(A/N: YIKES GUYS. It's been too fucking long since I've updated and written new chapters. I recently got into Detroit: Become Human and wrote a ton of one-shots for them and finally got my motivation back to write! ALSO: I've added about 1,000 words to Chapter 10 that references Uprising so go check it out! Thank you for your continued support!)

2025, January 3 – 06:36 – Hong Kong Shatterdome, Hong Kong, China

Greyson had found Chuck back in his room, and then settled with helping him finding items he had haphazardly stowed away. The girl had brought up the conversation in the mess hall, one he vaguely (not really) apologized for.

She was rifling through a thick stack of papers on the bedside table when she noticed an update memo from J-Tech, one that she had yet to see. Pulling it out, Greyson gave it a once-over before having Chuck take a look. "I haven't gotten this yet. Where did you get it?"

Chuck shrugged. "Dad got it yesterday, I guess."

Greyson scanned through the restoration project update. Gipsy Danger's upgraded attributes were listed down, as well as the many restored features. It also mentioned a few things about the physical trials between Raleigh and the five yet-to-fight candidates.

A personal aside was attached to the end by Mako: "This candidate strenuously objects to being removed from the list of finalists."

The door to the Hansens' room opened. Both occupants turned to see Herc come in, expectant. "Ah, Sonny, knew I'd find you here," Herc said. "The Marshal was looking for you earlier. He's probably up at the combat room by now, with the others."

"Did he mention why?" Greyson inquired lamely. It was then that the lieutenant remembered all about Raleigh's trials. She checked the time, cursing under her breath when she realized the time.

Both Greyson and Chuck headed out for the Kwoon training room. There was a large crowd there already, blocking much of any view within. Of course, everyone would be keen to witness this most historic event. Greyson, after following Chuck's motion to weave in between the tightly packed bodies, eventually saw and heard the hanbos hitting each other as Raleigh and one of the candidates sparred. She was examining the fight intently; scrutinizing the Becket's every move. Greyson had to admit that he looked focused, concentrated, firm. Not what you'd expect coming straight from The Wall.

It was obvious his first opponent didn't have much respect for him by how he fought; the round was pretty much over before it even began. The second ended quicker than the first, having only lasted merely thirty seconds. Greyson had since been anticipating Raleigh's moves and countermoves, his attacks and feigns, and was slowly seeing how rusty he had become.

Looking across the room to where Marshal Pentecost and Mako Mori stood, she realized that Mako held a mirroring look. Greyson also noticed the way Raleigh was always looking at Mako from the corner of his eye; he never was very subtle. Then again, he probably sought the need to do so. Mako had grown unhappy as the matches continued. She didn't exactly look angry, more disappointed; perhaps a little disgusted at his performance.

Chuck leaned down to her ear, remarking rather cheekily, "Stuff of legends, am I right?"

She angled her head to look at him, expression unimpressed and yet expectant. "Wouldn't judge so fast. These guys might be finalists, but he's just toying with them."

"How do you figure?"

"I've been in his head."

That shut him up.

"Okay, what?" Raleigh took a few steps towards Mako, pressing his hanbo to the mat and resting his hands over it. "You don't like them? I thought you selected them personally."

Mako's brows rose, shocked. "Excuse me?"

"Every time a match ends, you make this little… gesture." Lacking the proper words to explain her expression, Greyson assumed Raleigh tried to mimic her look by the way he paused. "Like you're critical of their performance."

"It's not their performance," Mako started, "it's yours. Your gambit." The crowd around them began to chuckle, and from where she stood, Greyson saw the Wei Tangs exchange high-fives. "You could have taken all of them two moves earlier."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

It was getting quite difficult to hear their conversation from all the way across the room, Greyson thought. With the growing crowd came a growing background noise. She watched as the three exchanged words; saw the yearning look on Mako's face. The next thing she knew, both Raleigh and Mako were standing on the mat.

"Remember, it's about Compatibility. It's a dialogue, not a fight. I'm not gonna dial down my moves." Raleigh's voice was void of all humor.

"Okay," Mako chirped freely before turning to Becket. "Then neither will I."

Greyson felt a sense of pride for her in that moment and let a broad, beaming grin spread across her lips. As she watched, her eyes followed both sets of movements: steps, hits, swings, dodges. Their advances were instantaneous, attacks almost anticipated. Mirrored and fluid strokes were executed with swift whips and retaliations.

Her eyes flickered to the Marshal's form. His expression was stoic, but she knew he was kicking himself mentally. Raleigh and Mako had both tag-teamed him to let them fight, and Pentecost realized it. Raleigh knew the way to get to Pentecost was through Mako and to play to his pride. Greyson was impressed.

Mako took Raleigh down to the mat, and the Marshal called it. All around her was applause from the spectators. Rangers and trainees and staffers alike had gathered at the front of the Kwoon. More had trickled in since their start.

"Enough. I've seen what I needed to see," Pentecost announced.

"Me, too," Raleigh huffed. He put a light hand to Mako's back and dropped it soon after. "She's my co-pilot."

The Marshal shook his head. "That doesn't work."

"Why not?" Raleigh countered, pressing like he always did. Greyson knew he would be holding some thoughts back to any argument, because even Raleigh Becket had discretion sometimes.

"Because I said so, Mr. Becket. I have made my decision. Report to the Shatterdome in two hours and find out who your co-pilot will be."

People began to leave then. The Marshal slipped out the back and Mako grabbed her things. Chuck had a smug look on his face, hands held behind his back. "Well, that was fun."

Greyson sighed in disapproval, her eyes not leaving Raleigh's form. Their gaze met when he turned, and there was a familiar look to them that she couldn't quite place.

2025, January 3 – 08:05 – Hong Kong Shatterome, Hong Kong, China

Shouts and yells and screams had woken Greyson. It was four in the morning, back then.

She was six.

"'Nay?"

Jane Darcy skittered past the child with an armful of clothes within her embrace. Her mother paid her no mind.

Confused, Greyson pulled her over-sized shirt up on her shoulders. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she hopped to the master bedroom. The sight inside was jarring: there was a hole in the wall. Dresser mirrors were broken and William was sitting on the side of their bed with his head in his hands.

Greyson was moved out from the doorway. Jane slipped by, into the bedroom. She went back into the walk-in closet, coming back out with yet another bundle of her clothes.

"'Nay, ano po ang ginagawa mo?" Mom, what are you doing? Alarmed, and having finally slowly pieced some pieces together, the young child asked, "Are you leaving?"

"You're staying with your father, anak," Jane said in English. She had said it so firmly, so decidedly, so brokenly. Greyson was in such shock that she didn't know what to do, or even what to say.

Greyson followed her mother to the living room, where her luggage bags were sat. "Spencer's parents broke up. None of them are happy anymore," Greyson said. "Why us too?" She was just talking; spitting out words to stall her, to allow for more time. More time. That was all she wanted.

Even at six, she knew it was a fatal, her attempt.

Jane turned around and faced her only daughter. She visibly steeled herself before speaking. "I… Anak, hindi na kita mahal." I don't love you anymore. She didn't mean it. She couldn't mean it. Jane was crying — did she really mean it?

The child didn't believe it was real. It must have been a dream, just a bad dream. That couldn't be. She didn't want it. She didn't.

And Greyson couldn't stop her mother from walking out their front door. Neither could her father. Jane had gone into that cab and driven off. She didn't even look back. She wouldn't let anyone see her cry.

William was on his knees, holding his daughter in his embrace as she cried. He tried to console her best he knew, but having a parent walk out on you was rough on anyone. Greyson wasn't exactly sure what happened, why it happened, but she knew enough that the chances were slim of her seeing her mother any time soon.

The neighbor's front door opened and out walked a very confused Richard Becket. Having heard the commotion and yells, he had gone to his front porch to see what was going on. He walked to the Darcys and assured his best friend that everything was going to be just fine, telling him that he didn't need to worry about anything.

Greyson remembered being hauled into her father's arms as he picked her up. She remembered catching a glimpse of the Becket brothers' window and seeing a nine-year-old Yancy at the pane.

Jasper. Chuck. Helicopters. Yancy. Drift Simulators. Jane. William. Kaiju. Jaegers. Stacker. Raleigh. It all came back to her like a train going too fast on a bend. Her whole body spasmed, waking her from an already restless power nap.

Her eyes opened. The room was dark, but her news outlet was turned onto Channel 22 and the reporters were talking and the United Nations were being interviewed and there was Striker Eureka on the air again, with the tagline: MASS PROTESTS AFTER SYDNEY FAILURE.

"…In the wake of the Sydney incident, which shows the ineffective nature of the Wall of Life Program, many are questioning the government's motives and wondering why the Jaeger Program has been discontinued. Riots have erupted along the coastlines of several Pan-Pacific cities."

Greyson could still feel the heaviness of her chest. She hadn't dreamed about that night in who knows how long. It had been years already since the last time she saw her mother.

"We have now relocated millions of civilians and supplies, three hundred miles inland, to the safe zones." It was the United Nations representative for the States, Taylor. She could recognize that voice anywhere. On-site reporters were saying the zones were only for the rich and powerful, and scrutinized him for backing up the Wall plan like it hadn't just been proved useless.

The lieutenant sat up in bed, and made an attempt at standing before catching herself on the mattress. Greyson had been slightly fatigued and drained in the mornings, but she chalked it up to stress and jetlag.

A knock sounded at her door. When she opened it, he had stared for a moment. It was Raleigh.

"Damn, you look like hell." Wow, what a charmer.

Greyson huffed through her nose, frowning. "This shit is why you don't have a girlfriend."

Raleigh apologized, and then raised the back of his hand to Greyson's forehead. "Are you feeling alright?" he asked, concerned. His hand moved to check below her jaw, and then it fell to his side. "You seemed fine earlier."

"It's been a thing. Probably a bug. It'll pass." The corners of her lips turned up in an attempted smile. "See you later?"

"See you later."

2025, January 3 – 08:48 – Hong Kong Shatterdome, Hong Kong, China

Greyson wasn't sure whether or not to be surprised that the Marshal allowed Mako to be Raleigh's new co-pilot. Everyone who had watched their match in the Kwoon was aware of their connection, no doubt.

Was she a little bitter? Maybe. She was happy that Mako finally got her shot, but it still could have been her. Greyson, however, had long accepted the fact she'd never pilot a Jaeger. Her place was in Command.

As Tendo went on with setting up Raleigh's DriveSuit remotely, she sat at the panel, watching the projectors. Greyson turned when two hands gripped her shoulders, and she greeted Herc Hansen with a smile.

"It's a beautiful day to save lives," he said, chuckling to himself.

"Don't jinx it," Greyson sighed in return, flicking a switch as the Marshal stepped forward. The Jaeger AI confirmed that both Mako and Raleigh had come online.

Pentecost said to Tendo, "Prepare for Neural Handshake."

"Initiating Neural Handshake." Tendo flipped two switches on the console before nodding to Greyson, who in turn pressed a few more buttons on her end. Greyson pressed her lips together out of nervousness. She watched Gipsy Danger's reactor activate from outside the LOCCENT. The other staffers with them were all background noise. As the two brain hemispheres calibrated, Tendo messed around with the projected hologram of the Jaeger. "Okay, Gipsy lining up nicely." He turned to Herc and Pentecost as he sat back down, saying, "Better get ready."

The lieutenant watched as the holoprojectors showed feed from Gipsy's Conn-Pod. Raleigh and Mako were conversing.

A moment later, through the command center doors came the rushed voice of Dr. Hermann Gottlieb. "Marshal! Marshal, I need to talk to you!"

Pentecost watched him approach, and then turned around to watch the readouts on the screens. "Not now, Mr. Gottlieb. I'm sure you can appreciate how important this moment is to me."

"Newton created a neural bridge from garbage and Drifted with a kaiju."

A harsh shiver ran up Greyson's body. Both she and Tendo looked at each other in shock before turning, and it seemed that everyone's attention was on the flustered doctor. Almost immediately, the Marshal said, "Herc, you're in command. Tendo, proceed without me."

"Yes, sir."

As Pentecost followed Gottlieb out, he called over his shoulder, "Greyson, come with me!"

Flustered, she pushed off from the console. Greyson smacked into Chuck on her way out, who caught her arm and steadied her. She muttered a quick 'sorry' before she ran after the Marshal.

"Where the hell are you goin', love?" Chuck shouted.

"To chew Geiszler out, apparently!" Greyson shouted back.