Shinji Steel 24

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

Upon his arrival at the apartment, Shinji says, "I'm home."

"Welcome home, 'War Machine'. Or should I just stick with Shinji?" Suffice it to say, Misato's comment confuses Shinji to no end.

"Huh? Misato, what're you talking about?"

"Shinji, I got a call from the school. Namely Principal Otusano expressing concerns that you'd used combat capability on a student."

"I figured I'd get called on sooner or later."

"What happened, Shinji?" From there, Shinji tells Misato everything that happened. When he gets done, Misato can't help but sigh in commiseration with him. "I see. Kotuna had attacked you for no good reason at all."

"Yes, Misato. I gave him the opportunity to preserve what was left of his dignity by staying down. But he wouldn't. He just made another attempt of an attack."

"Were your probes in use?"

"No, Misato. It was all me. My probes were not involved in any way. If they'd been, Kotuna would most likely have wound up in far worse shape."

"I see. In any case, I have a meeting with Principal Otusano and Kotuna's parents on Monday morning. At the meeting, I will offer the following explanation. As a NERV Agent, you're trained extensively in defensive arts and acted in self-defense. Kotuna had made a foolish mistake in attacking you even though he didn't know he was gravely outmatched. He made an even more foolish mistake in pressing his attack even though he learned he was gravely outmatched."

"Yes, Misato."

"If Principal Otusano is to ask you to verify it, what're you going to do?"

"I will verify it." Next thing he knows, Misato starts tittering. "Misato?"

"Sorry, Shinji. It's just that I wish I could've seen the look on that little dumbass' face when he found out he was defeated."

"Well, I can always ask Berto if he recorded the incident. Even though he's mostly averse to violence."

"Oh yeah. Thinking of which, you got a package from Berto today. I left it on the table for you as I wasn't sure if you wanted me in your room or not."

"Thanks, Misato." Misato can't help but smile at him before her smile becomes a wicked smirk.

"But why didn't you bring Ritsuko here with you today so she can be on your futon?"

"We had set out to have a picnic after school so we can put things in the right perspective. Only it became romantic before we can discuss it or even eat. Eventually, we ate."

"Ah, young love. How wonderful to see it happening." Shinji can't help but smile as he walks to the table and sees the package. "I wonder what Berto sent you, anyway."

"If my guess is right, it's something for you, Misato."

"For me?" At his nod, Misato can't help but ask, "Is it something I can use to keep in touch with you or the others if I have to?" Watching as Shinji opens the package, she then sees him smile and nod. When he turns her way, she sees a familiar-looking object. "A hearing aid?"

"Not a hearing aid, Misato. This is possibly Berto's smallest transceiver for field agents. Be they official or unofficial." Handing her the small flesh-colored item, he smiles softly and says, "Try it out."

"Okay." Putting it into her right ear and turning it on, she gets a feel for it before her eyes fly open. "But, what about… oh. Right. Your probes have their own transceiver built in. Right?"

"Nope. I have a master bio-link implanted into my left hand. It controls when I change, monitors my transphasic energy levels and handles my communications with Dad, Kat and Berto."

"But, Ritsu didn't pick up anything unusual during your physical."

"That's because the bio-link implant is made of a compound I can't even pronounce. It's also small. Making it virtually undetectable by modern medical equipment. Even by NERV's standards."

"Did you ever change your looks without using the bio-link?"

"Yeah. The first time I changed into Max Steel Jr, it was the morning after I'd been infused with the probes. Dad, Kat and Berto told me about what they'd faced off against. I, in turn, decided that I wanted in to keep people from getting hurt by people like 'Smiley'. Naturally, I was told no, with Dad saying that I couldn't fight criminals and expect to lead a normal life."

"Resulting in you becoming Max Steel Jr." At Shinji's nod, she smiles widely. Smiling still, she adds, "I just wish I could've seen your first change. But since I saw it the night you moved in, it more than makes up for it."

"You're not kidding there, Misato." Berto's voice pipes into her ear as he goes on. "By the way, I did record the incident, hermano. Kat was pretty pissed at Kotuna for what he did, too."

"Pretty pissed isn't the word, Berto. I was inflamed by what he'd tried to do! First he tried to push Shinji down onto the track. Only to be foiled when Ritsuko called out that warning when she did and Shinji doing his 'Horizontal Immelman Turn'. Kotuna's face plant, however, got me to damn near bust a gut laughing."

Shinji and Misato can't help but share a chortle at that while Berto cackles as well.

"I was laughing as well. I was laughing so intensely, I did an instant replay in slow motion. If you think normal speed's funny, you gotta see it in slow motion. It's hilarious!"

"Any chance you can send me a copy, Berto? I gotta see it for myself!"

"You got it, Misato."

"Thanks." Stretching out her arms, she adds, "In any case, I've got a big day tomorrow, Shinji. So if you want to bring your future wife here for tomorrow, feel free to as you won't be disturbed."

"While I don't doubt that, Misato, I'm afraid Rits has plans for this weekend. Plans that'll keep her busy. But we do plan on having a picnic Monday after school. So it's not all bad."

"Okay. But with Rits being busy, what'll you do for fun?"

"I'm thinking a little skateboarding and rollerblading for the first part of the morning. For the afternoon, practice playing my cello to the cassette of the last jam session I had with Hoshi before I came here."

"Jam session? What instruments are involved?"

"My cello and Hoshi's saxophone."

"How does…" Next thing she knows, Berto cuts in.

"Trust me, Misato. You don't want to know."

"It's that bad?"

"I'll put it to you like this. If it came down to listening to 'Commander Dumbass' singing opera off-key while wearing a women's bikini or listening to a cello and a saxophone in a duet, I'd pick 'Commander Dumbass' as I'm bound to get a few chuckles. Even though I'd probably wind up tossing my lunch in disgust."

"It ain't that bad and you know it, Berto."

"Are you kidding me, hermano? My eardrums cringe every time I think about that unholy mixture of sound."

"Oh, I don't know, Berto." Kat's voice gets a raised eyebrow from Shinji and Misato both before she goes on. "They actually had a good rhythm at their last session and… what the fuck?"

"What is it, Kat? What's wrong?"

"Someone from my long-gone past has just escaped from Prison, Shinji."

"No way. Is it…"

"Yeah, Berto. It's Roxanne Hunter. I thought she'd died in Second Impact because last time I saw her, she was at the Prison in Del Oro Bay."

"What was she in Prison for, Kat?"

"She was involved in a bank robbery and decided to use me as an alibi, Misato. As a result, it caused a bit of a rift between me, Josh and Berto."

"That's putting it mildly. More like a chasm. All because Kat's former friend decided to use Kat as an alibi."

"Yeah. When I confronted Roxanne about it, I told her I wanted nothing more to do with her after what she'd done."

"Sounds like you had a rocky life, Kat."

"That's the best way to put it, Shinji. But, you know what? I dug myself out of that hole and my life's gotten better since."

"What facility did she escape from?"

"According to the APB, she escaped from the Women's Facility in California, Misato. Apparently, she was transferred there from Del Oro for 'good behavior' and upgraded to 'Medium Security' as she'd been a 'model' prisoner."

"Do you think she remembers your last words to her?"

"If she knows what's good for her, Shinji, she'd better."

"I'll make the popcorn. Just in case."

"Sure, Berto. Just be sure to save Josh some though."

"Thinking of, Kat, where is Dad anyway?"

"Board meeting concerning the expo the other week."

"You don't suppose they'd enjoyed it so much, they're willing to sponsor more like it?"

"With guys like them, Misato, I have no clue at all." Next thing Misato knows, Berto chimes back in.

"Shinji, look further into the package."

"Okay." Doing so, he sees an item he'd never seen before. "What's this, Berto? Looks like a plug."

"That, Shinji, is a prototype computer relay unit. It's plugged into a computer for diagnostic purposes or information gathering. I made it with Misato in mind."

"Me? Why me, Berto?"

"As Director of Operations, you have access to places Shinji doesn't." Misato can't help but feel something strange is going on.

"What aren't you telling me, Berto?" While Berto tries to piece his answer together, Misato's eyes shoot open. "This has to do with NERV. Doesn't it?"

"Yeah. Berto found some things when he probed the MAGI on the surface. About Gendo, NERV and the Angels."

"How far did he get, Kat?"

"Not far enough. I'd just gotten to the Angels when the firewall slammed down onto me. At first, I thought I was getting along well with the MAGI. But then I got cut off. But this is where it gets weird."

"Weird? In what way?"

"Before it severed contact, one of the MAGI computers said 'Sorry' and that was that, Misato."

"You're right. That is weird. Of course, the MAGI computer was created by Ritsu's Mother."

"I'd like to discuss it with her sometime."

"Hope you've got a Ouija Board then, Berto. Doctor Naoko Akagi died when she inexplicably committed suicide some years back. Ritsu was hired to replace her." Looking at the plug in Shinji's hand, she purses her lips before asking, "Can it be used with any computer?"

"But of course. I made the plug-in end with as many pins as I could fit."

"To make it universal."

"Yeah. Neat huh?"

"Very." Gently lifting it out of Shinji's hand, she holds it up to her eyes as she turns it about. Black in color, with gold-colored pins. On the outer end of the plug, she notices a small nub. "What's the nub here for, Berto?"

"That's the wireless transceiver's antenna. With it, I can communicate with the computer it's plugged into and vice-versa."

"Cool tech you made, Berto. And you say it's a prototype?"

"Yeah. I tested it with an old Toshiba laptop and it works okay. But I'm thinking it could probably use a field test to see what its limits are."

"Hence the MAGI."

"Yep." Berto's chirp can't help but get a smile from Misato.

"I'll just carry it in my purse and take it with me. Oh, thinking of, what're you going to be doing this weekend, Berto?"

"He's taking me to dinner after the demonstration of his computer, Misato." Kat's reply is happy, with hint of playful warning. The warning saying, 'Back off, sister!' Misato, however, sees an opening for teasing.

"Oh? Are sparks flying between you two now, Kat?"

"Yeah."

"Well, if it becomes an inferno, don't let it burn out."

"Well, gee, look at the time." Berto's voice has a slight squeak to it as he adds, "I got a big day and night tomorrow. I better turn on in. Night Misato, Shinji."

"Night Berto." At their tandem reply, they both can't help but chortle as Berto goes on.

"Night Kat."

"Night Berto." Sighing slightly, Kat mutters, "Now if only I can get him over his shyness issues like Rits did with Shinji."

"Oh?" Looking over toward Shinji, expecting to see him blushing furiously, she sees him creeping toward his room. "And just where do you think you're going?"

"To bed. I'll just leave you two to talk as I see no need for my presence. Night Kat. Night Misato."

"Night Shinji. Sweet dreams of Rits."

"Night Shinji. I hope you have dirty dreams of Rits." At hearing Kat's laughter, Misato can't help but feel as if she'd made another friend. Once Shinji's in his room, she asks, "So what was Shinji like when he met Rits, anyway?"

"Oh, he was so shy, it was cute. Even Rits thought so. That night at dinner, his face was so red, Josh told me to ease up since it looked like Shinji might spontaneously combust at the table."

"Was this before or after the probes?"

"It was before the probes." Kat's voice loses its joviality before she goes on. "Shinji was such a wreck when he remembered what 'Smiley' had said to him."

"What was it?"

"That Shinji's 'Father' said 'hi'. Normally, I'm not one for bloodshed, but if anyone deserves to bleed out, it's Gendo Rokubungi Ikari. He'd hurt Shinji far worse than when he'd left Shinji all alone at the train station when Josh found him."

"Shinji." Misato's soft murmur is soon accompanied by a loud yawn. "I better do the same as Shinji and Berto, Kat."

"Same here. Night Misato."

"Night Kat." With that, they both turn in. Misato thinking about what she'd been told by Kat before scowling angrily. "If Kaji was here right now, he'd be appalled at how Shinji'd been treated by 'Commander Dumbass'. In fact, I think he and Josh would get along great. Good grief! What am I saying? I'm not ever seeing Kaji again."

At the same time, however, she can't help but do her 'ritual'. For down deep within her is a desire to see Kaji again.

(At sea; Over the Rainbow)

As he stands on his favorite perch on the aircraft carrier, cigarette in his mouth, Kaji can't help but smile upon hearing soft footsteps behind him. Waiting until the footsteps get close enough, he chuckles out.

"Hi, Asuka."

"GAAH!" At her startled cry, Kaji smirks as he marks another victory for him. Asuka quickly recovers and asks, "How did you hear me, Kaji? I was as quiet as a church mouse."

"Oh please, Asuka. Church mice are far quieter than you are."

"Now you're going to get it."

With that, she lunges for his trunk and starts tickling him. Or at least trying to. For Kaji caught her hands just shy of his trunk and grins wryly at the young redhead. Causing her to scoff.

"Just you wait, Kaji. I'm going to get a tickle in on you yet."

"Of that, I have no doubt. But you've got a ways still before you can get to me, though."

"I know." Blushing shyly, she asks, "Remember when I had that crush on you?"

"Oh yeah. Along with how you crashed down after I was told how pretty my 'daughter' was and how many hearts she'd break when she found herself a nice boy to settle down with."

"Oh boy, was I devastated." At his gentle chuckle, Asuka can't help but chuckle as well. "In a way, I'm actually glad that happened. Can you imagine how awkward it would've been if I had that crush raging still?"

"Yeah. But, at the same time, it would've been adorable." Giving her a gentle smile, he adds, "If I'd had a daughter, I wouldn't mind if she turned out like you, Asuka." In his mind, he hastily adds, 'Only without your ego.' Checking his watch, he nods and says, "I'd better turn in. You should do the same, Asuka."

"But it's not even dinnertime yet!"

"Sorry, but don't forget, Asuka, you're crossing into different time zones. Your body's internal clock needs to readjust itself so you'd be able to sleep when you're supposed to."

"Okay. But can I at least get something from the galley to eat in my quarters? I am getting hungry and thought I'd come ask you if you were the same way."

"Then your 'sneak-up' was your idea to see if you could quietly get behind me?"

"Yup!" Giggling gleefully, Asuka then grabs Kaji's hand and tugs him toward the hatch. Kaji chortling softly as he tosses his cigarette into the butt-bucket by the hatch.

(Tokyo-3; Katsuragi/Ikari apartment)

As Shinji wakes up, he readies himself for Misato's daily 'performance'. Inured to her routine so well, he thoughtfully brings out a Yebisu can and puts it onto the table. With Pen-Pen eagerly waiting for Shinji to finish his salmon, Shinji mentally counts down until he hears the door to Misato's room open.

"Morning, Shinji."

Misato's voice has awareness within. A very rare sound for the morning. Shinji looks to the side and his jaw drops in shock. Misato dressed professionally in her uniform as opposed to her usual attire.

"Morning, Misato." As the beautiful woman smiles at him, he quickly looks around before grimacing. "That's odd."

"What's odd, Shinji?"

"I can't seem to find the White Rabbit." Misato then does the most unexpected thing. She chortles happily before calming down.

"I know this is a shock to you, Shinji. But even a woman with my lifestyle can be serious every now and then. Today is that kind of day for me."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. The demonstration for 'Jet Alone' is today. Ritsu and I are the NERV delegation going to it. Which means, come tomorrow, I'll be my usual self." Unable to resist herself, she goes to Shinji's side and pecks his cheek. "Have fun today."

"I will." Noticing the computer relay unit's on her dresser, he asks, "Aren't you taking it with you?"

"The relay unit? Nah. I don't think I'll be needing it. I mean, it's not like 'Jet Alone' is going to run amok today."

(NERV HQ; Gendo's Office)

"BWAHAHAHAHAHA!" Startled at his sudden laughter, Gendo blinks before asking, "Where the fuck did that come from?"

(apartment)

"Okay. But just the same though, you may want to keep it handy. Just in case something comes up."

"You're not leaving anything to chance, are you?"

"Nope. Not at all. Quite frankly, I wouldn't put a thing past 'Commander Dumbass'. If he's willing to make people miserable, why not endanger their lives as well?"

Misato purses her lips before nodding and going back into her room. Picking the relay unit up from her dresser, she puts it into her purse and walks back out. An unsure smile on her face.

"Okay. I've got it in my purse now. Can I go now, Agent Ikari?" The question was delivered with a fond smile, prompting Shinji to return the favor.

"Yes, you can, Agent Katsuragi." Misato can't help it. She bursts out laughing as she walks to the door. As she exits, Shinji laughs as well. Little do either of them know what the day will bring.

(Takamiya House)

As she groggily opens her eyes, Ritsuko notices her t-shirt and shorts waiting for her on the chair. Quickly dressing after getting out of bed, she exits her room and goes to the kitchen. Only to find a small breakfast waiting for her.

"Huh?"

"For something like today's training, it's best to eat lightly, Ritsy." Deidre's voice gets Ritsuko's attention and she turns to see her Mother in her Dragonelle outfit. "If you eat heavily, and you take a hit in the stomach, well…"

"I barf. Got it, Mom."

"Not Mom, Ritsy. When I'm like this, it's Dragonelle. Much like I'll address you as trainee. Is that understood, trainee?"

"It is, Dragonelle."

"Good, trainee. Now, to the training room."

As Ritsuko follows Dragonelle, she finds them going into the living room. When they get there, Ritsuko sees the blinds are closed and the furniture's up against the wall. A grinning Psycho waiting for them both. As his optical sensors see Dragonelle, he can't help but smirk.

"How's it feel, 'Nelle?"

"A little tight, truth be told." Tugging her outfit's seat away from her ass, she grimaces as she goes on. "I must've grown a bit since I wore it last. It's riding up my crack." Looking over at Ritsuko, Dragonelle smirks wickedly and adds, "Lesson one when it comes to the suit, trainee. Be naked under the suit."

"Yes, Dragonelle. Naked under the suit." Smiling archly, Ritsuko adds, "Of course, when I looked inside, I saw a sport bra sewn inside it. Along with what seems to be a bikini bottom at the lower section. So it stands to reason." Dragonelle can't help but roll her eyes while Psycho's jaw drops.

"Smartass." With that, Dragonelle begins with a head on attack. With Ritsuko barely able to avoid the attack. "Good reflexes, trainee. But in order to defeat your opponent, you have to fight back. Avoidance of attacks is invaluable to no end. But at the same time, the willingness to fight is key."

"Was that your specialty, Dragonelle?"

"Actually, I'd preferred avoiding fighting when I can. Fighting's never good as someone always gets hurt."

"Like Kotuna did when he attacked Shinji." At Dragonelle's nod, Ritsuko pictures Kotuna's face before throwing a punch. With Dragonelle barely avoiding it. When Ritsuko swings her arm into a reverse attack, Dragonelle avoids again before speaking. Psycho watching intently.

"Don't let your emotions fully guide you. Keep a cool head, trainee, and you'll keep your concentration. If you lose your cool and concentration, you will die at your enemies' hands. Shinji'll be all alone. You don't want that, do you?"

"No, Dragonelle. I don't want that." Calming down, Ritsuko asks, "What was it like for you and Psycho? Working for this 'Dread' guy, I mean."

"Want a list?" Psycho's sarcastic question gets Ritsuko's attention as the cyborg goes on. "Travel opportunities, chances to make mischief, meeting interesting people and getting our butts kicked by them."

"Ah." Frowning lightly, she softly asks, "Did either of you ever kill anyone?"

"No, trainee. Although there was a time or two when people could've died." Dragonelle's voice is filled with regret before she goes on. "But those plots were foiled and the best part is we have slightly clean slates. All thanks to our enemies, ironically enough."