Shinji Steel 32
Disclaimer; I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or Max Steel. Wish I did, though.
(Outskirts of Tokyo-3; 20 minutes later)
As NERV gets its support and command equipment into place, the two black Evangelion transport planes prepare to drop their precious cargo. While they're doing that, Shinji talks with Asuka.
"I don't know about you, Asuka, but I'll be glad when this war's over with."
"I'm with you on that, Shinji." Curious, she then asks, "How many kids are you and Takamiya wanting to have, anyway?"
"As many as she wants."
"That's not an answer."
"Sorry, Asuka, but it'll have to do." Misato's voice cuts Asuka off before the highly vocal redhead can say anything more.
"While this does sound interesting, it'll have to wait until later as you're both near the drop zone."
"Roger!"
"Roger!"
"So, on that note, three, two, one. Drop!"
Shinji feels the Evangelion slide away from the plane's frame until he feels the sensation of plummeting down to the ground in freefall. Feeling the urge to do some mid-air hijinks, he does so. Much to Misato and Asuka's amusement, along with briefly. Once he's down on the ground, he can't help but see Misato and Asuka holding up score cards. Both of them a '9'.How Asuka managed to get a score card in the plug with her, he doesn't know. Nor does he want to.
'I must've been bending my knees the wrong way. Oh well.' Turning his attention to the Angel before them, he asks, "What do we know about this one?"
"Other than it's a sitting duck, there's nothing to know." Asuka's face has a scowl to it as she adds, "I can't see why we need two EVAs for a single Angel. My debut battle here, no less. It's practically gift-wrapped for me."
"Maybe so, Asuka, but it's SOP. Debut? This ain't a movie, you nut. Besides, there's something about this Angel that's off-kilter. So stay aware and you may survive this."
"Oh? And where's your daredevil side at today?"
"It's taking a backseat this time around. It's feeling like there's more to this Angel than it appears."
"Aww, poor thing. Don't worry. 'Mommy' Asuka will kill that Angel and then nurse your daredevil side back to bold health." Giving him a smirk and a wink, Asuka blinks off before grabbing a spear from a weapons transport nearest to her.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"
"Probably because I'm getting a bad feeling as well, Shinji. Asuka's always been headstrong, but not like this. She's almost… playful towards you."
"Now that's just prime." Reaching toward a weapons transport and picking up a pallet rifle, he's suddenly shocked when Asuka comes back up. "Now what?"
"Cover my back, Shinji. I'm attacking… NOW!"
Shinji can only watch stupefied as the red Evangelion bounds toward the Angel.
"She's completely out of her mind!"
'You got that right, Berto.'
Leaping onto a building's roof, the red titan then jumps from that roof onto another until reaching the Angel. With a war cry, the EVA neatly slices the Angel in half from top to crotch area. Asuka's victorious and smug voice then flows out of his speakers.
"See? A battle should be clean and elegant. Without waste." Asuka's eyes are closed now. Pleased that she'd shown off before Shinji and killed the Angel at the same time. Giving him yet another smirk, she asks, "Did that get your blood going?" Berto's voice suddenly comes back through to him.
"Shinji! I'm getting signs from that Angel Unit-02 just bisected! It's still alive!"
"Asuka! Pull back!" Pulling the trigger on his pallet rifle as he sees the Angel splitting up, he yells out, "Pull back now, dammit!" Asuka's eyes are still closed, yet she starts opening them in annoyance of him.
"Huh? Why are you shooting, Third? The Angel's dead. It's over." Much to her surprise, Misato's voice comes through loud and clear.
"Now that's just bullshit!" With that, the sound of crushing before static is heard from Misato's end. Asuka then opens her eyes fully and sees instead of one dead Angel, two live Angels.
"Aw crap." Next thing she knows, Unit-01 bounds to in front of her and opens fire. Hitting both Angels sporadically. "Shinji?"
"Don't just stand there, 'ape'! Get a grip and start attacking!" Incensed at what Shinji just said, Asuka can't help but snarl.
"Who're you calling an 'ape', Third?"
"The redheaded 'ape' that has her EVA just standing around, looking like a ragbag!" His face taking on a snarl of its own, Shinji then asks, "Come on, you 'ape', you wanna live forever?"
"Why you! I'll show you who's an 'ape' and who's not!" Yelling out, she shoves her spear toward Unit-01. Only for it to dodge the oncoming spear, allowing it to hit the Angel's core. "That'll work. But I'm going to have to kick your ass, Third!"
"Get in line, Second!" Shinji fires another volley toward the other Angel. Hitting its core. Getting Asuka to snort.
"The line starts here, baka!" Stabbing the Angel's core repeatedly, she asks, "Why isn't this fucker dead yet?"
"Given these two are the same Angel, we'll have to destroy both cores at the same time."
Shoving her spear into the Angel's crotch area, getting a sound of agony in the process, she grins maliciously as she asks, "How do we go about doing that?"
"I guess I'll have to be a pain in their asses." Unit-01 holds out its left hand and Shinji says, "Your prog knife, if you please."
"Sure." Opening her left shoulder pylon, Asuka brings out the knife and asks, "How're you going to pull that off?"
"Good question." The answer comes in form of Misato yelling out.
"Pull back, you two! JSSDF's dropping an N-2 on the Angels!"
"And yon from above, a beautiful messenger heralds with a message."
Shinji's voice quickly gets Asuka's attention. Causing Asuka to look over at Shinji and see him smirking. He then waggles his eyebrows, getting Asuka to snort in amusement. Unit-01 suddenly kicks the Angel it was fighting in its side, causing it to tumble toward its other half.
"Shinji!" Misato's voice has a tinge of concern to it as she adds, "What are you doing? You and Asuka are supposed to bug out!"
"I know, Misato. Just getting these two ready to die!" Looking toward Asuka, he then says, "Let's get going, Asuka. Don't want to be near them when that N2 blows."
"Roger." As the two leap away, Asuka turns toward her compatriot and asks, "So just how are you going to be a pain in their asses, anyway?" When he's done telling her, she's laughing her head off. Holding her sides in mirth, she hears Misato laughing as well. "You're meaner than a rattlesnake."
"Who says we have to be nice to Angels?" At that point, the N2 blows and Shinji yells out, "Time to finish!" Unit-01 then tosses its pallet rifle to Unit-02 before leaping into action.
"Roger!" As she watches the purple Unit make its way to the Angels, she sees they're hunched over, side by side. 'He's as crazy as I am at times.' Her grin goes wide as she murmurs, "I love that in a man."
Inside his entry plug, Shinji deploys his other prog knife into his right hand and smirks. Positioning Unit-01 behind the Angels, he 'clears' his throat.
"Okay, Mr. Seventh Angel and sibling, I'm Shinji Ikari and I'll be your proctologist today. We've even got a two for one special going on. Here goes." With that, he shoves the vibrating blades into the twin Angels' hind ends. With that, they bolt upright and roar, causing Shinji to yell out. "Take the shot, Red!"
"Roger!"
As Unit-02 opens fire on the Angels' shared core at the same time, Unit-01 leaps to safety. Just in the nick of time too, as the rounds from the rifles quickly break the shared core. Causing both Angels to blow up in a spectacular fireball. Both Evangelions weather the shockwave as best they can and manage to stay upright. Once the shockwave has ebbed by, the view from Asuka's plug comes up into Shinji's.
"I don't know about you, Third, but it was fun toasting that Angel."
"Yeah. Nice job on those groupings, Second."
"Why thank you, Third."
Inside the Mobile Command Unit, Misato sighs wearily before grinning.
"Well, at least they got it done without getting tangled up."
"I take it you were worried about that happening, Misato?"
"I was, Ritsu. Why, I don't know." Yet Akagi could tell Misato's not exactly pleased. Misato catches her friend's expression and her grin fades. "Yet the way they treated this one was almost like… I don't know. But we need a way to synchronize one with the other because it was just a little too loose for my tastes."
"Hmm, if I remember correctly, you and Kaji favored 'Twister' done to music to get things focused."
"Ugh! Could you please not mention 'him'? It's bad enough he's here in Tokyo-3. I don't need to be reminded of it all the time." Yet in the recesses of her mind, Misato can't help but look fondly at those old memories. With Akagi catching the soft expression on Misato's face and thinking only one thing.
'Gotcha, Misato!'
(NERV HQ; one hour later; debriefing room)
As Shinji and Asuka are debriefed and watch the footage of the battle, Asuka has a triumphant grin on her face while Shinji's face is serious. Considering they'd won, they'd also caused excessive damage to the surrounding area.
Fortunately, however, there were casualties or fatalities other than the Angel. Fuyutsuki, however, is not quite thrilled with the end results.
"That's another time we have to redo the maps. Another lake we simply 'couldn't live without'. If our future wasn't so dependant on you Children, you'd be living normal lives. Pilot Ikari, I know full well, wouldn't mind living a normal life." Giving Shinji a soft smile before going serious, Fuyutsuki then turns his attention to Asuka.
"Pilot Sohryu, I also know full well, was brought up in the care of NERV. As was Pilot Ayanami. Yet her Evangelion's re-armoring has yet to be finished. Which means you two are the only active Pilots we have. And I must say I'm appalled at your definition of teamwork." Scowling down at Asuka, he then asks, "Just what is your job, Pilot Sohryu?"
"Piloting EVA."
"Wrong! Your job is to protect humanity from annihilation against our alien foes. Your showboating came close to getting your Evangelion heavily damaged."
"Shinji did it as well."
"That's only because he took advantage of an opportunity while the Angel was injured by the blast. Of course, we were fortunate the Angel's AT-Field hadn't yet materialized at the time." Taking a deep breath, he goes on. "NERV doesn't exist to make a spectacle of itself. Even though the end was the desired result, the means left something to be desired."
"So, where do we go from here, Vice-Commander?"
"I'll leave that up to Captain Katsuragi, Pilot Ikari." His face going soft, he then adds, "But you two, along with Pilot Ayanami, showed courage and tenacity I hadn't seen in years. Hone your cooperation and we may survive this war." With that, he recesses his podium. Causing Asuka to look over at Shinji.
"Did he just reprimand and praise us at the same time, Third?"
"He did, Second."
"I enjoyed the latter, but why'd he do the former?"
"Well, you gotta admit, we did wreak a massive amount of havoc at the scene."
"What's all this 'we' stuff? You ruined my debut battle!"
"Oh for the… why won't you get off your high horse and get that the world isn't a stage of performances to feed your ego? If you'd kept on standing there after I told you to get your butt in gear, who knows how you'd have ended up?"
"I'd have wound up in better shape than you, that's for damn sure!"
"Maybe, maybe not. Let's hope we never learn for certain, okay." Looking down at himself and scowling, he mutters, "I gotta shower and get this gunk off of me. Then I'll go see my lovely fiancée to be before going back to the apartment. It's been a Hell of a day!" Getting up, he strides out of the debriefing room. Leaving a stunned Asuka in his wake.
'I can't believe it. He's still intent on wedding Takamiya when I'm wanting him.' Looking around the room, she then smiles softly upon seeing Kaji. "Not exactly the way I'd expected things to go."
"Hardly anything goes the way we expect it to, kiddo." Smiling softly before shrugging, Kaji adds, "In any case, we've got your quartering settled. Katsuragi's finishing up the paperwork for it before she gets started on the compensation paperwork."
"Oh. Okay. Any idea as to where I'll be living?"
(Two hours later; Katsuragi/Ikari apartment)
"I'm home."
A weary Shinji trudges into the apartment. Intent on getting into his futon and taking a light nap before making dinner for himself and Misato. His visit with Ritsuko, while brief, was also a much needed balm for his nerves.
Even though Ritsuko was going through her 'visitor', she was more than happy to have Shinji with her. Especially with his head in her lap while she ran her fingers through his hair. Deidre watching them both from the doorway of the family room and smiling softly.
The visit lasted for an hour and when it came time for Shinji to head out, Ritsuko summoned her courage and placed Shinji's hands onto her belly. Shinji didn't miss her light wince and gave her a concerned glance. Causing her to smile maternally.
"Someday, there'll be a reason for you to put your hands on my belly. My hands on top of yours." Her eyes shimmered with soft tears, prompting Shinji to softly kiss her lips and stroke her tears away.
"I look forward to it, Rits."
Shinji snaps out of it in time to see a massive row of boxes. His brow furrowing as he shakes his head 'no', as if telling where this is going, he goes to his room and opens the door. His jaw dropping in shock. The room is 'soaked' in femininity, with only a scant sign of masculinity in there. Namely his cello and CARE package in their respective places. Except for one article.
"Where's Rits' picture at?"
"Oh, that old thing?" Asuka's voice to his side gets his attention as she adds, "I put it in the trash."
"You did what?" Striding toward the trash can, he smiles softly upon seeing the picture in there before extracting it and frowning. Turning back toward Asuka, he asks, "Why'd you do that?"
"Hmm, she's been dumped for the new model. She just doesn't know it yet." Not noticing Shinji's right fist shaking in rage, Asuka goes on. "It's only natural, since you'll be living with me in our new room. Though I wouldn't be against the idea of living alone with you." Her expression goes dreamy as she pictures them living together. She then starts playing with the door, griping the whole time.
"Why are Japanese houses so small, anyway? I couldn't get all my stuff in here. Which is why some of it's still in the hallway."
"Of all the asinine, arrogant, presumptuous stunts, this takes the veal stroganoff!" Startled at Shinji's yell, Asuka can only blink as Shinji breathes in and out.
"If you feel like slapping her, go right ahead, Shinji." Kat's voice has anger within as she goes on. "Even though we brought you up to never hit a girl, we understand."
'As tempting as that sounds, no, Kat.' His breathing leveling out, he then hears Berto's voice.
"That's the way, Shinji." All of a sudden, a beep is heard. "Got trouble, Shinji. Hammerhead's on the move in Australia."
'Got it. I'm calling in the Sparrow and will link up to it just before the roof.' With that, he strides into the room and puts the picture back down. He then goes past Asuka and says, "I'm going out for some air. We'll discuss this breach of etiquette later."
Once out of the apartment, Shinji makes his way to the elevator and hits the floor below the roof. Once there, he spots a shimmering outside an open window and switches over.
"Stealth Mode." Leaping out the window feet first, he slides into the pilot's seat and closes the canopy.
"That was some jump, Max."
"Thanks, Kat. So Berto, what's Hammerhead up to now?"
"Believe it or not, he's stealing a piano."
"A piano?" Max can't help but feel incredulous before shaking his head. "Okay, that's got to be the strangest thing he's done yet."
"Yeah, but I think you'll understand why when you hear about it."
"A piano's a piano, right?"
"Under conventional circumstances, yes. But this is no ordinary piano."
"Oh? What does it do? Transform into an eighty foot tall cyborg?" Berto and Kat's mirthful laughter gets Max to chuckle as well before Berto gives his reply.
"Nope. If you look at it from the top, it looks like the body of a Hammerhead shark."
"Outstanding." His sarcastic remark, accompanied by an eye-roll, prompts him to ask, "Whatever happened to being inconspicuous? I mean, a piano like that is bound to stick out like a sore thumb. For that matter, his head doesn't even look like the head of a Hammerhead."
"Who knows, Max? Who knows?"
(Australian roadway; twenty minutes later)
"C'mon, c'mon, get out of my way, you dumbasses!"
Grinning as he drives the stolen Kenworth K104 rig, Hammerhead blows the truck's air horns and waves the people coming toward him out of his way. Yep, you guessed it. Hammerhead is driving headlong into oncoming traffic.
"Jeez, with how the people drive on the wrong side of the road over here, it's amazing there aren't any wrecks over here. Along with the steering wheel being on the wrong side, no less." Next thing he knows, he gets a call on his stolen rig's radio.
"Breaker, breaker for the wrong way driver on Australian Highway 5. You've got trouble coming your way." Snickering, Hammerhead picks up the radio mike and hits the button.
"Which one? There's hundreds! All driving on the right-hand side of the road coming at me!"
"Oh, Hammerhead, didn't you know? Down here in Australia, oncoming traffic is the right-hand lane while thru traffic is the left-hand lane." Hammerhead's eyes can't help go wide at that revelation, along with the voice on the radio. "Why can't you stay locked in your tank for once?"
"Steel, how nice to hear your voice again. Where are you now? Watching me drive like a maniac on the television, stating how you've always wanted to do this?"
"Nope." Steel's voice is full of cheer as he goes on. "Look to your 9 o'clock." Hammerhead looks to his right and doesn't see anything. "Not that way, dumbass! Your left! Look to your left!" Reversing his gaze, Hammerhead sees a white aircraft he's quite familiar with.
"Steel." Mashing down on the button again, he snarls out, "That wasn't very nice, Steel."
"I know." At the sudden voice behind his gaze, Hammerhead snaps back to and is greeted by Max's fist in his face. As the man goes unconscious, Max, a smirk on his face, shakes his head. "Oh, what a gullible breed."
Shutting the truck's engine down, Max steers the wheel to the edge of the road. Once it's stopped, he engages the parking brake. Only for Hammerhead to regain consciousness and fling him out of the rig. Keys in Max's hand. Max tucks himself into a roll and tumbles to a standing halt as Hammerhead jumps out after him. Up above, without either man's knowledge, News Helicopters are catching the action.
(Tokyo-3; Katsuragi/Ikari/Sohryu apartment)
"Misato, are you seeing what I'm seeing?"
"If you're seeing a man whose head is shaped like the head of a ball-peen hammer, the answer's yes, Asuka."
"I was afraid of such." Blinking, Asuka adds, "I know that other guy from somewhere."
"Where, Asuka?"
"Berlin. Some time ago." Her eyes suddenly shoot open before she cries out, "That's Max Steel Jr.!"
"That an actual name, Asuka?"
"Yeah, much like Birdman is."
"Birdman?"
"I know, Misato." From there, she tells Misato about Birdman entering the NERV facility in Berlin, Max Jr. in pursuit. She doesn't miss Misato's wince when she hears about Birdman's fist being crushed by Max's. "And that was that. The world is strange, isn't it?"
"It is indeed, Asuka. It is indeed." Grinning inwardly, Misato looks toward Asuka. She'd arrived five minutes after Shinji headed out. A stunned redhead simply standing there. Checking her watch, Misato casually remarks, "I just hope Shinji doesn't take too long in getting back home."
"Not to worry, Misato." Kat's voice is reassuring to her as Kat goes on. "Shinji's pretty well figured out Hammerhead's moves. If anything, he's consistent. No variation at all."
Right then, both Misato and Asuka see Max Steel Jr. giving the odd-looking man a left-roundhouse kick right in the torso. Following up with an uppercut that knocks the odd-looking man right down to the ground. Along with out for the count. Kat's voice is filled with mirth and proud glee as she comes up into Misato's ear.
"And the winner by decisive knockout, Max Steel Jr!" Right then and there, as Max makes to walk away, the Australian Federal Police forces arrive to take Hammerhead into custody. Only for him to snap back awake. "Oh, we have some post-fight excitement going on, folks!"
As Hammerhead starts flinging the Officers away from him, he seemingly forgets that Max is still there and is now wielding a sledgehammer. Misato and Asuka can't help but go into stitches at the sight.
(Australia)
"Hey, Hammerhead, you ever been 'hammered' before?" As Hammerhead turns toward Max Steel Jr, he catches a glimpse of a sledgehammer in his enemy's hand. And gulps fearfully. "Now we can do this one of two ways. One, you go peacefully without further incident. Two, you learn that 'hammered' can apply to literally being 'hammered'. What'll it be, bud?" Hammerhead doesn't even take time to think.
"One."
"Good boy."
Slumping down in defeat, Hammerhead submits to arrest. Knowing full well that while his head is shaped like a hammer, his skull is still comprised of bone. As he feels his limbs being shackled, he snarls out to Max Jr.
"I'll get you yet, Max Steel Jr! I'll find a way to make my skull so hard, not even a sledgehammer can bust it! Then I'll show you how to be 'hammered'! The right way!"
"I can hardly wait." Hefting the sledgehammer onto his shoulder, Max grins and adds, "We'll make a party of it. You, me, your skull, my sledgehammer. It'll be great!" Hammerhead can't help but guffaw as he's led to an Australian Police box truck. As the doors are closed, Max sighs out while shaking his head, bemused. "That guy's had one operation too many. Not all his wires are soldered right."
"It would seem not, hermano. In any case, Misato and Miss Sohryu saw the fight between you and Hammerhead. As did Rachel."
"Oh dear." Walking to the Sparrow as it lands in front of him, he asks, "We're blown, aren't we?"
"Not necessarily. Your cover is that of a UN Special Agent that specializes in cases like these." Rachel's voice gets his attention as she goes on. "It's the end of the world plots we're covertly working to stop." Getting in and closing the canopy, Max activates the tint that darkens the outer window before flying away. Switching over and becoming Shinji in the process.
"Oh so we're good, then."
"Yes, we are." Rachel's voice has glee within it as she goes on. "I especially liked the way you went toward Hammerhead with a sledgehammer to convince him to stand down."
"It was the best I can think of at the time." Glancing down at the sledgehammer at his feet, he grins and asks, "Hey, any chance you can put in a compartment for the sledgehammer, Berto? It could come in handy."
"You mean on the Sparrow?"
"Yep."
"I don't see why not. Where would you like it to go?"
"I dunno. Maybe somewhere along the belly area."
"I'll see what I can do. In the meantime, Misato's wanting to talk to you."
"Okay." A minute later, he hears Misato's voice.
"That was some fight, Shinji. Asuka particularly enjoyed the sledgehammer bit."
"She isn't within earshot, is she?"
"No, she's working on her room right now. Oddly enough, she was carrying her boxes out of your room. Did something happen?"
"Yeah. I didn't take her invasion of my room and her treatment of one of my things well."
"Which one?"
"My picture of Rits. She even proclaimed herself to be my new girlfriend. Can you believe her nerve?"
"I should've seen this coming. If you want to move out and into an adjacent apartment, I'll support you. Later on, that is."
"Thanks, Misato. Wait." Blinking rapidly, he then asks "What do you mean by 'later on', Misato?"
"I'll put it to you like this. It's the best way possible to improve your teamwork with Asuka."
"What's the gag? I'm waiting for the punch-line."
"You'll see when you get here, Shinji. Misato out."
(Twenty minutes later)
Shinji can't help but drop his jaw in shock when he sees a DDR set-up in the living room of the apartment. Misato grinning madly, a blue dancer's outfit in hand. With Asuka hovering between a grimace and a wide grin on her face. Grimace because of the pink outfit she's wearing. Wide grin because Shinji will be doing the training with her.
'This can't be good.' Clearing his throat, he then asks, "So what's going on, Misato? I'm waiting for the punch-line."
"Easy. You and Asuka are to undergo sync training to improve your cooperation with each other."
"But the Angel's already dead."
"While that is true, the next Angel attack depends on your ability to work with one another. So, for three hours each day, you will sync your movements with one another."
"Long as we don't have to miss school and I can still take Rits' lunch to her."
"Oh, so you're worried about your future wife?" Grinning still, Misato adds, "I've already informed Deidre of the set-up, so that way Ritsuko'll be in the loop. Who knows? She might want to try it for herself." Sighing gustily, Shinji nods before accepting the outfit and goes to put it on.
'Yes, indeedy. Some days, it just doesn't pay to check the fuckin' mail!' Within minutes, he's put the outfit on and stepping into the living room. Seeing Asuka's eyes on him, he says, "Might as well get started on this then."