Next morning when I walk into the simulation room I see Herc and James having a conversation about Jaeger fighting methods and formations. I wonder what Herc is doing there as it is usually Mako, Raleigh or Marshall Hopcroft overseeing simulation training.

"Morning guys" I say. James smiles at me and Herc turns around.

"Morning yourself Luca." Herc says

"Umm, not to be rude or anything, but why are you here?"

"There has been a change of plan. More Kaiju have been coming out of the breach lately and we need more Jaegers. As our most promising candidates, we thought we would get you used to the drift first and controlling a real Jaeger. That way you can be relied on as back-up." It makes sense I suppose, but I wish I could have more time practicing with the simulation. Now we will probably only have a couple of weeks practicing. Still, I guess it is good not to have to wait months before I go on my first real mission.

"So when do we first drift?" James asks.

"Now. You need to go and suit up and get into Cherno Alpha." Now?! I thought he meant we would only have a couple of weeks in the simulations, not any time at all. We follow Herc to the room where we will suit up. People begin to crowd around us, placing various parts of the suits on. I frown.

"Don't we need to learn how to do this ourselves?" I ask.

"A fair question Luca, but no. You only need to worry about piloting Cherno." Once we are suited up, Herc leads us into the conn pod of Cherno. James turns to me.

"Do you want left side or right side?"

"I don't mind." I say, and I really don't.

"Can I have the right then? My left arm is noticeably weaker."

"Sure." I tell him. I wonder why it is weaker. Maybe he damaged it in training? I guess I will find out in a few minutes. Herc turns to go.

"Aren't you staying in here?" James asks.

"There's not room for an extra pilot boy, and it isn't safe." He must the looks of apprehension on our faces because he adds. "Don't worry, I will guide you from the transmitter." He goes out. James looks at me.

"Nervous?" He asks.

"No" I tell him and it is true. I don't think I could ever be nervous of a Jaeger and especially not Cherno. I'm not worried about him being in my head, because I have grown up with him and he knows everything about me anyway.

"Alright kids." Herc's voice comes on over the speaker. "First drift is always the hardest, but it gets better. The main things to remember are don't chase the R.A.B.I.T and just let the memories pass you by."

"OK Herc." I say. A different voice comes over the intercom.

"Good luck, both of you." Raleigh! He came to see my first drift. Maybe Mako is there too? I hope so.

"Thanks Raleigh." James says.

"We'll start the countdown." I don't know if I'm ready. "Initiating Neural Handshake in…"

"5"

I can do this, I can.

"4"

I have to, for Cherno and James.

"3"

But what if I mess up?

"2"

I can't fail.

"1"

No turning back now.

At first I see nothing. Then flashes of memory hit me like an avalanche. James being teased by Jack. Me eating breakfast. Us playing play station. Raleigh cooking pancakes. Herc and Mako talking. James doing the drift compatibility tests. And some that don't belong to either of us, like… Mum? And Dad? It's so hard not to go into them, to find out more about my parents but I must not chase the R.A.B.I.T. Along with the memories come fast, random flashes of emotions. Then it's over. I open my eyes. Nothing seems unusual until James speaks, or thinks.

"That was interesting." He's in my head!

"And you're in mine!" Comes the reply. This is seriously strange, hearing myself and him in my head at the same time.

"Alright kids?" Herc asks. I jump.

"I think so; this is just going to take some getting used to." I say and I feel James agree with me. "Herc, is it unusual to see memories that don't belong to either of you?" I ask. I have to know. He sighs.

"Well, if the Jaeger has been piloted before then no and yours is a mixture of two Jaegers that have been piloted by many different pilots. Don't ask me why this is, it just is."

"Ok." I say.

Interesting that. Almost like they have their own personalities. James says. I like that idea.

Good, I do too.

This is definitely going to get some getting used to. As well as James I can feel… Cherno? I want to move my hand. James waits and we do it together. I feel the metal fingers creak as they move, almost as if Cherno is waking up.

"Good, now raise your left arm, slowly." I do and the left arm raises.

"Right arm." James raises his right arm.

"Very good, now then….." he begins.

"Category 4 approaching", says someone. It sounds like Mako. There seems to be a commotion over the other end then,

"Cherno, defend the shoreline."

"What?" My voice comes out as a high pitched squeak. "You will not engage but be on standby as a last defence. Golden Blaze, Danger Heart and Lyrical Angel will engage the Kaiju. Take this as an opportunity to learn some fighting techniques." I see. As there is basically no danger, we can watch and learn from experienced pilots.

Whose lyrical Angel? James asks. I don't actually know, I think it is another American Jaeger that is piloted by two girls, but I'm not sure.

Ok, just wondering.

I nod and we walk together out the Hangar and into the ocean. We watch the other three Jaegers getting dropped by helicopter and see them take up a fighting stance. For better or worse I'm about to witness a Kaiju vs. Jaeger fight in person for the first time ever.