Chapter 6
Clarke never expected the Drive Suit to be comfortable. But she was wrong for once. The tailor made Drive Suit was perfect. Sleek and armoured, the suit fit her in every way imaginable and even as she examined herself in the midnight blue suit, Clarke couldn't help but feel badass. She had to wonder if the Marshall’s suit matched her own, but somehow Clarke couldn't see Lexa in blue. Even in the standard issue Marshall suits, Lexa looked out of place. Maybe black, black and red, would suit the seasoned Ranger better. But for now, Clarke was too caught up with examining her own backside.
The training simulator suits at the Academy had been worn and old, hitched in all the wrong places and pinched every where. A standard issue white, emblazoned with the Ranger Corps logo, Clarke had worn them as much as she could, done as many simulations as she could. But none of it had really prepared her for what was to come. Out of the huge window that sat before the new Ranger was Heda. Primed and ready to go, it's central core, her heart, was glowing with fresh power, like the Jaeger was just as ready as Clarke was.
“Will you stop moving!” Raven growled as Clarke twisted her frame again, examining the spinal column that ran up her back. Like lizard spines slotting together, hiding masses of wires that all connect at the base of her neck to her nervous system. Raven was crouched before Clarke, checking that the boots were strapped up accordingly. But it was difficult since the blonde wouldn't stop moving.
“Sorry. Sorry I can't help it. Rae, seriously, I look so badass!”
“You won't when you disconnect from the Conn-pod because your boots aren't fitted properly,” Raven huffed, slapping her hand hard against Clarke's calf. It didn't hurt a much as bare flesh would have, but due to the wires running through it, connecting to her body, Clarke felt it as if the Drive Suit was her own flesh.
“Ow! Damn it Reyes!” Clarke grumbled, shaking her leg off, before standing as still as she could,
“Look you've gotta be fitted properly or the connect won't be true. You and the suit have gotta become one, it is you, you are it. If you don't get that through your thick head you're going to have issues Griffin,”
“It's Ranger Griffin now,” Clarke smirked as she spoke. Even she knew she sounded cocky now. Raven grumbled and slapped her calf again, before pushing upwards. They stood eye to eye, unable to hide either of their grins,
“You might be Ranger Griffin, but you'll always be my little sister Clarke,” Raven’s tone was almost solemn as she spoke, making Clarke a little shocked at the serious sad tone that came from her adoptive sibling. But before she knew it, Raven had pulled her into a tight hug, “Your dad would be proud,” Raven whispered as the clomp sound of another Drive Suit approaching came.
“Ranger, Miss Reyes,” Lexa's curt tone sounded around them, pulling the two girls apart. The sight of the Marshall in her drive suit made Clarke's breath catch. She knew the suits were fitted accurately to a Ranger's body, every contour and limb, but Marshall Woods looked astounding in hers. Like it wasn't just a second skin, but was her own skin. Just as Clarke had predicted, her suit was black, apart from the blood red stripe that went from right shoulder down to her wrist. Raven coughed awkwardly, hip checking Clarke,
“Good morning Marshall. Ranger Griffin is primed and ready to go,” Raven stated, throwing a wink at Anya who stood behind Lexa. The Marshal nodded and stepped closed to Clarke, the black helmet under her arm glinting as the visor caught the light.
“You are aware this is a simulation, much like the ones at the Academy. But your will be drifting, not with an AI, but with a real person. With me. On paper it says we are compatible, but in real life things are very different Ranger. Are you prepared?” Lexa's tone was steady and confident, her words clear but Clarke couldn't help but stare at her lips as she spoke. Slowly the young Ranger nodded, her eyes flicking up to meet the emerald greens that stared back,
“Yes Marshall,”
“Good, then shall we begin? Anya, inform the LOCCET that we are ready for decent,” Lexa turned back to her Chief Mechanic then, a small smile passed between them both and Clarke realised this was a big deal. For her and for the Marshall. This was probably the first time since Lexa became a Marshall that she was going back into a Jaeger. And not just any Jaeger, her Jaeger. Her Heda.
Fuck, the blonde thought as Lexa led her towards the head section of the mech. This really was a big deal. Clarke realised she was nervous then, more nervous than she'd ever been before. With a shaking breath, the blonde stepped up the right side of the Conn-pod and let Raven direct her into position. Her feet slotted into what looked to be a spherical gyrosphere, hanging over a great hole that lined up with Heda's nuclear core. Clarke knew there was a 3 foot plane of clear carbon fibre between her and said core, but it was still daunting to be hanging over it.
“You have to remember not to chase the rabbit. Let the Drift flow, become one with it. Let the memories go past you, around you, but do not latch on,” Lexa lectured as Anya strapped her into the left side. Clarke nodded, taking one last shuddering breath before Raven placed her helmet on, a comforting wink shared between them before a blue visor disorientated Clarke's vision.
“Ready to drop Mr Green,” Lexa voice was in Clarke's ear as the only door into the head Conn-pod closed with a groan. Gears began groaning and the head of Heda lurched downwards.
Lexa couldn't help but feel giddy as Heda’s head locked into place on the rest of the body. It was like riding a bike, slipping the drive suit back on, clicking back into the Conn-pod, it was all muscle memory. Something she couldn't forget. And even with the rookie besides her, whooping and cheering in excitement as the Jaeger came to life around them, Lexa felt so relaxed,
“Marshall, we are ready to begin,” Monty Greens voice. Are through the helmets head set, only a little fuzzy,
“Woohooo! Let's do this shit!” Clarke replied, making Lexa roll her eyes,
“Proceed Mr Green, starting Drift, stage one now,” she reached forward to the control panel, knowing that Clarke mirrored her motions as they hit the big red button in unison.
The pull of the Drift was instant. Lexa's mind felt like it was twisting through a wormhole, flashing past memories and past events of her life, she cruised over the waves of her life, letting each thing wash over her.
“Costia! Costia stop it! I have a final to get to!” Lexa shrieked as Costia's fingers jumped down her sides, shoving her t-shirt up and brushing her bare skin.
“They'll wait for you, don't worry, I'll wait for you,” Costia's face molded and changed. Became rugged and male, with soft blue eyes and a warm smile.
Jake Griffin.
He smiled at Lexa, reaching forward to ruffle her hair and tuck it behind her ears, “I'll always be waiting Clarke,” it was Clarke's memory, not hers but it felt so good. Warm. Familiar. Jake had a warm smile that made Lexa's chest swell and burst with happiness. Dad was proud of her. Dad wanted to see her in the Academy. Graduate as a Ranger and fight along side of him. Then there was a casket, open lid. Jake in Marshall uniform, his face burned and scarred, hands littered with Drive Suit marks. He was dead. He didn't wait for me. He couldn't wait. But his proud smile was there.
No, no that wasn't her memory. Lexa shook her head, pushing through Clarke's past, Clarke's memories. She had to focus, she had to make the rookie focus,
“Don't chase it Clarke, flow through,” Lexa said loudly, knowing the blonde could hear her through the comm-link.
“Lexa, oh Lexa! Come on, it's time to rock and roll!” Costia's face swam into view again. They were in the Conn-pod. Heda's old Conn-pod. Costia was to her left, her face twisted in pain. She was screaming, her hands jogging up and around, controlling the plasma rifle, emptying the clip. Before them was the monster. The destroyer, slamming its tentacles into their sides, over and over. Ripping away at steel and armour.
“LEXA!” Clarke screamed as memories of her father washed away, settling in the back of her mind. He waited for her, in the Drift. But Lexa was gone, Lexa's memories swarmed Clarke's mind. She was chasing the rabbit.
It was too late. Costia was gone. Lexa had both arms under control, gripping hard onto both hemisphere of Heda's controls. Her hands had gone numb from holding onto the controls, her throat hoarse from screaming. The burn down her body was too much, her skin was scorched. She was reloading the Canon. But there was nothing left. Lexa's mind was a whirl. She had to blow the reactor.
Clarke stared on horror as Lexa's hand reached to the control panel, hitting the over ride buttons to the reactor beneath them. Her mind raced, she could feel the heat coming up around her feet. Lexa had already activated the plasma cannon on her right arm and now the chain whip on Clarke's left. The blonde thought fast, her own hands reaching forward to counteract the Marshalls actions. Reaching for her one option.
Lexa roared loudly, she had to save Costia. She could still hear her screams in her mind. She was still alive. She was going to save her and honour her. She was going to blow the fucking Kaiju up and be with Costia forever. The reactor was the only way, the only chance.
“No, no, no. Come on. Damn it!” Clarke roared as she slapped her palm flat against the blue button. The one labeled EJECT. Clarke already knew what kind of scolding she was going to get, but cutting Lexa off, getting her away would stop it all. As the ejection process began, Lexa was roaring in her suit, her screams of pain and frustration echoing around Clarke's helmet as her body became horizontal and moved upwards.
Clarke quickly set about shutting down the Jaeger, she wouldn't be able to hold it by herself, not yet. Heda groaned and roared as the life drained away from her reactor. Clarke sighed with relief as the Jaeger fell silent under her hands, the gyrosphere settling as Clarke sagged back on the machine,
“Fucking hell,” she sighed, relief washing over her as she watched Lexa's escape pod float down in front of Heda's main window. A very angry looking Marshal swearing at her from inside.