Shadows
ch. 10
"You are not!" Shinji reclaimed to Al.
"Yes I am Shinji. Doctor Akagi and the engineers were able to salvage more of my original frame then intended. They kept the correct identification, and enough parts for me to legally be considered restored, rather then a new car."
"So your telling me that this body is the same one as before?"
"No I am not Shinji. I am telling you that enough of me was kept. Most notable the serial number stamps and identification papers. Let me put it to you this way. A lot of cars due not have uni-body constructions. If their body is replaced over the same frame, the car is whatever the car that frame was."
This is a dumb conversation Shinji thought. "I don't understand what you are saying."
"What I was merely stating was that I may have a new body, but I am still the same car that was once under the ownership of Misato Katsuragi. I am still her old car."
"I don't know. Sounds to me like your telling yourself what you want to hear."
"Regardless of your beliefs on this matter, what I said is legally back by the law."
Shinji sighed, "Well, I don't think that the law really means much in the automotive department lately."
"I am telling you Shinji. I am still the same A310 Alpine if you want to believe it or not."
"I don't know. Sounds like a mistake being corrected to help the plot later on." Shinji ended the conversation.
They were coming up on a town called Temple which was slightly south of Waco. Chris had given them instructions to get to Houston, but due to road conditions, they had to take a longer route. Which was fine to them, as long as they got there. And Al still took his sweet time.
Shinji let out a yawn while stretching his legs. Shinji looked out the window. It was greener then he thought. A nice change from the more desert west Texas. Not far up the road was a town.
"Hey Al. I want you to stop in the next town."
"What ever for Shinji?"
"I'm hungry."
"If you are hungry I have a large selection of rations on board. But you already know that. Is it that you prefer a cooked meal?"
Shinji rubbed his aching stomach. "Yeah. You know, Chris was nice, but I've had better food in a hospital then I had at that base."
"I wouldn't know Shinji."
"Yeah, yeah." Shinji turned Al into manual and took him into town.
The town resembled close to a ghost town. The center street was the only part of the town that had any sign of life. On the street were only a few cars, that from the looks of them, were using what ever parts they could to make them work. Most of the world was like that. Chevy's would use Honda parts and Fords would use Toyota parts. No regard to former safety features. Cars now would be missing bumpers, glass, and whatever you could think. But as long as it ran, that was all a car was about now.
Shinji parked Al right in front of the door of the only restaurant in town. Shinji strapped on his Korth revolvers, and also made sure his new P229 (Chris gave him a new silver one) was loaded and put it in it's holster. After what had happened lately he was not going to take any chances.
"Alright Al. You know what to do. Stay here and keep an eye on the place." Shinji held up his cell phone and put it into his pocket. "Call me if you think any thing is going wrong."
"Will do Shinji."
Shinji closed the drivers door. No need to lock it, and proceeded inside the restaurant.
The restaurant was done in an old western style, fitting for the time and area. It even had the old western doors. Shinji pushed the two doors open and slowly walked into the main room. Inside it was decorated with all furnished oak. In the corner was a pool table and in another corner was was card playing tables. The restaurant was filled with customers.
When Shinji walked in all eyes were on him. People stopped playing their games and watched him as he made his way to the bar counter. The world stood still as Shinji walked across the wooden floor.
He sat in a seat between two people. As he sat down, the two men, who looked rather rough and knew how to handle them self's moved as far away from him as they could. Shinji was oblivious to this, but did realize that he was being watched.
As he sat down a chair at the end of the bar fell on the ground. Shinji adverted his eyes just in time to see a small child, a boy, run out through the back door.
Shinji let it slide as he turned to the bar tender. After perusing the menu that was hanging on the wall he called the bartender over. "I'd like a cheeseburger with everything on it."
The bartender walked backwards away from Shinji. "As you wish Frank." He said with a voice full of fear.
"Frank?" Shinji asked dumbfounded.
Before anyone could say anything, a door to the side flew open and the small child entered along with a man. The man was huge. Giant shoulders, with long flowing hair that was slightly curled. He had an eye patch over one eye, and wore a black skin tight shirt. He also had black and white zebra paints and in his hand was a large sub machine gun with a silencer and a scope mounted on the silencer.
The man ran ahead of the boy and yelled out to the audience. "Where is he!"
Everyone in the building pointed to Shinji. The man made his way to Shinji. He moved his face close and began to scan the young Japanese man. After an awkward moment he turned away. "It's not him."
A sigh of relief was heard from everyone and games of pool and card games began almost immediately. "But that is his car!" someone yelled.
The man moved to the window and looked out. "No. Looks like it, but it's not." He moved away from the window and sat next to Shinji at the bar. He did not say a word.
Shinji observed the man. The bartender brought his food. "Sorry stranger. Thought you were someone else."
Shinji removed his hand from his gun holster. "Uh who?" He began picking at his burger.
The bartender leaned in close and almost whispered. "No-one knows his name, but around here, everyone calls him Furious Frank."
"Furious Frank?"
"Sshh. Not so load." He moved his hands and cleaned some drinking glasses. "We don't speak of him. He drives a car like yours, thats why we were all frightened."
"What about him?" Shinji pointed to the man to the burly man with the eye patch.
"Him? He's a bounty hunter. Goes by the name Viper Plissken. He's after the bounty on Franks head." The man did not turn his head to the two, but continued drinking from a huge container of alcohol. "Escaped from New York and went to LA. Then he escaped from their before settling down here. Don't know much else about him beside that though."
"Sp who is this Frank?" Shinji asked, not letting the topic go.
"He used to be a police officer here, but during a riot, his wife and kid were killed by a gang. He immediately chased them down and killed all of them. He seems to have lost all morals since then. Steals gas to keep driving, doesn't pay when he eats. He starts a lot of fights and has created fear in the towns people."
Shinji continued eating his hamburger while making friendly chit chat with the bartender. This continued till a load thump was heard next to Shinji.
Everyone turned to the source of the noise to see a passed out Viper Plissken laying with his back on the ground.
"What happened?" Someone asked, as people ran up and checked his pulse.
"Sorry. My fault." The bartender said. "He talks big, but can't hold his liquor. Take him to the back room and lay him down on a bed till he wakes up."
People did as he said and took the sleeping bounty hunter away.
It was around this time that Shinji received a phone call. Knowing it could only be Al he picked it up. "Yeah Al."
"Shinji I believe I have discovered the reason for the peoples misjudgment of yourself."
Shinji looked around. If luck would have it, everybody was either playing their previous games or paying attention to the retreating bounty hunter to notice Shinji talking on a cell phone. "You know who this Frank is?"
"I believe I was the cause for confusion."
"You?"
"Yes. My sensors have picked up another vehicle. A later model of the Renault Alpine A310, similar to myself. My data banks show it to be a 1981 model. It is equipped with different head lights then my self, but that is the only main distinction between myself and it. Which makes it hard to tell. I have been mistaken for an 81 before."
"Another Alpine, like your self?"
"A later model, but the same car. However my sensors have detected major modifications. It has apparently been converted to house the engine in the front of the car, rather then in the back, and has a large blower, apparently connected to a big block ford motor. The vehicles in bad shape, but the black color is the main source of confusion with it and myself."
Well that explains some things. "What is he doing?"
"Apparently getting a food to nourish himself."
So he's just getting a bight to eat, Shinji thought. He really did not care about this man, but if the peoples reaction to him when they thought he was Frank told him anything, it was he should try to avoid any contact with this man. Wait a minute.
Shinji then nearly screamed into the phone. "Al, this is the only restaurant in town."
Just then the main doors to the room flung open, almost flying off their hinges. A man dressed almost in all black leather walked in. His jacket was leather, his pants where leather, as was his boots. He wore a pair of black sun glasses and had silver spikes, buttons, and zippers all over his clothes. In his hand, leaning against his shoulder, he had a double barreled shot gun with the barrels nearly sawed off.
The reaction every one had in the bar was the exact same as when Shinji entered. Every one stopped what they were doing and watched in utmost fear as the man walked up to the counter, next to Shinji.
"Bartender." The man talked smoothly. "I'm looking for that no good bounty hunter, Plissken. Have you seen him?"
The bartender replied the opposite way Shinji was expecting him to. Instead of reveling that the man passed out an is sleeping in the back he nervously said, "No sir, I have not."
Shinji was a little puzzled at how a man who showed nothing but cowardice suddenly have strength of courage. But thinking about it, it was rather a funny irony that the bounty hunter got drunk and passed out just moments before the bounty arrived.
"Who drives the Alpine?" The man yelled to the audience of the room.
Everyone, men, women, children and the like pointed to Shinji. Being ratted out with no remorse twice was more then enough for Shinji to want to leave.
Frank stared at him with the coldest eyes, "Nice car."
"Thanks." Shinji said. Slowly, just as a precaution he moved his hand nearer to his weapons.
Frank was a little stunned at Shinji's response. This was in part due to Shinji not stuttering when he talked to him. But Frank continued the friendly conversation. "What year is it?"
"A 1973, I think."
"Good year." Frank said and turned back to the bartender, "Bartender. I know you are hiding the bounty hunter here. Now I will give you to the count of three to go get him, or I start shooting."
"But Mister..." The bartender started.
"One." Frank pulled out his shotgun and proceeded to place one bullet in each of the guns barrels.
"...he's not here."
"Two." Frank raised the gun above his head, aiming at the ceiling. By this time everyone in the bar shuffled around and escaped into the street. This left just the three, Frank, the bartender, and Shinji.
The bartender himself tried to escape, but every way he turned, Frank would aim a pistol with his other hand, forcing the poor man to stay.
"I'm about to say the next number. Are you sure he is not here?" He put the gun right on the bartenders throat.
"Y..y..yes. I'm s..s..sure!"
Shinji was getting tired of this. "Why do you care?"
Both of the men turned to Shinji. The bartender with a look of fearing surprise and Frank with a look of 'what are you doing?'.
It was Frank who spoke, "This man has been hunting me for the past few weeks, and just this morning he attacked me in my sleep. Ruined my breakfast, so I have come to collect a meal."
What was that? Shinji thought, A really bad attempt at a one liner.
"If a meal is what you want I will give you one free of charge." The bartender said.
"I don't literally want a meal! I meant it as a figure of speech!" Frank yelled.
Large crashes and sounds of furniture being thrown over clashed out in the small bar and Viper came tumbling through the back door.
"I got you now Frank!" Viper raised his gun and prepared to fire.
Oh crap! Shinji immediately dove for cover, away from Frank.
Bullet fire from both Frank and Viper ripped the small bar to pieces. Glass bottles shattered, tables became like Swiss cheese, about the only thing the two were not able to hit were each other. Either it from Viper being drunk, or just a bad shot, but he could not land a hit on Frank. And Frank, well Frank just could not shoot the gun.
Shinji made it outside as the bartender ran down the desolate street. Shinji dove behind the black car parked in front of the door.
"Al, let me in."
No answer.
"Al!" Then Shinji looked at the car and realized that it was in fact not Al. Must be the car that Al was talking about earlier. The car was an Alpine, but had a huge blower sticking out of the hood, seeming to make the car front engine. It was black, but a beat up black. A paint job that looked to be many years old. It was dirty, but had huge side exhaust pipes. So big, that it looked that they would prevent the door from opening.
"I'm over here Shinji." Al's voice rang out above the gun fire. Seeing that Al was parked right next to the other Alpine, Shinji took no time entering the cockpit. "Are you okay Shinji?"
"I'm fine."
Before Shinji could say anything else Frank dove out of the building, jumped in his car, and sped of, hitting anything on the side walk, or what could conceivably be in his way.
And in a flash, Viper was behind him, firing off his gun at the retreating vehicle. It to no avail since he could not hit the car, but Viper jumped onto an old red crotch-rocket. Spun his tires, and continued his pursuit doing a high wheely.
Now the two where gone, it was dead silent in the street. It wasn't that everybody was hiding. No-one was near. Shinji and Al where the only two there. Even the bartender mysteriously disappeared.
"Are you well fed Shinji?" Al asked.
Shinji retreated from his gaze of pure WTF at what happened and answered Al. "Yeah."
"Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah. Lets leave." Shinji took manual control and proceeded to leave the small town.
"Shinji,what happened back there?" Al asked.
Shinji kept staring straight. "I don't know."
"I find it hard to believe that the two are highly feared among the public. They have received no prior fire arm training, as I could tell. Perhaps, people are more afraid of what damage the two cause then the two."
Shinji let out a small laugh as he turned into the main street leaving the town. "They were pretty bad shots."
"Both of them were incorporating a firing style known as 'gangster style', a very inefficient and inaccurate way to fire a weapon."
"What do you mean?"
"Gangster style is were the gun is tilted at a ninety degree angel. Most modern ballistic based weapons have what is called rifling done to the barrels. Rifling causes the bullet to spin making it more accurate, but also shoots the bullet out of the gun at a slightly upward angle to counter act gravity and allow the bullet to travel further."
Shinji sat back and listened to Al's lesson. It was common for Al to give out these kinds of lessons on a regular basis.
"When a gun is fired gangster style, rifling causes the bullet to fly side ways, not straight. And since it is not countering against gravity, then the bullet would fly to the ground very fast. Say you were shooting a gun gangster style with your right hand. The bullet would not travel straight, but go to the left and down. Both individuals were firing this way and thus, constantly missed each other."
Shinji thought it over. He had never shoot a gun like that. Maybe he would have to try and test to see if Al was right.
Shinji drove down a small two lane highway. It wasn't a very long trip. Just a few minutes of small talk between the two. But after a few moments they came to a motorcycle in the middle of the road.
Shinji got out of the car to closer inspect the wreckage. Didn't look like the driver lost control. It was smashed. More like it was ran into.
"I detect that the gas tank of the motor bike is near full. Also Shinji, my sensors indicate a human corps just right of you."
Shinji turned to were Al pointed out. Laying in the tall grass was the body of Viper Plisskin. Shinji walked closer to him. Sure enough, he looked dead.
"What do we do Shinji?" Al questioned.
Shinji got back up to his feet and dusted off his pants. "I don't know." He said as he walked back to the car. "I guess, just leave him."
Shinji was rounding back around to the drivers door, when Al voiced out in a slight alarm. "Shinji I detect a vehicle coming for us."
"Which way?" Shinji asked. Inside the city states it was common for automobiles to be functioning, but outside, here in the rough lands very few people had working cars. Actually gas was harder to find then cars.
"Straight ahead. I have identified the car. Shinji, it is the same vehicle drove by the man called Furious Frank."
Shinji squinted as he watched the black car with the enormous blower begin to take shape over the horizon. He was coming fast. Funny that everyone was trying to save gas, yet he wasted so much when he drove.
Shinji stayed outside, next to Al. He did keep his hand near his gun.
The black car came to screeching stop about a hundred feet away. Shinji could more clearly see the similarities with his car and Al. The Alpine driven by Frank began to rev it's engine, it's internal combustion engine claiming the fear it was trying to instill.
Shinji was not affected by it.
"Al. What is he doing?" Shinji asked with a hint of irritation.
"He appears to be challenging us. I would say duel, but I don't fully agree that two cars going head to head is a duel."
"Why?"
"Because I over power him so greatly. It's hardly a match. In fact I think we should just leave him, and be on our way."
The black roared again, this time making a slight 'jump' toward Shinji's direction.
"No." Shinji responded to Al. "I mean why does he want to fight us?"
"I have calculated the highest possible reason would be for gas."
Shinji cocked his head. "You mean automotive fuel? But you don't run off any."
"Yes I do not consume fuel. However it is unlikely that he knows that."
Shinji sighed. Stupid Shinji. How could he have known that. Shinji opened Al's door and took his seat. "I guess if he doesn't let us through, we'll have to make him." Shinji made sure Al was on co-op mode, rather then manual.
"My thoughts exactly."
The blown Alpine thrust forward screaming like a roaring lion. All piston's fired as the internal combustion engine was prepared to show why it was king. The American V8 was determined to prove why it was the master of it's domain. Why it ruled the street.
Al himself also thrust forward, but due to his advanced propulsion system, he more of rocketed forward, with only a fraction of his top speed. Unlike Frank's car, Al did not have an internal combustion engine, but his reactor was cleverly designed to emulate the sound created by a V8. To hide himself from suspicion, is what Ritsuko said. 'To be bad and kick anus' was what Chris said.
However Al was more like a tank. Built out of depleted uranium just like the M1 Abrams, and having all the previous armor that he had before, Al had very little to worry about. They could collide and Al would come out undamaged, yet freak accidents have happened before.
Both cars neared the other in this intense game of chicken. It was Shinji versus Frank. Alpine versus Alpine. Both cars traveled an invisible line toward the other vehicle.
Shinji moved the wheel slightly, just to move Al away from right in front of Frank. Frank stayed on track, winning the game, but as he was about to pass, Shinji spun Al inward, clipping the back of Franks car.
Frank did a slight spin, but regained control. He kept going straight and moved the car into a controlled spin, coming to face Shinji.
Both cars were once again staring each other down. Al had no damage, not even a scratch on his paint, due to the advanced super hard clear coat he had. The clear coat was an armor originally sprayed on top of the armor placed on the Evangelions. It being complemented by the depleted uranium underneath, meant Al was near invincible. In this situation at least.
Franks Alpine was another story. Rust showed it's ugly face and weakened the metal to where the rear tore off easily. From the rear one could see an axle in place of where the old engine used to be.
"Shinji. Why are you taking your time?" Al asked. Shinji could easily kill Frank with one laser shot or fill the car with bullet's, but Shinji was enjoying the game of chicken. A train against a truck was fun, if you were the train so to speak.
"I'm teaching him a lesson Al." Shinji said as he floored Al. Frank did the same and both cars quickly closed the gap between the two. "Besides, this won't take long."
This time Shinji did not leave the invisible line. He raised his speed and hit the car straight on. The impact was great, crippling the blown Alpine to the drivers cab before tossing it to the side.
Al was a heavy vehicle. Depleted uranium was heavy enough, and with the added weight of his weapons, a jet engine, four separate electric motors, one nuclear core, a refrigerator, a microwave, and a full list of features that could easily fill a thousand page book, Al was heavy. The impact on Al was barely felt.
Once Franks car was separated from the front of Al it rolled off the road into a small ditch. The car was whittled with dents and broken pieces of metal. It was totaled, beyond repair.
She lay upside down, with fuel falling out of her, but Frank was alive. He was hurt, but was able to crawl out of the drivers door to a near by rock. Breathing heavily the man supported himself.
A shadow was cast on the man. One in the human shape, blocking out the sun. Frank looked up to see Shinji looking down upon him. Frank squinted hard to focus on him, but his vision kept blurring. He laid his head down into his arm and let out a painful sigh.
Shinji did not say anything, but just looked at the man. He did not have any quarel with the man. Thats why he let him live. The man seemed nice to him back at the bar. Both had a passion for the same vehicle, and car guys usually get along. And Shinji did not know Franks story, but he could not let him keep doing what he was doing.
Shinji continued his silence and got back in his car. Frank watched as the black Alpine slowly drove away, as if mocking him to follow.
Frank stared as the car retreated. "Oh this won't be the last time we see each other." He began to laugh. "No. We'll meet again!"
Another shadow casted itself on him. A clicking noise sounded as a slide to a gun was cocked. Frank looked back up, and this time into the eye's of Viper Plissken. He smiled as the barrel was placed right against his head.
The towns people never heard from the two again. Of course neither was missed either. No one can be certain what happened between the two after Shinji left.
But one thing was for certain. Al's sensor's did not pick up a gun shot.
"Shinji." Al said through the quiet sound of the night.
Shinji himself was enjoying a couple of Al's new features that Chris installed. Namely the latest Playstation and X-box. Currently he was on the Playstation playing the newest Virtua Fighter. "What is it Al?" He asked as he had his female character perform a roundhouse kick to the muscularly exaggerated man.
"I just wanted to inform you to look out the windshield."
Shinji paused his game and looked. It was night, around two in the morning, and all was dark, but a speck of light up in the distance.
Shinji squinted hard and tried to focus. It was a town. No, not a town , but a city. It wasn't Dallas, they passed that city along time ago. Then it could only be one city. But it couldn't be. Shinji was not that lucky. Or was he. "Al, is that..."
"Yes Shinji." Al's monotoned voice spoke out, "It's Houston. We made it."
Whew. Finally in Houston. To tell ya, this chapter was to be a through back to the earlier chapters. I had to have something happen, couldn't make the rest of the trip peaceful. Be sure to stick around for the next few chapters. Something big is about to happen.
robo864guy- Maya and the lieutenants are in Toronto with the rest of the survivors. They be back, but not any time soon.
And remember to review guys.