[IC] The Jaeger Program (Always Open)

[CallaLily180]

I was being transferred back to Hong Kong! As I stepped into the airport check-in all of my old friends from the team flashed through my head. I was so excited! My Jeager was unfortunately being shipped more privately but they said they would polish it. As I board my flight part of me thinks of the friends I was leaving, who knew though, maybe this was all for the better.

Molly is humming as she sets up her old side of the room, like before it is neat and functional. While she put away her clothes she found an old note left to herself one day. Maybe it was some private paper she had stuffed into her dress, she used to do that a lot. The note read;

Has anyone found this thing? I bet it will be covered in dust by the time you do, no one was allowed to touch my dresser. So, today I'm leaving and I guess this is my last words before I go. Oh never mind, I have nothing. I know I'll be to emotional to say goodbye so here it is. GOODBYE my friends.

Molly laughed and rolled her eyes, she threw the note away and carried on with her business until Iris rushed in, she jumped and turned to her old friend with a small smile. "Iris?" She hugged her awkwardly and sat down on her bed.

[Shadowcatcher]

Iris burst into her room and nearly tackled her friend over. "Mollyyyy!" she said a bit too excited. She crossed the room to her own side and smiled, a bit embarrassed.

"My god. Its been a year but it feels like a lifetime. How was Alaska? Is your Jaeger still alright? Ugh theres so much i need to tell you and so little time! Um...important stuff. There are two new Rangers here. Noobs but their off to good starts. Ummmm one of them is Jack Conway, he's my co-pilot. 'Cause Leonardo...he um, he died yesterday. I..." she stopped talking before she started crying. "I'm so happy your back Molly. You dunno how much i missed you." she was using her Russian accent still, not really putting effort in to hide it. She looked at her friend then the clock on the wall. She had about 10 minutes until she needed to go again.

[CallaLily180]

Molly laughed a little at her friend's excitement, she wasn't that important really. As she listened to everything Iris said her face registered in many different emotions that she wouldn't hide with Iris around.

Molly gulped and nodded before she started to talk in a serene voice. "Alaska was fine, Canada held up nicely. It got a few icicles here and there that are still melting and of course some battle damage but other then that it put up a good fight. Those noobs are going to have to pick up the pace with me around, I'm not giving them flowers," she paused and smiled which turned into a steady grimace. "I'm sorry to hear that...Leonardo died...he was a good friend and a great teammate. I also missed you."

[Shadowcatcher]

Iris remembered how much she loved the sound of her friends voice as she listened to her talk.

"Yeah, i haven't given these guys any let up since they've got here. Its been go go go, right from when they first walked in. Thanks about Leo...it might take some time but, i'll get through it. In the mean time, everyone here has to put up with my shit a little more often than usual." she smiled and crossed her legs under her. She remembered telling the guys that she was the only hot girl left but, she had to take that back now. Princess Molly had returned.

[CallaLily180]

Molly thought things over and eventually ended up smiling brightly as she thought of what to say. It was always hard to talk around Iris for her because she always wanted to look and act cool around her friend while in the meantime she was tripping on fences in her Jaeger.

Finally she got up from her seat on the bed and started to search through her bags, finally she found what she was looking for. It was a book full of mementos ranging from animal furs to gold to shrapnel. She handed it to Iris and smiled. "Here, I collected all of that stuff for you, it should say what they are in the description."

She went back over to her bed and hummed a smooth lullaby as she looked at the book from afar.

[Shadowcatcher]

Iris took the book opening it up. "Woah. This stuff is sick." she said, running her fingers over the metals and furs. She had never been to America before and all this stuff seemed oddly exotic. Looking up at Molly she looked apologetic. "I didnt know you were going to be back so soon, i would have gotten you something."

She looked back down and kept looking through the pages of the book. She scratched her arm absently as she did for a moment then she glanced at the clock and sighed, standing up.

"I gotta go to the training room. Wanna come with or you gonna chill here?"

[CallaLily180]

Molly nodded and got up, she straightened up the comforter and cleared her throat. "I know, it was really strange over there. Not unlike Canada but not as lush, I guess in some places it is horribly frozen or dry. I mean, erratic weather is fine but imagine living somewhere where in the summer it's one hundred and five degrees." Molly shook her head and walked over to Iris, she pulled her friend up and pointed towards the door.

"Let's go Iris, I want to see what we can break this time." Molly laughed as she opened the door and rushed down the hall, she hoped Canada was ready for her.

[Shadowcatcher]

Iris followed after Molly and turned the corner, running into Marshall Becket.

"Man Becket, cant bear to be away from me i see?" she joked as they peeled away from each other.

"Whats up with your voice?" he asked referring to her accent.

"This is my normal voice." she said shaking her head. "Anyway, what do you want?" she asked.

"Our old friend Jesus is here. Just got stationed in Hong Kong. Apparently we're growing more and more famous." he said. Iris thought about that for a moment then it clicked. Vladimir Tepes. A monster veteran Ranger like Molly. The two of them have been serving nearly 15 years between them. Iris thought she was a badass with three.

Nearly four...but who was she kidding? Iris was DEFINATELY badass.

"I dont think thats it." she said about Hong Kong being more popular. "Kaiju are popping up around here more frequently. Makes since to station more Rangers here. Where's he at?"

"Ground entrance. His Jaeger just got here too. You seen that paint job?"

"No, i haven't. Why?"

"I'll let it be a surprise. Get him and show him around." Raleigh said.

"I gotta be somewhere like...now." she said, not wanting to get stuck baby sitting.

"Take him with." he said patting her shoulder and going to Molly. "Nice seeing you around again. Canada just got here too." he added before walking off.

With a shake of her head she walked with Molly to the entrance. "Becket is lucky i like him." she mumbled. Sure he was like, way older than her, but that was love for ya.

[C W St J Nobbs]

Vladimir was happy to see that nothing happened to WAR PIG during transit. He leaned against the cool armor plating and closed his eyes, happy to be reunited with his baby. It had been a long flight to Hong Kong, and he never liked being separated from WAR PIG for too long. Sometimes, he liked to sneak down to the loading bays at night just to be with it. To him, it was the most natural thing in the world, but the head shrinkers had a big, fancy phrase for it that ended in 'disorder'. Something about not having a second person for a neural handshake led him to forming a bond with the massive machine. It was a relatively rare condition, but he let them talk. He knew that no one else would quite understand how he felt about the Jaeger.

He didn't think that it was possible to go through that much shit together and not feel something. His fellow Rangers liked their co-pilots well enough, and the Jaeger was the closest thing that he would have to a co-pilot. It was natural. He had the chance to enter a program to get matched with another Ranger once, but he pulled out and apologized to WAR PIG later that night.

He put his hand in one of the deep grooves that was left from a particularly grueling battle with a Kaiju that had attacked Sydney several years ago. He had even had it repainted after that, choosing flashy colors because WAR PIG wasn't just any Jaeger and Vladimir saw no reason to keep acting like it was. He had gotten several hundred weird looks when the machine was uncovered after the makeover was complete, but Vladimir could sense the jealousy that motivated them.

“Did you miss me?” he asked the gigantic machine, “Because I missed you. Yes I did. Whose a good Jaeger? Yeah, you are.” He ran his hand up and down the huge scar in the armor, like he was petting a dog. He didn't notice half of the stares he was receiving and he didn't care about the half he did notice.

[Shadowcatcher]

Iris went to the entrance and looked around for Vladimir. Seeing him nowhere in sight she groaned and walked to the shatterdome where the Jaegers were held. "How the hell did i get tasked with looking after a grown ass man?" Iris mumbled to herself. It was but a moment later she saw Vladimir from a distance. Then she looked up as she walked closer.

No way he repainted WAR PIG like that... she thought, looking at it with a smile. Her eyes went back to her old pal when she heard him talking to it. It brought back some funny memories. It was a little off, that connection he had with his Jaeger, but unlike alot of others, she didnt judge him.

"Ay, whats a girl gotta do around here to be treated like that, huh Vlad? You dont see your old pal for two years and still you make her wait until you have a date with a Jaeger you saw give or take a 16 hour flight ago?" she walked up to him, her arms spread to give him a hug.

"How you been man?" she asked him.

[C W St J Nobbs]

“He's very sensitive,” he said, still cooing to the Jaeger for a few seconds longer before turning around and hugging his friend.

“Damn, you got way taller. I remember when you were going through recruitment. Now you have your own Jaeger and everything. I...I heard what happened to Leo when I landed. I'm sorry,” and he squeezed her a bit tighter.

He certainly didn't understand how it would feel to lose a co pilot, but he did understand losing friends. This Ranger thing was second nature to him now, and he lost plenty of fellow pilots, but Iris was young. Losing friends never got any easier, but coming back from it did. He had crying in the shower down to a science. It was a skill that he was sorry to know, and he felt even worse knowing how good his friend would eventually become at it. It was necessary.

[CallaLily180]

Molly followed Iris down to the Ground Entrance, as she observed WAR PIG she nodded her consent and her approval. "Nice one Jesus. I enjoy how the pink compliments your eyes, how are you doing?" She walked over to Vlad and gave him a quick hug, man was it worth it to see that beard again.

Backing away from Vlad Molly made a frame with her hands and motioned Vlad and WAR PIG closer to each other, well...Vlad did most of the moving. "Oh, I just have to get a picture for the wedding collage! When is it going to be?" With a small roll of her eyes she took a couple of pretend pictures and pointed to her head. "All safe and sound in my hard dri- Canada!!"

Molly watched as they moved Canada around gently, it was polished and most of the minor dents were gone! Oh she was so lucky to be back, Alaska sucked compared to Hong Kong. She ran to Canada and hugged it's now room temperature frame. "Thanks guys, he is heading to the field as soon as I can get in."

[Shadowcatcher]

Iris watched as Molly went to go hug her Jaeger. Her eyes narrowed as she thought that her and Vlad didnt really know how rediculous they looked when they did so. Like...their Jaegers were huge and all they could hug really was the foot so...what was the purpose? Rolling her eyes with a smile she looked to Vlad. "Your room is where its always been and i'd love to chat but i needed to be somewhere like....5 minutes ago." she said. "You and Molly catch up with your Jaegers I guess, but im heading to the training room. Got a new recruit that i need to test." she patted his shoulder and started to walk away.

She started jogging once she hit the halls. She was already late so it was pointless, but Iris wasent the type to take her sweet time doing anything. She walked into the training room and saw Joshua sitting on one of the benches. He hadent noticed her walking in so she crossed her arms over her chest and waited until he would see her. Then she spoke up. "Joshua Stone, right? You ready to get sweaty with me?" she joked around with a smile. For some reason her heart felt light compared to the heavy feeling she had earlier that day. She figured it was because her friends had returned and brightened up her day. Lucky for Josh she wasent pissed anymore, if she was he'd probably have hated her by the time they were finished here.

She took off her boots and set them aside, walking over to him. Thank the gods she was still wearing her sports bra from last night and not a bigger shirt. She could feel the heat already baring down on them. It frustrated her to no end how the Shatterdome was a relitavely high tech facility, but lacked basic air conditioning.

"Alright Josh, i'll ask you a few questions then we'll get started. Why do you want to be a Ranger? As you saw yesterday, im sure you are aware of the life threatening danger that comes with it, that could be the fate of all of us, if we're not on top of our game. Tell me what makes you think you have what it takes to be a Ranger." she lifted his arms and inspected them before slowly walking in a circle around him. "My partner was one of the best here in Hong Kong and still he was not able to escape death. Reality is, if you dont have what it takes and you die your first deployment, well...that was a waste of a Jaeger if you ask me." she paused and thought about what she had said, it sounded a bit harsh and hopefully he didn't take it too hard. She wasent trying to make him upset, just letting him know really what he was getting into.

Upon the inspection of him, she concluded his body type was similar to that of Emmett's, she would look for a similar fighting stlye in him when thwey sparred. Perhaps they would be drift compatible. Going to stop in the front of him, she looked up at his face, her expression neutral. "Lastly, what kinds of foods do you typically eat throughout the day?" she finished.

[Garrison]

Josh's body language remained neutral, even when she started to speak with him. This wasn't an attempt to be rude, but just how he prepared himself. She was quick and to the point in regards to the training, removing her boots and looking over Josh like he was a specimen for examination. She started with a very important question, then proceeded to try and intimidate him. "Being a Ranger is in my blood. My parents were in training to be Rangers but were killed by a Kaiju over in Sydney about a year ago. Their parents before them were Ranger's as well. I know all too well the pains and sacrifices of a Ranger and will not allow myself to be anything but the best." he spoke with pride in his voice. He then stood up, his boots were already off and he stepped on the mat.

He pulled at the bottom of his tank top to make sure it was snug. "The only waste of a Jaeger you'll see with me, is the one you don't put me in." he added, his eyes on the ground for the moment. Josh's life led him to this place, to this moment, to prove everything. "I won't fail." he said at a whisper, not intending for her to hear but also not caring if she did. Her last question would have thrown him off, as it seemed random but his focus was razor sharp. He considered not even responding to the question, not believing it had anything to to with the training but instead saw an opportunity to be himself for once. "How about if I beat you, you have breakfast with me and find out for yourself?" he said, now looking up at her with all his confidence back.

[C W St J Nobbs]

“I need to get some food,” Vlad announced to no one in particular and began to walk out of the Jaeger bay, pulling aside a tech next to the door.

“Now, WAR PIG has 137 dents larger than 6 inches across, 85 dings less than 6 inches, 539 scratches, 19 chinks in the armor, and 4 holes. I count them every three days, and I swear to God if anything happens to him while he is here, I will know and you will not be able to eat solid foods for six months. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir.” the tech said, his voice shaking. He had heard of pilots with Jaeger Handshake Impression Disorder, and he was warned that Vladimir was one of the handful of pilots who suffered from it, but he wasn't prepared for how intense it actually was. He assumed it was mostly a joke, that most pilots couldn't possibly be as attached to their Jaeger as the stories made it seem. He was mistaken. He really believed that Vladimir counted the marks on his Jaeger every three days and that he would actually break someone's jaw if they fucked it up.

“You coming?” he called out to Molly, playing off the incident with the casual nature of someone who had just walked to the store to buy the newspaper.

[Shadowcatcher]

She listened respectfully as he answered her questions and raised her brow when he offered to get some food with her. She thought for a moment before she spoke."I dont think you want to hear a "sorry" from me in regards to your parents, but i will say a thank you on their behaf. Though i didn't know them, to me, every Ranger is family and any life lost is a wrong done by whatever god is in charge of that kind of stuff." she walked over to the side to get two sparring sticks. "Something tells me i wont have to give you any pointers on fighting and i know you'll give me nothing less than your best." she handed him a stick before taking a few steps away. "Though i wont hold back on you either, though i'll take up your offer on getting something to eat, as long as we actually "go out" to the city and you actually spend money and buy me whatever i want." she said with a smile. This was a good oppourtunity to get out of the Shatterdome for once but despite her wanting to go easy just for the sake of a day away, she made it up in her mind to go all out.

She didn't want to seem easy afterall. She had an image to uphold.

Gripping the stick in her right hand she spun around, swapped to her dominant left hand and brought it across her body in a protective stance. She moved her legs to about shlder width apart and wiggled the hands and toes on her left side. Despite what happened last night, her arm and leg seemed to be feeling alright. She just hoped they would hold up with all the extravagant moves she did on occasion. "Remember that i wont come at you like a Kaiju would, berring teeth and coming head on. I'm going to try to surprise you, use my speed and smaller frame to get around you, and im going to aim for stupid weak spots many people dont think about. Watch how i move. if i land a hit, learn and retalliate accordingly. Do not fall for the same tricks twice, and most importantly, dont mess up my face, kay?"

She nodded an OK for him to start. "When you are ready, come at me. Four hits or knocking me off both feet marks a win."

[CallaLily180]

Molly patted her Canada's leg as she looked at one of the tech engineers and nodded, they started to take Canada away for the rest of its adjustments and fixer-uppers. AS she looked back over at Vlad she smiled slowly and walked over to him.

When she got to him she held put an arm around his shoulder and looked around. "Two new 'Rangers' one if them is getting trained today, I hear that he is a snob. Don't ask me from who," she pointed and winked at a guard over in the north corner before turning back to Vlad, "wanna make a straight bet? I'll take you for breakfast and pay you fifty bucks if he beats Iris and me, no what? I'll make it a hundred. What do you say Jesus? Think your blessed enough?" She giggled and started to lead him to the training room.

[Garrison]

Josh took the stick and held it out from the center, staring at it, almost as if unhappy with it's balance. "I wouldn't dream of messing up that face." he said, maintaining his supreme confidence that he usually portrayed. He spun the staff around in a circular fashion, around his back and then in front of him with both hands gripping it firmly. His stance took up a defensive posture that mirrored hers. Josh had one maneuver that he considered his trump card but didn't think opening with it was best. He dug into his bag of tricks and pulled out a solid start. He lunged at her and swung the staff quickly and precisely to the left, then back to the right with short distance strikes. The third was a longer range strike but switching the striking end of the staff to the back end with a spin.

[Shadowcatcher]

Iris watched Josh carefully, when he moved, she stayed put until he went for her left side. She loosened her fingers a bit and let the stick slide down until her hand was at the center, then as he came in for an attack, she defended each side, simply flicking her wrist on either side of her body.She frowned as he moved for a third strike with the back of his stick. She countered wth her own attack, spinning out of the way and crouching down. She aimed for the side of his hip, twiring her wepon before letting it fly out sideways. She simply tapped him there and paused to speak.

"Remember what i said about watching for stupid openings. I'm going to try to catch you off guard, and you should be ready. Assume that a direct attack wont work and be unpredictable as well. One, zero." she finished. Gripping her stick with both hands she stood and twirled it. "Lets try that again."

[Garrison]

Josh was now a little angry at himself, he had a great counter for that but she struck him before he could do it. He didn't expect her to take it easy on him, perhaps he shouldn't either. His start to the match wasn't at all his best, he would have to amp it up quickly if he were stay in this. He backed up and took up a much wider stance, the staff resting on his shoulder, his right hand holding it at the bottom and his left out in front of him. Josh took a breath before making his move. He swung the stick out in front of him, making sure to keep it just out of reach of her counter. He quickly forced the stick around the full swing and caught it with his left hand, simultaneously spinning to his left and thrusting the staff's opposite end at her stomach while crouching. He moved quicker and more precise than last time, hoping the change of tactic would be the key here.