Naomi ran without a word. From Zeke's reaction she knew that something was terribly wrong. She was almost out of breath when they reached the jeep. They jumped into the car and Zeke put the pedal to the metal in a hurry. They were moving through the city with an extreme speed, while they were breaking the whole rules of the road. The jeep backed out bends sharply and the wheels creaked loudly.
Zeke was very anxious, but finally he broke the tense silence. „Tendo called. He wanted to warn me. Two cursed kaijus are approaching to Hong Kong. We have to get back into the Shatterdome; at least we have to try to get back in the base, before all hell broke loose.
„Two kaijus? They've never come in pairs," Naomi was flattering out, while she was gasping for breath.
„It's true, but it seems Gottlibe's theory was right. Damn it!"
Suddenly all over Hong Kong, alarms started to blare. Fear and panic prevailed in the city. People flooded on the streets and hurried frantically in to the nearest anti-kaiju shelter.
After some hundred meters Zeke put on the brake roughly and then beat into the steering-wheel nervously.
„Shit! Due to the crowd we can't move forward with the car. We have to get out of the car. Hurry up!" Zeke shouted.
„We don't get back on foot to the Shatterdome, "Naomi was yelling back while she was trying to get out of the jeep.
„The destination changed in this current situation. I'm glad if we safely get into an anti-kaiju shelter," Zeke responded and then he took the woman's arm. "Naomi, wait! We can only get out together and you must clutch my hand all through. Otherwise, the crow sweeps us away from each other."
„All right."
Outside the car they were jostled and pressed by the crow. Suddenly something happened at the dock. The ground and the buildings were shaken. They were frightened when they looked back toward the harbor. Under the dark sky, like behind a curtain an enormous shape emerged. It was a kaiju.
The monster stepped out from the darkness and stopped. Without doubt, the kaiju sized up the situation and its opportunities. As it stood, sniffed the air and roared dreadfully. After that it began its way deeper into the city. The ground and the buildings were trembled by its steps.
Naomi's scream lost in the crowd's noise. She stared at the kaiju and her eyes were full of fear.
Then she heard as Zeke yelled. "Run!"
They floated with the crowd. Occasionally they noticed the posted inscriptions on the wall: "Anti-Kaiju Shelter". From this they knew that they are going in the right direction.
The kaiju pushed toward deeper and deeper into the city center and left destruction behind itself.
Naomi felt as if the monster was behind her and it trampled down her immediately. She looked back in her fear, but she stumbled and the crowd swept her away from Zeke. Naomi felt some powerful thrusts and then she fell face down on the ground. She felt the dust and the mud in her mouth. The rain flowed on her face. She saw just feet around herself. She tried to stand up, but the people shoved back her onto the ground. She felt the painful kicks and hits on her whole body. Then two strong hands grasped her under her shoulders and pull her. It was Zeke. Their sights met, they understood each other without a word. The two held each other hands stronger than earlier and ran towards the shelter. After some meters they went down on the stairs and passed through a massive door. In the end they reached the shelter.
The air was humid and warm in the ill-lighted place, where hundreds of people – including Naomi and Zeke – were jammed. After some minutes the door shut loudly and the ventilators started to work. As the minutes passed, they heard the kaiju's steps grew louder and louder.
„It comes closer and closer, and sooner or later it crosses over above us. What do you think; will the ceiling be able to hold on the kaiju's weight?" Naomi asked.
„I don't know. I've never been in a shelter," the ranger responded.
„It didn't sound too reassuringly," the girl said shudderingly.
„I'm sorry, I'm a truthful type. But Nao, you're trembling. You're soaking wet because of the rain. Here take my leather jacket," and he wrapped his jacked around the woman's shoulders, after that he embraced her.
„Thanks. Zeke, I'm cold and I'm very frightened," and she cuddle up to the ranger.
„Don't be afraid, Naomi. I'm here with you. I don't leave you. I try to protect you."
They were embracing each other tightly, while they were waiting and listening to the fearsome sounds which filtered from above.
Suddenly Naomi started to ponder on what Yancy felt, when Knifehead snatched him. „My fear is nothing compared to his fear. He was alone, without hope. The death was a blessed release for him after the pain that Knifehead caused him. I'm safe. Zeke protects me. He hugs me. Since Yancy nobody embraced me. Zeke, Yancy, Zeke. Life, death, life…."
„I don't want to die," Naomi whispered despairingly and she put her head on his chest.
„Just relax, Nao. You won't die. We're safe. Ok?" He lightly pulled away the woman, looked into her ice blue eyes. "Talk to me. Say anything that's in your mind and you will calm down."
„I wanted to die after Yancy. I felt life is impossible without him. But now, I want to survive this whole situation."
„Live, not just survive. There's a huge difference between the two. Start a new life."
„It's not so easy. Nobody is able to occupy Yancy's place in my life. His memory, like a ghost in the heart, haunts me in every moment. I think it isn't fair that I live and he died."
„You mourned for Yancy respectfully. I don't think you should atone for his death. Instead of this, you should let the ghost go from your heart," Zeke said softly, while he overcame the disappointment which the women's words caused for him.
Something happened on the surface. The kaiju changed direction. There was a moment of silence, then again noises filtered down the shelter. It seemed like buildings would fall down and cars would explode. The heard roars, steeps and noise of thumbs. All of these shook the ground with large strength so the ceiling of the shelter cracked. Dust and plaster fell onto the people. Some of them started to scream, cry or pray.
„Heavens, there're two kaijus. They destroyed whole Hong Kong," Naomi was saying while she was hugging the ranger stronger than before.
„No. There is a kaiju and a jaeger. They are fighting. I'm able to recognize this," Zeke answered confidently and enjoyed that he may hold the woman in his arms.
"Do you know it from the noises? You're incredible," Naomi smiled.
"No, I'm just a ranger," Zeke smiled back and continued. "I wonder which jaeger is up there. I hope it kicks the bastard kaiju's ass. I wish I could pilot a jaeger again."
„Maybe things didn't happen by accident. Maybe this task waited for you so now you're here with me, and protect me. As you tried to protect Newt," Naomi responded gently.
„Perhaps. But how and where could be the little guy? I hope, neither Chao nor the kaiju kill him and he is safe in a shelter or in the Shatterdome," Zeke answered.
They remained silence because the noise stopped up there. Some minutes later from the distance a great crash shocked the city. It seemed like a huge object would have hit the ground from the heights. After that there was silence everywhere. Minutes later, people went on the surface. Naomi and Zeke walked hand in hand because they didn't want to lose each other in the crowd.
The sight was shocking. Lots of skyscrapers became very poor condition or collapsed. Some buildings and cars were in flames or already burned out. The broken fireplugs flooded the damaged pavements with water in some places. The people's way was blocked by ruins. Everything was covered by ash and dust. All things were soaked by rain. The smell of smoke speared in the air.
„Oh, my God," that was the only thing which Naomi could say due to the consternation.
Zeke - as an experienced ranger – saw much destruction, so he surveyed the field mutely. He was looking for solutions in his mind how could they go back to the Shatterdome.
„I think, the jeep was over. I have signal. I call Tendo, maybe he can send a chopper for us."
After one hour of exhausting walk they achieved a park where the Sikorsky was able to land for them. They got to know the details about the incident of Hong Kong on the homeward.
The PPDC medical staff waited them in the Shatterdome. Everything was all right with Zeke, but Naomi was kept under observation in the sickroom.
„Don't worry, you'll be all right. This's just a routine procedure. I'm going to visit you later. But now, get some rest, okay?"
„Okay. And Zeke, thanks for everything. I wouldn't have survived it without you," Naomi was saying thankfully, while she was taking the ranger's hand who sat the edge of the bed.
„Don't mention it, anything for you," he replied. He smoothed the girls' cheek and then he kissed her forehead tenderly. „Bye Naomi."
„Good-bye Zeke."
They released each other's hands hesitatingly. Naomi fell into deep sleep shortly after Zeke left the sickroom.