This entire fic is now dedicated to the memory of Christopher Reeve.
He made us believe a man can fly.
1952-2004
Shinji... is a good man. I am not sure what else I can say. I knew so little then. I felt so little then. Therefore, I am unsure of how I felt about anything or anyone I knew then. But this much I do know. Shinji is a good man. He was always a good man. He will always continue to be a good man. I also know that he frequently felt weak in those days, but often, nothing could be further from the truth.
---Rei Ayanami
Chapter 7: Clowning Around
Shinji stood silently his hand on his cheek rubbing it softly. He had been doing that ever since he had been slapped by Rei. He barely registered that Misato was stand just off to his side observing both him and the about to be activated Unit 00.
"I wonder what's bothering him." Misato thought. "I mean he's been rubbing his cheek the entire time I've been here."
At that moment the announcement that 00 had passed the borderline went over the speakers. Shinji didn't even seem to notice...
"So Shinji are you okay?" Misato asked.
Shinji jolted strait. "Nothing Misato."
"You realize when you say that it's a big neon sign saying that it's something." She replied with a grin.
Exasperated the third raked his hand down his face. "It's nothing to worry about then ok."
"Come on." Then she noticed something she missed while his hand was in place. His cheek was slightly red. "Wow Shinji. I didn't think you had it in you to try something so soon."
"What?!" To say Shinji was caught off guard was an understatement.
Misato was quickly swept up in the moment and forgot what she knew about the boy. "I mean to make a move on Rei and you only went to drop off her ID card. I guess she didn't appreciate you trying to get a bit fresh huh?"
"IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!!" Shinji had completely lost his composure. "IT'S NOT LIKE I MEANT TO SEE HER NA..." Quickly the boy shut his mouth and seemed ready to bolt at full speed Misato there or no.
Unfortunately Shinji had let just enough slip. "SHINJI IKARI, DON'T TELL ME YOU ACTUALLY DID TRY SOMETHING!"
"Nonononononono.... it was an accident." Shinji was at this point too busy looking at the ground to try to run.
Misato took a deep breath and calmed herself. "Okay Shinji start at the beginning."
The Third child began to speak but was quickly interrupted by a page for Misato. An Angel was coming.
--
Never in her life had she heard a scream of pain like that in her life. She hoped that she never would again, but in some part of her mind she had a feeling she would. It scared her. It truly did. However that fear was in the back of her mind as another fear dominated it as she ran down the corridors to see Shinji. She made it just in time to see him loaded on to a stretcher. She came up to give him a look over. Then she heard a sound that dispelled the worst of her fears. Shinji groaned.
"Ooooooooooh." He then coughed. "That... hurt." With that last effort Shinji again slipped into unconsciousness.
Misato looked over her young charge. "Don't worry Shinji. I'll think up a plan to take that bastard down."
--
New Gotham City
On a secluded table in a high dollar restaurant two older businessmen were just beginning a dinner meeting. These were two of the most feared men in the business world and for nearly a decade they were both feared in the criminal underworld but for very different reasons. This was a meeting between Bruce Wayne of Wayne Enterprises and Lex Luthor of Luthorcorp. Twenty years ago this would have been a battle of rivals at the table but tonight it was a meeting of allies.
Their conversation focused on one place, Tokyo-3, Japan. More specifically the organization known as NERV.
The bald, even though he clammed to shave it, man spoke first seeking to end the uneasy silence that usually accompanied his dinner companion. "So has your man found anything new?"
"Nothing that we didn't know already from Swan's notes or that we knew about before we lost control of Last Son."
Lex took a sip of his tea. "What about the other two 'Last Son' subjects."
Bruce took a bite of his stake. "Being observed. How go things with the alternative?"
Lex nodded his head negatively. "In all honesty it's sabotage bait. However the people I have in the JSDF have the second alternative almost to prototype stage."
"Do you have a pilot for it?"
"Two actually. The boy may prove to be a loose cannon if they don't keep a better eye on him. The girl however may prove useful in some ways."
Bruce raised a gray eyebrow. "A back up for her."
Lex smiled "I know the type he had a fondness for. Sometimes they overlapped with mine. So did yours if I remember correctly."
Bruce grunted momentarily. "Let's not make like we're friends Luthor. I'm just doing this to make sure you are on the path you say you are."
Lex deflated a little. "Well in any case with her a back up anchor is there."
Bruce continued to eat his meal. "Well it's always good to hedge our bets."
--
Tokyo-3
It was sunset and up on the roof of the junior high that the first and third children attended several boys stood. Kensuke Aida, Touji Suzuhara and several others were waiting and getting rather impatient.
"Are you sure we'll be able to see them from here Aida?" One of them asked.
Kensuke rolled his eyes behind his glasses. "Yes. I hacked my father's files myself. It said that the Eva's would launch from a point not that far from here."
Another of their classmates a young man dressed in a standard school uniform with brown wild untamed hair sat down his back against the protective fence. "Do you really believe that Ikari is the pilot of that purple monster?"
Touji got an indignant look on his face. "Hey! Ken-man and me saw it for ourselves!"
"Whoa." The young man put up a placating gesture to keep the easily offended Suzuhara from attacking him. "I don't mean it like that. I just meant that he don't seem the type you know."
Kensuke raised an eyebrow. "And what type would you expect Yagami?"
"I don't know." Yagami stood up and looked skyward for a second. "I guess I expected someone kinda like someone from the old JLA, like the Flash. You know someone larger than life."
Several of the others chuckled for a second. Then one of them asked something that many a person asked in the years since second impact. "You ever wonder what happened to them? The metas I mean. They all just kinda disappeared in the nineties. I mean, yeah I know Superman died but do you think they all did?"
Kensuke looked over at the wild haired Yagami. "I think so. There is no way any of them would have let second impact happen. They were heroes. No way in hell they would have let it happen or let it get as bad as it got in 01." Several others nodded in agreement.
"In fact there are a few website that think there was a conspiracy..." Kensuke paused when he heard something they had never heard that loud. There was a massive siren and metal clack. The gathered audience was amazed, as it seemed the entire mountain opened up and out came not just one but two mighty Evangelions. First the giant purple demon known as Unit 01 which they had already seen in action. Then it was followed by the orange toned Unit 00 which was carrying what seemed to be a massive shield.
The gathered exploded into cheers. Hoping that somehow their cries of encouragement would carry over to the two children pilots. The boys carried on their cheers long after the lost sight of the two walking into the sunset.
--
Mt. Futago overlooking Tokyo-3
"NO!" Shinji cried out as both his shot and the Angel's own were thrown off course. Shinji froze for a moment then when Misato gave the order reloaded the positron rifle.
"Shinji, buy us some time and move!" Misato ordered over the com. In compliance Shinji shifted positions and slid his Eva on its rear yanking on the connecting cables down the mountain. His sliding stopped and again moved Unit 01 into position to fire on the Angel.
It was then he overheard Maya's voice. "I'm getting a high energy reading from the target!"
"Come on you damn machine charge up." Shinji thought then he saw the bright light of the angel's positron beam come at him. For a split second Shinji thought he was about to die then he saw Unit 00 place itself and its shield before him. Precious seconds ticked by as the shield was assaulted by the blast.
"The shield is about to give!" Dr. Akagi cried out. Shinji's thoughts panicked as he saw Ayanami take the brunt of the attack without protection of its own. Shinji then focused on the task at hand and tried to will the computer to get its lock on the Angel. He hoped as 00 fell to the side that Rei's sacrifice had not been the ultimate one. Then with a mighty cry of rage Shinji pulled the trigger unleashing a blast of his own and pierced strait threw the monster above the city.
With complete disregard for the positron cannon he tossed it to the side and willed his Eva over to its fallen comrade. 01 then ripped the armor plate at the back of the next protecting the entry plug. The plug popped up and sprayed LCL out from its release vents and with both speed and gentleness Shinji removed it and placed it on the ground. Powering down the machine as fast as it could he leapt from the opening of the plug and ran in hopes that Rei would be all right.
Grabbing the burning hot emergency door handles Shinji used all his strength to open it. Surprising even himself he ripped the door strait off and tossed it to the side. The Third child looked inside and saw that she was unconscious.
"AYANAMI!" Shinji shouted as he crawled in entry plug. He moved towards her and to make sure he was correct and that she wasn't dead. "Hey Ayanami." He said in hopes of waking the First child.
Slowly she opened her eyes looking towards her fellow pilot. "I-Ikari." Her voice said weakly.
Shinji smiled and tears filled his eyes. "You're alive. That's good. I'm glad to see your alive."
Rei looked at him questioningly. "Why are you crying? Yesterday you cried in your sleep while I waited for you to wake up. Why are you sad?"
Shinji wiped the tears from his face "I'm not said. I just said I'm glad that you're okay. That's why I'm crying."
"So you cry when you're happy? Rei fell back against her seat. "I'm not sure what expression I should make at a time like this. Even though I think I should be happy."
Shinji gave a small smile "Well if you are happy then you should smile." He paused then asked. Can you stand?" Rei didn't speak just gave him her hand which Shinji took and helped her up. Then Rei did something that would stay with Shinji the rest of his days. She gave him a smile. More so than when he saw her nude accidentally in her apartment Shinji realized how beautiful Rei truly was.
He was frozen for a moment then he helped her out of the plug. Then he returned the favor and surprised Rei. He picked her up in his arms and carried her.
Rei looked away almost blushing "Ikari. I don't think I need to be carried."
Shinji just walked on as if she was weightless. "Believe me it's not a problem you need to save your strength, and Ayanami?"
"Yes?" She replied then noticed that the emergency hatch had been ripped from its place and had been tossed aside which truly piqued her curiosity.
Shinji didn't notice where she was looking as he looked only forward as he walked. "You really shouldn't say good bye when you leave on a mission. Its too sad." She looked then at the pilot of Unit 01. A look of interest on her face and she noticed something she couldn't explain. "Eva might be all we have right now. But well, as long as we stay alive I think we can find something. A reason, and be happy we lived." It was then she saw the strength hiding just beneath the surface in Shinji Ikari. It wasn't the physical strength he showing by carrying her. It was strength of character the likes of which she had yet to see in any one else.
--
Berlin-2
In the German NERV base Asuka was sitting in her quarters at her desk. She was not alone however as Kaji was there with her having brought over a pair of folders and some news for her.
"So this is the information you can give me about the other Eva pilots?" Asuka questioned.
Kaji nodded "Yes. I figured it might be a good idea for you to know about your teammates."
"Teammates?"
"Yes in a few weeks Unit 02 is being moved to Tokyo-3..."
"And obviously you can't send MY Eva with out me. Why do you need me to go all the way to some crappy place like Tokyo-3?"
Kaji rolled his eyes. "Well considering all the angel attacks so far have been centered there the higher ups thought it might be a good idea to get more Evangelions there as to further secure the city."
Asuka got a thoughtful look on her face. "Well that does make some sense. Makes you wonder why they've only attacked there thought. There are certainly bigger cities to strike like New Yorkor even Tokyo -2 if they wanted to strike terror."
Kaji then smiled. "Well there just maybe hope for you. I was beginning to wonder if you ever were gonna use your head around me."
"HEY! I AM a collage graduate you know." Asuka sulked for a second then began to look threw the file of the First Child.
Kaji made a placating gesture "I know Asuka. You just don't act like it sometimes okay. I know you want to be treated like an adult but you are only 14. It's supposed to be a good time in your life."
"Alright, alright whatever. So not a lot on Ayanami. Just this photo and there is no way that is a real hair color by the way, and not much else."
Kaji just shrugged. "I know it was rather frustrating but that's all we have on the first. There is more on Ikari."
Asuka raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that the name of the commander of the Japanese branch?" Kaji nodded in the affirmative and she looked down into the folder. "Great I get to deal with the commander's son. That's gonna be fun. I bet the brat has the run of the base."
"You might be surprised."
"I doubt it."
"You never know. He might just sweep you off your feet."
Asuka again turned back to Kaji. "It would take a superman to do that. Course you're the closest thing to that around." She then went back into the file. "Hmmm. Raised by his uncle on a farm for the last decade. Great I get some farm boy to baby-sit, even better. Hey, there isn't a picture of him."
"Yeah. There isn't. We looked up every file we could on him and no pictures of him at all."
"Oh come on Kaji. That can't be right."
"I wish it wasn't, but I used every contact I could and there are no pictures at all of Shinji Ikari."
"Great we have a mystery girl and an invisible boy. This is gonna be fun I can just tell."
--
Tokyo-3
The trio of Shinji, Touji, and, Kensuke were enjoying their afternoon on their way to their most common hang out the arcade. All in all it was a good day. It wouldn't last.
Kensuke got a sly look on his face and looked over at the Third child. "So Shinji. Something I've been wondering. How does Ayanami look in her uniform?"
Shinji got a baffled look on his face. "Ummm. Kensuke. You see it everyday in school."
Kensuke rolled his eyes. "Not that one dummy. The one she wears while piloting her Evangelion."
Touji leered as if he was ogling her right then "Yeah. Considering how tight it was one you. Not that I was checking you out or anything."
Kensuke smiled evilly "What my hetero-challenged friend here meant is how much does her suit leave to the imagination."
Shinji blushed "Her plug suit. Uh. Well. Umm."
Shinji however didn't get to comment further as an agitated Touji grabbed the third member of their group. "NEVER MIND THAT! You callin me gay little man!"
Kensuke got right back into the taller boys face. "So what if I am. What you gonna do about it."
It was at this point Shinji noticed something. Things were about to get worse. "Uh guys can we do this later." Shinji pushed the two apart with ease.
Touji looked at Shinji angrily. "What's the idea? I gotta pound this twerp to pulp!"
Kensuke smirked "Come on big man. Let's see you try."
Shinji kept his grip on both of them. "Guys we got bigger problems!"
"Like what?" They said in unison.
Shinji nodded ahead. "Like them."
The two each turned their heads and saw something that made them both grimace and again speak in stereo. "Oh Shit. Jokerz." There ahead were 6 boys dressed like psychotic clowns around their age or a bit older each carrying blunt objects to use as weapons.
Touji looked over at his comrades. "Run?" They nodded and all 3 took off. Unfortunately the Jokerz took off after them. Then to their dismay the started noticing other groups of the gang showing up cutting off avenues of escape. The chase seemed to go on for some time however it seemed that hope smiled on them. They ducked into the darkened doorway of a seemingly abandoned building. As their pursuers passed by they gave a sigh of relief.
Shinji got an idea. "Ok, let's go inside and I'll call Misato on my cell phone. Then she can pick us up or something." They nodded in agreement and quietly opened to door into the darkened building.
Touji smiled. "You know it would have been nice if you had thought of that while we were being chased into the bad side of town."
Kensuke laughed. "Well at least we'll get to see Misato again." Then the lights came on. It was then they noticed it seemed to be a warehouse they were in and that it seemed that there were hundreds of what appeared to be propane tanks scattered about and a large object of some sort covered by a tarp "Or maybe not."
"It's a trap." Shinji said quietly as conveniently placed bars fell into place sealing the door they came in.
Kensuke couldn't help himself. "Thank you Admiral Akbar"
Now coming out of the remaining shadows came out at least a dozen Jokerz. Apparently the ones who herded them into the building and they were all of course smiling and laughing.
The lead one who was just a bit taller and larger than Shinji was dressed in black with crudely applied white make-up on his face and a Jesters hat stepped up. "Well then boyos. I hope you enjoyed your run. I know we did."
Shinji stepped up defiantly. "What do you want with us?"
The apparent leader replied. "Well considering how well you dealt with our buddy the other day we decided to give you all a chance."
"A chance at what?" Kensuke asked.
"Why to join the Jokerz of course. Well that or let us beat the shit outta you and blow you to kingdom come."
The three stepped back but all seemed ready to fight. "Let's see you try." Touji replied.
"Well if you're counting on your friend there's strength to carry you guess again." The leader then walked over to the tarp and pulled uncovering it for all to see. It was human sized robot but it had obviously been stolen as a group like this shouldn't have a robot like this in the first place. This one also had been crudely customized to look like a clown in a purple sailor suit and captain's hat. "PRESENTING CAPTAIN CLOWN! You can be amazed what you can find for sale online these days."
Shinji got a disbelieving look on his face. "Well this isn't good."
It was at this point the Jokerz with the robo-clown charged and their first fight together began. Shinji then did something surprising to Kensuke and Touji he charged the robot head on. The robot was faster than it looked and grabbed the boy and slammed him strait into the ground. They didn't have time to dwell on it as both of them were attacked.
One decided to try to take Touji one on one. He was carrying a baseball bat and attempted to make a home run hit on Touji's head. Touji quickly ducked it and kidney punched the clown causing him to drop the bat, which Touji took for himself. "I guess those martial arts lessons dad forced me to take have been paying off."
Kensuke however had the problem of being double-teamed by two more Jokers each wielding a pipe. He was doing his best to dodge but he knew it was only a matter of time before he got hit. Then inspiration struck. When one tried to hit him in the head he dropped to the ground and quickly with all of his might kicked the assailant in the "boys". The Joker dropped his weapon, which Kensuke rolled for and grabbed just in time to block a downward swing from his partner. He then surprised himself by instinctively following up the block with a strike to the second attacker's privates.
Quickly he got to his feet only to get a fist to his face that nearly sent him back to the ground. Touji cried out and brought his bat to meet the thug's chest knocking him back and possibly breaking a rib. The two friends then stood back to back as the Jokerz began to surround them in a circle.
Kensuke got a worried look on his face. "You know if it wasn't such a bad situation I think I'd be having fun."
Touji got a wry grin. "I know. Just so you know, it's been a pleasure knowing you. You're like the brother I never had."
Kensuke laughed then made a vague approximation of a martial arts pose with the pipes he wielded. "Don't get sappy on me yet bro."
Then they heard a voice from the crater that had just been made. "Don't count us out yet." Shinji a bit beat up and clothes torn stood up with an angry look on his face. The robot attacked first this time but to the surprise of those around them Shinji caught the large fist and replied with one of his own. Even he was surprised as the robot flew across the floor and took out several of the Jokerz as it did.
The no longer surrounded duo then took full advantage of the stunned and quickly went on the offensive and quickly began to lay into their foes. The two however took their fair share of hits but seems almost as impervious to them as Shinji seemed to be as he began to rip the robot apart.
Shinji meanwhile had finally had removed both its legs and arms when he turned back to run to his friends and aid them in their fight when suddenly a loudspeaker in the robot turned on. A female voice that sounded vaguely familiar to his ears was heard. "Well it seems somehow you got lucky and disabled the robot but oh well. There is a bomb in here set to go off when robot stops fighting. You have now just about oh 7 seconds before it blows up you and the targets. Oh and Shun. Don't worry I'll lead the gang now. HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The Laughter continued as the leader in the jester hat now identified as Shun shouted out. "You double-crossing bitch!"
Shinji paid it no heed as he ran towards the barred door and ripped out several of them cleanly. Then as fast as he could he ran over to his stunned friends and grabbed them both and carried them out just as the robot exploded setting off all the tanks inside the warehouse incinerating it in a flash.
The Three friends sat on the sidewalk nearby looking at the fire. There was a look of shock on all their faces as if they couldn't believe that what had just occurred. Then Kensuke and Touji both looked at their savior. "How in the hell did you do that?" they asked in stereo.
Shinji got up and began to walk away his head hanging. "I really don't know. I guess this is good-bye then."
The pair than ran up to him and Touji grabbed his shoulder. "What are you talkin bout Shinji?"
"Well you guys wouldn't want to hang around some freak like me."
Kensuke then stood in front of Shinji "Hey for one thing you saved our lives back there and second dude that was cool. I mean it's like you really are a superhero."
--
Elsewhere in Tokyo-3
A member of the Jokerz came into a darkened room filled with dozen's of beakers test tubes and other assorted things. He seemed rather nervous. "Ummm. Lady J?" He then ducked as a gunshot was fired
"I told you I don't want to be disturbed!" Came an angry female voice from across the room.
"But you told me to let you know when it was over." He then ducked a book that was thrown his way along with an apple.
"Well out with it man I don't have time to hear you dodging thrown objects you buffoon."
"Yes ma'am. Uh. It went off but the 3 kids they were after got away." He then cried out as a ball bearing hit him on the bridge of the nose.
"Hehehe. Perfect. The opposition to my control is gone and my little pet still has her plaything. Well if that's it get out of here before I decide to test something on you." He was out the door as soon as he was on his feet.
"Damn Lady J is one freaky bitch." he thought.
To Be Continued...
Fusion Blaster: At least I didn't take as long as some people to get a new chapter out. It would have been out sooner but 2 jobs will kill you I tell ya. Well that was bitch to get started but once I got going it went well I think. I hope this answered a few questions and gave you some new ones. Cowboy is up next.
C. Cowboy: ahem, not much to really say except expect my usual brand of insanity and fanservice next chapter! Enjoy and don't forget to leave a review!
