A Neon Genesis Evangelion/Metal Gear fanfic - Shinji: Soldier of Outer Heaven
Written by WDCain Man

Disclaimer: Neon Genesis Evangelion is copyright by FUNimation. The Metal Gear world is owned by Konami. Everything was used without permission and no profit is being made by this fanfic.

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to reposting my old stories. Blame Beware the Batman. I love that show and I wrote quite a bit for it despite its cancellation. But no excuses. Here's chapter two of my NGE/MG story. Enjoy!

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Shinji, Soldier of Outer Heaven

Chapter Two:

A New Guardian

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Shinji whimpered. How could they use blankets in this heat? Despite the pain in his body, he kicked the blankets off. The pain was subservient to the heat.

"Hold it right there!" yelled a surprisingly feminine voice. An attractive young woman with light brown hair held in a ponytail came charging over. She was dressed in a doctor's white coat that was unbuttoned. She had an attractive figure like Ritsuko Akagi. Shinji noticed her name tag. Dr. Jennifer was intelligent enough to know not to dress like a slut on an army base full of men. She had on a pair of black slacks and a blue business shirt with collar.

Jennifer crossed her arms and looked angry. She grabbed the blankets and pulled them back over Shinji. "I told you, you can't take these off. You need them to help cushion your body," she growled. "Your back's too sore to lie on a cot! Got it?!"

Shinji sobbed quietly and turned away. "…it's too hot…it's too hot…" He pulled the hot blanket and tried to bury himself.

Jennifer looked at the shaking child and cursed herself. She was a doctor so how could she violate her oath to do no harm? Jennifer turned away, hoping being away would calm the frighten boy.

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Revolver Ocelot clicked off the TV. "This was picked up by surveillance an hour ago, sir. It seems our newest recruit has a slight case of Thermophobia."

Big Boss laughed sadly. "Well, he was launched into a volcano by his father. I think that would give anyone issues."

"I don't know how we're going to train him. Army training is supposed to break men down and make them into soldiers."

"And we're dealing with a boy who's already broken. I see your point, Adamska."

Ocelot sighed. "Listen, I think we should ship the kid over to the company psych and see if he's already a Section 8. The last thing we need here is another psycho with a big gun."

"Heh heh heh…" Big Boss chuckled. "You forget, Ocelot. I like psychos with big guns." He turned on a monitor showing the Med Wing, present time. "Let's just sit back and watch how it all folds out."

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Shinji stared at the world with dead eyes and questions in his head. Why was he still alive? Where was he? What was Outer Heaven? What were they going to do with him? Why was it still so hot? Why couldn't they just leave him alone?

Across the room, a young man looked at the sobbing child. He was a white young man with light brown hair. Being an army nurse gave him a surprisingly well built physique. He was dressed in a green Army uniform with a white lab coat over it. Seeing the patient sweat profusely, he walked softly over to Shinji's bedside.

Batter up. "Hey there, kid. I'm Nurse Jackson. Say anything effeminate and I'll box your ears," he smiled.

Shinji did not bother to even make eye-contact. He pulled the hot covers up to his face.

Strike one. Jackson mumbled something about being a total moron. This negative thought was redeemed when he noticed beads of sweat ran down Shinji's brow. "Hot, aren't cha? Want to go someplace cold?"

Shinji said nothing but did make eye contact with Jackson.

First base. "It's real nice there, Shinji. The temperature is below freezing; so cold that you could see your breath."

Shinji's lips trembled. It would be so nice to get away from the heat.

Second base. "You won't even have to bring a hot blanket if you want to. Everything's cold down there. I think you'll like it."

Shinji swallowed. It sounded like heaven.

Third base. "And best of all, you'll be alone down there. There won't be any other sick people or scaring female doctors at all."

"…I want to go there…" he whispered. "…take me there…please…"

Home run! "No prob, Shinji. Let me get a wheelchair and I'll take you straight there." Jackson turned around and saw Dr. Jennifer storming over to him with lightning bolts blazing in her eyes. "Game called off on account of rain," he mumbled.

"What the HELL do you think you're doing?!" Jennifer snapped.

"Taking Shinji to the cold storage warehouse. He'll like it there."

"THERE?! It's less than twenty degrees there!"

"Gee wiz doc, ya think that's why it's called 'cold storage?'"

Jennifer poutie lips went into a snarl. "Listen Jacky, I'm head physician here and I say my patient stays!"

Grrrr. "Jenny, just because you have a medical degree doesn't mean you know best. This kid hates the heat and wants to cool off. Taking him there is the best medicine… a real doctor would know that."

Jennifer's cute face twisted in anger.

Jackson continued. "Or would you rather I leave him here where you could continue screaming at him."

"…" Jennifer slumped her shoulders. "Okay, you win. Just take care of him, bro."

"But of course, sis." He added proudly. "I am a regular Patch Adams, ya know."

Jennifer rubbed her temples. "God. Why did Mom bother putting you through med school? She could have put that money for something more useful: Like a trip for me to Hawaii."

Shrug. "Don't know but I'm glad she did. It's so much fun messing with you."

"Ha ha ha," Jennifer laughed dryly. "Just get a wheelchair before I throw you in the stockade."

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Minutes later, Jackson was pushing a wheelchair bound Shinji to the coldest section of Outer Heaven.

Once the forty foot metal gate opened, Shinji shuddered in pleasure at the cold breeze that hit him. There was no heat here. This was a good place. This was where he belonged.

Jackson gasped. He could see his breath. He could actually see his breath. His hands! Oh, GOD! He can't feel his hands! Why didn't he bring a coat with him? He looked down at the weary Shinji wearing only a hospital gown who seemed quite happy.

Shinji looked around the massive warehouse with a soft look. The room seemed to stretch on for miles with frosted crates of all sizes lined up like dominos. It was so cold here that everything had a blue tint that made it seem right for Shinji.

Caw. Caw. Caw. Caw.

Shinji and Jackson were startled and look up to see a flock of ravens circling over a section of the warehouse. Jackson looked back at the exit. "Sorry Shinji. I didn't think he would be here. How about I bring you back later?"

Shinji eyed the ravens with fear and sunk back into his chair, not wanting to leave this icy paradise.

"We're dealing with one of the deadliest men in Big Boss's elite guard, Vulcan Raven." Jackson was eyeing the exit more and more. "He's a nasty customer. Born half Native American and half Inuit, he was raised as a shaman and is said to have supernatural powers. He's not just all brawn. He's also a graduate emeritus from the University of Alaska."

Jackson took a gulp. "Raven can tear a man apart with own hands. He's so strong that he actually carries around a 20 millimeter Vulcan Cannon as his main weapon, something that's usually found on F-16s." He was sweating. It was ten degrees Fahrenheit here and he was actually sweating. "Shinji, we really need to get out of here." Jackson grabbed the wheelchair's handles and dashed to the exit to find several ravens perched on top the mantle of the gate. Each one was staring at Shinji.

"You cannot leave," ordered a voice stronger than steel. "The ravens have not yet made a decision regarding the boy."

Shinji stood silent. His sight was focused on all dozens of ravens who kept their cold eyes on the tiny child in the wheelchair.

For several seconds, this judgment continued. Jackson was more terrified than he had ever been in his life.

A raven landed on Shinji's blanket. It peered into Shinji's eyes with its cold yellow gaze like it was gazing into his past to see Shinji's future. Then with a time removed so all was seen, the black bird flew off to land back on Raven's shoulder.

Raven crossed his arms sagely. "The judgment is decided. The ravens say you are not to die yet." He turned around and vanished behind a crate.

Shinji stared a moment before following. He wheeled his wheelchair after Raven as fast as he could. Jackson would have stopped him except he was standing still shaking. Raven didn't kill him? Raven didn't kill him! Why didn't Raven kill him? Will he do so later?

Jackson was having a nice little heart attack when Shinji finally wheeled over to Raven and got his first good luck at him. Raven was a giant, reach six foot ten with muscles bulging from his barely clothed body. He only had on a pair of black army boots and dark thick pants. Numerous tattoos covered his chest and arms which mostly consisted of strips and archaic symbols. The one Shinji did recognize was a large black raven tattooed on Raven's bald forehead.

The Inuit shaman had set up a large table that had several square slabs of some sort of grey meat on it. To the side were several large steel barriers filled with thick yellowish liquid. Raven picked up a large butcher knife and started slicing the meat into smaller squares.

"Eh-eh-excuse me, Mr. Raven," Shinji stuttered. "What are you doing?"

"Preparing muktuk." He did not even bother to look up.

It was obvious Shinji did not understand.

"It is a dish my people have feasted upon for centuries. There have been times where we eat muktuk for an entire year. Translated, it is said in your tongue as "wheal skin". Do not be fooled by name. It tastes quite good with a strong flavor much like fresh coconut."

Shinji wheeled his chair closer over. "How do you make it?"

Raven put the knife down and faced Shinji for the first time. The child was weak and weary, enjoying the freezing storage chamber. He reminded Raven of the small children from his village and it was the duty of the head shaman to instruct as well as guide. "We take the deceased wheal and cut large squares in the skin. Next, we peel, making sure not to take more than an inch of the pink flesh underneath. We let it lye for two days in the cold open air, making it crisp and firm before I boil it in water. Once dry, it is put in oil made from wheal fat for eight hours. I am at last stage, cutting the oil saturated meat into six-by-six squares."

Shinji gazed at the muktuk. It was amazing how different food can be prepared across the world. "Can I help?" he asked in a small voice.

Raven handed him the large butcher knife that was too large for Shinji's tiny hands but the child held on. He cut the first slab of wheal flesh in a perfect square. "I'm good at cooking," he whispered in a quiet tone.

Raven heard him. "As I was told. In your file, it listed meal preparation under hobbies."

Shinji stopped cutting. He did not said anything. He just looked at Raven, not understanding.

"After I brought you here, I was given your information by the general. He felt it just since I was the one who lifted you out of the volcano."

"You rescued me." It was a statement, not a question.

Raven thought it was the latter. "Yes, the heat was too much to bare for one so young. I am glad I brought you out. You were not meant to die there."

"Th-thank you," Shinji let a tear slip. It froze just as it reached his chin.

Raven picked up the knife. "Now let me show you how a true Inuit cuts wheal."

And together, they made muktuk.

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Hours later Shinji was back in the recovery room. He was more relaxed and, for once, looking quite cheerful. He no longer filched when a nurse came by to check his temperature or his pulse. He was happy here.

His joy was not shared with Dr. Jennifer. She was currently whaling it out on her brother across the room. "How could you take him there, you moron?!" she snapped. "He could have pneumonia now and it would be all your fault!"

Jackson was getting a headache. "God, don't ever shut up? I was nearly eaten by the Eskimo's birds; I'm not in the mood for another of your lectures."

Big Boss opened the door. "Than have one of mine. Jennifer, you have to realize that the trip did the child some good. Look at him. For the first time, Shinji looks happy here. Jackson, I see you still remember the old saying that recovery is fifty percent mental. Good job."

Jackson saluted. "Thank you, sir."

Jennifer welted. "I understand, sir. I'll be more open minded with a patient's recovery and…" she swallowed "…listen to my brother for advice more often." Pride was a pain to swallow.

"Wonderful idea, doctor." Big Boss looked at the smiling child who laid comfortably in his bed. "And spending a few hours with Raven did all this? Interesting."

"He's bonded with Raven," said Jackson. "Raven and, I think, myself are the only people he trusts. He relates more with Raven than me since they both like cooking and the cold."

"That last one is psychological," Jennifer cut in. "It's a strong case of Thermophobia installed by his father's actions. He'll have it for the rest of his life unless we do something about it before he accepts it into his psyche. He needs a guardian, sir. Someone to watch over him and aid his recovery. And in all honesty, I think it should be Raven."

Big Boss nodded. "I agree. We'll let Shinji stay here for the night. I'll inform Raven of this later and tomorrow we're tell the child."

Jackson wished he had some scotch. "It's going to be an interesting match up."

Before he left, Big Boss faced Nurse Jackson with a cruel grin. "By the way, don't call Raven an Eskimo. The correct term is Inuit. If you call him that again, I'll tell the big boy what you said and I guarantee he'll feed you to his birds."

"Geeeekkk…" Jackson a sickly sound, causing his sister

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End Chapter Two…
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Like it? Me I loved. I'm sorry that it took me so long to get this out. Again, blame the wonderful show Beware the Batman for hijacking my creative processes. I'm starting to think its cancellation is all a ploy to get me back on my other fanfics. But that's just crazy, right? (Looks around his room for hidden surveillance cameras like he does every morning)

First off, I want to point out that Jennifer and Jackson aren't originals created by yours truly. They're from the original NES Metal Gear game. When Solid Snake infiltrated Outer Heaven, he was receiving help from a woman named Jennifer who had signed on as a medical assistant. She aided Snake because her brother, whom I named Jackson, was a hostage of Outer Heaven. I've often wonder about the rumor that Metal Gear Jennifer is the same Jennifer that is held hostage with the others. She's the real leggy babe in the mini-skirt suit who always crosses her legs if Raiden gets too close. I based SSoOH Jennifer visually on her look. Is it a coincidence or are they indeed the same character? I don't know but in this fic, they are. Expect characters from the first two games to also show up in this fic.

Most likely the biggest question you have is why did I chose Vulcan Raven as Shinji's guardian? It was a process of elimination. Big Boss would be too busy to raise a kid. Psycho Mantis would just be throwing gasoline on the fire. Mantis is the freaking psycho of the Metal Gear world. Ocelot is too secretive to be a good role model. Decoy Octopus is too unknown. His personality just wasn't explored in the game. I know that on all the websites there's a ton of info about him being from Mexico and sawing off his nose and ears and wanting a mental deprogramming after every mission but I sure can't find that anywhere in the game. Anyone know when Naomi or whoever it is that tells Snake this? Sniper Wolf would be a good choice, a great choice, but I realized that Raven was better because he and Shinji have more in common. They both like the cold and food. I had to go online to find out about muktuk. Heh heh heh. I even found a website with a ton of Alaskan dishes that I think would be pretty cool to bring in on this fic.

Next chapter, I'll explore my version of Outer Heaven as Shinji begins his training. Hope you like it.