Odokuro
Tadashi Hamada woke to the sound of alarms blaring. He peeled open his eyes to glare unhappily at the ceiling.
"God, what time is it?" Hiro groaned from the bunk next to him.
Tadashi sighed, rolling out of his bed and somewhat ungracefully onto the floor. He did manage to land on his feet though, so at least there was that. He turned his head to look at the screen flashing on the wall. Kaiju incoming. Of course there was, that's why the alarms were going off.
"It's 3:17. Come on, get up- we've got work to do," Tadashi said, shaking his brother lightly by the shoulder.
"Aaaaauuuuuggghhh. Are you kidding me? We just got in from testing those new suits like three hours ago. Can't they get someone else to do it?" he whined. Nonetheless, he did crawl out of bed and start getting dressed.
"You knew what you were signing up for when you joined the Jaeger program. It's not like the kaiju are gonna come for us when it's convenient. No rest for the wicked and all that," Tadashi replied, smacking him on the shoulder.
"God, I wish. Alright, I'm ready," Hiro said. He grinned widely at his brother, "Let's go kick some serious Kaiju ass."
"Hey, what's this kaiju's name again?" Hiro asked later once they were suited up and headed to the drop off point. Outside the Jaeger it was dumping rain, thunder and lightning appearing here and there.
"Odokuro. Why are you asking when you're inside my head?"
"Wow dude, ever heard of manners? I was trying to be polite, but I guess I won't anymore," Hiro snarked, smirking at him behind his visor.
"But seriously, why's it named that? Odokuro...that sounds familiar."
Wasabi's voice crackled over the comms," Gogo named it. It's a creature from Japanese mythology- a giant skeleton that was created from the collective bones of those who died of starvation."
"...well, that's...grim."
"You'll understand once you see it," Wasabi said. "You're approaching the drop off point, so you won't have to wait long. And remember- this is the first category IV we've ever seen, so be prepared for anything. Collision Paradise and Alrhitta Divine are on standby back at the base if you need assistance."
"Eh, we'll be fine. Amaterasu Bold hasn't failed a mission once, and we're not about to start now," Hiro chirped.
Tadashi rolled his eyes but smiled. Hiro was still young enough to keep his cocky optimism, even after battling kaiju.
"Hey! I'm 16, not 12, so quit picturing me like that," Hiro squawked. Tadashi hadn't been, but after that he sent images of a younger Hiro across their neural link.
"Whatever you say, Hiro."
"Stop it!"
"Okay, Amaterasu, get ready for landing," Marshal Callaghan cut through their bickering. The brothers immediately stopped to focus on the mission at hand. It was easy to joke about, but fighting kaiju was no laughing matter.
The copters detached their hold on the Jaeger and the two braced for impact. There was a great spray of water as they landed, crouched slightly to keep their balance. Tadashi straightened slowly, limbs catching a bit in the suit as it relayed the movements to the Jaeger.
Hiro peered through the helm, trying to get a visual on their target while Tadashi watched the scanners.
"Boy, it's really pouring out there. We can barely see anything. You getting anything on the scanners yet?" Hiro asked, more out of habit than necessity. After all, he could see everything Tadashi could when they were hooked up like this.
"No...I think the weather is messing with the tech. Command, you getting a better read?" Tadashi asked, glancing warily outside.
"Negative, Amaterasu. That storm must be causing a disturbance with the scanners. I think- wait! 3 o'clock!"
The Hamadas turned just in time to see the kaiju emerge from beneath the waves. As Wasabi had pointed out, it was aptly named.
As a category IV, Tadashi estimated it rose to nearly 300 feet. Its body was covered in large ridges that resembled bones, especially at its spine. It had a face that was long and thin, with four slits along the sides for its luminescent green eyes.
Tadashi sucked in a nervous breath at the sight. He and Hiro slid their right leg back and prepared to activate their weapons. They didn't even have time to raise their arms before the kaiju sprang at them.
For being so large it was unnervingly fast. Amaterasu nearly toppled over at the first blow, but thankfully the pilots were able to keep their balance.
"Shit!" Hiro yelled, attempting to swallow down his panic. They had done this before; they could handle this.
They brought up their right arm and punched the kaiju as it opened its maw, revealing rows of razor sharp teeth. It backed off a bit, but not before swiping a clawed paw at their conn-pod. The contact made their ears ring and their brains rattle in their skulls, but they ignored it. The two shared a look before returning their gaze to the monster in front of them.
"Activating sword!" Tadashi called out, left arm rising and straightening to allow the weapon to unfold from within.
Across from them Odokuro blinked slowly, shrinking back. It looked like it was sizing them up, which was weird since most kaiju just attacked without stopping. This one was different. It was being careful.
Arms raised together, the Hamadas charged toward the beast.
What happened next shocked everyone watching.
Odokuro breathed fire. Right at the conn-pod. It actually fucking aimed.
"Fuck!"
"Amaterasu, get out of there! Fall back! FALL BACK!" Wasabi screamed through the comms.
Hiro and Tadashi scrambled backwards, swinging their sword in hopes that it would keep the kaiju from getting any closer.
"Holy fuck! It melted Amaterasu! Do you see that?!" Hiro shouted, gesturing wildly at the area in front of them. The glass was still there, but it was blurrier, having melted partway in waves that traveled from the center outwards. One more shot like that and they would be done for. Even the metal surrounding it glowed orange from the heat.
"Kronos Albion and Alrhitta Divine are on their way, but keep out of that thing's reach! The conn-pod can't sustain much more damage, so just try and distract it for now. If it's focused on you, it's not focused on getting to shore."
"Roger that, we'll do our best, but no promises on if we'll succeed," Tadashi replied. He fought hard against his growing fear, but it was getting pretty damn hard. His heart felt like it was going a million miles a second, and he could feel the sweat rolling down the back of his neck.
"Command, this thing is smart. I swear it actually aimed at us. I know this sounds crazy, but I think it knows we're in here," said Hiro, exchanging a worried glance with Tadashi.
Outside the Jaeger Odokuro crept closer but kept out of their reach. The air was so thick with tension it felt like syrup in Tadashi's lungs.
"Stay calm boys, help is on the way," Marshal Callaghan's voice broke through the silence.
Deep breaths, they thought. In....and out....in....out....in....out....
Odokuro raised itself onto its hind legs and roared, flames spewing from its mouth.
Shit.
Tadashi acted without thinking. There was one thing he'd always been certain of, and it was that he'd protect Hiro with his life. It was the reason he'd quit working as a Jaeger technician and switched to piloting. It was the reason he'd take on older kids when they got bullied as children. It was the reason he did the least self preserving thing he could think of. It wasn't a hard decision to make.
He stepped his left foot forward and turned the Jaeger so his side of the machine would take on the hit. It was just enough of a change in position that Odokuro's aim was thrown off.
Hiro, frozen in horror, was too shocked to stop him.
One second the glass shone red hot before it melted away and then the world exploded in flames.
Tadashi screamed.
There was white hot pain, and then there was nothing.