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: Not a whole lot of humor in this chapter, but it was still fun to write. I may have to change the genre. I bumped up the rating too, just in case.

Chapter 3

Shinji walked down the corridor slowly, trying to take in everything that had happened. Somehow, he had changed. He looked, well, freaky, like someone had mutated him. Were it not for the fact that he could tell Ritsuko was holding a mirror to his face, he would have thought he was looking at someone else.

But it was him, and no one knew what had happened, or how to reverse it.

Stopping by a window, he looked outside at the Geofront. It looked peaceful, as if mocking the turmoil he felt inside. He felt like someone else was controlling his life now, someone more powerful than he was. It was like he was at the mercy of a god.

In the corner of Shinji's mind, Cyborus chuckled silently as he thought, I'm not a god yet, kid. I still have to listen to Them too, or the Creation Scenario is moot.

Closing his eyes, Shinji thought about what had happened to him the last few days.

Misato pulled up in her car, tires squealing like she was in a car chase. "Are you Shinji Ikari?" He nodded. "Get in."

The minute he did, he was slammed backward into the seat by several G-forces as Misato hit the gas. "Sorry about being late," Misato apologized. "As for that thing back there, you'll find out later." Shinji closed his mouth, as he was going to ask.

'Later' turned out to be after an incident involving an N2 Mine, several 'borrowed' batteries, and boarding a tram that went underground. Then, Misato handed him a brochure titled Welcome to NERV, and asked if he had his ID card. He showed it to her, wondering how they had gotten a recent picture of him, when the tram came out the other end of the tunnel it had entered. The view drove all else from his mind as he gasped, "Wow! A real Geofront!"

Misato nodded, "Yep. This is the location of NERV HQ, mankind's last defense against the Angels.

"We're lost, and we're going around in circles," Shinji stated bluntly.

"That's ridiculous," Misato said, looking up from the map that Shinji already noticed was upside down. "Why do you say that?"

Shinji pointed towards the intersection in front of them, "That's my shoe." Sure enough, his right shoe was in the middle of the intersection that Misato had been leading them to. He picked it up and slipped it back onto his foot as he heard an elevator door open nearby. Misato heard it too, and dragged him towards it.

There was Ritsuko, looking very annoyed. "Captain Katsuragi, we don't have time for this."

Misato chuckled nervously, "Sorry. I'm still not used to the layout of this place."

Ritsuko shrugged it off, "Never mind, we've got work to do. Is this him?"

"Yes," Misato answered as they entered the elevator and started heading down. "He's the Third Child."

"I'm Shinji Ikari. Nice to meet you," Shinji said, bowing politely. He shook Ritsuko's hand, and then tuned the two women out as they began discussing something about a 'Unit 01' and a '0-9', whatever that meant.

He should have listened, as he would have had a better understanding as to what he was getting himself into.

"Hello?" Shinji called out in the darkness. "Hello? Hey! Who turned out the lights?"

Said lights came on, and Shinji yelped as he jumped backward. Knees quaking slightly, he looked up at the large, purple facemask on the giant mech in front of him. Grabbing his brochure, he began searching through it.

"You won't find this in there," Ritsuko chuckled. "This is mankind's ultimate humanoid fighting robot Evangelion Unit 01, mankind's last hope."

"This is what my old man has been working on?" Shinji asked.

"Correct." They all looked up to the observation deck where Gendo stood. He smiled, but there was no love in that smile, only dark satisfaction. "It's been a long time, Shinji."

Not long enough, Shinji thought. "Why?" he whispered, unheard by everyone.

"We're moving out," Gendo ordered.

"But Rei's in no condition to pilot, let alone fight!" Misato protested. "Wait! You're going to use Unit 01? It doesn't have a pilot!"

"One has just arrived," Gendo said, staring at his son.

"Is that the only reason why you want me here?" Shinji asked. "Why did you call for me?"

"Because I have a use for you," Gendo answered.

"No!" Shinji yelled, not in defiance, but in denial.

"If you won't, I'll get someone else," Gendo threatened. He would break his son, one way, or another.

Shinji simply fell to his knees, sobbing, "No. No. No."

Gendo shook his head and turned to someone else that the others couldn't see, "Wake Rei, Sub-commander. She's not dead yet."

The sounds of a gurney being rolled in stopped Shinji's crying. A girl with blue hair, red eyes, and pale white skin was on it, gasping in pain.

"Rei," Gendo began, "The spare is useless. You will do it again."

"Yes… sir," was her pained response. Then the entire room shook, sending her to the ground. Shinji didn't know when he moved, he only knew that he did. He gently caught the girl trying to comfort her. A piece of scaffolding broke, hurling down towards them.

Unknown to all, Yui Ikari was awake inside Unit 01 watching the whole thing. Currently, she was rather angry with Gendo for the way he treated her son. Then, she noticed the scaffolding, and reacted. I'm not dead yet! she thought triumphantly as the scaffolding simply bounced of the Evangelion's hand. She felt the primal, demonic rage of the Eva wanting to rise up and rip Gendo to shreds, but forced it down. There would be time later.

"The Eva moved on its own!" Ritsuko exclaimed. "That's impossible!"

"It's as if it was protecting someone," Misato said, turning towards Shinji.

He was standing now, head bowed, as if shamed. "Okay," he said, hardly audible. "I'll pilot it."

This stuff tastes, and smells, like blood, Shinji thought for the umpteenth time as the Eva shot for the surface. I think I'm going to be sick. He would have said it aloud, but he had already done so, and Misato had made fun of his masculinity for it.

He felt the Eva come to a stop and the door in front of him opened. There, against the sunset, was the Angel. It seemed to be surprised by his appearance.

If I was it, I'd be surprised too, he thought. "Um, how do I move this thing?"

"It moves by your thoughts," Ritsuko answered. "For now, just try walking."

He managed to take two steps forward like a drunk before he fell flat on his face. He could have sworn he heard someone laughing behind him, and looked over his shoulder. This was a mistake, as the Angel attacked. For a while, all he knew was pain, and then, blackness.

Shinji was brought out of his musing by the squeaking of a gurney. It rolled by, the girl, Rei, on it. A few doors down, it was stopped by Commander Ikari. The two of them exchanged words for a moment, but Shinji couldn't hear what they said. Then the doctors continued on their way with Rei as Gendo neared him. They looked at each other silently as Shinji searched for approval behind his father's dark glasses, only to find none. Then the Commander turned and walked away without a word.

"Don't dwell on it." Shinji turned in shock to see Coby standing next to him, his blue eyes like ice as he glared at the back of the Commander's head. "He has no right to call you his son," Coby said. "After what he did, he has no right. Where I come from, he'd be undergoing a Court Marshal for Child Neglect and Abuse."

"Your universe sounds nice," Shinji said.

Coby shrugged, "It's not all fun and games. We have our own problems, and the odd Transformer who wants to blow up the entire galaxy."

Shinji raised an eyebrow, "Transformer?"

"Explanation later," Coby said. "For now, let's go. The bastard who just left has apparently ordered Captain Katsuragi to watch us."

"Please don't call him that," Shinji said. "Whether I like it or not, he's still my father."

"No," Coby answered. "That man is not your father. He may be your parent, but he is not your father. If he was, he would have watched over you after your mother's death. If he was, he wouldn't be using you like a tool. He wishes to restrict your free will, your freedom, by destroying you emotionally. Freedom is the right of all sentient beings, and you are not an exception."

For some reason, Shinji felt better after hearing that.

Galaxy Convoy had shut down for the night, parked on the side of the highway. He still had no idea what was going on, but knew he had to find out and meet up with the others soon. Still, he couldn't do anything if he pushed himself too hard.

He suddenly found himself in robot mode in a large field filled with light. He immediately realized that he was having a vision.

Galaxy Convoy.

He turned, smiling, "Vector Prime."

The ancient Guardian of Space and Time stood behind him. Vector Prime had sacrificed his physical form to save them, but not before leaving others with gifts. Galaxy Convoy could summon the time keeper's blade when necessary, and could use it with the Matrix to open warp gates.

What is troubling you, Galaxy Convoy?

"Do you know what happened?" Galaxy Convoy asked.

It is a long tale. First, you must understand that Universes must constantly expand in order to make room for new life. The Cycle is thus: Gods create the souls of all and universes for life to dwell in; Seeds exist in many universes to give those souls Mortality; after Mortals die, they continue to progress until their entire race is resurrected as Seeds to help create more life, or to be sent to Darkness to exist forever in torment without life for their evil deeds; and Seeds continue to create life until they ascend to Godhood, where they are independent of the universes, or are destroyed and sent to Darkness for becoming Destroyers. This continuous cycle is called the Creation Scenario.

There are times in some universes when a certain occurrence can stop the Creation Scenario, causing the universe to collapse and life to end for that universe until it can be regenerated. In our universe, such a catalyst was Grand Black Hole. It was created by the Dark God when he was destroyed eons ago, but that was only one of the Dark God's forms. In this universe, he still exists, and is known as Adam.

In this universe, mankind was created by a different Seed then in our universe. In our universe, it was a male Seed. In this universe, it was a female Seed. She knows Cyborus, the Primus of this universe, on a rather personal level. In this universe, Cyborus wanted his children to exist on a closer level to Humans, so he didn't create Transformers. Instead, he created Angels. Unfortunately, when Cyborus met Adam in battle, Adam was the victor, and Cyborus fled in spark form with the seventeen survivors of his children. Adam then attempted to destroy mankind, but was stopped by their creator in an event that is known in this universe as First Impact. Adam fled to nurse his wounds while humanity prospered, only to return. In an attempt to extract vengeance, he decided to make humanity and Cyborus suffer before destroying them all. He wrote out his plan on a series of scrolls, and then forced his current form to self destruct while returning to an embryonic state. The incident is known as Second Impact, even though humanity knows nothing about the First, and caused Antarctica to melt.

I assume you can understand that that is why you don't recognize Earth.

"I can," Galaxy Convoy nodded. It was a lot to take in, but it made sense.

Adam is working with those who believe him to be God to initiate the very action that will result in the end of the Creation Scenario for this universe. This is Third Impact. Rather than tell you what will happen, let me show you.

Galaxy Convoy saw the Earth as a desolate wasteland. The sky was blood red, as was the sea. Everything seemed to be stained with blood. On a beach were two Human teenagers, obviously the last of their kind. But instead of helping each other, things became strained between them; the boy wanting acceptance and the girl wanting him to leave her. In the end, the boy killed himself out of grief, and the girl simply wasted away. But that wasn't all. Slowly, the Earth darkened; followed by the Sun, and then the entire Galaxy went dark. The universe constricted on itself, trying to fill the darkness that consumed it. Then, there was nothing.

Cyborus knows that his children, the Angels, are being controlled by Adam in order to cause Third Impact. Each Angel must have their mutated forms destroyed, so they can take new ones that Adam cannot control. In order to ensure that Third Impact does not happen, Cyborus called out to his Other, Primus for help. As a reply, Primus sent you. Already, Third Impact is on its way to being avoided.

"Thank you, Vector Prime," Galaxy Convoy said. "I will tell this to the others. We'll stay hidden until we can come up with a plan."

With this message, I also give you warning. Rely on Coby Rumble and Lori Hitomi and what they tell you. You must make it look like you are going with Adam's plan in order to ensure that it fails. Beware the ones who are coordinating Earth's defense against Adam's plan, for they are also for it. Trust all but the leaders themselves, and keep the boy safe. He is the only one who can return you to our universe.

Galaxy Convoy woke up then, feeling rather refreshed, even though the entire vision had only taken a fraction of real time. Starting his engine, he continued on his way. The others needed to know what was going on as soon as possible.

Misato drove to the top of the hill and got out of the car, motioning for her three passengers to follow. Shinji had been scared by her driving, but it was surprising to see that Coby and Lori were completely calm. The four of them looked out on the sparse area that was supposed to by Tokyo 3, and Misato checked her watch, "It's almost time."

"For what, Captain?" Coby asked.

"Quit it with the 'Captain', Coby-san, it makes me feel old. Call me Misato, and you'll see," she told him.

A series of sirens went off and the ground opened up in several places. Buildings rose, filing the horizon with a cityscape. Lori found herself grinning with delight, as she always had love for the city. The back of her mind wondered if they would accept her credit card, since they were in a different universe.

"This is our city, a fortress against the Angels," Misato stated proudly. "This is Tokyo 3." She turned to see Shinji looking awed, but Coby and Lori simply looked. "Not impressed, you two?"

"I'm impressed," Coby said, "But I've seen the surface of an entire planet covered with cities like this. In fact, I also know of a planet where racing is the way of life. You'd feel right at home there, but several of the locals will call you slow, Misato."

"It's a fun planet though," Lori remarked. "Great place to get a suntan, just make sure you take lots of SPF 50 sunscreen."

That explains why he's not bothered by my driving, Misato thought.

Coby suddenly tilted his head to the side, his eyes unfocused. Then he shook his head and muttered, "Oh no! Rumble, that's not a good idea." He paused, "No, I… I don't like him either, but… Fine, go get yourself in trouble."

"What's he up to this time?" Lori asked.

"Well…"

Gendo was looking up at Unit 01's face, proud that his plan was finally in motion, when a black liquid suddenly drenched him from above. Cursing, he left, intending to talk to Development about repairing NERV HQ correctly.

Clinging to the ceiling in his insectoid form, Rumble laughed. No one ever said Sybiocons, or any Transformer for that matter, didn't have to urinate from time to time.

Inside Unit 01, Yui also laughed, mentally thanking Rumble for giving her something to laugh about. Sure it was crass, but being stuck in the Eva for 10 years had eroded Yui's morals somewhat. Besides, she didn't like the man Gendo had turned into, and felt he got what he deserved.