First Drift.

Pentecost is an idiot. It's the only truth that keeps coming back around to Raleigh's mind as he's getting suited up for his first test run with the new and improved Gipsy Danger.

It won't just be him, though - it'll be Raleigh plus whatever half-witted Academy 'prodigy' who passes all the tests without an ounce of combat skills --

"Am I piloting this by myself now?" Raleigh asks the air, running through all the pre-Drift procedures for a test run. Even as he asks not expecting an answer, the computer's robotic female voice intones, "Pilot Two onboard."





"Mako?"

Maybe Pentecost isn't an idiot.

"You look good."

Lake Tahoe.

The elevation in Lake Tahoe is something that requires getting used to. Raleigh's out of practice with altitude but settles in okay once once he downs the water bottle Tendo put in his rucksack like a doting mom. That man needs to get back with his kid, stop working so much.

"We're here," Mako's quiet voice announces, clear as a bell in Raleigh's ear.

"Mmm?"

"You fell asleep. Pay the nice driver so we can get out of the taxi?"