Chapter Text
It was really faint at first. So faint, that Tendo, in his preoccupied elation and worry didn’t even notice it. But it grew. And, staring hard at the sonar screen, he fumbled for the speaker.
“Mako? Raleigh? You there? There’s life signs close to you!”
Thump.
“Kaiju?!” They collectively gasped.
Thump... thump.
“No, no. It’s far too small to be a kaiju.” Tendo fumbled, Herc staring daggers at the screen.
Thump... thump... thump.
“Are you guys okay? Can you move? The choppers are on their way.”
“I’ll check it out.” It was Mako this time. Raleigh must have been in bad shape. Tendo wasn’t surprised. He stared at the monitor, feeling the tense aura radiating from Herc. The older man was anticipating something. Something good, maybe? The heartbeats...for they were indeed heartbeats, remained steady, if slow. At first.
Then, the steady rhythm, so slow and so predictable suddenly increased and grew rapidly more erratic.
It was panic. Pure panic.
Herc lurched forward, hand flying out to seize the speaker. “Hurry!” He tried to yell, but it came out as a weak, hoarse croak. He suspected. And he was scared. Tendo suspected too. Although a part of him wished that there would be one more sign...from one more person. But his suspicions ran along with Hansen’s. He said nothing. Herc barely contained his shaking.
Then Mako came on the speaker. She sounded a little out of breath, probably from swimming but also shocked. Actually, shocked didn’t do it justice. “Tendo...it’s...it’s Chuck Hansen.” She breathed and Herc almost hurled the speaker across the room.
“My son?!” He rasped. “H...is he...” Herc couldn’t finish. But Mako understood.
“He’s alive.” She affirmed before hesitating. “Well...he... doesn’t look too good.”
“What’s happened to my son?!” Herc was fighting to keep his voice level. It wasn’t working. Mako didn’t answer but Tendo could just tell that it was bad. How the boy escaped the explosion was a wonder. But Tendo had a sneaking suspicion that the Marshall was responsible for it. Even if Chuck Hansen didn’t seem to escape in one piece.
“Mako? How is he?” Tendo asked carefully, prying the speaker from Herc’s fingers. There was a silence and when Mako’s voice sounded again, there was a heavy rasping beside her.
“He’s not good. I... he lost an eye.” She answered slowly. Herc forgot how to breathe.
“Mako, signal the chopper. The medics are coming.” Tendo instructed before clicking the speaker off. Beside him, Hercules Hansen was a shaking bundle of nerves.
And Chuck Hansen... well. Chuck had always been a fighter. And he always swore to himself that if he was to die, he would die fighting. He couldn’t imagine a more heroic death. Fighting for the sake of the planet, beside his father. But...he hadn’t been beside his father. Not how he imagined. It had been Stacker Pentecost who was at his side when they died. And Stacker Pentecost, who, at the last minute, shoved the gasping Chuck into one of Striker’s escape pods.
“Live, boy. Live.” And Chuck’s world, already askew from the shrapnel lodged in his eye, went completely dark.
And then he woke up.
He woke up to an incredible searing pain and blinding light in his good eye. At first, he couldn’t even tell what was happening. Where was he? They had been in Striker, he remembered and then...the Marshall was shoving him into an escape pod. The Marshall detonated Striker... and Chuck was alive. Chuck swore loudly, a pain shooting up his spine and from his arm. His heart hammered in his chest. He didn’t want to be alive, damnit! He promised he’d do this! Promised he’d be a hero! What the hell was he now?!
Then the light grew overpowering for a moment and Chuck rasped in pain, trying to throw his good arm over his eyes. “Chuck?” The shape of Mako Mori hovered above him, her hair wet from swimming, sticking to her cheeks and Chuck thought that maybe he did die and this was the angel they sent.
“Mako...Mako...” He croaked out, and with pure force of will, forced his hand up. He touched her cheek, carefully, leaving bloody finger prints on the skin, wanting to confirm this as a hallucination. But she was real. This was real. It made it that much worse. “Hell, I’m sorry.” He couldn’t help but cackle weakly, his good eye meeting hers. She didn’t flinch. His expression fell completely. “I’m sorry... I’m sorry... bloody hell I just...” He couldn’t continue but Mako was quick. She activated the speaker. Briefly told base what happened. And there was his father’s voice. And Tendo’s.
Choppers and medics. Chuck just wished they’d throw him to the sea. But she stayed with him as the choppers sounded overhead. “I’m sorry.” He rasped again, and her face, while drawn with concern, lightened only a little.
“I know. I forgive you.”
“Throw me to the sea...”
“Out of the question.”
“I was supposed to die!” His voice cracked. Mako measured him sadly, but her eyes flashed.
“The Mar...” She broke off suddenly. No. “My sensei gave his life so you could live. Don’t you dare waste it.” She watched his chest rise and fall heavily. Then carefully reached down and whipped some blood from his face, being as gentle as possible. Chuck knew she was right.
“I...promised.” His voice got lost in his throat. If he was less of the man he imagined himself to be, he would be crying. But Mako could see the tears on his face.
“Now promise to live.” She said simply and the wind howled above as the chopper blades slashed through the air. Soon, she was on the chopper, carefully clambering on beside Raleigh while a team of medics hoisted Chuck from the escape pod. He wasn’t in good shape. His left arm was an absolute bloody mess and his right eye was clenched shut still, even as blood seeped from through his punctured eyelid. Pain shot through his body every time they moved him, even if they did so with the utmost of care.
He wanted to yell at them. Throw me into the sea! That’s where I belong! Throw me! But he couldn’t. Not anymore. Mako was right. He was alive, not by his own choice but by the Marshall’s and he mustn’t squander this opportunity. This wasn’t his life anymore. Not entirely. He owed a dead man.
As they bandaged him and strapped him down, hoisting the basket stretcher onto the chopper, Chuck could just make out Raleigh. He sat nearby and as they brought Chuck on board, he could see the older man’s eyes widen. He must really have looked awful. But Raleigh slid closer, staying out of the way of the fussing medics.
“Hey, brat.”
“Hey yourself, has-been.” It hurt to talk. But Raleigh’s face broke into a strange, relieved smile.
“Nice to know almost dying doesn’t damage that attitude.” He barked out, almost laughing and Chuck wished he could punch him.
But he was feeling woozy and lightheaded now and as they hooked him up to an IV, Chuck’s world began to blur together. He had no mind to answer Becket, not yet, but stared at him blearily. Next time. Mako’s face swam beside her partner’s, almost glowing.
She was an angel. Really. Chuck had to remember to thank them both and then punch Becket for good measure. He...had to remember. His world began to darken and through his muddled thoughts, only one stood out.
Pretty boy hero has-been...next time.