Shinji Steel 8

Disclaimer; I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or Max Steel. Wish I did, though.

As the girl kisses Shinji's face all over, Misato can't help but feel terminally amused. Turning around, she sees a Chinese woman walking up toward them. A soft smile on her face. The smile soon fades to a speculative frown directed toward Misato.

"Hello. I'm Deidre Takamiya. The girl kissing the boy is my daughter Ritsuko." Deidre smiles once more before adding, "Sorry, but as soon as Ritsuko saw Shinji, she just couldn't help herself."

"Hi. I'm Misato Katsuragi. It's okay. Quite frankly, I'm glad Shinji has a girlfriend."

Looking back over toward Shinji, she sees him lip-locking with the girl fervently while twirling her around. When the two separate, Misato can't help but notice something about Ritsuko. Not wanting to be rude, however, she clears her throat.

"Shinji, why don't you and Ritsuko go ahead and register? I'd like to have a chat with Deidre in private."

"Okay, Misato." Ritsuko gives a nod as well before the young couple goes into the school. Allowing Misato and Deidre a measure of privacy.

"How can she be your daughter? She's Japanese and you're Chinese." Deidre gives a smile as she's quite used to that question in particular.

"I adopted her. She was orphaned at sea during Second Impact." Giving off a visible shudder, she adds, "Hell on earth and innocent babies like Ritsy are orphaned."

"I hear that." Misato's voice has sadness within, getting Deidre's attention.

"You lost family as well?"

"Yeah." Her right hand coming up to clasp the cross pendant around her neck, she murmurs, "My Dad. He died saving my life."

"What about your Mother?"

"She died in the flooding of Tokyo." Looking back at Deidre, she asks, "How about you?"

"I was actually in a bad spot in my life. I didn't know if I wanted to live anymore or just outright die. But then I found a shattered yacht in the South Pacific just off what remains of Indonesia. Tethered to the yacht's bow was a small life-pod. Ritsy was in there. In her, I found a reason to live."

"That explains part of it. But how did you wind up with a Japanese name, though?"

"It was part of the adoption procedure where I'd registered to adopt Ritsy at. They were rather wary of a Chinese woman applying to adopt a Japanese infant. Let alone a Chinese woman that's single." Shrugging, she adds, "Nut-shelling, the Japanese last name was a condition for me to adopt her."

"I've never heard of a rule like that before. And I work with an agency of the UN."

"I'm afraid the place I was at didn't, and I still think they don't, recognize the authority of the UN."

"Sounds like Old Yokosuka. But they're also cooperative with the UN at times." Deidre gives a minute shrug before lobbing a question of her own.

"How did a single Japanese woman get guardianship of a fourteen year old boy? Aside from authorization from the UN, of course."

"I volunteered. Especially considering his Father's a colder-than-ice dick. He even wanted to house Shinji in the slums as a quartering assignment." Deidre's shout of outrage is audible through the school's windows.

"WHAT?"

(Gendo's Office)

"Say that again, Agent."

"The Third Child arrived at Tokyo-3 High School. Only to wind up having a young girl his age leap into his arms and plaster kisses all over his face, sir." The Agent's face is neutral, but yet the Agent's finding it difficult to hold as he wants to smile at the thought of it. 'Ah, young love.'

"I see, Agent. Get me everything you can about that girl and I want it yesterday."

"Yes sir. There's more, however, sir."

"Proceed."

"Captain Katsuragi is speaking with a Chinese woman the girl had arrived with, sir."

"So the girl is Chinese then."

"No sir. She's Japanese."

If Gendo's jaw had reason to drop, that'd be it right there. However, it stays in place on the outside. Inside, however, is another story.

"Yet the woman she arrived with was Chinese."

"Correct, sir."

"Very well. Carry out my order, Agent."

"Yes sir." With that, the Agent exits. Allowing Gendo to seethe.

'This was so not in the scenario!' Shaking his head to recompose himself, he verbally muses, "This girl's arrival could be just the thing I need to mold the Third Child to the way I intend for him to be. Miserable and ready to die."

(Tokyo-3 High School; Shinji and Ritsuko's new classroom)

"Hello, I'm Shinji Ikari and this is Ritsuko Takamiya." Blushing lightly, he adds, "She's my girlfriend."

"Hello, I'm Hikari Horaki. I'm the Class Rep." Looking over the open classroom, she sees two empty seats side-by-side. "You can take those two tandem seats over there." Just then, a tall young man wearing a black tracksuit enters. Causing Hikari to lightly scowl. "Suzuhara, you came close to being late today!"

"Chill, Class Rep. My little sister wanted to jump around in the puddles on the way to her school today." Giving off a scowl/smile, he adds, "The pilot of that thing cut it rather close with that Angel's arms that night!"

"True. But at least it was taken out of the city before things could get more out of control."

"Yeah, you're right." Looking around, he lightly frowns, asking, "You see Kensuke around?"

"Yeah. He was in the AV lab as of ten minutes ago. He'll be here shortly."

"What could he want with the AV lab?"

"He managed to sneak recordings of that battle two weeks ago."

"I see." Snorting, he adds, "There are times when I can't help but worry about him, Class Rep."

"You don't have to worry about me, Touji." The new voice gets the attention of both Hikari and the aforementioned Touji.

"I'm going to worry about you anyway, buddy. One of these days, your desire to see combat up close and personal is going to jump out of the bushes and kick you in the ass. Unless I beat it there first."

"Yeah, yeah." Smiling sharply, Kensuke adds, "By the way, I understand we have two new students here, Class Rep."

"Yes. Ikari and Takamiya. The boy and girl sitting together."

"Are they Pilots for Evangelion?" His mind goes awash in thoughts as he absently adds, "I'd give anything to be a Pilot like them."

In the seat, Ritsuko looks over at Shinji as if she's asking him what Kensuke's talking about.

Under his breath, he mutters, "Please, Rits, just follow me on what's more than likely going to happen. It'll be better that way." Ritsuko considers his pleading tone before reaching a decision.

"Okay." Her voice is equally like Shinji's as she goes on. "I'll back your play. But I want details once we're alone. Deal?"

"Deal."

With that, the teacher comes in and Hikari gives the commands. Once everyone's seated, the teacher starts talking about the world before Second Impact. As the teacher rambles on, Shinji and Ritsuko share an incredulous glance at the older person's flat deadpan tone.

"We covered the world pre-Second Impact one week last year at Kankino High. Mr Kasona may have been a flake, but at least he wasn't as dull as this guy is."

"Your History teacher was cool, huh." Shinji's sudden smirk gets her attention. "Shinji?"

"Mr Kasona was my physics teacher." At that, Ritsuko's eyebrows go up to her hairline.

"Physics? Why would a physics teacher talk about history?"

"I'm afraid I can't really tell you how Mr Kasona's mind works. The only one that can do that is Mr Kasona himself and that thought in itself is too scary beyond words."

"He can't have been that bad."

"Wanna bet?" At her nod, he nods back and says, "The time we first met, I was on break from school. During the break, I had to do a report on my family and how they influenced my life. Three guesses as to who dreamed that up, though you're only really going to need one."

"Mr Kasona." Shinji's nod gets a sigh from Ritsuko before both hear a chime on their laptops. Ritsuko looks at the screen and says, "Shinji, I think this message is for us."

'Are either of you the Pilot of the purple Evangelion? Y or N'

Remembering Fuyutsuki's words, Shinji presses 'N'. With Ritsuko following suit. Resulting in them hearing a dismayed groan four seats back to the right. Along with prompting them to share a hidden smirk before turning back to the lesson. Which is still being droned out even through the dismayed groan that repeats itself. Neither of them notice Touji Suzuhara looking at Shinji with an unsure look on his face.

(Lunch Break)

"Hey, new kid!" Shinji turns toward the voice, as does Ritsuko, barely in time to avoid the fist coming at him. "Stay still dammit!"

"What the Hell's your problem, you savage?"

"Stay out of this, sister. This don't concern you!" Touji lets loose another punch. Only for Shinji to dodge again. A concerned frown on his face. "Stay still so I can pound you!"

"I'd prefer not being pounded, if you don't mind." Avoiding another punch, Shinji groans out, "I was hoping to avoid this, but…" Sending a fist Touji's way, it makes contact with Touji's stomach. Knocking the wind out of the tall youth's lungs. "I don't want to hurt you anymore than I already have. Let's just talk about this like rational adults-to-be."

"I can't do that."

"Why not?"

(Gendo's Office)

As Gendo pores over his draft of his plans, his intercom buzzes.

"Yes, Ms Okisona?"

"Commander, Captain Chiron is on the line. He sounds quite distressed over something, sir."

"Very well." Hitting 'speaker', he says, "Make it fast, Captain Chiron."

"It's Psycho, sir. He went ahead with his own plan."

"In what way, Captain?"

(Tokyo-3 High School)

"Some crazy-ass guy with a metal arm came across me after I dropped off my little sister." At those words, Berto's voice chimes in.

"Psycho! He's there in Tokyo-3?"

Shinji gives a slight nod that Ritsuko catches. But she quickly puts it out of her mind. Thinking that Shinji sympathizes with him. Quite frankly, she doesn't blame Shinji for sympathizing with him.

"What happened?"

The tone in Shinji's question sounds like one from an experienced investigator. Getting Ritsuko's attention and making her warm inside.

"He showed me your picture and told me to beat you up." Trembling in anger, he adds, "He told me if I didn't, my little sister's days were as good as numbered. Especially if your old man had his way."

"What could you possibly mean by that, Suzuhara?"

"Oh, come on. Shinji Ikari, the only son of Gendo Ikari, the Commander of NERV. The Agency assigned to destroy the Angels. Ring any bells?"

"Gendo Ikari, yes. The rest, no."

"Fine. Play it your way. But, I still gotta pound ya."

"A guy that's willing to ensure his family's safety. Especially when the source of the threat is dubious at best." Shinji's summation of Touji gets a nod from Ritsuko. Along with a worried frown.

"Dubious or not, that guy was so unhinged, he could have come apart at any time."

"Even so, do you really want to surrender yourself to the whims of a madman?"

"No. But when it comes to my little sister, I ain't taking any chances!" Touji lets loose one more fist. Only to feel a hand encase his fist in a vice-like grip. Upon seeing Shinji's face, a concerned frown on his face, Touji ignores it. Intent on his fist. 'Good reflexes!'

"Ikari, we are needed." At the new voice, Shinji, Ritsuko and Touji turn. With Touji being the first to speak.

"Hey, Ayanami. How're you feeling?"

"My recovery is proceeding, Suzuhara." Getting a look at Ritsuko, she adds, "You are not of us, yet you are connected to Ikari." That in itself raises Ritsuko's hackles.

"I may not know what you mean by that, but you're right about me being connected to him. Shinji's my boyfriend." Tilting up to give Shinji a quick peck, she murmurs, "Watch yourself out there. Whatever it is you're doing, that is."

"I will, Rits. Get your Mother and yourself to a shelter and stay put. Please. So I won't have to worry about you being safe."

"I'll keep an eye on her, Ikari."

"Thanks." Looking toward Ayanami, he adds, "Let's get gone, Ayanami."

"Indeed." As the two head away, a worried Ritsuko glances toward him until Touji gets her attention.

"If he is a Pilot, then he is a dead duck."

"Why? You said it yourself. It was a close call and if it was Shinji, then Shinji did his best to avoid unnecessary collateral damage. Namely human casualties."

"Yeah, I guess that's one way of looking at it."

(NERV HQ; Command Bridge; five minutes later)

"Sorry I'm late, Ritsu!" Misato takes several deep breaths before going on. "I was just speaking with a new friend about watching over teenagers."

"I see. Well, in any case, we picked up the blue pattern twenty minutes ago."

"Okay. Let's see it." Once the image of the oncoming Angel is visible, Misato can't help but smirk. "If anyone is in the mood for calamari, they'll have a ten year supply as long as they keep the meat refrigerated." Akagi can only grin wryly as she had a different idea as to what the Fourth Angel looks like. Yet she can't help but partially agree with Misato's assessment.

'Calamari is one of my favorites. Maybe the Third Child can do something calamari for dinner tonight.' Checking her readouts, she asks, "Is Unit-01 ready for launch?"

"Ready, Dr Akagi!" Hyuga's voice brings a smirk to the fake blonde's face before going on. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say Shinji was looking forward to making calamari soufflé out of this Angel."

"That sounds interesting, though highly irrelevant, Lieutenant Hyuga."

The sound Gendo's voice brings a slight frown to Misato's face. As she remembers what the bearded asshole wanted to put Shinji into as far as quartering. Putting her feelings aside, Misato gives the command.

"Launch Unit-01 on Cat 9. Exit at Point 783."

"Roger." Maya's voice has determination within as she goes on. "Moving gantry to Cat 9." Three minutes later, she says, "Unit-01 in place and launching… now!" As the Evangelion shoots up along the catapult's rails, Misato has only one thought.

'Go get 'em, Shinji!'

(Safety Shelter; twenty feet from Point 783)

Sitting on the floor, her legs tucked inward, Ritsuko yawns before tilting over and impacting lightly with Deidre's shoulder. Deidre, in turn, smiles and gently runs her fingers through Ritsuko's hair.

"I guess you didn't get enough sleep, Ritsy. Sorry about that."

"It's okay, Mom. I was just recalling that the teacher was talking about Second Impact. What the world was like before it happened in particular."

"I hope you're ready for a repeat performance. An everyday repeat performance, that is." At the sound of Touji's voice, Ritsuko looks up. Confusion in her eyes.

"Did you just say 'everyday'? As in he talks about the same friggin' thing every single day?"

"That I did. That he does."

"Good grief." Looking over toward Deidre, she then asks, "Why don't you give teaching a try, Mom?"

"If it'll spare you the tedium of hearing about Second Impact daily, I don't see why not. Big question is will I even be accepted as a teacher despite my inexperience?"

Before Touji can even ask Deidre why Ritsuko called her 'Mom' even though they look nothing alike, he sees Kensuke making his way to a nearby exit hatch. Ever present camcorder in hand. Prompting Touji to groan.

'What is that maniac up to now?' Worried about Kensuke's safety, he checks to ensure Hikari's not watching before slipping out the same exit hatch as Kensuke. Not noticing Ritsuko watching his exit.

"Mom, I think I…"

"Say no more, Ritsy. Go keep an eye on those two." Ritsuko gives a nod and exits behind Touji. Without Hikari noticing her.

Striding strongly to catch up to the other boy, Touji growls out, "Just where do you think you're going, 'Suke?" With that, he catches up to Kensuke and grabs his arm just shy of the hatch.

"Touji, let me go, man. This is a rare chance for me to record a real life Evangelion fighting an Angel in broad daylight."

"Yeah, well, it may be rare for you. But this hobby of yours gives you a chance to die every damned day! Do you really wanna take that chance?"

"If I can get footage of the Evangelion fighting the Angel, I can die happy."

"Then wait for the archives section to release the footage. They're bound to have their own recorders going as we speak."

"They'll just censor parts that shouldn't be censored."

"There's bound to be a reason that they'd… 'Suke!" Kensuke shrugs his way away from Touji, opens the exit hatch, and bolts out. Leaving a grumbling Touji behind. "That Angel ain't gonna get the chance to kill him. I'm going to do it first!"

With that, he exits behind Kensuke. Not noticing Ritsuko exiting behind him and following the two to within ten feet of the action. Just in time to see the Evangelion fly back toward them. Prompting Ritsuko to act.

"Fall back!" Grabbing the two by their shirt collars, she tugs them both back just as the Evangelion lands. It's left hand landing right where they just were.

"Oh this is so cool!" Kensuke's excited shout is soon accompanied by pained screaming. "My ear! Touji, let me go!"

"No way, 'Suke. Too dangerous out here." Turning to Ritsuko, he notices her looking up at the Evangelion. "Hey, new girl, we better split."

"Yeah. But first…" Ritsuko shakes her head and starts giggling. "A big horny robot! That's what's supposed to save humanity?"

Next thing she knows, she's being draped over Touji's shoulder and carried away. While Touji tugs on an unwilling Kensuke's ear. As she's carried away, she has one thought.

'If it's you in there Shinji, be careful. Please.'

(Unit-01; Entry Plug)

Shinji sighs in relief as his girlfriend is carried away and smirks at seeing Kensuke being tugged along by his ear. Both of which being done by Touji. His eyes soon catch a red countdown, causing him to grimace.

"Shinji, the nearest plug port is thirty feet behind you! Fall back and plug in!"

"No good. The civilians aren't clear of the zone yet, Misato."

"Immaterial." The voice isn't Misato's, but Gendo's. "You are to obey orders, Third Child. Fall back to the plug port and plug in for a long range attack. Civilian lives are not a high priority."

"Long range attack won't work, you dumbass! I thought that smokescreen when I first fired the rifle would've clued you in on that!" Deploying his prog knife, he adds, "The best time to strike an iron is while it's still hot. This is an iron I'm going to strike… now!" Clenching his left fist, he thinks, 'Going turbo!'

(NERV HQ; Command Bridge)

Her eyes on the readouts, Maya can't help notice the sudden increase of sync between Shinji and Unit-01. Debating whether or not to tell Doctor Akagi, she soon decides not to. Electing to investigate this strange trend herself. She then looks up in time to see Unit-01 jump up into the air, aimed toward the Fourth Angel, prog knife in hand. For an instant, she can swear she sees an insanely gleeful grin on the purple EVA's face. It both amuses and disturbs her.

The Evangelion lunges its prog knife right into the top of the Angel, one of the points where it's AT field is weakest. The blade on it cuts through the Angel's flesh like a hot knife through butter. Causing the Angel to shriek and thrash about. Just as the blade reaches its core and starts cutting in.

For a slight instant, Maya can swear she hears Shinji humming casually. Appropriately enough, he's humming the 'Funeral Dirge'. Misato only nods her head in approval at the tune while Gendo seethes in his perch. Shinji calling him a 'dumbass' rankling him to no end. Just as the countdown ends and the power backup dies, the Angel dies. All is silent until Aoba breaks the silence.

"Blue pattern ceased. The Fourth Angel's dead."

"Retrieve Unit-01 and have the Third Child taken to the brig." Gendo's voice brooks no dissent as he goes on. "His stunt was foolishly suicidal and excessively reckless." With that, he recedes his station from the bridge.

'Or is it that you're pissed off that Shinji had you pegged for being a "dumbass", Commander?'

Misato doesn't say a thing though. As she knows Gendo had a point. Shinji was excessively reckless in his attack. Shinji had a point as well. Civilians were outside the shelter and Shinji falling back would surely have killed them.

'He did things the wrong way for a right reason.' Smirking, she mentally amends, 'No. He did things the "Max Steel Jr way".' Sighing, she gives the order upon ensuring Gendo isn't within earshot. "You heard 'Commander Dumbass'. Get Shinji out of there and into the brig. Much as he doesn't really belong in there."

"Um, Captain?" Maya's unsure voice gets Misato's attention.

"Yes, Lieutenant Ibuki?"

"Can we talk later, ma'am?"

"Sure, Lieutenant."

(EVA cages)

As Shinji opens the entry plug, he sees a five-man squad of Section-2 waiting for him. Guns in hand and aimed at him.

"Gentlemen, thank you for the lovely reception. Anyone in the mood for calamari?"

"Enough lip, Third Child. You're going to the brig." Shinji can tell the Agent addressing him is having a hard time keeping a straight face. "The Commander is most displeased with your actions today. Along with you showing him disrespect."

"He is a dumbass."

The Agent lets his face slip in amusement before going solid again. Yet with cracks. Oh yes, this Agent is going to laugh heartily and madly. Emphasis on madly.

"Let's go, kid." The Agent addressing him turns around, signaling the others to form a perimeter around Shinji as if he was a celebrity and they his bodyguards.

(That evening)

While Ritsuko is doing her homework, Deidre goes out grocery shopping. Her conversation with Misato had surprisingly enough started a friendship between the two women. They both had injured pasts, they care for their charges to no end and they agree Gendo is a dumbass. Deidre can't help but shake her head in amusement over the last as Misato told her about Shinji's comment toward Gendo.

"The man is a dumbass. Long range attack? What was he smoking?" Next thing she knows, she runs into a dark form. "Sorry about that. I…" Looking up, she soon sees a face she'd both wanted and never wanted to see again. "YOU!"