Sea of Tranquility: In Memory of the Walther P-38
Sadamoto Arcade, Downtown Tokyo-3...
A week had passed in peace since that fateful trip to the Saratoga.
Due to the intensity of Maki/Godzilla's rampage and Ghidorah's surprise arrival, all the pilots had to receive immediate medical attention.
Consequently, they missed out on Discord's eccentric introduction and had to be introduced after the fact.
Shinji found a renewed sense of hope upon finding out that his father was a kind and caring father, at least in another timeline.
Asuka still had to cope with many things, namely Misato's messy apartment and diet of instant meals, numerous admirers at school, and above all, the embarrassment of having to share a room with Shinji.
But Bumblebee's regular visits and tales of their alternate selves never failed to brighten her day.
"So, who am I in your universe?"
"Well, you're the pilot of Kiryu Unit-02, which is a mechanical copy of Godzilla, much like the Evas. Dr. Shikinami's a Kaiju researcher, just like Yui, and Pieter is Gendo's personal helicopter pilot."
"Who are they?"
"Oh, right. In my universe, your parents are named Kyoko Zeppelin Shikinami and Pieter Langley. Bit of a mouthful."
"..."
"I'm sorry. I forgot that you and Shinji are in similar circumstances in this world. If it's too painful to talk about…"
"Just tell me about the ones you know."
"Very well, I think I'll let them do the talking."
Even a week later, Asuka still remembered the first time she heard her mother's voice…
...ever since that horrible morning.
Lost in her memories, Asuka accidentally bumped into someone playing Galaga, resulting in an instant defeat.
"Whoops! Sorry about that!"
To her regret, the defeated player turned around, revealing himself to be a very angry bosozoku biker!
"' Sorry?!' Sorry's not gonna cut it, you little-!"
To his misfortune, the biker made the mistake of intruding Asuka's personal space, which resulted in a sudden kick to the groin.
Shinji, Toji, and Kensuke stared in horror as their expectations of a typical day flew out the window.
Kaworu, who also tagged along, was only mildly amused.
The biker toppled over with a groan, alerting his fellow comrades as they rushed to his aid!
Asuka made short work of them as well, with precise punches and kicks, which sent them careening into the arcade machines, causing extensive injury!
"Let's get out of here!"
Despite his usual brash temper, Toji wasn't in the mood for a pummeling during what was supposed to be his free time.
The boys ran for the exit, only to be cut off by three other bikers!
"Guys, it was an accident. We di-"
Shinji's attempt to negotiate was answered by a punch to the face.
"Shut up! You think your bitch of a girlfriend can mess with us and get away with-"
The bikers, in turn, were cut off as the usually reserved Kaworu Nagisa pounced on them like an enraged predatory bird!
The one who punched Shinji received a knee to the groin and a headbutt to the nose for his trouble.
The other two bikers charged, only for Kaworu to ever-so-slightly poke their pressure points!
The bikers were unconscious before they even hit the ground.
"Hmph, not so bad, Fifth."
Asuka complimented Kaworu as she released the chokehold on the last hostile biker.
Kaworu smiled.
"Just protecting Shinji and the others. You did exceptionally well."
Indeed, the arcade behind Asuka was now littered with battered bikers.
However, the biker who started the entire brawl started to recover!
"Damn you!"
He swiftly drew a concealed Walther PPK and aimed it at Asuka...
...only to be shot from behind the arcade's counter!
The group wheeled around to see the biker grasping his injured hand in shock!
A uniformed police officer appeared with his revolver drawn and approached the group.
"You kids okay?!" shouted the officer.
"Yes, sir! Thanks for saving us!" replied an elated Kensuke.
"You guys better get going. There's been a lot of gang activity in the downtown area recently, so be on the lookout for anything suspicious, got it?"
"Of course, sir."
Shinji meekly replied.
"It's a good thing your friends know some moves. Otherwise, a bruise on the cheek would be the least of your problems."
Asuka smugly smirked at the officer's compliment.
Then she realized something amiss…
"Shouldn't you be asking us for witness statements?"
"Statements? No need, I already saw everything from the counter."
Before Asuka could question him further, a familiar voice rang out.
"Shinji! Asuka! Are you alright-"
Bumblebee paused at the arcade's entrance as he recognized the cop.
The look on his face was enough for Shinji to realize that the officer was not who he seemed.
Bumblebee's fear turned into rage as he drew a pistol of his own and aimed at the cop!
"Barricade!"
His identity revealed, Barricade frowned and leveled his gun at Bumblebee!
"Right on time, Bee. Little Miss Shikinami was about to figure me out."
"It's Soryu!"
"Not now, Asuka!"
With Bumblebee momentarily distracted, Barricade drew a second pistol and executed the injured biker!
In response, Bumblebee fired a warning shot that narrowly missed Barricade's head, shattering an arcade machine in the distance!
"The next one won't miss," hissed the Autobot scout.
Barricade chuckled.
"Several legitimate police cars are heading to this location as I speak. Now, how would it look like to those human cops to see a delinquent aiming a gun at a uniformed police officer?"
Bumblebee scowled.
"You don't deserve that disguise! You're a disgrace to law enforcement everywhere!"
"Really? That fellow I just killed tried to assault your friends and shoot Ms. Soryu while her back was turned. His little gang even had the nerve to punch poor Shinji in the face as he tried to reason with them. If anything, I did you guys a favor."
Barricade smugly holstered his guns and walked out the back door.
His real body, a Nissan Fairlady Z police car, started up and sped off with sirens blaring.
Still seething with anger, Bumblebee holstered his gun as well.
Looking at his worried friends, he tried his best to reassure them.
"He's one of Megatron's men. We have a long history together, and I'll explain more once we return to base."
Later, at the Decepticon Odawara Base…
Two U.S. Marines in dress uniform approached the warehouse guarded by a lone man in a suit.
The sharply dressed guard eyed the duo, recognizing them as guests.
"Won't your commanding officer be suspicious?"
"He told us to meet here," answered one of the pair.
"In that case, 'The Professor' is out at the moment. His annoying aide is still here, though."
"We're used to him by now," answered the other Marine.
The guard slightly opened the warehouse door.
"Follow me, he might get jumpy and shoot you."
The Marines followed the guard to the center of the room, populated by two other men in similar attire and an older man in a scientist's outfit.
"Skywarp! Who are these two?!"
"Identified: Blackout and Grindor. Irregular warfare specialists."
Blackout turned towards his brother and smirked.
"I told you Starscream wouldn't recognize us."
Grindor sighed and handed him some yen.
As Starscream tried to hold back his anger, Skywarp rushed back to the entrance.
"What took you so long?!"
"We had to upgrade our alt modes to the newest models. The older Stallions keep crashing."
"And we were also planting viruses for Lord Megatron's next op."
Starscream turned towards Thundercracker and Soundwave for an explanation.
"You do realize what the next op is, right?" asked a perplexed Blackout.
"I'm calling it. It's so important, Megatron doesn't trust him with it."
Grindor mockingly told his brother.
Thundercracker whispered the basics of the plan to a now-fuming Starscream.
"The JSDF coup? I thought that was shelved when Takahashi got ventilated!"
"Usurping Takahashi and his little conspiracy was only the first step, Starscream."
Megatron announced as he walked into the room, with Skywarp in tow.
"The true objective was Project G. But since Maki regained control of his senses, he'll be more difficult to control. We need some insurance in case the plan falters."
Megatron motioned to Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker.
"I require the three of you to perform an airstrike. Several, if you can manage it."
Grindor stepped up and went over the plan.
"Operation Masakado will commence as follows: The Seekers will fly to Tokyo-2 and attack the Prime Minister's Residence and National Diet Building. Any attempts to intercept you will be diverted by the Reverse Evolution Virus planted by Blackout and me. With the government crippled, the newly formed JSSDF will have no choice but to declare martial law. We start once Barricade gets here."
As if on cue, the sound of police sirens blared outside.
"Right on schedule. Skywarp, get the door!"
Skywarp was about to move to the door when suddenly…
SPOOM!
A side door exploded, and several SWAT officers stormed into the compound!
The other Decepticons switched off their avatars, leaving only Megatron.
"Seele. How troublesome. I actually kind of miss the Autobots."
The former tyrant thought to himself.
"Hands over your head!" yelled an officer.
"I'll miss the Walther P-38. Alas, there's only so much a man with a pistol can do."
The holomatter avatar disappeared.
The SWAT team only had a second of confusion before a bomb obliterated the warehouse!
High above them, a B-2 Spirit bomber hovered over the now-smoking remains of Takahashi's mother lode.
"Lord Megatron! This is Barricade!"
"Barricade! Seele just stormed our hideout! I need you to-"
"I must apologize, my lord. I had a run-in with the Eva pilots a while back. I saved them from a biker gang, but the Autobot Bumblebee recognized me, and I fled."
"Did they pursue?"
"No. Nerv issued an Angel alert."
"Stay in Tokyo-3. We're continuing with Operation Masakado."
"What?! What about Nerv, Seele, the Autobots? Won't they respond?!"
"Good! Let's walk right into a trap! As if one blunder wasn't enough!"
Starscream interrupted.
"Silence, Starscream! If we move now, Ikari will send the Autobots after us. Our best bet now is to surrender ourselves to them and Nerv, upon which we will activate our contingency plan."
"Which is?"
"Godzilla Earth."
To be continued...