Cold reclaimed the air. Snow fell steady. Raleigh stopped, stood still, let flakes strike him.
This cold—like the day he'd lost his brother.
"I won't pilot Jaegers again, Marshal." Voice from his turned back. "You know why."
At the construction site, they'd mocked him. No one believed he'd been a pilot once.
Because he hadn't shared the worst of it.
He'd co-piloted Gipsy Danger with his brother. Fought kaiju. More than once.
Final mission: watched his brother die. Felt it through the Drift—every second, full sensory.
The expression at death's moment. Everything felt during the dying. Still there. Always there.
Heart split by a blade called guilt. Patched, mended—scars remained.
"World's never lacked pilots."
"Besides—you've got Natsu now."
"His power's beyond any Jaeger."
Five years ago, Raleigh had decided: Never again.
Jaegers needed two pilots minimum. Neural handshake required soul-level compatibility. Brothers, father-son, lovers—that's who piloted.
His brother's death: life's shadow. He couldn't link minds with anyone else.
Didn't believe anyone could match him soul-deep. Feared tragedy repeating.
"You think I'd hand world-saving to Mr. Natsuki?"
Stacker's shout hit Raleigh's back. Resonant. Hard.
"He saved us—true. Doesn't mean we dump everything on him!"
"This planet—Earth—humanity's home. We protect it with our own hands!"
Stacker knew: friendly alien didn't mean unlimited requests.
Marshal's spirit surged in his chest.
"Why do our Jaegers exist!?"
"Why do we exist!?"
"Tell me—when the kaiju came, watching people run, what were you thinking!?"
"Tell me—when Natsuki saved you, did you remember who you were!?"
"As a hero!"
Words like arrows. Pierced Raleigh's chest. Gripped his beating heart—waiting to wake.
Raleigh didn't turn. Closed his eyes.
Final mission flashed through his mind.
Marshal's orders. Frigid water. Heavy Jaeger. His brother.
He'd ignored orders. Saved a fishing boat. Fought the kaiju head-on.
Repelled first wave. Sneak attack came—devastating.
His decision. Brother buried in ocean.
Conflict.
Duty's fire and guilt's weight erupted together. Pulled him apart.
"Raleigh—we're in the apocalypse already."
"Face disaster, we act. Counterattack. Don't hope a wall saves everyone."
"Recently, I consolidated all Jaegers under my command. One you know better than anyone."
Stacker's voice grew forceful.
"I've got a plan. Counterattack the Precursors. I'll deploy every resource."
"Choose, Raleigh Becket!"
"Die helpless in Wall ruins, or burn invaders to ash in a Jaeger!"
Falling snow trembled with his words.
Passion carried on wind into Raleigh's ears.
No bribe. No threat. Just truth.
They'd reached the end.
Kaiju grew stronger. Humanity marched toward extinction. Not alarmism—fact.
Now: stake all courage. Gamble for survival.
Heavy hammer. Woke Raleigh's fighting spirit.
He knew why he'd joined the Program. Stepped into cockpits.
Grades weren't top-tier. Body wasn't exceptional. Only knew brawling.
But—
He wanted to protect things. Like his brother.
World needed him. Needed everyone.
Had to act.
For his brother's share too.
"I hear it." Eyes closed. White breath. Snow drifted. Icy touch. Listening to wind.
Fragments flashed.
Eyes opened. Turned. Snow melted on skin. Wind blew dirty blond hair.
Fragments became strength.
Gaze: resolute. Hesitation gone.
"I hear it—the roar of Jaeger engines."
Stacker smiled. Relief.
"Welcome back, Raleigh."
Helicopter roared overhead. Landed close.
Cabin door opened. Stacker gestured. "All right, gentlemen—catch this ride."
Led the way.
Raleigh and Natsuki followed.
"Your Marshal's solid. This mission'll be interesting." Natsuki glanced at Raleigh.
Through Stacker's speech, Natsuki saw leadership. Authority. Cooperation would smooth investigation.
"Yeah."
"Without him, we wouldn't have made it this far." Raleigh recalled shared days. Smiled.
Soon—
Boarded.
Left ruins. Left Sitka. Flew toward the Pacific.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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