hands, "in this one, I truly know how weak I am….and….and how much I need friends like you."

His three comrades paused, looking horrified.

"That was sappiest thing I ever heard," Cherno mumbled.

"Striker…you okay?" Gipsy looked incredibly confused.

"Hey man…." Sighing, Crimson punched his arm, 'shutup, we know. Now come on, the plane's waiting.

Coyote Tango met them at the terminal, his light brown hair a windy mess, face more full of life then they had ever seen it. He didn't seem fazed by the open heart surgeon performed on him a few weeks back. A hopeful grin appeared on his face, as behind him, Tacit Ronin rubbed the back of his wheelchair, bored.

"Hurry up, they're all waiting on you," she shouted.

"It's o-o-okay, Roni," her boyfriend stuttered gently, "we're n-n-not that late."

"I need to get you on the plane before you catch a cold, so tell your friends to move their legs before I cut them off. "

"Ronin? The marshal is letting you come with us? Cool, another girl!" Gipsy fist-pumped.

"Well, with Romeo and Nova still going through clearance and Brawler sent to evil-jaeger rehab, I think the Marshal found me to be the most practical addition to the team."

"COME ON, KIDS!" Herc interrupted their conversation, shouting from the door of the private jet. "PLANE'S LEAVING!"

Suddenly it was a mad scramble up the loading stairs, but to the amusement of the elder Hansen. Once Coyote was safely carried inside, the door was shut and everyone was seated.

Gipsy Danger found a spot between Mako and Raleigh, bouncing excitedly in the plush seats and gasping in awe at every little detail. She was more than ready to plunge into this new world, and maybe find a way to fix the pain still swimming in the back of her head. To maybe chase this ghost away for good.

An unusual, yet content, silence fell over Striker Eureka has he took his place next to his father. Every once in a while they would share a glance, half sad, half hopeful. Chuck was being moved to Anchorage. Maybe a new place and a new life would be enough to wake him from his coma so that their tattered and broken family could be made whole again.

A cacophony of laughter and insults from the back as Crimson Typhoon accidentally smacked one of his brothers with his backpack. He had to fight through the storm of playful kicks and punches to get to his seat, grinning all the way. He could see the new respect in his brother's eyes, and that was all he needed.

Cherno had never been happier, ball of fur in his lap, wedged between his parents he could feel their warmth seeping into him. He could feel their hearts beat and for a second he was back in the ocean crushing monsters with them. This was how it was meant to be, them together. Cherno Alpha was complete once more. To him, this was perfection.

Coyote sat next to Marshal, his face full of innocent glee. From time to time Pentecost would glance at him, as if to make sure he was still there, a small smile gracing his lips every time he spotted the young jaeger staring wistfully at Tacit Ronin whenever she had her back turned.

As fall began to creep into the air, the plane took off, full of nothing but high hopes and happiness. Because the jaegers had learned much over the summer, and now they could finally be reunited with their pilots and live a happy, peaceful life. Right?

RIGHT?!

The frigid waters frothed and hissed off the Alaskan coast. Frosty waves dashed the rocked as the snow swirled high above.

The woman slunk from the water without a sound, moving with a deadly grace. Skin an inhuman gray spotted with neon markings, her eyes glowed a malicious greenish-blue from underneath her short hair. Her tail flicked agitatedly, "I smell…..humans. Good…I was just getting hungry."

Her tail flicked once more, giving the signal as other grey shapes broke from the wave to join her, eyes glittering in the dark like a myriad of ominous candles.

With an ominous hiss, the shapes melted into the dark.

They headed towards Anchorage.

THE END

Well, there you have it. The first story I ever finished. It has been an AMAZING RIDE! And you made it There's enough support for a sequel, I do it. Also, special thanks, and goodbye to those who reviewed the last chapter: blood skull, Heart4Wolves, mem, Erik-Silver, Tel Nok Shock, Xahraxs, Prophet21, shepardisaBOSS, Catmaz, and Knightpheonix2.

Thank you. And last one out, get the lights.