Chapter Text
Like every day when he woke up, he checked the mail. Spam, spam, penis enlargement spam, spam, spam, a science newletter, another newsletter and there it was.
When the e-mail, that he had been officially been enlisted into the PPDC, arrived Hermann had been quite exstatic. He was going to to be able to implement his knowledge for something useful. It would also get him away from the prying eyes of the rest of his family who always 'worried' so much if he could 'manage'. Their annoying mother-henning was not only insulting but also made the second-youngest Dr. Gottlieb furious. After having gone through university education for three degrees, they still treated him as if he were a child. It was just another form of belittling him.
But now Hermann had the chance to prove to everybody that he could do whatever he wanted to. After all he was a grown man, twenty six years old and very much able to take care of himself. He was married for god's sakes! They had no right to treat him like an infant because.. No. He would not allow this. Nobody would belittle him.
Vanessa was understanding and supported his enlistment. Most likely since she knew there was no changing his mind in any case. They already had been struggling to spend time together with her job as a model and now it would be even more difficult, but they would manage.
"We can always have video-chats. I bet they do have nice computers over there." That was all she said with a smile and wink. Hermann simply coughed slightly embarrassed at the implication and looked aside. She had always been the one to initiate the physical contact between them. Not that he did not find his wife beautiful or didn't enjoy touching her. It was simply that he felt unsure of himself. A side-effect of the constant doubts that were put into his mind by other people.
Thinking back to the e-mail, the doctor did bite his lip at the thought of having to possibly do some base classes with men several heads taller and sporting bulging muscles while he had started to struggle with walking and lifting things a lot lately as his health detoriated. Hopefully they would have some kind of mercy on him.
Naturally even as a scientist he had to enroll into basic Jaeger Academy classes, that was unavoidable, and the date was set for December 12th, 2015. Only two weeks. Well, obviously they did have to use every force they have as quickly as possible to control the threat of the Kaiju. Limping over to his laptop, Hermann wrote a message to his e-mail correspondent, he'd even dare say friend, Dr. Newton Geiszler.
"Dear Dr. Geiszler,
I have good news. They have enlisted me for the Jaeger Academy and I will join it in two weeks.
Sadly that may possibly mean I will have less time to write and discuss theories with you,
but I am sure you understand as you know how important this is. Perhaps you should apply as well,
they could surely use your knowledge about biology. Maybe they could even get you kaiju samples to study.
That may allow to make major breakthroughs in strategies on how to defend against them.
Furthermore I have read your newest paper on the cell degeneration that occurs in contact with
the Kaiju Blue and it is quite fascinating. If you find out anymore about it's properties I would be
delighted if you shared them with me.
High regards, Dr. Gottlieb"
When the message was sent, Hermann smiled and reached for his phone, looking for the app he used to track how he felt every day and noted that today he felt pretty well, if slightly anxious.
~~~~
Thirteen days later, he was packing his bags for his departure for the Jaeger Academy on Kodiak Island. Hermann always traveled light if he could, but he knew that he would likely not return home for years, so he did pack some thing as reminders. Mainly a Chumash, the printed version of the Tora scroll, a Bavarian whip used for the tradition of "Aperschnalzen" which was basically competitive whip-cracking to drive the winter away and last but not least a small Union Jack since he had deeply enjoyed teaching in Oxford after having finished his education in Berlin.
Naturally his whole family was pestering him if he was 'sure this was a good idea'. With a decisive snort, he unplugged the telephone in his small apartment, turned off his phone and then continued neatly folding, bending and storing things into his two suitcases. Including the cane he had started to use for longer walks. Scowling at it shortly, he sighed and carefully disassembled it into three parts and put it into the box with the other necessities he was bringing along. Medicine, his medical history for the PPDC doctors if it ever was needed and some small aids like a hot water bottle and some cooling packs, depending on what was needed.
No matter how determinted he was to prove himself, Dr. Gottlieb could not deny that he was nervous. Okay that was an understatement, he was absolutely terrified.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 12th, 2015
A date that Hermann Gottlieb would never forget.
Arriving at the Jaeger Academy, the large complex set inside a valley between several large mountains that seemed to mostly lack any kind of flora and fauna, he stepped out of the helicopter and...
fell.
That sure was a great well to start a historic day in his life. But strangely enough he did not hurt. Nor did he feel the sticky wetness of blood on his face. What he did feel were two big, strong hands steadying him. Slowly he opened one eye only to come face to face with the one and only Stacker Pentecost. The great Jaeger pilot he had admired for years. Turning several shades of scarlet he started rambling apologies how he should not be so clumsy and how sorry he was.
Stacker simply smiled and and helped him down the last few steps of the helicopter ladder. "Don't worry about it Dr. Gottlieb. I'm Stacker Pentecost and I will be overseeing the training whenever I am not on a mission. I understand you situation and I do want you to know that you are welcome to join in whenever you feel ready to, and stop yourself when you are in pain or discomfort. You don't need to match up to anyone and if there is ever any problem, you can always come to me. Alright?"
Hermann found himself to be a bit awestruck. He had not expected such a nice welcome. Certainly not in a military operation like this. It took him a few moments to find his voice after they had started making their way over to the main complex. "I uhm... Thank you very much Sir. You have my gratitude."
Another friendly smile was made in his direction before they simply walked along in silence. Well a short silence since Hermann could not contain a small squeak at the fact that his favorite Jaeger pilot was carrying his suitcases for him. Apparently Penetcost found his reaction rather amusing and chuckled.
~~~~
But it did seem that people had noticed that something was off with a pilot carrying his suitcases for him. Because he got some scathing looks that made him turn a few shades paler and hang his head slightly while walking. When they had reached his room and he had been instructed on where the first official welcome talk to the new academy students would be held, Stacker excused himself and left Hermann to unpack his things.
Or rather sit on the bed in the small, cold room and swallow hard at the nervous knot that seemed to be formed in his throat. Briefly he considered calling Vanessa but he did not want to disturb her or have her worry about him unecessarily. No, he just needed to build walls. Let the looks bounce off them.
Carefully he unpacked his laptop and decided to write Dr. Geiszler instead.
That would get his mind back on the science. And that was the most important aspect of being here.
"Dear Dr. Geiszler,
I have arrived at the Jaegaer Academy safely. It is rather ginormous. And you may won't believe it,
but I was greeted by Stacker Penetecost himself! He is as charming and nice as he appears in his
Television appearances I must say.
How is your report on Kaiju stem cells going? Have you made progress?
High regards, Dr. Gottlieb."
Pondering things for a few moments, the scientist started setting into his room, opening the curtains and the small window to let in soem fresh air. He'd better get used to being cold so he might start right away. Inwardly he kicked himself for not having packed a warm blanket and his winter coat.
~~~~
What Dr. Hermann Gottlieb had been prepared for had been a standard 'welcome to the PPDC' speech and some warning. What he had not been prepared for, was being called on the podium. As soon as he heard his name being called, he felt as if his blood had turned to ice and was trying to push out of his veins in shards. No. Not the podium.
"Dr. Gottlieb is our newest addition to the new K-Science unit, some of you may have heard his name as he has contributed to the Mark-1 Jaeger Program Coding. Would you please join me for a moment, doctor?"
God no. This was a nightmare come through. It was not because of standing in front of a crowd. He was very much used to that, having taught whole halls full of students. But this was with a focus on HIM rather than the teaching material. With shaking hands, he made his way on the podium, making a pained grimace when he had to climb a high step to get onto it. Hermann saw some young men in the crow sneering or laughing and tried not to focus on it.
"We will be recruiting more scientist to be the backbone of our offense. We need genius to support our strong offense because obviously the best Jaegers and pilots won't help if we don't know how to effectively stop the Kaiju permanently. I implore you to be respectful to each other and support each other in your growth."
For a moment it seemed like he was expected to say something but he simply stayed silent. Luckily that seemed to change the mind of the one holding the welcome-speech and he was finally released to return on his seat. As Hermann was making his way through the rows of chairs looking up to look for Stacker since he felt proud that his contributions had been mentioned, somebody stuck up a leg and tripped him.
It didn't need saying that he ended up falling like a stone as he had been too busy looking for the man he so admired instead of looking at the floor like he usually did and hissed at the pain it caused him. While the offending student was expelled after a furious Stacker Pentecost had insisted on it, it still left a mark. His face stayed a mask made of stone after this and he would not allow himself such a mistake again, isolating himself and not seeking out company while here, not even from Stacker who had been so welcoming. There would no more emotion that would be used against him.
~