SHIELDs of NERV 9
Disclaimer; I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or X-Men; Evolution. Wish I did, though.
(Fury's office; same time)
Looking over the daily reports can get to be a strain on an experienced Field Agent like Fury. Filing them was bad enough when he was just starting out as an Agent. Now that he's a Colonel, filing and looking them over… simply monotonous. However, he's hoping that the whole thing will change with what he has in mind. A knock is then heard on his hatch.
"It's open." The hatch opens, revealing his visitor's face. "Ah. ADA McCormick. Good to see you accepted my invitation." McCormick can only smirk softly as he closes the hatch. "Have a seat, please." Once he's done so, Fury begins. "As you know, AD Pincer had proven himself to be unworthy of his job." McCormick can only snort at that.
"Yeah. Trying to incite a mutiny is an action by an unworthy person. Especially one like Pincer." Curious, he then asks, "Just how the heck did he get that job to begin with?" Fury gives a sigh at that.
"I honestly have no idea. He has no field experience, never went to any Academy and yet wound up…" Fury's trail-off is accompanied by a clenched jaw. One that McCormick recognizes easily. "If only I hadn't quit smoking."
"But yet you're glad and want something to take its place." Fury gives a chortle at that.
"Yeah. The chocolate cigars Val got did make a good substitute, but with all the stress that Pincer subjected me to for the past three months, I'm all out." Shaking his head, Fury goes on. "But that's not what I'd like to speak to you about." His left hand tapping a manila folder on his desk, Fury asks, "Do you know what this is I'm tapping on, ADA McCormick?"
"Other than a manila folder, I really have no idea, Colonel."
"Your file. Made for some very interesting reading." His face creasing into a grin, he adds, "Your civilian commendation for assisting the LAPD technically makes you one of us. Even if you were on parole at the time and under a Judge's supervision. And let's not forget the investigations you and the Judge did during your tenure." McCormick can only chuckle uneasily at that.
"I thought that was sealed as 'Hardcase' didn't want me to be hassled or targeted for reprisal by those we went after." Fury's good eye goes stone cold.
"I think you'll quickly find that, even if it doesn't look like it, SHIELD takes care of its own. And from your debriefing after you and JO Lee were rescued, you were targeted for reprisal even if you didn't know about HYDRA at the time."
"Good point." Curious, he asks, "Just where are you going with this, Colonel?"
"I'd like to offer you the position Pincer was unqualified for." McCormick opens his mouth, but Fury stops him. "I had to undo a lot of fuckups that Pincer had concocted before I came back. And you know what? I'm still undoing a lot of fuckups that moron did."
"I'm guessing they were pretty bad."
"Like you wouldn't believe." His eye softens slightly as he goes on. "Which is where you come in with your legal background and past experience. Of course, it's just until we get back to our dimension."
"I see. You're worried I'll get into undue mischief if left to my own devices for too long."
"That and you're more qualified than Pincer never was. You worked in the field, brought down some very bad people… you're more than qualified. In fact, if we'd been so inclined at the time, you'd have been headhunted." McCormick nods, putting it together.
"My record at the time was what kept you from headhunting me. But, since it'd been expunged, I was allowed to get a Law License." Curious, he then asks, "Why didn't you headhunt me then?"
"I wasn't in SHIELD at the time as Pincer 'pink-slipped' me. Calling it a 'Diplomatic Motion' as my methods were and still are not Diplomatic enough."
"But SHIELD doesn't use diplomacy. It uses surgical force to stop a bad situation without civilians getting word about it." McCormick's reply gets Fury to nod before the latter smirks.
"You got it. Besides, I seriously doubt you'd be eager to call in an air strike with biological-chemical weapons involved like Pincer was during the Manhattan Crisis." McCormick's eyes can't help but go wide.
"Pincer wanted to call in an air strike?! With those in the mix?! He was more than incompetent!" At Fury's nod of agreement, McCormick adds, "You've got yourself an Acting Admin Director, Colonel. I'll do my best to not let you down."
"Good man. Take the time needed, as quickly as possible of course, to familiarize yourself with the regs. I have a feeling your predecessor is going to try to weasel his way back."
"Okay. Anything in particular I should look for?"
"Other than your interpretation regarding SHIELD's mission statement and Jurisdiction issues, not really."
"You're talking about when Pincer tried to incite a mutiny, aren't you?"
"Yeah. Last I checked, there was no reg prohibiting a SHIELD heli-carrier or personnel from going into another dimension to prevent an ELE." McCormick can only snort at that.
"I think that, if they thought about it, they'd include that reg." Fury can only nod while chortling.
"That's the thing about reg-makers. They tend to not think ahead or be ready for possibilities. They just leave things vague." McCormick can only roll his eyes at it before his face scrunches in thought.
"What if… What if they did it like that on the off chance that an alternate dimension would be come across?" Both men mull it over before replying together.
"Nah!" Upon realizing they'd replied in tandem, their reaction is quite justified. Loud laughter.
(ten minutes later)
"Okay, Gabe." Fury's exasperation is evident as he runs his fingers through his grey hair. "What have you learned about our newest arrival to date?"
"Name, Adam Taurus. Species; Human. Subspecies; Faunus. Type; Bull." Fury arches an eyebrow before Gabe goes on. "From what I'd basically gathered, Faunus are humans with animal attributes. In his case, bull horns." As Fury nods his understanding, Gabe goes on. "I'm still working on a workup of him and should have more info soon."
"Okay, Gabe." Fury sighs gustily before adding, "We get anymore new arrivals on board, we may have to dock and establish some kind of sheltering." Gabe nods while grinning before Fury asks, "How're the guys taking to the loaners from Kuromorimine?"
"They seem to be taking to them well. There, however, was a bit of a spat between them and one of the crew members of one of the loaned tanks."
(Thirty minutes earlier; Flight deck)
Shinji and the guys can only stand, looking agape at the tanks before them.
"You know, when you get up close and personal…"
"They look awesome, yo!" Toad's interrupting Shinji gets a grinning nod from him before Maho lightly chuckles. Palming the 'Tiger I' under the '217' on its turret. A wistful look on her face. Toad catching it. "What is it, yo?"
"This tank is what Miho commanded before she went to Oarai. It… hasn't seen action ever since the 62nd Tournament." Looking toward Shinji, she adds, "I would greatly appreciate it if you guys would take especially good care of it." Before they can reply, a snide female voice chimes in.
"You know, Commander, that it was your little sister's fault we lost last year. Putting lives over victory. What foolish nonsense." Maho's visage darkens slightly as the girl steps forward. "I'm just glad she left as she was a waste." Erika and Koume both clench their jaws in irritation at the girl as she goes on.
"But, for her to pick up 'Tankery' at another school, a backwater one at that, and lead it to victory? I didn't see it coming. Neither did anyone else." The girl then looks the males over before smirking. "I think it's still not too late for you boys to back down." As Shinji and the others look back toward the speaker, she has an arrogant grin as she goes on.
"I don't even know why Instructor Nishizumi even concocted this idea. It's not like you boys can learn anything about Tankery. Especially since you're coming so late into our sport."
"Yeah, well, we're not gonna turn back. We're going all the way." Lance grits his teeth, with Scott glaring at the girl. "Say what you like, but we're not the kind to back down or chicken out." The girl chortles haughtily at that.
"I never said anything about you boys chickening out. You'll find soon that you're simply in way over your heads. It's a real pity as I won't be here to see the look of surrender on your faces when you realize that fact."
"It remains to be seen that it's a fact." Scott's retort gets a nod from Lance.
"Oh, but it is a fact." Grinning fiercely, the girl goes on. "And, if you persist in your foolish folly, it will give me immense pleasure to see you boys fall flat on your faces if you even think about showing up for this 'study' that Instructor Nishizumi had decided to carry out." The girl then laughs eerily, getting a frown from Maho. With the girl noticing. 'Why're you frowning, Commander?' Next thing she knows…
"Yeah, maybe we're gonna fall flat on our faces. Maybe we're not. But success, failure or inconclusive, we're giving it our all." Shinji's reply gets her attention before he goes on. "If you have a problem with that, the problem is yours. Not ours." The girl grins again as she strides toward him.
"My, my. Such words from a male that doesn't even seem to know his place. Your name?"
"Shinji Ikari, JOFA of SHIELD, Pilot of NERV Evangelion Unit-01. You are?"
"I am Madoka Uchiha. 2nd year student at Kuromorimine Women's Academy, Commander of the Elefant tank you boys have temporarily usurped from us." Bringing up her left hand, she quickly swipes it toward Shinji's face, adding, "Learn your place!" Much to her surprise, however, Shinji catches it. "Wha… How?!"
"I live with a violent redheaded girl that struck me on a daily basis before my girlfriend, my friends and SHIELD came into my life. Her slaps were faster. Your slap was coming at me so slowly, it's actually quite pathetic." Madoka's eyes flare in anger at his tone and wrenches her hand out of his grip.
"Let's see you catch this one!" Swiping again, she then sees a hand grab hers from the side. She looks and blanches at seeing Maho sternly frowning at her. "Commander?!"
"There will no further attempts to assault a member of an opposing team. Especially if that member has been trained in hand-to-hand combat. Am I clear, Uchiha?" Madoka blinks before looking Shinji over and smirking in mirth.
"Him? This twig? Yeah, right. He's a wimp. He can't do shit, Commander." With that, she flounces her long dark hair and walks away, adding, "See you in a month, loser." Maho can only sigh before looking at Shinji.
"I'm so sorry about her behavior, JOFA Ikari."
"Yeah, well, looks like a lesson in humility is required for her, then." Shinji's reply gets Maho to smirk widely before he goes on. "In any case, just a hint of possibility." Maho kinks her head to the right at that.
"Possibility of what?"
"As you're aware, this world is being attacked by giant space aliens." Maho gives a gentle nod before he goes on. "The attacks aren't exactly scheduled. They could come during our training or it could happen during the study." Maho grins with some mirth at that.
"It would certainly make your war easier to win if the aliens notified you ahead of time."
"It would, wouldn't it?" Shinji's face takes on a smirk before he speaks again, putting his right hand to his ear. "Hello, Shinji of Planet Earth speaking." Maho, having an idea of where he's going, joins in herself.
"Hello, Shinji of Planet Earth. This is Alien Goiran. I'd like to schedule my attack with you if that's possible." Scott and Lance's faces bounce back and forth like they were at Wimbledon. With glee on their faces. Lance thinking of it.
'I may not like regular tennis, but I do love verbal tennis!'
"Sure, no problem. Let me check my calendar here." Miming leafing through a calendar book, Shinji then sighs. "I'm sorry, Alien Goiran. I'm afraid that the next open date I have available is the middle of next month."
"The middle of next month? Why?" Maho effects a whine at the query. In the background, the Flight Deck crew is in stitches. Enjoying the sibling-like banter between the two. Shinji can only sigh again.
"For the remainder of the month, my friends and I are going to be training for a study. Such training is likely going to take up a lot of our time. At the start of the month, the study's going to be taking place with us using the training."
"Ooh. Sounds intense."
"Yep. So.… yeah. I'm afraid that the next open spot we have available for an attack is the middle of next month." Scott is unable to resist snickering, so he ducks to behind Lance's back. Lance rolling his eyes.
"Oh fiddlesticks." Sighing sadly, Maho goes on. "Very well. I'll attack you the middle of next month. Oh, and Shinji?"
"Yes, Alien Goiran?"
"I hope your training and study goes well. As it could be your last. BWAHAHAHAHA!" Her face losing composure, Maho cracks up laughing, with Shinji joining in. "Oh, that was great!" The two collapse into each other's arms and laugh together for three minutes until the mirth-filled laughter tapers off. Grin on her face as they separate, Maho sighs. "I can hardly wait for Miho to meet you."
"Likewise on meeting Miho." Sighing, Shinji goes on. "In any case, in the event of an alien attack, the study will have to be put on hold until after it's over with. With all other participants sheltering in place until the all clear's given." Maho nods her agreement.
"I have no issues with that, JOFA Ikari. I sincerely hope, however, no attacks happen." Shinji can only have a wry grin on his face.
"You're not the only one." Maho chuckles softly at that. Next thing they know, Madoka snidely chimes in.
"Aliens attacking? Yeah right. You're just using that 'possibility' as an excuse to get out of the thrashing we'll give you! Just admit you're too gutless and incompetent for this 'study' and we'll retake the tanks." An irritated Maho can only attempt to keep her cool.
"Uchiha, I'm warning you. Don't go there."
"Commander, you can't seriously be entertaining this moron's claims." Madoka storms forward before moving to Shinji at a run and reaching her right fist toward him.
Only for him to grasp her arm, move to her side and yank hard. Causing a series of spikes of pain in her right wrist, elbow and shoulder. As she pants, the pain intense, she can only grit her teeth.
"Alright! That's it!" She makes to move her arm out of his grip, only for more pain to shoot from the joints, forcing her to stay still. "Ow, ow, ow, ow… owie."
"If you like, I can put the joints back into place."
"No. You've done quite enough damage to me! Get me a Medic!" Releasing her arm and looking away, Shinji makes the only call he can.
"Medic!"
(present time)
"So for the time being, Miss Uchiha is under instruction to not try moving her arm extensively lest she exacerbate her injury." Gabe's words get Fury to roll his good eye.
"Where is she now?"
"She's currently in the Med-bay getting plastered. Agent Palmer is applying the plaster to her as we speak."
"How long of a recovery time is she looking?"
"With the extent of dislocation, her wrist, elbow and shoulder, along with pulled muscles… Two months, at least. With another three for rehab." Fury can only wince his good eye at that.
"How did Ms. Nishizumi respond to the injury dealt to her student?"
"She and Maho both are outside right now, actually. Waiting to give you their reaction."
"Alright." Gabe nods and exits Fury's office, nodding to his right before striding away. Shiho and Maho both striding in themselves. "Ladies Nishizumi."
"Colonel Fury."
"Have a seat, please." Once they've done so, Fury goes on. "I understand you have a response to the injury dealt to your student." Shiho nods at that.
"Yes, Colonel. We hold no ill will towards JOFA Ikari as he was the target of her unjustified ire."
"Thank you, ma'am. Much appreciated." Maho emits a soft snort and Shiho fails to suppress a smirk. "But I digress. He did unintentionally cause injury to one of your students even as she tried to intentionally injure him, one of my students." Maho chimes right in on that.
"It's a debacle to be certain. But I'm sure we can arrange for this to be a learning experience in the folly of underestimating a person based on physical stature." Fury can only smirk.
"I think, however, some people are incapable of learning. I should know as I have come across quite a few of them." Shiho nods her agreement before kinking her head to the side.
"Just how long had JOFA Ikari been training in hand-to-hand, anyway? Because he executed that move flawlessly."
"Almost a month." Shiho's eyes go golf-ball wide at that as Fury shrugs. "It seems that Piloting a gigantic combat cyborg paid off for him in some way." Shiho can't help but snicker softly while nodding. Only to notice Fury's expression go stony. "In any case, I'd like to pick a bone with you."
"I have a feeling I know what it is about." Shiho's reply gets a nod from Fury before she looks to Maho. "Do you think the door should be closed, Maho?"
"I do." Turning to Fury, Maho asks, "Do you want me to close the door, Colonel?" At his nod, Maho rises and does so before sitting back down.
(3rd Level; same time)
"So, Adam, tell me about the branding."
"What's to tell? An employee of the Schnee Dust Company didn't like my glaring at him, so he decided to partially blind me."
"Has there been years of bad blood between Faunus and that company?" Adam can only sigh before shaking his head.
"No. Nicholas Schnee, the founder of the company, was a firm believer in paying employees, human or Faunus, equal and fair wages while all other employers treated Faunus like slaves. It didn't start until Jacques Schnee instituted policies that took away Faunus wages. Along with endangered or ended Faunus lives. Usually both situations happened." Before Riesman can ask, however, a young female voice is heard. Whining.
"What do you mean I'll be recovering for at least two months?! I can't be in a tank for at least three months after I get this cast off?! Three months is the minimum standard for rehab?! I'm going to kill that boy! You hear me, Agent?! I'm going to frickin' kill him!" The next voice they hear is a slightly mature female voice.
"I think you'll find you'll have some opposition on that, Miss Uchiha, as JOFA Howlett is enamored with him and will intercept you before you can even get close to her beloved. And even if she isn't nearby to him, JOFA Ikari can more than take care of himself. As you've just experienced for yourself on the flight deck." Miss Uchiha scoffs at that.
"That boy just got lucky."
"Lucky or not, in the end, you attacked him and he defended himself with as much minimal damage to you as possible."
"You call this minimal damage, Agent?!" Adam can only smirk at the incredulity within.
'I gotta meet this guy.'
"Considering the flight deck is concrete and how hard he could've slammed you if he chose to, yes."
"Meaning?"
"Had you been slammed onto the flight deck, you'd have been paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of your life. As it is, you're very lucky your arm was just dislocated in three places, along with pulled muscles." At Palmer's terse reply, Miss Uchiha goes stone silent before the former goes on. "So, other than the restriction to your activity, any further questions?"
"One." Miss Uchiha's tone has dismayed surrender within as she asks, "How am I going to explain this to my parents?!"
"That's entirely up to you, Miss Uchiha." As the girl whines, Adam looks back toward Riesman.
"What was that about?"
"From what we just heard..." Adam can only roll his good eye.
"Some girl got herself hurt. Idiot."
"You should've seen what Shinji did to a now-former Agent in his intro to Krav Maga."
"Oh?"
"It's a long story. Along with very unpleasant."
From there, Riesman and Adam both speak. With Adam explaining what'd he'd done with and to the White Fang. Along with Riesman explaining her actions on behalf of HYDRA before she managed to flee to SHIELD.
"In my time to HYDRA, the only thing I think I did right was my little girl." Grinning ruefully, she adds, "Of course, I wasn't really allowed to be her Mother."
"At least you tried." Shaking his head, Adam adds, "I still find it hard to believe there are no Faunus in your world."
"True. But those like my daughter are constantly treated like non-humans. All because of a gene that regular humans don't have." Riesman considers earlier before shrugging. "So, in a way, we do have Faunus." Adam nods after considering the aspect.
"So our worlds aren't really all that different." Smirking, he adds, "If Blake was here, she'd think she was in one of those erotic stories she likes to read."
"She just might. In fact, Dr McCoy, Mr. Worthington, Mr. Tolensky, Mr. Daniels and Mr. Wagner could be considered our world's version of Faunus. Perhaps even Dorian Leach and the Morlocks." Adam muses thoughtfully before a tanned girl with long brown hair and green eyes pokes her head in.
"Hey, Mom."
"Hey, Laura. What brings you by?"
"Not much. Heard Shinji had a less than cordial encounter with a bimbo from another dimension that tried assaulting him. And failed miserably."
"That, Laura, is putting it mildly."
"I just wish I could've seen it. To see if it matches my standards." Riesman can only smirk softly at that before Laura grins upon seeing Adam. "Well now. Welcome back to the world of the awake." Adam can only snicker softly at that before she adds, "I'd love to stay and chat, but I gotta reward Shinji for what he did. Later!" Just as quickly, Laura pops her head back out, leaving Riesman to sigh gustily.
"That girl… is just so incorrigible." Adam can't help but feel slightly amused.
"She seems normal enough." Riesman smiles softly at that.
"She's still catching up on what she'd missed during development." Meanwhile…
As Laura exits the hatch, she sees Touji looking down toward the floor panel. Looking down herself, she sees drops of water and frowns thoughtfully before looking up to the ceiling.
'Strange. No water leaks.' Blinking, her eyes go wide before she looks back at his face and sees tears falling. "Touji? Is there something wrong?" Touji jumps slightly, looking right at her. "You're in visible distress." Touji mulls it over before sighing with a nod.
"It's my sister, Sakura. She's… She's stopped responding to the treatments." Touji sinks down to the floor panel to sit on his rear. "She's… She's going to be paralyzed for the rest of her life. All because Shin-man's old man couldn't see fit to train him ahead of time." The feral glint in her eyes gets him to gulp.
"I know. I still want Gendo at the end of my claws."
"I don't know if I should cheer you on or be afraid for him." Pausing briefly, he adds, "Nah. Cheer you on." Clenching his fist, he mutters, "I decked the wrong Ikari." Laura can't help but smirk at the imagery of Touji decking Gendo. Her smirk fades away before her head kinks to the left.
"How long have you known this?"
"Since yesterday afternoon, before 'Suke, Horaki and I came aboard."
"Why didn't you say anything before?" Touji can only wave off her query.
"You kidding? You guys have plenty on your plate, doing what you can to help Shin-man and NERV stop the 'ELE' that's coming upon us. If anything, Sakura's not even a blip on your radar screen. No way I was gonna put her there."
"Too late." Laura's reply gets Touji to look up at her. "You just did." Laura's lips start to curl up in a soft grin as she spots Gabe returning. "Wait here." Walking away from him, she strides to Gabe.
"Ah, JOFA Howlett." Much to his surprise, her voice is low.
"Doctor Jones… how long does the AHS you'd made last?" Electing to lower his voice as well, he gives his reply.
"As in before injection?" At her nod, Gabe frowns. "It's starting to deteriorate. Another three months and it'll be no more."
"Current effectiveness?"
"At this point… 75%. Still within healing parameters, albeit slowly." Curious, he asks, "Why're you asking? It's nowhere near time for removing the connection ports from JOFA Ikari's skull."
"I know. Suzuhara's little sister's stopped responding to the treatment. She's looking at being paralyzed for the rest of her life. Unless, of course…" Seeing what she's getting at, Gabe nods.
"I see. How long ago did you find out?"
"Just now. Suzuhara's just right there." Gabe nods at that and sees Touji still seated on the floor. Looking downward once again.
"I'll be right back." Laura nods as Gabe authenticates his access and goes in. Crossing to his station and bringing out a vial filled with a sapphire liquid, he puts the vial into a Med-kit and starts making his way back to the hatch. With it catching Madoka's eyes.
"Where is that Doctor going?"
"Looks like he's taking the 'Accelerated Healing Serum' derived from JOFA Howlett's blood to help someone in great need." Palmer's statement gets Madoka to grit out.
"Oi! Give me that serum!"
"No can do as I only have enough for one."
"Yeah! Me!" Gabe, however, sternly frowns at the girl.
"Young lady, this serum was originally to help speed JOFA Ikari's healing from a procedure to be performed. However, an innocent girl injured in his first untrained battle has stopped responding to treatment. As such, she has first dibs."
"I'm an innocent girl!" Gabe and Palmer can only gaze sharply at her before Gabe gives his retort.
"I really don't think EXTSUR will agree with your claim." With that, with Madoka protesting, he exits, Med-case in hand. And blinks upon seeing Maho and Shiho standing with Laura and Touji. "Mr. Suzuhara?" Touji looks up and sees Gabe. "I may have a treatment option that may work." Touji can't help but feel curious.
"How big of a 'may' is it, Doc?"
"It's a longshot." Touji can only grin softly at that.
"A longshot's better than no shot."
"Quite right. Shall we?" Touji nods before feeling a hand gently clap his left shoulder. Looking back, he sees Laura smiling softly. Shiho and Maho both echoing the smile.
"Howlett… how can I…"
"Don't thank me yet. When she's back on her feet, then you can thank me." Nodding, Touji smirks softly.
"I hope Shin-man marries you. Soon." Much to his surprise, she smirks back.
"I hope you come to your senses and ask Class Rep Horaki out. Soon." His face goes red as he follows an amused Gabe. Smiling softly at the warm feeling in her heart, Laura chuckles before sighing. 'I really hope it works.'
"Laura, what was that yelling inside about?" Maho's query gets a sigh from Laura as she authenticates her access and opens the hatch.
"I have a theory about that, Maho."
(Flight Deck; fifteen minutes later)
Erika and Koume both are giving the boys taking part in the 'study' a quick rundown on the tanks.
"So if you're worried about being able to understand the controls and switches, don't as they're all in English as all Schools have excellent English programs, enabling those taking part in Tankery to able to function. Allowing for exchange students to be able to understand what's what." Smirking softly, Erika adds, "I'd say you guys are the closest thing to exchange students even though you're not attending Kuromorimine."
"Erika! Don't be mean!"
"I'm not, Koume! I'm being sincere. They are the closest thing to being exchange students."
"On that note, Erika, I can only agree." Maho's voice gets their attention, getting them to look toward her. Along with seeing Agent Palmer, Shiho and Madoka with her. A hand-truck with a pallet with boxes in front of Agent Palmer.
"I still say it's a bad idea, Commander Nishizumi. Because of that boy, I can't even be in a tank!" Madoka's arm propped upward in a plaster cast, with the girl glaring at Shinji. Maho notices the glare before Shiho chimes in.
"It is your own fault, Miss Uchiha." Madoka's glare fades before Shiho looks toward Shinji. "Maho told me about the possibility of an alien attack, JOFA Ikari. While I appreciate you giving her advance notification, I sincerely hope no attacks happen."
"Like I told her, Instructor Nishizumi, I can only hope the same as we have our work cut out for us." Shiho's lips quirk up in a soft smile before she nods.
"Yes, you most certainly do." Frowning, she adds, "Now if only we can notify Deadpool we are ready."
"Great!" Deadpool's cheery voice gets them to jump slightly as he opens a rift. "One portal to Kuromorimine ready and waiting, Lady Nishizumi!"
"Thank you, Deadpool." Looking back to Agent Palmer, Shiho adds, "Right this way, Jillian." Nodding, Agent Palmer follows Shiho and a grumbling Madoka, with Maho and Erika trailing behind. Koume, however…
"See you in a month, Arcade." He can only nod softly at the girl.
"Yeah. See you then." Next thing he knows, Koume plants a big, yet chaste, kiss right onto his lips, getting him to shoot his eyes wide open in shock, his cheeks going bright red.
Ending the chaste kiss, a blushing Koume giggles and skips away. Shiho, Maho and Erika all smirking gently with Palmer softly smiling as she exits the portal with a now empty hand-truck and Madoka scowling heavily.
"What the Hell, Akaboshi?!" Koume can only giggle again.
"What's wrong, Madoka? Jealous?" Koume looks back and giggles again upon seeing a still-blushing Arcade. "See you next month, handsome." Giving him a wink and blowing him a kiss, she giggles at his face going even redder as the portal closes. Once it does so, Arcade faints. Scott and Lance, grinning widely, catching him before he hits the Flight Deck.
"Ba… Ba… Ba…" Scott and Lance can only shake their heads in mirth before Gabe's voice chimes in.
"What's wrong with JOFA Torque?"
"He just got kissed on his lips by a very pretty girl." Scott nods at Lance's explanation before Gabe nods.
"I see. At least it's nothing serious." Behind Gabe, Touji is blinking before the former turns to him. "Shall we board the helicopter now, Mr. Suzuhara?"
"Oh… uh, yeah. Let's go, Doc." The two then board a nearby, by 100 ft, MH-70, the pilot powering up the engines. Within two minutes, the main rotor's speed is enough to lift the transport helo off of the flight deck. As the MH-70 flies away, another aircraft approaches. Only it's a Section-2 VTOL. The sight gets Shinji to scowl as it touches down onto the flight deck, the door opening, revealing Chiron.
"Third Child!" The VTOL's engines are so loud, Shinji can barely hear the man. "The Commander wants you in his presence!" Turning back, Shinji looks and sees Scott and Lance scowling as well.
"I'll be back as soon as I can! You'll have to catch me up on what I miss!"
"Got it! Go do what you gotta do!" Shinji nods at Scott's words before racing to the VTOL. Upon his boarding, the VTOL lifts off. As the sound ebbs away, Lance lets his unhappiness be known.
"Why does that Gendo jerk have bad timing?"
"That, Lance, is a very good question." Shaking his head, Scott looks toward the tanks before asking. "So… how do we decide which group operates which tank?" Scratching the back of his head, Lance gives his semi-reply.
"A raffle, perhaps?" Scott blinks incredulously before pondering it. He then gives a shrug.
"That's about a good idea as any." Frowning, he adds, "All we need now is someone to show us the ropes as I don't think guessing our way on everything's going to work."
"I think I might be able to help." The boys all blink at the new male voice before turning and seeing an elder, yet fit, Caucasian gentleman. "Zach Carey, Sgt Major, US Army, Retired." Blinking again, the boys look back and forth before the man sighs. "I hope you won't take too long in processing as we are burning daylight." Lance shakes it off before smiling sheepishly.
"Sorry, sir. We weren't really expecting to get an answer so soon." Scott nods his agreement before Zach snorts.
"Don't call me sir, son, I work for a living." Putting his hands behind his back at 'Parade Rest', he then looks over the four tan tanks before him and grimaces lightly. "German platforms, huh. One turret, three casemates. Not quite what I'm used to, but I can give a bit of a hand."
"Oh? What kind are you used to, Sgt Major?" A now-recovered Arcade gets Zach's attention.
"My M-4 Sherman." Blinking, he then frowns at seeing the kanji on the tanks. "I'm afraid, however, my Japanese in non-existent."
"Basically, the tanks belong to Kuromorimine Women's Academy in another dimension. We were offered an opportunity to take part in a study to see if males can take part in an all-girls' sport that involves tanks." Zach can only blink again at Arcade's explanation before sighing.
"Doesn't that just frost them?" Shaking it off, he then asks, "Okay, which group's where?"
"We were actually about to raffle the tanks to decide what group is with which tank." Lance nods in concert with Scott's comment, with Zach nodding his agreement.
"That's a base enough idea. Now for crew compositions." Roberto scowls at that, with Zach noticing. "Something bugging you?"
"Yeah. The thought of being in a tank with 'Berzerker'. It's bugging me."
"I see. Which one's 'Berzerker', if I may?"
"That'd be me. Ray Crisp." Ray's reply gets Zach's attention as the youth goes on. "I'm not going to bore you with the details, but 'Sunspot' and I don't exactly get along." Zach's eyes harden at that before he goes right to Roberto.
"You don't get along with him?" Roberto can only reel back slightly before giving his reply.
"Not really at all. Much like us X-Men and the Brotherhood most of the time."
"I see." Moving back to where he's in front of them before looking them over, he goes on. "Everyone, look to your right." The boys do so before Zach adds, "Now look to your left." Once they've done so, he goes on. "The man beside you has your life in his hands much like you have his. You'll all find that in a combat situation, whether actual or simulated, personal opinions or biases have no place. No matter how much bad history you have with each other." Apocalypse and how well they'd worked with each other in that crisis come into their minds. "That nonsense stops now. Am I clear?"
"I'm afraid that's not really gonna do any good, yo." Toad's reply gets Zach's attention as he goes on. "Those two and we have been butting heads for as long as I can remember. The only time they and we'd agree is if someone shares their and our mutual animosity, yo."
"Is that right?" At Toad's nod, Zach looks at them before asking, "And just how often did that happen?
"Not very often, really. Recently, we went up against a Smurf's casting reject that tried to force an evolution onto humanity that would've killed everyone that didn't have an X-gene." Sam's voice gets Zach to nod.
"So you can work together. On that note, who, if anyone, shares your animosity the most right now?"
"At the moment, Gendo Ikari, the 'Father' of a friend of ours." Ray's sour reply gets a mirthless snort from Roberto, getting Zach's attention.
"That bad, is he?" The boys all nod before Zach asks, "Where's your friend now?"
"Shinji had to go meet with his 'Father' at NERV HQ." Roberto's reply is full of scorn. "Of course, the jackass isn't really much of a Father to him. If anything, Mr. Fujioka is more of a Father to Shinji than Gendo would or could ever hope or aspire to be." Zach blinks between the two before sighing.
"Sounds like a long story. One we'll have to get into later. For now, though, let's raffle the tanks and compose the crews." Meanwhile…
(NERV HQ; Gendo's Office; same time)
"So, that's what happened, Commander." Pincer's voice is dripping with contempt as Gendo gazes stonily at him. His hands before his mouth. "All because of some literal interpretation on the part of Fury, I had to walk the plank!"
"I see. I fully understand your position on what you'd gone through." Not moving his hands away from his mouth, he asks, "If you could get Command, would you remove SHIELD from this conflict?"
"Yes, sir, as it's not even our fight or dimension." Gendo mulls it over before nodding.
"Very well. Let me get into contact with some colleagues of mine as they have access to personnel required to handle this situation." Pincer nods his agreement as the intercom chimes.
"Captain Chiron is here with the 3rd Child, Commander."
"They are to enter." With that, the office door opens, revealing Chiron in his black suit and Shinji in his BDUs, under arms, blue beret on his head. Shinji sees Pincer and sighs.
"Why'd I get the feeling I hadn't seen the last of you, Pincer?" Pincer grits his teeth at that familiar tone.
"You'd do well to speak respectfully to me, JOFA Ikari, as I can withdraw SHIELD from this conflict and leave you, X-23 and NERV far behind."
"I think you're going to have a hard time doing that, Mr. Pincer, as your access signature's been deleted, with a 'Signal 10-13' attached to it if it is used. And… I'm not sure if you heard it or not, but pretty much everyone laughed their heads off as they found your 'request' for support to be highly amusing as none of them supported you." Smirking, he adds, "Even I found it highly amusing."
"Bah! They were all scared of Fury! They just didn't want to admit it!" Blinking, he then yelps out, "A 'Signal 10-13' attached to my signature?! That's going too far!" Shakily, he asks, "Do they really hate me that much?"
"Given that you'd never served in the field… yeah. Pretty much." Gendo can't help but blink before cutting in.
"Not that I care, but what is a 'Signal 10-13' exactly?"
"It's code for 'Hostile on board. Shoot to kill authorized'. That code is used in event of unauthorized boarding of hostile personnel." Gendo gives a slight nod at that.
"That sounds sensible. But what about security? Certainly the vessel has some measures in place to keep hostiles from getting onboard to begin with."
"There are. But even measures have weaknesses in them. Hence the code." Having a sneaking suspicion, Shinji inwardly smirks. 'Let's see if I can get a nibble.' Verbally, he goes on. "There are, of course, drills for such a situation. With different tones. Isn't that right, Pincer?" Pincer blinks before nodding his agreement.
"Yes. There are." Rubbing his hands together internally, he mentally goes on. 'All I gotta do is tell them the Drill and Non-Drill tones! As he's too set in his ways, Fury would never think of swapping them out! Brilliant!' Shinji, however…
'I'll have to ask Colonel Fury about swapping the Drill tone for the Non-Drill one when I get back as I'm pretty sure that Pincer's thinking about using his "knowledge" about the protocols.'
"I see. And which tone is which?" Pincer takes that one.
"The drill tone is 'BWEEE-BWEEE' and non-drill is 'BWA-AH'. I seriously doubt Fury will change it as he's quite set in his ways." Gendo mulls it over before looking at Shinji.
"Is that accurate?"
"Oh, yes, Commander. Colonel Fury is quite firm on the axiom 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'. We drill every two weeks." Tapping his chin thoughtfully, he adds, "In fact, we may be due a drill soon."
"How soon?"
"Kinda hard to tell as drills aren't exactly scheduled. Much like the Angel attacks."
"I see that SHIELD prepares for unexpected situations as best it can, then."
"Yep." Shrugging haplessly, Shinji can only sigh out, "Oh well. Gotta roll with the punches as best we can." Pincer and Gendo both share a smirk as Shinji inwardly grins evilly. 'If I'm right, the Commander's going to try something. Soon.'
"Very well. it seems your education may bear excellent fruit in the future. However… Mr. Pincer?"
"Yes, Commander?"
"Would you be so kind as to leave Pilot Ikari and myself alone? I wish to have a discussion with him regarding an important matter."
"Yes, Commander." Straightening his tie, Pincer looks toward Shinji. "I'll wait for you outside, JOFA Ikari." Shinji gives Pincer a wide smirk.
"I'll be looking forward to it." Pincer frowns at that before exiting the office. Once the door's closed, Shinji goes on. "I take it you've reached a decision as to what I said yesterday evening."
"Not as such. It's come to my attention that you have come into possession of four WW2-era tanks."
"Yep. They're for a study most of my male friends and I are going to be taking part in. I can already tell it's going to be so much fun." Gendo can only frown behind his hands.
"You're to surrender them to NERV, as you have no time to be training or engaging in a 'fun study' as you call it." At that, Shinji's gaze sharpens slightly.
"Yeah… that's not happening as the tanks don't even belong to me or my friends. They belong to a school in another dimension and I seriously doubt the Headmistress of the school will appreciate her School's tanks being given to NERV when they're set to be returned at the end of the study." Gendo, however, waves it off.
"You know very little about tanks. To try to learn is a futile effort. You'd be better off divesting yourself of them." Shinji can only smirk again at that.
"I learned to Pilot the Evangelion, didn't I? A tank can't be that much different. Well, aside from the tank lacking blood-scented LCL, not feeling what the tank feels and, well, the tanks don't exactly walk, of course." Gendo feels his lips quirk up in slight amusement before his gaze narrows.
"I order you to surrender the tanks to NERV lest you suffer consequences."
"And I just told you they're not mine to give."
"And just how would the school know about you giving NERV the tanks if the school's in another dimension?"
"Oh, gee, let me think." Tapping his chin again in thought, Shinji goes on. "If I did that, I'd say the instant they come back to this dimension for the study, they'll notice a distinct absence of the tanks loaned to us." Gendo's eyes can only go wide behind his lenses.
"The study's to be held here? Unauthorized!"
"By what law? There's no law that says people from another dimension are prohibited from holding a study in another dimension." Shinji's sharp gaze hardening, he adds, "Instructor Nishizumi will not be pleased should I tell her that tanks belonging to Kuromorimine Women's Academy is in the possession of an Agency the Agency's not supposed to be in possession of. I'm quite sure that she'd be outraged and demand a meeting with you." Once again, Gendo waves it off.
"Her quarrel with NERV is of very little consequence."
"Much like your demand for the tanks is hereby disregarded. If nothing else, Commander Ikari, I have tank training to begin. Good day."
"I am not finished, Third Child."
"Maybe not, but I am." Turning away from Gendo, Shinji starts his exit before turning back to him. "By the way, remember the 3rd Condition?"
"I do."
"You just violated it. Strike 1. 2 remain. Let there be no 3rd strike or NERV will have my resignation as Pilot." With that, Shinji starts walking away. Ignoring Gendo as he walks.
"I am not finished, Third Child!" Seeing Shinji not stopping, Gendo yells, "Stop him, Chiron!"
"Big mistake you're making, Chiron."
"I'll be the judge of that, 3rd Child!" Chiron makes to intercept Shinji physically, only for him to deftly dodge Chiron before turning and kicking him in the crotch hard from behind.
"GAAAH!"
"I warned you." As the Section-2 Chief collapses, Shinji slightly looks back before bringing up the back of his right index and middle fingers to signal '2'. Only to bring his index finger back down and smirk.
Gendo can only gape at Shinji's audacity as the latter reaches the door and opening it. Revealing Pincer still there. Given the man's pallor, Shinji can only guess he heard everything. Moving past Pincer, Shinji finds himself elated at how brazenly bold he'd just been.
'Do I tell Colonel Fury I just flipped off my Father?' Mulling it over, he smirks widely. 'Hell yeah!' Meanwhile…
"Oh, my balls." Chiron can only clutch himself as he curls into a ball. "I don't know what's worse. Being Tased or being hit in the balls." Gendo doesn't wince in sympathy, yet Pincer does as he'd experienced both himself. Pincer grimaces slightly before seeing Gendo bring out a phone from his desk.
"Who're you getting ready to call, Commander Ikari?"
"My contact, Mr. Pincer."
(Tokyo-3 General Hospital; Pediatric Trauma Ward; Sakura Suzuhara's room; same time)
"Sakura…"
Touji's voice gets Sakura to slowly open her eyes. The sight of her big brother gets the girl to smile faintly.
"Big brother…" Touji has a soft smile on his face.
"I've someone to meet you." Sakura can only blink as Touji steps away, revealing a kindly African-American man.
"Hello, Miss Suzuhara. I'm Dr Jones."
"Hello, Dr Jones." As the Doctor takes a seat, he looks her over.
"How are you doing today?"
"I'm tired, Dr Jones. So very tired." He nods before sighing.
"I heard about your situation earlier, along with the prognosis." Sakura faintly nods before a tear emerges from her left eye. "However, I may have a treatment option that'll work. Granted, it's a longshot. The choice is yours." Sakura blinks slowly before sighing.
"Like big brother says, a long shot is better than none." Snorting, she adds, "Not like it'll change anything."
"Ah, but how do we know unless we attempt?" Opening the Med-case, Dr Jones brings out a vial, filled with a sapphire liquid, and an air injector. "Given the extent of damage done to you, the whole vial will need to be used."
"I understand." Her eyes moving faintly to Touji, she asks, "Big brother, can you hold my hand please?" Touji looks and sees a nod from Gabe before nodding right back.
"Sure thing." Going to her other side, Touji gently grips her hand, with Sakura looking right at him. Fear in her eyes. "Don't worry, Sakura. It won't be like a regular needle." The steady hiss of compressed air is heard as the liquid is injected into her body via the left arm. Next thing Touji knows…
'Giggle' The sound that Touji missed so much emerging from Sakura's lips gets him to grin.
"What is it, Sakura?"
"It tickles. Tingly all over." Giggling again, Sakura's eyes go wide before she gasps in awe. "I can feel it, big brother!" Touji's eyes start dripping tears of joy as Sakura giggles even more. He looks over at a widely-grinning Dr Jones as the man takes careful notes. Sakura's giggles start tapering off until they cease. The 'tickling' sensation gone, Sakura lightly frowns.
"I want to feel more tickling." Curious, Dr Jones reaches down to the sole of her left foot.
"Something like… this?"
With that, he starts moving his fingertips along the sole and instantly Sakura begins giggling again. Starting to chortle himself, Dr Jones intensifies the tickling, with Sakura giggling even more. Touji, however, can only be agape at the unscientific method being displayed before him. Dr Jones, satisfied at the progress made, nods.
"Alright. All that's left now is your physical rehab, Miss Suzuhara." Her giggles tapering off, Sakura can only blink before Touji chimes in.
"What physical rehab, Doc? She's mended."
"Mostly, yes."
"What about the tingling she'd felt earlier?"
"That would be the nerves reactivating, along with repairing the damage done to her muscle and bone structure."
"Ah…" Touji nods, not quite understanding, but willing to trust him.
"You should also think of how long she'd been confined to the bed. Undoubtedly, her muscles have started to atrophy. She needs a steady exercise regimen to get back into moving condition." With that, he puts the injector and expended vial back into the Med-case. As he does that, Touji mulls it over before Sakura chimes in.
"How long, Doctor?"
"Depends on how determined and sensible you are." Sakura cutely kinks her head to the right before he goes on. "Determined enough to push yourself, but sensible enough to not push yourself too hard." Sakura can only frown, baffled.
"How can I know, Doctor?"
"I know two people that'll be more than happy to help you with your regimen as they'd just recently helped another girl that was bedridden for a shorter amount of time, but under different circumstances. They'll devise the regimen and ease you into it." Sakura mulls it over before lightly nodding.
"Okay, Doctor." Locking the Med-case, Dr Jones nods right back before looking at Touji.
"Might I speak with you outside the room, Mr. Suzuhara?" Upon getting a nod, Dr Jones lightly ruffles Sakura's hair, getting a soft squeal from her before getting up and going to the door. Touji, however, lightly kisses Sakura's brow, getting a soft whine from her.
"Big brother!" Touji softly chuckles before following Dr Jones out the door. Only for Sakura to add, "Thank you, Dr Jones!" Dr Jones, however, smirks gently at her.
"I guess we'll see if you still feel that way when your rehab starts." The 'ominous' statement gets the girl to blink as Dr Jones closes the door and looks intently at Touji.
"I won't mince words, Mr. Suzuhara. Your little sister has a lengthy recovery ahead of her. There'll be times when she'll feel she can't go on. That's where you come in." Touji nods slowly, seeing where the SHIELD Doctor's going with it.
"You want me at the end of her tunnels, don't you?" At Gabe's nod, Touji looks back at Sakura as she starts closing her eyes for another nap before smiling softly. "I failed her before, Doc. I'm not gonna fail her again." Gabe 'glares harshly' at Touji.
"There was no way you, NERV or JOFA Ikari could've known what was going to happen." Touji winces at that.
"Shin-man told you about that, didn't he?"
"No. You did." Touji can't help but be baffled by that.
"How do you mean?"
"Before I arrived, INTSUR picked up your conversation with JOFA Howlett and transmitted your regret that you'd decked the wrong Ikari."
"Ah." Blinking, he asks, "Does Howlett know?"
"Nope. And she doesn't need to. What she needs to know, however, is that her idea worked."
"I see. Just… where'd you get the serum from?"
"It's a long story, Mr. Suzuhara. But know this. Your little sister is very fortunate I had made the serum ahead of time."
"Yeah… yeah she is." Feeling Gabe gently clasp his shoulder, Touji looks the SHIELD Doctor straight on.
"I'll arrange for Agent Koenig to have access lanyards made for yourself and your sister as her rehab starts tomorrow, 0830. An MH-70 will be outside on the heli-pad at 0800, waiting to fly you both to 'Wave of the Orca' to start her rehab. Any questions?"
"Yeah. You got any openings on your JO program?" Gabe can only chuckle softly.
"You'll have to discuss that with Colonel Fury as he's in charge of the program."
"Oh… right." Touji can only laugh sheepishly before going serious. "But, in all seriousness Doc, thank you. Sakura and I'll see you and the rehab people tomorrow."
"You're quite welcome. Now… go spend a little more time with your sister." Touji nods softly as he opens the door, steps in and closes it before sitting at her side. Gabe softly grins before walking away, Med-case in hand. Meanwhile…
(Tokyo-3; main thoroughfare; same time)
Walking along Tokyo-3's streets on the sidewalk can give a person time to ponder life's big questions. Shinji Ikari, however, has other questions on his mind.
'Did Pincer and I both give that sack of shit info on heli-carrier security?'
'Was it bound to happen even if I said nothing?'
'How am I going to get back to the heli-carrier? I may know how to swim now, but it is a fair distance away from the dock. I may not even make it.'
'What good could Kuromorimine's tanks do for NERV? They may be machines originally made for war, but they'd been heavily-modified for sport. Unless they're still capable of firing lethal ordnance, they'd be of no benefit to NERV whatsoever.'
Next thing he knows, a horn is heard behind him. He looks back and grimaces upon seeing a black sedan.
'Great. Section-2.' As it draws near, however, his grimace becomes a soft grin as he recognizes the driver.
"Agent Takashi. Been a while." Takashi only grins before he opens the door, indicating for Shinji to get in.
"I know. At least two weeks." Once Shinji's in the sedan and closed the door, the Agent pulls away from the curb. "By the way, Captain Chiron's quite pissed at you for you kicking him in the nuts." Shinji can only smirk.
"He shouldn't have tried to stop me from exiting the Commander's office." Takashi can only guffaw before nodding his agreement.
"Yeah, that schmuck had it coming." A minute passes before he asks, "Where to?"
"Tokyo-3 dock. Need to get back to 'Wave of the Orca' to give my report to the Colonel and start my tank training with the guys." Certain that Takashi's blinking, Shinji expands. "It's the name of the flying ship that arrived yesterday." Takashi nods, his face widening in a grin.
"Ah." His grin then fades before he asks, "Tank training, Pilot Ikari?" His smirk becoming a grin, Shinji lays it all out. Takashi seems to take it well. "That sounds so cool! Tanks in sport? And it's only a study to see if boys can be as good as girls when it comes to tanks?"
"Yep."
"Oh-hohohoho. I hope I get to see that study when it happens." Shinji nods as well as Takashi asks, "What does the study entail?"
"Basically a match. Us guys in four tanks against girls in thirty." Takashi's shades go somewhat crooked at that. The man straightens his shades before clearing his throat.
"I'm reluctant to say this, Pilot Ikari, but it sounds like you're going to get your and your friends' asses kicked. In the book, that's an outright ass-kicking." Shinji smirks again.
"Dammit, don't go by the book. Think like a pirate. I want to be a man with a tattoo on his dick." Takashi chortles and mulls it over before grinning.
"I see. Using a mix of stationary and mobile ambush."
"In theory, yeah." Mulling it over, he mutters, "I'll have to look up such tactics when I get opportunities to." The next minute, they arrive at the dock. Shinji exits the car, Takashi following suit. The latter can only whistle at the distance between 'Wave of the Orca' and the dock.
"So… how're you going to get out there?"
"I'm gonna have to swim there." With that, he starts stretching. Only…
"Oh, come now, Shinji. There's a much drier way to get back to the heli-carrier than that." Deadpool's voice gets a grin from Shinji as the merc drops down to behind him. "Have a listen and tell me what you hear." Blinking, Shinji shrugs and does so.
The sound of waves crashing, seagulls crying out, a loud powerful motor…
Blinking again at the last sound, Shinji hears the motor get louder as it gets closer. Once the source comes into view, he blinks again at the sight of a black Scarab powerboat with a yellow cursive 'THUNDER' on the side. On the boat are two Caucasian men. One a heavily-muscular blond and the other a wiry brunette. Both wearing SEALs caps.
"Oh, Shinji, when you get back, swing by the Armory." Before Shinji can even ask, Deadpool vanishes. Takashi can only blink at that.
"Does he always do that, Pilot Ikari?"
"Pretty much, yeah." As the boat nears the dock, the wiry one calls out.
"Ahoy, there!" Shinji shyly nods his greeting before the wiry one asks, "Shinji Ikari?"
"I am."
"Great. We were brought here to get you back to your vessel and give you more of a fighting chance to save this world." The wiry one then frowns as he looks around, adding, "For all the good it'll do. This world looks like it's toast as it is." Shinji can nod in agreement before the man goes on. "Martin Brubaker, but you can call me 'Bru' for short." Shinji gives 'Bru' a bow of greeting.
"Nice to meet you, 'Bru'-san." 'Bru' can only blink before the other man chuckles softly.
"It's still Japan, 'Bru'. It's likely since he's just meeting us, he'll be formal." Looking Shinji's way, he goes on. "I'm RJ Spencer. But you can call me 'Spence' or 'Hurricane' if you like."
"Yes, 'Hurricane'-san." Bowing again, he asks, "Permission to board, sir?"
"Granted." Getting waved onto the boat, Shinji bows to Takashi and gets one back before getting onto the boat. As 'Hurricane' moves the boat away from the dock, he and 'Bru' look toward their new passenger. 'Bru' taking it.
"Hold onto your beret, Shinji. Because 'Thunder' moves like lightning." Shinji nods slightly as 'Hurricane' opens the throttle widely. The feeling of the boat's power gets Shinji to grin widely. 'Bru' looks back, sees the grin, grins himself and yells out, "Hey 'Spence'! He likes it! He likes it!" 'Hurricane' chuckles at that before sighing.
"Too bad Jessica is in college right now."
"Thinking of playing matchmaker?" Getting a snort from 'Hurricane' in response, 'Bru' looks back at Shinji and sees no pallor on his face and grins. "He definitely likes it, 'Spence'. He definitely does."
As 'THUNDER' speeds toward 'Wave of the Orca', arriving two minutes later, none of them are aware of three sets of eyes observing their destination through binoculars. Watching as a gangplank lowers with two men in blue camo tying lines to the boat, with the boat's passengers ascending the gangplank before it goes back up.
"So… that's our mark." Lowering the binoculars slightly, the first man grimaces. "It sure is a gigantic one."
"Yep." The second man is thoughtful. "Makes me wonder why the 'Big Cheese' wants it in his possession or destroyed."
"Cheese?! Where's the cheese?!" The third man, his nose twitching excitedly, gets eyerolls from the first two and the other 27 with them. "I like cheese!"
"We know, 'Rat'. We know." The first man sighs gustily before looking toward the second one. His eyes communicating from their years of working together. In exasperation. 'Why did we bring the cheese-brain with us again?' The second man shrugs at that.
'It was either bring him with us or leave him in that facility for electroshock therapy.' Glare.
'We should've left him there! The shocks just might have done him some good!' Eyes closing.
'No argument there.' Irritated annoyance.
'So then why did we bring him?!' The sound of a ringing phone gets their attention, with the first man sighing. "It's probably the client." Bringing it out, he says, "Go for Hammer."
"Mr. Hammer. I trust you and your associates are observing your target right now."
"Yeah, we are."
"What do you think?"
"Something that big has got to have serious security out the ass." 'Rat' gives a snort, getting 'Hammer' to roll his eyes. "I think we'll be able to do it at budget, though. But we'll need some inside info to pull it off."
"What a delightful coincidence as I learned that the vessel's former Administrative Director is currently in Tokyo-3 right now. And you know who is in charge there." 'Hammer' can only grimace at that.
"You mean we gotta go talk to that Stone-Faced Gargoyle?" 'Rat' shudders at that, with 'Hammer' and the others not blaming 'Rat' one bit.
"If you expect to do the job in a timely manner and on budget, yes." Sighing, 'Hammer' nods.
"Alright. But the info better be good… but what do we do with the tipster?"
"I'll leave it in your more than capable hands. I'm sure you'll think of something." The tone is condescending, getting 'Hammer' to scowl nastily before the call ends. Putting his phone away, 'Hammer' looks to the second man.
"Alright, 'Anvil'. Looks like we gotta talk to the Head Gargoyle and the patsy that's with him." Getting a groan from 'Anvil', 'Hammer' nods himself. "I know."
"Why can't mercenary jobs be more straightforward? Without us having to talk to Gargoyles, no less. I mean, I heard some pretty nasty rumors about that guy. And I mean nasty. One of them being he ditched his kid after his wife died. His own kid! No real parent does that!"
"That, 'Anvil', is a very good question. I fully agree on that." Looking back over to the target, he adds, "Had that been here that dark day, things might've been different." Turning back to the other mercenaries, 'Hammer' goes on. "I know that this life wasn't what you were looking for when you joined your respective militaries. I know I wasn't looking for it. We all did horrid things in service to our employer." That gets them all to look down, dark frowns on their faces.
"Things that'll haunt us to no end. I'm sure that some of you even thought of eating a bullet." With them nodding, 'Hammer' goes on. "But we are mercenaries and we agreed to do a job. So we do the job and, if you want to go elsewhere, I won't stop you." Snorting, he adds, "Hell, I'll even join you." That gets a chuckle from everyone, with the chuckle from 'Rat' sounding like wheezing. With that, 'Anvil' speaks up.
"So… how do we do this, 'Hammer'? Go talk to the gargoyle and the patsy or keep observing?"
"Both. You and I'll go while the rest of you get as many details as you can. Oh, 'Rat', by the way."
"Yeah, 'Hammer'? What is it?"
"For once, please think of the goal, not cheese." The look of exasperation that 'Hammer' has on his face is shared by everyone else before 'Hammer' looks to the sole female of the group. "Can you do me a favor, 'Delilah', please?"
"Sure."
"If 'Rat' does get distracted, find some way to shock him back onto the job." For some reason, the look 'Delilah' has on her face has 'Rat' sweating heavily. Deciding he doesn't even want to know, 'Hammer' looks to 'Anvil' and nods. "Let's go talk to the Head Gargoyle."
"Yeah." Shaking his head, 'Anvil' adds, "Though in all honesty, I'd rather talk to a beaver, otter or even a groundhog. At least they'd be more pleasant."
"I hear you, man. I hear you." Both men sigh as they make their way to a black mini-truck. Meanwhile…
(Wave of the Orca; Armory; same time)
"Hey, Agent Myers." Shinji's voice is slightly timid as he adds, "I understand there's a package for me here in the Armory." Myers nods, her face wearing bafflement.
"Yeah. It's the strangest thing. One minute, the 'Inbound Table' is clear. The next, a case saying 'Reeves Industries' is on it." Shinji blinks at that, with Myers chuckling. "That's how I reacted. But then I saw the note with your name on it." Putting it together, Shinji sighs as Myers brings up the case, turning the latched side toward him. "I think it's fitting if you open it, JOFA Ikari."
"Okay." His fingers undoing the latches, he lifts the lid and his eyes go wide at the sight of the black pistol and two magazines with a box of 50 rounds within the case. Along with another note. Picking it up, he reads it.
'Hey, Shinji. Sorry to spring this on you. But I figured you'd at least want a more effective non-lethal option at the ready. This is the Reeves MKII Taser. Dedicated solely for non-lethal Taser rounds. I'm pretty sure Gideon won't mind if you field test 'Reeves' newest non-lethal iron. Deadpool.' Shinji can only sigh in exhausted exasperation at that. Myers sighs in commiseration with him.
'I feel your pain, kiddo. I feel your pain.'
(Alternate Dimension; Chicago, IL; 13th Precinct; same time)
"Gideon!"
Gideon Reeves, the genius multibillionaire head of Reeves Industries, is looking over requests for support from the other precincts. In the two months since the murder of Mayor Salgado, even though he and Detective Murphy did what they could to reach him, the City Council had badgered Gideon to no end while the other precincts around the 13th backed him up.
"Gideon!" The male voice finally gets his attention, with him looking up.
"What is it, Pete?"
"Gideon, we're missing one of the MKII Tasers." Gideon blinks at that before Pete goes on. "Even more, a note was left."
"Oh. Let's have a look then." Silently, Pete hands Gideon the note, allowing the genius to look it over.
'Dear Gideon. Sorry I couldn't make the request through official channels, but red tape is an utter nightmare as it is!' Gideon gives a snort at that, with Pete smirking as the former keeps reading. 'Which is why I decided to have Shinji field test it for you. Will let you know how it goes. Oh, if Ada's defense team needs it, I managed to trace the source of the 'evidence' that'd been planted on her computer. I'll give you three guesses as to who planted it, but you'll only need one. It's in your email. Good luck! Deadpool.'
"Well, at least he left a note." Gideon's comment gets Pete to snort himself before the former picks up the phone. Pete noticing.
"Who're you calling, Gideon?"
"I'm calling the Computer Forensics guys in here so they can look at the email when I open it. If it's good like this 'Deadpool' guy said, and it's presented right, Ada should be a free woman in days." Pete gives a rumbling chuckle.
"I miss her too, Gideon." The female voice at the door gets them both to look and smile.
"Ah, Detective Murphy. How was Mateo's appointment?"
"Just the usual." Murphy eyes the note and asks, "So, this 'Deadpool' left a note when he grabbed a MKII?" Gideon nods before Murphy frowns. "I hope the field test goes well for this 'Shinji'. Whoever it is." Pete and Gideon both nod in agreement. Meanwhile…
(Wave of the Orca; Fury's office; same time)
"So, you were both in BUDs together." At the nods, Fury grins softly. "Our Elec-Surv suite picked up a large amount of signals coming from your boat. I'm guessing 'THUNDER' is no ordinary boat."
"You'd be correct, Colonel Fury." Looking around the office, 'Bru' blinks upon seeing the head on Fury's wall. "When'd they come out with novelty human heads?"
"Oh, that's no novelty. That's an actual human head." Fury's reply gets both men to blink before Fury goes on. "That is the head of Baron Wolfgang von Strucker. You might say he was a walking nightmare."
"How so?" The query from 'Hurricane' is echoed on the face of 'Bru'.
"During WW2, he had a hand in creating HYDRA, the occult research division for the Nazis." At that, 'Bru' can only groan.
"Oh, great. Nazis coming into play now?"
"I don't know about that, 'Bru', but with the world these days, anything's possible." The comment from 'Hurricane' gets a nod from Fury before the former goes on. "But I really don't think this 'HYDRA' bunch is involved."
"Nope. It's a bunch of nuts called 'SEELE'. They're suffering from godhood-level delusions of grandeur." Before Fury can go on, a knock is heard at the door. "Who is it?"
"JOFA Ikari, sir." Fury arches an eyebrow before giving his reply.
"C'mon in." As the hatch opens, Fury sees some apprehension on Shinji's face. Having a bad feeling, he asks, "What is it, Shinji?"
"Sir, I think we may have a 'Signal 10-13' soon. A non-drill one." Nervously wringing his hands together, he goes on. "Of course, I could just be guessing or paranoid or…" Fury puts up a hand to halt him.
"Remember what I told you about the only kind of bad call?" At Shinji's nod, Fury goes on. "What do you need should it happen?"
