Pacific Rim: Legacy

Chapter 8 - Ezra

Ezra paced restlessly back and forth in the hangar bay, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as he tried to keep his nerves in check. He couldn't stop fidgeting—his mom was out there, and they hadn't heard anything in what felt like hours. The battle in Sydney had been bad, real bad, and the last update he'd heard was about the rogue Jaeger wreaking havoc on the city.

His dad, Raleigh, stood a few feet away, leaning against a railing with his arms crossed, his eyes glued to the bay doors. He looked calm, but Ezra knew his dad was just as worried. He's good at hiding it, though, Ezra thought, glancing over at him. I'm not.

Ezra ran a hand through his hair, letting out a long, frustrated breath. "She's taking forever," he muttered under his breath, though it was more for himself than anyone else.

"She'll be fine," Raleigh said quietly, though his voice had an edge of tension. His eyes never left the doors. "Your mom's tough."

Ezra nodded, though the knot in his stomach didn't loosen. He wanted to believe his dad, but the memory of Gypsy Avenger getting slammed into buildings, missile fire raining down—he couldn't shake it. Every time he closed his eyes, he pictured his mom at the controls, taking those hits. She has to be okay.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the huge bay doors began to rumble open. The sound echoed through the cavernous space, and Ezra's heart jumped into his throat. He stopped pacing, standing rigid as Gypsy Avenger slowly appeared, its massive form lumbering into the hangar. The Jaeger was battle-worn, its armor scraped and scorched, but it was still standing.

The Conn-Pod hissed open, and Ezra froze, his breath catching in his throat. He could barely see through the steam rising from the Jaeger, but then he saw her—his mom, climbing down from the platform.

"Mom!" Ezra's voice came out sharper than he intended, his feet moving before he could think. He rushed toward her, weaving around techs and crew members, his heart pounding in his ears. She's okay. She's okay.

Raleigh was right beside him, and as soon as they reached her, Raleigh's hands were on Analia's shoulders, his face tight with concern. "Ana," he said, his voice low, his eyes searching hers. "Are you okay?"

Ezra hovered just beside them, his eyes darting over his mom, checking for any signs of injury. She looked tired—exhausted, really—but she smiled at them both.

"I'm fine," she said, her voice steady but worn. "A little banged up, but I'm okay."

Ezra let out a shaky breath, relief washing over him, though he couldn't help but notice the way she winced slightly. "You're sure?" he asked, his voice cracking a little. He hadn't realized how tightly wound he'd been until this moment.

Analia nodded, resting a hand on his arm. "I promise," she said gently, her eyes meeting his. "I'm here, aren't I?"

That was all Ezra needed. He exhaled deeply, feeling the weight lift off his chest. She's okay. She's really okay. He shot a glance at his dad, who gave him a small nod, his relief just as evident.

But then Ezra noticed Jake, standing off to the side, looking like he'd just been through his own personal war. His face was pale, and his eyes were distant, locked on the floor as if he couldn't quite bring himself to look at anyone. There was something broken in his expression, a heaviness that Ezra hadn't seen in him before.

Ezra's brow furrowed, and he glanced at his mom, who was watching Jake too, her lips pressed into a thin line. It clicked. Mako. He'd heard what happened to her helicopter, and he'd seen Jake's face the second it went down. Now, Jake was standing there like a ghost, completely torn up inside.