Chapter 2: The Beast Returns
Shinji slowly opened his eyes to find himself staring at a familiar ceiling. He blinked as he realized he could hear something dripping. He slowly sat up and found himself in the old NERV medical bay. But something was wrong. The walls, ceiling, floor and furniture, including the bed, was covered in LCL.
He sat up and looked around in fear and confusion when the door slowly slid open. A pale, pained-looking Misato Katsuragi leaned against the door frame, holding her bleeding side. "M-Misato?"
"Welcome home, Shinji…" She smiled.
Before he could do or say anything a massive wave of LCL rushed behind her into the room, sweeping him off the bed.
He suddenly found himself in the NERV command center. Misato stood in the center staring at a monitor with the old crew at their stations frantically. But it was the same as the hospital room, everything was covered in LCL, and all the monitors were dead. All but the main one, which displayed an image of the SDF-1 Macross hovering in the air.
"What's going on? I don't understand…" Shinji asked, but they all ignored him. "Misato?"
She spun to him quickly, and with a bloodied hand, gripped his collar. "Shinji!" She shouted in his face, "FIGHT!" She screamed, and with inhuman strength threw him backwards through the door. Into the EVA holding bay.
He pulled himself off the LCL covered floor to see Unit 01 staring down at him. "Shinji …" a soft voice spoke behind him and he found a long tunnel. He unconsciously followed it into the massive hall that seemed like an odd mix of stone and steel, with odd alien symbols glowing along the walls. At the end was a bright light with a nude Rei Ayanami standing with her back to him.
He slowly approached, but had trouble seeing due to the bright light. "Rei, what is this?"
"Your desire is to save everyone, is it not, Shinji?" Rei asked, staring into the blinding light.
"I…" Shinji was at a loss for words.
"The way to save everyone…" Rei said, looking back at him, "Is hidden deep within."
Shinji sat up gasping for breath in his apartment bedroom. "What was that?" Shinji breathed.
He looked at the phone that Rick had left him. He blinked when he saw that there was a message from Minmay. "Hey, gonna be doing a performance this afternoon. Be sure to tune in. XOXO"
Shinji smiled and made his way to the kitchen and poured himself some juice. He took a sip before going to the window to look over Macross City. He looked at the time and saw that it wasn't long for Minmay's performance. He could get used to this, he thought to himself. A moment later a blinding flash erupted in the air near the corner of the metal ceiling.
-SDF1-
Asuka glanced up when her hospital door opened. "Commander Hayes," she grunted a welcome.
"Something have you in a foul mood?" Lisa asked, walking in and sitting in the chair by the bed. "Thought you'd be happier knowing you're getting out of here tomorrow."
"That's great actually," Asuka nodded.
"Then what is it?" Lisa gave a little smile.
"Minmay is going to be singing in a little while," Asuka crossed her arms.
"And … she'll be on every single channel…" Lisa continued, bristling slightly.
"Not a fan either?" Asuka asked.
"Hunter thinks she hung the stars and moon," Lisa gave a little glare to nothing in particular. "Not that I care."
"So does Shinji," Asuka grunted in agreement. The two young women gave each other a look that seemed to bring a mutual understanding and comradery.
"How is she not old enough to be his mother anyway?" Asuka asked.
"Apparently our space fold accident did more than just transported us to the far end of the galaxy but also through time. What was years here on earth, was moments for us. If our timing is correct, it is how we avoided being effected by the Impacts on Earth." Lisa explained as best she could.
"Away from the airhead that's caught both of our irritation," Lisa waved a hand, "What's your plans for the future?"
"I honestly was expecting to be dead by now, so haven't really worked much out," Asuka replied.
"From what I understand you were ranked in the European Air Force?" Lisa asked glancing up.
"Yeah, Captain," Asuka said, "Why?"
"That's equivalent rank to Lt. Commander in UN Spacy's RDF," Lisa replied, "Would you be interested in commission?"
"You're offering me a spot?" Asuka blinked.
"Only if you wanted," Lisa replied, "It's your decision. But you have the opportunity to serve as an officer. We'd have to test you and see where you'd fit in the best. But we can cross that bridge later if you want to. Just wanted to put it on the table for you to think about."
"What about Shinji?" Asuka asked, and she wasn't even sure why.
"He piloted an EVA unit sure, but he never had any formal military training, from what you and he has said, his father had reason to keep him like that… so should he want to join up, he'd have to go through basic." Lisa nodded, "But that's his decision to make."
"He's … been through a lot," Asuka said, glancing away, "Some things… he brought on himself… and others … were forced on him."
"You two have been through a lot," Lisa commented.
"Yeah, and… thanks to Instrumentality, there's no real secrets between us," She gave a little snort, "Better or worse."
Before the conversation could continue, a Zentraedi battle pod came through the wall, before being pulled back and slammed to the ground by a Spartan Destroid.
-SDF1-
Shinji stood on the street as the people ran toward bunkers, almost systematically. Like the giant robotic monstrosities bursting through the hole in the side of the wherever they are wasn't anything new.
Meanwhile in a totally different area of the ship, Lynn Minmay stepped out on stage, with the spot light falling on her as her music began to play. She closed her eyes as she choked her microphone, and began to sing. "Legends never die… When the world is calling you… Can you hear them screaming out your name?"
Shinji shielded his face as an explosion hit not far. He started to run for the shelter when he heard Misato's voice. "Why, Shinji?"
Legends never die…
They become a part of you…
He stood still, staring at the street. "Exactly why did you come here?"
A Spartan Destroyed took a hard hit and collapsed, the impact sending him to his knees.
Every time you reach for greatness… Legends never die…
He slowly turned and glanced as the pilot stumbled out badly injured, before falling. His helmet rolling toward him. "You mustn't run away…"
Shinji picked up the helmet, staring at the reflection in the eye covers.
They never lose hope when everything's cold
and the fighting's near.
"You must confront your father," Shinji slowly climbed to his feet, and turned toward the Destroid. "And you must confront yourself." He gritted his teeth and told himself. "Get in the damn robot, Shinji."
Shinji made a break for the Destroid, running through the fire.
It's deep in their bones, they'll run into smoke
When the fire is fierce
Shinji put on the helmet and slide into the cockpit and gripped the controls as the helmet's mental Robotech controls synced with the machine. "It's… like an Eva…"
Oh, Pick yourself up, cause…
The Spartan fist slammed through the nearest Battlepod.
Legends never die!
With the fist still through the Battlepod and pilot, the Spartan turned and opened fire on another attacking Pod, shredding it.
Ritsuko and the NERV scientists and techs all had a theory on 'the Beast'. The universal thought was the beast was completely a part of Unit 01. Shinji simply lost all control when it awoke.
They're written down in eternity…
But you don't see the price it costs…
Scars collected all their lives.
The nearly glowing eyes and animalistic smile on Shinji's face as he attacked the enemy proved the theory was false.
He grabbed one by the leg, and ripped it off, forcing it through the cockpit. His roars could be heard through the armored cockpit plating.
When everything's lost, they pick up their hearts and avenge defeat
He narrowed his eyes when he saw some approaching the hospital. "No…" He growled, pushing the mech into a run.
"You seeing this Roy?" Rick said from his Veritech as he flew over the battlefield. "I didn't know a Spartan could move that way…"
"They're not supposed to move that way…" Roy noted from Skull One, firing on an enemy.
Shinji gasped when a pod attacked him from behind.
Before it all starts, they suffer through harm just to touch a dream…
He clutched the Spartan's fists together and slammed the attacking pod with a swing that sent it flying backwards toward the hospital.
Legends never die…
When the world is calling out your name…
Shinji grabbed the Pod, and pulled it free from the damaged wall of the hospital. And he could see Lisa and Asuka, and took a moment to be glad they were all right. But he pushed it down. He had something to do.
Begging you to fight…
He grabbed the Pod in both hands.
Pick yourself up once more
Oh pick yourself up, cause…
The Zentraedi were bred to know no emotion.
Legends never die!
When the world is calling you
Can you hear them screaming out your name?
But as this damaged mech ripped open the cockpit before him, he knew fear.
Legends never die!
The become a part of you
Every time you bleed for reaching greatness…
The Zentraedi pilot screamed at first as the Spartan pummeled the trapped giant with his fists, but the screaming stopped replaced with a wet splat as its white fist became purple with the alien blood.
Lisa and Asuka stood dumbfounded as the support mech effortlessly destroyed the enemy, before standing tall over the fallen destruction.
Asuka clutched her chest with her good hand. She could tell who was piloting that machine. There was no doubt in her mind.
"Shinji?" she whispered the name of the fighter who had fallen asleep from exhaustion in the cockpit.
Legends never die…
To be continued…
Shorter chapter, but felt like a good stopping point. You knew Shinji wouldn't stay on the sidelines for long. The Beast is a powerful weapon, but will Shinji learn to control it? Also there's a deeper meaning to that nightmare Shinji had. You'll see soon enough. And to answer a question on ff net, I am tweaking a few Macross things, such as Minmay already being an idol from the start. I figured it would be a nice touch if her music was what Shinji listened to on the SDAT in the anime.
Song credit was Legends Never Die by Against the Current. It's Macross/Robotech so of course there is gonna be music. The title of this story itself is based on a song, one from an old PS1 era video game which had some similarities to Robotech AND Eva both. But hang on to your butts, dear readers. The ride is about to get fun.