Shinji Steel 43
Disclaimer; I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or Max Steel. Wish I did, though.
Author's Notes; Fair warning ahead of time. This chapter has death of an OC within. Hint; who haven't we seen in chapters?
(Three weeks after the 10th Angel; NERV HQ)
"What? You want all three of us to be naked for this?"
"That's right, Asuka." Misato's voice is nonplussed as she goes on. "The area you're going into is an ultra-clean environment. So just showering won't be enough. Which is why you'll go through seventeen stages of cleaning."
"Okay, but why do we have to be naked?"
"We're trying to determine the amount of interference from the lack of plug-suits, Pilot Sohryu. Once we've established that, we can design the next generation of plug-suits." When Akagi stops speaking, however, Misato steps in. A teasing lilt to her voice.
"I thought you'd be eager for the chance to be naked with Shinji and for him to be naked with you."
"MISATO!" Asuka's face is beet red as the redhead goes on. "I was hopelessly infatuated with a really cute guy that's already taken!" Yet it doesn't stop Misato one bit.
"You could always have a ménage a trois with Shinji and Rits. And let me tell you, it was a Hell of a time with Ritsu, Kaji and me." Shinji's face is beet red as well while a still-blushing Asuka seemingly considers it.
"I'll discuss it with Takamiya when I see her again. But, for now, can we please get this underway. I wanna check out the goods on Shinji."
"Gwak!" Shinji's stunned expression only gets the brazen redhead to giggle. 'No good can possibly come from "that" idea.' All further thoughts are ended when the cleaning commences. Fifteen minutes later, when all the stages had passed, Shinji can't help a jab.
"So, Misato, where's the wax?"
"What wax, Shinji?"
"The wax for us, of course. I mean, you sent the three of us through a virtual 'car wash'. But you forgot the frickin' wax!" That in itself gets Rei and Asuka to titter in merriment and Shinji to guffaw. Misato, however, can't help but sigh in exasperation before chuckling herself.
"I guess I did. Next time, you three. Now get to your plugs and prepare for the experiment."
"Roger!" As the three head for the bay where the simulation bodies are, Shinji notices Asuka peering at him over the top of the frosted privacy glass.
"Asuka?"
"Yes, Shinji?"
"I hope you were kidding about asking Rits." When Asuka doesn't say anything, but just smiles sultrily, he gulps and asks, "You were kidding, weren't you?"
"Well, truth of the matter is…" Asuka's sultry smile changes to a mischievous smirk as she adds, "I was." She then giggles as she says, "I'm not dumb enough to forget you're a one woman man. Besides, I seriously doubt Takamiya would want to share you. She owns you lock, stock and barrel."
(Takamiya house; same time; Ritsuko's room)
As she puts the freshly-completed bodysuit on, Ritsuko lightly brushes her fingers over the 'baby bump' Deidre had put into place. What appears to be a baby bump is actually an extra layer of armor to protect Ritsuko's womb from getting stabbed or otherwise damaged from the outside. Of course, Deidre said she did it so no one would know it's Ritsuko in the black-gold bodysuit.
She then glances over the dragon-styled helmet. Gold in color, with the upper body of the helmet molded to resemble a dragon's face. Snout extended over her face with a dark visor attached downward to it. She tried it on earlier and found it deepened her voice slightly. But just enough to keep her from being positively identified. At least from what Psycho said, anyway.
Upon hearing a knock at the door, Ritsuko hurriedly grabs the zipper's tether and pulls it upward. Feeling the material meld itself to her nude body, she can't help but grin at the thought of Shinji seeing her in the suit without her helmet. Along with the thought of him wanting to see her out of it, with her being only too happy to do so.
"Ritsy?" Deidre's query is the equivalent to ice water being splashed over her. Ritsuko can't help but blush and smile sheepishly. Even if Deidre can't see her due to the closed door.
"I'm okay, Mom. Just daydreaming about…"
"What Shinji would think if he saw you like that?"
"Yeah." Crossing to the door and opening it, she spreads out her arms in a modeling pose and grins. "What do you think?"
"I think once you get that helmet on, 'Dragonette' is finally born." Deidre then smiles before putting her hands onto the 'bump'. "Of course, with 'Dragonette' appearing to be expecting…"
"Mom!" Deidre can't help but chortle at Ritsuko's 'whine', with Ritsuko snickering herself. "I still can't believe you did that."
"Sorry, baby, but a future Grandmother's gotta protect her future grandbabies any way she can." Giving Ritsuko a tender peck on her forehead, she adds, "Let's go show Psycho how you look."
"Right." Picking up her helmet, she puts it on and secures the chin strap before grinning. In effect becoming 'Dragonette'. "I can't wait to see his face." Deidre can't help but giggle lightly before leading her daughter to the family room. Upon arrival, she sees Psycho sitting still, yet his foot tapping anxiously.
"You look like a Father-to-be waiting for his kid to be born, Psycho." When Psycho looks up at the voice, he can't help but smile warmly at her. The smile goes even bigger upon seeing her midsection.
"You look like a Mother-to-be about to go out for one more job before stopping." 'Dragonette' can't help but smirk as she turns to the side and puts her right hand onto the 'baby bump'.
"What can I say? The 'Father' of my 'baby' is in a bad fix and I intend to help him any way I can." Psycho gives 'Dragonette' a nod before getting up.
"Let's go. NERV's doing some kind of experiment. I found a blind spot in the surveillance system today and figured we can use it to our advantage."
"How far does it go?"
"All the way to Terminal Dogma." Handing her a map, he adds, "I took the precaution of looping the surveillance feeds along the corridor marked on the map there. But the loop can only last so long." Dragonette gives a nod.
"How long?"
"You've a window of three hours, so keep it basic. Infiltrate via the blind spot, follow the looped route in and out, and exfiltrate via the blind spot." Dragonette nods before biting her lower lip thoughtfully.
"What do you think I'll find?"
"Hopefully some answers. Maybe more questions. Dunno, really. Never been down there myself. Pilot Ayanami, however, was about a week after the return of 'Commander Dumbass' and Vi-Co Fuyutsuki." Dragonette's attention is grabbed by that as Psycho goes on. "Her Evangelion was walking down into the bowels of NERV. A long lance in hand."
"So I find the lance and its location before going from there."
"Yep. That's the general idea. But you may want to be ready to adapt."
"I will." Grabbing Deidre up into a hug, Dragonette feels her Mother return the embrace. "I'll see you later, Mom."
"I'll see you later, Ritsy." As the two exit, Deidre can't help but feel a sense of dread for her little girl. 'Please, Mr. and Mrs. Takusona, watch over Ritsy and bless her mission.'
(NERV HQ; simulation body lab; ten minutes later)
As he sits in the simulation plug, Shinji finds himself getting bored just sitting around. So, he calls Misato.
"So, Misato, just how long is this supposed to take anyway?"
"No need to worry about that, Shinji. We'll let you know when we're done." Before Shinji can even nod, the Base's alert blares. "No way! An Angel? Evac the lab and simulation plugs from the bodies! Go, go, go!" Before Shinji can even ask, he feels his plug launched upward.
(Outside NERV; blind spot)
"What the fuck?" Dragonette can't help but feel anxious upon seeing three plugs fly upward. "Are those entry plugs?"
"They are." When Dragonette starts heading toward their trajectory, Psycho stops her. "That's not your objective tonight. They'll be recovered later on tonight once whatever's going on has been resolved."
"But why didn't they launch the Evangelions if it's an Angel?" At those words, the three bio-mechanical titans come up from the ground. Getting her to roll her eyes. "Great. But how're they going to pilot them if they're not in there?"
"That's gonna have to wait, I'm afraid." Kinking his head to the side, he indicates the vent and says, "Now go."
"Right." Shimmying herself into the vent, Dragonette can't help but part with a gripe. "I can't help but feel like a feminine version of 'John McClane'. Crawling my ass into a vent just to get answers." Psycho can't help but chuckle at that 'Die Hard' reference. Putting the vent cover haphazardly back into place, he looks back over to where the plugs had landed.
'If I was in Shinji's shoes, I'd pick this to be the best time to infiltrate as Max Steel Jr.'
(Shinji's plug; same time)
'Well, with nothing better to do with my time, and NERV in disarray of sorts…'
Switching over to Max Steel Jr., he opens the entry plug, watching the LCL splash out, and expels the LCL from his lungs. Hopping out of the plug into the water, nude no less, he begins stroking his way to shore. Upon making contact with the shore, he makes his way to a stash he'd hidden. Five of which total. Opening the stash, he quickly 'dresses' into his 'N-Tek' bodysuit, secures the stash to his person and starts running at a sprint. Contacting the others as he does so.
'This is MX2. I'm on my way into NERV now.'
"I didn't give clearance for action, MX2. What's going on?"
'NERV's in disarray, Jefferson. All three plugs were jettisoned, but not before I heard the Angel Alert blare.' At that, Berto voices up.
"That can't be right! I didn't pick up anything on my patch-in to the Alert systems. Whoa, hold one." Keys could be heard clacking on Berto's end before he speaks again. "Okay. I'm getting a real-time transmission from Misato. Asuka, you with us?"
"Loud and clear, Mr. Martinez. Need me for anything?" Max Jr. can't help but feel that she's chomping at the bit for something to do. Quite frankly, he doesn't blame her one bit.
"Not for right now. Just be ready to become an alibi of sorts."
"Oh, shoot. Maybe next time?" Asuka's voice is hopeful, getting Max Jr. to grin.
'Maybe if we feel you can handle it. For now, though, just stay safe.'
"Roger. So, what's Misato saying?"
"Patching you in right now." A second later, they both hear Misato's voice.
"Requesting permission to use C-6 on the MAGI." Immediately, they hear Akagi's voice.
"Destroy the MAGI? Are you mad, Major Katsuragi? Without the MAGI, Tokyo-3 can't function."
"And if the MAGI blow us to Kingdom Come, there won't be a Tokyo-3 and Third Impact will most assuredly happen when the next Angel arrives." Next thing they know, Gendo speaks up. His tone cold.
"Enough bickering. Doctor Akagi, you are to find a way to excise the 11th from the MAGI. If not find a way for it to coexist with the MAGI."
"Yes, Commander." Berto ends the patch in before sighing disgustedly.
"How can he be related to you? I mean, you're nothing alike."
'I know what you mean. Best I can figure is lousy luck.' Upon nearing NERV, he sees a partially open vent and kinks an eyebrow in interest. 'Looks like someone had the same idea as I did.'
"Looks like it, hermano. Be careful."
'I will. Going in.' Making his way into the vent, he doesn't notice a gleefully-grinning Psycho watching from around the corner.
'Ah, right on schedule.' Grinning still, Psycho brings up a comm. headset and sets it to Deidre's frequency. "This is 'Gunny' to 'Dragon Den'. 'Hatchling' and 'Knight' are both in."
"Acknowledged, 'Gunny'. Do either of them know they're both inside?"
"Negative on that. 'Knight' noticed entry, but doesn't know it's 'Hatchling' that preceded him. Ironic, come to think about it."
"How so?"
"I mean, think about it. This is either the 'first time' they'll meet or even knowing of the other existing as their other selves! Who knows? They might even start flirting!" Deidre can't help but snicker softly while Psycho lightly guffaws.
"Yeah, I see what you mean, 'Gunny'. 'Dragon Den' out." Upon ending contact, Psycho puts his comm. away and chortles.
"I'll give them a thirty minute head-start before I start 'doing my job'. Should give them enough time to snoop around." Walking away from the corner, Psycho chortles once more before looking up at the ceiling of the Geofront. "All we need now is a big-ass moon-roof up overhead. The sky must look so beautiful tonight."
(Inside NERV; bridge)
As Akagi clambers up into a fully-raised 'Caspar', Misato reaches down into her pocket before looking over at Maya. Wishing they'd had a chance to talk about the events surrounding the 10th Angel. But, as luck would have it, Akagi's project for the Dummy Plug System rendered the tech too busy to talk. Rather than focus on being unable to talk, Misato clambers up into 'Caspar' behind Akagi. Upon seeing notations scribbled onto pieces of paper, she can't help but snicker at seeing one that tickles her funnybone.
'Ikari, you jerk!'
"I wonder who's responsible for that one?" Akagi looks back at Misato. Upon seeing Misato point, she looks and sighs.
"My Mother. It's her handwriting."
"Ah." Upon seeing an input port, Misato grins as she brings out the new relay Berto had sent her and plugs it in. Making sure to cover it as best she can, she goes on. "You know, it's really too bad Berto couldn't send me a new relay. I'm sure he'd love a chance to help in this one."
"I'm sure he would've, Misato. But, since he couldn't, not much use in talking about it."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." She then grins upon hearing Berto's voice.
"You did good, Misato. I'm tapping into 'Caspar' now. I'll see if I can 'convince' the Angel to come my way." Misato gives a nod. All the while hoping Shinji's having better luck than she is.
(En route to Terminal Dogma; Dragonette)
'Okay, this place is so giving me the creeps. It's almost like a friggin' tomb in here!' Dragonette tentatively peers around and gulps before heading onward. 'But I can't let myself be crept out by it. Shinji's depending on me so we can get past what "Dumbass" has in mind for him and move on with our lives.'
Upon coming across a massive cavern, Dragonette peers downward when she gets to a fence. The sight below can't help but make her stomach churn horrendously.
"Holy shitballs." Tapping the right side of her helmet, Dragonette snaps a picture of the sight below her. Tapping one on her helmet's left side, she begins dictating. "I seem to have found an EVA graveyard of sorts. Six skeletons, all looking as if they'd been here for years. Really macabre, the sight is." Next thing she knows, she feels what seems to be a barrel of a weapon against her back.
"Well, now, what've we here? A cute girly in a hot outfit."
The voice is male and quite perverse. Upon feeling a hand on her shoulder, she feels the hand yank her around. Allowing her to come face-to-face with a male Section-2 Agent. The man grins as he looks her up and down. When his eyes happen upon her 'baby bump', his grin goes even more perverse.
"A preggo, too. How far along are ya?"
"None of your concern." The man's grin fades to a scowl before he balls up his right fist. Pulling it back, he sees Dragonette brace herself.
"So you're not afraid I'll beat the little bastard out of you, huh? That suits me just fine." Just as he starts throwing the punch, he feels his momentum stopped. "Huh?"
"Come now, old bean." The voice is new, male, caring and out of thin air. Getting Dragonette to heave a sigh of relief. "Don't you know it's bad manners to try assaulting expectant women?"
(En route to Terminal Dogma; Max Steel Jr.; three minutes ago)
As he goes along the blinded hallway, Max soon sees a figure in a black-and-gold bodysuit. The figure is distinctly feminine and slender.
'Berto, you see what I see?'
"Sure do, hermano. In a way, the outfit reminds me of Dragonelle." Max hears a chiming on Berto's end as Berto adds, "Misato plugged in the new relay."
'Good to know. Good luck on your end. Stealth mode.'
As his body goes invisible, Max makes his way to about three feet from the figure. As they come across a cavern, Max can't help but feel curious himself. Looking over, his eyes can't help but go wide at the sight of the massive skeletons down on the cavern floor.
'Skeletons of failed Evangelions, perhaps?' Upon hearing a gurgle from the figure beside him, he looks to his left and sees the figure's having a hard time keeping herself from vomiting. 'Can't say I blame you.' He then hears her speaking in a dictating fashion and realizes she's making notes.
Out of the corner of his eye, he sees a black-suited man coming up to behind the figure. Assault rifle in an attack stance. He then sees the man jab his rifle's barrel into her back and hears him speak. His tone perverse.
"Well, now, what've we here? A cute girly in a hot outfit." Upon seeing the Section-2 man yank the figure around, he sees a distinct baby bump on the figure's abdomen. The man's resultant grin and tone goes even more perverse as he goes on. "A preggo, too. How far along are you?"
"None of your business."
The figure's tone is flat, yet sharp. Giving Max the idea that she's sure she'll survive anything thrown at her. At the same time, he decides to assist when the Agent balls up his right fist.
"So you're not afraid I'll beat the little bastard out of you, huh?" Bringing his fist back, he snarls out, "That suits me just fine." Sending his fist forward prompts Max to react. Grabbing the Agent's wrist, he hears the man. "Huh?"
"Come now, old bean." Smirk to his voice as he stays invisible, and hearing the figure sigh in relief, he asks, "Don't you know it's bad manners to try assaulting expectant women?"
The Agent snarls out as he blindly swings his left fist toward the voice. Only for the woman in front of him to stop his swing and kick him between his legs. As the man collapses in agony, the figure glares down at him.
"Don't you know it's bad manners to try attacking a Good Samaritan? Especially one you can't even see?" Giving him one more kick, she adds, "Idiot." Looking to where her rescuer's voice came from, the figure smiles and says, "Thanks, but I could've handled it."
"I could see that. But I was more worried about your precious cargo." Much to his surprise, the smile goes warmer as she puts her left hand over her baby bump. Gently rubbing it, she softly murmurs.
"My baby's strong. It'll handle anything that asshole can dish out." The smile doesn't fade as she adds, "But I thank you for your gallantry."
"You're welcome." Fading into visibility, he says, "Max Steel Jr."
"I am Dragonette." Max smiles at Dragonette before they both look at the Agent they'd just taken down. "So, what do we do about this jerk?"
Max looks at the railing and over at the wall nearest to them. Upon seeing a rope, he looks back and Dragonette and waggles his eyebrows. Getting the idea, Dragonette can't help but giggle out. Her voice thoroughly amused at the meanness.
"You're terrible!"
"He deserves it for even thinking of trying to hurt your baby." Going to the wall and grabbing hold of the rope, he brings it over and ties up the Agent. "Now that he's 'all tied up', he can go 'over the edge' of the fence." Dragonette can't help but chortle at his bad puns as he hoists the Agent over the edge of the fence.
"So what's gonna happen to him now?"
"Oh, he'll just 'hang around' until someone comes looking for him." Dragonette and Max share a chortle as they walk along. As they walk, Max then asks, "So what're you doing in a dump like this?"
"Looking for answers." Playing her cover to the hilt, Dragonette can't help but be pleased with the lessons she'd been given. 'Answer, but not by much.'
"Ah." Looking over Dragonette's suit, his eyebrows can't help but arch upward. "Is that Dragon-skin body armor?"
"It is. How can you tell?"
"Its appearance is of scales on a dragon. Hence…"
"The 'Dragon-skin' name." At Max's nod, Dragonette can't help but comment, "You're well-educated, Max Jr." Max can't help but shrug at that.
"I try to be. Of course, it's not exactly easy with all those 587s out there." Dragonette can't help but find herself curious.
"What's a 587?"
"All the naked people walking around." Dragonette can't help but let out a peal of laughter.
"Yeah. I can see how getting an education would be hard with a bunch of naked people walking around." As she laughs, she lightly shoves Max playfully before moving ahead of him. "So how about you? What's a nice guy like you doing down here?"
"I'm part of an investigation into the activities of NERV. There're too many questions about what they're doing." Dragonette can't help but gasp out in shock.
"My God. We're working on the same thing."
"How so?"
"I know some people that are in the middle of this mess. If I can find proof positive, they've a good chance at surviving."
"Agreed." With that, the two walk further along until they come across a familiar sight. 'Berto, is it just me, or does this place look eerily familiar?'
"It looks like Rei's old apartment." Unknown to Max, Dragonette lets out a shudder.
"Let's go on further. This place here is making my skin crawl."
"Right."
Leading his newest cohort further on, they soon come across a door marked 'LCL Plant 05'. As the two look around, they see doors marked similarly, yet numerically different. What sets it apart from the other doors is the first thing Max sees.
"Interesting. Of all the 'LCL Plant' doors, this is the only one with a keycard lock."
"Can you hack it?"
"I think so." Opening a pouch on his kit, he brings out a cord and plugs it in. Reaching into his kit again, he brings out a palmtop computer and powers it up. "I think it'll take a minute. Watch my back, okay?"
"You got it."
(Command Bridge; same time)
"Ready on this end, Doctor Akagi!"
"Good work, Maya!" Turning to Misato, she nods and asks, "Ready, Misato?"
"As I'll ever be, Ritsu. Let it rip." Akagi nods as she and Maya tap in codes in dead sync while Misato listens to Berto on his end.
"Okay, here's the situation with Max Jr. He made contact with a girl calling herself 'Dragonette' a short time ago. A Section-2 Agent was about to hit her when Max interceded. They're now collaborating of sorts. To what end, I have no idea and… Mother of God." For some reason, Misato can't help not liking what Berto said.
(Terminal Dogma; one minute ago)
Casting her gaze over Max's back, Dragonette can't help but think, 'Yummy! All I gotta do is imagine Shinji with a back like that. Even though he's fine the way he is, of course. But he could still use a little more meat on his bones.' True to Max's word, the door opens a minute later. A giggling Dragonette pecks Max on his cheek as he waves her on in.
"Why thank you."
They don't too far in, however, when Dragonette sees a sight that ultimately causes her to vomit. Without warning, she violently retches onto the floor. Max rubbing her back gently as she catches her breath.
"My God. What is that?"
The sight of the massive tank is one thing. But the contents of it caused her to vomit. She can then hear giggling through the glass, causing her ire to stir toward the duplicates of Rei Ayanami.
"You think that's funny, do you?"
"Easy, Dragonette." Max's calming voice gets her attention as he goes on. "It's not their fault they're giggling nonsensically." Gulping, he sends, 'You seeing what I'm seeing?'
"You bet, hermano. Even Kat lost her lunch at the sight of the Rei clones."
'No wonder Rei said what she said the night we took down the 5th Angel.'
"Sorry, Jr. I should've kept a more open mind than that." Josh's voice can't help but cause Max to shake his head gently.
'It's okay, Dad. Heck, if I was in your shoes, I'd have found it too far-fetched as well! But at least we now know for sure that Rei's not quite as initially believed.'
Dragonette's gasp of shock gets his attention. Looking toward her, he sees that she's looking at a solitary tube. An extensively-modified version of Rei Ayanami within.
'My God. Berto, you getting this still?'
"Better believe I am, hermano. Ethical boundaries have most definitely been crossed and… Max, are those fingers on the clone's hands familiar to you by any chance? Along with those wings?" Max looks at them and his eyes go wide in horror.
'Birdman. Her fingers and wings look like Birdman's!' Looking around frantically, he sees another tube. Fifteen feet from the other tube and the tank. Its contents a familiar form that's nude.
"My God. Birdman."
Making his way to the tube, not noticing Dragonette behind him, he looks up at the man's unconscious form. LCL flowing around it, with Birdman seemingly asleep.
"What've they done to you?" Clenching his right fist, he calls out, "Going turbo!"
Sending his fist into the tube, he shatters it. Allowing the LCL to flow away from Birdman's face. As Birdman slumps down into Max's arms, he slightly stirs.
"Whuh? Where am I?" Vaguely aware of being set down onto a cold floor, he blearily opens his eyes and smiles softly. "Now I know I'm in Hell if the one I wake up to is Max Steel Jr."
"Not by a long shot, Birdman." Max then looks over at Dragonette and asks, "Can you please see if you can find a robe of some kind to cover him up with?" Dragonette gives Max a nod as Max turns back to his long-absent foe. "I was wondering about where you were."
"Nice to see you care for those that hate your guts, Steel." Birdman lets out a snide chuckle before asking, "Just where is here, anyway?"
"Tokyo-3 NERV branch." Birdman nods his understanding before Max asks, "What's the last thing you remember?" Birdman thinks back to his last memory.
(Flashback)
As Birdman was led along by Captain Chiron, he tried to make idle chatter. However…
"Shut your mouth, freak. You may be Commander Ikari's 'special guest', but that doesn't mean we'll get to know one another all that well."
Chiron's stone silence after that rattled Birdman's nerves somewhat, but the man rallied himself back together. Five minutes later, Chiron grinned evilly as he turned back toward Birdman.
"Here we are, Mr. Birdman. Your 'suite' for the time you're with us for recovery."
Birdman barely had a chance to notice the tank that has naked girls within when he felt a blunt impact to the back of his head. As he went unconscious, he vaguely saw a woman with shoulder-length blond hair walking up to him before going into the darkness.
(End Flashback)
"That's the last thing I remember, Steel." Max gives Birdman a nod as Dragonette steps forward with a robe for him to cover himself with. As he puts it on, Birdman murmurs, "Why thank you, young lady."
"You're welcome." Dragonette turns to Max and asks, "When was the last time you saw this guy?"
"About six, maybe seven months. Tops."
Max can't help but shrug before he looks back over toward the modified Rei-clone. Unaware that Birdman's doing the same thing. Next thing he knows, Birdman's shrieking in outrage.
"How dare they!" Getting up from the floor, he screams out. "They tampered with an innocent little girl! Those heartless fiends!" Striding toward the tube, he picks up a stool and wields it like a club. "They used my self-work to turn her into a feminine mockery of me!"
(NERV Command Bridge; same time)
"Okay, Maya, one more string of code."
"Okay, Doctor Akagi!"
As the two enter their respective codes, Maya can't help but notice the 11th Angel being attracted to something within the MAGI, yet not. Putting it out of her mind, somewhat, she enters the last of her code. As she readies to hit 'Enter', the MAGI suddenly clear up.
The red areas signifying Angelic presence changing colors to blue signifying clear. The next voice she hears is music to her ears. Though she'd have preferred knowing that they'd actually done it.
"Attention. Self-destruct of the MAGI has been deactivated by a time of one second. All peripherals are returning to normal."
(Terminal Dogma; one minute ago)
Swinging the stool toward the tube, he feels the stool ricocheting against the tube. Along with the vibrations from the impact reverberating against his hands. Dropping the stool, he winces as the reverberations fade from his hands.
"Note to self; Never do that again!" Looking over at Max, he asks, "Any chance you can punch through the tube there?"
"I can try. But something tells me that tube's made of thicker materials." Max then grits out, "Going turbo!" Slamming his fist against the tube, he notices that it's undamaged still. "Crap. If my punch can't get through, then what will?" At that point, Dragonette speaks up.
"High explosives, perhaps?" The others with her look toward her before pondering. Before either can answer, though, a synthesized voice speaks up.
"Attention. Self-destruct of the MAGI has been deactivated by a time of one second. All peripherals are returning to normal." Max and Dragonette can't help but feel unnerved by that.
"I think that's our cue to leave." Dragonette nods while Birdman looks back toward the tube.
"What about that poor girl they'd tampered with?" Dragonette steps right up to him and grabs the front of the robe she'd just given him.
"We'll contend with that later on. For now though, we'd better get ourselves and you out of here. Let's go!" Yanking him onward, Dragonette strides out. Birdman and Max following her at a steady run. Birdman, however, can't help but feel a slight pain in his back as they run.
"Man, I think all this time of not using my wings has had a detrimental effect on my body." As the pain fades somewhat, Birdman shakes it off and adds, "But I've come too far to give up now."
"That's the idea, Birdman. Just work your way through. Once we're clear of here, you can relax."
"Oh, I'll be more than clear, my boy. Once I'm away from you, I'm leaving Tokyo-3 to fly to Tibet. Maybe I can get some peace over what'd happened to me in that nest."
"You're still upset over that? Birdman, it was an accident that you couldn't have expected. You gotta lay your burden down, man."
"Oh, like you'd know about burdens, Steel." Dragonette can't help but roll her eyes behind her visor about their bickering back and forth.
"Do I have to give you two a time-out?" Her words get their bickering to stop as she turns around before going on. Her voice a cold hiss.
"Max is right, Birdman! It was a freak accident that can happen to anyone! Forgive yourself already! Max, you may have burdens of your own! But you should take your own advice than just dish it out! Clear?" Upon seeing them nod silently, Dragonette nods back and says, "Now, since that's settled, let's get our asses out of here!"
With that, she turns around and strides ahead. Two chagrined males following behind and silent. Well, semi-silent, anyway.
"She sure knows how to take control, doesn't she?"
"That she does, Birdman. That she does." Smirking, he adds, "Of course, it could be due to the baby bump she's sporting." Birdman only grunts his agreement. Dragonette can't help but roll her eyes from hearing Max's comment. Tenderly putting her hands onto the 'bump', she smiles softly.
'I wish it was that simple.' When they get outside the Geofront, Birdman grins as he takes flight.
"I don't know about you two, but it's good to be able to spread my wings again! Till next time, Steel!" Cackling as he flies away, Birdman does a loop and barrel roll, adding, "Take care of that baby, Dragonette!"
"You better believe I will!" Dragonette and Max both watch Birdman fly away. She then softly murmurs, "We saved a life and set a soul free the same night, Max."
"That we did, Dragonette. That we did."
The moment, however, isn't meant to last. As Birdman suddenly explodes in mid-air. Their eyes can't help but go wide in horror as the former ornithologist plummets to the ground. In disbelief, Max races forward. Dragonette behind him.
"Birdman!" Max easily beats Dragonette to where Birdman had fallen to. Upon arrival, he finds Birdman panting in agony. Going right to the man's side, Max drops to his knees. "My god! Hang in there, Birdman!" Wordlessly, Birdman takes hold of Max's hand and smiles softly through his agony before speaking.
"I don't seem to have long, my boy. So allow me the honor of your company just once. Not as an enemy, but as one needing comfort." Max gives Birdman a nod as he goes on. "It's been quite a ride for us, hasn't it, my boy? I go make trouble, you show up, we share banter and you kick my ass into the birdcage." Realizing this is the end for Birdman, Max nods. Using his given name, Max goes on.
"It has, Joseph. It has." Joseph smiles softly as Max feels his heartbeat slowing.
"It's been a privilege to have been one of your foes, Max Steel Jr." Aware of Dragonette arriving behind Max, Joseph's smile widens as he says, "Dragonette, I want you to do something for me."
"I will, Birdman." Joseph gives her a soft nod before his face contorts into pain. Forcing himself to smile through the pain once more, he speaks again.
"I want you to keep this smart-ass on the straight and narrow." His heartbeat slowing to nothing, Joseph whispers, "I'm glad I got to fly just one last time. Good…" His voice trailing off, Joseph dies. His eyes soon glaze over, prompting Max to brush them closed.
"Good-bye, Birdman." Max is soon aware of Dragonette hefting him upward and shoving him forward.
"Hurry, Max. Section-2's coming up. They must've heard the blast."
"Right."
With that, the two race through the forest surrounding the Geofront before turning back. Max's eyes focus on where Joseph's corpse is resting. A freshly-arrived Psycho leaning beside the body and checking his watch. A younger Agent at his side. Focusing his ears, he listens to Psycho and the Agent speaking.
"I'm calling it. 2100 hours Tokyo-3 time."
"Who do you think he was, Captain?"
"I think his alias was 'Birdman'. Given name, Joseph Jones."
"I heard of him, sir. World-renowned ornithologist. I was a big fan of his works in high school." The Section-2 Agent that admired him adds, "I don't think he ever got over what'd happened to him. But, a couple of things are bothering me."
"What're they, kid?"
"How the Hell did he get into the Geofront? Even more, what the Hell happened for him to be blown out of the air like that?"
"Very good questions, kid." Psycho then rises after covering Birdman's corpse with a blanket the Agent quickly hands to him. "Questions, I'm afraid, will never be answered."
"I don't buy that, sir." Psycho looks up at the Agent and lightly chortles.
"I think you're in the wrong line of work, kid. You should've been an investigator."
"Actually, I am working through college to get my Degree in Criminal Justice." The Agent's sheepish tone gets Psycho to chuckle some more.
"Keep at it and you'll go far, kid. Just like some people I'd known from before your time." Smirk evident in his voice, Psycho adds, "You might even wind up with them some day."
"I will, sir."
Max ends listening in as Dragonette moves away from him. Her footsteps unsteady. Making his way to her side, he gently puts his right hand onto her shoulder.
"You okay?"
"I wish I was. I'd never seen anyone die before. Not even in a horrible fashion like that." Putting her hand over Max's, she murmurs, "I'm more worried about you, though. I mean, you've clearly known him longer somewhat."
"I've got support from my friends and family. I'll be okay."
Upon Dragonette letting his hand go, he silently steps away. Missing her turning to face him. Upon not seeing him, however, she looks around.
"Max?" Lightly scowling, she mutters, "He's as bad as Shinji with that crap."
With that, she begins making her way to her prearranged exit point. In five minutes, she arrives and sees Psycho's sedan coming toward her. When its rear passenger door draws even to her, she opens it and gets in. Huddling herself down onto the floor, she starts shaking in sorrow as Psycho drives. The next two minutes are silent until Psycho breaks it.
"How're you holding up?"
"I've been better." Her tears start coming to the front as she starts sobbing. "I failed."
"How?"
"A man died my first fucking time out, Psycho! That's how I failed!"
"Let me be the judge of that. Tell me what happened." Nodding, Dragonette does so. When she's finished, Psycho muses thoughtfully before responding. "You did not fail in any way, 'Nette. There was no way you or Max could've known about what would happen if Birdman tried leaving."
"Meaning…"
"He had a charge implanted into his body. Likely with a proximity trigger. Outside a radius of so much distance, boom."
"Who could be so callous as to do that?" Her tone is snide, as she already has a fairly good idea. Shaking her head free of violent thoughts, she then asks, "What do we do?"
"The only thing we can do is withdraw and lay low until another time to strike comes up." Shaking his head, he adds, "What had happened was quite unexpected and unfortunate."
"You mean…"
"Yeah. In all the missions Max Steel Sr. and Jr. both had taken on before tonight, nobody died. On any side."
"So he's likely hurting as well." Groaning in frustration, Dragonette takes off her helmet. Revealing tear-filled eyes. "I just wish I could comfort him. That way we can comfort each other."
'Oh, I have a good feeling you'll do that when you see each other as yourselves.'
Shrugging, Psycho only drives on silently. Upon reaching the surface ten minutes later, Psycho drives right for the Takamiya house. Upon pulling up outside the house, they see an anxious Deidre waiting outside for them. Unsteadily, Ritsuko exits the car and goes into Deidre's arms.
As Mother and daughter go into the house, Psycho wheels the car away from the house. Intent on generating a spin to tell Gendo regarding the 'breach' in Security he'd 'missed' spotting. As he generates, he clenches his mechanical hand into a fist.
'You may not have been a friend, Birdman, but one way or another, you will be avenged. I swear it.' After making that vow, he can't help but wonder how Shinji's holding up. All the while thinking one thing. 'Knowing the secret identities of people that are supposed to be enemies can be a real pain in the ass!'
(Geofront lake; same time)
Having changed back into Shinji, put his stash back and swimming back to the plug naked, the young man closes the hatch on the plug. Ensuring to soak himself in the remainder of the LCL. Hoping that someone would buy the 'I purged all the LCL I could when I heard you approaching' story. While he waits, however, he can't help but tap his fist onto the command chair in a gesture of contained fury.
'How could I have missed something like that? "Commander Dumbass" is just about evil enough to have a fuckin' bomb put into someone like Birdman! A guy that didn't even want to hurt anyone. Just make his point across regarding avian life! He was an okay guy that didn't deserve what happened!' In his fury, he hears his 'N-Tek' comm. chiming.
'I'm here.'
"You okay, Shinji?" Kat's voice is gentle as she goes on. "We saw the whole thing. Right up to when Birdman died."
'I'll be fine with time and a lot of therapy, Kat. Does "N-Tek" have counselors for this kind of thing?'
"We do. On call, 24/7. You think you may need one soon?"
'I don't think it, Kat. I know it.' Sighing sullenly, Shinji goes on. 'Enough about me, though. How're things on your end?'
"Berto has the 11th Angel contained in the biggest mainframe. He baited it with some obscure information that it somehow found intriguing. Once it had fully entered the mainframe, he cut off all access to the outside world. Wireless, land-line and electrical supplies. Right now he's got it on a generator."
'What'll he do with it?'
"He'll negotiate with it in exchange for its existence."
'What'll he exchange, though?'
"Information as to why the Angels are attacking." Berto's voice is a welcome sound to Shinji's ears as he goes on. "So far, though, I've been getting the silent treatment. If it doesn't accept the deal, I'll just let the generator's fuel run out. Trapping for keeps or possibly killing the Angel inside the mainframe."
'Agreed. The Angels have to be stopped, or at least understood further. How're you communicating with it, anyway?'
"Oh, just a simple keyboard to communicate with the Angel and a simple monitor to read the Angel's replies. If any."
'Yeah, well watch yourself, pal. These Angels are quite unpredictable. You never know what they're gonna do.'
"Yeah. In some respects, they are like us, too. Humanity can be quite unpredictable as well, after all."
'That is too true, Berto.' Shinji's eyes dripping tears for a fallen foe, he adds, 'That is too true.'
Inside her plug, Asuka can't help but hear the exchange among Shinji, Kat and Berto. Her blue eyes dripping tears for a man she'd never met before, she can't help but weep.
'How can Shinji's dumbass old man have that done to a guy like Birdman?' Upon hearing a boat motor coming toward her, she quickly dries her eyes. Not wanting any of the recovery personnel to see her tears. 'I may not have been a field operative of sorts long, but I know a raw deal when I hear one! And Birdman got a raw fucking deal!' When her plug's hatch opens, the LCL spilling out, she smiles upon seeing Maya.
"Boy am I glad to see a woman instead of a man!" Maya can't help but chuckle as the redhead clambers up out of the plug. Wrapping herself into a towel Maya hands her, Asuka asks, "So what happened, anyway?"
"An Angel, Asuka." Her eyes going wide in 'shock', Asuka can't help but shrilly scream out.
"AN ANGEL ATTACKED AND WE MISSED THE CHANCE TO KILL IT?" As a wincing Maya nods, Asuka huffs in annoyance. "If it's not one thing, it's another."
"Well, I don't know if it's any consolation, but the Angel's not dead." Asuka's eyebrows can't help but arch upward intrigued.
"Then what happened to it?"
"I wish I knew."
"Meaning?"
"One minute, we're about to stop the Angel before it could completely overpower 'Caspar'. The next, it just vanishes before we could do it in." Asuka gives Maya a convincing blink of befuddlement before snorting in annoyance.
"Where could it have disappeared to?"
"Dunno." Maya then shrugs as she adds, "In any case, Doctor Akagi is meeting with Commander Ikari regarding what had happened to the Angel." Asuka nods, half-relieved and half-disappointed Maya didn't bring up Birdman and his fate.
"Then I guess all three of us are heading ashore." Maya gives her a nod before replying.
"That's right. Once we pick up Shinji and Rei, all three of you will head ashore for your showers so you can go home."
"Works for me, Maya." Asuka gives the Lieutenant a nod as the boat heads for the next plug.
Upon arrival, Maya activates the external release for the hatch. Resulting in LCL washing out into the water. Upon seeing a blue mop of hair, Asuka can't help but smile that Rei's safe. After the nude blue-haired girl wraps herself into a towel, she goes to sit by Asuka. Upon nearing Asuka, Rei looks at the redhead's face and kinks her head to the side.
"Are you well, Pilot Sohryu?"
"Just fine, Wondergirl. Why do you ask?"
"You seem to have saline residue on your face." Kinking her head again, she adds, "Most perplexing." Asuka only shrugs haplessly, causing Rei to nod in acceptance. Yet as Rei sits by Asuka, she studies the redhead's face intently.
'Pilot Sohryu is concealing something that happened. Something tragic and recent. Will Pilot Ikari as well?' As the boat pulls up to the last plug, Rei looks over at Asuka and sees the redhead's eyes has unshed tears shimmering. Asuka notices Rei's scrutiny and wipes her eyes free of the unshed tears.
"You need a hobby, Wondergirl."
"I do have a hobby, Pilot Sohryu. It's called 'observing human behavior' in order to better understand humanity and all that entails being human."
"Then I guess you're in for a long study, Wondergirl. Because humanity is one big mess. Always has been, always will be."
"I understand." As Shinji exits the plug, Rei can't help but notice something amiss. 'The LCL in Shinji's plug didn't splash out like it did my plug or Pilot Sohryu's.' As Shinji makes his way to the two girls, his nude form wrapped in a towel like them. Sitting down beside them, he tilts his head back.
"It's been one Hell of a night. Hasn't it?"
"You said it, Third. An Angel attacked and we never even got up to bat!"
"I, too, am most disappointed." Asuka sighs in relief, thankful that Rei hadn't taken what she said literally. Only… "Now it seems I will have to wait until the next Angel comes along before I use an EVA-sized baseball bat." Asuka can't help but groan before snorting in amusement.
"And to think I thought you didn't have a sense of humor, Wondergirl."
"So I did well?"
"You did okay. A literal punch-line is a good start."
"Does a punch-line involve punching people?" Asuka warily looks over at Rei to see if she's smiling at all. Upon seeing Rei's face being devoid of humor, Asuka can't help but gulp. Rei, however, loses her composure before bursting out in laughter. "It seems I can do deadpan humor as well."
Shinji can't help but snicker at how Asuka got played. In three seconds, Asuka begins laughing as well. Maya, on the other hand, only giggles lightly. Her mind thinking about the 11th Angel's disappearance.
'No way it could've just left on its own without a trace!'
(Gendo's office; two hours later)
"You are certain of this, Akagi?"
"I am, Commander. The 11th Angel just up and vanished from the MAGI like it wasn't even there." Gendo lightly grimaces before looking down at the scrolls before him.
"There was nothing in the scrolls at all about the 11th Angel vanishing. That's the problem right there, Akagi." The blond woman only nods before Gendo speaks again. "How did Birdman regain consciousness and attempt to leave the Geofront? You yourself said that he'd remain unconscious until we were finished with him. Rendering him expendable."
"I don't know, Commander. But I did notice the tube he was in had been punched with great force and thusly shattered from the outside."
"So we have an interloper among us." Nodding once, Gendo comes to a decision. "Have Birdman buried in a pauper's grave. No mention of his existence or death is to be mentioned. Not by Captain Psycho or the Agent that was with him."
"But, sir, Birdman was only what he called himself. He was once a world-renowned ornithologist."
"It matters not to me whether he studied birds or insignificant insects. The man had more or less outlived his usefulness anyway." His lips going into a cruel sneer, he adds, "I just wish I could have seen his face when the proximity charge blew. The implantation of the charge to his back was genius, Akagi."
"Sir." Waiting for Gendo to either say something more or dismiss her, she finds him about to speak again.
"The Scenario has taken a setback, but a minor one. The loss of the information from Birdman is inconvenient, but I believe we have what we need from him."
"Yes, sir." Looking over her notes, she adds, "The tube containing the 'Custom Model' did have a pair of impact marks on it, but no sign of rupture." Glancing over them again, she grimaces. Only for Gendo to catch it.
"Something more, Akagi?"
"Yes sir. On the floor, there was a puddle of vomit." A tense moment of silence passes before Gendo speaks again.
"Learn anything of note, Akagi?"
"As a matter of fact, sir, yes. Do you remember the Section-2 Agent that we found hanging around, literally, in the EVA dumping ground?"
"Quite well. He'd claimed he'd accosted a woman dressed in a Halloween costume." His eyes narrowing, he adds, "Said woman appeared to be pregnant according to his report."
"There was no sign of the hormone consistent with pregnancy in the preliminary analysis of the vomit."
"So it was either extra padding to protect an empty womb or she was somewhat chubby."
"Correct, sir. But the Agent did report that she was in athletic condition. Leaving the former possibility in the running." Gendo visibly scowls, causing Akagi to nervously gulp.
"There are one too many unknown factors interfering with the Scenario, Doctor. Unless we can find the interlopers, all we can do is wait for them to interfere once more." Pushing his glasses up to the bridge of his nose, Gendo sneers out, "And that is not allowable under any circumstances. Is that clear, Doctor?"
"It is, sir." Looking over her notes once more, she then asks, "What do we do with the 'Custom Model', seeing as we lost the one we're sourcing it from?"
"We proceed as planned, Doctor. Implant Adam into it at your next opportunity. When the time for Third Impact comes along, not even the Third Child will be able to stand against it." His lips going flat again, he adds, "No matter how strong he becomes from here on out, he's only a mere boy." Akagi gives a nod and exits.
Little do both realize that the relay Misato had, unknown to Akagi during the crisis, plugged into 'Caspar' is also a bugging device. One that which works through a building's electrical system. Making any outlet within the building a microphone and transmitter. At the end of transmission, it awaits more.