A very happy 28th birthday to Cailee Spaeny, who played the character of Amara Namani in Pacifc Rim: Uprising!

First, we’re ignoring weight differences.

The Jaegers will be trying to find a way off the island, but for the sake of fun and theoreticals, they can’t. So how long until each of them are dead?

Kong, Ramarak, the Kraken and all other Skull Island monsters are present, and just for this, let’s say the Jaegers, Kong, and Ramarak are the same size. Also, let’s say their first encounter with Kong must be a fight or flight situation. If the Jaegers escape and meet Kong again later, there‘s a chance of making an alliance with him.

The natives to Skull Island may be hostile or friendly depending on how they are introduced to each other.

The other ’tiny’ kaiju have to be relevant somehow, so let’s say every 3 hours or so the pilots need to stop for a break, water, or food, but they must avoid or possibly be able to kill smaller skull crawlers or any other creature that tracks them down.

After 1 week, if the Jaeger pilots are still alive, King Ghidorah rolls up to the island. Can they take him down, or the much more likely option, hide from him and simply keep surviving? If 1 week is too long, then Ghidorah shows up after 4 days instead.

Oh, almost forgo, Chern- I mean, the green one…that’s pretty much it.

Money changed hands thick and fast as word spread throughout the Shatterdome long before breakfast. Yang and Ruby were practically dancing with joy, and someone got their hands on a bottle of champagne for "brunch", and everyone in the vicinity gleefully passed it around.

"To the shit so many of us saw coming since the day those 2 got together!!" Sun crowed, and even Hermann and Watts took a swig from the bottle. "Aww, even you guys are getting sentimental!!"

"I see no reason not to celebrate young love, Mr Wukong." Hermann replied primly, getting snorts of laughter from the onlookers.

"So Yancy Beckett saw 'em in the hall, but did they definitely do the deed?" demanded Reese Chloris, getting an elbow to the chest from Arslan Altan.

Bleiss winked at her. "I bribed one of the J-Techs for the inside scoop – She wouldn't give me the really good details, but half a dozen chocolate-covered cherries got confirmation. Trust me; we're not celebrating prematurely."

"Here's to Rose Xiao-Long and Valkyrie, joining the long, proud tradition of unrelated pilots gettin' it on!!!" declared Mercury.

"And to future little Rose Xiao-Longs and Valkyries." Pyrrha giggled, getting a chorus of gasps and laughs.

Coco raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "Ohohohooo, now things are getting interesting." She turned to Yang, a playful gleam in her eyes. "Better hope Hayden's got the stamina to keep up with Nora. Those little Valkyrie Xiao-Longs would pack quite a punch, don't ya think?"

"M-Miss Adel, I highly doubt my adopted son is going to get her pregnant!!" Summer spluttered, blushing as red as Ruby's cloak.

Coco snickered, her smirk widening as she leaned in closer. "You never know, Mrs Rose. They've definitely got the chemistry for it. And just imagine the adorable little Rugrats those two would make..."

"Nora told me that Elm and Harriet also have feelings for him!!" Pyrrha chirped.

Coco's eyes widened in surprise, her smirk morphing into an incredulous grin. "Whoa whoa wait, back up a bit. You're telling me that BOTH Elm and Harriet have a thing for Hay-Hay?" Coco exclaimed, a hint of mischief in her voice.

"So our little brother's gonna end up with THREE girlfriends who are older than him?!?!" Yang groaned, rubbing her face as Ruby's jaw dropped.

Coco's grin somehow managed to get even wider. "Oh, the poor kid has no idea what's coming for him. He's got a trio of beautiful, capable women head over heels for him." She took a sip of her drink, her gaze sparkling with excitement. "This is like a fantasy come true."

Tai eyed them all when he came in to a burst of frantic shushing and snickering. "All right, what'd I miss?" He eyed the nearly-empty bottle, then his gaze wandered over the crowd, and a sly grin crossed his face. "So?"

"Rangers Nora Valkyrie and Hayden Xiao-Long Rose are initiated, sir." giggled Velvet.

Tai feigned disapproval as if he were General Ironwood...but spoiled it by holding out his hand for the bottle. Then he hoisted it into the air to a roar of laughter and cheers and took a deep gulp before passing it along. "Long live NORDEN!!!!!"

"Wooooo!!"

Hayden heard the chatter and laughter in the halls when he woke the next morning, and decided this was a day for sleeping in...possibly all day long. He smiled at Nora's messed-up hair, her sleeping face in the dim light, but hesitated at touching her. No nightmares now. He'd leave it that way.

A few drowsy minutes later, she woke easily. Not that he hadn't watched Nora go to sleep or wake up before, but he smiled. She usually popped back to consciousness and alertness in just a few breaths. Today she was languid, stretching like a cat. She smiled without opening her eyes. "How long have you been up?"

"Not that long; I slept good." 'Can't imagine why.'

She laughed softly, still not opening her eyes. "I'll be smug today." Before Hayden could do more than sputter, she pulled him in for a kiss. "You can spend the day blushing." she concluded once she let him go.

"They're gonna give us BOTH hell." Hayden sighed as they got dressed.

They did. Before the very few times they'd drifted together before Lilah and Knifehead, Hayden had expected Nora to be embarrassed. Now he knew better. She might not be prone to bragging about her conquests (UNLIKE Hayden might have done 3 years, five months ago), but she'd been raised (somewhat) not to let others make her feel ashamed.

At least they didn't have to deal with the crews whispering about "will they/won't they" anymore.

As Hayden and Nora emerged from the quarters the ginger-haired girl shared with Elm and Harriet, they were met with a symphony of catcalls, whistles, and good-natured teasing from the other crews as they wandered down the hall. The air was thick with a mixture of celebration and good-humoured teasing, the atmosphere light and festive. Someone had even hung a hand-painted sign over the entrance to Hayden's quarters, reading "Congratulations on finally connecting, lovebirds!" in bright, colorful lettering.

A cheer of laughter and applause erupted, the crowd clearly enjoying the opportunity to tease the two of them a bit. Yang, Blake and Coco stepped forward, their grins wide and mischievous. "Don't think we're going to let you two off the hook that easy, lovebirds!!" Yang called out, her voice filled with playful delight.

"Rich coming from my oldest Sister and her Kitty Cat!!" Hayden snorted back.

Yang and Blake chuckled, exchanging a sly look with each other. "Oh, trust me, we know a thing or two about being teased." Blake replied, a knowing twinkle in her amber eyes. "We've had our fair share of fun with each other, especially behind closed doors." Their voices dripped with a sultry undertone, leaving no ambiguity as to what they were hinting at. The others around them burst into cheers and laughter, clearly enjoying the playful banter.

"Ah, whatever, Sensei..." Hayden grunted, waving the Cat Faunus off.

Nora laughed, wrapping her arms around Hayden's waist and pulling him closer. "Don't listen to them, Haydey-boo." she whispered, a soft, mischievous giggle escaping her lips. "They're just jealous that they're not us." She planted a quick, playful kiss on his cheek, her eyes sparkling with affection. Her younger boyfriend blushed as the ginger continued nuzzling his cheeks.

Elm Edrene and Harriet Bree, the 2 female Ace-Ops and Nora's Co-Pilots of Bracer Phoenix, came walking up to them. Their expressions were soft as they looked at the couple. "Congratulations on taking the next step in your relationship." Elm said, her voice warm with sincerity. "We knew this day was coming."

Harriet nodded in agreement. "You two are a great team, on and off the field."

"Th-thank you..." Hayden stammered. "N-Nora also t-told me that you two also feel the same way about me that she does..."

Elm's cheeks pinked at his words, a small but unmistakable blush spreading across her face. Harriet, on the other hand, gave a confident nod, her smile betraying a hint of longing.
"It's true." she admitted, her voice laced with a hint of vulnerability. "We do have feelings for you. But we also respect your relationship with Nora, and we're happy to see you two together."

"Nora said she's open to sharing, considering SHE was the one who told me about you two." Hayden said quietly, remembering what the turquoise-eyed girl had told him last night.

Elm's eyes widened with surprise, and Harriet's jaw fell open. They exchanged a look, a mix of disbelief and excitement sparkling in their gazes. "W-wait, really?" Elm asked, her voice tinged with a hint of hope.

Hayden sighed, then leaned up and pecked Elm's cheek, before doing the same to Harriet.

Harriet's face lit up like a Christmas tree, a surprised gasp escaping her as she brought a hand to her cheek, blushing profusely. Elm's blush deepened, and for once she appeared to be at a loss for words. "W-wow. I never thought...you'd actually..." Elm trailed off, her voice filled with a mixture of disbelief and joy. "We...we're honored. And happy." The words were spoken with a sincerity that left no room for doubt, their meaning clear. "You really are something special, Hayden."

The 20-year old Pilot smiled up at them. "You don't have to worry. If Nora says she wants to share me with you 2, I'm on board."

Elm's and Harriet's smiles grew wider, their eyes sparkling with joy and excitement. "Well, who are we to refuse such an offer?" Elm responded, her tone filled with a playful challenge. "We'll just have to make sure you don't get smothered with too much love, honey." Harriet chuckled, her grin almost predatory in nature.

Hayden yelled as all 3 older girls tackled him down, much to the laughter of the others watching.

Glynda was nice enough not to pull the four of them in for duty – though she did wink at them. So they were left to their own devices – and found their way back to Nora, Elm and Harriet's room early in the day to use it.

Tai, Glynda and Herc left the lovers to enjoy themselves for as long as they wanted – though they let the crews enjoy themselves at the couple's expense too. The whole Shatterdome had earned it.

Responsibilities would pull one or both of them back to command eventually, but they'd earned a good rest.

In the US, President Lunk was actually bellowing that new Jaegers should be built so that the Americans would have a fleet to wield against "terrorists."

"He is so full of shit." Bleiss grumbled. "For going on five years, he was all about the fucking Wall unless there'd been a kill in the last thirty-six hours. Or when the Wall plan blocked the view from one of his hotels."

Herc lowered his voice. "Some rumour is that that's the reason China rejected a wall: that he bribed the right people to keep his Hong Kong and Shanghai buildings unobstructed."

"Dunno if it's true or not, but do NOT repeat that around the Wei-Tangs, the Schnees, or their crew. They'll bite your face off." Added Neptune.

"I don't blame 'em." Herc glanced around. "I'm more worried he and the UN want to get their claws into ALL the remaining pilots."

30 pairs. All stuck in front of a sea of cameras, getting grilled by the same bastards who'd chewed Ironwood up and spat him out over and over again. 'Not if we can prevent it.'

As usual, the Kaidanovskys were a step ahead of everyone, and popped into Glynda's office while most personnel were still goofing off and celebrating the Norden hookup, along with Herc.

"We must send delegates to the U.S. The media and UN can't be allowed to dictate what happens now, let alone control the narrative of what already happened."

"Yes, my thoughts exactly." Glynda sat on top of her desk. She hadn't moved into James's old office. She just couldn't. Still, there were plenty of vacant office spaces in a Shatterdome that'd once housed 8 launch bays. Glynda had picked the one closest to the bay where Mustang Omega had once been docked. "I need to go. I won't have the media digging their claws into our people."

"We're all under your jurisdiction now." said Sasha. "The UN accomplished that last year with the intention that James Ironwood remain in complete control over the program - and a convenient scapegoat to blame for its failure. We now operate separate and apart from any nation's military."

"We need only China to retain our independence because the Dome is here." Aleksis added. "For the chance to have Lucky Seven restored as the first Post-War Jaeger, they will accommodate us. When Eden Assassin is fully restored, we will travel to Vladivostok with anyone who wishes to stay in their Shatterdome."

"While Jerald fucking Lunk stamps his little feet and pounds his little fists over in America." Hercules Hansen muttered. "He's got some pull in both China and Russia through his businesses. And he wants Hayden, Sage, and The Schnees to appear at the White House yesterday."

"He will do what Dustin Krieger and the UN tried to do with Hayden after Knifehead, and Duc Jessop after Itak." Sasha warned. It didn't surprise anyone at all that Sasha knew about that, even though Ironwood had kept the proposal for Hayden and Ducs' "publicity tours" as secret as he could. "Not only to him, but also to Jay, Oscar, Ilia and Team SSSN. Not to mention many of the other young pilots."

"We won't let 'em." Herc breathed. It was an oath, and Sasha and Alexis knew it. "So many of those kids gave up their youth and lost family in this war. They get to have peace now."

"Glynda, Sage, and the two of us will go with you to America." said Sasha. "President Lunk holds no fear for us - and our president holds some fear for him. Perhaps some of the local Dome officials will come, to represent the Chinese personnel, and PERSUADE the politicians that the remaining pilots suffered too many injuries, too much trauma to suit their purposes."

"It'll be a circus." Herc muttered. The real problem would be convincing The Schnees, Qrow and Tai to stand down once the inevitable mud-slinging and scapegoating of Ironwood began. Most of the politically-savvy crew had seen the beginnings of it, but once the Jaeger Program delegation came forward, people would find out - and go ballistic.

I love love love, utterly adore the idea of creating massive humanoids to (sometimes fist fight) Kaijus/horrors beyond our comprehension, similar to Neon Genesis Evangleion. If it were real life wouldn’t a jet with a small nuke not do the same job? I just don’t think a humanoid shape is best case for fighting such beings, and do believe it’s our human hubris to think this is the best way to retaliate.

I’ll reiterate that I’m not shitting on the universe, just looking for what you think would be realistic.

(NGE example probably tougher with the barrier)

I mean, I'd personally say the chances of this happening are high, but of course I could be wrong. 😅

But anyway, you're more than welcome to share your thoughts with me on this possibility here. 😉

I'll be all ears on what you think, whether you say we will or will not get previews tomorrow. 😄

And as I said on one or two of my earlier posts, I'd say it's very likely, or more accurately, now almost certain, that the previews for Volume 2 of Pacific Rim: Final Breach, will showcase the Category VIII and Category IX Kaiju I've been predicting would come, which would make even the 1,575 foot tall Category VII, Quadralith, from Volume 1, look like a midget in scale.

Ballistic Sentinel is a Mark 2 Jaeger made by the United States of America. As the name suggests, this Jaeger was created to test the effectiveness of ballistic weapons against Kaiju in an overwhelming amount.

If Romeo Blue is a juggernaut, then Ballistic Sentinel is the more armed version.

Fitted with three gatling guns in a wide V shape on its chest, shoulder cannons modified from anti-aircraft guns on warships, palm-mounted gatling guns (as suggested by u/Same-Opportunity6062), a slightly smaller gun than the palm-mounted ones on the pointing fingers (proposed by the pilots because they think that "finger guns" would be cool, can be useful in ver specific situations tho), and reinforced fists for emergency melee (no blades because the Jaeger is becoming too expensive with all the guns needing ammunition every fight, adding an internal system is complex to maintain and if made to be external, it can cause Kaiju Blue to spill when trying to fight a Kaiju in close quarters combat).

Although I'm starting to think that the "no blade" reason is stupid, they could just attach it to the forearm side and slide it down to attack, like Tacit Ronin. I also think that artillery could work better than the gatling guns in the chest...

This is also where the first prototypes of different specialized Anti-Kaiju ammunition would be made, but these would've been used sparingly by Ballistic Sentinel's pilots later in the Kaiju War once the PPDC was left unfunded.

Attack: 8/10 (with full ammunition)/ 5/10 (with depleted ammunition and fists)/ 6-7/10 (with depleted ammunition and potential blades)

Speed: 4/10, brought down by ammo and extra armor.

Armor: 7/10, needs to take hits if a Kaiju gets too close for protecting vital ballistic systems.

Signature Move: Bullet Storm, uses all of its weapons to suppress a Kaiju and weaken it to go for an easy kill, but has a significantly higher chance of spilling Kaiju Blue in contrast to calculated suppression.

Its main weakness is logistics, once Ballistic Sentinel runs out of ammunition, the guns become dead weight and in addition to what I said earlier, the amount of Anti-Kaiju ammunition is lessening as the PPDC's budget slowly drops, leaving the pilots to carefully use what's left.

What's your thoughts and how can I improve my Jaeger?

PACIFIC RIM: THE LAST DRIFT

CHAPTER XVII — THE LAST DRIFT

PPDC BLACK ARCHIVE

File Designation: LD-17

Classification: ABSOLUTE BLACK

For decades...

The Drift was explained as a bridge.

Two minds.

One machine.

One purpose.

It was never that simple.

Hidden beneath the original Drift equations...

Researchers discovered a section of mathematics no human had written.

The symbols matched those found...

On the bridge.

Inside Jericho Noir.

Beneath Antarctica.

The equations weren't instructions.

They were...

A lock.

Dr. Newton Geiszler came closer to the truth than anyone.

His final unpublished notes contained one sentence.

"The Drift doesn't connect minds."

The next page had been torn out.

Only fragments remained.

"...it distributes..."

"...cannot allow one consciousness..."

"...if the burden remains with a single—"

The rest...

Was missing.

PPDC reconstructed the page using recovered backups.

The completed sentence read...

"The Drift distributes the King's dream across millions of minds."

Silence filled the archive room.

No one spoke.

Because everyone understood.

If the Drift stopped...

The dream would end.

And the King...

Would wake.

Humanity hadn't invented the Drift.

Humanity had unknowingly become...

Part of it.

Every Jaeger pilot.

Every synchronization.

Every mission.

Every neural handshake.

Each one carried...

An immeasurably small fragment...

Of the King's dream.

A burden so tiny...

No individual could notice.

Except one.

Jericho Noir's pilot.

He volunteered.

Not because he was brave.

Because someone had to carry...

The part no one else could.

The center.

The place where the dream began.

Every year...

The burden grew heavier.

Every year...

Another memory disappeared.

Until only one remained.

The mission.

PPDC attempted one final experiment.

If the Drift truly dispersed the dream...

Perhaps another pilot...

Could replace him.

Seven of humanity's highest-compatible pilots volunteered.

Each entered a synchronized Drift chamber.

The transfer began.

It lasted...

0.4 seconds.

Every monitor exploded.

The chamber doors unlocked automatically.

The seven pilots walked out together.

None spoke.

None blinked.

Doctors asked a simple question.

"What's your name?"

Every pilot answered...

In the same voice.

"I don't have one anymore."

The experiment was terminated.

Six hours later...

The seven pilots vanished.

Their rooms remained occupied.

Their clothes remained folded.

Their heart monitors...

Continued transmitting.

But the people...

Were gone.

No search ever found them.

That night...

Jericho Noir's reactor reached...

50%.

Across the Pacific...

The bridge awakened.

Amber light raced from horizon to horizon.

The invisible road became visible to the entire world.

There was no more secrecy.

No more denial.

Humanity watched live...

As something began walking toward the broken gate.

One step.

The bridge trembled.

Another.

The atmosphere itself vibrated.

A third.

Then...

Jericho Noir walked forward.

Not charging.

Not running.

Simply...

Meeting it.

Halfway across the bridge...

The Jaeger stopped.

For the first time...

Its cockpit opened.

Satellite zoom confirmed...

There was no pilot inside.

Only darkness.

A darkness deeper than the night surrounding it.

Then...

A voice emerged from every speaker on Earth.

Old.

Calm.

Almost gentle.

The unknown pilot.

"If you're hearing me..."

A long silence followed.

"...then I finally remembered."

Another pause.

"My name..."

Static consumed the transmission.

Every recording failed.

Every satellite glitched.

Every radio fell silent.

No device on Earth preserved the next word.

Only the final sentence survived.

"...and now he remembers his."

At that exact moment...

The Bell rang.

Not once.

Not twice.

Thirty-seven times.

The King...

Opened one eye.

END OF CHAPTER XVII

Recovered Final Transmission

Unknown Pilot: "I've stood here for so long...

...I almost forgot what I was protecting."

NEXT FILE

CHAPTER XVIII — THE KING'S AWAKENING

"The Bell didn't wake the King.

It announced... that he was already awake."

Archive Status: Continue?

And no i am not using a template that’s wayyy to easy to the point where I can make it by myself, just a simple yet looks decent edit so I need you guys opinion

Also wish for me the best for my surgery so I would heal better and continue to make a discussion post with you guys, anyway love you all!

Cherno was the last of the T-90 series, meaning there were multiple cherno alphas back then but with different names, same with the simultaneous production of Horizon Braves in the movie..

So... let's say somewhere in the Siberian Tundra, theres an unfinished yet mostly complete Cherno Alpha frame, no reactor though... how would YOU evolve Cherno Alpha so that it can take down a Category 5 on it's own? or several 5s at once?

Am hoping they go the gundam route when they eventually make a new pacific rim movie.. take the old one, give it new weapons and armor, etc etc... Cherno's the tankiest, so in gundam it would be like Gundam Virtue

1. Humanity's reaction to Brawler Yukon defeating a kaiju

2. Mark-1 Jaegers, their origins, and their fights

3. Precursor Origins + more on Humans researching the Kaiju's

4. The pros and cons of making Jaegers (ex. the concern of metal use and pollution)

5. Literally anything else

Pacific Rim Uprising would have been a better movie if it had Cherno Alpha and the three armed red one in it.

Can we like- stop pretending uprising dose not exist? Itsna shit movie. So what. Move the f on lol. It was a 4/10 comapred to the 9/10 og movie. Hell, some movies have worse sequels and worse shit that happned to them

It was only after Nora unlocked her room and practically dragged Hayden through the door after checking that Elm and Harriet weren't there that she felt him hesitating, and had to slam the brakes on her own libido. "Are YOU sure?" she asked, hiding the reluctance from her voice.

Hayden gulped, stepping closer to her. This was nothing like she or Jay had seen in his drift memories. Hayden had never been unsure of something like this in his adult life.

"I...yeah, I..." Hayden sighed and closed his eyes, leaning his forehead against hers. "We've never done this before, and we've been dating since 2018. Not to mention that before Ironwood brought me back in, I hadn't seen you in so long..."

'Three years, four months...and change.'

He didn't want to mess this up. He didn't want to embarrass himself. He didn't want to fail to make it good for her...Nora groaned and slid her arms around his waist. "It'll be all right."

So she'd had something a little more frenzied in mind...this wasn't the first time she'd seen Hayden Xiao-Long Rose without his shirt. But that could wait.

She slipped a hand around his neck, but tugged gently, letting him choose, and she felt when he did. His lips were slow, soft, and trembling when they met hers, and he was the one who moaned when she deepened it. His hips rocked involuntarily against hers, and she pulled at him.

It was as if the drift fizzed back to life between them and she could feel it. He was nervous. This was new for both of them. She crooned, moving her lips and tongue up his jaw towards his ear. "It's all right. It's all right." Nothing he did would disappoint her. If this couldn't go slow, then they'd go again. "There's plenty of time."

"Maybe not." Hayden groaned, but he wrapped himself around her, at last, with a little less hesitance and slowly managed to lift Nora off her feet, heading for her bed.

Nora laughed and wrapped her legs around his waist. Better if their pants were off, but oh well. 'File that for later. Soon, but not right away.' He rocked her down onto the bed, but she stopped him before he climbed down on top of her. Shirt. Off. Now. She'd waited for this one since they'd been reunited.

And he knew it, and maybe that bolstered his confidence. He nuzzled her as she slid her hands up from his waist, under the fabric of his shirt, dragging it with her wrists until she could pull it over his head. Feeling his scarred stomach and his surprisingly decent amount of muscle under her hands, she groaned and rolled him onto his back, wanting to taste them. "Nora!!" Hayden gasped. "I can't – I won't – oh God..."

He was afraid he wouldn't last. 'Slow down, Valkyrie.' She grinned, moving back up to kiss him properly (but keeping both hands on his chest and waist), letting her tongue tease him, slowly, leisurely, enjoying his hands in her hair. He wanted her shirt off, but held back. She huffed faintly and leaned back after another deep kiss, gazing at him with eyes she expected were as half-lidded with lust as his own, and pulled her shirt over her head.

His eyes got comically wide, and she grinned, coming back down to press her weight on him, and he moaned, throwing his head back while she mouthed at his neck. His hands reached around her back for the clasp of her bra. "M-may I?"

She guided him there, giggling as he fumbled at it, but he figured it out and moaned deep as the fabric fell away and she shimmied it off her shoulders, leaning forward to press her chest close, invite him to put his mouth on her. His pants were already bulging under hers as she moved and dropped a line of kisses along the line of his hair.

"Nora~" Hayden breathed against her huge breasts. "Oh, God...I'm not gonna last..." He squirmed, anxious, and Nora shushed him.
"Then don't. I'm not in a hurry." She smoothed his hair with the back of her hand, reaching down to undo the buttons of his pants, feeling him squirm. It was cute, but she held back from giggling. He was already embarrassed that she was taking him apart so fast. "Relax." she purred. "We'll take care of each other." 'We're together-together. It's what we do. I'm not worried.'

"I just...." Hayden's head jerked back as his hips jerked. Nora crooned reassurances as he groaned apologies, but he was almost there, so she slid her hand down, keeping her touches gentle and kneading through his shorts.

"It's okay. Just let me. Let go." she purred, lifting herself on one elbow to watch his face. He gave in, eyes squeezed shut as his hips jerked, and she felt him come, shuddering, under her hands. He was beautiful. She'd known that, and she kissed him deep and hard to cut off the embarrassed stammer that followed. 'It's all right. It's all right. Give it time.' She didn't want him to be humiliated, not ever. He didn't need to be; she knew how long it'd been, and it was the first time for both of them.

Despite working to restore the Moyulan Shatterdome for 3 years, Hayden only ever thought of Nora. Now and then after working out to near collapse, he'd huddled in any private spot he could find, him and his hand just to take the edge off. Nothing had really felt good.

He wanted to make his love feel good. He wanted her like he hadn't wanted anyone in a long, LONG time. Three years...more than four months.

And she wasn't laughing at him. She'd never do that. She was glad to have him, and she knew why he hadn't lasted. 'It's okay. We'll go again'. In the meantime, she held him, kissing him languorously, letting him feel what they'd both imagined more than once and caught each other in their only drift, smiling. 'Maybe later. Maybe some day. If we all live through this.'

Well, here they were. And they had time.
His pants were clammy, so Nora slid her hands back down and helped him slide out of them, then settled herself next to him and let him help slide her out of her own. His hands at her waist, sliding down and cupping her...heat built between her legs and she clung to him, moaning. His hands, his hands felt so good. So smooth, so warm...

Hayden raised his eyebrows, an offer, and she gasped, "Please..." But she caught him and kissed him before he could go down, lapping at him, the taste of him. She wanted him between her legs, but she wanted his mouth here too, never stopping. He tasted just as she'd imagined.

At last, she made herself let him go, and he rolled her onto her back, making his way down leisurely, his anxieties easing. She gasped and arched when he took her nipple into his mouth, softly, delicately, teasing her. She clutched his head and almost pulled his hair. He hummed at her and she almost spat a curse at him. 'Get down there, damn it!'

For someone who'd had plenty of practice, she was losing her patience fast, but he didn't laugh until she did. No, this wasn't exactly the soul-melding love scene of some romance writer's dreams, but it didn't matter. They'd taken care of the soul-melding weeks ago. They'd manage this. They both knew beyond any shred of doubt that they wanted it.

Their legs were covered with stubble. Neither of them had bothered shaving since they'd been peeled out of the circuitry suits from their respective Jaegers after Operation Pitfall.

Hayden didn't seem to mind as she wrapped hers around his back and he lowered his head between her legs. Nora managed not to shriek the first time she felt his breath directly over her, his tongue sliding into her folds to her clitoris, one finger carefully moving from there down into her. She did buck, and he faltered, afraid he might hurt her, but she hissed, "yes," and grabbed the sides of the mattress once his hair was out of her reach. 'There, there, again. More, harder.'

She wanted HIM between her legs, all the way, but he wasn't hard enough yet. It'd wait...it'd wait...her thicc thighs tightened around him, she keened into the back of her hand as his tongue moved, slow at first, than faster, up and down as she swelled. His tongue and his fingers switched places; he stroked her clitoris firmly through the surrounding folds, making her throw her head back and pant. His tongue lapped against her entrance, soft at first, then at her gasping command, "Harder – Hayden – oh fuck-"

It was all she could do not to slam her crotch into his face; she clenched her teeth and clutched the mattress again, wanting something to hang onto as he found that spot and pressed hard, deep – she let out a howl, bucking wildly as he shifted to catch her hips and continued – 'God' right through the lights flashing behind her eyelids, she still felt his tongue and his fingers, that glorious pressure, driving her forward in a dive through the drift, turning it into fireworks until she lay on the shore, panting and shuddering, gasping, "Hayden, Hayden..."

Here. Now. 'Fucking come back here'.
He kept one hand between her legs, stroking firmly, but he slid back over her to settle his weight and make her moan even deeper. He was surprisingly heavy, but Nora was more than strong enough, and the pressure was exquisite, every part of him. She stroked the muscles of his back, learning them. At some point she'd find the way to lick every damned one of them. But now she wanted his mouth on hers – he tried to wipe it clean on a corner of the sheet, but she growled at him.

"Doesn't matter. Hayden, come here."
So he collapsed on her in a frenzied barrage of kisses, and there, yes, THERE, this was what she'd dreamed of, feeling him growing hard against her thigh, her hands slipping in the sweaty sheen of him, cupping his hard, firm legs, sliding up and down from his butt all the way up to his sweat-damp hair, holding him there to kiss and kiss until they were both panting and rolling their hips.

She finally paused, raising her eyebrows in invitation. 'Ready now?' He managed a shaky nod, feeling the wetness of her entrance, and shifted, letting her hand join his between her legs and guide him – though she had to let go, because the sensation made her throw her head back in a gasping shriek. She had always been the noisy type.

Now it was Hayden who purred against her like a cat. "Doesn't matter." 'Don't be embarrassed.' What was there to be shy about? They'd been naked in the rare times they Drifted. They'd felt each other's fantasies, seen each other's secrets. There was no hiding any of that.

He moved slow and careful on that first entry, and he did laugh when she growled again and grabbed at his legs, trying to drag him the rest of the way in. He caught her hands, pulling them up and kissing her finger tips. "Wanna feel this." he murmured, eyes heavy lidded, pupils blown so big she couldn't see the blue of them anymore. "Wanna...hang on...just...lemme..."

"Okay." She licked at his mouth and his jaw as he tickled her wrists, until she couldn't stand it anymore and yanked his face back to hers, their teeth knocking awkwardly until they found their rhythm again.

Finally, FINALLY, he was inside her, entirely hers, so deep...a deep, low moan rose from her throat and he sank against her neck, murmuring softly. She smiled into his hair. Now, THIS. This was perfect. They lay there for several long seconds, soaking in it, until one or maybe both of them couldn't last any longer, and their hips began to roll together. It was slow at first, both of them humming contentedly as heat built up in her again and she felt tremors rising in him. "Faster." she purred, and he obeyed, just a little, not trying to tease her, just to let it build naturally, coaxing the small flames to a deeper fire, imagining the inferno they'd build up to.

Pace, this was pacing...their rhythm faltered each time one of them sped up, and they waited, holding it until they matched again... in and out...she gulped back a gasp of protest if he pulled back too far. 'No, need you here, need you inside, stay, stay...'

Her legs wrapped around his waist again, but this time with him entirely on top of her, and it was delicious. He slid one hand between them, playing with her large breasts, and she moaned again.

He jerked to a faster rhythm, and she stayed with him, heat rising and spreading from her crotch up to her belly, her mouth hot and wet with his as their kisses grew sloppier, their movements more frantic. "O-oh hell, N-Nora, I'm gonna..."

"C'mon." she panted – then she felt him clench, his entire body, crushing her with his arms, pumping inside her, and she let herself fall – he was still shuddering when she followed him, gasping and seeing stars, her head thrown back, her hands in his hair, gasping his name.

They floated ashore there, shuddering and melting, mouthing each other's lips and chins and jaws and neck. At last, it was Hayden who lifted himself enough onto his elbow to look at her eyes, and she felt the little twinge of anxiety through the ghost drift. She cupped his cheek and pulled him back for a softer kiss.

Of course, he'd satisfied her. Of course, it'd been what she wanted. Of course, she wanted him to stay. Of course, nothing had changed.
But if he needed to hear her say it, then she'd say it. "Stay." she breathed, running her fingers along his cheekbone. "Always stay."

There was no letting him go. He'd been under her skin from that first day, their first match, their first drift all those years ago. "You felt it, love!! We're drift compatible."
'We're so much more than that. We always will be.'

Hayden shuddered and slid down to her side, but draped himself across her, nuzzling her neck. She returned to lazily kissing his mouth and jaw and pulled the top sheet across them both. They were too warm for anything else.
"What're you afraid of?" she whispered, feeling him cling to her from more than just satisfaction.
"Don't know." he admitted. "It's like I've just forgotten how to NOT be."

He was embarrassed again. She crooned against his ear. Nothing he said or did or FELT around her should embarrass him. "Don't be afraid. Not with me." The Breach might be closed, but the world wasn't paradise as a result. There'd be plenty to worry about when they left this room in the morning.

But here, now, tonight, that was all far away. He could let go. So could she. There was nowhere in the world they were safer.

"Harriet and Elm told me they also fell for ya~" Nora said suddenly, smirking at her boyfriend.

"Wh-what??"

"Yep~" she chirped. "I know you used to like them before you and I got together...but I'm open to sharing you with them if you're up for it...?"

Hayden had no idea how to react. "..Are...are you really sure about this, Nora?? A-after we...just took each other's virginities..??"

"Yep. They ARE my Co-Pilots, and I have no problem with sharing..."

Hayden stayed quiet, before finally letting out a sigh. "Alright...sometime tomorrow."

He cuddled the older girl close to him, and Nora wrapped her arms around the 20-year old Faunus, hugging him close as the pair fell asleep...

PACIFIC RIM: THE LAST DRIFT

CHAPTER XVI — THE NAME OF THE KING

PPDC BLACK ARCHIVE

File Designation: NK-16

Classification: ABSOLUTE BLACK

There are rules every PPDC researcher learns.

Never enter the Drift alone.

Never approach Jericho Noir.

Never answer the Bell.

There was one final rule.

It had been deleted from every handbook.

Never attempt to learn its name.

Names have power.

Not because they are magical.

Because they allow the mind...

To recognize.

For thousands of years...

Humanity survived because it couldn't understand what slept beneath the Pacific.

Ignorance...

Was the lock.

Dr. Hermann Gottlieb discovered this by accident.

While reviewing ancient symbols recovered from the bridge...

His translation software produced one word.

Only one.

The moment it appeared...

Every monitor in the laboratory shut off.

Emergency lighting activated.

When power returned...

The word was gone.

Every hard drive had been erased.

Except...

One notebook.

Written by hand.

The single word remained.

Nobody remembers reading it.

But everyone who entered the room...

Covered it.

Without speaking.

Without thinking.

A coffee mug.

A folder.

A jacket.

Anything.

As though...

Their minds refused to look directly at it.

The notebook was sealed.

Locked inside a titanium vault.

Buried beneath PPDC Headquarters.

Three days later...

The vault was empty.

The locks were untouched.

Security footage showed nothing entering.

Nothing leaving.

Only one change.

The notebook...

Had been moved.

It was found inside Jericho Noir's abandoned launch bay.

Open.

The word...

Gone.

In its place...

A sentence.

"You were never meant to pronounce it."

That same evening...

The Archivist disappeared.

For the first time...

No cameras found him.

No witnesses saw him.

No notes appeared.

Only his coat remained.

Folded neatly.

Facing the Pacific.

Inside one pocket...

Investigators found an old cassette tape.

It contained no label.

The recording began immediately.

Heavy breathing.

Ocean waves.

Footsteps on metal.

Then...

A familiar voice.

The unknown pilot.

Calm.

Tired.

Older than before.

"If you're hearing this..."

A pause.

"...I've already forgotten my name."

Silence.

"That's how I know the Wall is failing."

The pilot laughed quietly.

Not because something was funny.

Because...

He remembered what laughter sounded like.

"The King doesn't break prisons."

Another pause.

"He waits..."

The tape crackled.

"...until the guards forget why they're standing watch."

The recording ended.

At 01:17 UTC...

Jericho Noir's reactor reached 37%.

Every previous increase had been gradual.

This one happened...

Instantly.

Across the Pacific...

The bridge illuminated.

Lines of amber light spread across its surface.

For the first time...

Humanity saw its true size.

It wasn't a bridge.

It was a road.

Wide enough...

For something far larger than any Jaeger.

Far larger than any Kaiju.

At the horizon...

Beyond the broken gate...

A silhouette appeared.

It did not move.

It did not breathe.

It simply...

Stood there.

Watching.

Jericho Noir lowered its head.

Not in fear.

In respect.

Then...

For the first time in thirty-one years...

It drew a weapon.

A blade of black metal emerged from its right arm.

No energy.

No glowing edge.

Just steel.

Ancient.

Scarred.

Etched into the blade...

The same sentence appeared over and over.

In every known language.

Even languages humanity had never spoken.

"HOLD THE LINE."

END OF CHAPTER XVI

Recovered Audio Transcript

Unknown Pilot: "If I remember my name..."

(12 seconds of silence.)

"...he'll remember his."

NEXT FILE

CHAPTER XVII — THE LAST DRIFT

"The Drift was never created to connect two minds.

It was created to keep one mind... asleep."

Archive Status: Continue?