Amara and Suresh were suddenly in Titan Redeemer, and they were being attacked by the Category II Kaiju named Onibaba. Amara knew this was just training, but the simulator made the threat feel very real. The Kaiju lashed at Titan Redeemer. In response, Titan Redeemer deployed his morning star hand. But the Kaiju hit it aside and tore into the Jaeger. Amara and Suresh got slammed hard. Then the computer screamed: “Warning! Hemispheres out of alignment! Warning!”
“We need to reconnect!” said Suresh. “I’m trying!” screamed Amara.
BOOM! The conn-pod was hit again. This time, Amara and Suresh plunged into darkness.
A bright light flared and the conn-pod grinder opened. Jake, Nate, and the rest of the cadets stood there. Everyone was looking at Amara.
“When I heard you gave November Ajax a run for his money, thought we might have something here. Now, not so much,” said Nate.
Vik snickered in the background. Amara tore her helmet off. Her face was red with embarrassment and anger.
“How am I supposed to drift in this thing? It smells like feet!” she said.
“I ask you to open your mouth, Cadet?” Nate crossed his arms and stared at her.
Jake stepped forward and challenged Nate. “You’re putting her up against a Kaiju that almost killed veteran pilots. She’s not ready for that.”
“Then maybe she’s not the only one who doesn’t belong here,” Nate said to Jake.
“You got a problem with me, I’m right here. She’s just a kid!”
“So were we!” screamed Nate. “That’s the point. You make stronger connections when you’re young. That kind of bond makes better pilots that can drift with anyone in their squad—”
“Yeah, I remember the pitch. Thanks.” Jake shook his head. Then, he returned to his station.
Nate glowered. “Ryoichi, Renata, you’re up. Show our new recruit how it’s done.”
Amara unhooked from the cradle.
The big industrial kitchen at the Shatterdome was empty late at night. Nate entered, stopping short. Somebody was rummaging in the freezer. He proceeded quietly until he got a clear view of Jake in his shorts, a rock T-shirt, flip-flops, and of course, a flashy bathrobe.
“Classy,” said Nate.
Jake spun around to face Nate. He motioned at his outfit. “Jules loves it. Told me it’s nice to finally have someone with style around here,” he joked. Then he opened the refrigerator door, grabbed a beer, and tossed it to Nate.
Nate nodded his appreciation and cracked it open. “Chunky Monkey’s in the bottom left, behind the frozen burgers.”
Jake pulled out the big container of ice cream.
“Cheers,” he said.
He continued to grab supplies from the cupboards to build a sundae. Lambert eyed him.
“So one more time around to prove daddy wrong?” asked Nate.
“Nah, just came back to see if your chin implant ever settled in.” Jake smirked.
Nate couldn’t help but laugh. “Looks good, doesn’t it?”
Jake gave him a small smile back. “Very commanding. The kids must love it.”
“They look up to us, man. We need to set an example. Show ’em how to work together.”
Jake loudly sprayed whipped cream. “War ended ten years ago,” he said.
“Gotta understand your enemy’s objective to know you defeated them. We still don’t,” said Nate.
“I’m guessing it had something to do with sending giant monsters to kick the crap out of us,” said Jake.
“The Precursors wouldn’t send Kaiju to flatten a couple of cities if they were trying to wipe us all out. That’s not a plan, genius.”
“Look, I got no beef with you, Nate. I’m here because you and your squint was a better deal than some big hairy dude in a tiny little cell.”
“I’m touched,” said Nate.
“Cadets got what, a couple of months before they graduate?” asked Jake.
“Six,” said Nate.
“Six?” said Jake. “Okay. Six. Tell you what. From now on, whenever you say something soldiery to them, I’ll nod all like, yeah, what he said, and before you know it, they get to be pilots and I get to go back to my life.”
“May happen sooner than you think,” said Nate.
“How’s that?” asked Jake.
“Big dog and pony show tomorrow. Shao Industries is pushing some kind of new drone tech. Could make all us pilots obsolete.”
“Well that sounds like my get-out-of-jail-free card,” said Jake.
Nate shook his head. “Front all you want Pentecost, but you know you could’ve been great if you had stuck around.”
“I didn’t bail. I was kicked out,” said Jake.
“And whose fault was that?” asked Nate.
Nate tossed his beer can into the trash as he walked out of the room. His words dug into Jake.
The next morning, Nate and Jake followed Marshal Quan to Jaeger Bay. They slung on their bomber jackets as they stepped outside. It was a clear day and the water glistened in the distance.
Shao Liwen approached them. Everything Jake had heard about her was true. She looked sharp, meticulous, and intimidating. She was accompanied by her security chief, Kang, along with three of his men. Joseph Burke, the ex-military ranger who used to be Nate’s partner, also strode confidently beside her.
Jake spotted Mako and Newt Geiszler trailing behind Shao and her team. Mako was in her PPDC uniform, and looked the same as ever. Newt, on the other hand, had been transformed completely by the private sector. This was no longer the half-crazy scientist who ran around in his lab coat dispensing random Kaiju facts. Now, Newt was wearing an expensive suit and his hair was slicked back.
Marshal stepped forward and greeted them: “Ms. Shao. Marshal Quan. It’s an honor to meet you.” Quan extended his hand, but Shao Liwen just eyed it uncomfortably.
Newt rushed to her side, not missing a beat. “Sorry, sorry, she doesn’t do the whole hand thing,” he explained, grabbing Quan’s hand himself. “Dr. Newton Geiszler, head of research and devel—Whoa, that’s a firm grip!” Newt turned to Shao, trying his best to repeat the phrase in Mandarin.
Shao looked at Marshal Quan and said in Mandarin, “Thank you for having us. Where can Mr. Burke and
