CHAPTER 6

Chapter 6

Shane's journey to the PPDC's main base was nothing short of monumental. His exploits as the first-ever solo Jaeger pilot had reached the ears of the world's highest-ranking officials, and now he was being summoned to stand before them. The aircraft that carried him soared through the skies, escorted by two fighter jets. The weight of the moment wasn't lost on him. This was the world stage, and his next steps would determine not just his future, but possibly the future of Jaeger piloting as a whole.

As the plane began its descent into the Hong Kong Shatterdome, Shane's mind raced. This was the heart of the PPDC, the place where the best Jaeger pilots in the world gathered. And yet, despite his outward calm, his thoughts were focused on one particular figure—Raleigh Becket. Back in his previous life, he had admired Raleigh and his brother, Yancy. He had watched their battles countless times, memorized every detail. But now, here in the real world, everything held so much more weight. Raleigh wasn't just a character from a movie—he was a real person who had suffered real loss.

Stepping off the aircraft, Shane adjusted his pilot's uniform. The hangar was bustling with activity, mechanics and engineers working on the various Jaegers stationed within. At the center of it all stood a figure that commanded absolute respect—Marshal Stacker Pentecost.

Shane approached, standing at attention before offering a crisp salute.

"Welcome, Shane," Pentecost said, his voice firm yet welcoming.

"Nice to meet you, sir," Shane replied, shaking the marshal's hand firmly.

Then, his eyes shifted to Raleigh, who stood just behind Pentecost. For a moment, Shane felt a rush of emotions—nostalgia, admiration, even disbelief. This was Raleigh Becket, the man who had lost his brother in combat against the Kaiju, yet had continued to fight against all odds.

Shane extended his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I'm a big fan of you and your brother… and I'm sorry for your loss."

Raleigh blinked, clearly taken aback by Shane's words. There was a moment of silence before Raleigh finally clasped Shane's hand and gave it a firm shake. "Don't worry about it," he said, his voice carrying the weight of past experiences.

Shane then turned to the woman standing beside Raleigh—Mako Mori. Her sharp eyes studied him, and Shane immediately recognized her from both the history books and his memories of the movie.

"It's an honor to meet you as well, Mako Mori," Shane said with a slight nod of respect.

Mako simply nodded in return, though her expression remained unreadable.

Pentecost then gestured for them all to follow. "Come, Shane. We have much to discuss."

As they entered the main briefing room, Shane took in his surroundings. The room was filled with high-ranking officials, strategists, and scientists. Holographic displays showed maps of Kaiju attack patterns, recent Jaeger battles, and future projections.

Pentecost took his seat at the head of the table. "Your achievement has been groundbreaking," he began. "For years, we believed that piloting a Jaeger required two pilots. Your success challenges everything we know."

Dr. Hermann Gottlieb and Dr. Newton Geiszler, the PPDC's leading scientists, were seated near the front, exchanging glances before Hermann spoke up.

"We would like to conduct further tests," he said, adjusting his glasses. "If we can understand how you are able to handle the neural load alone, it could revolutionize Jaeger technology."

Shane nodded. "I have no objections, sir. I'll do whatever it takes to help."

Newton grinned. "Man, I gotta say, watching your fight was like watching history being made. You've got some serious skills."

Shane smirked slightly. "Well, I had a good teacher," he said, subtly referencing his counterpart's past experiences that he now possessed.

Pentecost leaned forward. "Tomorrow, we'll begin the tests. For now, get some rest. You've had a long journey."

Shane nodded. "Understood, sir."

As he exited the briefing room, Raleigh walked beside him. "So, Shane," he said, crossing his arms. "You're really the first solo pilot, huh?"

Shane nodded. "That's right."

Raleigh studied him for a moment. "I have to admit, I didn't think it was possible. But after watching the footage… I'm impressed."

Shane chuckled. "Well, coming from you, that means a lot."

Raleigh smirked. "The real fight is still ahead of us."

Shane's expression hardened. "I know."

As he made his way to his quarters, Shane took a deep breath. The world's eyes were on him now. The future of Jaeger combat had shifted, and he was at the center of it all. And with the looming threat of more Kaiju attacks, he knew that this was just the beginning.

End of chapter.