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Lycanthrope 2: The Prophecy

Chapter Sixteen: The Prophecy

"We're back." Yuki looked up as Shinji and Jen walked into the plane's cabin from the cargo hold.

"Where's the other one?"

"He took off," Shinji said simply. "Where's Touji?"

"Ireland," Yuki said. "Did everything go okay?"

"Have you seen the news reports about the small-scale nuclear detonation inthe country side?" Jen asked. Yuki nodded. "Well there you go."

"So. . .everything went better then okay," Yuki said.

"Yep," Shinji said as he shuffled to his seat and peeled off his trench coat. "Where's the redhead?"

"She does have a name," Yuki said.

"She does have red hair," Shinji shot back.

"She fell asleep waiting for you to come back," Yuki said. "She's over there spooning with Mana."

"I'll have to wake her before Asuka wakes up," Shinji grumbled as he sat down heavily. Yuki watched as Fleas leapt into his lap and curled up into a little ball. "Good night." Shinji's upper body simply listed and his head met the ten centimeter thick window with a crack. Then he began to snore happily. Yuki turned and watched as Jen discarded her coat and a shoulder harness before she sat down.

"Looks like you had some fun too."

"Yep," Jen said as she examined a bite in her arm. "Most of the blood isn't even mine." She flashed Yuki a broad, boarder line psychotic grin and swung her bloodied combat boots up into the seat next to her. "Goodnight."

"I fear that Martin will make good on his threat."

"Yeah," Yuki said. "And she used to be such a nice girl."

"I think normal would be more appropriate," Rei said.

"You're right," Yuki admitted, "as usual. Do you think the elders are going to be mad about Spain's new radioactive crater?"

"They have not protested yet," Rei said. "Besides, they undoubtedly knew that this would happen eventually if they asked Shinji to do this."

"You have to give him one thing," Yuki said. "He may be a trigger happy ass hole, but he's a reliable one."

"If by reliable you mean that you can rely on him to cause mass destruction, you are correct."

(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

"What?" Carl rubbed his ears to try to ease the ringing and sighed. That had been his first reaction as well.

"They set off a nuclear weapon in the Spanish countryside," he repeated. "Casualties were kept to a minimum by the remoteness of the location, but over a hundred people were killed. Mind you that is remarkably low for a nuke."

"Where did those two idiots get plutonium?" Bob demanded.

"How should I know?" Carl said in exasperation. "Those two have a talent for destruction."

"More like a penchant," Bob said as he disappeared behind his desk. He reappeared with a large glass bottle.

"Vodka?"

"Yeah," Bob said as he poured two glasses. "Once this is over we are never letting Craven and Shinji play together. I doubt the world would survive."

"Don't forget that the planet's destruction will soon be within Shinji's grasp," Carl said. "And he won't be thrilled that you've been hiding things from him."

"Destroying the planet just to get back at me is a little over the top," Bob said, "even for Shinji."

"The one who will choose will arise from the very depths of sorrow and insanity, right?" Carl pressed.

"That's the prophecy," Bob said.

"Shinji may be insane, but does he seem to be the very depth of sorrow?" Carl asked.

"What are you getting at?"

"I believe that something is coming," Carl said. "Something that will cause Shinji sorrow."

"What?" Bob asked. "The Jack Daniels factory burning down?"

"I am quite serious," Carl said. "I fear that Death stalks Shinji's little party even now."

"Oh my God," Bob said. The kind of impact that the death of Asuka or Yuki or probably any of the people he was traveling withwould cause to Shinji was frightening. "We need to speak with him."

(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

"God damn it. Would you wake up?"

"Go away," Shinji whined, batting a hand at the blurry shape who was trying to awaken him.

"Get up now or you'll regret it." The quiet threat made Shinji's eyes fly open.

"I'm up."

"Good," Jen said. "We've run into a little snag."

"Snag?" Shinji repeated.

"We can't find Keel."

"Keel?"

"The head of SEELE," Jen said slowly.

"SEELE?"

"You continue to do that at your own risk," Jen hissed. Shinji sighed and laid Fleas down in the empty seat next to him. He stood up and stretched.

"What do you mean you can't find him?" Shinji asked. "How long was I out?"

"You were asleep for about twenty hours," Jen said. Shinji whistled appreciatively. It took a lot to put him out like that. "And I mean we can't find him. We checked all the places he was supposed to be, but he wasn't there."

"He must be one of the smart ones," Shinji said. "We'll hit Belgium and then we'll head back to Japan. We'll probably be able to pick up the trail there. Where are the other ones?"

"Shopping," Jen said. Shinji winced.

"What's the maximum takeoff weight for this airplane?"

"You're kidding," Jen said.

"I wish," Shinji said. "Where's Rei?"

"Asuka and Yuki dragged her along," Jen said.

"Wonderful," Shinji groaned.

"Can I borrow your car?" Shinji raised one eyebrow slightly and stared at Jen.

"What for?"

"I was kind of hoping to check out the Heckler and Koch factory," Jen admitted. Shinji's grin broadened to nearly Jack O Lantern proportions.

"Let's go!" Shinji climbed to his feet and frowned as the phone began to ring.

"Are you going to get that?" Jen asked.

"No. Those damn telemarketers have been bothering me again."

"What are you going to do about it?" Jen asked suspiciously.

"Remember the five kilos of syntax?"

"Yeah," Jen said slowly.

"You're looking at the terrorist behind the bombing of the Telestar Marketing building!" Shinji cheered.

"What bombing?" Jen asked suspiciously. Shinji's grin almost spread from ear to ear.

"You'll see."

(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

Yuki pushed to the door the plane's cabin open and stumbled in. "We're back!" She dumped her bags onto some of the nearby seats. "Shinji? Jen?"

"They aren't here?" Asuka asked.

"Hello." Yuki turned and saw Shinji and Jen stagger into the plane with their arms full of boxes. Shinji must have noticed her stare. "You went shopping," he said with a shrug. "We did the same thing."

"Where did you go?" Yuki asked with a sigh.

"Heckler and Koch," Shinji said with a grin. "Jen here just bought several 'sample' weapons for NERV. They called NERV to confirm it and practically threw these things at us."

"How much crap did you two get?"

"Enough to supply the NERV T&E department and then some," Jen said happily as she upended one of the bags and began to check the tags on the crates. "Here it is." She opened the box and pulled out a long, wicked looking pistol. "Where did they put the after market parts we requested?"

"I have them." Yuki watched as they disappeared through the door leading to the cargo bay.

"Well they're getting along well."

"What do you expect?" Mana asked. "Shinji's a violent gun nut and Jen was a violent gun nut in denial."

"We had better keep her away from Sergeant Major Lee," Rei said.

"Yeah," Yuki said. "I'm going to go tell the pilots that we're ready to take off."

"Okay."

(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

"God damn it." Shinji sighed and picked up his cell phone. "I'm not buying anything. Go fuck yourself."

"Shinji?" Shinji paused mid-tirade.

"Bob?"

"Yeah," the older lycan said. "Where the hell have you been? I've been trying to get a hold of you for the past few hours."

"See that's why telemarketing is bad," Shinji said. "You never know if the call is important or not."

"You have caller I.D."

"Oh."

"Shinji?"

"Yes?"

"The Telestar Marketing building in Los Angeles just exploded," Bob said, his voice deceptively calm.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Not really."

"Good."

"You got me off track," Bob growled. "We need to talk. Where are you heading?"

"Belgium," Shinji said. "The Gent International Airport. There's a Hiatt attached to the airport. Room four-oh-three. We'll be landing in approximately two hours."

"Gent International Airport. Room four-oh-three Hiatt Hotel," Bob repeated. "I'll see you there."

"Right," Shinji said. He flipped his phone shut.

"What's wrong?" Jen asked.

"Bob is being serious," Shinji said. "He's never serious. Time to call a powwow. Something major is going down."

"Major?" Jen asked.

"Yep," Shinji said as he secured his new weapons into their places in his duffel bag and rolled it up. "Yuki!"

"What's wrong?"

"Wake everyone up!" Shinji called as he buckled his duffel and slung it over his shoulder. "Meeting time!"

(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

"So what's the big deal?" Asuka asked as she rubbed her eyes. "I was having really cool dreams."

"Bob is freaking out about something," Shinji said. "As most of you know, that means something bad."

"How bad?" Jen asked.

"Very bad," Yuki said.

"I want everyone to be extremely careful," Shinji said. "And I want everyone carrying a gun."

"I hate guns," Asuka said with a pout. Shinji ignored her and dug his ancient Steyr out of his bag.

"This is the one that Bob gave to me," he said. "Now I'm giving it to you. You take care of it."

"Fine."

"Anyone else not carrying a weapon?" Shinji asked.

"I do not require a weapon," Rei said.

"I know," Shinji said. "I also want all of you to stay near me at all times. Do you understand?"

"You're acting paranoid and over protective," Yuki said.

"Well duh," Shinji said. "What did you think I was?"

"Good point."

"From here on out we trust no one we don't know," Shinji said. "Anyone comes up acting like they know us, we shoot to kill. Got it?"

"We get it Shinji," Yuki said. "This isn't the first time we've all be in life or death danger."

"Alright," Shinji said finally. "Just be careful."

"Is he always like this?" Jen asked.

"You'd be surprised," Yuki said.

"I'm right here you know," Shinji growled in annoyance.

"Sometimes he gets really bad," Asuka said.

"I'll show you really bad," Shinji said as he walked back to the cargo bay. Some days it really wasn't a good thing to care. "If someone doesn't kill me, the stress from putting up with the lot of you will."

(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

Shinji looked up as someone pounded on the door. "Who's there?"

"It's Bob." Shinji opened the door and stared at his sire and the vampire elder.

"Get in here." Shinji stepped aside and let the two men inside. He glanced out in the hall and closed the door. "So what's got you all freaked out?"

"Elder!" Shinji turned and saw Mana bowing deeply to the vampire elder.

"Am I supposed to bow to you?"

"Technically," Bob said.

"Oh. Sorry about that dip shit." Shinji bowed. "So what's the matter?"

"Other than the fact that nearly a hundred square miles in Spain is slightly radioactive?" Carl asked.

"That was a bigger nuke then I though," Shinji said.

"Do you know how many people died?" Carl demanded.

"Don't bother," Bob said. "You're only encouraging him."

"Is Bob here?"

"Yeah," Shinji called. "And he's about to tell me what's going on."

"Ah," Bob said. "Well. . ."

"So what finally got you going anyway?" Shinji asked.

"We deciphered more of the prophecy," Carl said, "and now we're worried about the world's safety."

"If it involves Shinji saving the world of his own free will so would I," Mana said.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Shinji asked.

"As if you didn't know," Mana shot back.

"You two argue like newlyweds," Yuki said. "Now everyone shut up and pay attention."

"Kay," Shinji said. Yukie turned her attention on Bob and Carl.

"Speak!"

"Yes ma'am," Bob managed to squeak.

(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

"Out of death shall arise the twice fallen savior of the world, or its destroyer," Bob recited. "From insanity and sorrow will the choice be made between life and death, creation and destruction." There was about a minute of utter silence before anyone spoke.

"You think that means Shinji?" Mana asked.

"Yes," Carl said. "That prophecy was made by the oracle two hundred years ago."

"You mean the mummified chick?" Shinji asked.

"Yes," Bob said. "Surely you remember her. You killed her assistant!"

"In my defense," Shinji began, "that guy was being kind of a dick."

"At least he had a reason," Carl said. "Always look on the positive side, right Robert?"

"Yeah," Bob said dryly. "I feel so much better."

"Well at least you got the insanity part right," Jen commented.

"How do you know that this prophecy pertains to a lycan?" Mana asked. "That doesn't sound to far off from Craven."

"Yeah," Shinji said. "If twice fallen means twice killed then me and Craven are tied. We've both died once already."

"You died?" Mana asked. "How could you possible still be alive."

"She saved me," Shinji said, jerking his thumb at Rei. "That's all you really need to know about that."

"Alright," Mana said. Shinji looked at Bob.

"Can I have a word with you two in private?"

"Sure," Bob said. They followed him into one of the backrooms. "What's wrong?"

"There's a little problem," Shinji said.

"What is it?" Carl asked.

"I'm going to die soon and I don't think I'll be walking away from this one."

"What?" Bob shrieked.

"Shut up!" Shinji bellowed. "Do you want Yuki to hear that?" he added in a whisper.

"What's wrong?" Carl demanded. "Are you ill?"

"I can tell," Shinji said. "It's just like the last time. I'm feel cold. Death is cold. When you're dying you feel nothing to cold."

"I know," Carl said. "I went through it."

"That's why you've been hanging out on all those tropical beaches!" Bob exclaimed. "It's because you're scared of cold. And that's why you've been drinking so much!"

"How do you know about my drinking habits?" Shinji asked.

"Yuki called Angel a few months ago to talk about you," Bob explained. "She's worried about you."

"Of course she is," Shinji said. "On to the topic at hands. How can I be this guy if I'm going to die soon?"

"It fits," Carl said. "The one in the prophecy is twice fallen."

"Alright," Shinji said. "So how exactly am I going to come back to life this time?"

"Maybe Lilith. . ."

"No!" Shinji snapped. "You will never mention this to her." Bob's jaw snapped shut with an audible click.

"Am I missing something?" Carl asked.

"She saved my life," Shinji said. "Even now she is weaker then she was. If she tries it again she will die."

"What about your friend Touji?" Bob asked.

"Only Lilith can reanimate the dead," Shinji said. "It goes with the 'Mother of Humanity' title."

"Oh," Bob said. "So what are you going to do?" Shinji shrugged.

"I'm going to hunt down what's left of SEELE and make sure that I drag them down to hell with me," he said simply.

"You don't sound very upset about going to hell," Bob noted. "Planning on having some fun with Lu?"

"Not as much as she's planning with me," Shinji said. He checked his watch. "Time to go."

"Where are you going?" Bob asked.

"Nowhere," Shinji said. "I meant you two."

"Oh."

-End

(::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)

-Author's notes. I had some software trouble so I couldn't write new chapters. That's not a problem for An Assassin's Memories because I have a few future chapter already written, but I still do Lycanthrope in the old way, namely be the skin of my teeth. So I finally got back to the main plot. Don't worry, it probably won't last too long.