Shinji Steel 16

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

Author's Notes; Part two of two-parter. Enjoy!

Twenty minutes later, the plane is flying over Tokyo-3, climbing to an altitude of 20,000 feet. Rei is looking around the interior of the plane while Gendo is quietly, and nervously, sitting. Wondering if he should just bow out. To him, jumping out of a perfectly good airplane is as natural as feeling concern for his own son. Rei's red eyes soon spot an object, causing her to kink her head to the right.

"Commander?"

"Yes, Rei?"

"What is that for?" Looking over toward where Rei is looking, he sees the object and scoffs.

"That, Rei, is for lunatics."

"Yes sir." Looking toward the others, she sees they're getting their parachutes on. Paying close attention to Shinji and Ritsuko, she sees Shinji's harnessing the both of them together. Ritsuko's back to his front. "Is that what lunatics do as well, Commander?" Gendo takes a look before scowling.

"Yes, Rei. That is what lunatics do as well."

"Very well."

With that, she gets up and crosses over to the item. Picking it up, she then goes to join the others. Attracting Gendo's attention.

"What are you doing, Rei?"

"I am readying myself to become a 'lunatic', Commander."

Quickly, she straps the chute onto herself, only to be double-checked by Jo. Jo soon finds herself impressed by Rei.

"Are you sure you've never jumped before?"

"I am sure as I have never been a 'lunatic' before. I merely observed the others and replicated their movements to achieve the results you have seen."

"Okay." Jo then shrugs and nods her head toward the ramp. Rei goes, followed by Jo who then helps Rei put the sky-board onto her feet. Securing the buckles onto her feet. "Good to go!"

Rei gives her a nod and slides the board down the ramp and out of the plane. Prompting Gendo's reaction. Highly freaked by what the blue-haired girl had done, Gendo gets up and bolts to a pile of parachutes before picking up one. Hurriedly, and clumsily, putting it on, he then goes to the ramp. Only to be stopped by Jo.

"Just what the Hell do you think you're doing, dumbass?"

"I'm jumping out of a perfectly good airplane after Rei! Who're you calling a 'dumbass', young lady?"

"The friggin' dumbass in a loose chute, that's who!"

Grabbing one of the cinching straps, she yanks on it before following suit on the others. Happily ignoring his pained gasps. Explaining the whole time.

"You did it wrong! If you go out there with a loose chute, you'll wind up as Earth Pizza! You sure as Hell don't want that! I sure as Hell don't want that! Even though it would rid the world of a dumbass!"

"Now see here! I am…"

"No! You see here! I don't care who you are or how 'important' you claim to be! I'm the jump-mistress! I'm the one in charge here! Not you! Is that understood?"

"It is!" With that, the cinching straps are all cinched and Gendo asks, "Can I go now?"

"Yeah! You can go! I better take you down to the ramp first to give you a reminder about the pull handles for the ripcords, though!"

"Very well!"

Gendo then makes his way to the ramp, Jo right behind him. When she has him stop, she has him turn around so his back is facing outward. The wind noise is horrendously loud. So loud, he can barely make out what she's saying. Jo, for her part, is trying her best to tell him what to do.

"You've got two chutes! They're opened by two different ripcord handles! Red and blue! Red is your backup and blue is your primary! Pull the blue ripcord and really hard!" Thinking she meant now, Gendo pulls on the blue. Causing her next remarks.

"NOT NOW! YOU'RE STILL ON THE PLANE, YOU DUMBASS!"

Before he can even reply, Gendo flies out of the plane. An irritated Jo sighing in exasperation.

"Aw fuck me running! That man is a walking 'Darwin Award' in the making!" Looking toward Shinji, she then asks, "Hey, 'Suicide', you sure that dumbass is your old man?"

"Yeah, he is! Unfortunately!" Smirking, he adds, "Of course, he hasn't been much of a 'Father' since I was four! Even worse, I got his genes!"

"You have my sincerest condolences! I just hope you won't turn out to be that stupid as you get older!"

"No need to worry, Jo! I'll make sure 'Suicide' doesn't become as stupid as 'Dumbass'! You've my word on it!"

"Good to know, Ritsuko! How're you feeling?"

"Excited and terrified at the same time, actually!" Jo can't help but give the girl a smile.

"It's natural to feel that way! After all, jumping out of a perfectly good airplane's not exactly natural! But soldiers had to do it anyway! These days, they still do! Along with adrenaline junkies!"

"Like 'Suicide' here?"

"Yep!" Jo quickly checks them over before nodding. "You're good to go, guys!"

"You heard her, Rits! Ready?"

"If I say 'no', are you going to jump us anyway?"

"Not if you don't want me to." Rits gives him a soft smile of 'thanks' before taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. After a minute, she exhales and opens her eyes. Fire within them.

"BANZAI!"

Shinji can't help but smile at her grit before rushing them to the ramp and hurling the both of them into the air. Rits can't help but feel elated at the sensation of freefall. Shinji, in turn, verbally makes his elation known.

"YEE-HAA!" As they freefall, they come across a sour Gendo. With Rits unable to resist a chance to freak Gendo out.

"HEY, FUTURE 'FATHER-IN-LAW'! HAVING FUN YET?"

The couple can't help but chortle at the shocked look on Gendo's face as they plummet past him. Along with come across Rei as she discovers the joys of sky-boarding.

'So this is what it is like to be a "lunatic". I believe I shall enjoy it very much.'

Back up on the plane, an amused Jo turns toward 'Kamikaze Kawasaki' and looks the form over. Along with the motorcycle. Both have parachutes attached. Along with a strap Jo's all too familiar with. Pleased with the proficiency the rider has, she can't help but be concerned for both rider and machine.

"Are you sure you're up to this? It's been like four decades since you last jumped! And I wasn't even around then!" A twin rev is the reply she gets, prompting her to nod. "Okay! You're both cinched up and good to go!"

'Kamikaze' gives her a nod before opening up on the throttle and rolling the motorcycle out of the plane. Dismounting the machine in midair. Only tethered to it by a tow strap.

'Ah. This is the life! I'd almost forgotten how fun this was!'

Turning to Josh, Kat and Berto, she asks, "You and your group want to go next, Josh or wait until after Captain Katsuragi and Ms Takamiya jump?" Before Josh can reply, Misato does.

"You guys go on ahead! We're adding one more so it'd be a double-triple you're sending out, Jo!"

"Who is it?"

"That'd be me, Ms Branson!" At the sound of Rachel's voice, they turn and gawk at her blue jumpsuit. "I informed Jake that I'll be jumping with you, Captain Katsuragi! He'll be waiting for me on the ground!"

"Okay, ma'am!" Next thing she knows, Rachel looks over toward Josh, Kat and Berto.

"Go on ahead, guys!"

"We will, Rach! See you on the ground!" Rachel gives Josh a nod as he and Kat tug a nervous Berto toward the ramp. As they jump off, the others on the plane still can hear Berto screaming. Along with Kat and Josh.

"I'D RATHER BE IN MY LAB!"

"WHOO-HOO! FEEL IT, BERTO!"

"YEE-HAA!"

Shaking her head at the first trio's antics, Jo quickly checks over the newest trio. Once done and satisfied, she nods. Only to see Deidre trembling horrendously.

"You okay, Ms Takamiya?"

"NO! I'M NOT!" Tears dripping out from her eyes, she wails out, "I'M NOTHING LIKE RITSY!"

"Oh, I don't know about that! Like Mother, like daughter! Yeah sure, you adopted her, but you loved her just like a Mother should! And she was both excited and terrified before she jumped!"

"THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US, MS BRANSON! I'M JUST STONE TERRIFIED!"

"It's okay! You don't have to jump if you don't want to! You can just go back to the ground with Jake in the plane! I'll go with Misato and Rachel!"

"Okay! Thanks!" As Jo undoes Deidre's straps, a shamed Deidre looks toward Misato and Rachel. Expecting to see irritation. Instead, she sees understanding. "Guys?"

"It's okay, Deidre! Not everyone's cut out for this! I remember my first skydive!"

"What happened, Rachel?"

"I was scared so stiff, some wiseass joker cracked he could ride me down to the ground! But I showed him when I shoved him out of the plane and jumped out after him!"

"Who was it?"

"The guy flying the plane!"

"On second thought, Jo?"

"Yeah?"

"Sorry, but I think I'll jump after all! How far are you with my straps?"

"Just got them loose enough for you to simply wiggle out! Retightening is no real hassle for me, though! Changed your mind?"

"Hell yeah!" With that, Jo retightens the straps. When she's done, Deidre adds, "I ain't landing with a fucking pervert!" Before Jo can even ask, the trio of women race to the ramp and leap out. As they do so, Jo can hear Deidre screaming, "WHAT THE FUCK AM I DOING?" Letting out a chortle, Jo closes the back doors before going up to the cockpit. Taking a seat beside the pilot, Jake Nez. Sighing before giggling. The giggle getting Jake's attention.

"What happened, Jo?"

"Just a little case of pre-jump jitters. Deidre Takamiya."

"It's understandable."

"Yeah." Smirking slyly, she then asks, "When are you and Rachel coming out into the open?"

"Huh?"

"When are you telling the world you two are hitched?"

"How… what… I don't know what you mean!"

"Oh yes you do. I saw the rings on chains you two wear around your necks. Any time you see Rachel, your face lights up like a Christmas tree. Much like 'Suicide' and his girlfriend." Jake and Jo share a chortle about that coupling before Jake sighs.

"Okay. You got me. Yes, we're hitched. Have been for fifteen years, going on sixteen."

"Congrats."

"Thanks." Jake then shrugs before going on. "Well, we discussed it last month and Rachel told me she wants to announce it right now while I told her I want to wait until after her tenure as SECGEN is over."

"Why wait?"

"Because then we won't have reporters hounding us at every turn. We want a quiet life, Jo. Can't have that with reporters with their flashbulbs going off any time they feel like it."

"You're wrong, Jake. They won't leave you alone if you do it like that. If anything, they'll get even more persistent. They might even call some skin rags to bombard you with offers." Jake can't help but grimace.

"Ugh." Shaking his head, he then asks, "If we come out today, they'll only 'feed' for a while?"

"Pretty sure. Just think. You come out today and they 'feed' up until another story gets their attention." Jake only makes a thoughtful sound as he points the C-130 toward the airfield.

On the ground, Touji, Kensuke and Hikari are watching the sky for the skydivers when Kensuke starts yelling excitedly.

"That skysurfer's getting some sick air!" Bringing up his digital camera to get a picture, he can't help but gasp in shock. "I don't believe it!"

"What is it, 'Suke?"

"It's Ayanami! She's skysurfing!"

"Ayanami and skysurfing? Get real, 'Suke. She wouldn't know how to skysurf if her life depended on it."

"Is that so?" Snapping a quick picture and turning the screen of the camera to his friend, he smirks and asks, "How many girls do you know have light blue hair?" At that, Touji's eyes go wide before he gets a closer look. Hikari doing the same.

Sure enough, the class' resident introvert is indeed skysurfing. In her school uniform. The skirt of the uniform pleated by the straps to prevent giving panty-shots to ground photographers.

"Wow. She doesn't miss a trick. She must know you're here, Aida." Hikari's remark gets a scowl from Kensuke and a chortle from Touji before she asks, "What're you doing, Suzuhara?"

"Here or for the expo?"

"The expo."

"I wanna see if I can get a basketball into a hoop while bungee jumping. You?" At her beet red face, Touji smirks before adding, "We're waiting, Class Rep."

"Bicycle ramp."

"You? On a bike? That'll be something to see!"

"Thinking of bikes, check out that motor tethered to the skydiver there!" Kensuke's excited voice gets even more excited as he goes on. "That's no ordinary motor or skydiver either! It's 'Kamikaze Kawasaki'! The craziest skydiver ever!"

"What makes that one crazy? Other than skydiving with a motorcycle, that is."

"Are you kidding me, Horaki? The guy's a legend! After rolling the motor out of the plane at 20,000, he dismounts, while tethered to the motor! At 10,000, he does 360 degree wheelies with the back wheel facing down in midair before switching to the front! Then he pulls the ripcords on both he and the motor to slow their descent before reaching 5,000 feet! Twenty feet off the ground, he severs the chute he's wearing and gets onto the motor's saddle and starts it! Five feet, he severs the motor's chute and lands on both wheels while the back wheel is spinning! He's awesome!"

"Why is it you know so much about him and I don't, Aida?"

"Well, he's been inactive for over forty years, Horaki. So it stands to reason."

"But none of us were around back then!"

"Oh that. I perused the archives in the library for a class project on famous people and where they are now a couple years back. I wasn't quite sure about who to do it on as I'd never come across a famous person before. But when I saw the article about him, I just knew I found him! I researched very carefully, examined his records of successes and failures, his ratios for same, what kind of motor it was. Everything."

"I don't remember that… why you little…! You spent all that time for a project that wasn't even an assignment for school!" Kensuke can only grin sheepishly as he looks back up.

"We've a tandem here! It's Ikari and Takamiya!" Blinking, he adds, "I think they should pull their chutes now. They're almost at TV."

"What does television have to do with skydiving, 'Suke?"

"Not TV as in television, Touji! I mean TV as in Terminal Velocity! If they don't open their chutes in the next two minutes, it'll be too late!"

"Why's that, Aida? They're wearing parachutes, right?"

"They are. But they're only effective when there's so much space between them and the ground. As you get closer to the ground, the space vanishes. The parachute slows your descent and, in conjunction with that space, allows you to land without breaking bones or dying."

Up in the air, Shinji checks his wrist altimeter before nodding.

"I'm about to pop the chute, Rits!"

"Okay! Shouldn't Rei pop hers as well?"

"Yeah, she should! We better tell her! It'll be close though!"

"Okay!" With that, Shinji points them toward Rei. As they get close, Rits gets her attention. "Ayanami! Pop your chute! It's time!"

"Very well. I will do so."

Rei's reply is so soft, neither Shinji nor Rits could hear it. Yet when they see Rei pop her chute, they feel relieved to no end. Shinji then pops their chute. Causing their descent to slow rapidly as the canopy fully opens. Causing Rits to scream out.

"WHAT A RUSH!" Shinji can only give her a rumbling chuckle before Rits smirks. Wishing he could see how sultry it is right now. Glad it's calm now, she says, "It's really too bad we can't fuck in midair, Shinji. Not like this. Especially with all those people down there and up here."

"I guess we'll have to fuck tonight, then."

"You're on, stud."

As 'Kamikaze Kawasaki' freefalls down, having done his stunts, he checks his altimeter and nods.

"It's time." He then reaches for the ripcord handle for the chute attached to the frame on the fuel tank. Before he can even get hold of it, however, his fingers stop.

"This damnable arthritis is flaring up on me!" Trying to force his fingers to move, he can't help but utter, "Shit!"

From their position, Josh, Kat and Berto see 'Kamikaze' is seemingly having trouble. Concerned for him, they go to his side.

"What's wrong, 'Kamikaze'?" At Josh's voice, 'Kamikaze' turns his head toward Josh.

"It's my arthritis!" The voice behind the visor gets their eyes to fly open. "It's flaring up on me! I can't pull my motor's ripcord!"

"Can you pull yours?"

"I can!"

"Okay! On the count of three, I pull your motor's chute while you pull yours!"

"Got it!"

"On three! One, two, three!" United in pulling the ripcords, Josh grins as 'Kamikaze' and his motor slows their descent. Nodding at Kat and Berto, he puts his right hand on the ripcord. The others following suit. "Now!" As their chutes deploy, they soon find themselves facing 'Kamikaze' and grin.

"Thanks for the help." Josh, Kat and Berto give him a collective nod before Berto speaks.

"No problem. Who all knows your secret anyway?"

"Not very many, actually. I haven't had this much fun in years. I was too busy with my work and whatnot."

"Are you going to try again?" Kat's question gets his attention before she goes on. "You've got the knack still."

"Sorry, dear girl, but this arthritis is why I hung it up to begin with as well. After I'd started my tenure, I found myself needing a way to blow off steam. Hoping I could resume parachuting, I had a checkup. Sadly, however, it was discovered I had a case of arthritis in my fingers. It was minor, but the Doctor that examined me was one of the panicky types. You know…"

"Over-reactive, huh?" At Josh's question, 'Kamikaze' nods before Josh goes on. "So what're you going to do?"

"Reveal myself to the world and retire from skydiving." Patting the motor's fuel tank, he adds, "Maybe even sell my motor as well, but I don't think I could even think of a price to ask for it."

"Why sell it? You could always donate it to the Louvre. That's where it really belongs." Berto's remark gets a wry chuckle from the others before he adds, "It does."

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. Maybe I'm just too attached to my motor."

"That's understandable."

Up with Misato, Deidre and Rachel, Deidre's enjoying freefall to no end. A wide smile on her face. Her initial apprehension after jumping out of the plane gave way to excitement.

'To think I missed out on so much working for Dread and his bunch! I only wish I knew what Psycho was doing right now! He should really be up here with me!' Looking over at Rachel, she can't help but mentally add, 'If she knew I was still alive, she'd have me in cuffs before the day's out! Let alone my association with Psycho!'

Next thing Deidre knows, a hiss of a beer can is heard. Deidre and Rachel both look and see Misato drinking a Yebisu. Deidre and Rachel can't help but feel three things at the sight. Amused that Misato brought a beer. Annoyed at her for drinking while freefalling. Thirsty as Hell. Both can't help but smile as Misato finishes the can before letting out her beer cheer.

"YEEAHH!"

"Misato?" Rachel's question gets Misato to look at her before Rachel goes on. "How many beers did you bring up with you, anyway?"

"Just one! Sorry! I only had room in my pocket for one. I figured skydiving would be a thirst-building activity! So I left the rest in a cooler in my Alpine!" Checking her altimeter, she nods and adds, "Chute time, ladies! Once we've popped, we'll land and pop the remaining brews!"

"Sounds good to me, Misato! How about you, Rachel?"

"No thanks! I'm not much of a drinker! I'll just wait until we get to the ground and get a Pepsi!"

With that, all three pop their chutes and slow their descent. Just in time to see a frowning Gendo.

"Hey, Commander Ikari." Gendo only grunts, getting a smirk from Deidre. "Why don't you loosen up? All that scowling is going to cause ulcers."

"I'll take it under advisement."

Back on the ground, Touji, Kensuke and Hikari are the first to greet Rei as the board makes contact with the ground and slides toward them. Touji arresting her movement with his left arm before she can go too far.

"That was wild, Ayanami! Great going!" Before Rei can acknowledge Kensuke, he adds, "Here come Shinji and Ritsuko!" Hikari this time is the one to greet them as Shinji touches the both of them down perfectly. A wide smile on Rits' flushed face.

"How was it, Takamiya?"

"With 'Suicide' at my back, it was as good as sex, Horaki!" Rits' reply gets a flaming blush from Hikari and loud laughter from Touji and Kensuke.

"STICK THE LANDING!" All heads turn toward the familiar sounding voice and see 'Kamikaze' sever his motorcycle's chute five feet off the ground. "AND ROLL ON TO A STOP!" Rits, Shinji and Rei glance at each other as 'Kamikaze' rolls to a stop by them. A chuckle emanating from his visor before he removes his helmet. Shocking three of them, awing one, perplexing another one and stunning one more.

"That wasn't so bad, 'Tzu'. Wouldn't you say?"

"Vice-Commander Fuyutsuki?" At Shinji, Rei and Rits' voices, Fuyutsuki grins before nodding.

"That is quite correct. Though my explanation will have to wait until everyone's back on the ground."

"That shouldn't be too much longer." Shinji's voice gets Fuyutsuki's attention as it goes on. "Josh, Kat and Berto are coming in for a landing now." Rits takes it from there, having spotted the last group. Plus a dumbass.

"Along with Misato, Mom, Ms Leeds and Commander 'Dumbass' Ikari." Shaking her head, she then asks, "Just how did a dumbass get to be your Commander to begin with anyway?"

"That, my dear girl, is the biggest mystery of them all. One, I believe, should not be solved as some things are better off unsolved."

"Ah, I got ya, I got ya." Rits gives Fuyutsuki a wink before watching Gendo land in a heap. Buried by his canopy. Looking back at Shinji, she can't help but ask, "You sure you got his genes, Shinji?"