Shinji Steel 30
Disclaimer; I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or Max Steel. Wish I did, though.
(Chicago; O'Hare Airport; 1950 hrs CT)
"Daddy." The soft voice doesn't rouse the sleeping man from his slumber. Snickering slightly, the voice tries again. "Daddy, I need to talk to you."
"About what, Mana?" The man's groggy voice gets Mana to smile widely before her reply.
"I'm pregnant and I need your advice."
"PREGNANT?" The harried man's eyes bolt open and he starts looking around the cabin of the Boeing 747 they'd flown in. "Where is he? Where is the boy that knocked up my little girl?" Next thing he knows, Mana is laughing her head off. "Mana?"
"Sorry, Daddy, but no grandchildren yet."
"Then why tell me you're pregnant?"
"Doy, you wouldn't wake up. So I had to resort to drastic measures. Now come on. We're in Chicago now, so we gotta get our butts off the plane."
"Okay, pumpkin." Getting up and stretching his limbs, Shintaro Kirishima looks out the window and lightly grimaces. "I just hope the luggage handlers are able to read the 'Handle Cautiously' stickers on the suitcases that have them." With that, he exits the plane behind Mana.
On the ground below, as the baggage crew unloads the bags, one of them spots a suitcase with a 'Handle Cautiously' sticker on it. Along with a sticker in kanji.
"Hey, Frank!"
"Yeah, Joe?"
"I've got two stickers on a bag here! One's in English and I think the other's in Martian!"
"What's the English one say?"
"It says 'Handle Cautiously'! It don't say why, though!"
"Our job isn't to know why, but to do as the bags say! If it says 'Handle Cautiously', then you handle it cautiously!"
"Got it!" Pulling the bag out, Joe spots another the same way. "Got another one, Frank!"
"A twofer, huh? How exhilarating. Just put them on the front cart and get back to work! The refueling crew should be here soon and we need to be gone when they get here!"
"Got it!" With that, Joe carries the two suitcases, a slight grimace on his face. "Ugh, these things have got some heft to them! What the heck could be in them?"
"It's none of our concern, Joe! Just let it go!"
"Right!" Huffing and puffing as he hefts the bags onto the cart, he looks at them one more time and muses, "Those Martians have got to be pretty strong to carry them."
"That's not Martian." At the voice behind him, Joe turns around and sees a grinning Caucasian man in a black suit. "It's Japanese. I'll be taking custody of those bags."
"By what authority?"
"How about this?" The man reaches into his jacket and brings out a UN Police badge. "That authority enough for you?"
"Um, yes sir. But what about the people with their bags?"
"I'll pick them up after we get their luggage. Name of Kirishima. The two bags you just lumped belong to the people so named."
"Yes, sir!" With that, Joe goes back to work and the Officer hefts up the two suitcases and carries them to a black off-road car. Once he's got them loaded, he turns back toward the plane, waiting for more luggage.
'Suitcase N2s secured, Berto.'
"Good to hear, Max. According to the manifest, they've got a total of four bags, counting the suitcase N2s. But I don't think the UN SECGEN will appreciate you changing the parameters of the mission on the fly. Remember, Mana contacted the UN SECGEN and the UN SECGEN contacted us to see if we could help out a bit."
'This way's better. If I were to tail and lose them, it'd be bad for all involved.'
"But doing it this way gives you a modicum of control of sorts. Brilliant."
'Thank you. Thank you very much!' At that point, the luggage handler he'd been speaking to comes back with two more bags. Giving the man a nod, Max Steel Jr. accepts the bags and loads them up. All while Berto's laughing.
"Alright, 'Elvis'. But one thing I gotta know."
'Shoot.' Getting into the car, Max starts it and heads for the passenger pick-up area.
"How did you come up with that idea during the Behemoth's supersonic flight?"
'I just slept on the logistics a little bit and made some adjustments. How's it going on your end?'
"Josh and Kat are on their way to Paraguay right now to check something out. They took some equipment with them, so they'll be alright."
'What're they checking out?'
"A coma patient that just woke up is claiming to be Jefferson Smith." Pulling into place, Max grimaces before bringing up a name-slate and writing 'Kirishima' on it. Exiting the car, he walks into the terminal and holds up his name-slate.
'Damn. All these years of Dad thinking Jefferson's dead, only for Jefferson to seemingly turn up alive must have thrown Dad for a loop.'
"That it did, Max. That it did." Max's attention is then gained by a man that's slightly scowling at him.
"Are you with the limo company?" The strong stench of alcohol invades Max's nostrils. Barely unable to keep his expression neutral, Max smiles lightly at him.
"Are you Professor Kirishima?"
"Nope."
"Then I'm not with the limo company."
"I'll pay you double if you just drive me and forget this 'Kirishima' guy."
"No can do, sir. I may be for hire, but I don't take ride jumpers. If I'm here for someone, that someone rides. No one else."
"You'll be singing a different tune when I'm through with you. Where's your name plate at?"
"My company's policy requires employee anonymity." Smirking upon seeing his party, he adds, "Besides, I'm not even driving a limo." Holding the name slate up, he quickly catches the attention of the girl with the Professor. With the girl tugging excitedly at the Professor's sleeve. When they get to him, Max asks, "Professor Kirishima?"
"Yep, that I am. This is my daughter, Mana. I understand from the Airport staff you've got our luggage already."
"You understand correctly, sir. If you'll follow me, we'll get underway." Just as they walk away, the obnoxious man yells out.
"I'll triple it if you'll take me as well!" Max can't help but roll his eyes before looking back.
"Alright. Just be ready for a tight ride, though. Any luggage?"
"Nah. I'm just here overnight before I head on to Germany."
"Alright. Let's go."
Exiting the terminal, Mana, the Professor and the unexpected passenger gasp upon seeing the car that they're to ride in. Mana and the Professor in amusement and the unexpected passenger in dismay. With the latter breaking the silence.
"Now I see what you meant by a tight ride."
"I think it's cute. A small limo, but cute." Max turns back toward the girl and lightly grins.
"What can I say, Miss Kirishima? My company decided a low key approach would work best in your Father's case." The unexpected passenger, however, scoffs.
"Bah. My company believes in going all out. But, no matter. I can adapt."
With that, they get into the car and buckle in. Unaware of a Lincoln Town Car idling just two cars back from them. The driver, feminine in form and wearing a mask, looks toward the back and gets a nod from the ones with her. Without waiting for further prompting, the driver begins following the off-road car.
(Paraguay; UN Hospital)
"I'm Josh McGrath, this is Kat Ryan. We understand you've a patient here named Jefferson Smith."
"Correct, Mr. McGrath." The Director of the Hospital, a reedy man, gives the both of them a nod. "He's getting a massage right now to wake his muscles back up. But you're more than welcome to speak to him while the masseuse is doing so."
"That'll be just fine." Kat's words get a nod from Josh as she adds, "Once we confirm who it is, we can make arrangements from there."
"Splendid." With that, the Director guides them to the Recovery Wing, speaking as he does so. "Once the coma patients awake, if they do, that is, they're transferred out of the Ward and brought here to the Recovery Wing. It's where all the massages are done. It's also where it's determined how much solid food can be given safely to them until their discharge."
"Meaning you had been feeding him liquid meals for the past fifteen years." At the Director's nod, Josh goes on. "But isn't it standard procedure to terminate life support when it comes to anonymous patients?"
"In the past, yes. But after Second Impact, the Hospital's board of Directors decided to keep any survivors found on life support. No matter the cost or circumstances. Terminations of life support hardly happened here, though. Most of the time, they simply expire without regaining consciousness. The man you're here to see is the longest surviving coma patient here."
"I don't know if that's impressive or morbid." Kat's uneasy words get a nod from Josh as they reach the room. Once they get there, they hear Jefferson's voice quite clearly.
"Thanks for the massage, it feels nice. But I'm not worth the trouble."
"Oh but you are. As the sole survivor of the Coma Ward here, you deserve a little treat."
"Rigutna! This man's got guests!"
"Yes Mr. Kortunisa. I'm just about finished here anyway."
"Very good. I'll leave your patient and his guests with you." With that, the Director walks away, leaving Josh and Kat alone with the man on the massage table and the masseuse.
"Dad?"
"Josh? Is that you?" Jefferson looks up as best he can and smiles. "Kat? How's Berto doing?"
"Yeah, it's us. Berto's doing fine. We missed you, Dad. We thought you were dead. What happened?"
"I missed you all too, Josh. When I saw that wave coming at me, I thought I was a goner." Looking back toward the masseuse, he asks, "Is it safe for me to get up or will I have to wait a bit longer? Talking to my son and his friend like this is cricking my neck a bit."
"Sure, you can get up. Need some help?"
"Please." While the masseuse is helping Jefferson, he looks back toward Josh and smiles. "You've gotten taller, I see. You're probably taller than me by now."
"I'd say so, Dad. Shinji's going to flip when he meets you."
"Shinji? Who's Shinji?"
"Like you did when Josh's parents died, Josh adopted Shinji as a son. Only his Father's still alive and not particularly interested in Shinji's well-being."
"I see. Tell me everything and where is Shinji right now?"
"Well, Shinji's in Chicago right now, tending to a matter that just came up." Sighing, Josh then adds, "But for now, we gotta do some verifying. DNA, fingerprints, facial recognition. The whole nine yards."
"I understand, Josh." Jefferson smiles lightly and extends his arm before looking toward the masseuse. "You might want to leave, bud. You look like you're about to toss."
"I'm gone." With that, the masseuse exits the room and Kat assembles a sampler syringe.
"Just try to relax, Jefferson. This won't hurt a bit."
"Maybe not you, but I dislike needles still." Much to his surprise, Kat giggles.
"You and Berto both." Swabbing the area with alcohol, she then proceeds.
(Chicago)
As he drives the car along, Max catches sight of a pair of headlights just behind him. Mana and the unexpected passenger are sleeping while the Professor is looking around at Chicago at night. Next thing Max knows, the car behind speeds up and rams them. The impact jostles Mana and the unexpected passenger awake and prompts Max to speed up.
'Damn, they moved faster than expected!' Looking over toward the Professor and then back towards Mana and their unexpected passenger, he grits out, "Hang on tight, you three. We're gonna try to shake these jokers." When they pass up under a street light, Max can easily see a mask belonging to a particular group. 'Oh great. L'Etranger sent his "Bimbo Brigade" after my precious cargo.'
"Why aren't you stopping and swapping insurance information? It's the law." The unexpected passenger's voice gets an incredulous glare from Max, Mana and the Professor. "Well it is."
"Tell you what. Why don't you ask them to stop chasing us and then I'll consider stopping? Until then, though, that ram was intentional and I'm not inclined to stop for a bunch of bimbos wearing armor and masks." That itself gets the Professor's attention.
"You know about them?"
"Did a couple rounds against the guy they work for. He's a merc with a fondness for bimbos. Fancies himself as a playboy when he's really quite pathetic. Probably lousy in bed, too." As he speeds along the streets of Chicago, Max then spots a parking garage five miles away. Surrounded by high-rise buildings. 'If I can make it…' Activating his mental communications capability, he transmits.
'Berto, you read me?'
"Loud and clear, Max. What do you got?"
'The "Bimbo Brigade" knocking on my back door for one thing. Any chance you can get the Behemoth to meet me?'
"Sure. Where at?"
'I'm heading toward a parking garage right now that's surrounded by buildings. Key it on my transmitting signal.'
"Why? What're you going to do?"
'Gonna see just how good the shocks are.' Next thing he knows, Professor Kirishima is tugging on his sleeve. "Yeah, Professor?"
"Just where are we going?"
"To see some friends of mine." Professor Kirishima nods before releasing Max's sleeve and turning back to the front.
"Oh, good. Step on it." That itself gets a grin from Max.
"Not a problem." With that, Max does so. When he gets close to the parking garage, he smirks and says, "Let's see how good the shocks on here are. Professor, before we do anything else, you have anything sensitive to rough landings?" At that, the Professor looks at Max with a scrutinizing eye.
"If you're talking about the prototypes, they're both surrounded by foam inlays in the suitcases. Though I am quite curious about how much they can handle. Along with you."
"We'll discuss me later. But, for now, there's only one way to find out." Turning the wheel sharply to the right, he hears a startled yelp from the unexpected passenger and a wild cackled cheer from Mana.
"WHEE! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Just then the car goes into the garage entrance. Paraphrasing slightly from an old Bond movie, Max smirks.
"I just love a nighttime drive in one of the city's parking garages. Don't you?" That itself gets Mana laughing again. Even the Professor's joining in. The unexpected passenger, however, is not amused in the slightest.
Inside the Town Car, the driver snarls out as she duplicates the move the car they'd been chasing had done. Only she winds up smashing into one of the supports, recovers and speeds up to behind it. Within minutes, they reach the top level and the driver can't help but be stunned at what she sees next. The car they'd been chasing is still going strong and flies off the roof and over to another one.
"Alright, two can play!" Jamming down on the accelerator, the driver laughs wildly as the Lincoln goes off the roof and begins giving chase. Just as they get a call on their communicators.
"Where are you four at?"
"Where are we? Where are we? We're on the fucking roof, Master! Gail's behind the wheel and she's chasing the car the marks got into! Oh no! Another one! OOF!" With every jostle the cars take, their effects start to build up.
In the off-road car, the Professor, Mana and Max are having the time of their lives. The unexpected passenger, however, is starting to regret demanding a ride. The regret soon turns to nausea.
'I shouldn't have drunk that tequila and bourbon blend six times running!'
In the Lincoln, one of the back seat passengers drawls out, "Anyone mind if I drive?" Seeing her chance to stop the insanely inane chase before they get killed, she leans out, only to shout out, "Oh shit!"
Quickly ducking back in just as the Lincoln reaches a rooftop billboard and goes through it off of the roof and onto the next one. Only for the next one to be the last one. A grin quickly spreads across her face.
"We've got him now." Just then, she hears a familiar-sounding group of turbine engines. "Then again, maybe not."
Back inside the off-road car, Max hears Berto's voice.
"Okay, Max. The Behemoth is just in front of you and is about to pop up. You've only got one chance at this. Along with a tail-hook in the chassis. Deploy it to catch the three-wire."
'Got it.' Smirking wildly, Max asks, "Ever wonder what a carrier landing feels like?" Before anyone can answer, Max stomps down on the accelerator and builds up speed. Just in time to see the Behemoth plane rise up to show an open cargo bay door. Dropping his tail-hook, and wishing he had a horn that plays 'Dixie', Max calls out, "YEE-HAA!"
The car smashes through the roof barrier and flies right into the plane's cargo bay. The tail-hook catching the wire, bringing the car to a slamming halt. That slamming halt does it for the nauseated man who then clambers toward the door as the others exit it, finds an empty bucket and vomits into it. Max, however, waves to the Lincoln and gestures for them to come after him. A mischievous smile on his face.
Back in the Lincoln, the driver's so incensed, she takes the bait. "You bet your ass I'm coming after you!"
"Gail, don't! He's just toying with you!"
"Maybe so, Mary, but we can make it!" Jamming her foot down onto the accelerator, Gail yells out, "We're gonna make it!"
"No we're not." Mary's quiet voice is filled with fear as she crosses herself.
"We're gonna make it!" Mary then begins praying to every deity she can think of. Crossing herself the entire way.
'Oh whoever made the universe we're in, please forgive my demented friend for she knows not what she does. And please, forgive the silly son of a bitch that may well result in our downfall this night for he was only doing his duty and did it well. Amen.'
Right at that point, when the Lincoln reaches the point of where there is no braking safely at the current speed, the plane lifts away. A smirking Max waving and mouthing 'bye-bye'. At the sight of the plane lifting away and the wave, Mary closes her eyes behind her mask and smiles serenely.
'If I die, I shall do so with only one regret. That I failed our Master.'
At that point, the Lincoln goes off the roof and onto the street below. Landing engine first before coming to rest on its roof. Opening her eyes, Mary looks around and grins upon seeing Gail moving. The grin goes wider when she hears Gail speak. Her tone dazed.
"Missed it by that much." Gail even inches her thumb and index finger apart by a quarter of an inch. "But man, I've got brain freeze like you wouldn't believe." Testing her limbs, Mary's surprised they're all functional still. Extricating herself from the car, she looks back toward the dazed driver and snarls out.
"This is international terror, bitch. What the Hell's wrong with you? Next time, I'll drive."
"Cool." Gail then snaps herself back to sensibility and clambers out of the car. Her mask's lenses blink lightly to indicate a wince as she examines the car. "Somehow, Mary, I get the feeling the insurance company isn't going to believe this. Let alone the Master."
"Somehow, Gail, I get that feeling too." Unable to control herself, Mary slugs Gail on top of her head, snarling out, "Which is why you're filling out the fucking paperwork!"
"Nuh-uh. Better to die, I think." Looking down into the wreckage, she then says, "We'd better get Helga and Marge out of there before Chicago PD shows up."
"Good thinking." Working together, the two femmes get their cohorts out of the totaled car and make their way elsewhere. With Mary deriding Gail the entire way. "Now if only we can do something about you crashing every single car you drive into oblivion! Just what is it with you and moving vehicles, anyway? Are you so crazed as to smash every single car you drive? Who taught you to drive anyway, you damned lunatic?"
"The Master taught me, believe it or not. In fact, the first time I drove, he said I did a smashing job."
"Emphasis on 'smashing', of course."
Back on the Behemoth, Professor Kirishima and Mana both are looking over the prototypes to ensure they'd sustained no damage. Much to their shared relief, the prototypes are still intact. Once that'd been established, Professor Kirishima turns to face Max.
"Thanks to you, my young friend, the prototypes are safe. Yet I can't help but wonder who'd sent you, why and how they knew about my itinerary."
"I called for him, Daddy. Or at least for someone to keep us safe." Mana's quiet voice gets his attention before she goes on. "The other night, I overheard your discussion, along with how the prototypes were ready for testing before the various Defense Departments around the world. How it would be done and where. I even heard his objection. You may not have heard it, but I did. The guy was furious. I didn't want anything to happen to you, Daddy."
"Why would he be furious, Professor Kirishima?" The unexpected passenger pipes up before adding, "If it's a business opportunity, I'd like to invest in…" He suddenly goes unconscious, Max putting an injector away.
"That guy's talking was driving me nuts. We'll drop him off at a hotel close to the airport. You two, however, are going to a safe-house here in town." Professor Kirishima gives a nod before deciding he wants to know for himself.
"What group are you with? UN? NERV? NSA? FBI? CIA? DoD? US Marshals? Mafia?" That last gets Max to smile.
"We're a bunch that doesn't like to advertise our existence since, officially, we don't exist."
"But who called you in?"
"Why wonder about inconsequential matters? You're both alive and your prototypes are out of evil hands. All is right in the world." With that, he walks up to the cockpit and says, "Safe-house 595-A, Chuck. We'll lower them and their bags down to the Agents on-site upon arrival."
"Got it, Max." With that, Max walks away from the cockpit and back to his charges.
"Okay, folks, once we're at the safe-house, I'll lower you two and your luggage to the Agents on-site. From there, I'll take that guy to the hotel nearest to the airport and go on from there."
"So, where do you go when you're not engaging in rooftop hijinks?" Max only gives her a gentle smile and shakes his head. Crestfallen, she asks, "It's one of those things I can't know about, isn't it?"
"I'm afraid that's the case, Miss Kirishima. But you and your Father both are going to be in good hands, regardless."
"Yeah." Bringing out a slip of paper, she hurriedly writes on it and presses it into his hand. "If you're ever in Old Yokohama, look me up." Before he can say anything else, she lunges up and presses her lips to his. The quick kiss ends, with Mana blushing beet red before walking to her Father's side.
Max can't help but think, 'Why me? I've already got a fiancée, for crying out loud! Hmm… I wonder.' He then smirks and verbally says, "It was nice, but my fiancée's got you beat hands down."
"Oh? Pity. Why are all the heroic types taken already?"
"I'm hardly the heroic type, Miss Kirishima. I just do my job the best I can." With that, Chuck's voice comes up over the intercom.
"Coming up on the safe-house now, Max."
"Okay, Chuck." Unloading the other suitcases, Max then carries them over to a panel on the floor and puts them down. "Okay, Professor and Miss Kirishima, if you'll step over here and put the prototypes down, we'll get you two lowered."
Once they've done so, his right foot taps a button on the floor. Causing rails to come up around them, along with handholds rising to their sides.
"Hands onto the handholds, if you please, and hold on tight." Waiting until they've done so, he snickers and says, "Going down, folks."
His right foot shifting slightly, he taps another button. Causing the floor panel to start going down. As they go down, Mana and the Professor soon see mountains in the distance, along with a distinct lack of significant landmarks. In short, they're in an isolated, yet seemingly beautiful, area.
"Breathtaking sight, isn't it? Though this time of night, not much of anything to see. The sunrise, however…"
Leaving it open-ended, Max grins as the safe-house's roof comes into view. A two story cabin, with five dark-suited men standing around the perimeter. FN P90s at the ready. As the platform hits the ground, one of the Agents walks up and Max greets him.
"Tom Malloy, good to see you again."
"Likewise, Steel. How's your Dad doing?"
"He's doing alright. He's in Paraguay right now on a different matter."
"That's good." Looking over Mana and the Professor, Malloy then asks, "These the ones we're babysitting?"
"That they are. The symposium's tomorrow afternoon, so you'll have to leave at first light to beat the traffic." Malloy only smirks and shakes his head.
"This ain't my first rodeo, Steel. But thanks for the heads-up all the same." Snapping his fingers, he yells out, "Jones! Broyson! Grab their shit and get it inside! Move it, move it, move it!" While the called men carry out the order, Malloy turns to his charges and nods, "If you'll follow me, please, we'll let Agent Steel get underway."
"Okay." Turning toward Max, Professor Kirishima says, "My daughter and I thank you for your help, Agent Steel. We wish you good fortune regarding your upcoming nuptials."
"Thank you, Professor. I'll need all the good fortune I can get."
Mana can't help but giggle at Max's words as she steps off the platform. Professor Kirishima right behind her. As Malloy guides them into the cabin, the platform rises back up into the Behemoth's belly. Once secured, the Behemoth flies away from the area. Exhausted beyond all belief, Max fights the urge to revert back to Shinji and looks over at the unconscious man.
"Chuck, when we get to the airport area, let me know so I can get our guest off the plane. I'm gonna check the car right quick to be sure the shocks are alright."
"You got it, Max."
(Paraguay; UN Hospital)
"Sorry for the intense scrutiny, Dad, but I just had to be sure."
"Understandable, Josh. Now that we know for sure now, how about you get me out of here and take me to meet Shinji?"
"You got it, Dad." Unable to help himself, Josh wraps his arms around Jefferson and adds, "It's good to have you back, Dad." Returning serve, Jefferson pats Josh's back.
"It's good to be back, Josh." Ending the hug, Jefferson then grins and asks, "Got a suit, by any chance? I highly doubt Shinji would be keen on meeting a guy wearing a paper Hospital gown."
Josh and Kat can't help but laugh. With Jefferson joining in. Kat brings up a folded garment bag and puts it beside Jefferson before exiting the room. Josh in tow. Running the zipper down, Jefferson smiles upon seeing his favorite suit. Brown with thin grey striping running downward.
Five minutes later, the door opens and a slightly grimacing Jefferson is standing in the doorway. He'd slightly outgrown his suit as evidenced by his wrists, part of his forearms, ankles and loafers showing. About the only things that fit him still are the socks and loafers.
"Josh, before I meet Shinji, we need to make a stop at a suit store so we can get this suit resized."
"That we can do, Dad." With that, the three walk toward the discharge area so Jefferson can sign out. As he does so, Jefferson smiles widely. Once he's done so, his smile is still wide as they walk out of the Hospital and to a waiting limousine. Upon Josh rolling up the privacy barrier, Jefferson's smile fades.
"Is it true what the Doctor said? Del Oro's no more?"
"It is. Del Oro was wiped out completely. There were survivors out there because they were at sea at the time. But for some of them it wasn't enough."
"Pete Costas and Laura Chen?"
"Alive. As is Jo Branson."
"Ah, the girl that was your biggest fan, right?"
"The very same." Sighing, Josh goes on. "But here's where it gets crazy. Berto did some calculations already and he found that if it was an asteroid that hit Earth, this planet wouldn't even be in existence."
"Are we talking a nuclear device?"
"No. Angels." Jefferson blinks at that before looking at Kat.
"Is he serious, Kat?"
"As a heart attack, Jefferson. As a heart attack. Here's the crazy part. The Angels that are showing up aren't the biblical Angels, either. It was a designation given them by the UN Agency NERV."
"NERV? Never heard of it."
"That's because they weren't around before Second Impact. They showed up afterward."
"I see." Sighing, he adds, "I've got some catching up to do, it seems." Josh and Kat can only nod.