Resonance

Date/Timing: 10 or 17 March 2017, (before Kirra is transferred into the Sydney Mini 'Dome (Because Mako can't be his copilot, Chuck re-latches onto Kirra as a possible replacement. Eh? Eh?); also, this timing would have Stacker in Anchorage and Tamsin in Hawai'i, leaving Mako in the care of the triplets, who're always up for shenanigans or at least willing to look the other way.)
Setting: Drift Science, Hong Kong Shatterdome; Hong Kong, China
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>intro<
"You ready?"
"I am."
"Then let's do this," says Chuck, pushing to his feet and offering Mako a hand up.
She accepts, tucks her hair behind her ear, opens the door.
They slink along the dim back hallway to Drift Science, Mako in the lead. She signals a halt at a cross-hall—
Chuck stops, checks behind them.
—scans to the side and ahead, waves Chuck on.
He pads to the lead.
They leapfrog to the lab's secondary entrance.
Mako steps up the keypad, pokes in the proper access code.
The lock mechanism does its thing.
Mako peeks inside—
Chuck makes sure they're alone.
—steps though.
Chuck follows, locks up behind, jogs over to Mako at the testing rig. "Who's code did you use?"
"[Head of Hong Kong Drift Sci]'s."
"How'd you score /that?"
Mako smiles quietly. "I accompanied her back from lunch and memorized it."
"Cool, cool," says Chuck, booting up the Pons.
Mako straightens squid cap wires.
Chuck enables the 'wide gap' patch (version point-two-point-four, beta).
Mako checks connections.
"Everything set?"
Mako nods, passes him a squid cap.
Chuck settles it on his head.
Mako does likewise with hers.
AGNIS says, ""I recommend you discontinue this course of action, Mister Hansen, Miss Mori.""
"Buzz off, GLaDOS," grumbles Chuck.
Mako snickers behind a hand.
"Ready?"
"Yes."
"Here we go." Chuck stabs the 'engage' button.
""Prepare for neural handshake,""announces AGNIS.
Chuck rolls his shoulders—
""Initiating neural handshake: test mode.""
—centers his balance—
""Thirty.""
—closes his eyes—
""Twenty.""
—fills his lungs—
""Ten.""
—braces—
""Neural handshake initiating."" 
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>a Drift that starts wobbly, but stabilizes well enough, then degenerates into horrifying Kaiju attack memories and at the first sight of a monster—<
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{Chuck} —lunges past Mako screamingscreamingscreaming smashes  on the console second whack gets the emergency cutoff yanks off the squid cap blueBlueblueBlue swirls away down on his knees crawling over tile to Mako gets hers off she's clinging to him fingernails digging into his back and Sci— hiding on the back of his lids don't blink—
Something breaks in.
""!!!""
Something far away.
""Chuck!""
Scott?
Pulling at him pulling him away pulling her away—
""/Chuck!""
Definitely Scott.
—taking /her away—
"No," croaks Chuck, tightening his hold on Mako. "You're not taking her, too."
"I'm—I'm didn't—I'm not—you need to let go so I can make sure you're both okay."
"No."
Deep shaky breath. "You can keep holding her hand, but I need to get a better look at both of you, ay? So please, Chuck, let go."
Chuck's knuckles crack as he pries his fingers loose.
"There you go, kiddo. Thanks."
Mako whimpers.
Chuck squeezes her hand.
She squeezes back.
Chuck relaxes a little.
Maybe it'll be okay this time.
Her hand shifts in his.
Chuck looks down.
Mako, breathing hard, tear-tracked, flat out.
Scott kneels over her, checking her eyes carefully. He sits back on his heels. "You're okay, Mako. Just breathe deep and everything should slow down in a minute or two, alright?"
She nods a smidgen.
"Good girl." Scott squeezes her arm, turns to Chuck, kinda grey. "Your turn."
"Okay," Chuck rasps.
Hands on his shoulders, twisting, and the ceiling swims into view.
Scott tugs his eyelids, squints at his face, exhales. "Looks like you're okay, too. Probably should stay down for a bit, though, just in case." Pushes away, to his feet. "I'm going to find you two some pillows and blankets. Don't you /dare move."
Chuck scoffs.
Mako says nothing.
Chucks eyes flutter shut.
Fluffiness under his head.
Weight and warmth over him.
Chuck counts his—
His hand's empty.
Chuck throws himself upright—"Mako!"
Hand on his shoulder. "Easy there—"
Scott.
"—the triplets took her back to her room to sleep off your little adventure in comfort."
"Why're we still here, then?"
Scott quirks an eyebrow. "You ready to explain why you look like you've seen a ghost to your dad?"
Chuck grumbles.
"We're gonna stay right here until you get some colour back." Sits down, crosses his legs, offers a warm mug. "Which's why I have tea ready."
"How'd you find us?" Chuck accepts the drink, inhales deeply.
"AGNIS called. Said you two needed my help and told me where you were."
Chuck grunts.
Scott sips.
"You gonna tell my old man?"
"You get a pass on this one—" Scott smiles into his mug. "—but tell the eggheads next time you want to play with their toys, ay?"
Chuck scowls into his tea. "Whatever."
"'ll take that as a 'yes'." A slurp. 
Chuck takes a mouthful of his own.
"You want to know why I'm not gonna turn you in?"
Chuck shrugs.
Scott studies his tea. "At your age, I was pissed at everybody and everything and sneaking into neighbours' houses for pocket money. Figure a kid needs to do a few stupid things before adulthood sets in."
Chuck huffs.
"But don't do anything stupid the next two days, 'cause I won't be around to bail you out."
"Where're you going?"
"Spending the weekend in the city with Meadow."
Chuck huddles more tightly around his tea.
Scott sighs, runs a hand through his hair. "'m losing her, you know. In slow motion."
"Payback's a bitch, ay?" growls Chuck.
Scott grits his teeth. "What happened shouldn't 've happened."
"After I get my Jaeger, it won't /ever again."
"Hope you're right," Scott mumbles. "Hope you're right."Category:Ficlet dump
Category:Chuck H (ficlet)
Category:Chuck H
Category:Chuck H's POV
Category:Mako
Category:Mako (ficlet)
Category:Caitlin (mention)
Category:AGNIS
Category:AGNIS (ficlet)
Category:Drift Science (setting)
Category:Drift sequence
Category:Work in Progress
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