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.

Chapter 15

Pilot Ikari. Shinji Ikari.

For some reason, hearing his name makes me feel.

I feel nervous, excited, scared, and happy. All of these at the same time.

Lori-san said I might be falling in love with him.

Am I in love with Ikari-kun?

Love is a powerful emotion, driven by physical attraction.

Shouldn't it be more?

Is love physical? Lust is.

Ikari-kun is considered physically attractive by many girls at school, though they are scared by his red eyes and white hair.

Red. I hate the color red.

Yet, I do not hate the color of Ikari-kun's eyes.

Red eyes, just like mine.

White hair, pure white, like that of snow. So pure, it is angelic.

Is Ikari-kun an Angel? He has an S2 organ.

So do I. Am I an Angel?

Is that why I feel a strange attraction for him?

Is my attraction only physical?

Am I in love with Ikari-kun?

Can I even feel love?

Rei looked over at the sleeping figure in the other bed. He looked calm. Then he turned over, and Rei could see his face was stained with tears. Did he cry himself to sleep? she asked herself. Ikari-kun, what ails you?

Shinji gritted his teeth as he fought against Coby's Mind Probe. He was able to hang onto consciousness and keep Coby out of his mind for almost an hour now, but he was still no where near as good as Rei. Apparently, being mentally assaulted in battle had given her a grim determination to never let it happen again. Neither Coby or Lori could probe her mind when they began the training, though they never probed longer than either of them could endure. Now Rei was so good at defending her mind that she was able to fend of Coby and Lori combined for three hours strait, and with almost no effort. Lori said that it was definitely a talent of hers, and that she might not have to worry about being controlled at all.

Unfortunately, Shinji still had a few week points in his mind, but Coby did say that he could at least fend off an attack long enough for backup to get him out of range of the Angel. What surprised them all was when Coby stated that both Shinji and Rei seemed to have a part of their minds that were locked to all mental probing. Normally, that part of a person's mind was inactive. Because of their symbiotic mental link to their Symbiocons, Coby's and Lori's minds were active in that area. The fact that the same area in Shinji's and Rei's minds seemed to be blocked meant two things. That part was active, but someone or something was using it, not Shinji or Rei.

Coby had assured Shinji that whatever was in the back of his mind was not hostile. Otherwise, it would have attacked Coby upon his probing. The same was true with Rei, leaving all of them to wonder what was taking up that space.

At least it didn't affect their sync ratios. As Shinji and Rei continued to train, their scores continued to rise. Shinji had the top spot with a 97.3, Rei was right behind him with 95.8, and Asuka's current record was 81.2.

To say the German readhead was pissed was an understatement.

Asuka had quickly made a name for herself. To everyone but a few people, she was the goddess of the school. The boys drooled, the girls tried to play on her good side to get a date or become one of her followers, and the unlucky few who she disliked tended to try to avoid her. Said people were Rei, whom Asuka called the 'Ice Queen'; Shinji, Toji, and Kensuke, who were referred to as 'The Three Stooges' in a kind way by anyone but Asuka and her followers; and Coby and Lori (you don't want to know what she calls them), to whom Asuka took every chance to degrade, insult, and spit upon their marriage. The day before was no exception.

The day before…

Shinji and Rei sat in the back of the class. Everyone knew that they were currently undergoing training to defeat the Angel, and were required to do everything synchronized, except for things such as going to the bathroom. School was no acceptation. Most people thought it was good for them, though. Even the teachers had noticed a rise in their test scores.

The teacher was lecturing about Second Impact again. "For six months, the people in the north of New Russia took it upon themselves to try to repopulate the globe, marrying off left and right as young as 12."

"People like Coby and Lori," Asuka said loudly. Her followers laughed as several people either felt mad at Asuka, or sorry for Coby and Lori, who scooted their chairs closer to each other and clasped their hands tightly.

Toji would later fight her during lunch for what she said, resulting in both of them getting sent home early.

Coby stopped his probe and patted Shinji on the back. "Well done. You were able to keep me out for an hour and a half. That's a big improvement!"

Shinji wordlessly nodded and smiled before stepping up to the game board yet again. He and Rei began the next pattern, and as usual, they didn't make a mistake.

"Looks like this is going to work," Misato said as she watched.

"I knew it would," Lori nodded in agreement.

Asuka simply glared at the other two pilots. How can they be so much better than me? I've been training all my life! What do they have that I don't?

Thanks to their training, Shinji and Rei were able to effortlessly defeat the Angel. The only downside was that they ended up landing on top of each other by accident afterward. They climbed out of their Evas, and it was then that Rei did something completely unexpected. She jumped at Shinji and hugged him. He was surprised at first, but then returned the hug, smiling as she buried her face into his shoulder. The sound of a siren broke them off, and they turned to see Galaxy Convoy in his vehicle mode, the door facing them open.

"Get in," he said. "There's something I want to show you."

They climbed in, enjoying the soft seats as the harness came down to hold them in. Galaxy Convoy began to drive, eventually getting to a point where he could shift and start flying. Shinji was awed as they started flying up through the clouds. It was so peaceful, flying. It wasn't long before they reached their destination.

Orbit. Outer space.

"It's beautiful," Rei gasped as she looked out at the expanse of stars.

"13 quadrillion plus stars exist in this place," Galaxy Convoy said. "The universe is a large place, filled with many wonders. One wonder is below us: Earth. Earth has produced life, and eventually allowed for the creation of Humans. The Destroyer seeks to destroy all life: Transformer, Angel, and Human. Earth is the critical point in his plan. If Third Impact occurs, this universe will cease to exist. Today, you two defended all life in this entire universe, of which you only see a fraction of here. Never forget that all beings have a right to live, and that should be why you fight: to protect life."

Asuka continued to fume as she walked around the Geofront. They were heroes now. Those two amateurs were heroes. Why? Why wasn't she good enough? She was the best. She was the best! Anything else was not acceptable!

"I have to be the best! I won't loose to them!" she yelled.

"Hey! What's with the yelling? I was taking a nap!" a voice grumbled. Asuka turned, angry, only to have that anger vanish as she saw she was face to face with Flame Convoy in his dragon form. "Why do you have to be the best?"

"Because I am!" she huffed.

Flame Convoy chuckled, "I was like you once. I thought I had to do everything my way. I thought I had to be the best, to be the strongest, to be unbeatable. I was the king of an entire planet, and people feared and respected me for my power."

"So, what happened?" Asuka asked.

"I got some sense knocked into me," Flame Convoy grinned. "I realized that while people respected me, they also hated me. The only reason no one stood up to me was because they were afraid. Then, I met someone who wasn't afraid. He was one of Galaxy Convoy's friends, a squirt by the name of Jackshot. I bullied him, but soon found out that he wouldn't take it. Eventually, even the one bullied lashes back. He did, and hard. He ended up changing completely and took on a new name: Ligerjack. I had to take several beatings from him before I finally realized what I had become. I was nothing more than a monster, wanting anything. I turned around then, and I started helping others, protecting them. Eventually, I learned to accept the help of others as well. In the end, the stronger person isn't the one with the most physical strength, but the one with the most friends who will fight with you."

Asuka glared, "Look, dragon-breath. I don't need your advice. You will never understand me, so don't even try. You can take everything you just said and shove it up your ass."

"Sorry, but I can't shove audio waves up my aft," Flame Convoy answered.

"Just leave me alone!" Asuka yelled and stormed away.

Flame Convoy sighed, "Sorry, Galaxy Convoy, I tried. It seems she will have to learn the hard way, like me."