Taming the Beast

Summary: An error in the Space Bridge Project sends Coby, Lori, and the Convoys into the Eva Universe. Why are the Rumbles that Coby and Lori pilot so similar to the Evas? Is there a connection between the Angels and the Transformers? Will they survive?

Disclaimer: I don't own Evangelion or Transformers Galaxy Force, but they are interesting stories.

Author's Note: Can anyone guess what Rei is? Anyone? Hello? Who turned out the lights?

Chapter 14

"Take it easy, Rei," Shinji said, steadying her as she stumbled into the elevator. "Ritsuko said you're still recovering, so try to take it easy."

"I am fine, Ikari. Thank you," she replied, giving him the tiniest hint of a smile.

Misato's new apartment was much closer to NERV than her old one, and was also much larger. Shinji, Misato, Coby, and Lori had moved in quickly, glad for the extra space and rooms. They had two bathrooms now, and Misato had intended to split them between boys a girls. It was a futile effort, as Coby and Lori often bathed together, so they quickly took over the smaller one.

In spite of what Ritsuko had said, Rei was able to recover quickly, taking only 12 hours instead of 2 days. She had moved in soon after, taking the last bedroom. She had also started to help Shinji cook, who was more than happy to teach her. She even tried to get Coby to cook, only to find out that he wasn't kidding when he said he was so bad that he burned water without heat.

At NERV, things had gone slowly for the past two days. Several people had different plans to destroy the Angel, but it wasn't the worst problem. Commander Ikari had found out about the Cybertron Army's involvement in the last battle, and to say he was pissed was an understatement. The arguing was getting everyone no where. Thankfully, the Cybertrons simply stayed out of the arguments and did what they were told to by their Soushireikan, who now flat out refused to stay uninvolved with fighting the Angels.

He knew what was going to happen, and he would not allow it.

In the meantime, Coby and Lori had started training Shinji and Rei to block their minds. The idea that the Destroyer could mentally attack them and possibly control them meant that they needed to learn to fight mentally as well as physically. Coby and Lori would use their SD Fields to probe their minds, not trying to find anything, just to help them learn how to block mental attacks. Unfortunately, it was rather exhausting.

"You did really good Rei," Lori said, ringing for the correct floor. "As usual, you're extremely resistant to mental attack. The fact that your endurance has increased, and that your sync ratio has risen as a result proves you're progressing rapidly. I wouldn't be surprised if you managed to reverse the connection and attack me mentally next time."

"I am wondering why Misato wasn't at NERV today," Coby said. "Do you think Commander Asshole has stopped bitching about us?"

"Doubt it," Shinji answered.

"Perhaps he lost his voice?" Rei suggested. Everyone looked at her in shock.

"Rei, you just made a joke!" Shinji exclaimed. The elevator dinged and they got out on their floor to find several boxes piled next to the door. "Please tell me those boxes are a joke."

"It had better be," Lori said, several veins throbbing in her head as she took a wild guess at what the boxes were. Work with her: fine. Train her: fine. Put up with her (Seibertronian curses cannot be spelled with any Human alphabet) at school AND work: fine. Live with her?! I am so blowing something up in 10 seconds!

Lori opened her 15th can of beer and began chugging it as the air around her continued to spark. She was dangerously close to causing the air around her to ignite, and her body showed no signs of slowing down its need to burn something.

"I'm sorry, Lori, but the Commander ordered it," Misato apologized.

"Screw the (Lori had been using a large amount of profane, Seibertronian curses lately), sorry, piece of shit excuse for a bastardly son of a bitch!" Lori yelled, crushing the now empty can as it exploded in her hand. She grabbed another can and continued to drink, trying to calm down before she blew up something else.

"I can understand why I have to live her, but with them?" Asuka whined. "Those two 'married' perverts will probably keep me up all night."

This time, the explosion was louder as both Coby's and Lori's cans exploded, the air around them sparking even more.

"I'd watch it if I were you, Asuka," Shinji warned. "If we run out of beer, they just might target your boxes just to keep the apartment intact."

"And why are you here?" Asuka continued, ignoring the warning. "My staying here is completely logical, given my superior abilities."

"Superior my ass," Coby growled. "We need to start buying stronger stuff."

"Permission to silence Pilot Soryu, Captain Katsuragi?" Rei asked. He voice was quiet, but it was so cold that everyone could hear. Even Lori shuddered.

"Denied, Rei," Misato said firmly. "You can't kill Asuka."

"I do not wish to kill her, I only wish to make her shut the hell up," Rei elaborated.

"You couldn't hurt me if you tried," Asuka snorted.

"Pilot Soryu!" Coby roared, "If you wish your Eva to be intact, you will follow orders without complaint and Shut Your Damn-Ass Mouth!" Having Lori angry at you was asking for your death. Having Coby angry at you was worse.

"No," Asuka said firmly.

"What?" Misato asked.

"I won't do it!" the redhead yelled. "I'm not sleeping in the same room as that baka! Get someone else to do it! If I have to do everything with him for your insane plan to work, then I won't do it!"

"Fine then," Coby said, taking control of the situation before Misato started yelling at Asuka for insubordination. "Captain, I suggest that the Second Child be placed under House Arrest for one day for insubordination and for yelling at a superior officer. Shinji, Rei, Lori and I will train the two of you."

"Okay," Shinji said, glad that his back was turned to the rest of the group as he concentrated on his cooking, a blush moving up his face. Sharing a room with Asuka would have been a nightmare. Sharing a room with Rei, though? Shinji couldn't deny any longer that he had a crush on the girl, and felt very nervous.

"Understood," Rei replied.

"Suggestion approved," Misato said. "And as your guardian, Asuka, I'm ordering you to your room without supper for the things you were saying earlier." Asuka wisely left, though no one missed her enraged look as she left. Misato swallowed more beer from her can, "Hopefully, things can't get any worse."

"It just got worse," Lori said, looking into the fridge. "We're out of beer." The air around her was still sparking. Thankfully, Coby was calm enough that the air around him wasn't, but it probably would be soon.

"I'll go get some more," the blonde haired boy said, heading for the door. "Lori, I'm going to get something stronger for us. I have a feeling we're going to need it."

"And this is supposed to work?" Shinji asked, looking doubtfully at the game boards.

Coby grinned, "Watch." He and Lori stepped up to the game boards and began, each movement in perfect sync. Shinji watched in awe until they finished with a score of 100. They had not made a single mistake.

Lori motioned to the boards, "Your turn." Shinji moved to his, feeling very determined to do just what he had seen. Unconsciously, he reached out to Rei through his S2 Sense, as he had come to call it. Surprisingly, she was also reaching out to him. As if by some unspoken signal, they both smiled as they began, moving in perfect sync like they had seen.

Unknown by the four of them, two angry eyes watched in jealousy before vanishing from sight.