Analia paced her quarters, glancing at the clock for what felt like the hundredth time. Jake was due any minute. The tension from their earlier spat still clung to her, though she was trying her best to push it need to clear the air,she thought, her jaw tightening. Training the cadets was hard enough without added friction between her and Jake.
The soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. Right on time. She opened the door to find Jake standing there, hands shoved in his pockets, his usual laid-back demeanor in place, though there was something in his eyes that told her he was here to talk, not just blow things off like he usually did.
Without a word, she nodded toward the hall, and they made their way downstairs to the kitchen. It was late, the base quiet, most of the cadets already turned in for the night. The kitchen was empty, save for the low hum of the refrigerator and the soft glow from the overhead lights. Analia grabbed two beers from the fridge, twisting the caps off with ease.
As she handed Jake one of the bottles, she noticed him giving the freezer a sidelong glance. He didn't take a drink right away, just held the beer loosely in his hand, clearly distracted by something. She raised an eyebrow, curious about what was going through his mind.
"So, one more time around? To prove your old man wrong?" Analia asked, breaking the silence. Her tone was casual, but she was testing the waters.
Jake finally opened the freezer, pulling out a tub of ice cream and setting it on the counter with a grin. "Nah," he said, grabbing a bowl from the cupboard. "I just came back to see if the stick up your ass ever got removed."
Analia rolled her eyes, though she couldn't stop the chuckle that slipped out. "Yeah, well," she shot back, "unfortunately, they replaced it with a bigger one."
They laughed, and for a moment, the tension between them eased. It felt almost like old times, when they could banter without the weight of the world pressing down on them. But the conversation couldn't stay light for long. Analia wasn't one to let things slide.
"Why were you so rude today?" she asked, leaning against the counter, folding her arms across her chest.
As Jake popped the lid off the ice cream tub, he hesitated, his smirk fading slightly. He grabbed an ice cream scoop and started working the frozen dessert into the bowl. "She's fresh to the program," he muttered as he scooped. "Amara's a good pilot. I just thought you were being too harsh on her."
Analia's eyes followed Jake as he moved from the freezer to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of chocolate syrup and some whipped is he doing?she wondered, but kept her focus on the conversation. "Jake, it's my job to train them," she said, trying to keep her frustration in check. "I was trained in hand-to-hand combat with Raleigh for seven years before I ever stepped into a Jaeger. And when I did, I was fighting the Kaiju I've put these kids up against in the SIM. Why is that so wrong to you?"
Jake squeezed a healthy dose of chocolate syrup over the ice cream, then grabbed a handful of sprinkles from a nearby cabinet. His movements were casual, almost methodical, as though assembling a sundae was the most important task of the moment. "Amara's never drifted with another mind before," he replied, not meeting her gaze. "She's probably still getting used to it, and she hasn't found the right co-pilot yet."
Analia watched as he opened the fridge again, this time retrieving a can of whipped cream and shaking it couldn't help but smirk slightly at the ridiculousness of the situation—here they were, having a serious conversation, while Jake built what looked like the most absurd ice cream sundae she had ever seen.
"So what?" she pressed, crossing her arms tighter. "Help her find her co-pilot and then start her training? That's—"
Jake cut her off, piling whipped cream onto the mountain of ice cream and toppings he'd assembled. "It's a start."
Analia pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling slowly. He might have a point, but she wasn't ready to concede just yet. "Fine," she said with a sigh. "I'll pair her with Ezra or Jinhai tomorrow. But Jake," she paused, waiting for him to meet her eyes, "these kids, they look up to us. We've got to show them that we can work together. Think you can do that and have our disagreements in private, please?"
Jake finally looked at her, spoon in hand, hovering over his ridiculous creation. His face softened, and he nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
Analia raised an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Good."
Jake's spoon froze midway to his mouth. "Me? In charge? You sure you trust me with that, Beckett?"
Analia leaned back against the counter, her smirk deepening. "Don't make me regret it."
Jake grinned and finally dug into his sundae, a contented look crossing his face as he took a bite. He took his time savoring the combination of whipped cream, syrup, and whatever else he had thrown in the mix. "Genius," he muttered under his breath, clearly pleased with himself.
Analia shook her head, bemused by the entire display. "Enjoy your ice cream, Ranger."
Jake gave her a mock salute with his spoon, his grin widening. "Yes, ma'am."
Analia couldn't help but laugh softly as she took a sip of her beer. As absurd as Jake could be, moments like these reminded her of why they made a good team. Even after the tension and their disagreements, they had a way of finding common ground.
As Jake continued working on his monstrosity of a sundae, Analia relaxed against the counter, the tension of the day finally starting to lift. They still had work to do, and there were plenty of challenges ahead, but for now, she could appreciate the moment. Jake, ridiculous sundae and all, was back on her side.
The next day, Analia stood at the edge of the hangar bay, arms crossed as the sound of helicopter blades filled the air. The familiar clatter of military boots and machinery echoed through the cavernous space, but her mind was elsewhere. She hadn't seen Raleigh since the drift with Jake—a drift that had left her feeling off-balance, though she would never admit it out loud. She had pushed through it, as she always did, but seeing Raleigh again after everything was bound to stir something.
The helicopter touched down, and as the blades slowed, Analia watched as a group of people disembarked. Liwen Shao, head of Shao Industries, stepped out first, her sharp, no-nonsense demeanor immediately evident as she was flanked by six guards. Behind her came Newt, looking as excitable as ever, practically bouncing on his feet as his eyes darted around the hangar.
Analia barely had time to process it all before Raleigh approached Liwen, his usual confident stride carrying him toward her.
"Ms. Shao, Marshal Beckett," Raleigh greeted, extending a hand toward her. "It's an honor to meet you."
Liwen barely glanced at the outstretched hand before Newt piped up, stepping forward slightly. "Sorry. She doesn't do the whole handshaking thing."
Raleigh's eyes flickered to Newt, and a familiar smirk tugged at his lips. "And I grimace to shake yours, Newt." He gave the scientist's hand a firm shake, earning a wince from Newt as Raleigh added, "I see you've moved up in the world."
Newt's face scrunched up in discomfort as Raleigh's grip tightened. "Yes, Head of Research and Development for Shao Industries." He gasped slightly as Raleigh squeezed harder. "That's a nice firm grip you got there. Hand hard, very shake."
Analia almost smiled at the exchange. Raleigh had always had a way of getting under Newt's skin. But her attention shifted back to Liwen as she spoke for the first time.
"Gratitude for having us," Liwen said smoothly, her voice clipped but polite.
Raleigh nodded, his easy charm never wavering. "Ranger Beckett and I will get you set up."
He turned to Analia, giving her a brief but affectionate kiss on the cheek as he muttered, "I love you." The gesture was so familiar, yet Analia felt a flicker of guilt—an unwanted reminder of the drift she'd had with Jake. It was hard feeling like her special connection with Raleigh was now shared with someone else. She quickly pushed the thought away as Raleigh walked off with Liwen to prepare for the presentation, his presence commanding as always.
Analia stood there for a moment, watching them go before she turned to face Mako, who had been standing nearby. It was strange seeing Mako in person again, especially after so many conversations through holograms in sterile interrogation rooms.
"Mako," Analia greeted, her voice steady but carrying a hint of warmth. "It's good to see you in person and not over a hologram in an interrogation room."
She noticed Jake's expression shift at her comment, the subtle flicker of offense crossing his 's still sensitive about that,Analia thought, though she didn't let it show.
Mako smiled faintly. "You look well," she said, her gaze shifting between Analia and Jake.
"You too," Analia replied, though her eyes lingered on Jake as Mako turned to address him.
Mako's expression softened slightly as she looked at Jake. "That's a much better look on you," she remarked, her tone teasing.
Jake's lips twitched in a half-smile, though there was still an edge of defensiveness in his voice. "Guess it's better than prison stripes," he muttered. "Barely."
Before the conversation could deepen, Newt popped up out of nowhere, practically bouncing with excitement. "I'm sorry, is this him?" Newt asked, pointing at Jake. "It's got to be him, right? You're Stacker's kid!"
Jake's expression darkened at the mention of his father, but Newt was already barreling ahead, oblivious to the tension he was stirring up.
"Hey, uh, I'm Newt," he continued, extending a hand eagerly. "I was, uh, I was a big fan of your father's. Amazing speech writer, by the way. Did you ever hear the one where he canceled the apocalypse?"
Analia rolled her eyes, stepping in before Jake's irritation could escalate. "Lay off, Newt," she said, her voice firm.
Newt looked momentarily chastised, but before anything more could be said, Herman Gottlieb appeared, his precise and serious manner cutting through the awkwardness.
"Newton," Herman greeted, his tone clipped.
Newt straightened up, offering a sheepish grin. "Herman."
Analia exchanged a quick look with Mako before she turned back to Jake. "And that's our cue to dip," she muttered. "Come on, let's catch up with the others."
As they made their way across the hangar, Analia's mind drifted back to Raleigh. It felt strange seeing him again after the time apart, especially after everything that had happened between her and Jake. She couldn't shake the odd tension that lingered between the two worlds she now found herself balancing—her past with Raleigh, and the unexpected connection with Jake through the drift.
But right now, they had a job to do. And the presentation ahead was just the beginning.
Analia sat at the far end of the conference room, her eyes fixed on the holographic images flickering in the air above the center table. The room was dimly lit, the glow from the holograms casting pale light across the faces of those gathered. Analia's attention, however, wasn't entirely on the images. She kept glancing to her left where Raleigh stood, just within her peripheral vision. He hadn't said much since the presentation began, but his presence felt like a constant weight beside her.
Liwen Shao was at the head of the room, standing tall and confident as she spoke. Her tone was even, professional, but Analia could hear the undercurrent of pride as she detailed her vision for the future of Jaegers.
"My drones are the next step in Jaeger evolution," Shao began, her hands gesturing to the holograms of sleek, pilotless Jaegers. The drones moved fluidly, each one a testament to the cutting-edge technology Shao Industries had been developing. "The system I designed processes commands through a quantum data core. This means that a single pilot can operate the drone remotely, from anywhere in the world."
The words hung in the air, the implications .No need for drift compatibility. No need for pilots like her or Raleigh.
Analia's jaw clenched, her fingers tapping lightly against the surface of the table. She forced herself to keep quiet, but a knot of frustration tightened in her chest as Liwen continued.
"As soon as the council approves deployment, based on Secretary General Mori's final report," Liwen added, her voice unwavering, "the days of struggling to find and train drift-compatible pilots will be a thing of the past."
Analia felt a flash of anger rise within that's it, then? Just phase us out? Replace us with machines?Her eyes flicked to Raleigh, but his expression remained neutral, can he just stand there?
The room was filled with the murmurs of those watching, but Analia couldn't hold back any longer. She stood, her voice cutting through the quiet.
"And you think a bunch of desk jockeys are better than us?" Her tone was sharp, and she didn't care that her frustration was evident.
Liwen turned her gaze toward Analia, calm as ever. "We are not here to shut you down. Cooperation between our programs has never been more vital."
Analia wanted to ?The idea of sitting behind a desk and remotely controlling Jaegers like some kind of video game felt like an insult to everything she and the others had trained for. The connection of the drift, the bond between pilots, the physical and emotional toll of fighting Kaiju up close—all of it reduced to a series of remote commands.
Liwen continued, "If there are any questions."
A voice from the back of the room immediately cut in, brimming with indignation. "Yeah, I got a question right over here. We're pilots! Not a bunch of office workers!"
There was a murmur of agreement from the crowd, tension filling the room. Analia could feel it building, the sense that everything they stood for was being challenged by this new technology. They were the ones who had been in the thick of battle, risking their lives with every Kaiju encounter, and now they were being told that drones could replace them.
She glanced back at Raleigh, her mind racing. He still hadn't said a word, but the weight of his silence felt heavier than he really okay with this?The thought nagged at her, making the space between them feel wider than it ever had before.
Liwen, seemingly unruffled by the pushback, offered a thin smile. "As I said, cooperation is key. We are not trying to replace pilots. Our goal is to augment the existing Jaeger program with drone technology, to ensure that no pilot is ever put at unnecessary risk again."
Analia could hear the skepticism rippling through the room, but she bit her tongue, forcing herself to stay silent for the knew what that meant to someone like Liwen—a clean, calculated phrase that ignored the reality of the battlefield.