Shinji Steel 46
Disclaimer; I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or Max Steel. Wish I did, though.
Author's Notes: This chapter has the return of a long-thought dead foe. You won't believe who it is and in what guise. Here we go!
(Women's restroom; Tokyo-3 Bar; same time)
As Akagi retches into the toilet once again, making it two times in the last three hours, Misato grimaces as she holds the fake blonde's hair back.
"Geez, Ritsu, how many times you going to get sick tonight?"
"I don't know, Misato." Ritsu's weak voice can't help but get Misato to feel a twinge of guilt before she shakes it off. "I know I'd avoided drinking to excess unlike you. How can you not be sick before me?"
"I dunno." When Ritsu looks back at her to glare, Misato softly smiles. "But I think I handle it a lot better than you do." That, in itself, gets Ritsu to snort in amusement.
"That you do, Misato. That you do." Sighing as she unsteadily rises, Misato helping her, Ritsu groans. "I think I'll call in sick tomorrow. There's no way I'll be able to work around LCL without feeling nauseous."
"Need a ride?" Aghast, Ritsu looks toward Misato and sees she's not kidding. "I won't drive insanely like I usually do. I don't want to clean up vomit in my car, after all."
"Oh, ha-ha. Very funny, Misato." Striding to the sink to rinse out her mouth, she grins and asks, "How about you and Kaji? You two seem to be getting along better. Especially since after Ena got married. I still can't believe Ena's going to be a Mother. I always thought that…"
"Please, Ritsu, don't go there. Not just yet, okay?"
"Okay." Giving a wry smile, she adds, "If anything, I wish I'd met you before college."
"Why's that?"
"I could've used a friend to help me through my breakup with my high school boyfriend." Misato's eyes can't help but fly wide as she goes on. "It was amicable, at least. So we stayed in touch as much as possible. Then communication was cut off suddenly with no warning or explanation. He sent me a letter dated before the cut-off, telling me that 'He found something that appealed to him and he hoped I found the same'. I tried writing back, but it was returned unopened. Almost as if he'd never existed."
"What was his name?"
"Matt Hanson." Misato's eyes go even wider at that name.
'That was the name of the counselor Shinji and Asuka went to see! They even said they saw a picture of her in his office. But I thought they were joking!' Her lips curling into a devious smile, she concocts a plan before making her face slightly humorous. Just in time for Ritsu to turn back to her.
"He was from America on an Exchange Program." Her cheeks going pink, she murmurs, "There were also times that we'd be called 'Mr. and Mrs. Hanson' during that time. Matt thought it funny as Hell while I found it cute." Her eyes dripping tears, she turns away from Misato. Only for Misato to put her hand on her friend's shoulder.
"You miss him, don't you."
"I do, Misato." Grinning softly, she thinks, 'At least Matt knew how to treat a lady!' Washing her face free of tears, Ritsu sighs. "Enough about my 'love life' from the past. Let's talk about your present love life." Misato's eyes can't help but narrow menacingly, yet playfully, at her.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Akagi."
"I have nothing to lose, Katsuragi. All I have are my cats."
'We'll just see about that. Won't we?' Misato snickers internally as the two exit the restroom. Only to see Kaji sitting by himself. Ritsu notices it and smirks.
"On second thought, Misato, I think I'll catch a cab. I'll leave you two lovebirds to catch up with each other."
"Ritsu!" As the woman walks away, Misato mutters below her voice. "She's heading out now. Ready on your end?"
"We are. Akagi's stepping out now and is hailing us. We'll take good care of her."
"Thank you." With that, contact ends and Misato turns to Kaji before yawning. "I think I'll call it a night too. Walk me home, Kaji? I'm not feeling up to driving tonight."
"Sure." Misato gives him a thankful smile as they exit the bar. Misato pleased with how things are turning out. Kaji unaware that Ritsu is now as good as in 'N-Tek' hands.
(NERV HQ; Gendo's Office; same time)
Upon reading the report of the cultists attempting to harm the rebellious Third Child and the girl with him, Gendo can't help but shake his head in disgust.
'Another utter failure.' Upon hearing a knock on his office door, he grits out, "Enter." When the door opens, he sees Psycho walking in with an envelope.
"Captain Psycho, I presume it is more 'junk mail' you're bringing me."
"A little bit, and also one piece from the World Courthouse, sir." Gendo's eyes can't help but fly wide open as Psycho puts it down onto his desk. "If I'm needed for anything else, sir?"
Gendo's about to dismiss him when he sees a light familiar to him flashing on his desk. SEELE beckons for him.
"As a matter of fact, Captain, there is someone that's been anxious to meet you. Since you're here and I'm about to meet with them, it'll be killing two birds with one stone."
"Meet me, sir?" At Gendo's nod, Psycho can't help but be befuddled. "Who'd want to meet me, though? I'm not noteworthy enough to be met by anyone important." Gendo can't help but smirk at that.
"What gives you the impression they're important, Captain?"
"If they're meeting an important man like you, sir, they're important. Me, I'm nobody."
"Nonsense, Captain. I see from your past reports ever since you took over where Chiron left off and I can't help but be impressed. Far as I can tell, Captain Psycho, you are noteworthy." Psycho's sheepish grin can't help but get Gendo to lightly snicker as the cyborg nods.
"If you insist, sir." Gendo nods at that before leading him into a darkened room. Psycho can't help but ask, "Is this a haunted house ritual or something?" He then hears chortling from a spot within the shadows.
"Not quite." The new voice gets Psycho's attention as it goes on. "Ikari, what is this nonsense we hear about you being 'severed' from the Ikari name?"
"It's something the Third Child concocted in a fit of vindictiveness against me, Chairman Kiel. I'm working to get it set aside, however."
"Keep at it, Ikari." Noticing the new presence with Gendo, Kiel asks, "Who is this man with you, Ikari?"
"This is Psycho, Chairman Kiel. Recently made Captain of Section-2, even though I had misgivings about him. However, I am now glad my misgivings were unjustified as he has drastically improved the performance of Section-2." If Psycho's face could go beet red, it would. Instead, he only sheepishly grins while scratching the back of his head.
'Now I feel even more mortified!' Thinking about Kiel's voice, he can't help but mentally ask, 'Where have I heard that voice before?' Unaware that Gendo is looking around for the others until Gendo speaks up.
"Where is the rest of the committee, Chairman?"
"I figured it'd be best for a one-on-one conference today. How go the efforts on the Third Child?"
"He's proven to be even more resilient with each passing day. But he's still being worked on."
"Very well, Ikari. Keep at it." Looking toward Psycho now, his form comes into view. Allowing Psycho to see a rotund Caucasian man with a white visor obstructing his eyes. Kiel then grins and says, "Now, if you'll excuse us, I'd like to speak with the Captain for a time."
"Of course, Chairman." Exiting the area, Gendo thinks, 'I wonder what that's all about.'
As Psycho sizes up Kiel, he can't help but feel he knows him from somewhere. Next thing he knows, Kiel smiles softly before speaking.
"It's been a long time, Psycho." Psycho can't help but be confused as he can't remember meeting the man before him.
"Did we meet before, sir? Sorry, but I can't really place you." Kiel can't help but chortle before replying.
"I see you're totally be-fucked, Psycho. Quite understandable." Removing his visor, Kiel remarks, "Maybe this'll help you." With Kiel's eyes now visible to Psycho, he relishes his gasp of shock and next words.
"Dread? Is that really you?" At the nod, Psycho can't help but shake his head. "It can't be possible, though. You're dead."
"Am I? I'm here before you now and breathing still. So I can't be dead."
"But, the transphasic reactor at N-Tek's Del Oro Bay complex exploded! Nobody could've survived that! You should be ashes!"
"I did, but barely." Rising to stretch, he allows Psycho to see an exo-skeleton on his lower section before going on. "The explosion severed my spine and shocked my hair white." Chuckling mirthlessly, he adds, "Of course, it was an excellent beginning for what I had in mind once 'N-Tek' had been forced from foiling any more of my plans." Psycho's jaw can't help but drop before he recovers it.
"You mean, 'Second Impact'? You were behind it?"
"But of course, Psycho. After all, humanity was stagnating at that point in time when I'd happened upon the discovery of a lifetime." Dread gives Psycho a scowl before commenting, "But I can't believe that you'd be here, of all places, and of all things, protecting people from my machinations."
"Things change, scumsucker." Much to Psycho's shock, at what he'd just said no less, Dread chortles mirthlessly.
"So it would seem. Of course, the insufferable Marine in you had initially enabled you to fight against my will. But I have a way we can fix that easily enough."
"How do you propose to do that?" Dread's words about Psycho having been a Marine suddenly get through to him. "I was actually a Marine?"
"Oh yes, Gunnery Sergeant Peter Sychola. I know you all too well as I'd had you declared DOA that night." Psycho can't help but have a sneaking suspicion. Which is confirmed with Dread's next words.
"I wasn't always John Dread, you see. I had another name. A noted Doctor that 'died' a month after you had." Those words can't help but have Psycho thinking what he'd never expected to.
'This isn't happening! It's a nightmare!'
"Doctor… John… D… Readson." Reaching into his side pocket, Dread smirks as he asks, "Before I adjust your personality, have you told Ikari or anyone else anything about our 'N-Tek' enemies?"
"No, I haven't."
"Excellent. I will inform Ikari of them myself in due time. What of Dragonelle?" Seeing his chance to protect the woman he'd come to care for, he gives his reply.
"She was declared dead in Second Impact."
"Pity. I'd had hoped she'd want to aid our plans for 'Third Impact'. Oh well. On to your attitude adjustment."
The next thing Psycho feels is searing agony coursing through his head. All the while, Dread is speaking.
"You will return to the way I'd made you to be! There will be no more 'honor-bound Marine'! You are a rampaging psychopath! You care nothing about human life! Is that clear?"
"YES!" Upon feeling the ending of the agony, Psycho thinks fast as he feels the evil side of him return. 'If I hurry, I can get 'Nelle to get me help!'
"These are your orders, Psycho. You will seek out the Takamiya girl and eliminate her once and for all. Her adoptive Mother as well, should she interfere. Their actions recently have warranted their deaths by my decree. Such a result will indeed get the Third Child back in line. Is that clear?"
"It is." Ensuring his voice is as psychotic as possible, he waits for Dread to dismiss him. He's not disappointed.
"Go, and carry out your instructions!"
"Yes, Mr. Dread." His voice sounding flat and psychotic enough, Psycho exits. His form twitching from the rampant shocks his body had just taken. Upon exiting, he sees Gendo working at his desk. Psycho's exit, in turn, gets Gendo's attention.
"How was the meeting, Captain?"
"It was interesting, Commander."
"Very good." Noticing Psycho's twitching, he arches an eyebrow before asking, "Is all well with you, Captain?"
"Yes, Commander. I'm about to go and kill Ritsuko Takamiya to break the Third Child. If her Mother tries interfering, she'll die too."
"Ah. Carry on, then." Upon Psycho's nod and exit, Gendo sneers evilly. 'It's about fuckin' time something went my way!'
(Misato and Kaji's walk; same time)
Misato gingerly holds her head, grinning ruefully at herself as she remembers her tolerance of alcohol has its limits as well.
"Thanks for holding my hair back, Ryoji."
"You're welcome, Misato." Glancing at her from the corner of his right eye, he asks, "Do you ever wonder about us from before we broke up?"
"Yeah. I do." Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, lest she vomit again, she adds, "I also remember what had happened to cause it."
"Well, I've got a news flash for you. I have no idea as to what happened. One day, we're nuts about each other. The next, boom! Break up city." Giving Misato a soft glare, he asks, "So what happened to us?"
"I'm damaged goods, Ryoji!" Kaji can't help but be taken aback at Misato's declaration. "I was only with you so I can taint the memories of my Father with disgrace! He didn't have to save my life, but he did! You reminded me so much of him, I took the chance! But then…"
"But then what?"
"I fell in love with you. For real. It was then I realized you're too good to deserve that." Tears falling from her brown eyes, Misato sniffles out, "I'm not good enough for you, Ryoji."
"Let me be the judge of that, Misato." Tenderly putting his right hand onto her chin, he moves his lips close to hers until she stops him. "Misato?"
"Kaji, you're about to kiss a woman that vomited from all the booze she drank on her lips. Can you really handle that?" Kaji can't help but chuckle softly as he kisses Misato's forehead. In turn, Misato chuckles, "I thought…"
Her words are cut off as Kaji presses his lips to hers. Wrapping her arms around him, Misato holds him close before they escalate the kiss into a passionate Frencher. When the kiss ends, Kaji gives her a cockily wry smirk.
"I think I can handle it. Can you?" Misato chuckles back as she unwraps her arms before lightly slapping his chest.
"I guess we'll see. Won't we?" Kaji only nods as he nestles Misato into his side. Holding her close protectively as they walk along. Misato asking, "How do you think Shinji and Asuka will take it?"
"Quite frankly, I think they've been hoping this would happen. Just like I was." Misato lightly giggles before sighing.
"I missed you. So much."
"I missed you too." No further words are exchanged as the two walk along.
(Takamiya house; thirty minutes later)
"Ritsy! I'm home!" As Deidre walks into the house, she has a wide smile on her face. "Ritsy!"
Upon not hearing a reply, she looks down and grins upon not seeing her shoes.
"She must be with Shinji still." Shrugging, she heads on further into the house when she hears metal being crushed and a car alarm going off. "What the heck?" Going back to the door and opening it, she hears another car alarm going off and turns her head toward the noise. Only for her jaw to drop in horror.
'PSYCHO!' Upon seeing the man she'd come to care for stirring up mayhem, she can only watch horrified as a woman exits the house diagonally across from hers. A frying pan in hand. 'What's going on, Psycho?' What happens next shocks her.
As Psycho smashes every single car with his face repeatedly, he relishes in the method he'd selected of getting aid.
'If this doesn't work, I don't know what will!' Upon seeing an elderly woman exit a house, frying pan in hand, he waits for her to get close to him before speaking.
"Ah. Just what I need!"
Grabbing the frying pan forcefully away from the understandably freaked out woman, he smacks his mask's lips and proceeds. Holding it bottom-facing his face, he slams it against his face. Repeatedly and with great force.
WHAM
WHAM
WHAM
WHAM
With every WHAM Psycho does, Deidre can't help but feel herself getting sick before getting angry.
'What the Hell happened to you?' Gritting her teeth, Deidre storms out of the house and goes right to his side. Stopping his human arm from moving.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" Psycho can't help but twitch as he brokenly speaks.
"Need… help. Dread's… alive… still. Did… some… thing… to… my… face. Ritsuko… in… danger… as… are… you… 'Nelle. You… and… she… did… some… thing… to… up… set… him... recently."
With that, he slams the frying pan against his face one more time. Succeeding in both knocking him out and leaving a permanent imprint of Psycho's face in the frying pan. As he falls to the ground unconscious, Deidre barely manages to catch him. Settling him down onto the ground and holding him, Deidre begins shaking before looking around.
"GET HELP! SOMEBODY! PLEASE!" Tears starting to fall from her eyes, Deidre cries out, "SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME!" In the background, she hears soft voices speaking.
"Isn't that a member of Section-2?"
"Do we call NERV?"
"How'd he do that without splattering his brains all over the place?"
"Is that metal showing through his face? Freaky." The voices go on until Deidre sneers in disgust.
"If all you're going to do is stand around and not get help, then all of you can just fuck off!" Hoisting herself and him up, she grits out, "You people disgust me!"
With that, she lugs his unconscious form to her van and opens the sliding door. Lowering him as gently as possible into the van, she gazes fondly upon him before sliding the door closed. Striding to the driver's side, she sees one neighbor come up to her, scowl on his face.
"What're you doing, Takamiya? This man disturbed our neighborhood!"
"I realize that, Takashi! But something's wrong with him and even though you don't give a shit about him, I do! So, on that note, fuck you, asshole!" Opening her door and getting in, she hears Takashi speaking again.
"Your actions and words won't reflect well on you at the next neighborhood meeting, Takamiya. You and your daughter may well be forced out of your home."
"Quite frankly, if you snobs consider yourselves true neighbors, then that's fine by me! At least then it'd be a step up!" With that, she pulls the van out of the driveway and murmurs, "Don't worry, Psycho. You'll be alright." As the van exits Tokyo-3 ten minutes later, Deidre checks on the cyborg before grimacing.
'What happened to you, Psycho? What'd you mean by Dread's alive and that he did something to your face?'
Eying her van's phone, she nods and hits a preset number. As it rings, she wonders how best to word it before the other end is picked up.
"Katsuragi/Ikari/Sohryu apartment. Asuka Langley Sohryu speaking."
"Asuka, it's Deidre Takamiya."
"Oh hi, Ms Takamiya! If you're calling about Ritsuko, she's asleep against Shinji in the living room."
"Can you wake her please? I need to talk to her right quick."
"Um, sure. Just a moment." A minute later and Deidre hears a groggy Rits' voice.
"Hey, Mom. How'd the job hunting go?"
"I got a job, though not quite the one I'd been expecting. But is related to construction in a way."
"Hey, it's great news. So, what's up?"
"It's Section-2 Captain Psycho. He had a mishap." Rits' shock is evident in her voice with her next question.
"What kind of mishap, Mom? Is he okay?"
"I wish I could tell you, baby. But I can only tell you this much. Unless you've school, which you do tomorrow, by the way, don't go home until I either get back or give you the 'all clear'. Okay, baby?"
"Okay. I guess I'll 'crash' with Shinji in his room." Rits' giggling erupts as she adds, "I think he likes the idea of me 'crashing' with him quite a bit."
"That's good to hear, Ritsy. At least I know you'll be safest with him than away from him."
"Huh? What do you mean, Mom?"
"I'll explain later, Ritsy. I'll call you when I get further word on Captain Psycho."
"But, he's NERV personnel. Why can't they help him?"
"Because I think someone associated with NERV in some way is the one that did this to him. Talk to you later, Ritsy."
"Um, okay, Mom. Talk to you later." With that, Deidre ends the call and wipes away a tear that's falling from one of her eyes.
'I hate I can't tell you everything, Ritsy. But some things I have to keep concealed from you so you can discover them for yourself.' Hitting another button on the phone, she calls on a person she'd never expected to talk to again.
"Doctor Roilson? You may not remember me, but I was a patient of yours long ago."
"Dragonelle?" The man saying her old name brings a smile to Deidre's face as he goes on. "It's been so long. How've you been?"
"It has and I've been well. I'm a Mother now and my little girl's about to marry."
"Wonderful! Is she with you right now?"
"No. She's with her husband-to-be for her own safety."
"Bad news, huh?"
"To say the least. Reason I'm calling is for that favor you owe me. I have a patient for you."
"Is the patient conscious?"
"No. He knocked himself out by slamming his head against cars and with a cast-iron frying pan."
"Jeepers. I've heard of people having hard heads, but this is somewhat out there." Deidre can't help but giggle while nodding.
"Yeah, well, Psycho's a unique patient. One I believe falls within your specialty, no less."
"I see. Can't wait to treat him. Where are you now?"
"I'm just now leaving Tokyo-3, heading toward Hokkaido. Deidre Takamiya is my current name."
"Okay. I'll meet you at the Hokkaido Airport. You'll be cleared for entry onto the tarmac at the gate. Look for a blue B-2 'Spirit', Deidre."
"Got it. Thanks, Doc." Deidre's voice breaking can't help but get Roilson's attention.
"You care for him, don't you?"
"I do, Doc. I'll fill you in upon arrival." Ending the call, she smiles softly and murmurs, "I do care for him." Her smile turns to a scowl before asking, "What did you mean by Ritsy and I upset Dread, Psycho? What'd we do to him? We all thought he was dead." The drive passes by in silence as Deidre ponders it.
(Katsuragi/Ikari/Sohryu apartment; same time)
As Rits holds the phone, she begins trembling until she feels Shinji's hands on her shoulders.
"You okay, Rits?"
"It's Captain Psycho. Something's happened to him." As Shinji sits by her side, she goes on. "He apparently walked into our neighborhood and wrought some havoc. Mom took him to get help, but not to NERV." Shinji only holds her close as she asks, "Is he going to be okay?"
"I'm sure Deidre will get him to the help he needs. What else did she say?"
"That I'm to 'crash' with you until I hear from her again."
"Then I guess we'll be getting practice on living together, at least." Rits can't help but giggle before sighing.
"Even worse is I have no spare clothes with me. My uniform and extra underwear is at our house. Unless we've school, Mom said for me not to go home, only stay with you so I'd keep safe." Shrugging, she adds, "I guess she figured since you and Asuka are Evangelion Pilots, you'd have a protective detail at all times. Even though you tend to give them the slip with ease." Shinji can only chuckle sheepishly while Asuka snickers.
"Yeah, that's Shinji for you." Next thing they know, the apartment's door opens. Revealing Misato and Kaji. Misato dangling somewhat from Kaji's side. Wincing at Misato's ragged appearance, Asuka asks, "Need any help getting her in, Kaji?"
"That'd be great. Thanks." As Shinji goes to help, with Asuka in tow, Kaji smiles softly at Rits. "Well, now, if it isn't the future 'Mrs. Ikari' before me." Rits can't help but giggle, her cheeks a soft pink. "How are you doing this night?"
"I'm alright, Mr. Kaji. Mom's out of town right now, seeing to Captain Psycho." Kaji's eyebrows can't help but go up intrigued. "So, until she gets back, I'm 'crashing' with Shinji. But seeing as we've school tomorrow, I'll have to see if Shinji can drive me to the house so I can get what I need."
"But of course." Shinji's voice gets Rits to look back at him. A wide smile on her face. "After all, what kind of 'husband' would I be if my 'wife' had to traipse around naked? Even though it'd make school interesting by having a sexy '587' in class." Rits' eyes can't help but go wide before she lowers her eyelids in a sultry manner.
"What's a '587', Shinji?"
"A naked person walking around." Crossing to her, he gently pecks her lips, adding, "And you'd be the sexiest '587', if not the only one." Rits only titters as she pecks his lips right back.
"You charmer." Leading him out, Rits can't help but think, 'Is "587" a common term that people use?'
(Takamiya house; ten minutes later)
Shinji and Rits can only gape in horror at the scene around them. Cars dented massively, a frying pan with a definite impression of Psycho's face on it and an irate Head of the Neighborhood Association. As Hidoriko Takashi makes his way toward the two teens, they can easily see he's infuriated.
"Miss Takamiya, I intend to inform you that your Mother will be held responsible for all that's happened here!"
"How is Ms Takamiya responsible for what happened?" Shinji's voice only stirs Takashi's ire even more.
"This does not concern you, young man!"
"Oh, yes it does!" Rits' voice gets Takashi scowling at her as she goes on. "Shinji's my future husband! As such, any family matter concerns him! If Mother's involved, then he is!"
"Very well, then! Not only will Ms Takamiya be held responsible, I intend to file a grievance with NERV's Commander when it comes to having mentally-unbalanced people in their ranks!" Shinji snorts at that, getting Takashi to glare at him. "You find something amusing, boy?"
"Yeah. The Commander of NERV is mentally-unbalanced himself." Rits can't help but giggle at the burn toward Gendo. "So I really don't think you'll get anywhere with him."
"How do you know him?" Shinji doesn't reply. He and Rits only walk away from Takashi as he sputters angrily. "How do you know him?" Getting no reply still, Takashi snorts incredulously. "Fine, then. I'll find out myself."
As they get inside the house, Rits sighs before shaking her head. Shinji noticing it.
"You okay, honey?"
"I am, baby." Smiling softly, Rits murmurs, "At least we stopped blushing beet red finally."
"Yeah." Giving her a soft kiss, Shinji asks, "Need any help?"
"That'd be great. But…" Rits smirks and adds, "No fucky till we get back to your room."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
Rits nods and turns around. Just before Shinji pinches her ass. Rits can't help but giggle as she leads him into her room. Shinji sees her uniform hanging on the wall and grabs hold of its hanger. Rits, in the meantime, grabs her small duffel bag and starts putting her socks and underwear into the bag. Looking around her room, her eyes can't help but go wide upon seeing her 'Dragonette' suit and helmet under her futon. Shinji looks at her and blinks.
"You okay?"
"Yeah." Rits lightly giggles before she sees her clarinet's case and grins. "Just thinking my clarinet might be what you need for your cassette."
"Couldn't hurt." Shinji picks up the clarinet case and asks, "You need anything else offhand?"
"Not that I can think of." Shinji gives her a nod as she leads the way out of her room.
(Classified location; two hours later)
"Ugh. Note to self. 'No more drinking with Misato when she can clearly still out-drink you'."
"Good evening, Doctor Akagi." At the distorted voice, Ritsu blearily opens her eyes, only to squint them tight at the soft light. "You seem to be having a bad night, Doctor."
"Bad doesn't even begin to describe it. Where am I?"
"You needn't worry about that since you won't be here too long."
"Meaning?"
"You are in deep trouble, Doctor Akagi. We have enough on you to have you put away for five life terms. At least." Ritsu can't help but smile smugly.
"I'm with the UN Agency NERV. Legally, you can't touch me."
"That is true, for the moment. However, NERV's activities of late have made both the UN and the Japanese Government nervous. It's only a matter of time until your status is revoked. Thus making it 'Open Season' both you and Commander Rokubungi." Ritsu can't help but chortle now.
"Now I know you're joking. The Commander's last name is Ikari!" Her chortles getting out of control, she goes on. "Now I know who put you up to this. Very funny, Misato!" Looking around while chortling, she asks, "Where's the camera at?"
"There's no camera and this is no joke, Doctor Akagi." Ritsu's chortles taper off slowly at those words until they stop. "Now that you know we're serious, let's talk."
"Don't I get a Lawyer?"
"Not if you are willing to talk and work with us against Rokubungi." Upon seeing her blink perplexedly, the voice adds, "As of today, Gendo Rokubungi has been severed from the 'Ikari' family name. He's received the paperwork by now. But there are some that suspect that he'll defy that ruling. If he does defy it, then it'll be another charge against him."
"Okay, now as that's cleared up, I'm listening."
"Excellent. First off, what do you know of the 'Scenario' that Rokubungi and a group named 'SEELE' have planned?"
"There are two different versions of it, yet they'll go the same way. Rokubungi's version is intended for him to be reunited with his wife Yui. While all of humanity dies." Snorting, she adds, "I still can't see how Shinji can be even remotely related to him. They're nothing alike!"
"I'll take your word on that. 'SEELE's version?"
"Humanity united into one being, with 'SEELE' posting themselves as Gods over it." Upon feeling her fingers starting to twitch, she mutters, "Fine time for a nicotine fit." Opening her eyes and keeping them open this time, she asks, "Any chance I can get a smoke in?"
"I think we can tolerate it once. The vent above you expels any smoke overhead."
"Thank you!" Eagerly digging into her purse, Ritsu brings out her pack of cigarettes and lighter. Popping a 'cancer stick' into her mouth, she lights up and breathes in. 'Much better.' Nodding toward the light, she says, "Thanks."
"You're welcome. Now, let's talk about the individual known as Birdman and what had been done to him." Ritsu can't help but choke on an inhale. As she coughs to get the smoke out, she glares nastily at the mirror.
"How can you possibly know about Birdman?"
"We've had a few dealings with him. More of a hoot than a bother, but basically harmless. If you were to attack birds, though…"
"His feathers get ruffled?" Silence greets her weak joke, getting her to gulp before going on. "My apologies. I was just trying to describe his mood swings as accurately as I can. Even with the limited information I have on him." The voice speaks again, its tone soft, yet cold.
"In the future, Doctor Akagi, you'd do well to remember that while some people are outlandish, they're still people. Is that clear?"
"It is." Sighing, she goes on. "I found Birdman to be a fascinating individual. Had he been conscious, I'm sure we could've come to an arrangement. Captain Chiron, however, knocked him unconscious before I could even speak."
"What happened after Chiron rendered him unconscious?" Ritsu shudders as she relays what'd happened.
(Flashback)
"There was no need for that, Chiron!" Kneeling at the odd-appearing man's side, she checked for and found a pulse. "He's still alive. Thank goodness."
"I'll do what I have to in order to ensure the safety of NERV and its personnel, Akagi."
"He wasn't even close to attacking me! He was just looking at the Rei-quarium!"
"Funny. That's not what I saw. Birdman was about to attack and I took the proper measures to be sure he wouldn't." Scowling as Akagi checked over Birdman even more, he gritted out, "Why are you checking him further?"
"I have to be sure his brain isn't coming out of his head." Bringing her hand back and seeing it covered in blood, Akagi growled out, "You fractured his skull! Now I have to put him into a medically-induced coma so I can repair what damage I can. Then once I'm satisfied that he's in no further danger, I will proceed."
"Whatever, bed warmer." Chiron started walking away, smirk on his face, commenting, "I think you're wasting your time with him, quite frankly. You know how Commander Ikari is."
"I do. 'Once a person stops being useful, they're not worth keeping around any further'. That's his way of seeing people." Chiron snorted at that while walking.
"That is not a person. That is a mistake that shouldn't exist." Once Chiron's gone, Ritsu slumped down. Tears falling from her eyes.
'The things I can learn if he was conscious!' Disgusted, she got up and got her tools together.
Electing to repair Birdman's damage where he lay, she did so. Within minutes, she'd gotten a bone-like resin composite patch onto his skull. Wrapping the injury with a bandage, she hefted him up and onto a nearby gurney.
(Flashback ends)
"Two days later, his head wound had healed up enough for me to put him in suspended animation in a tube filled with a specialized kind of LCL."
"What had happened to cause his death?"
"Rokubungi had me put a proximity sensitive explosive device inside him. If he'd ventured even fifty feet past the walls of the Geofront, the explosive would detonate. I was against it, but Rokubungi told me I was in as deep as he was. He even said that if he went down, he'd make damned sure to take me down as well."
"So you dislike Rokubungi?"
"I've been wanting a chance to go against him! What he's doing will kill everybody!" Starting to sob, she gets out, "You won't believe how many times I'd come close to putting a blade to my wrist! Just to deny him the chance to bring me down!"
"What stopped you?"
"Thoughts of Matt Hanson, my ex-boyfriend from high school." Looking down at her wrist, she sees a faint scar from that time as she goes on. "He saved my life once. I was ostracized by the others because I was smart and attractive. The others were so intimidated, they kept their distance."
"Was that when Matt arrived?"
"Yes. I'd gone behind the bleachers at school, a razor with me. I'd just started cutting when I felt a hand stopping the cut." Smiling softly, she adds, "He didn't say anything. He only staunched the bleeding with one hand and walked me toward the infirmary. My life was saved by a stranger that later on became a friend and more."
"Do you miss him?"
"I do. But I don't know how to go about trying to find him." Sighing, she goes on. "But enough about Matt. What do I do?"
"You're wanting to derail Rokubungi and 'SEELE's plans?"
"Damn right."
"Very well. From here on out, anything pertinent to Rokubungi, or Rei Ayanami, you are not to tell him unless we tell you otherwise. We have Agents in place already and will be discrete if they express our desire to contact you. Is that understood?"
"It is." Blinking, she asks, "What does Rei have to do with this?"
"One of our Agents, along with a potential ally, found the Rei-quarium the night Birdman died." Ritsu can only blink before chortling again.
"Your Agent's very strong, then. I'd like to meet him sometime."
"You already have." Ritsu can't help but be confused as she hears the hissing of anesthetic gas. "No need to worry, Doctor Akagi. It's only a harmless anesthetic. You'll sleep soundly and awake refreshed with a slight hangover. But it won't impede you from doing your job at NERV." Ritsu has so much to ask, yet she can't for she falls soundly asleep.
(Hokkaido Airport; same time)
As Deidre pulls up to the Hokkaido Airport, she sees a massive blue airplane touching down onto the tarmac. Grinning, she drives right to the gate and is 'greeted' by a Security Officer.
"Sorry, ma'am. No authorized vehicles past this point without Authorization."
"I'm Deidre Takamiya. I'm here to meet with that aircraft that just touched down."
"Alright, I'll check in." Bringing up his radio, he says, "This is Guard 48 at the west gate. I've a Deidre Takamiya claiming entry. Can I get verification on that?"
"Guard 48, wait one." A minute later, the radio squawks again. "Guard 48, entry of Deidre Takamiya Authorized."
"Roger that." Opening the gate, he grins sheepishly and says, "My apologies, Ms Takamiya."
"None needed. You're just following protocol. Keep up the good work." With that, she drives in.
Driving along the tarmac, she soon finds her van is dwarfed by the massive aircraft that had just landed. Pulling up to the underbelly, she sees it opening downward into a ramp and drives right up into it. As the hatch closes, she sees a kindly, slender and elderly man of African descent and grins. Exiting the van, she soon wraps the man in a hug. The man returns the hug and they both share a chortle.
"Oh, the prodigal child returns!" Deidre can't help but blush before ending the hug and looking back at him. His face wrinkled, yet still young-looking.
"What've you been eating, Greg Roilson? You're still fit as ever!" Roilson chortles lightly before going serious.
"I could say the same for you, Dragonelle. For a time, I refused to believe you'd perished in Second Impact. I now see I was well-justified in believing you still live."
"Yeah, well, I think 'Dragonelle' did die when she became a Mother." Her face wistful, Roilson can't help but snap his fingers before her face. "Oops. Sorry."
"No need, Deidre. You can tell me all about your little girl while I examine Psycho." Deidre gives Roilson a nod as he calls out in Swahili to three orderlies in scrubs. "Gurney, quick!"
"Okay!"
As the orderlies bring a gurney forward, Deidre opens the sliding door to aid the orderlies as much as she can. As they heft Psycho out, one of them can't gripe out softly. So low, only Roilson can hear him. Upon Roilson shaking his head and chortling, Deidre turns to him, a question in her eyes.
"He said, 'Good grief! This guy weighs a ton!'."
"How long has he been with you?"
"Six months now. He's used to these things. Yet it's always interesting for him to find out that not everybody is as they seem."
"I'd imagine so." Following Roilson as he follows the orderlies, she can't help but be awed at all the medical technology in the plane. "I see you've moved up in the world since I saw you last. Even though you're an 'Underground Doctor', no less."
"I may have been an 'Underground doctor', but I still took the 'Doctor's Oath'. Anyone that needs help, be they lawman or outlaw, gets it."
"Nice to see you're as neutral as possible still." Roilson chuckles again as Psycho is positioned at what appears to be a specially-made machine. "What's that for?"
"It's for patients with any kind of metal in or on their bodies in any location. Judging from the damage to his face, he's got a lot of metal there."
"He does. The area beneath his face is his actual face. What's covering it is a mask."
"Okay. Let's see what we got here." Calling out in Swahili again, he says, "Okay, get clear!" Once they get clear, he escorts Deidre to a protective barrier and activates the machine. Sure enough, he can easily see the face is made of metal. Only it can't penetrate fully.
"It seems Psycho has a lead lining inside the inner part of his face."
"Meaning?"
"I can take it off, but we run the risk of him dying."
"How bad is it?" Deidre's eyes can't help but fly open at Psycho's voice. "Deidre? Where are we?"
"You're with an old friend of mine, Psycho. He's a Doctor I helped every now and then in between jobs for Dread."
"Ah. What's up, Doc?" Deidre and Roilson can't help but chuckle at that.
"Seeing as I don't know the extent of your face's construction, pretty bad. But I may have a way to keep you alive under suspended animation while your face is off."
"Then let's go for it." Deidre's jaw can't help but drop before she strides to his side. Incredulous.
"Are you sure, Psycho? What if it kills you?"
"Then at least I won't have harmed you or Ritsuko." Giving her a nod, he adds, "It'll be okay, 'Nelle." Deidre suddenly kisses his tattered mask, only to end it when Roilson clears his throat.
"Okay, seeing as a decision's been reached, anything you want me to do with the face under the mask?"
"Yeah. Can you make it not look so psychotic, Doc? The guy that did it's got some screws loose."
"I think I can do something on that. Dragonelle, seeing as…"
"I'm staying to help."
"What about Ritsuko, though?"
"She'll be fine with Shinji, Psycho."
"I'm 'Psycho' no more, Deidre." Before she can say anything more, he adds, "I am Gunnery Sergeant Peter Sychola. United States Marine Corps. Dread verified it before he pulled that stunt in the darkened spot within 'Dumbass' office."
"In that case then, Gunny, Semper Fi." The long-thought-dead Gunnery Sergeant smiles as best he could with one thought on his mind before going unconscious.
'Dread, this Marine's coming back to give you trouble! With Shinji, his family, Dragonelle and 'Nette!'