[IC] The Jaeger Program (Always Open)

[Shadowcatcher]

Iris Dvorak was talking to her drift partner Leonardo about the repairs and additions being made to their Jaeger Iron Hunter, when her mentor Mako Mori walked over to her.

"Excuse me for interrupting you two but Iris, you have work to do." she said simply. Iris held in her sigh and turned to speak to her. "Is it another recruit? Everyone you showed me so far has not been selected for the program. Are you telling me there's someone worth my time today?" she asked, pulling her dark brown hair up into a ponytail.

"Every recruit i've sent you has met the requirements. It is you who refuses to give them a chance. Come." she said turning on her heels and walking away.

"Alright talk soon Leo." she said patting him on the back. "Stop by the gym to have a look when you get a chance." With that she went to follow her mentor. Once she caught up, she asked "How many recruits do you have?"

"That is an unknown. We have some coming from other Jaeger bases and some fresh off the streets. As of now you have four, but there is only one i see potential in. Focus on him." she handed Iris a folder which she took and looked it over. "Just one huh? Fresh or transferred?"

"Fresh. He seems eager though. I spoke to him breifly. He is waiting for in the gym with the others." she stopped walking then and turned to look at Iris. "This base needs more Jaeger pilots. If he looks good, dont turn him away because he's not as good as you. Even you had to start some where."

"I understand." she said and bowed before walking away, deeming the conversation over.

She made her way to the gym to see the four men quietly talking amongst themselves. She stood in front of them and waited until they were done talking before she spoke.

"Which of you is Jack Conway?"

[Avanhelsing]

This was Jack's first time out of the USA so of course he got lost when he was let loose in Hong Kong. So after a few hours of searching he eventually found the Shatterdome or the way to get there. He eventually got there and looked around amazed. It was truly amazing in here. Sure he should have been earlier but he figured that being fashionably late was okay.

After about twenty minutes of waiting.Some woman walked in. "Uhh I am Jack Conway." He said raising his hand. "Uhh who's asking?" He looked at the woman. He was ready to go.

[Shadowcatcher]

Iris tilted her head to the side and looked him over before opening her folder. She glanced at the description there then looked back at him. "Yeah, we might need to start implementing pictures for the recruits." she said absently before waving the other three to stand away. She silently placed her folder down and kicked off her shoes. Walking over to Jack, she raised up his arm and looked at it, then she walked in a circle around him. Very muscular he was, but not like a body-builder. Just like he was naturally fit. She finished her tour of him, all the while frowning as she came to a stop in front of him.

"Jack, i need you to answer a few questions for me and then we'll get started. One. Why do you want to be a Jaeger pilot, and do you think you have what it takes? Two, i can see your physically strong but what about mentally? When you pilot a Jaeger, it is about your mind and body becoming one. Your mind must be as strong as your body or you cannot expect to last long in a fight. Kaiju are smart. They learn from us and change based on the way they see us move. We have to be the same way. Do you think your capable of that?" she asked him, taking a step back. She found herself having to raise her head awkwardly when she stood too close.

"Also, tell me a ball park estimate on what you usually eat over the course of a day?"

[Avanhelsing]

Jack smirked as she sized him up. He could tell when someone was looking him up and down. "Like what you see, beautiful?" He asked his Southern drawl coming out like syrup. He watched her take off her shoes so he pulled his boots off and threw them to the side. He looked at the lady as she walked.

"I want to fight back. I lost a good deal to the Kaiju. I do have what it takes. I am tough and ready to learn anything. I know I just look like some dumb soldier but honestly I am rather intelligent and know my way around a fight." He said looking at the woman, He did not like talking about what happened honestly. "I really do not eat a lot. Just what I think I need. A sandwich is usually my main meal. So are you gonna attack me or something? Cause that's the vibe I am getting from you." He said watching her but still on edge.

[Shadowcatcher]

Iris raised her brow when he called her beautiful, not used to hearing such a word be associated with her. She smiled slightly before she could catch herself. There went her badass act. It was clear he was older than her so she had tried to seem more mature than she was but as her goofy smile slipped past, she gave up the act. "Its Iris, though if you insist on calling me beautiful, i wont stop you. And i do like what i see. Lord knows we dont need just muscles, we need a pilot. A good one, so lets see if you have what it takes. Its good that you have a drive, but in the drift you must make sure you do not let your drive turn into anger. Thats what makes you vulnerable. "

"Now normally i would go hand to hand with a recruit..." She went to grab two katana like wooden sticks and handed him one. "I would definatly not attack you outright, honestly because i think you could take me. Instead im going to have a little dance with you. Try to predict what im going to do. Dont over think it. Watch my body, and remember to defend yourself because you may not always be able to dodge."

She took some steps away then gripped her stick tightly. She spun around once, bringing it behind her and switching to her dominant left hand. She stopped with her feet apart and her left arm across her body in a protective way.

"Get ready."

[Avanhelsing]

He caught the smile and matched with his own. "Glad you like it." He said catching the stick He was not use to fighting with one of these things but he was a quick learner. He looked at her and smiled slightly."My daddy taught me never to attack a woman first. Your move, pretty lady." He said trying to get her off guard. He stood in a similar stance to her ready to go. "Ladies first." He said looking over her.

[Shadowcatcher]

With little hesitation, Iris took a few steps closer, not tapering her speed. She started with a basic move, extending her wepon out as if it were an extension of herself. She used as much force as she could, knowing he could handle it. She was showing him how to use his wepon as if it were his own body part, extended. She simply let it hit his katana then she loosed her grip so it lowered, hanging next to her leg. She was a dancer, it was how she fought. This meant all her movements would be fluid and connected. Always transitioning into the next, this was also her weakness. To a smart fighter, she would be predictable and to others, their toughest opponent.

She flicked her wrist and aimed at the side of his knee. This was deliberate because she gave him a choice: protect his leg and lose an opening, or take the shot to her exposed chest and risk losing his stability. His choice would tell her alot about what kind of fighter he really was.

[Dmessenger]

Leo nodded and went back to repairing the part of the Jaeger he was working on. After Leo was finished working on it he went back to his room and cleaned up and got changed in preparation to look at the new recruits. Leo then grabbed his stuff and headed toward the gym. when he arrived at the gym he saw that Iris was already testing out one of the recruits combat abilities. Leo then just sat down at the entrance to watch how the recruit did.

[Avanhelsing]

Jack was nothing if not defensive. Sure she was open on the chest area but there was no way he was going to take the hit to his knee and have to deal with the effects of it. His moves were not as fluid as hers but they got the job done. He was a slightly dull blade in bad need of refining. Hopefully it would not look too bad. He quickly blocked the attack to his knee by twisting his sword downward quickly. Once he had blocked it he got back into position. He figured she would have learned a bit from that attack. He then flicked his wrist and aimed it at her hip. It was a easy to block but not great to counter attack.

[Shadowcatcher]

As he aimed a blow to her hip, Iris simply reached out and caught it with her right hand. She held it firmly even as it stung her palm, letting him pause so she could speak. She glanced at her drift partner who had just entered the room. It was only a moment later that Miss Mori and Marshall Beckett stepped in to observe as well. Ignoring them and returning her attention to Jack, she spoke.

"Good choice. Always think about defense over attacking. The goal in a Kaiju fight is not simply to win, but live to fight another day. As for your rebound, try to be more surprising. Assume you will catch your opponent off gaurd and move fast. Also, dont be afraid to use your strength. Use your assets well and never let your opponent feel in control." She let his katana go then and stepped back.

"Again." She got into position and this time spun and brought her arms closer together. Moving downwards, aiming for his shoulder, she was giving him another chance to defend then attack.

[Avanhelsing]

He had known not to attack but to react. Course now they were drawing a crowd and that did not really help his focus all that much. Sure he would have the whole world on his back if he passed this test. Not great for the old focus or confidence. He got ready for her next attack. He blocked it with a quick twist of his sword but then he put his strength behind it. To try and push her back and stagger her. She was all about speed while he was about strength using his gifts. He would push her back with a push of his sword and while she was going back he would try and swing his sword into shoulder.

[Shadowcatcher]

Iris was impressed with his attempt to stagger her, and it even worked. He strength caused her to lean back until she was only on one leg. She thought he might stop there but didnt and as she felt herself losing balance on her other leg, she moved her katana and gently placed it behind his head, using him as a base of support. Either she would fall with him or regain her balance using him for leverage.

[Avanhelsing]

They were at a stalemate. He figured he should press his advantage and leaned forward so that it would mess with her balance and they fell together since they had to with her trying to use him as leverage. Now his strength had the lead. So they were on the ground with her katana still behind his head and he on her stomach. Some might see this as odd but he was better than that. "I think we have reached a stalemante." He said looking down at her. "Want to call this or keep going?"

[Shadowcatcher]

Iris was not at all shaken by their position. She knew his intentions were good so she nodded and moved her wepon. "Your the first one other than Leo, my drift partner, to knock me off both feet. I will say im impressed." she moved him off her and stood, looking at Mako.

"I accept him. I'm giving the OK for him to do simulation." she said bowing to her mentor.

"Very good. I'm going to recieve another right now. I got word a candidate has arrived." With that she left the room. Marshall Beckett walked up to the two of them and gave them each some water. "From what i saw, your skills are pretty solid. " he said to Jack. "Whats your name, son?" he asked.

[Avanhelsing]

Jack got off her and felt rather pleased with himself. He had taken down a big tough Jaeger pilot. Not with ease. If he said with ease that would be a lie. He got up and oddly was covered insweat from it. Whatever the reason he quickly lost his nerve. It was not every day a living legend told you you had solid skills. "Uhh thank you sir! Jack Conway. United States Army, sir." he said suddenly standing at attention. He was nervous.

[PhoenixEye9]

Milo Cash walked into the Shatterdome, he did some minor training of hand to hand before ever wanting to be a Jaeger pilot, being from Britain it didn't seem needed but things escalate daily and it never hurts to be prepared. The beanie being the one thing he never left even though he's lost about everything once, and now losing most of his life to the Kaijus. One of the other things he almost never left was his trusty headphones for when he needed the music, being a great focus especially during a fight.

He was ready for a new war now, ready to finally kill the S.O.B's that ruined his life back home.

[Shadowcatcher]

Beckett smiled and patted the shoulder of Jack. "At ease, soldier. You put your life on the line once for your country, and now again for the world? We're lucky to have someone like you show up here. Though dont think of this as an army, but more as a family working together to protect their home." he gave one more smile then went to stand by Leo, who had just been watching during this time.

Iris walked over to him, stretching first, and she was a little sweaty as well. Though she wouldn't ever admit it, she wad happy Jack didnt accidentally snap her in two. "I have one more piece of advice for you. Eat more. The physical strain it takes to pilot a Jaeger is no joke. You'll need the energy." she said it as though she were sure he would be pilot of a Jaeger sooner than he thought.

"If you want to stick around and watch the match, stand over there. If you dont, too bad cuz you cant leave until I show you your room, in which case you still need to stand over there." she pointed to the side and walked to the center of the room to wait for the other candidate.

---

Mako went to greet the new candidate. "Hello Mister, Cash." she said holding out her hand to shake his. "I am Mako, your here as a Jaeger pilot candidate correct? Follow me please." She turned and walked away, gesturing for him to follow her. As they made their way back to the training room, Mako walked to Iris, handing her Milo Cash's folder. She scanned it and called him over. "Well, let us waste no time Milo, is it? Shoes off and step over here please." she said closing the folder and tossing it aside. She was back to her badass routine. This one was older than her as well so she had to make sure he knew she was not here to play games.

[PhoenixEye9]

"Alright, fight night?" he asked lackadaisically as he took off his shoes. He felt ready enough, putting in an earbud starting up his music. Milo's eyes seeming half open as he loosened his body, not stretching but just mentally imagining a looser body it doesn't do much, but at least if you can trick the mind you trick the body. "Before I'm forced to hit you I must ask what is your name?"

[Avanhelsing]

Jack was going to have to work on the whole being with a group thing. He was not great at it honestly. He nodded to the Beckett and turned to smile at Iris. "I can wait as long as you need me to. "Wiat I thought this was training. I am not piloting yet right?" He asked sounding oddly woried. yes there was a way to get to the soldier. it just took a lot of work.

'
He was sort of ready to see if the next person would do alright in the test. "Maybe we could do that again whenever.? I need as much help as I can get." he asked meaning it.

[Shadowcatcher]

She looked at Jack giving him a reassuring smile. "You will get as much time as you need, not to worry." With that, she focused back on Milo.

Isint he just charming... she thought to herself as she walked up to him. She raised his arm and looked at it. He was skinny with nice tone...likely agile. She would see soon enough. She walked behind him and patted his shoulders. "Strong, not slouched. Stand with confidence. A first impression can decide wether a fight will go down or not. Even if you are not, appear fearless, strong, and like a fixed point. And take out the earbuds. Remove the hat and jacket. Put them to the side."

She moved from behind him and turned to face him. "Normally i'm the one asking questions, since you caught me in a good mood...my name is Iris Dvorak. Now. Tell me why you want to be a Jaeger pilot, convince me with words that you have what it takes." she paused and noted his skinny appearance. "And...what do you eat over the course of a day? Give me an estimate." she stopped speakong and waited.