Shinji Steel 51
Disclaimer; I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or Max Steel. Wish I did, though.
(Double Date 1; two hours later; chat time; Kaji-Matt, Misato-Ritsu)
"So, Matt, what exactly is it that you're doing with yourself?"
"I help people that had seen horrible traumas in the course of their everyday lives." Matt looks right into Kaji's eyes and adds, "Much like you had, Ryoji." His eyes shooting wide, Kaji can't help but step back before his playful demeanor fades to be replaced by a somber one.
"How?"
"They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. The eyes, however, are also windows into the psyche. Be they soldiers, law enforcement, ordinary people, if they'd seen horrible traumas, they need someone to talk to." Giving him a compassionate smile, Matt adds, "If you want to lay your burden down, you can come talk when you're ready to do so." Kaji only has one question.
"Is now a good time?" Matt gives Kaji a nod as the two men look toward the women in their lives. "They're something else, aren't they?"
"They are." Looking back toward Kaji, Matt asks, "What say we find someplace we can talk unimpeded or overheard at least?"
"I know of a spot." Kaji looks toward Misato and Ritsu before saying, "Matt and I'll be back in a bit, ladies. Got something to show Matt." They both nod back at him, before Misato smirks.
"It better be decent, Kaji!"
"It will be, Katsuragi!" As the two walk on, Kaji rolls his eyes and says, "I don't think I'll ever have her figured out."
"I'm of the same opinion myself. 'Suko and I may be back on good terms with each other, but I can't help but feel that she'll always be a conundrum." Snorting in mirth, Matt rolls his eyes and adds, "Much like I think all women are that way."
"Too true. But, without women, there'd be no civilization at all." His playful demeanor returning, he adds, "Plus life does get lonely."
"Yes, it does." Two minutes later, Matt can't help but grin wryly. "Alright, watermelons."
"Yep. Found this little spot here sometime after I came here from Germany with Asuka."
For a brief instant, Matt's tempted to fling a query about the girl's status emotion-wise. Instead, he settles for arching his eyebrows, getting Kaji to grin.
"She's one of the Evangelion Pilots. Hellcat and a sweet kid at the same time. But she's got issues that are unhealthy, you know." Tapping his nose's left side, he adds, "But I think I smell some hint of someone giving her a helping hand at times."
"Must've been before I arrived."
"Must have, but where did she go for help?" Kaji can't help but sigh, adding, "Before you got here, Matt, there were no counselors at all. Every single Angel battle those three had faced off against had to have taken a toll on them. 'Commander Dumbass' won't even consider having counselors on hand for the Bridge Bunnies and they're not even combatants!" Next thing he knows, Matt's chuckling in amusement.
"So, you refer the Commander as 'Commander Dumbass'? Is it behind his back or to his face?"
"Well, I do it behind his back. Shinji, however, he does it right to his face, over an open comm. It doesn't matter where. Shinji will always refer to 'Commander Dumbass' as such openly. I don't know how the others refer to him, or if at all."
"Shinji sounds like an interesting individual for me to speak with. I'll have to see if I can get a meet with him." Nodding to Kaji, he adds, "But now, if you're ready…"
"Right." Kaji takes a deep breath and begins. "Well, it all started after Second Impact…"
(Misato-Ritsu)
"So, how soon can I look forward to seeing a bun in your oven, Ritsu?"
"Well, first I've to make sure I've a bun in the oven, Misato." Giving Misato a fond smirk, she asks, "How about you when it comes to a bun in your oven?"
"Ritsu, we just got back together, for crying out loud. Besides, I've got two teenagers living with me already. Until they move out, I'm not going to be thinking about babies."
"If you say so." Ritsu's sing-song reply can't help but get an exasperated grin from Misato before the fake blond puts a hand to her belly. "But I know I'm looking forward to becoming a Mother. I mean, seeing Ena glowing maternally…"
"Right." Her demeanor going serious, Misato adds, "I believe there's something you'd been wanting to get off your chest lately. And it better not be your shirt. Yet." Both women can't help but snicker at that one before Ritsu nods.
"Misato, the time of 'Jet Alone'. I've something to confess to you before I go any further."
"Go ahead."
Ritsu can't help but shudder in shame until she feels Misato's hand on her shoulder. Looking toward her, she sees Misato with a compassionate smile on her face.
"It was you, wasn't it?" Ritsu's eyes can't help but tear up as she closes them, expecting to be slapped and yelled at. Instead, Misato asks, "What the heck are you doing?"
"Preparing myself to be lambasted for almost getting you killed."
"For crying out loud, open your damn eyes, Ritsu." When she's done so, Misato nods and asks, "Why?"
"It was the Commander's directive that 'Jet Alone' be sabotaged in a horrific manner. He didn't care that people would die if the reactor melted down. So, in the programming, I embedded a timing code in there without his knowledge or permission. But…"
"You didn't expect the reactor to go hot so quickly, did you?" Ritsu mutely shakes her head sadly before replying.
"No. I didn't. I thought I'd set it for just before the standard meltdown point for reactors. But I forgot that the reactor in 'Jet Alone' was far from standard." Misato can't help but give Ritsu a mirthless snort before Ritsu asks, "Did that plug-in relay Dr Martinez sent you help to speed things up?"
"Oh yes. It was quite instrumental in stopping that crisis. Even though it got burned out from the intense heat, it proved itself." Ritsu gives her a nod before a thought occurs to her.
"Just how did Dr Martinez know to send a relay, Misato?" When Misato doesn't reply, Ritsu's eyes go wide. "You mean, you're with…"
"If you're thinking about the deal you were offered, I can only reply with 'yes'. But I've something to ask you."
"I think I've a good idea what you're about to ask. I can only reply that I'm in as deep as Fuyutsuki when it comes to what the Commander wants to do."
"So my handler's right. You'd been victimized just as Naoko had been."
"Handler?"
"Mmm. I'd just been made 'Field Agent' recently. But I'd been working with a handler of sorts before that time for the past seven months."
"Seven months? That's around…" Ritsu can't help but burst into amused giggles. "Now that'd really be farfetched!"
"What would?"
"That's around the time Shinji got here. Wouldn't it be funny if he was your handler?"
"If he wasn't in a relationship, I wouldn't mind him 'handling' me." Ritsu can't help but scowl slightly at Misato's words before the purple-haired woman adds, "I really wouldn't have minded. Much I don't think you would've. Remember his first words his first day there?"
"Oh yeah." Blushing slightly, she smiles softly and murmurs, "It was the first time I'd heard I was thought a model in query." Mentally, she adds, 'Not even "Commander Dumbass" thought me to be beautiful enough to be a model.' Shaking it off, she then asks, "Did you get a new relay yet, Misato?"
"Why do you ask, Ritsu?"
"There's a lot of his dirty dealings in the MAGI. In his arrogance, he had it stored in Caspar." Misato's reply isn't quite what Ritsu expected.
"Did you get that, Berto?" Misato then nods and adds, "Happy hunting." At Ritsu's dropped jaw, Misato shrugs and adds, "I wasn't fully sure about you that night, Ritsu. I had to say what I did." Much to her surprise, Ritsu recovers her jaw and grins wryly.
"If I was in your shoes, Misato, I'd have done the same thing." Sighing, she goes on after mustering her courage. "Now for the gorilla in our midst. Rei Ayanami."
"What can you tell me about her?"
"She was created of human and Angel DNA."
"Angel? As in the ones trying to kill us?" At Ritsu's nod, Misato nods before prompting Ritsu to go on.
"Well, she was created with several clones. Empty shells, if you will. In the event of her death, her mind and soul are uploaded into a new body. The new body would then be implanted with an S-2 engine that has the most horrid side effect."
"What kind?"
"Rendering her barren. That is until…"
"Until what?" Ritsu only smiles softly, getting Misato to grin. "Oh, I bet 'Dumbass' ain't gonna be too happy about Rei being a…"
"Being a what, Katsuragi?" The sudden intrusion of Kaji's voice gets Misato and Ritsu to both turn around to see Kaji and Matt to turn around. "Is it something that'll fuck things up for 'Dumbass'? If it is, I'd like to hear about it."
"Maybe later, Kaji." Ritsu smiles softly at the expression on his face. One that she's starting to become accustomed to seeing herself wearing. "I see you set a massive load down."
"I did. Matt here's even thinking of talking with Shinji, Asuka and Rei when it comes to Piloting." Smirking, he adds, "Even if 'Commander Dumbass' doesn't like it."
"I don't doubt that, Kaji." Misato then yawns before turning to Ritsu. "But I think we'd better call it a night."
"Agreed." Ritsu looks over at Matt with a lascivious grin on her face before she adds, "I'm in need of a sleep aid, first. Matt?" Matt only chuckles before shrugging and going to Ritsu. "See you tomorrow, Misato."
"See you, Ritsu." Misato doesn't need to see Kaji's intent glance toward her as she watches Ritsu and Matt walk away from them. "What's on your mind, Ryoji?"
"I'm trying to puzzle out the truth, Misato. How can I if I'm hitting roadblocks from you, though?"
"Kaji, I meant what I said. If I'm going to marry you, it'll be with you alive, not as a corpse. Got it?"
"Yeah, I got it. But how do you propose to keep me alive, though? It's not like you're with a shadowy faction facing off against the likes of SEELE, after all." For some odd reason, Kaji can't help but be bemused by Misato's erupting cackles. "What?" Misato only cackles harder as she herds Kaji onward toward her apartment.
"Misato, what the fuck is so funny?" Misato only cackles harder, causing Kaji to think, 'Okay, either she inhaled laughing gas just now or she's with a shadowy faction.'
(Double date 2; same time; end of date; Suzuhara house)
Asuka can't help but blink in befuddlement as she looks at the modest, yet large house before her. She can easily tell that Shinji and Rits are doing the same thing. Before she can turn to Kenoju, the door opens and a small girl runs out. Smiling widely and giggling.
"Shinji! Shinji!" Shinji smiles at the sight of the girl and goes to a knee just as the girl torpedoes into him. "How've you been?"
"I've been fine, Yachiru. Yourself?"
"I've been great." Yachiru looks up and sees a smirking Rits. "Hello. I'm Yachiru Suzuhara."
"Hi, Yachiru. I'm Ritsuko. I'm Shinji's 'wife'. It's very nice to meet you."
"Oh, wow! Congratulations!" Yachiru then blinks before asking, "Where're your rings, though?" Rits only smiles warmly before going to a knee by Shinji.
"In our hearts, we're 'married' to each other. When the war's over, we'll make it official."
"Oh! Big brother told me about something like that! But I don't think he and Hikari did anything like that, though. Think they should?"
"Yachiru!" Touji runs out of the house, a frantic Hikari right behind him. "What're you doing out of the house, squirt?"
"Well, let's see. I heard you and Hikari smacking lips again when I saw Kenny with 'Red Devil', Shinji and Ritsuko. Oh, did you know they're married in their hearts now?" Yachiru's innocent query can't help but get a grin from Touji and a smirk from Hikari up until Yachiru speaks up again.
"Why don't you and Hikari do it, too?" At Hikari's face going beet red and Touji's cheeks going pink, Asuka loses it and starts guffawing.
"She's got a point there! If Rits and Shinji can do it, so can you two!" Hikari recovers herself and can't help but retort herself.
"How about yourself and Ken, Asuka?" Asuka's face can't help but go beet red and grin sheepishly. Ken, much to her relief however, clears his throat.
"As fun as it may sound, I'm afraid we'll have to table this discussion for another time." Giving Asuka's hand a soft kiss, he adds, "I'll see you around, my Red Angel."
Shinji and Rits can't help but blink before turning to each other and mouthing 'Red Angel?' to each other. Upon seeing Asuka's bright red blush, they can't help but grin as Touji takes a squirming Yachiru up into his arms. Hikari helping Ken into the house out of Asuka's sight, Touji sighs as Yachiru keeps squirming.
"C'mon, Yach, cut it out, huh?"
"Nope!"
"I'm gonna drop you if you don't stop squirming and I don't want that!"
"I'm not a baby anymore, though! I'm seven!"
"You may be seven, but you'll always be my cute little baby sister!"
"TOUJI!" Yachiru's face can't help but go bright red as she stops squirming and nestles into his arms. Sighing dismally, she asks, "Now do you see why I want this meathead to get married?" Next thing Yachiru knows, Touji's fingers are flying over her belly, getting her to laugh. "TOUJI! BIG BROTHER!" As the small girl laughs, Touji looks at them before speaking again.
"See you at school, you three." Upon getting a nod from them, he carries a laughing Yachiru back into the house. Before the door closes, Yachiru gets one more out.
"The 'Red Devil' and Kenny sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S…" Upon the door closing, cutting off the rest of the taunt, the three hear more of Yachiru's wild laughter. Shinji and Rits can't help but exchange a wry grin.
"Think our kids will wind up as adorable as Yachiru, Shinji?"
"Only one way to find, Rits." Rits' maternal smile can't help but get Shinji's paternal smile to come out onto his face. Putting his hands onto her belly, with her putting her hands over his, he gives her a soft murmur. "You're going to make a beautiful Mother, Rits."
Without further words, he traps her lips with his in a kiss. Getting Asuka to roll her eyes and look away in annoyance as the two kiss. While part of her is happy for them both, she can't help but feel put out at their persistent displays of affection. Checking to see if their lip-lock had ended yet, she sees it hadn't and checks her watch.
"Um, I don't know if you guys are trying for the record for longest kiss or what, but we gotta get moving before we draw eyes to you both." With that, their kiss ends and Asuka gets a raspberry from them both. "Oh, now that's classy." They both then chuckle, with Asuka joining them in chuckling as they walk along. "I take it you two dealt with something like that before."
"Yeah." Rits nestles herself into Shinji's side as she goes on. "It was some time before you got here. The Track Coach and Hikari were dealing with Tusano Kotuna when that pervert tried to get a coed pool day. Even more…"
"Even more what?"
"Even more he tried attacking me when he got tired of me passing him on the track. Rits spotted him making his attempt and warned me."
"What happened then?" Asuka can't help but be entranced at the story. Along with Rits' taking the next reply.
"He did a donut on the track, causing Kotuna to do a face-plant onto the track!" Asuka can't help but chortle. Only to be soon joined by Shinji and Rits with their own chortles.
"A donut, huh? I wish I could've seen that! When did it happen?"
"It was the day before the day 'Jet Alone' went bonkers." Rits' words get a nod from Shinji as he takes his beloved into his arms and kisses her softly. Getting her to grin before remarking, "Any more kisses like that and I'm going to disregard what Dr Akagi said about no sex."
"Would it really be so bad?" Rits' impishly sultry smirk rises to her face as Shinji gives her ass a soft squeeze before going on. "Because if not, I'm feeling up to having some really hot sex right out here on the street. Right now." Rits only giggles before pecking his lips and sighing.
"I am too, baby, but I gotta wait for my hormone levels to get up to the point where I'm ovulating again. And it takes…"
"Two months. Got it." Holding her in his arms again, he adds, "At least we can still hold each other closely. Along with 'other' aspects."
"Mmm, oh yes." With that, they walk on the sidewalk down five blocks and over one to the Takamiya residence. When they're in front of the house, Rits sighs happily and says, "I think this walk was pretty good, Shin."
"Yeah. It's nice to not be behind the wheel all the time. But you know the best part of a walk?"
"Not really, but I think I'm going to like what you have to say next." Shinji's smile gets Rits to grin widely at his next words.
"Gives one a chance to do this without crashing." Rits can't help but giggle as she knows that she called it. Upon feeling Shinji's on hers, she luxuriates in the kiss. A highly amused/annoyed Asuka watching them both. When the kiss ends, a smiling Rits has a tear in her right eye. Getting Shinji to worry. "You okay, Rits?"
"I'm fine, you goofball." Giving Shinji a soft peck for his concern, she adds, "It's a tear of joy that I'm closer to making the man I love a good Father. No matter what 'Dumbass' or anyone else says."
"Then I should be able to shed a tear of joy for the woman I love for wanting to make me a good Father. Even though she knows she'll be as good a good Mother as her adoptive Mother was with her." Rits can't help but gasp before her eyelids go halfway down in an alluring manner.
"Shinji, you and Asuka better get going before I say 'To Hell with Doctor's Orders' and have you fuck me right in front of the house." Shinji can't help but see Asuka inching away from them, a bright red blush on her grinning face. "That's one down. How about you, Shinji?" Fortunately, or unfortunately as a matter of perspective, Shinji's spared from answering when Deidre opens the door. Slight scowl on her face.
"Ritsy, come on inside! You've got school tomorrow!" The 'S' word washes over Rits like an ice-cold shower, getting her to groan. "Don't you groan, you little priss! Rules are rules, after all!"
"Okay, Mom." Giving Shinji one more steamy lip-lock, Rits runs her fingers through his hair before ending it. "I'll see you at school tomorrow, Shin."
"You better believe it, Rits." Looking toward Deidre, he adds, "Good night, Deidre!"
"Good night, Shinji! Good night, Asuka!"
"Good night, Ms Takamiya!" Watching as a sheepish Rits walks into the house, Asuka adds, "Later, Ritsuko!"
"Later, Asuka!" With that, the door closes softly and Shinji sighs. Asuka catching his sigh.
"You okay, Third?"
"Yeah. Just wondering how I got to be so lucky to have such a beautiful 'wife' when I'm in the middle of a war and doing an investigation at the same time."
"Yeah, well, soon you and Rits will be making babies on a beautiful beach, in an apartment or wherever." Thinking about PSA-598 unbidden, Asuka can't help but blush again. 'Leave it to me to mention babies!' Much to her relief, Shinji doesn't notice her blushing as he resumes walking. With her by his side. Their walk is in silence. Back inside the Takamiya house…
"You gonna be okay, Ritsy?"
"Yeah. I just need a literal cold shower to get my horniness under control." Deidre can only giggle just as the door opens revealing a tired Sychola. "Hey, Peter."
"Hey, Ritsuko." Letting off a yawn, the cyborg shakes his head and adds, "I don't know about you, but looking over call logs for every NERV-issued phone is no picnic at all."
"How bad is it?"
"I'll put it to you like this, 'Nelle. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack. But I have a pretty good hunch as to who the needle that called that bunch of loonies is. Just can't prove it yet." Rits can't help but smirk before she makes a guess.
"Is 'Dumbass' the needle you're looking for?" At his nod, Rits goes on. "And if you're to implicate him in what happened that day without proof, he'd likely claim some bullshit happened."
"Bizactly. Which is why Hisnokasu, Dyson and I are working from the bottom up as we're expected to. I expect, however, that 'Dumbass' will start getting nervous as we work our way up the ladder. Chances are, he'll do something stupid to fuck himself up." Groaning, he then adds, "I can't help but find this ironic, you know." Deidre can't help but be curious at that.
"Find what ironic, Peter?"
"In the old days, the ones we'd faced up against had impressive intelligence capabilities up until they were shut down when Dread pulled his stunt." Giving Deidre the signal to keep 'N-Tek' out of mention around Rits, he goes on. "But what I wouldn't give now to ask them to work with us on this."
"How good were they, Peter?" Rits' query only gets a smirk from him and Deidre both. "Right. If they were good enough to stop them, they were good enough to puzzle it out." Yawning, she adds, "I'm gonna go take that shower before I turn in, Mom. Night, Peter."
"Night, Ritsuko."
"Night, 'Nette." As Rits goes to get ready, Peter looks over toward Deidre and asks, "Her double date go good?"
"It seems to have. Though there was somewhat of a scary moment." Giving Peter a seductive smile, she murmurs, "But since Ritsy's taking a cold shower right now, then perhaps we should get caught up." Peter only gives her a nod as she tugs him into her room and closes the door. Once the door's closed, she descends on him. "I've missed this for months, Peter."
"As have I." Locking his lips to hers, he murmurs, "Being around you and Ritsy both makes me feel alive again. Like I got a second chance of sorts. Or, would it be my third chance?"
"I'd say since you're classified as 'deceased' by the DoD, had lived under an alias by the whims of a whack-job, only to find out that you're still you, this is your second chance." Her gaze starting to smolder, Deidre adds, "Enough existential garbage, though. It's time we fucked. So fuck me already."
Peter does exactly that for the rest of the night.
(Katsuragi/Ikari/Sohryu apartment; seven minutes later)
As Shinji and Asuka enter the apartment, he notices Asuka looking toward him inquiringly.
"What is it, Asuka?"
"Just wondering about Kamenev. I mean, she doesn't strike me as one of your usual rogues, yet she dislikes the other you to no end. Why is that?"
"It's because her daughter, Nikita, has a crush on the other me." At Asuka's bewildered blink, Shinji adds, "Devilwoman's true name is Nikita Kamenev."
"Ah. How'd that come about?"
"I saved Nikita's life when she got drunk at a party in college on the East Coast in the States. She made her way, while drunkenly staggering no less, to the George Washington Bridge and stripped down. I had just gotten done with dealing with Vitriol and was on my way out of the States via the scenic ocean route when I saw a naked girl on the bridge, about to fall off."
"Uh-oh. I'm guessing she fell and you caught her in time in the Sparrow." At his nod, she smiles softly and asks, "What happened then?"
"She opened her eyes and said, and I quote, 'By the grace of Lucifer, I am blessed to meet you. For I am Devilwoman, willing to serve as vessel to your heirs.' End of quote."
"Why would she… oh Hell no!"
"Yep. I had inadvertently saved a part-time Satanist from death. Along with having the luck for said Satanist to develop a crush on me right on the spot. Totally one-sided on her part."
"Does she know you don't return her feelings?"
"Yeah, she does. But she's so deeply into her crush that she pays it no mind." Asuka nods at Shinji's words as she takes over from there.
"Once Ms Kamenev heard about her being saved by you, met you and found out you fight against criminals, she told Nikita that she can't date you. Right?"
"Yep. But Nikita's not the kind to be denied under any circumstance. Not by her Mother and most certainly not by me. She may be flighty, if not a bit flaky, but she's cute as a button. I can't help but wonder, though."
"Wonder about what?"
"If I should be happy that she finds someone that finds her flakiness cute and will be willing to put up with it or worried about the poor sap that finds her flakiness cute and will be willing to put up with it."
"Okay, I understand the former. But why the latter?"
"The poor guy she gets entangled or enamored with is going to have Anastasia Kamenev as a Mother-in-Law should they get to the altar."
"Good point." Curious, she then asks, "Does Ms Kamenev know about…"
"Nikita being Devilwoman? Oh yeah. She had her put onto anti-psychotics, -depressants, yadda, yadda, yadda. None of it worked very well seeing as Nikita only took the meds sporadically, if not infrequently, though." Asuka can't help but be befuddled by that.
"I'm surprised she hadn't been disowned by that bitch."
"As am I, but I guess she loves Nikita too much to cast her aside like that." Asuka gives a shrug before heading for her room. An unsteady gait in her step. Shinji noticing it. "You okay, Asuka?"
"I'm fine, Shinji." Her voice is so soft, Shinji has to strain his ears to be able to hear her. "It's just thinking about how far along you and Rits have gotten has gotten me to think about Ken in that light quite a few times already. So I now have to…"
"Right. Sorry about that."
"No need to be sorry about it, Shinji." Asuka looks back at him and grins softly, adding, "It's part of growing up, after all. Night."
"Night." Asuka gives him a nod as she goes into her room and closes the door. Giving Shinji a chance to sigh before chuckling. "Yes, indeedy, if Nikita ever finds that poor sap, he's in for a rough time."
(Moscow Militia Jail; visiting area; same time)
As she waits patiently, the lone young woman looks around before grimacing at the sparseness of people.
'I may like doing some things late at night, but this is definitely not one of them. No minions to order around.' When Nikita sees the one she's here to visit, she smiles widely as she greets her Mother in Russian. "Hi, Mom."
"Hi, Nikki." As Mother and daughter exchange a hug, Anastasia cups Nikita's face and grimaces. "I had a Devil, if you'll pardon the wording, of a time getting you out of that facility so you can come visit me. The amount of bribes is beginning to skyrocket."
"Well, that and corrupt officials are hard to find. Heck, officials these days are become even harder to corrupt. They're so straight-laced, it's making me want to go legit! And I like the occult!" Nikita's wry grin can't help but get Anastasia to grin as she looks over Nikita's garb and nods in approval.
"At least you know to dress appropriately for the weather, my little 'Hell-spawn Princess." Inwardly, however, Anastasia is rolling her eyes at how Nikita likes to hear about her involvement in the occult. 'If not for that, she'd make an excellent heiress of the Kamenev Family line.' Shaking her head, she then smiles at Nikita as the young woman grimaces while pulling the collar of her blue blouse away from her neck.
"Yeah, well in any case, I prefer my usual bikini ensemble to this kind of clothing. It's so restrictive, I can't even move at times."
"Oh, my little Nikita." Anastasia gives her daughter a commiserating grin before looking down at her prison garb. A solid grey jumpsuit with blue slippers. Nickel-plated shackles on her wrists and ankles."I know exactly how you feel. My wardrobe is drab and clashes horridly with the jewelry you see on my wrists and ankles. Now I ask you. Do you really see yourself as being the bride to someone like Max Steel Jr.?"
"Unless someone else strikes my fancy or saves my life like he did, I do."
"But, Nikki, he's why I'm in the gulag right now. He and the girl he called 'Red Devil' that night."
"I don't believe it! How can he do that to me?" Scoffing, Nikita asks, "How can he have found a new love when I'm the one for him?"
"I don't think she was his beloved, my daughter, but a new confederate for the group responsible for my incarceration. Dr Klimo was most informative about it, as well."
"Dr Klimo? What were you doing with that fork-tongued charlatan?"
"We weren't doing anything untoward if that's what you're worried about. We were only at the facility for different reasons, it seems. Klimo was after a serum for an unknown purpose while I wanted to increase the amount of business through Natalya Uramov's business. Ivan and Strabo failed to keep Max Steel Jr. out of our business."
"You mean 'Hairy' and 'Eyeball', the best thugs money can buy, failed?" At Anastasia's nod, Nikki scoffs, "Even the quality of our underlings has gone down significantly. Going legit is starting to look better by the minute!"
"No talk of 'legitimate business', Nikki. Please. It's not good for the bottom line."
"Neither is incarceration or worse, Mother." Before Anastasia can say anything more, Nikita's phone rings. "Hold that thought, please." Digging her phone out of her pocket, Nikita looks at the screen and grins widely. "It's 'Psycho' calling."
"Tell him I said 'Hello', please." Nikita gives a nod before answering, switching to English.
"Hi, 'Psycho'. How's it going?"
"It's going okay. You?"
"I'm doing fine. Mother says 'Hello', by the way."
"Tell her I return the greeting." Nikita looks at Anastasia and nods, with Anastasia returning the nod. Nikita turns back to the call, smiling widely.
"So how's Max been doing? Mom had a little run-in with him and a girl named after me."
"Max is doing fine. As for the girl, no idea on that one. But it's really quite interesting you should happen to ask about Max."
"Oh? Why's that?"
"Nikita, I gotta give it to you straight. At the time he saved your life, he was already in a new relationship that appears to be enduring."
"But, why'd he save me and agree to meet Mother?"
"That's the kind of guy he is. He doesn't like to see anyone in peril like you were that night. As for meeting your Mother, well you did ask him to meet with her after all."
"True." Sighing, she asks, "Does she treat him well, at least?"
"She does. I'm terribly sorry to tell you behind his back like this."
"No, no, it's okay. He did say he can't return my feelings toward him, after all. I was just so badly fixated on him, I… oh I'm such a stupid goose!"
"No, not stupid. Just terribly lonely. But I do have a line on someone you might like just as well. If not better." Nikita can't help but be intrigued by it.
"Who?"
"A Section-2 Agent under my command. His old man was FBI, killed after Second Impact."
"Holy Mary, for the Grace of God." Nikita quickly crosses herself, catching Anastasia's interest. Having been brought up Roman Catholic, Nikita only saved something like that for somber moods. "How old was he?"
"Seven. He even kneecapped a cultist a couple days after his old man was killed. With a .38 revolver his Dad bought him!" Nikita can't help but giggle in merriment as Psycho's guffaws erupt. With him getting out, "That still gets me to laugh any time I think about it!"
"I understand!" Seeing Anastasia looking questioningly at her, Nikita quickly tells her about what 'Psycho' said. By the time she's done, Anastasia's pounding the table while laughing. Giggling still, Nikita asks, "So what's his name and how long has he been under your command?" Blinking, she questioningly adds, "When did you make command, anyway?"
"His name's Brian Dyson and he's been under my command for almost a month now. As for my making command, well…"
"Almost a month, then." Nikita gives a grin as she asks, "Did that insolently foul beast finally do the world a favor and die?"
"Um, no. But he did vanish without a trace when he tried attacking the Third Child's 'wife' while she was with the First, Second and Third Children in the Third Child's car."
"Good God. Are they alright?"
"They are. But I gotta admit I'm surprised at you. As a devotee to the occult, you're showing your Catholicism the more you speak."
"Yeah, well, the occult didn't come until I went to join a Sorority that had celebrating the occult as a religion. But it's only part-time." Sighing, she then asks, "Is Brian nice or anything like Max?"
"He's a nice guy as long as you don't try attacking the Pilots or his fellow Section-2 Agents. As for being like Max, I'm afraid he falls short in being like Max. But he does have a sense of humor that'll keep you in stitches."
"Then I guess I should at least give him a chance should we meet. Who knows? Maybe I'll give up being a Satanist altogether." Biting her lower lip gently, she asks, "Could that be why Max couldn't return my feelings? Even though he was already in a relationship?"
"You being a Satanist part-time? Nah. He's not like that. He's very devoted and protective toward her."
"Then she's a very lucky girl. I hope to meet her sometime so she can learn to corrupt him."
"Um, she's not the kind that likes to corrupt those she cares for." Nikita can't help but blink in bewilderment.
"She doesn't like to corrupt? What kind of girl is she?"
"The kind that likes her man on the straight and narrow. Even though…"
"Even though what?"
"Even though the man that originally sired him is a rotten sack of shit that wants to slaughter what's left of humanity. Using him as a sacrificial lamb. That's all I can safely tell you."
"Does Max Sr. know? Max Jr.?"
"They know." Sighing, he adds, "As does her Mother."
"Her Mother? How can she know?"
"It's a long story. One that can't be explained over the phone."
"I see. Give my regards to her when you see her again and that I hope we can have a drink of vodka together."
"I'll pass it along. Though I don't think she'd be able to drink vodka at the moment. Or if at all if her Mother has any say in it." In the background, Nikita can hear a feminine voice hissing out.
"Damn right she won't be drinking vodka at all!" Nikita's eyes can't help but bulge out at what the voice says next. "Just who're you talking to, anyway?"
"Just talking to Devilwoman, telling her about Dyson and what-not."
"Oh? Gimme that!" Nikita hears a slight struggle before a feminine crow of triumph before the voice comes back. "This is Dragonelle. Who am I conferring with?"
"I'm Devilwoman, Dragonelle. But I thought you were dead." Next thing she knows, Dragonelle chortles before speaking again.
"Yeah, well, as the late writer 'Mark Twain' once said, 'The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated'. Or, to be exact, I haven't really been Dragonelle very much. Been too busy raising my little girl to give it much thought." Nikita can't help but chuckle at that, getting Anastasia's attention. Prompting her to speak up.
"Who're you talking to now, Nikki?" Nikita grins before turning toward her Mother.
"I'm talking to Dragonelle. She's the Mother of the girl that Max Steel Jr. has in his heart. It seems he was already in a relationship when he saved my life."
"Ah. Wait. I thought Dragonelle was dead."
"As did I. But she's on the phone, big as life." Anastasia nods as Nikita goes back to her conversation. "I never expected to speak to someone like yourself, Lady Dragonelle." Dragonelle's chuckles can't help but get Nikita to grin lightly.
"You flatter me, Devilwoman. But I'm hardly a 'Lady' by any stretch of the imagination." Both femmes exchange a chortle before Dragonelle goes serious. "I understand you had a crush on Max Steel Jr. even though he's already with my daughter."
"It's totally one-sided, ma'am. Your daughter's very fortunate."
"She is. You're quite fortunate that while she's possessive of him, she also understands that other girls will have crushes on guys that are already taken. I sincerely hope that you find your dream guy much like my daughter did."
"I hope so too. 'Psycho' told me about a Section-2 Agent under his command. I may well make my way to Tokyo-3 to meet him."
"If you do, you may want to be sure no hostilities are taking place. It's a battle zone, after all."
"I understand. How soon are they expected to taper off?" The sound of Dragonelle sighing gustily can't help but worry Nikita before the woman gives her reply.
"That, Devilwoman, is a very good question. With all the Angels attacking and Max Steel Jr. and Dragonette doing a joint investigation of sorts…"
"A joint investigation? Into what?" Gulping soundly, Nikita then asks, "Is it involving Max's bastard of a birth Father wanting to use him as a sacrifice?"
"It is." That reply in itself gets Nikita's eyes to narrow before she makes her decision.
"Who is the worthless scum so I can have his head on a pike and burn the rest of his body to ashes?"
"I can't tell you as it'll endanger the investigation. But you'll probably find out in the end should you come."
"I'm catching the next plane out to meet Brian and aid in the investigation. Discretely, of course."
"Of course. But be sure to keep a low profile to stay under the radar as the Commander of NERV doesn't like anything getting in his way. Not even Max Steel Jr. is immune to the Commander's hatred."
"Jeez, it sounds like the Commander's like Max's birth Father or something." Dragonelle only makes a musing sound before Nikita adds, "I won't stand for what Max's birth Father has in mind for him. Once he's found, his days are numbered." With that, Nikita ends the call, tears welling up in her eyes. Switching back to Russian, she asks, "How can Max's birth Father… wait. How can he be Max Steel Jr. if he's the son of Max Steel Sr.? Unless of course…"
"Max Steel Jr. is an adopted name." Anastasia's comment gets a nod from Nikita before she goes on. "It makes perfect sense. If he's investigating NERV, he's got to have another identity. One that's separate from his investigation to ward off suspicion."
"Yeah." Nikita nods before tapping her chin thoughtfully before grinning. "I just love mysteries." Anastasia only nods before Nikita checks her watch and grimaces. "I'd better go if I'm going to make the plane, Mother."
"Indeed, my little Nikki. Stay safe, please?"
"I will. Wish me luck, Mother." Nikita gives Anastasia a hug, with the woman returning it as best she could.
"Good luck, my little 'Devilwoman'. Give those desiring to destroy the world Hell." Smirking, Anastasia adds, "After all, destroying the world is not good for the bottom line." Nikita gives Anastasia a nod as the woman signals her readiness to return to her cell. As the gulag guard comes back, she says, "Let's get back to my cell, Sergei."
"Yes, Lady Kamenev." Instead of handling her roughly as he's supposed to, Sergei gently takes her arm into his. "Enjoy your visit?"
"I did. Also found out something most distressing that may well threaten the bottom line."
"Anything I can do to help?"
"I want you to send some men with my daughter as bodyguards along with intelligence gatherers. If Nikita's to have a chance at stopping the plot of Max's birth Father, she'll need all the help she can get." Sergei gives her a nod before grinning.
"I have some old friends I'd served with on Moscow Militia before I became one of the Jailers here. They'd seen the horrors in the aftermath of Second Impact and wish to prevent the horrors from being repeated if at all possible."
"Excellent, Sergei. Make the calls you need to."
"Right away, Lady Kamenev." Sergei brings out his phone and starts making his calls. All the while, Anastasia's thinking vile thoughts.
'Unknown birth Father of Max Steel Jr., you will regret ever raising the ire of "Devilwoman"! This I swear!'
(Tokyo-3; NERV; Gendo's office)
Sneezing multiple times, Gendo reaches for a nearby handkerchief and grimaces.
"I've heard of light bugs, but this is absurd! I've got plots to formulate and I can't do it while sneezing!"
(Next morning; Ayanami/Nez residence)
His nose twitching at the scent of breakfast cooking, Richard opens his eyes and sees his red-eyed love stirring as well. When Rei looks back at him and smiles softly, he returns the soft smile before leaning upward to kiss her. When she leans down to meet his lips with hers, they both hear Rachel's voice.
"You two can smooch later. So come and eat breakfast." Rei and Richard both grin haplessly before Rei gets up off of Richard's body and stretches.
"Mmm, I can't believe I slept so well. How about you, Richard?"
"I slept pretty good considering I was your mattress."
"Mmm, 'Nez' brand mattress. Perhaps tonight you'd like to try an 'Ayanami' brand mattress." Giving him a soft peck, she smirks and adds, "But while you can't enter it, you can still play with it."
"I look forward to it." Richard then sneaks in a peck before getting up and stretching as well. "For now, though, I've got matters to attend to." Rei looks down without thinking about it and licks her lips hungrily. Before she can even move, however…
"I mean it, you two. Come eat breakfast or it'll get cold." They both nod and Rei goes into the dining area to see Rachel cooking. "Good morning, Miss Ayanami."
"Good morning, Mrs. Nez. Did you sleep well?"
"Not as well as I would normally with Jake. But decently enough, I'd say." Smiling softly, yet wickedly, she asks, "How'd you enjoy your sleep with Richard?"
"He was quite comfortable to sleep on." Rei's cheeks can't help but go slightly red as she thinks about his reaction to her falling asleep on him. While holding her breasts in his hands, no less. "I look forward to conceiving our first child when we're ready to." Rachel gives a slight titter while serving a vegetarian breakfast for her.
"Richie told me you're a vegetarian in regards to your diet when I spoke to him a couple days ago."
"I thank you." Biting her lower lip gently, she then asks, "Any chance you can slip some meat into it? I understand that meat-based meals have protein that vegetarian meals lack. And if we're to have children…"
"You'll need all the protein you can get." At Rei's nod, Rachel smiles back before nodding. "I can spare you a trio of sausage links. Will that be a good start?"
"Yes, it would." At that moment, Richard comes in and his jaw drops at seeing his Mother giving Rei sausage. Quickly looking around, he then grimaces, getting Rei to grin. "What are you looking for, Richard?"
"I'm looking for the White Rabbit because I'm quite sure I wound up in a topsy-turvy world in the last three minutes." Rei and Rachel share a giggle while Richard chuckles lightly before breathing in the smell of breakfast. "Mmm, I haven't had one of your breakfasts in a long time, Mom."
"I've missed cooking for you, Richard. Your Father and I've been so lonely without you with us in the States." Giving Richard a sad smile, she adds, "I wanted to spoil you one more time with one of my breakfasts before we go back."
"What do you mean by 'One more time', Mom?"
"Richie, you're growing into a wonderful young man that's capable of cooking. No doubt about that. But, you'll always be my little baby."
Rachel's eyes start dripping tears until she feels Richard putting his arms around her. Returning the gesture, she gently squeezes his form before kissing the top of his head and wiping her eyes. When Richard looks up toward her face, she smiles softly before nodding. Looking toward Rei, she speaks again.
"Jake and I look forward to seeing our first grandchild in your arms, you two." Rei gives Rachel a nod before smirking gently.
"How soon would you like us to start?"
"When you're both ready, Rei. When you're both ready."
"Understood."
Rei looks toward Richard, her gaze smoldering as she takes a sausage link into her mouth. Instead of biting down into it, however, she begins moving it back and forth in a sultry manner. Richard can't help but be entranced by the young woman while Rachel resumes making breakfast.
Fifteen minutes later, Richard and Rei are heading out the door, Rachel in tow as the UN limousine assigned to her pulls up to the front of the house. Its windows are so heavily tinted, even Rachel has a hard time seeing inside it. Shrugging, she hugs Richard from behind and kisses him on his cheek.
"I'll call you when your Father and I get back to the States, Richie."
"Okay, Mom." Rachel looks at Rei before smiling softly at the blue-haired girl.
"Take good care of Richard for me and Jake, please Rei."
"I will do so, Mrs. Nez."
Rei's words get a nod from Rachel before she envelops the girl in a hug. For some reason, Rei can't help feeling something off-kilter about the woman holding her. All too soon, the hug ends and Rachel enters the limo. Watching as it drives away, Rei looks toward Richard. With Richard looking back toward Rei.
"Is it just me, or did Mom not have a heartbeat at all?"
"I had noticed the lack of heartbeats as well, Richard. Most perplexing." Biting her lower lip thoughtfully, she adds, "She also moved a bit stiffly, almost as if…"
"As if she's mechanical."
"Yes." Looking away, she then asks, "What do we do?"
"We go on and see what happens, Rei. React any way we're supposed to."
"I understand. But why?"
"I dunno. But I get the feeling that something big is going on that involves Mom."
"Could it be something to do with what 'Dumbass' spoke with her about yesterday?"
"Could be." Shrugging, Richard says, "All we can do for now though is keep it under our hats."
"Understood." However, Rei's face can't help but go into a poorly concealed grin before she asks, "Shall we buy hats to keep 'it' under for greater effect?" Richard can't help but guffaw while holding Rei to his side. The blue-haired girl laughing in hilarity. "I'm sorry! I just couldn't resist!"
"It's okay! If anything, I just love your literal sense of humor! It's really quite refreshing!"
With that, the two young lovebirds start walking toward school. Both resolved in reacting appropriately to whatever happens next.
(UN limousine; same time)
In her position in the limousine, Rachel sighs as she turns toward Jake.
"So far, so good. Rei and Richard don't seem to suspect a thing. But of course with Richard, you never really know. Same with Rei." Jake gives a nod as the limo makes its way to the air field. Rachel then asks, "So it's supposed to happen as I board the plane?"
"From what Rokubungi said on the tap, yeah. Sniper's supposed to shoot from the terminal roof. Our guys will be on hand to quickly take the sniper down before the sniper can make a break for it. But not before the sniper calls in your death." Rachel bites her lower lip thoughtfully before sighing.
"I just hope it won't be long before we can see Richie and Rei again."
"Yeah. Those two look really good together." Rachel smiles and nods before the limo reaches the air field. "Okay, Rachel, show time."
"Yep."
With that, the car comes to a smooth stop by the UN plane and its right rear passenger door opens. As Rachel steps out, the sudden crack of a rifle shot pierces the air. Rachel's head exploding into pulp. As the body falls to the ground, the sounds of panic and sirens quickly erupt.
(Sniper's position; two minutes ago)
As the limo glides to a stop, the sniper sent by SEELE takes aim, focusing his crosshairs onto the rear area of the limo. Upon seeing Rachel's blond hair rising out of the car, the sniper fires. When he sees his target fall to the ground, the sniper grins as he brings out his phone. Thinking all the while.
'Easiest $100,000 I ever made!' Upon getting a connection, he says, "It's done. The SECGEN's dead, Commander Ikari."
"Excellent. You're to be well commended." With that, the call ends and the sniper scoffs.
"What, no 'Congratulations, you killed a useless person.'? Anything like that at all? Damn. Talk about getting… whoa!" Upon feeling two sets of arms grabbing him up, he calls out, "I want my lawyer! I want my lawyer!" Next thing he knows, his eyes bulge out in shock at what he sees. Before he can say anything, though, he goes unconscious.
(Tokyo-3 High School; two minutes ago)
All jaws in the class are dropped down in shock over seeing the breaking news.
"We're bringing up live reports of UN Secretary General Rachel Leeds Nez having been assassinated by an unknown assailant! Just as she exited her limousine, a sniper fired one shot which went right through her head! Oh, what a terrible day for humanity!" As the broadcaster goes on to describe her accolades, Shinji looks over at Rits and sees her shaking her head in disbelief before bursting into tears.
"Why? Why'd she die?" Sighing softly, Shinji can't help but feel rotten about what he has to say.
"I wish I could tell you, Rits. But all we can do is live on. It's what she'd want us to do."
"I… I… I know. But what about Richard? Rei? She and Jake were in their corner!" Unable to help herself, she flings herself into Shinji's arms, asking, "When is the world going to make sense?"
"When it chooses to make sense, it'll make sense. It's my truth. Please, Rits, let it be your truth too."
"I'll make it my truth when the Angels are all gone and the ones responsible for all the senseless tragedy in the world are brought down!" Shinji can only hold her close to him while looking over toward Richard and Rei. Curious to see how they're reacting.
From all appearances, they're in shock and about to go into tears. Looking over toward Kensuke, Touji and Hikari, he sees Hikari crying profoundly while clutching onto Touji. With Kensuke repeatedly wiping his glasses to ensure his eyes aren't deceiving him. Only to find himself disappointed when they're not. Looking back toward Asuka, he sees her dripping tears from her eyes before sighing.
Next thing he knows, his phone rings.
"Ikari here."
"Shinji, we've got a possible Angel with us. Get Rei, yourself and Asuka to the Geofront pronto!"
"Got it, Misato. Moving out now." Gently rubbing Rits back, he murmurs, "I gotta go, Rits."
"Another Angel, honey?"
"It is, sweetie." Rits gives him a nod before kissing his cheek.
"For luck, my love."
"Thanks. I'm probably going to need it." Giving her a soft kiss right back, he gets up and says, "Let's go, 'apes'. We've got a possible Angel that's asking us to grace it with our presence."
"Alright. We could use a distraction right about now, anyway. It's what the SECGEN would want of us, isn't it?"
"Yeah. We'll mourn later on. For now though, let's go whack an Angel."
"Agreed." Rei glances at Richard to ensure he's holding up well. Getting a nod from him, she nods back and exits behind the other two. Thinking, 'I hope whatever the SECGEN planned works.'
