Shinji Steel 37
Disclaimer; I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or Max Steel. Wish I did, though.
Author's Notes; This chapter deals with the aftermath of Shinji's actions at Mt Asuma, a surprise and the remainder of the hearing for Ritsuko's Grandfather. Only this time he's not the one in R-D-D-D. The time for reconciliation and healing is at hand. Both in Okinawa and Tokyo-3. Here we go!
(En route back to Tokyo-3; Shinji's car)
"Ah, that was nice and relaxing, wasn't it, Shinji?" Sitting in the rear passenger seat behind Shinji, Asuka stretches out along the seat. Only to get an annoyed 'WARK' when she inadvertently makes contact with Pen-Pen. "Don't 'Wark' me, you overgrown feather duster."
"It was, Asuka. Sure makes one appreciate the finer things in life." Asuka can't help but snort incredulously at that.
"Are you kidding me? It lets you know that you're worth it! Don't tell me you've never gone to a hot spring before!"
"Actually, I have. With Dad, Kat and Berto." After a month or so of living with Shinji and Misato, Asuka knows full well who Shinji's referring to as 'Dad'.
"Was it as nice as the one we were just at?"
"It was a little more rustic, but the scenery was beautiful. Especially in the sunset."
Shinji's fond smile gets a soft smile from both Asuka and Misato, who'd been sitting in the front passenger seat. The latter had not spoken up lately, yet she's intending to rectify that right that minute.
"Was that before or after you met the future Mrs. Ikari?" Misato was expecting Shinji to blush furiously, but is instead disappointed when Shinji merely grins.
"It was about a couple years before we met, Misato."
"Ah." Her smile going wicked, she asks, "What about Kat? Did she tease you like I do at times?"
"Yeah, and she still does. But it's all in good fun." His grin turning into a fond smile, he adds, "The night after Ritsuko and I first met, Kat did the dinner blessing. She added the bit of a romance between Ritsuko and I. Boy I was blushing redder than a fire truck."
"I know." Misato can't help but laugh at that. "Kat told me about that night! I just wish I could have seen it!" Asuka can't help but giggle as well before Misato asks, "So any word on when they plan to do another expo?"
"It's tentative, but they plan to do another one in two months. Provided, of course…"
"Commander 'Dumbass' signs off on it." Shinji's soft nod gets Misato to sigh. "But given the humiliation he'd suffered that one time, he may not be so willing to allow it."
"How bad was it, Misato?" As Misato tells her, Asuka can't help but shake her head in disbelief before turning toward Shinji. "You poor thing. Having a potential candidate for a Darwin Award as a birth Father." Her voice is dripping with true sympathy, yet Shinji just shrugs.
"It's okay. If anything, it's serving its purpose."
"That being?"
"How not to live my life."
Misato and Asuka have only one reply to that. They start giggling while Pen-Pen lets out a tone of amusement. Shinji chortling right behind them. Thirty minutes later, they arrive at the apartment. An unmanned and cloaked Sparrow positioning itself right at the building.
(Tokyo-3; Next day; NERV HQ; Gendo's office)
"Pilot Ikari, you were ordered to halt your rescue attempt and disobeyed. You were ordered to release Unit-02 and disobeyed. The only reason Captain Katsuragi is not facing charges herself is because your rescue of Pilot Sohryu had been completed by the time I got around to her." Positioning his hands before his face, Gendo goes on.
"You were warned before when it comes to combat operations, yet you disregarded my orders for the benefit of those of minor consequence. So what do you have to say for yourself?"
"I don't do a thing for you and you're of minor consequence as far as I'm concerned."
"I don't see how that would be possible. I am the Commander of NERV, after all."
"Yeah, and your dumbass orders are going to get people killed for no good reason." Shaking his head, Shinji adds, "Seeing as you're in charge, I have one thing more to say and it ain't pretty."
"I'm indulging you on this, Pilot Ikari. What is it you have to say?"
"The world is in deep shit with you in charge of an organization assigned to protect it from annihilation." Gendo lightly growls before waving his hand away.
"Get him out of my sight at once. I don't care where he goes as long as he does not leave Tokyo-3 under any circumstances. After all, he's the only one that can pilot Unit-01. For now."
"Yes, Commander." Lightly jerking Shinji's arm, the Section-2 Agent grits out, "Let's go, Third Child." Shinji, much to the Agent's surprise, gives the man no resistance.
Just like when he'd been picked up from the Katsuragi/Ikari/Sohryu apartment. Captain Katsuragi was even unusually cooperative. The Second Child, however…
(flashback)
"What the fuck's going on? Where are you taking Shinji?"
"None of your concern, Second Child. Commander Ikari wants a discussion with the Third Child. By the time the Commander's done with him, he'll either be back here, in a cell, or gone from Tokyo-3 altogether." Lowering his dark shades, the man growled out, "Is that clear, Second Child?"
"Yeah, whatever. Just have Shinji back here in time to make brunch."
"We'll see." With that, the man ambled away. The Second Child cursing him to his back.
The ride to NERV wasn't any better. If anything, it was rather un-NERV-ing (Get it?) for the Third Child to be so still and quiet when he's normally talkative. Even the First Child was seemingly stunned by his demeanor. Yet she didn't try to initiate conversation as any time they'd converse, the Third Child would initiate the conversation.
(flashback ends)
The Agent visibly shudders at the thought of the First and Third Child being so silent, they might as well be corpses. When they reach the entryway, the Agent roughly shoves Shinji forward.
"Get out of here and go back to Katsuragi's apartment, Third. You're giving me the creeps."
"Yes, sir." With that, Shinji starts walking away as the Agent ducks back down into the entry hatch. However, he doesn't go to the Katsuragi/Ikari/Sohryu apartment. Instead…
(Tokyo-3 park)
"So the LMD's in case I have a mission and need an alibi of sorts." Shinji shakes his head before watching the LMD of himself power down inside its transport case. Which disturbingly looks like a casket. "Just where did you get the idea from, anyway? Sounds like you got it from a comic book." He then hears Berto's voice, with a tinge of sheepish pride to it.
"I actually got the idea from a pre-Second Impact movie called 'Nick Fury; Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Pretty cool flick, truth be told."
"I'll have to check it out sometime. But, for now, any chance of changing the transport case? I don't exactly want to be seen lugging a frickin' casket around. That, in itself, would raise questions."
"I could make the LMD fold down around itself, hermano. But you'd still be lugging something along." Shinji then hears a slapping sound and then Berto chortling. "Oh silly me! I plum forgot about one thing about the LMD in the movie."
"Yeah? What's that?"
"The LMD in the movie was supposedly easy to dismantle for easy and discrete transport. If I can figure out the key points on its assembly, I can do the same thing here. If not guess outright."
"Go for it, Berto."
He can't help watching as the drone-Sparrow that had transported the LMD to the apartment the previous night auto-load the casket into its chassis. Shinji checks then his watch before wincing.
"I better go, Berto. Judging from what I saw from the LMD's onboard surveillance feeds, Asuka's bound to be annoyed by now."
"I'll say. Later, hermano."
"Later, Berto."
(Katsuragi/Ikari/Sohryu apartment; same time frame)
Pacing as she checks her watch, ignoring a seemingly amused Misato, Asuka can't help but growl out loud.
"Where the Hell is he?"
"You heard the Agent, Asuka. Commander Ikari wants to speak with him."
"I know, Misato, but…"
"But what, Asuka?"
"I dunno. Something's not right here."
"Huh?"
"Don't play dumb, Misato. It doesn't become you."
"Just what is that supposed to mean, Asuka?"
"Just this, Misato. Whoever it was may have looked like him, but that was not Shinji at all."
"Oh, you're just imagining things."
"Am I? The Sixth Angel, I saw no sign of a garment bag with Shinji. Yet he was wearing a plug suit already when I got back out to him to offer my suit for him to wear. Same incident, his uncanny aim when Unit-02 launched a spike right into that monster's gullet. No one is that lucky, Misato. Even more, his weird behavior of late, talking to himself as if someone's talking to him. No, Shinji's got something to hide and I intend to find out what!" Giving Misato a wide smirk she pauses before finishing.
"You're involved too. In what way, I know not." With that, Asuka walks away and into her room. Leaving Misato to sigh heavily.
"That girl's going to give me grey hairs, Jefferson."
"I know how you feel. When Josh's best friend Pete found out about Josh's double life, it was by accident."
"What happened?"
"Dread abducted Pete and the ransom was the MAX probes that Josh was infused with."
"Same as Shinji's, then."
"Yeah, only Josh's was the original version. But, long story short, Pete found out that Josh was Max Steel and swore to keep his secret safe. Even though things had been rocky between them."
"Because of Laura, right?"
"Yeah. Pete was furious with Josh when what had happened between Josh and Rachel ended Josh and Laura's relationship."
"Sounds an awful like Kaji and myself in both happier times and those of the other variety."
"Well, maybe not quite, but a fairly good example." Chortling lightly, Jefferson adds, "Of course, some time after that incident, Pete smuggled himself inside a Hawk because he wanted to go on a 'spy' adventure." Misato can't help but burst out laughing.
"No way! You can't be serious, Jefferson!"
"I am, crazily enough, quite serious Misato."
"That must've been a debacle and a half."
"Not really. Pete acquitted himself quite well in the field. However, he decided that it'll be better for him to leave the 'spy' adventures to Josh." Chortling once more, Jefferson adds, "Of course, he could've just been so disappointed when there were no exploding sunglasses, hot sunny locales and gorgeous women, it convinced him to leave the field work to us when the case was done."
"Good grief. Sounds like that'd be right up Kaji's alley."
"I'd like to meet him sometime. Sounds like he'd make a fine 'N-Tek' operative."
"If you extend him the offer, and he accepts, be sure to warn the women in whatever office he's assigned to."
"A lady-killer, huh?"
"That man is the most outrageously shameless flirt I've ever known. Lady-killer would be putting it mildly." Little do Misato and Jefferson know that a nosy redhead had overheard Misato speaking.
'Let's see. Shinji. Laura. Someone named Jefferson. An as yet unnamed person involved in a debacle and a half. Kaji possibly getting an offer and women being warned about him.' Writing the items down in a diary she'd brought over with her from Germany, she quickly locks it back and lies down on her bed.
"What could it all mean?" All further musing ends when she hears Shinji's voice.
"I'm home!" Smiling widely, Asuka exits her room and rushes to embrace him like a girl would the one she cares for. "Asuka?"
"Welcome home, Shinji." Giving him a light peck on his cheek, she rushes away from him and snarls out, "Now get in there and start brunch, Third!" Shinji can only and shake his head while chortling.
"Nice to see a near-death experience doesn't keep you down, Asuka."
"Of course it doesn't!" Giving him a beaming smile, she adds, "Not when I have you as my 'Guardian Angel', Shinji." He can't help but blush at that while Asuka gives him another peck. This time on his other cheek. "You'll never let me down, will you?"
"There may be times I can't be around to bail you out, Asuka. So please stay out of trouble when I'm not around. Okay?"
"I can't promise that, Shinji."
"Why's that?"
"Two reasons. One, trouble always seems to know where I am. Two, I like getting into trouble." Shinji suddenly gives her an amused smirk. She can't help but giggle out, "What?"
"You're reminding me of one movie I saw once with Kat about four years back."
"Oh? What was it called?"
"It was 'The Trouble with Angels'. It was a classic movie done in 1966."
"Kat's a classic movie buff?"
"Not by choice, or my story to tell. I can only tell you that much. Now, if you'll excuse me…"
"Oh, right." Allowing Shinji to go into the kitchen, she goes back into her room.
(Okinawa Justice Building; one hour later)
"All rise! Court is now in session! The Honorable Judge Hirogiko presides!"
"Thank you, Ginrei." Looking over both sides, he sees that there is one more on the side of the Defense. A young woman that's purportedly Dr Tokisona's assistant. 'I still don't understand why Mr. Ubatigona wanted a subpoena for her. Oh well.' Putting it out of his mind, he turns his attention toward Laura.
"Ms Chen, I understand that the Prosecution feels it has established its case against the accused and is ready to rest?"
"That is correct, your Honor." Laura struggles mightily to keep from grinning, but barely manages it. By her side, a perplexed Pete watches warily for he can tell when she has something up her sleeve. "The Defense is ready to call its first witness."
"Very well, Mr. Ubatigona, you may proceed."
"Thank you, your Honor. I call Doctor Kyusuke Tokisona to the stand."
Barely hushed murmurs rush through the courtroom as Tokisona takes the stand. His demeanor all business. Yet it's everything in him to not burst out laughing at the punch-line to come. His demeanor calm, Ubatigona opens up.
"If you will, sir, please state your name for the record."
"Doctor Kyusuke Tokisona."
"Okay, Doctor Tokisona, do you know why we're all here today?"
"Yes. A terrible fuss over birth control implants that I'd allegedly put into women without their knowledge or consent."
"Including your own granddaughter, Doctor?"
"Correct."
"Yet you had consent to do the implantations."
"That's what the implantation authorization forms told me." Shrugging, he adds, "I never handled the forms personally as I'd often be busy doing General Practice. So my assistant would get the signatures from them." Angry murmurs start to flow throughout the Courtroom and Tokisona looks over at Shizuka and sees that she's calm. 'Yeah, you just keep thinking that you're getting away with it, you little bitch!'
"So why do you think the women present and not are suing you for a procedure they stated they didn't want in their testimonies and affidavits?"
"I have no idea at all." Ubatigona nods before looking levelly at him.
"What are the odds of the forms having been forged by someone with intimate knowledge of procedure protocols?"
"Next to none. All personnel are carefully vetted to ensure no shadiness in their pasts."
"What about their financial status? Do you look at that as well?"
"Oh yes. Very carefully." Eying Shizuka once more, he sees that she's fully relaxed.
"Okay. Nothing further, your Honor."
"Alright, Ms Chen, you may cross examine."
"Yes, your Honor." Striding to in front of Doctor Tokisona, she asks, "How long have you been in Medicine, Doctor?"
"48 years."
"That's quite a career. What exactly is it that you do at the Hospital, Doctor?"
"I'm a certified OB/GYN and General practitioner."
"This may seem like an impertinent question, but indulge me. What kind of security measures are in place when it comes to implants and the paperwork for them?"
"Very scant. Anyone with access and a key can obtain them. The forms are easily more obtainable than the implants, however."
"So there's no central inventory system the Hospital goes by?"
"Sadly enough, no. But we have every confidence in our measures as they are."
"So you're saying the procedures you'd performed are legitimate?"
"I am, Ms Chen."
"Even though the evidence against you is saying otherwise?"
"The only evidence you have is their word against the paperwork with their signatures." Looking once more at Shizuka, he sees that she's leaning forward intently. 'Now it's time to finish this!'
"Nothing further, your Honor."
"Very well, Doctor Tokisona, you may step down." Giving the Judge a nod, Tokisona does so and heads for the Defense table. Where Shizuka meekly greets him.
"I see what you meant last night by it not looking good, Doctor."
"Mr. Ubatigona, call your next witness."
"Yes, your Honor. I call Shizuka Uramishi to the stand." Shizuka's face goes the color of spoiled milk before she points at herself.
"Me?"
"Yes, you, Shizuka." Tokisona gently pats her hand before going on. "If anyone can get me out of this mess, it's you."
"Okay, Doctor." With that, Shizuka walks toward the witness stand. Not seeing Ubatigona or Tokisona exchanging a fist bump of sorts. Judge Hirogiko, however, does. But he puts it out of his mind as Ubatigona walks up.
"Will you please state your name and occupation for the record?"
"Shizuka Uramishi. I'm an assistant to Doctor Tokisona." Scratching her head, she adds, "Given the way things are going, however, it might be more appropriate to change it to 'soon-to-be-former' assistant to that."
"That's a little dark, don't you think?"
"It's a dark world with not a lot of light in it."
"Ah. You're a philosopher of sorts, then."
"Yeah, but I didn't like going philosophical one bit before. Nowadays, though…"
"I understand." Clearing his throat, he asks, "Could you please explain your responsibilities to the court?"
"Yes. I'm primarily to handle Dr Tokisona's paperwork when he's doing his general practice."
"By handle, you mean…"
"Strictly filing or getting signatures from patients he'd treated before their discharge."
"What about admittance?"
"If I'm required to provide assistance to that department, then yes."
"Okay." Clearing his throat slightly, he quickly says, "Excuse me. I have a frog in my throat today." Smiling widely, he adds, "Gribbit!" Getting a light giggle from Shizuka before going on.
"We all heard what Dr Tokisona would consider the odds of someone forging the paperwork for implantation. Now we'd like to hear what you think."
"The odds are very remote, Mr. Ubatigona. As Doctor Tokisona had stated, our measures are scant, yet effective enough to thwart forging the paperwork."
"So the procedures he'd performed were truly legitimate?"
"They were."
"Nothing further, your Honor."
"Very well. Ms Chen, you may cross examine."
"Yes, your Honor." Laura strides right up to Shizuka and begins. "If I may be allowed to speculate a scenario, your Honor?"
"Proceed, but keep it within the realm of reality."
"Yes, your Honor." Looking right at Shizuka. "Here's the scenario. 'An assistant to a Doctor has unfettered access to paperwork. Said assistant has nefarious plans for that paperwork. Those plans will foul up the lives of people if misused. The assistant, however, doesn't care. Not about the lives it'll foul up, or the Doctor's reputation.' What is your take on that kind of scenario, Miss Uramishi?"
"That person would have to be sneaky and underhanded. Perhaps even cruel and callous." Shizuka's right hand trembles as she looks down. Her voice is soft as she adds, "Or she was being blackmailed for something and had no choice but to obey."
"No gender was mentioned, Miss Uramishi." Looking right at her, Laura asks, "Is there something on your mind?"
"I forged the documents." Gasps throughout the courtroom erupt as Shizuka goes on. "It was good working for Doctor Tokisona in the wake of Second Impact. He was a good man to work for. I never wanted it to end. But one night, I was in a DUI accident. I killed an unborn baby!" Shizuka starts weeping as she screams out, "I killed my unborn baby!"
"Your Honor, I'd like to request a recess so Miss Uramishi can calm down." Before Judge Hirogiko can agree with Laura, Shizuka shakes her head.
"I can do this, your Honor. I have no need for a break." Steeling her nerves, Shizuka looks right at Laura before going on. "My boyfriend at the time was an Okinawa Police Officer. We'd bantered back and forth about marriage before the accident."
"Was he…"
"The baby's Father? Yes, he was." Wiping her eyes, she goes on. "He was the first one at the scene. At first, he was upset I'd been drinking and driving. Let alone drinking while pregnant. But he got me treated and admitted to a rehab facility that he knew for discretion regarding patients." She then smiles fondly and adds, "I haven't touched a drop of booze since."
"Okay, so you were in a DUI and your dead unborn baby's Father got you help. So why did you forge the forms?"
"During my rehab, there was an attempted rape against me. Using a judo throw my boyfriend taught me, I threw the assailant against the wall. Or rather through it."
"You must've been a strong girl." Shizuka can't help but giggle at that.
"Not so much. The wall was reed thin, making it easy for someone to literally go through a wall." Shuddering, she adds, "The one that tried to rape me was a resident at the facility. He died that night. It was ruled self-defense on my part and no charges were filed. That was the end of it, or so I thought."
"What happened?"
"A month after that, I was abducted from our home, as my boyfriend and I were living together at the time. I awoke to a bright light and a man in the shadows. He told me he knew of my drinking problem and DUI incident which had killed my unborn baby. I told him I'd put the former behind me and was still working through my guilt on the latter. He then brought up my self-defense killing of a rapist and told me that my boyfriend will die if I don't follow his commands."
"What'd you tell him?"
"I don't think I should." Shizuka can't help but blush while smiling sheepishly. "This is a courtroom, after all."
"It's alright." Shizuka looks up at Judge Hirogiko as he goes on. "I'll allow it as I'm finding this quite interesting."
"Okay." Looking back at Laura, Shizuka says, "I told him to go fuck an alligator." All in the gallery can't help but laugh uproariously. Even Judge Hirogiko is laughing. "He didn't find it quite that funny. So, to prove he had no sense of humor at all…" Laura's attention is drawn by the agonized tone in her voice.
"What happened, Miss Uramishi?"
"He had another light come on." Her eyes dripping tears, Shizuka goes on. "I saw my boyfriend tied up, a gun being held to his head by another person in the shadows. No further words were said. They just shot him in cold blood." Her eyes narrowing, she adds, "They said my prints were on the gun that killed him. They were going to phone in a tip to his Police Precinct and tell them I'd shot him in cold blood unless I did as he bid."
"That's how they blackmailed you? A flimsy claim that they had your fingerprints on the gun?"
"Not so flimsy, actually. It was a gun I'd fired on a date we had once to a shooting range." Her face going slightly pink, she murmurs, "The day of the date was when he'd proposed to me. I asked him if I could tell him that night as I wanted to make a special dinner for that night."
"But the dinner never happened, did it?"
"No. I was abducted that night and I became a widow without getting married." Looking down at her hand, she murmurs, "My answer would've been 'yes' if they hadn't come along."
"Okay, now that we'd established the 'why', let's talk about the 'how'. Did they select it or did you?"
"They selected it. For some reason, they wanted birth rates to plummet somewhat but not by much."
"I take it you protested it."
"I was going to protest, but they said they can either call in the location of the gun or it can go away. With my boyfriend becoming the victim of a crazed cop killer that likes to throw guns away after firing them." Snorting, Shizuka adds, "Chances are the guy that killed him was a crazed cop killer that likes to throw guns away after firing them."
Looking over toward Ritsuko and the other women she'd victimized, she takes a deep breath.
"I'd been hoping someone would find out sooner than later. But since it was found out, I can blab all you want without fear."
"We'll save that for another time."
Laura's tone is one with sympathy. For both Kyusuke Tokisona and Shizuka Uramishi. For they'd been victimized as much as the ones that Kyusuke and Shizuka had victimized. Turning to Judge Hirogiko, she clears her throat. Before she can say anything, however, Ubatigona does.
"Your Honor, given the present situation, and in light of the testimony from Miss Uramishi, I'd like to request the case against my client dismissed. In exchange, Doctor Tokisona will gladly contribute half of his monthly pay in an account for each of the unborn children and any grandchildren Miss Takamiya bears in the future. Also, I'd like to request that he and Miss Uramishi be entered in a Witness Protection Program."
"Does the Prosecution agree, Ms Chen?" Laura notices Pete rising and exiting the Courtroom. Digging at his side where his phone would be. "Ms Chen?"
"Allow me a moment to confer with my co-counsel and our respective clients, your Honor."
"I'll make it fifteen minutes. Fifteen minute recess." At the sound of the gavel, Laura waves for the other attorneys present to hold on. Exiting the courtroom, she's just in time to hear Pete on his phone.
"C'mon, man! This is right up your alley! Protecting people, of course! I know it's not the same thing, Josh! Great. Fabulous. Later, man." Hanging up the phone, he turns back in time to see a scowling Laura. "Oh crap."
"Pete Costas, you wanna tell me what that was all about?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing, Laura."
"Me? What're you talking about?"
"I heard your voice and saw your face. You were losing the struggle to keep from smiling wildly. You always smile wildly when you've got something up your sleeve!"
"I can't talk about it here. Now for Josh. Why're you calling him for protection for Doctor Tokisona and Miss Uramishi?" Stepping closer to him, she asks, "What is the 'it' you were referring to?"
Pete sighs and replies, "It's not my place to say. You'll have to ask Josh about that." Laura sighs as well before motioning for his phone. "Laura."
"Give me the phone, Pete. I'm going to call Josh and arrange a meeting just for the three of us." Giving him a snide smirk, she adds, "It'll be like old times. 'The Three Musketeers' as we were once."
"Okay." Passing over his phone, he thinks, 'Sorry, Josh. I wasn't watching my six.' He then listens as Laura speaks.
"Hi, Josh. Here's the deal. You, me and Pete. Tonight, your Okinawa residence. That's right. Just the three of us. We've got things to hash out, Mr. McGrath and we're going to hash them out post-haste! Got that? Good. See you tonight." Ending the call, Laura hands the phone back to him and makes for the doorway.
"Let's go back in, Pete. We've got discussions to make with co-counsel and our clients."
"But, what about…"
"We'll deal with it tonight."
Opening the door, Laura steps through the doorway. A sheepish Pete in tow. Walking toward the other attorneys, they're able to quickly reach an agreement. Twelve minutes later, court's back in session.
"Ms Chen, has an agreement been established amongst yourselves?"
"We've reached an agreement, your Honor. We accept the terms proposed, but would like to reserve the charges for the ones responsible should they be found."
"You're talking about a potential cold case, Ms Chen."
"True, but it's better to have a potential cold case than cause further suffering to those that have suffered as well themselves." She makes it a point to look over at Doctor Tokisona and Shizuka as she goes on. "If anything, they're victims as well."
"I agree. Very well. The case is dismissed without prejudice. Upon locating the responsible parties, whenever that may be, the charges will be levied against them. Court's dismissed!"
At the sound of the gavel, cheers erupt from both the Prosecution and Defense tables. However, the jubilation is somewhat tamped down by Shizuka's mood. Tokisona notices it and gently takes her hand.
"What is wrong, Shizuka?"
"I'm a dead woman walking, Doctor." Shizuka starts sobbing. "That call's going to be made and…"
"Shh, shh." Holding her close, he murmurs, "It'll be alright. You'll see."
"He's right, you know." At the sound of Pete's voice, they turn toward him. With Laura right behind him. "Laura and I, well, we know a guy that knows a guy that does protection work. Sort of."
Turning back to Laura, he winks and mouths, 'Trust me'. Upon getting a nod from Laura, he turns back to them and goes on.
"You'll be meeting him tonight. For the time being, though, you'll be staying with us until he arrives to pick you up for transport to a safe location." Shizuka smiles widely at that before nodding. For the first time in years since her boyfriend was murdered in front of her, she feels hope for the future.
"Thank you, Mr. Costas." She then gleefully grabs up Doctor Tokisona in a hug. Much like a daughter would her Father. With tears falling, she murmurs, "I'm so sorry, for everything."
"It's alright, Shizuka. It's alright." Softly rocking her like he did Mariko when she was a little girl, he murmurs, "We'll get through this." Smiling over at Ritsuko, he adds, "In any case, it might do you some good to talk to Ritsuko for a time."
"Um, I don't think so, Doctor. What if she hates my guts? After all, she should given the crap I put her through."
"I don't hate your guts, Shizuka." Shizuka suddenly bolts upward at the sound of Ritsuko's voice behind her. "I don't like what you had conned Grandfather into doing, but I can sympathize with you. If my life and freedom were on the line, I'd agree in a heartbeat. But only to take the bastards responsible down in time." Leaning down into Shizuka's face, Ritsuko purrs out, "That time will come soon. So are you going to fight back or what?"
"I believe the best way I can put it is like this. 'No retreat, no surrender'. I want those thugs' heads on my wall as a trophy. Mainly the one that killed my boyfriend." Ritsuko can only giggle at that.
"We'll see what we can do for you on that."
(That night; McGrath Okinawa House)
"Okay, you two, spill right now." Laura's tone is 'no-nonsense', causing Josh and Pete to gulp in unison. "I'm waiting." Josh gives Pete a slight glare before standing up.
"I think this'll explain everything, Laura." With that, his appearance changes from a Caucasian man with blond hair to one with brown hair. Causing Laura to gasp. "Remember this face?"
"M-M-Max Steel?" At his nod, Laura's eyes tear up before she asks, "This is your secret, Josh? You were saving the world and living a normal life at the same time?"
"Yep." Next thing he knows, Laura slaps him.
"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Slamming her fists into his chest, she cries out, "Didn't you think I could handle it? Or were you thinking someone would come after me if they found out about you?"
"I'm sorry, Laura. But your safety was more important to me." Laura sighs before putting her head against his chest.
"So even though we broke up, you still saved the world, just to keep myself and others safe?"
"Yeah. Though some time after our break-up, I'd considered staying Max Steel on a permanent basis. Be Josh McGrath no more." That in itself stuns Laura and Pete both. With Pete taking it.
"You mean you'd have simply vanished from my life? After all we'd been through?" At his nod, Pete then asks, "Was that before or after we went on that mission in the arctic against the guy with the two weird arms?"
"After." Laura looks perplexedly at both of them before growling at them.
"You two went on a mission together? No, wait, big question is how long have you known, Pete?"
"Since about a month after your break-up." Pete gives Max a scowl before going on. "Some whack job that Josh fights as Max abducted me. For what reason, I don't know. But long story short, I was rescued by Josh, the bad guy was defeated and we went home. Oh, and Josh needed a jump start."
"A jump start? He's a person, not a car." Laura can't help but shake her head before remembering one other detail. "How the Hell did you change your appearance, anyway?"
"During our break one summer, I was infused with nano-probes. They'd integrated with my body and were weakening me. They were literally starving to death. Pete's comment about 'jump start' was crude, yet apt. Every so often, I'd have to be strapped into a transphasic reactor to recharge the probes."
"While I'd like to hear how you getting the probes happened, this takes more precedence. Who else knows?"
"Kat, Berto, Dad and Shinji. Along with Psycho, Bio-con and the late John Dread."
"Huh? How would Shinji know?" Her eyes suddenly go wide as she asks, "He got 'probed' as well?"
"Yeah. Last year." Before Laura can ask, Max says, "C'mon. We can discuss this more later on. For now, though, let's get the Doctor and his assistant into my version of the 'Witness Protection Program' before I come back to my senses."
"What senses, man? You live for this shit, after all." Pete's comment gets a chortle from all three of them. With that, they go into a room two doors down from them and Pete makes the introductions. "This is UN Special Agent Max Steel. He'll be handling your protection. Agent Steel, these are Doctor Kyusuke Tokisona and his assistant Shizuka Uramishi."
"Agent." Doctor Tokisona looks around before asking, "Where's Mr. McGrath at?"
"He had to step out for a time." Laura leans in conspiratorially as she adds, "After all, what he doesn't know, he can't tell anyone. Can he?"
"Ah, we got you." Shizuka gives a nod before asking, "So where do we go from here?"
"Do you like the wilderness?"
(Tokyo-3; two days later)
"Shinji!" Ritsuko giggles in delight as she feels Shinji's arms wrap around her. "Mmm, I've missed you so much!"
"I missed you too, Rits." Seeing Deidre grinning, he grins right back and asks, "How was Okinawa, Deidre?"
"Oh, it was the same as it had always been. Beautiful. Nary a cloud in the sky at all." Giving Ritsuko a soft gaze, she adds, "There was also some much needed reconciliation and healing. But I think Ritsuko could use a little more healing that only you can provide, Shinji."
"Huh?" Upon feeling a slight tremble from Ritsuko, he gets the idea. "I'll see what I can do." Leading Ritsuko out to his car, he asks, "Anywhere in particular, Rits?"
"Our Tokyo-3 spot, Shinji. Please."
"Got it." Opening the door for her, he helps her in and gets a teary smile in return. 'She's barely holding on.'
Upon closing the door, he hustles to the other side and gets into his seat. Seeing that Ritsuko is already belted in, he belts up as well and starts the car. As he drives at away from the airport, he feels Ritsuko reaching for his hand. Accepting her hand into his, he feels her calming down slightly. Within five minutes, they arrive at their spot. They both exit at the same time and Ritsuko goes right to Shinji's side.
Walking toward the knoll they'd made love on the day Shinji 'proposed' to her, they slowly sink down to the ground. Shinji gives Ritsuko a soft squeeze from the side and she leans against him.
"Shinji, hold me?" He doesn't say anything. He just wraps his other arm around her. Once she feels both arms around her, his chest against her head, she lets go. "My parents, Shinji! Some shit-bag murdered my parents for no good reason!" Shinji doesn't say anything, he just holds his beloved as she cries. "The shit-bag used a bomb, but they survived it! They died when the wave washed over them!" She gulps for breath before going on.
"And my poor Grandfather was conned into implanting me and all those other women! His assistant may have conned him into it, but she was a victim too!" Her tone then turns pleading. "Shinji, please tell me this world will make sense! That everything will be alright! Even if it's just a lie, I need to hear it!"
"It'll make sense, Ritsuko. Everything will be alright. That's my truth. Let it be your truth, too." Ritsuko doesn't say anything. She just listens to his heartbeat and is lulled to sleep by it.