DUNE HEROES OF ARRAKIS
by Gunman
Disclaimer: I do not own Frank Herberts Dune, Marvels The Avengers, Justice League TAS, My Hero Academia, Bionic Six, Power Rangers Ninja Storm, Evangelion, Gundam Wing, Sekirei, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, or their characters.
Summary: The Atreides get to know their new allies.
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Chapter 2
Evaluations and Additions
(Castle Caladan Central Meeting Room, Planet Caladan)
The 26 newcomers and the House of Atreides had a lot to talk about.
In the main meeting hall of Castle Caladan, Duke Leto and his chief advisors had decided to meet with the representatives of these newly arrived heroes.
Currently, only Thufir Hawat and Doctor Wellington Yueh were present, along with several guards. Duke Leto and Gurney Halleck were tending to some other matters. This left their guests to speak freely.
Captain America, Black Widow and War Machine represented the six Avengers.
Green Lantern, Hawkgirl and Jonn Jonzz were for the six Justice Leaguers.
Homura and Tsukiumi represented the seven Sekirei.
Rumi Usagiyama represented the two other Quirked heroes.
Wayne Earthbody the Elemental and Sy-Klone of Anwat-Gar represented the independents. (Even if there were only two others)
While Dr. Yueh was silently observing and using his medical devices to get a read on several of them, Thufir was trying to confer with some of the newcomers. Specifically the ones called Captain America, Jonn Jonzz and Rumi Usagiyama.
"This is a lot to take in." Captain America said.
"Agreed." Jonn Jonzz added.
"I have no doubt. I am rather interested in the methods of which you have arrived on our planet." Thufir said.
"My team and I were engaged in a battle against a scientifically advanced terrorist organization called Advanced Idea Mechanics. A.I.M. for short. They had developed some kind of black hole technology, and... during the fight it went off." Cap said.
"You and your team were pulled into it." Jonn said.
"And ended up here." Steve said. "I never expected anything like this."
"What about you, sir?" Thufir asked Jonn.
"My teammates and I were trying to locate a group of supervillains who had escaped from prison. We encountered one of them at a science lab that was experimenting with some form of interstellar transportation technology. A wormhole, for all intents, in order to travel from one planet to the other. Completely experimental, based on confiscated alien technology. The one we captured had managed to activate the device and apparently transported us to this place."
"To an alternate dimension." Steve said.
"So it would seem." Jonn said.
"But interstellar travel and interdimensional travel are two completely different things. So how...?" Thufir started to ask.
"The device was experimental. Based on alien technology that had not fully been explained. It is possible that either the calibrations were off, or the device suddenly received too much energy due to the ineffectiveness of the power generators." Jonn explained.
"Which could have thrown off it's intended purpose." Steve said.
"Indeed."
"Have you been through this before?" the super soldier asked.
"Unfortunately, yes." Jonn said, remembering his teams adventure with the Justice Guild of America. "You have?"
"Not to this extreme, but something similar." Steve said.
"You are handling it well."
"Thank you."
"And what about you, my dear?" Thufir asked Rumi.
"I was mentoring a pair of heroes-in-training from United Academy. Not my usual shtick, but I was encouraged to by the head of U.A., Principal Nezu. We encountered a villain with some kind of portal generating power who was using it to sneak into bank vaults and rob them blind. He tried to use it on us, but... he wasn't strong enough. He used a drug called Trigger to try and boost his powers, and... well, we got sucked into it." the rabbit heroine said.
"You said you and your associates possess Quirks. What are they?" Thufir asked.
"You might call them superhuman abilities. They vary from person-to-person and while some are pretty useful in fighting crime, like mine, others are rather... useless. It's almost as bad as being Quirkless." she explained.
"And the two with you are heroes-in-training?" Captain America asked.
"They haven't graduated yet from U.A." she said with a nod.
"U.A. is a high school that teaches children to be heroes?" Jonn asked.
"Yes. In Japan. Don't you have that in your universes?" she asked.
"No." the pair said.
"There aren't enough people with special powers and abilities to warrant opening a school." Steve said.
"Huh. There are in my world. Nearly a hundred different schools all over the world." Rumi said.
"Oh? And just how many people in your world have special abilities?" Thufir asked.
"About 80%." she said.
"Of the planets total population?" Cap asked, shocked.
"Yes. Why? How many are in yours?" she asked.
"A lot less than that." he said.
"Ten percent, maybe less." Jonn stated.
"Wow. That must be nice." Rumi said.
"Why?" Thufir asked.
"Quirked heroes like myself fall under government jurisdiction. People with powers and abilities are heavily regulated, by politicians who tell us what we can and cannot do. The only ones who aren't are those without Quirks." she said.
"Because of the fear that a person with extraordinary power can just do whatever they want." Jonn said in understanding.
"You mean, of course, villains, criminals, tyrants and even terrorists." Cap added.
"Yes. It started about 200 years ago with a baby born in a Chinese hospital. It glowed brightly the day it was born. That was the first known case of Quirked individuals. Within less than 100 years, 80% of the planet came to possess special powers and supernatural abilities. The governments of the world quickly realized the problems that these quirks would cause, and had to take control because if they didn't it would have been anarchy. While I don't necessarily agree with that, I do understand it. And for us, the heroes, it's worked pretty well."
"You do not seem convinced." Jonn said.
"I just have issues with people who are stronger, faster, more powerful... being restricted. Answering to politicians who are, more than likely, Quirkless themselves." she huffed.
"Your politicians are like that too?" Jonn asked.
"Yeah, same here." Steve said.
Mirko smiled at the super soldier and the Martian, seeing something in common with them for the first time.
Off to the side, the other newcomers were conversing as well.
The ones called Green Lantern and War Machine, both African-American, had been sizing each other up for several minutes.
"Military?" War Machine asked.
"Yeah. You?" Green Lantern replied.
"Same."
"What branch of the service?" Green Lantern asked War Machine.
"Air Force. You?" War Machine answered.
"Marine Corps."
"Alright." War Machine said with a smile.
Around the room, the other heroes and warriors were speaking.
Black Widow was silently observing various other people, including the apparently alien Sekirei and the other independents such as Wayne Earthbody.
"So you can control and manipulate fire, earth and air?" Homura asked Wayne Earthbody.
"Yes, I can." Wayne replied.
"Are you certain you are not a Sekirei?"
"Last time I checked. And what exactly is a Sekirei?" Wayne asked.
"We are, what you would call, aliens." Homura said.
"Truly?"
Tsukiumi, of the Sekirei, had wandered over to the other heroes, curious as to who they were.
"And what power do you possess?" the water-manipulating Sekirei asked.
"I can generate powerful gale-force winds." the blue-skinned, yellow-armored man said.
He didn't seem completely human or even alien like herself. But he was clearly superior to most of the others.
"Interesting." she thought, wondering if this would cause Kazehana some measure of irritation.
"And what is your power?" Sy-Clone asked.
"I can control water." Tsukiumi said.
"Impressive." the Anwat-Gar defender said. "But how are your combat abilities?"
"I can fight as well as anyone."
"Really?" he mused. "Perhaps that will be tested here."
At this point, Thufir had resigned himself to just listening to the trio of heroes.
"So you really are a Martian?" Steve Rogers asked Jonn Jonzz.
"I am." Jonn said. "Did you really serve in World War II?"
"I did." Steve said.
"I was there briefly with the League. In my universe. A brief time-travel jaunt."
"Really? Why did you go back in time?" Rumi asked, curious about the two past heroes.
"A mad genius named Vandal Savage sent a laptop computer back in time to his younger self, with information that would have tipped the balance of power in favor of the Axis forces."
"Knowledge is power." Cap agreed.
"Younger self?" Rumi asked. "How young are we talking?"
"He claimed to be immortal. From what I gathered he was actually around 30,000 years old when we met him in 1944." Jonn said.
"Really?" Thufir mused to himself.
"What sort of information did he send back?" Cap asked.
"The invasion plans of D-Day, all Allied troop movements, and technical blueprints to create advanced weapons, communication devices and heavily armored vehicles."
"My god! The Nazis could have won the war if they'd had all that." Cap gasped.
"Yes. And what's more, Savage had actually taken over as The Fuhrer, and was more efficient than Hitler himself." Jonn added.
"And how did you overcome him?" Cap asked.
Jonn then shape-shifted into an exact duplicate of Captain America himself.
"Amazing." Thufir said, though his expression remained somewhat neutral.
"Something like this." the second Captain said before turning back into his Martian form. "We sabotaged his plans to launch an attack on the United States, using a squadron of special bombers. Savage was lost during the fight and the Axis forces were forced to reinstate Hitler himself." Jonn said.
"Which ultimately caused them to lose the war." Rumi stated.
"As charismatic as he was, Hitlers leadership and common sense was somewhat lacking. He overestimated himself and his regime." Cap said.
"Plus without their advanced weapons and forward information, the Nazis advantage was gone." Rumi said.
While she never claimed to like history, she did understand how someone could lose everything because of a lack of an advantage.
Meanwhile, Hawkgirl was talking with Doctor Wellington Yueh.
"I'm still a little confused about your physiology." Yueh said to Hawkgirl.
"You've never met or seen an alien species?" Hawkgirl asked.
"No, I have not. Even after more than 8000 years we have not made contact with any alien race."
"That's rather odd, and concerning." she said. "Alien species are rather abundant in our universe."
"That is strange." Yueh said.
It made Yueh wonder if his universe was being denied something important. Or... if it was because of something more complicated. In either case, his primary concern was if or if not his plan was still be intact.
The assembled people continued talking for several more minutes, before Duke Leto finally arrived. He was accompanied by Gurney Halleck.
"Apologies for keeping you waiting. I was just making sure your associates were comfortable." Leto said to the assembled group.
What he meant by that, he was making sure they were all healthy and fed, and had accommodations, since they were guests of the Atreides.
"And we appreciate that, sir." Captain America said to the Duke.
The group assembled in a large circle, with Dr. Yueh and Thufir standing next to The Duke and Gurney.
"I don't even know where to begin." Captain America said.
"We're on another planet, in the distant future, surrounded by humans we don't know. This is a typical day for us." Green Lantern said.
"It's a little new to me." War Machine said. "I'm used to dealing with killer robots, armored attack drones, international despots and crazed geniuses wanting a piece of my friends."
"You'll get used to it." Hawkgirl said to the armored man.
Gurney, Thufir and Dr. Yueh looked at the group, each of them evaluating their guests in their own ways.
"Now, I imagine we all have questions. Starting with how you all came to be on our planet." Leto said. He looked to Captain America first.
"My team and I were tracking down a terrorist organization who had stolen a tech-device from a local scientist. We engaged them in battle, when the device blew up... and we someone ended up here in this world." Cap explained once again.
"What was this device?" Thufir asked.
"Dr. Henry Pym was working on something called a Quantum Tunnel, a device which would have enabled him to teleport from our world into the Microverse."
"Microverse?" Gurney asked.
"Think of it as a universe within an even smaller universe. In order to reach it you have to shrink down to the size of an atom."
"That's a rather difficult concept to accept... despite all that we have lost and have had to regain." Leto said.
"And what of you?" Leto asked Green Lantern.
"A group of supervillains called The Injustice Gang had attempted to steal alien technology from a government laboratory. We were able to stop them, but not before one of them activated the device they had come to steal, and...it somehow accidentally sent us here." Green Lantern said.
"Right when and where Captain Rogers and the others were." Yueh mused.
"Coincidence?" Gurney asked.
"There are no such things." Thufir said.
"And what about you?" Leto asked the two Sekirei.
"Many of our Sekirei brothers and sisters were engaged in various battles in Shinto Teito when a strange energy anomaly suddenly whisked several of us away." Homura said.
"I suppose this is better for us, then." Tsukiumi stated. 'Not being winged by a Ashikabi.' she thought with much disdain.
"Maybe. But not for the ones still engaged in battles." Homura said.
"We don't even know how we got here." Tsukiumi stated.
"I think I might have an idea. I believe it had something to do with that new Sekirei. I think she was number 69, possessing some kind of gravity warping ability." Homura explained.
"That might explain it." Jonn Jonzz said.
"What do you mean?" Rumi asked.
"Manipulation of gravity fields could also mean the ability to manipulate the shape of atoms." Jonn said.
"Which might have caused her to affect the gravitational dilation of time, alter the space-time continuum..." Black Widow started to say.
"...which might give her the power to create portals and send people through time?" Hawkgirl finished.
"Perhaps even alternate dimensions?" Homura thought out loud.
"If the concentration of the gravitational field was strong enough." Wayne Earthbody said. "But it's only been a theory... because there hasn't been anyone, at least in my world, that could manipulate gravity."
"There are a few in our dimension powerful enough to." Jonn said.
Thufir and Gurney looked shocked at something like that.
Each of their new guests possessed fantastic powers and superhuman abilities of their own. But the manipulation of time and space was something they had never considered for one person to possess.
The first thing Yueh thought of was how something like time-travel could be used to go back and save his wife. Of course, this particular Sekirei wasn't here with them.
"You're gonna have to explain that one to us." Leto said.
"Starting with what a Sekirei is." Gurney said.
"We are, essentially, alien beings who came to Earth in special ships. Seven of these ships came to Earth centuries ago and landed safely, but the eighth ship suffered a system malfunction and crashed into the ocean. The crew and passengers were forced to go into suspended animation in order to survive. Almost 1000 years later the eighth ship was found, in the year 1994, and we were released, along with 106 other Sekirei." Homura explained.
"Do all Sekirei possess special powers and abilities?"
"Yes. Our genetics are superior to a human." Tsukiumi said somewhat arrogantly.
"But similar. Its why we came to Earth in the first place." Homura added.
"You said seven of these ships came to Earth and landed safely. What happened to the passengers? The crew?" Cap asked.
"They integrated themselves into the local societies that existed at that time. Each ship supposedly landed in a different region, a different country or continent." Homura said.
"Integrated. For a thousand years before the last ship was found." Jonn mused.
"Yes. They found their Ashikabi. Their destined ones." Homura said while Tsukiumi scoffed. Ignoring the blond Sekirei Homura continued. "They are the ones who can bring out our true potential."
"Though... it sounds like they could be taken advantage of as well." Cap said.
"Yes. That is true." he said, sounding a little sad. "The bond between a Sekirei and an Ashikabi, forced or mutual, is forever. Or at least until one of them die."
"Forced? Wait, how does an Ashikabi bond with a Sekirei?" Hawkgirl asked.
"They kiss them." Homura stated.
The group looked at each other in shock. Something so simple, to bond with someone who was clearly more powerful than themselves?
"I'll explain more later." he said.
"I look forward to that. But in the meantime, there is an issue that has to be addressed, regarding the Avengers." Thufir said.
"What issue?" War Machine asked.
"It is your companion we might have trouble with." Gurney stated.
"Companion?" Black Widow asked.
"The one called Vision." Leto said.
The three Avengers looked at each other in confusion.
"What about him?" Cap asked.
"Well, he is a machine, is he not?" Yueh asked.
"An advanced android. Yes, he was created using synthetic skin and Vibranium metal, so..." Cap explained.
"All machines and artificial intelligences of that sort are outlawed." Leto said.
"Outlawed?" Rumi asked.
"You mean... because of the Great Revolt?" Widow asked.
"Yes. Since the time before the Revolt thinking machines and conscious robots essentially ruled the galaxy. Under the command of other men, they imprisoned and enslaved mankind to their will. Once mankind was free of the machines, we were forced to develop our minds to compensate. We lost much because of our dependency on such technology. Now, after 4000 years, we have reached our current state, and having learned from the past, we cannot allow such technology to once again resurface." Thufir said.
"While this is true, we should not be willing to reject such a potentially vital asset to our side." Yueh said.
Thufir looked at Yueh in skepticism. Leto and Gurney also had a look of skepticism on their faces.
"Doctor, you do understand 'our' concerns." Thufir said, indicating he was talking about himself and the Atreides.
"I do, Thufir. However, as a doctor I would ask that we determine just how human this Vision is before we so casually discard or even seek to destroy him."
"Destroy him?" Cap asked, clearly concerned.
"As we have stated before, the use of technology of this type was outlawed. If the Emperor found out about him, he would no doubt have him completely destroyed. We cannot go back to the way things were, but... for your sake we will table this discussion for now."
"Thank you."
The Avengers looked at each other, concerned for their artificial ally now. While Vision was more than a machine, he was not human in the strictest sense. New laws and such, but they could deal with that later.
Attention was turned to Wayne Earthbody and Sy-Clone.
"And how did you and your companions come to our world, Mr. Earthbody?" Leto asked.
"I was aiding a team of heroes in my world, the Bionic Six, trying to stop a deranged scientist named Scarab from excavating one of peoples ancestral lands. But it was a trap. He had a weapon capable of bending reality. He tried to warp and destroy the Bionic Six, but I attempted to save them, using my powers. Something happened and... I was sent here, to this world. To this place and time." Wayne said. "Scarab's technology was far too advanced for me to understand. I don't think even he completely understood it. He just wanted something to destroy the Six. And so... here I am."
Leto seemed to understand and sense his regret. He wanted to go home, but... how?
"And what of you, friend?" Leto asked the blue-skinned cyborg.
"My name is Sy-Klone, I am the last defender of Anwat Gar, an ancient and powerful society, rooted in tradition and kept safe from outsiders. Until the day an evil sorcerer named Skeletor invaded the island of Anwat Gar and stole the Legacy Stones."
"The Legacy Stones?" Gurney asked.
"Two powerful gems that grant the wielders invincibility and greater than normal strength. The stones were destroyed by He-Man, a powerful warrior of the planet Eternia. To protect the planet from Skeletor's evil. Since then I joined forces with He-Man and his allies in defense of the planet itself. It was during a battle against Skeletor that I was transported here."
"This Skeletor must be pretty powerful to teleport you to another universe." Cap said.
"His intention was to send He-Man to another dimension, most likely to remove his primary obstacle in conquering Eternia, but I was able to save He-Man, and unintentionally take his place." Sy-Klone said
"And now you're stuck here. With us." Rumi said.
"Indeed."
"Now... we have much to discuss. Specifically... what do we do with you and your friends?" Leto asked.
"We are planning to leave soon for Arrakis." Gurney said. "So it begs the question of what do we do with all of you?"
"We do not know you, so we do not fully trust you." Thufir said honestly. "But that doesn't mean we consider you our enemy."
"You could leave us here on Caladan." Tsukiumi said. "I see little reason to go to a desert planet to fight some one elses war."
"It doesn't sound like any place is safe, if these Harkonnens are as dangerous as you say."
"What do you want to do?" Green Lantern asked.
Leto sighed. He was suspicious of The Emperor, of course, but he also knew the Baron wasn't going to just let House Atreides have Arrakis without a fight. Even if the Emperor ordered it. Arrakis was still very dangerous in its own way. The whole thing felt like a trap. But...perhaps fate had smiled upon them this day.
"I want to ask you, all of you... to join us. Join House Atreides." Leto finally said.
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Meanwhile, The Lady Jessica had come to meet the other newcomers.
She found them in Paul's personal training room watching the group utilize their amazing powers and abilities.
Her son Paul and his best friend, Duncan Idaho, (who is also Paul's weapons master) along with a small detachment of guards, were watching them. Closely.
Some of them seemed to be interacting with each other, while Paul was explaining how the Fighter machine was being used in training simulations.
From the upper level of the training room she took note of them, recalling what Leto had told her about them.
She was intrigued that most of them were women.
She saw the ones called The Avengers.
The dark-skinned man with the special flying harness named Sam Wilson, the Falcon.
The auburn-haired woman in the red and black outfit, who Jessica could sense possessed great power. Wanda Maximoff. The Scarlet Witch.
This last person was the one who made her nervous. The one called Vision. While Wanda was incredibly powerful in her own right, it was the green and red android with the yellowish cape who seemed both powerful and superior. (Meaning that he was immune to her telepathic powers, even The Voice)
Despite that she saw in his actions nothing sinister or malevolent.
She took note of the others.
The man in the red bodysuit with the yellow lightning bolts on his gloves, boots, waist, the symbol on his chest and on his ears. He called himself The Flash, the fastest man alive.
The dark-skinned woman in the earth-tone bodysuit with the strange necklace around her neck. She said her name was Mari Jiwi McCabe, The Vixen.
The other woman with them was blond-haired, blue eyed, wearing a black leather outfit, a jacket, gloves, boots, and a sleeveless bodysuit underneath, and fishnet stockings. This was Dinah Lance, The Black Canary.
Then there were the alien beings called The Sekirei.
The first she noticed was the well-endowed woman with the long brown hair and eyes. She wore a pure-white veiled outfit around her body, which she could also use as a weapon, apparently. This was Uzume, Sekirei Number 10.
The second one a slender young woman with short, light brown hair and steel-gray eyes. She had a rather stoic expression on her face, even when talking with others. She wore a strange white dress with long sleeves and small chains wrapped around her chest. Jessica had heard she had power over ice. Her name was Akitsu, Sekirei number 7.
Third in the group was a young-looking woman with short black hair and black eyes. She had a green shirt, black skin-tight pants and white thigh-high boots with a '19' on her left boot. She carried a pair of short swords with her. She believed her name was Ikki, Sekirei number 19.
Thr fourth person was a beautiful and well-endowed mature-looking woman with long black hair and purple eyes. She wore a rather short (almost scandalous) purple-colored dress that exposed her generous cleavage and belly button, as well as her long, smooth legs, the sleeves of her dress seemed to be cut open at the elbows to allow freedom of movement to her hands and wrists. Jessica could also sense a playful and provocative personality in her. Her name was Kazehana, Sekirei number 3, and she had the power over wind.
The last of their group seemed to be the youngest of them all. She had short, light brown hair and gray eyes with a blue ribbon interwoven with her hair above her forehead. She was wearing a white gown with blue and black accents, a black choker around her neck, blue stockings, black boots and long black gloves. Her most outstanding feature was the gigantic metal hammer she carried with very little effort. Her name was Yashima, Sekirei number 84, and she could apparently manipulate gravity. Which would explain the large hammer she carried.
Then there were the other humans, two of whom attended a school to teach people like themselves to use their powers to be heroes. They possessed what they called Quirks, or superhuman abilities.
The first girl was a tall and athletic young woman with long orange-ish hair and teal eyes. She wore a turquoise-colored knee-length dress with a brown belt around her hips tied to a small pack on her left hip, gray boots and a black domino-mask around her eyes. She called herself Itsuka Kendo, and her Quirk was called Big Fist.
The other girl, called Nejire Hado, was apparently a year or two older than Itsuka. She also had the largest eyes she had ever seen on a person. She was fair-skinned with royal blue eyes, of average height and had a curvy physique. Her hair is periwinkle in color, something else that seemed unusual in their world, and reached down to her feet. Her outfit was skintight, white, dark blue and aqua in color with large wraps around her wrists. She said that her Quirk was called Wave Motion, which was some kind of shockwave-like energy projected in a spiral pattern. Apparently it also allowed her to fly.
The third person was named Dustin Brooks. He called himself the Yellow Wind Ranger. He had short but messy brown hair and blue eyes. He was dressed in a yellow and white outfit with a sword and hammer as his primary weapon. He also had some form of geokinesis and was trained in martial arts.
The last person was Shinji Ikari, the youngest of the group. He was also apparently a robot pilot and seemed to be the most mysterious. Jessica could sense there was something about him that was a lot different than the others. He carried a great burden within him. He had short brown hair and deep blue eyes. He was also a little on the thin side. Almost weak and malnourished.
There was something inside her, the mother, that made Jessica just want to go and comfort the boy.
Her attention turned to her son, Paul, and the Sekirei called Ikki.
"Come, my lord!" Ikki said in a playful tone as she took a pose, her short swords in both hands. "And don't hold back."
"Very well." Paul said.
What followed looked and felt more like a dance than a spar between the two. Paul had his body shield, but Jessica could see that Ikki was aware of what it could do. She saw Ikki move out of the way of Paul's attack easily, but moved to attack him once his knife was deflected. Paul was well-trained by Gurney Halleck and Duncan Idaho, but Ikki seemed to be his equal in both speed and skill.
Jessica had heard that these Sekirei were alien beings, their genetics superior to even themselves.
The group watched as Paul and Ikki clashed blade for blade, moving with incredible quickness that some of them seemed to miss.
Paul quickly knocked Ikki down, placing his blade at her neck.
"I've got you." he said.
"I've got you as well." she said, indicating the red energy that surrounded his stomach. "The slow blade penetrates the shield." she said with a smile.
Paul deactivated his shield.
"You fight well." he said to her.
"So do you." she said with a smile.
It was in this moment that Jessica realized that Ikki was staring at Paul and breathing heavily.
'I... I am reacting. To him!' she thought as she suddenly moved in closer to Paul. Before anyone knew what was happening, she wrapped her hand behind his head and thrusting her lips against his own.
Everyone, especially Paul, was shocked by this. The other Sekirei, however, just looked on with smiles as a pair of white wings suddenly emerged from Ikki's back and bathed the room in its light.
The light died down after a few seconds as Ikki pulled back from Paul, staring lovingly into his eyes.
"What was..." he gasped, shocked by the kiss and the wings of light.
"My Ashikabi... now and forever!" she smiled then squealed as she jumped into his arms.
Paul looked shocked, yet he could feel that something, everything, had just changed for him.
"What was that? What did she just do?" Jessica asked.
"Ikki has chosen Paul as her Ashikabi." Uzume said.
"Ashikabi?" Itsuka asked.
"Her destined one. The one who can bring out her true power. It is like an eternal bond." Akitsu said.
"A bond? You mean... she is...bound to him? As in... marriage?" Jessica asked.
"Something like that." Kazehana said with a smile.
While Jessica was pleased to hear that, it also surprised and upset her. Her son was growing up so fast!
"What does this mean, exactly?" Duncan asked.
"Ikki will stay with Paul, until she or he dies." Kazehana said.
"She will be his guardian, his friend, his partner, his sword, and if need be, his lover and mother of his children." Akitsu said.
Jessica and the others blushed at hearing that declaration.
Several of them were actually quite jealous at hearing that.
Flash snickered at the scene, but also felt that tinge of jealously as well.
Jessica couldn't help but notice that some of the newcomers were looking around at each other. The ones who seemed to take a greater interest in the other newcomers were the alien Sekirei. Akitsu, Uzume, Yashima and Kazehana had anxious looks on their faces. And almost jealous.
Wanda and Vision were looking at each other, though it was hard to discern their expressions.
Itsuka Kendo and Nejire Hado were both blushing as they heard that.
Sam Wilson and Mari glanced over at each other and smiled with a knowing look.
Dinah Lance could only smirk and cross her arms over her chest.
Dustin Brooks kept giving Nejire Hado looks, the girl smiling and shrugging her shoulders.
Jessica was happy that Paul had someone else in his corner.
Duncan, of course, would tease him endlessly about this.
Before he could, a beeping on his communicator came in.
"This is Idaho. Go ahead?" Duncan said into his wrist.
("Sir! It's The Giant Robot On The Airfield! Our Pilots Are Trying To Control It, But AHHH!")
Everyone in the room heard that. Duncan was the first to rush out, followed by Paul, Ikki and then the others.
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When they arrived on the field, the dark purple and white colored robot was stumbling around like it was drunk. It crashed into two planes and kicked over one of their ground transports. The robot stopped and then crashed down onto it's knees before bracing it's hands on the ground. The cockpit in the center of it's chest opened up and someone fell out onto the ground.
Duncan and the others raced over to him and tried to see if he was alright, only to see him jump up and rush off screaming while holding his head.
It took three Atreides soldiers to hold him down while one of the medical officers came over and tranquilized him.
"What happened?" Duncan asked.
"The Duke ordered us to examine and prepare the robot to take with us to Arrakis. But our... our pilots can't control it." one of the men, Lieutenant Lanville, said.
Duncan looked over at the group and approached Shinji.
"Ikari." he said.
"Y-yes?" the Japanese boy gasped when he heard his name.
"You said you knew what this thing is. Any idea what's wrong with it?"
"Well... it could be a number of things. Electrical or mechanical malfunction, but... if I had to guess by the way the pilot is acting... I'd say it's the ZERO System." Shinji said, somewhat nervously.
"The ZERO system?"
"It stands for 'Zoning & Emotional Range Omitted' System. It was designed to eliminate human weakness and draw out the full potential of the mobile suit. It analyzes a given situation based on massive amounts of data collected by its various sensors, then it transmits multiple possible results and responses, directly into the pilot's brain." he explained.
"Which means hundreds of possible scenarios fed into a persons brain all at once." Duncan said, realizing the mental overload would be tremendous. Especially in an actual battle.
"Yes. Epyon has a modified version of the original ZERO System, which analyzes everything around it. It shows the pilots all the actions necessary in order to achieve victory. However, its predictions usually prioritize tactical victory above all else, ignoring things like collateral damage, harm to the pilot, or the pilot's own emotions and morals."
Duncan looked at Shinji in shock, then at the giant robot before him and started wondering who the heck would create such a dangerous system.
"Controlling the Epyon, while using the system, requires extremely high willpower, and anyone else who tries to use it... well, it could permanently damage them." Shinji stated.
One of the technicians, Lanville, came over with a datapad in his hand.
"Sir. We found out that the system includes biofeedback equipment in the cockpit via the helmet." Lanville said.
"The pilot was being fed massive amounts of data from the sensors on the robot." Duncan stated.
"Uh... yes, sir." he said, wondering how he knew that.
"And you didn't disable the system?" Duncan asked.
"The program for the helmet and the ZERO system are linked together. We can't use the big robot without the helmet that links to the system." Lanville said.
"It's too dangerous. We need to remove it. Or figure out how to cut it off from the pilots brain." Duncan said.
"We tried a buffer in the helmet, but the system bypassed it and managed to access the pilot. We had hoped that by buffering the pilots brain, which controls the emission of neurotransmitters, and would thus alleviate the strain placed on the pilot by the mobile suit's maneuvers, it would allow the pilot to operate at a level beyond human limits."
"But it didn't work." Duncan stated.
"No, sir." Lanville said. "The strain proved too great for our pilots. Carter was our fourth pilot to try and operate the suit."
Shinji looked at the giant robot and tried to remember what Kensuke had told him.
The Epyon System directly links to the pilots brain via the special helmet. Constantly predicting the outcome and strategies in mid-battle. The problem is that it's a modified version of the original ZERO System, so this version which shows the victims faces when you use your weapons on them. It replies on the pilot ignoring all distractions, including their own drive to win, it shares every possible outcome of the battle and shares it with the pilot, including the ones where the pilot loses and dies. Unfortunately, it takes the form of hallucinations which permanently scar the psyche of the pilot.
"This robot was apparently designed more for close-quarters combat. It has two Vulcan cannons on it's head but it's primary weapon is the so-called Beam Sword, which is connected to the power core via a chord, which enables it to vary it's range. It's got a shield that houses a chain whip called The Heat Rod, which can be super heated to slice through armor plating." Lanville said as he analyzed the data pad once more.
"What about the metal? I've never seen armor like this before." Duncan asked.
"It's called Gundanium, at least five times stronger and lighter than titanium. At least." Shinji said.
"At least." the man said.
"You sure know a lot about this thing. For never having piloted it." Duncan said to Shinji.
"My friend Kensuke loved giant robots. He wanted a giant robot of his own. The Gundam Wing series was his favorite. And Epyon was the coolest Gundam he had ever seen. He studied and analyzed everything about it. It's weapons, it's history, it's specs, and all of it's fights. And, he couldn't help but share it with me."
Duncan fumed. This boy knew a lot about this thing, so why didn't they ask him more about it than just it's basic capabilities?
Shinji began to wonder... what if he piloted this thing? It would be different than his own robot, a real problem sine it could also fly, but... maybe the A10 Neural clips could be useful?
One of the men who was working on the robot tried to move the large menacing machine, only for him to trigger the chain whip.
Shinji saw the Heat Rod begin to glow and then suddenly lash out, towards the group.
"LOOK OUT!" Shinji shouted as the chain shot out of arm and towards them.
Yashima was the closet to the whip and she saw it coming towards her. In that instance, she froze. However, before she could regain herself, Shinji rushed over and grabbed her, pulling her out of the way as the heated chain whip smashed into the ground, destroying it with ease.
Everyone gasped as they tried to get clear, some of them seeing Shinji save the Sekirei girl.
Yashima gasped when she looked at Shinji who was still holding her in his arms. She blushed at how close he was to her.
"Are you alright?" he asked her.
"You... you saved me!" she said, staring at him as her heart beat rapidly.
"Uh... yes. You're wel-UMMPH!" he gasped as the girl suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the lips.
Everyone just stared as the alien girl suddenly sprouted a pair of glowing angel-like wings. The light was so bright it nearly blinded everyone.
"Wha...?" Shinji gasped shortly after she stopped kissing him.
"My Ashikabi! Now And Forever!" Yashima said as she continued to hold him around his neck, staring lovingly into his eyes.
"What... just happened?" Shinji asked, yet for some reason he couldn't look away from her.
"You are my destined one." she said.
"I am?" he asked.
"You just winged a Sekirei." Uzume said as she came over to the pair, who were still on the ground.
"I did?" he asked, still confused. "Like... like what Miss Ikki did to Mr. Atreides?" he asked as he stood up and helped Yashima to her feet.
"Yes. Now you're stuck with her. Forever." Kazehana said with an amused smile.
"Or at least until you, or her, dies." Akitsu said, somewhat bluntly.
Lanville just stared at the group. "You make it sound like they're married." he said.
"Well... technically..." Kazehana started to say.
CRASH!
"Ashikabi-Sama!" Yashima shouted as she dove to the ground where Shinji had 'crashed' and hugged the boy around his chest.
The assembled group just smiled and laughed at the scene.
Even Jessica had an amused look on her face.
She looked around and wondered, if this boy could be like her son, Paul.
Shinji Ikari had great potential, but whoever had raised and trained him had been lacking in education. Physically, mentally, intellectually. He had a good heart and a good soul. But that was only one part of him.
Jessica looked behind her as she saw Leto and the rest of his chief advisors, as well as their other guests coming out to the airfield.
"What happened?" Leto asked. "I received word that the giant robot was causing trouble."
"Yes, my lord." Duncan said. "You had ordered our men to prepare the robot to see if we could use it for when we got to Arrakis. Unfortunately... it hasn't been... cooperating." he stated.
Shinji was looking between the giant robot and the cute alien girl who was hugging his arm rather affectionately.
He knew that the Epyon System (as it was called) was the problem because of the information and neural feedback being forced into the pilots brain.
He then thought back to his own A10 Neural Clips. Originally designed to link an Eva-pilot to the Evangelion robot to make it more controllable.
Could this actually help?
"Uh... could I give it a try?" Shinji asked.
The group looked at Shinji and then at the robot. Several of them quickly discussing the pros and cons of such an action.
"I think we should let him." Jessica said.
"Are you sure? After what that thing did to our own pilots..." Leto started to say.
"I know. But... I have an idea." he said as he pulled a couple of high-tech devices off of his head.
"What are those?" Duncan asked.
"These are A-10 neural clips. I used them to connect myself to my robot, but... maybe they could help to stop the data input from the Epyon system."
Duncan looked at Shinji in surprise.
"Could that work for us?" Lanville asked.
"The neural clips were designed for me, but..." Shinji said.
"Let's check it out." Duncan said.
It took more than an hour to run basic diagnostics on the devices. It was discovered that they were specially designed to protect Shinji himself from the neural feedback of his own Evangelion robot. But... it could also protect him from the biofeedback of the Epyon system.
"Alright. Let's see if this works." Duncan said to the group.
Shinji got inside the robot. Yashima just looked at him with worry in her eyes as the cockpit closed.
Shinji gripped the controls and forced the deep wine-colored mech to stand up.
"So far so good." Lanville said as he continued to examine the data coming in from his pad. Duncan was looking at the pad too, seeing that the data coming in was about Shinji and the Epyon.
Everyone seemed anxious to see what Shinji was capable of.
Suddenly, the thrusters on the robot lit up, sending the beast rocketing into the sky. Everyone watched as Epyon rose higher and higher, before it turned and started flying around. It flew towards the castle and swooped passed it, flying out to sea and then transforming its body into something resembling a two-headed dragon.
The large metal dragon flew fast over the open seas, kicking up water as it tore across the surface of the water without touching it. It flew back into the air and continued to accelerate, then it came back down towards the ground, stopping meters away, before it transformed back into its robot mode and then landed, hard, on the ground.
Everyone sighed with relief as the robot powered down and the cockpit opened up.
Shinji stumbled out of the robot and fell to his knees.
"Shinji-sama!" Yashima shouted as she raced over to him.
He was panting hard and it looked like he was sweating a little. He clutched his chest, feeling his heart beat fast and furiously.
"Doctor." Leto said to his chief physician.
Yueh went over to the boy and gave him a once over.
"His heartbeat is accelerated. His adrenaline is extremely high." Yueh said.
"That makes sense. Piloting that thing... must have been exhilarating." Duncan said.
"Especially for a 14-year old boy." Captain America said.
"You have... no idea." Shinji said as his heartbeat slowly returned to normal.
"His neural activity appears to be normal." Yueh said.
Yueh had given Shinji a quick check-up before he had gotten in the robot, but now he was doing a more thorough examine.
"Hmm." Yueh said as he squeezed Shinji's arms and poked his body.
"What 'hmm'?" Leto asked.
"He is undernourished. Thin. I recommend food and a proper training regime before allowing him back in that machine." the doctor said.
"Agreed, but... it seems he's the only one who can pilot it." Leto said.
"Four of our best pilots are still recovering from its use. They can neither pilot this machine nor can they survive the psychological affects it produces." Lanville said.
"But Shinji can. He knows how to pilot it and he doesn't seem that affected by it. At least mentally." Leto said.
"That's only because of those neural clips he's wearing." Cap said.
"I've never piloted a robot that could... fly, before." Shinji said.
"Well, you far exceeded our best efforts." Leto said.
Jessica then turned to Leto and gave him a strange look. One of almost alarm.
The other heroes seemed to pick up on this.
"Duke Leto... you're not suggesting..." Cap started to say.
"Yes. But I'm not going to force him into the pilot seat. It has to be his choice."
Cap seemed to agree with that. While he didn't like forcing a child to pilot a giant robot nor fight in a war that would no doubt be coming, there was some things that were completely out of his hands. So... perhaps he could help this boy to handle things when they happened.
"He needs training." Cap said. "And he needs to be stronger. Physically."
"Shinji!" Yashima said as she hugged him.
"His heart beat is accelerating." Dr. Yueh noted.
"That's because of her." Flash said with a smirk, pointing at Yashima.
Shinji blushed. He desired love and affection, and this girl wanted to give it to him.
He pulled the alien girl off of him, not pushing her away, but he clutched her hand with his own, still blushing.
Yashima smiled, sensing that he had accepted her in some way.
"I can train him in how to pilot." Duncan said. "But... we have little time."
"Agreed. And you're supposed to leave for Arrakis soon, as part of the advanced team." Leto said. "So I guess... I'll train him."
"My lord?" Duncan asked.
"No offense, my lord, but this machine is far different from an Ornithopter or a Hawk Plane." Lanville said.
"And while Shinji knows how to pilot this, we would only be adding to his skill set." Leto said.
"You want to train the boy anyway, don't you?" Jessica asked.
"Yes. It would be fun. Besides... piloting a plane gives you confidence. He'll need that too."
No one could argue that.
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Authors Notes:
Been working on this for a while and finally got it updated.
Hope everyone enjoys this. And yes, I did give Paul a Sekirei. Mostly because I want to change the story a little, and because Ikki never had an Ashikabi in her canon universe. And I've given Shinji a Sekirei as well as made him the official pilot of the Epyon. I played with the idea that Kensuke would talk and talk about giant robots like Gundams and he would talk Shinjis ear off because of it.
Haven't really worked out all the pairings yet, but I have a few in mind.
Read and Review.