Another Mark 3

*CHAPTER FOUR*

Walking down some stairsto head to the chamber where Raleigh's Jaeger was, he decided to startconversation. "So how do you know me?" he questioned.  

"Well, I don't know if you would remember me. You were usually out andwith your brother and I was always training or with Marshal. When you and yourbrother became rangers I was training and waiting for a co-pilot. I was top ofmy class for I was in the military before coming here and I was raised byMarshal. Anyway, I know you from being a rookie when you became a ranger." Iexplained. Raleigh nodded and I was surprised he didn't interrupt me during myexplanation. 

"Sodid you ever become a ranger?" 

"Yeah, but it wasn't for long. That why I'm the back up." 

"WhatJaeger did you control?" 

"The very last Mark 3, Echo Hound. He was a beauty. I controlled himwith a man by the name of Jinx Enigma. He did end up a jinx cause hedisappeared after our first fight. Marshal then made me fight with my sisterhowever it ended exactly like yours." I took a deep breath and could help buttry to hold everything in. Yeah, I was stubborn and gave off a bad vibe but Ihad emotions. I was especially emotional when Josie was talked about ormentioned. 

"Whatexactly happened to your sis-" 

"Here we are." I said, quiet loudly. I walked to the edge of the pathand gestured to my left as Raleigh fixed his bags. Once he saw his Jaeger hisface lit up. His mouth was slightly open and I couldn't help but smile as hesighed and walked a little closer to his Jaeger. "Oh, my god." He whispered. He got to the bars and clutched his handsaround them. "Look at her." He whispered again. I came up to his side as hecalled out the name. "Gipsy Danger."

Gipsy was Raleigh's original Jaeger and Tendo said he had a part in naming the beautiful machine. "God, its so beautiful. She looks like new." 

"Better than new. She has a double-core nuclear reactor...She's one of a kind now, although she already was." 

"I was about to say that." He smiled at me. 

"Well, I must be able to read minds." I laughed. 

"How do you like your ride, Becket boy?" I heard Tendo yell from the hallway as tools and sparks flew around him. Raleigh turned to see his old friend. "Solid iron hull, no alloys. Forty engine blocks per muscle strand. Hyper-torque driver for every limb and a new fluid synapse system." Tendo explained and used some jazz hands at the end. "Come here." Raleigh then dropped all his bags and pulled Tendo into a harm hug. 

"Ah, Tendo. It's good to see you, buddy." 

"It's good to see you too, brother. It's just like old times." Tendo chuckled. I then walked up as the boys broke and Tendo pulled me into a hug too. "Kristen." 

"Hey, Tendo." I laughed. Tendo was one of my closest friends after I was adopted by Pentecost. I couldn't imagine life being fun without him.  

"You helping Becket around here?" 

"Yeah." Tendo then looked to Raleigh, pointing a finger at me. 

"Be careful with her. Your lucky she hasn't killed you yet. You betray her trust and your burned for life." Tendo warned. Raleigh smiled at me and I had to keep my eyes on Tendo. What the hell is happening to me. 

"I'll be careful."

After chilling with Tendo for a while it was time to get Raleigh to his room. Once we got there he placed his bag on the table and started to unpack. 

"So, what's your story?" 

"What do you mean, what's my story? I already told you." 

"Telling me about how you know me, showing has-beens like me around. That can't be it." 

"It pretty much is, Mr Becket." 

"No, please. Call me Raleigh." 

"Ok, Raleigh. There's not much left to tell." 

"Well, tell me about tomorrow then." 

"Mako and I have been working really hard on trying to find the best matches for both of us." 

"Miss," he strangely asked. 

"Kristen?" I replied unsure if that was what he wanted. 

"Kirsten. What I don't understand is why we aren't going against each other?" 

"Although I am a pilot, I have only been in the field twice." 

"That's still being a pilot." 

"Yeah, I guess. But there's risks with you." 

"What do you mean, risks?"

"Well, Mako and I think you are unpredictable. You have a habit of deviating from standard combat techniques. You take risks that endanger yourself and your crew. However deviating is also a good thing when stuck in a bad situation, but its not always good to do. Mako doesn't really believe all of that, but I believe I should be doing this mission with you, not these other candidates." I finished. 

"Wow. Thank you for your honesty. You might be right. I'm also glad someone understands the decisions a good pilot has to make." 

"Yeah, like decisions you have to live with." I said looking down. 

"And the consequences." He looked down to a pile of photo's he had in hand. He switched a photo of him and his brother to Gipsy. 

"That's what I'm trying to do." We both said at the same time. Raleigh looked at me, deep in my eyes. I had to look away for the stare was intense and my heart was acting up. I heard him take a step forward and we were a few inches apart. "I don't know why, but I feel like we are going to be close friends." Raleigh said. I looked up to him and saw his dull blue eyes. He really did believe that and he wasn't giving off a creepy vibe either. 

"So do I." After that I stepped out and went directly across from his room into mine. Mako and I had a room that was connected but she wasn't there right now and was probably off looking at Jaegers or something random. Deciding to get changed I pulled off my black shirt to reveal my strapless, black bra. Turning around to quickly shut the door, Raleigh came into view. He was shirtless. He was carrying a towel in his hands and was wiping his face. As he did so I noticed all the scars on his body. They where similar to mine. He had claw like marks down his left arm and across his torso on the left side. I however had patches of unhealed burns on my right side and middle of my torso and a massive electrical scar down my right arm. Raleigh then looked up and noticed I was looking and took a glace at me. 

"You have scars to?" he whispered. Before he was able to ask anything more I closed my door and peeped though my peep hole. I watched as he walked up, a concerned look on his face as he slowly closed his door. Turing around and walking to my bed I fell on it. 

Sorry this chapter kinda sucks

-Georgia