PACIFIC RIM : RAJAH

Chapter 28: A New Chapter Begins

At thirty-three, Shane had achieved more than most could dream of. He was a decorated Jaeger pilot, a respected soldier, and one of the finest warriors in the Pan Pacific Defense Corps. Yet, despite his achievements, his father never missed an opportunity to remind him of what he considered an important milestone still missing from his life—a family of his own.

During a rare visit home, Shane found himself seated across from his father in the grand estate they owned in Mindanao. The evening sun cast golden hues across the sprawling garden outside, the scent of fresh jasmine drifting in through the open windows.

His father, a sharp-eyed businessman with decades of experience leading one of the most influential companies in the Pacific region, leaned back in his chair and fixed his son with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Shane, when will you start having your own family?" his father asked in a measured tone. "You are already thirty-three years old. How about I introduce you to Mikhail's daughter?"

Shane paused, momentarily caught off guard. It wasn't the first time his father had brought up the subject, but today, something about it struck a chord.

Father's right… I'm already thirty-three. Why am I still single? he mused, rubbing the bridge of his nose. It wasn't as if he lacked options—many women had shown interest in him over the years. He wasn't exactly unattractive, and his position in the PPDC alone made him a desirable match. Yet, here he was, still unattached.

"Who's that, Father?" Shane asked, feigning casual interest.

His father's expression brightened. "Mikhail is one of my business partners from Russia. His daughter, Sasha, is an exceptional woman. A scientist, actually—she's part of Russia's PPDC research division."

Shane raised an eyebrow. "A scientist, huh? When do I meet her?"

"I'll make arrangements," his father said, clearly pleased with Shane's willingness to entertain the idea. "I'll inform you when everything is set. Anyway, how is your body holding up? I heard from your sister that you underwent the Spartan Program's serum experiment. Do you feel anything unusual? I mean, your sister didn't find anything concerning, but I'd rather hear it from you."

Shane leaned back in his chair, considering the question. "Aside from feeling like my body's gotten a bit more stronger, there's nothing particularly noteworthy. I don't feel weird or anything."

His father nodded approvingly. "That's good to hear. Oh, another thing—I almost forgot. That suit you wanted, the one you called Mjolnir?"

Shane straightened in his seat. "Yeah, what about it?"

His father smirked. "The team I assigned to the research and development program reported that they've finally completed the prototype."

Shane's eyes widened. "For real? They actually developed it?"

"Don't underestimate our scientists, Shane," his father said with a chuckle. "They're some of the best minds in the world."

A grin spread across Shane's face. "When can I see it?"

"They're finalizing the last adjustments. Maybe next week. I gave them plenty of time to perfect it—there's no rush, after all."

Shane nodded, his excitement tempered by patience. "Yeah, let's take it slow for now. By the way, how's the research on tracing the Kaiju's home progressing?"

His father's expression turned serious. "With the help of Newt and his expertise, we've successfully traced their point of origin. The only issue now is figuring out how to get there. But I don't think that's an insurmountable problem—our scientists, in collaboration with the main headquarters, have begun developing a portal using the brain of the last Kaiju we killed. Since Kaiju share a hive mind, they're analyzing how they were able to create the breaches into our world."

Shane let out a low whistle. "Wow… they work fast. Are they really that eager to take revenge?" he joked.

His father merely smiled and stood up. "I'll be going now. I wouldn't want to interrupt your training any further. But don't forget what I told you about meeting Mikhail's daughter. Be prepared."

Shane sighed and nodded. "Alright."

Later that evening, back at his private residence, Shane was in the midst of an intense training session. His personal training facility was a high-tech arena designed for close-combat exercises, and tonight, he was testing his skills against three humanoid combat robots. These AI-driven machines were built specifically for training, designed by his older sister but kept a family secret to avoid unnecessary controversy.

As the robots activated, they moved in unison, their artificial intelligence working together to corner him. The first robot swung its arm in a brutal downward strike. Shane sidestepped with ease, his enhanced reflexes making the movement almost effortless. Before he could counterattack, another robot lunged at him with a high kick aimed at his head.

Shane ducked just in time, feeling the rush of air as the metallic foot passed above him. The third robot seized the opportunity to throw a rapid punch at his midsection. Instead of dodging, Shane redirected the attack, grabbing the robot's wrist and twisting it in a controlled manner before delivering a precise strike to its head.

His movements were fluid, precise—every strike he landed was strong enough to disorient his robotic opponents but not enough to destroy them outright. He trained for efficiency, not brute strength.

After nearly an hour of non-stop combat, Shane finally called an end to the session. Sweat glistened on his skin as he caught his breath, his body humming with the aftereffects of exertion.

Time flies too fast, he thought, glancing at the clock. It was already 6 PM.

Just then, his phone rang. He answered it, hearing his father's voice on the other end.

"Get ready. You'll be meeting Sasha tonight."

Shane blinked. "Wait, isn't she in Russia? How is she here in the Philippines?"

His father chuckled. "She's been here on vacation from the very start."

Shane, momentarily dumbfounded, could only mutter, "Oh… Okay."

As he ended the call, he let out a deep sigh. So much for mentally preparing myself in advance.

With that, he headed to the shower, mentally preparing for what could very well be a major turning point in his life.

Chapter end.