WEEKLY POWER GOALS đ
đ„ 30â2ch | 60â5ch | 100â8ch | 200â15ch | 400â25ch
â° Resets Monday!
~~~~ââ~~~~~~~~ââ~~~~
Six PM.
Hong Kong Harbor District. Jaeger headquarters. Codename: Shatterdome.
Black helicopter carrying three plus guards arrived above the massive port.
"Bigger than the old bases." Raleigh peered through rain-streaked glass at the sprawling facility below. Eyes flickered. Nostalgia in his voice.
Weather here: overcast. Dense rain hammered the window.
Base backed against mountains, faced ocean. Six steel gates at port levelâJaeger access. Platform above for aircraft. Passage beyond leading into mountain interiorâtrue base hidden inside.
Facility bore time's marks. From above: instant grandeur.
Humanity's cutting-edge tech concentrated here. Final line against invaders.
"Your home have ports like this?" Raleigh asked Natsuki casually. Confirmed alien nowâcuriosity stronger.
"Similar ones."
"Bigger. Usually receive spacecraft from other civilizations."
"Called Ultra Space Port. Lapis lazuli colored." Natsuki glanced at base below.
"Lapis lazuli?"
"Strange color choice." Raleigh raised eyebrows. Imagined it. Didn't fit tech aesthetic. Maybe alien taste.
Aircraft landed.
Door opened.
Sky not fully dark. Gloomy gray.
Humid air hit them. Destination reached.
Stacker led out. "Come, gentlemen."
Down stairs. Wet tarmac underfoot.
Around them: busy personnel transporting sealed cargo. Some transparentâkaiju tissue visible.
Ahead: woman in black coat, black umbrella. Short black hair, blue-tipped. Delicate Japanese features.
Mako Mori.
Three opened umbrellas. Walked forward through rain.
"Mako Mori. Key personnel at Shatterdome. Leads most Jaeger maintenance." Stacker made introductions.
"Also, Raleighâshe's selecting your co-pilot."
Both men assessed her.
Natsuki: one glance, memorized face, shifted attention to base architecture. More interested there.
Raleigh: gaze captured instantly.
Not just appearance. Something indescribable. Soul-level.
Like they could understand each other without words.
Soul-level compatibility.
"Well-matched pair." Natsuki had been observing sealed kaiju organs. Turned backâfound Raleigh and Mako locked in mutual gaze. Couldn't resist teasing.
"Ah..." Both withdrew gazes belatedly. Raleigh: awkward hum.
Neither noticed Stacker's darkening expression behind them.
"You're the distinguished guest." Mako recovered fast. Smoothed hair. Polite smile. Addressed Natsuki.
Stacker had sent word aheadâVIP incoming.
"Just Natsuki." Seeing business mode activate, Natsuki smiled, nodded. Respect returned.
"Please follow me."
Glance exchanged with Stacker. Mako turned. Led toward outer passage.
Soon: elevator descending.
Mechanical hum. Stacker spoke.
"Years ago, every country had bases like this."
"Jaeger Program halted. UN diverted funds to Wall project. Bases abandoned one by one."
"This Shatterdomeâworld's last Jaeger base."
Elevator stopped.
Through corridor thick with steel pipes. Large door ahead.
Door opened. Bright light flooded out.
Vast underground space. Mechanical pipes, structures everywhere. Massive Jaegers docked against wallsâsecured by machinery. Countless maintenance crew with tools. Technical staff crossing through, discussing assignments.
Most populated area. Perfect sci-fi romance definition.
Jaeger Bay.
No man could refuse this.
"Cherno Alpha. Crimson Typhoon. Striker Eureka. Gipsy Danger." Stacker stopped. Gazed up at four towering machines. Deep voice.
"Funding cut. Military to private. These fourâall that remain under my command."
Raleigh's brow furrowed. "Only four?"
"I remember... over twenty."
Before retirement: twenty-plus Jaegers stationed worldwide. Ready for kaiju response.
Back then: confidence high.
"Thirty at peak." Stacker corrected.
Sorrow between brows.
"Past tense now."
"Reality's grimmer than you imagine."
Thirty to four. Only they knew what that cost.
"I... didn't realize." Self-reproach welled in Raleigh. He'd hesitated helping.
"Exactly. So our plan must succeed. No room for failure." Stacker looked at Mako.
"Show Raleigh around. Then his old Jaeger."
"Mr. Natsuki and I need to talk."
"Understood." Mako nodded.
~~~~ââ~~~~~~~~ââ~~~~
đ„ Want to read the next 15chapters RIGHT NOW?
 đ Patreon members get instant access!Â
⥠Limited-time offer currently running...
 đ [Join on Patreon - patreon.com/DarkGolds]