Pacific Rim: New Horizons

The Boss

Chapter 7

SOMEWHERE NEAR THE CASCADE RANGE

S-675 entered the Cascade Range, a vast wilderness of towering mountains, dense forests, and hidden valleys. The kaiju moved with a sense of purpose, driven by his orders from the mysterious figure known only as 'the boss'.

He was not alone in the mountains; the wilderness was teeming with life, and not all of it was friendly. S-675 had to be careful not to attract the attention of any human or animal that might be lurking nearby. He was a Category 2 kaiju, not the biggest or strongest, but still a formidable creature. He moved with a grace that belied his size, slipping between the trees and boulders like a ghost.

As he approached the foothills of the mountain, S-675 could sense that he was getting closer to his destination. He could feel a strange energy in the air, an almost electric buzz that made his skin tingle. The kaiju knew that this was the place where he would find the gateway to 'the boss's base, 'The Hallway'.

He stopped in front of a massive boulder, a looming monolith that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. To a normal person, it would have been an ordinary boulder, but S-675 knew that it was more than meets the eye - it was the entrance to the secret lair of his mysterious boss.

With a sense of anticipation mixed with fear, S-675 knocked at the boulder. A hoarse voice answered from within, "Identify yourself."

"It is me, S-675, returning from the mission," the kaiju replied, his voice low and gravelly.

The boulder rumbled, and a hidden doorway opened, revealing a dark, twisting passage that led deep into the mountainside. S-675 stepped inside, feeling a rush of excitement and dread as the stone door slammed shut behind him. He knew that he was entering a world of secrets, a place where the rules were different and danger lurked around every corner.

As he made his way through the labyrinthine tunnels, S-675 could feel the weight of his mission pressing down on him. He had been sent to gather intelligence on a potential threat to his boss's power, and the stakes were high. If he failed, he knew that there would be consequences.

Finally, after what seemed like hours of walking, S-675 arrived at the heart of 'The Hallway'. The room was vast, with walls made of shimmering purple crystal that glowed with an otherworldly light. At the centre of the room floated a mysterious orb, a pulsing mass of energy that seemed to watch him with an unblinking eye.

This was his 'boss', the one who was feared the most. Not even a single kaiju knew how he had overthrown their Queen with his purple lightning. S-675 felt a chill run down his spine as he realized that he was in the presence of something far beyond his understanding.

"So, did you bring S-675?" questioned 'the boss', his voice echoing through the chamber.

"My Lord, I have returned as ordered," S-675 said, trying to keep his voice steady. He could feel the weight of the orb's gaze upon him, probing his thoughts and emotions.

"And what have you bought?" the orb asked, its voice cold and alien.

"The attack kaiju A-57 that was sent to intercept the functions of shatter dome in Seattle has proved to be unsuccessful. It was taken down by one of the rookies scouting at the south of Seattle shatterdome." S-675 reported promptly the way his boss liked.

"Who is the Jaeger?"  Boss's tone was harsh. This made him genuinely scared.

"I-I-I don't know my lord."

" "The description?"

 "S-S-she had a blue visor and a black-grey complexion. She looked like a Vanguard." S-675 answered without any delay. "She took him down single-handed"

Hearing the description boss started to chuckle. "Looks like she is on the move." The boss said in an ominous tone. S-675 was genuinely confused  " What do you think Gamma? Time to show her where she belongs to."

"Yes, My Lord." S-675 jumped at hearing a British accent from the corner of the room. It was 'his' voice. "My Lord you ought to know that there was someone else with her" S-675 injected risking his life. The boss stopped laughing and asked, "Who was it?"

"He was Eden Assassin. Son of Ragnarök and Abyss. I think the Jaeger and Eden have a chemistry going on between them."

As S-675 finished speaking, there was a tense silence in the room. The only sound that could be heard was the faint hum of the purple orb at the centre of the room.

Finally, the boss spoke, his voice low and dangerous. "And how did you come across this information?"

S-675 hesitated, feeling a cold sweat breaking out on his scaly skin. He knew his boss had a reputation for being ruthless and unforgiving.

"I-I-I saw it my lord" he stammered, hoping his explanation would be enough to satisfy the boss.

The voice from the corner of the room growled.  " Let me kill him," he said with venom in his voice.

"Calm down, Gamma" Boss said " You will have your time"

There was another moment of silence before the purple orb spoke again emitting an ominous aura, making the room feel suffocating. S-675 could feel the tension rising as his 'boss' seemed to be deep in thought. "Very well, S-675. But remember, if you are lying to me, there will be consequences."

"You are dismissed, S-675," the voice of the orb boomed. S-675 breathed a sigh of relief as he backed out of the room, trying not to show any outward signs of his fear. He knew that the boss's words were not an idle threat.

As he made his way back through the labyrinthine corridors of The Hallway, S-675 couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of his stomach. What if he had made a mistake? What if he had accused the wrong Jaeger? What if the boss decided to punish him for bringing him incomplete or inaccurate information?

All these thoughts raced through his mind as he emerged from the base and back into the open air. He looked up at the sky, trying to calm himself down. But even the familiar sight of the stars above couldn't shake the feeling that he was in grave danger.

He knew that he had to be more careful in the future. The boss's reach was long, and his wrath was legendary. S-675 couldn't afford to make any more mistakes, not if he wanted to survive in this dangerous world set by his boss.