First Drift.

[dontchaserabbits]

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."

Comments

[dontchaserabbits]

"Mako." It comes out in kind of a wheeze, like Raleigh can't quite breathe easily until just now.

"Don't move just yet. Please?"

[co_pilot]

Only now does she realize she's trembling, full-body shudders that make her grit her teeth with the force of it.

She eases onto her side and closes her eyes against the pricking of tears.

[dontchaserabbits]

"I'm sorry."

For a million little things.

"It's my fault - you shouldn't have had to see that. You shouldn't have had to see Yancy -- "

Or what could happen to either of them, when and if they ever get deployed.

[co_pilot]

He is as much a part of the Jaeger as they are, Yancy, his ghost felt here.

She would've had to be naive not to realize that, and yet the suddenness of the memory, with its grief and death, still grips her tight.

[dontchaserabbits]

They don't have much more time to themselves here; Raleigh can hear the tech crews moving the gangplank into place to enter the Conn-Pod where they are.

"I saw." She has to be aware of that, at least. "Marshal and Onibaba and you. The red shoes.

"Don't regret me seeing it."

[co_pilot]

She can't manage anything in the way of words, but she shakes her head once, a slight movement.

No regrets. But if she said she wasn't apprehensive about what lies ahead, it would be a lie.

[dontchaserabbits]

Raleigh doesn't get a chance to speak again before Tendo comes in, along with two different tech crews and a medic.

The medic gets glared at; Tendo waves him off.

"Marshal wants to see you ASAP."

Of course he does.

It's going to be a long day.