I don't own anything. Bummer, eh?
Lycanthrope 2: The Prophecy
Chapter Eighteen: NERV
Craven frowned as he stared at the two wrecked cars ahead of him. He pushed the break pedal down and brought his old '05 Mustang to a gentle stop. He climbed out of the red sports car and whistled. "Damn." A weapon cracked nearby and Craven was knocked flat on his back with his limbs sprawled.
"I know you're alive," a deep voice growled. "Answer me or I'll shoot you were the sun don't shine." Craven's legs snapped shut and he sat up.
"It's me," he said as he climbed painfully to his feet. 'Damn .45 slugs.' That brought back many memories of the damned Americans in the model 1911 Colts. "Robert and Carl told me to find you and assist you in any way possible." He frowned as three distinct scents hit his nose. The first was human, the second was something he had never smelled before, and the third was lycan. "You hurt?"
"A little." The moon came out from its hiding place and brought Shinji into the light. He was sitting with his back against his flipped SS and his legs sprawled out. His lips and chin were smeared with fresh blood. He looked almost vampiric. Craven took another step forward and stopped. The human woman was lying next to Shinji, her upper body in his lap and her skin unnaturally pale.
"What happened?"
"They poisoned her," Shinji said. "I. . .I bit her."
"I see," Carl said as he sat down next to Shinji and examined his right arm. "This is pretty nasty, even for those such as us. I doubt you'll have any use of it within a few months."
"That's fine," Shinji said as he laid aside his hardballer and pulled the cloth on the human's chest back. "It finally stopped bleeding." Craven stared at the wound. It was certainly not the kind he would wish on anyone. . .well maybe a lycan, but he was over that stage of his un-life.
"You have anyone coming to pick you up?" Craven asked as he picked up Jen's bloodied hardballer and tucked it into his waistband.
"Yuki and a friend will be here soon."
"Good," Craven said as he stared at the human, listening carefully. "Her heart still throbs powerfully, even now."
"She'll get through," Shinji said, "and she'll become a real nightmare to your kind."
"You sound proud."
"It shows?"
(::::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)
Jen frowned as her head throbbed. She tried to sit up, but something was pinning her down. She opened her left eye and saw a mass of black hair lying on her stomach. She frowned and poked it. The unknown creature gave a familiar snort and leaned backwards. The chair it was sitting in tilted and sent him tumbling to the floor with another snort. "Idiot." Jen looked around the room she was in and swung her legs out of the bed.
"You're up." Jen turned and saw Craven standing in the doorway. "Shinji will be delighted," he continued as he stepped into the room and moved towards the fallen lycan. "Snap out of it you lazy bastard."
"Fuck off," Shinji growled. Craven sighed and turned to face Jen again. He stared at her and took a step back.
"Shinji?"
"What?"
"Help?" Jen pounced. Two strong arms wrapped around her torso in midair and slammed her back on the bed.
"Chip off the old block." Jen could almost feel the pride radiating off of Shinji. For some reason it made her feel. . .content. Shinji straightened up and picked up his chair. He tugged her hardballer from his belt and tossed it on the bed in front of her. "You are not to kill Craven, Mana, Aggie, or Rei. Is that clear?"
"Yes," Jen said as she tried not to shrink away from him. "What's wrong with me?"
"You're a lycan now," Craven said, "there's a lot wrong with that."
"Blow it out of your ass you damn parasite," Shinji growled. Jen watched in fascination as Shinji's mouth formed each word.
"Staring a little hard, aren't you?" Craven asked. Shinji turned to regard her and leaned forward to stare in her eyes. She got the oddest feeling that he was looking into her.
"Well she looks okay," he commented. "How do you feel?"
"I feel kind of weird." Jen was almost made breathless by the close proximity of the scarred man.
"Uh. . .Shinji?" Craven asked, "I've seen that look before. It's the one that comes right before. . ." Jen ignored him and grabbed Shinji by the shoulders. Many years of Judo and Shinji's own surprised aided her in flipping him onto the bed and pinning him under him. Her lips met his and she shoved her tongue into his mouth.
"I really hope you didn't do that to Bob," Craven commented. Shinji managed to pry her away long enough to answer.
"Actually, I tried to kill him."
"Oh."
"What the hell?" Jen jerked up and stared at the woman in the doorway. Then she looked at the man under her. Then she practically flew to her feet.
"Uh. . .good mourning?"
"Looks like your morning's going a little better then good," Yuki said with a smirk.
(::::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)
"What is wrong with me?" Jen demanded as she paced the length of the plane's cabin. "I tried to kill Carven and I feel really weird every time Shinji's around. When he was angry I wanted to hide for Christ's sake!"
"Are you done yet?" Yuki asked. Jen collapsed into one of the seats.
"Yeah."
"You're going through a standard lycan transition," Yuki explained.
"Lycans are run by their emotions," Mana added. "How you can live like that is beyond me."
"You get used to it," Yuki growled, "and I would prefer being a lycan over a parasite any day of the week."
"Why the hell am I acting like that around Shinji?" Jen demanded.
"He's your sire," Jen said. "You share an emotional link with him. When's he's happy you feel good. When's he's mad you're going to feel horrible."
"So you can sense his emotions?" Jen asked, looking at Asuka.
"Well I wasn't turned in the normal way," Asuka said. "I can sense his emotions, but they don't affect me."
"Same with Rei," Yuki added. "She gave part of her own life energy to save him, so they're bonded."
"That's not how it works with vampires," Mana said. "The person who turned us is just a sire. The only bond is loyalty."
"You're not helping," Yuki said as she dug a bottle of Black Velvet out of one of the seat backs and took a sip.
"Don't lycans transfer memories to those they turn?" Mana asked. Yuki nodded. "Then why is Asuka a psychotic nut case and she's normal?"
"Maybe Jen was more used to violence," Yuki said with a shrug. "I'm just glad that the memories that were passed down to Shinji weren't passed down to you."
"What?" Jen asked.
"Shinji's a one of a kind," Yuki explained. "Bob was an ancient when he turned Shinji. It's considered a miracle that Shinji only turned into a violent nutcase instead of a vegetable."
"Why would Shinji have been a vegetable?" Mana asked curiously.
"Because he processed about a couple hundred centuries of the lycan lifestyle in about twenty-four hours."
"Wow. No wonder he's a nutcase."
"Yeah," Mana said. "Hey! How come she's all over Shinji anyway?"
"Like you said," Yuki said with a small smirk, "we're run by our emotions. Apparently you've been repressing."
"I have not been repressing my feelings about Shinji!" Jen shrieked. She watched as Yuki and Mana doubled over, trying to hide their laughter. "That's not what I mean!"
(::::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)
"Her dad is going to neuter you for turning her and then kill you because she's all over you."
"Probably," Shinji said.
"It just doesn't pay to save someone's life, does it?" Craven asked.
"It most certainly does not," Shinji said.
"You're being over dramatic," Aggie said as she hunted through Shinji's liquor collection. "Her dad is not going to cut your balls off or kill you." Shinji stared at her.
"You don't know him."
"A father most certainly would kill someone who they feel has wronged their child," Craven said. "I myself slaughtered a whole village in England when they killed one of my children."
"I blew up a restaurant when one of the waiters groped Asuka," Shinji said with a shrug.
"She didn't kill him?" Craven asked.
"She wanted to destroy the restaurant," Shinji said with a shrug. "I just beat her to it."
"So what's your plan?" Craven asked.
"Tell him what happened. . ."
"Brave," Craven commented.
"Then run away."
"Smart."
"You're a coward," Aggie cut in.
"There is a fine line between intelligence and cowardice," Shinji said.
"I thought that was intelligence and insanity," Aggie said.
"That's genius," Craven corrected. He glanced at Shinji. "That would make you a fucking rocket scientist."
"Funny."
"I thought so."
"You two are like a pair of old ladies," Aggie said. "I've never been to Japan. What's the weather like."
"You're changing the subject."
"So?" Aggie asked.
"It's warm," Shinji said. "When are we landing?"
"In an hour."
"Time to start drinking," Aggie said as she pulled out three bottles. "How about a Three Men?"
"What on Earth is that?" Craven asked.
"It's a shot glass of Jack Daniels, Johnny Walker, and Jim Bean," Aggie said.
"That's disgusting."
"Yep," Shinji said as he picked up the shot glass. "Bottoms up."
(::::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)
Bob stared at the group of people walking off of the plane and waved. "Shinji!"
"What the hell are you doing here?" the younger lycan asked as the group drew closer.
"Well that's a great way to greet your sire," Bob said in annoyance.
"Don't get me wrong," Shinji said. "I'm glad you're here. . ."
"Good," Bob interrupted.
"We have seven people and one car," Shinji continued. "You're cheaper then a chauffeur."
"Harsh," a young blond haired woman said.
"Who are you?"
"Tact," Shinji warned in annoyance.
"I'm Aggie," the woman said.
"Well that clears up everything," Bob said. He paused when his eyes fell on the other young human woman. He frowned.
"You're staring," Shinji said.
"She's a lycan!" Bob yelped in surprise. "You turned her!"
"Had to," Shinji said with a shrug. "Are you going to give us a lift, or are we going to have to mug you and take your car?"
"You know," Bob said in annoyance, "its usually only common courtesy to say something when you bring someone into a pack."
"I told you about Yuki, didn't I?" Shinji asked. Bob shuddered. He quite clearly remember the aura of death that Shinji had given off.
"Good point," he said. "Angel will be thrilled though. She always loves having a new female member of the pack. Did she get her brand yet?"
"Brand?" Jen asked.
"Barbarians," Mana muttered.
"It's been less then a day," Shinji said. "Give her a break." Bob glanced at the younger man and felt his skin crawl. He had been glared at many times, but there was just something about someone with mix matched eyes,
"So what are you doing here?"
"We're heading to NERV," Shinji explained. "We lost Keel and we're looking for information."
"Where's Craven?" Bob asked, suddenly aware of the second vampire's absence. A loud engine roared nearby and Craven watched as a red Mustang rolled down the plane's cargo ramp.
"There he is."
"Where's your SS?" Bob noticed how Shinji's eyebrow twitched.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"He played chicken," Jen said with a small smirk.
"You're an idiot."
"Look who my sire is."
(::::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)
"Hey Jake!" Shinji watched as the older man turned and smiled at him.
"Hey Shinji." Shinji froze and stared at the man in mock shock. "Knock it off," Jake growled as he tugged at his NERV uniform. "It's your fault I'm wearing this damn thing."
"Don't forget the pay cut," Shinji added cheerfully. Jake sighed and sat down in his swivel chair.
"What do you need?"
"Keel."
"So the old robotic fart went underground?" Jake asked. Shinji nodded. Jake sighed and rubbed his chin. "That's going to be problematic."
"He's good," Shinji agreed. "You're better."
"Damn strait," Jake said with a smirk.
"Well you sure aren't self-confident," Craven said. Shinji barely fought down his urge to kill the vampire for sneaking around behind his back.
"No reason to be," Jake said, taking the other man's appearance with no surprise. "I'm the best."
"So I noticed," Craven said. "Do you, by chance, still create custom firearms?"
"NERV has me commissioned to arm their special forces," Jake said with a smirk. "It'll cost you quite a bit though."
"Shinji has warned me," Craven said as he pulled out a thick wad of yen and laid it on the table. "I've seen your weapons in action and I'm convinced that it is more then worth it." Jake smiled and thumbed through the money.
"I really don't need to advertise," he said. "All people have to do is see my creations at work and they'll pay whatever I want."
"So this is your information man?" Shinji came very close to jumping out of his skin.
"Don't do that!" Shinji bellowed. "I already have to put up with this ass hole doing that!" Jen almost seemed to shrink. "Sorry." Jen just continued to pout.
"I hope you're not falling for that," Craven said.
"Falling for what?" Shinji asked.
"You are pathetic," Craven groaned. "Does every woman you know have you wrapped around their little finger?"
"Damn vampire," Jen growled as her pout turned into a scowl.
"I'll see what I can do," Jake interrupted. "You have to go talk to my boss though. I'll get in deep shit if she thinks I'm sneaking around behind her back."
"No problem," Shinji said.
(::::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)
"So he's the guy who made your hardballers?" Jen asked as she followed her sire and the parasite down one of NERV's many long hallways.
"That's him," Shinji said. "He's a good guy. I learned of him from a lycan who used one of his hardballers. I contacted him and found out that he also handled information."
"Why would you need information?" Craven asked.
"I needed some way of dodging Bob," Shinji said.
"Jen!" Jen turned and smiled at her father.
"Daddy!"
"Daddy?" Craven repeated.
"Shut up you," Jen hissed.
"I will not be threatened by a pup!" Craven roared. Jen's had her hardballer pressed against his chin before he had stopped talking.
"How's this for threatening?"
"Jen?" Jen winced and quickly holstered her pistol.
"Hi Daddy." Marvin stared at her and his jaw dropped.
"Your eyes."
"Oh shit," Jen managed.
"Where the hell is that ass hole?" Marvin exploded. "I'm going to rip his balls off and shove them down his throat!" Jen paused and looked around. Her sire was no where to be seen.
"Wait!" Marvin took a deep breath and looked at her. "He did it to save my life," Jen explained. "He even asked my permission."
"And you said yes to becoming a werewolf?" Marvin demanded.
"I would have preferred death," Craven said. Jen's foot connected solidly with his crotch and she watched as the vampire slowly listed to one side and finally fell over.
"I said yes to becoming a werewolf because the only other option was death," Jen said. "Please don't kill him Daddy." Marvin stared at her.
"I won't hurt him," he said finally, "but I am going to have a few words with him."
"Thank you," Jen said with a sigh of relief.
"Swing by my office in a few hours," Marvin said. "We'll go out and some dinner."
"That sounds great," Jen said with a smile. She watched as her father walked away.
"I am going to kill you," Craven hissed, "as soon as my balls drop again."
"Where did Shinji go?" Jen asked. Craven pointed up. Jen looked up and saw her sire clinging to the ceiling. "What the hell?" Shinji dropped lightly to his feet. "How did you do that?"
"I have no idea," Shinji said. "That's the first time I've ever done that."
"Cowardice brings out the best of a person's physical skills," Craven said. Shinji glared at him.
"Kick him again."
"Sorry," Craven said quickly. "Where's Fleas?"
"Huh?" Shinji felt the top of his head and looked around. "Here kitty, kitty, kitty."
"There she is." Jen looked up as watched as the kitten dropped from where it had clung to the ceiling. Shinji caught it and rubbed its head happily.
"There you are."
"Shinji?"
"Yeah?"
"The roof is made if steel."
"So?"
"That kitten shoved it claws into steel," Craven said.
"You mean kittens can't do that normally?"
(::::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)
Misato yawned and took a drink from the beer in her hand. "Well that's not proper conduct for a military commander." Misato nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Damn it Lee!" she growled as she turned around. "Haven't I told you not to do. . ." She trailed off as she stared at the man behind her. "Shinji?"
"Hello."
"Jesus Christ. don't do that."
"He couldn't help it." Misato whipped around and found two more people standing in front of her desk.
"Lieutenant Lee."
"Hello ma'am," the young golden-eyed woman said.
"We were hoping to borrow your pet," Shinji said as he sat down on her desk and took her beer. "Please?"
"My pet?" Misato asked.
"Jake."
"Oh," Misato said. She leaned forward and rested her chin on her hands. "Well you're going to have to do something for me."
"Now you're acting like a commander," Shinji said. "What do you want us to do?"
"We found a group of terrorists," Misato said. "They're heavily armed and I don't like the idea of sending my men in there."
"Are we going to kill them?" Craven asked.
"Kill all of them," Misato said. "I don't care how."
"Sounds like fun," Jen said.
"It will be," Shinji said. "You're not coming."
"What?" Jen demanded angrily.
"You're dad is already pissed off," Shinji said. "I don't want him to see what you'd do."
"Ass hole."
"Shall we?" Craven asked.
"After you."
"Are you going to disappear?" Misato asked dryly. Shinji looked faintly embarrassed.
"I'm still working on that part."
-End
(::::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)
-Author's notes. I recently received several new reviews for the original Lycanthrope. These prompted me to go back and reread all the chapters. This brought back the memories of when I was still trying to decide on how to write it. If you read the first chapter again you may notice something strange. . .it wasn't supposed to be funny! Check the genre yourself. It says action/adventures/horror. I forget how much time passed between the first and second chapters, but I was still working on the original Splinter Cell Evangelion at the time. I noticed that some of the jokes in that story seemed to get some pretty big responses. For the second chapter of Lycanthrope I added a couple of little gags, but nothing really hilarious. Then I frankly snapped and decided to show the whole world my twisted side. Now I look back and wonder just what the fuck Lycanthrope would have been like if I tried to keep it action/adventure/horror. Now I look back on the last few seconds of my life and see the true affects of sleep deprivation. I'm going to stop rambling now. Good fight, good night!
