Shinji Steel 58

Disclaimer; I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or Max Steel. Wish I did, though.

(Treadwell Industries; same time)

A stunned and flabbergasted Deidre can only blink rapidly before shaking her head and smiling.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Treadwell, but I could have sworn I heard you say you want me to be an executive."

"In a nutshell, yes." Upon Deidre's jaw drop, Sam goes on. "It'd be a good boost for your career, Deidre." Grinning sheepishly, Deidre rubs the back of her head.

"I appreciate that, Mr. Treadwell. Really, I do. But I just don't see myself as an executive type. I'm more of a field worker, not a desk jockey." Abashed, she hurriedly adds, "No offense."

"None taken." Sam gives her a grin and adds, "Believe it or not, most good potentials don't see themselves that way either. I sure didn't."

"Sam's right." At Edith's voice, Deidre turns around and sees Edith smirking softly. "Of course, when I first met him, he was a hotshot executive from Anaheim, CA. For a company that collects recyclable items, no less." When Deidre looks back at Sam, she sees a haplessly sheepish grin on his face. "A pretty good one, too. But he also wasn't happy."

"Why not?"

"I was like you, Deidre. Only I didn't expect to get out into the field with Edith. But that's a story for another time." Drumming his hands on his desk, Sam then asks, "How about it, Deidre? Feel ready to get kicked upstairs?" Deidre can only smile softly before replying.

"In all honesty, I think I'll have to run it by Ritsy first. As I have the feeling there's more to this opportunity than you're telling me."

"That sounds prudent, because there is more. TI's pulling out of Tokyo-3 and relocating to Tokyo-2 due to the exceedingly close call at the time of the 12th Angel. It'll be in a month. Not only did we lose a building under construction and the machinery building it, we almost lost two members of our company."

"Why so long a wait, though? You're head of the company."

"I may be the head, but even I have to deal with red tape. Even in this day and age. I brought the matter up right after it happened and the board decided to dick around until 30 minutes ago."

"Good grief."

"You got that right." Deidre nods softly as she considers his meaning.

"So, basically, you've been wanting to get us out of this dangerous situation we're in for a good while now."

"Yes. Granted, the Angels are still attacking and it probably won't do any good to relocate. But seeing as the attacks are mainly focused on Tokyo-3…"

"Anywhere but here's preferable." At Sam's nod, Deidre sighs gustily. "As I said, I'll have to run it by Ritsy first as I've other plans."

"Oh?" Deidre can't help but smile bashfully.

"I'm thinking of becoming a teacher." Sam and Edith both smile gleefully at that.

"That sounds like it'd be right up your alley, too."

"My thoughts exactly, Edith. But I don't have a degree to be a teacher. I've been looking at correspondence courses, though. Along with getting a GED. I don't think a college would take someone without a diploma, at least."

"Yeah, I've been wondering about that. I did a little checking on you the other day." Edith's words can't help but cause a chill to run up and down Deidre's spine. "Up until about sixteen years ago, Deidre Takamiya didn't exist. Meaning two things. One, you're under some kind of protection program. Two, you've a checkered past. Either way, though, know that you're always welcome here."

"Edith's right, Deidre. Life is more than your past. Life is also your present and where you see yourself in the future. Never forget that, okay?"

"I won't." Extending her hand toward Sam, she shakes it when he returns the gesture and does the same with Edith. "I'll let you know tomorrow, Mr. Treadwell."

"Alright. See you tomorrow." As Deidre exits, Sam sighs and says, "I hope the best for her any course she takes. But I think she has what it takes to be an executive. Even if she doesn't."

"We all have to go our own way, 'Anaheim'."

(Tokyo-3; Takamiya house; two hours later)

The atmosphere in the household is tense as Shinji and Rits sit across from Mariko Tokisona. An intent gaze on either of them from her eyes. If not Shinji, then on Rits. If not Rits, then on Shinji. Without further warning, Mariko clears her throat.

"So, you're intent on marrying my niece, are you?"

"I am."

"And just how do you propose to support her, presuming you survive the remainder of the war?"

"I thought about that and decided I'll go with my strength. Working my own restaurant with fine cooking. Maybe a small diner of sorts."

"So you have no real plans for your future with Rit-chan." Shaking her head, Mariko adds, "Rit-chan, I cannot in good conscience allow the marriage to take place. He has no real ambition."

"Well, it's not up to you, Aunt Mariko. Nor are you cleared to make any indication of approval or disapproval."

"As your Aunt, I feel…"

"It doesn't matter to me what you feel as my Aunt." Leaning forward, Rits adds, "Shinji's plan is ambitious enough for me. I can attest to his cooking prowess, as can his guardian and one of his fellow Pilots."

"That's all well and good, but that's not good enough for me." At that, Shinji pipes up.

"Well, like Rits said, it's not up to you. It's up to her."

"Do I look like I was speaking to you, Ikari? Lowly serfs should not be seen or heard under any circumstances."

"I will thank you to not speak to my 'son-in-law' in that manner." Deidre's voice gets Mariko to turn her head so fast, it makes her neck crack. "Hi, Ritsy, Shinji."

"Hi, Mom." At their united voice, Shinji and Rits can't help but chuckle sheepishly. Deidre giggles softly before giving Mariko a scowl.

"So who the heck are you?"

"I'm Mariko Tokisona, Rit-chan's Aunt." Smirking, Mariko adds, "As her only other living blood relative, I'm here to ask you to relinquish Rit-chan to my custody and care."

"Not happening, Miss Tokisona. I watched over Ritsy ever since she was in diapers after Hoshio and Yuriko died. I found her in that pod and loved her like my own flesh and blood. I still do. Shinji makes her happy, which makes me happy."

"But he has no…"

"Enough." Shinji's voice cuts Mariko off, getting her to look incredulously at him. "What gives you the right to look down on others? What gives you the right to decide what's right or not for others you barely even know? Deidre brought Rits up the best she can and has done a good job so far. Where were you when Rits was orphaned? Where were you at the time of her adoption by Deidre?" When Mariko doesn't answer, as her jaw is going up and down, with no sound at all, Shinji nods.

"If you have no real answer, then shut the fuck up."

"How dare you… how dare you!" Mariko jolts up and lunges toward Shinji, only for Rits to intercept her and body slam Mariko over her shoulder. A stunned Mariko shakes her head before scowling at Rits. "You're taking his side, Rit-chan?"

"No. I'm taking our side, Miss Tokisona. Shinji and I are to marry and have children together. Shinji'll have a successful diner and I'll become a teacher. Mom will be a Grandmother and enjoy spoiling the children rotten." Softly rubbing her belly, she adds, "In fact, I'm hoping I have a bun in the oven right now. Maybe two or three." Mariko's eyes can't help but bulge out in shock before she snarls toward Deidre.

"You actually condone this behavior? What kind of adoptive Mother are you?"

"In that order, yes as the world has changed ever since Second Impact and needs to be repopulated. The kind that'll support my daughter no matter where her life takes her. For good or bad." Grinning toward Rits and Shinji, she adds, "I look forward to becoming a Grandmother."

"You do?"

"Yes. In fact, had they lived and been able to meet Shinji, I'm sure Hoshio and Yuriko would have loved to have had him as their son-in-law. And I have no doubt that they would have loved to have had a professional chef in the family. After all, professional chefs do make good money."

"That may be true, but that's not good enough for me. My late brother's daughter deserves only the finest in life. She can't exactly float around in social circles with someone like Shinji."

"What makes you say I want to be in high societal circles? I want to be with people that'll accept me for me, not how much money my 'spouse' or I make a year."

"That…" Mariko slyly grins before applauding, saying, "…is the correct answer Rit-chan." They all blink bewilderedly before she goes on. A softly apologetic smile on her face. "I'm dreadfully sorry for my earlier comments, but I had to put up a snobbish façade. Just to see if I have what it takes for a movie role about a snobbish bitch."

"Well, you had me convinced. Rits, Deidre?"

"That was a good mind-fuck job just now." Rits' words get a nod from Deidre as she goes on. "But why us and now?"

"Two reasons. One, if I can't convince my family and future family members, I'm not cut out to be an actress. Two, Father wrote me a letter before he went into witness protection. He wanted me to meet my niece, her adoptive Mother and, if possible, my future nephew-in-law."

"So you combined the two, making it the best of both worlds."

"Correct, Deidre." Giving Shinji a somber look, she adds, "Yuriko, before she and Hoshio died, told me of your late Mother being pregnant with you, Shinji. Of course, at the time, we didn't know if you'd be a boy or a girl. When Father told me in his letter about you and what you do here in Tokyo-3, I knew I simply had to meet you. If anything Yuriko told me about Yui's correct, it's that you have her heart."

"How well did you know her? Mother, I mean?"

"Well enough, even though we'd never gotten to meet. But I know this much. Your Mother was a kind and brilliant person. I just cannot fathom how she could have wound up with someone like Gendo Rokubungi."

"Don't tell us you know that dumbass!" Their united shout can't help but get Mariko to grin haplessly.

"Since you already know, I won't." At their exasperated groans, Mariko looks over Shinji and adds, "In fact, you look much like Gendo when he was younger."

"I just hope I don't wind up like that dumbass did."

"As do I." Mariko's face takes a frown before she traces one side of her face with a hand. "I truly hope you don't, Shinji."

"You… you mean he was abusive toward you?" At Mariko's nod, Shinji clenches his fist before breathing in and out to calm himself back down. "How long?"

"Up until three years before he met Yui. We were together in high school and back then he was cruel. When we graduated, I severed all ties to him, wanting to never see him again." Next thing Mariko knows, Shinji's wrapping his arms around her in a gentle embrace. Mariko returns it, only to clutch him tightly to her.

"I'm so sorry 'Dumbass' was cruel to you." Mariko can only sob softly into Shinji's shoulder. Three minutes later, she pecks him on his cheek and softly strokes it before looking toward Rits.

"You've a good man, Rit-chan. Don't let him get away from you."

"I won't, Aunt Mariko." Looking toward Deidre, Rits then asks, "How was work today, Mom?"

"Well, considering I was offered to be kicked upstairs, pretty uneventful."

"You… you mean… Mr. Treadwell wants you to be an executive?"

"That's right, Ritsy." Shrugging, she adds, "I told him I'd run it by you first because it involves relocation to Tokyo-2."

"TI's bugging out, huh?" At Shinji's question, Deidre nods, getting him to ask, "When?"

"By next month, at least."

"What about school?"

"I'll ask, Ritsy, but like I said, I wanted to run it by you first."

"Well, I did my end by keeping Shinji's spirits up as much as I can. Now that 'Dumbass' is out of power, I'm good either way if Shinji is." Turning to Shinji, Rits asks, "What do you think, Shinji?"

"I wouldn't mind you staying, yet I can't stand the thought of you in danger here, Rits." Putting his left hand to her belly, he smiles softly as she puts her right hand over his left. "Or our future children."

"I know. But I just don't want to leave you to face the rest alone with Rei and Asuka."

"A Kaldaxian stand-off, then."

"Sure seems that way."

"It does." Rits gives a soft smirk before pecking his cheek. Shinji turns back toward Deidre and says, "I think you should take it, Deidre. Rits and I can always stay in touch and when my duty here's done, I'll come to Tokyo-2." Deidre can only give him a soft smile before shaking her head.

"Nah. I think I'd be miserable as an executive. Ritsy and I are staying put. You'll still need every bit of morale boost you can get. Besides, during my drive home, I thought about being an educator and found the thought of it to be much more appealing."

"I hope Mr. and Mrs. Treadwell will understand."

"I'm pretty sure they will, Ritsy." Stretching, she yawns and says, "I'll give my two week notice tomorrow, along with start my correspondence course. Of course, I'll need a GED as well." Deidre then sighs, getting Rits' attention.

"What is it, Mom?"

"Seeing as Tokyo-3's school system has a senile old man that talks about Second Impact every day as the only teacher, I'll have to go with Kyoto-2's system. Just thought I'd tell you before I registered, at least." Grinning ruefully, Deidre adds, "It's a good thing I arranged to keep the house in my name, otherwise I'd be sleeping in the 4Runner." Rits can't help but giggle before sighing.

"It's going to be pretty lonely without you here, Mom."

"It'll be just as bad for me, Ritsy. But think of this as an opportunity." Rits can't help but be both intrigued and concerned at those words. As Deidre's smirk of mischief tells it all. "It'll give you and Shinji a chance to live together full time before marriage. Plus you'll need him around to care for you should there be buns in the oven soon." Rits' face can't help but go beet red, yet with an eager smile as she looks over at Shinji. Shinji's face is equally red as he looks at Rits, a warm smile on his face.

"I wouldn't mind living full time with you, Rits."

"Shinji… are you…"

"I am, Rits. So, what do you say?"

Rits doesn't answer Shinji's query verbally. Her lips against his is all the answer he needs. As he holds her close, Rits smiles into the kiss before giggling. Getting a chuckle from Shinji as they kiss. Ending the kiss so they can breathe, Shinji has only one thing to say.

"I love you, Rits."

"I love you too, Shinji." Latching her lips to his again, she inadvertently knocks him backward, winding up on top of him. As they kiss, Mariko and Deidre both sigh happily and smile before Mariko finds herself curious.

"By the way, Deidre, whatever happened to the pod you found Rit-chan in?"

"After I got Ritsy out of the pod and laid her down onto a blanket, it sank down into the ocean." Smirking, Deidre asks, "Why do you ask?"

"Just curious." Checking her watch, she nods and asks, "Mind if I cook dinner for tonight? I've just enough time before I go back to Atsugi City for my audition."

"Not at all." Blinking, Deidre then asks, "Atsugi City? Where 'Jet Alone' almost went into meltdown?" At Mariko's nod, Deidre grins and says, "If that doesn't beat all. I suppose you should know that Shinji and his guardian, Ms Katsuragi, stopped that crisis."

"They did, huh? I guess I owe them my thanks, then." At Deidre's nod, Mariko looks toward Shinji and Rits. Only to see Shinji's hands cupping Rits' ass. "Um, they're not about to do what I think, are they?"

"I'm afraid they are." Sighing, Deidre says, "Okay, you two. Take it into Ritsy's room." Deidre and Mariko blink. Shinji's carrying Rits toward her bedroom, getting Deidre to chuckle softly. "Ah, young love."

"And you're not at all concerned that…"

"Ritsy may get knocked up?" At Mariko's nod, Deidre grins and says, "If anything, I'm actually looking forward to becoming a Grandmother. Even if it is at this point in time. How about you?" Before Mariko can reply, Rits' glee-filled cries sound out.

"OH SHINJI, SHINJI, SHINJI, SSSHHHIIINNNJJJIII!"

"Well, in all actuality, I'm not too crazy about the idea of becoming a Great Aunt this early. But if Rit-chan wants to become a Mother at fifteen, coming up on sixteen, who am I to begrudge her of that?"

"Indeed." Deidre smirks wryly and adds, "It'll be a Hell of a 'Sweet Sixteen' party for Ritsy, that's for sure." Mariko can't help but giggle at that.

(Three hours later)

"Aunt Mariko, that was delicious!"

"Thank you, Rit-chan. What'd you think, Shinji?"

"I'll put it to you like this. I want to put my cooking mettle up against yours and Deidre's, just to see if I'm as good a cook as you two are." Mariko and Deidre both can't help but blush rosily while Rits giggles softly. "I mean it. Dinner was awesome." With that, Shinji gets up.

"Shinji?"

"While normally I'd like to stick around and help, Ms Tokisona, I gotta get on back to the apartment so I can ask Misato about our own apartment."

"Oh, okay. It was nice meeting you, 'nephew-in-law' to be." Mariko's comment can't help but get Shinji to smirk softly.

"Likewise."

"I'll walk out with you." Rits gets up and loops an arm around him, snuggling herself into his side. "Mmm, I can't wait to do this with you more often."

"Same here." As the two walk toward the door, Deidre can't help but smirk. Mariko wearing the same smirk herself. Once they're outside, Rits releases her hold, yet she stays snuggled into his side. "I'll tell one thing for sure. I'm looking forward to the end to this case."

"Wearing you down, honey?"

"That and I'm looking forward to making sure you're well taken care of." Putting his hands onto her slender belly, he grins as she puts her hands onto his. "Especially since there's the possibility you've precious cargo now."

"I hope I do have precious cargo."

Next thing Rits knows, Shinji's lips are atop hers. Getting her to grin as she eagerly probes his mouth with her tongue while his tongue probes hers. As their tongues dance, Shinji wraps his arms around her, getting a soft giggle from her. As the kiss ends, they both sigh softly.

"I can hardly wait for when we make our marriage official."

"Same here." Rits nestles her head under his chin and murmurs, "I wish I could just stay in your arms all the time."

"I wish you could too." Softly kissing the top of her head, Shinji breathes in the scent of her shampoo. "Hmm, banana nut and strawberry." Rits can't help but let out a soft sigh and giggle before looking up into his blue eyes with her brown.

"How'd I get to be so lucky to have you as my 'husband'?"

"Just by being your sweet…" Pecking her lips, he murmurs, "Caring…" Squeezing her ass, he finishes, "Sexy self." Latching his lips to hers, he relishes the feeling of her tongue dancing with his again. When the kiss ends, he looks into her brown eyes with his blue.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah." Getting into his coupe, Shinji starts the engine and pulls the car away. As the car drives off, Rits gently rubs her belly as she goes back into the house. Picturing herself as carrying their baby already.

(Katsuragi/Ikari/Sohryu apartment; five minutes later)

"I'm home."

"How's the 'Mrs.' doing?" Asuka's wiseacre question is in good humor, prompting Shinji to smirk.

"She's fine. Of course, her Aunt's in town and Deidre's thinking of going the educational route. That means Treadwell Industries is losing a good worker while pulling up stakes."

"You mean the company that builds the buildings here in Tokyo-3 with machines and not people?"

"Yep. Only Deidre was with the company as a meatball repairer."

"Oh, kinda like the classic comedy series 'M*A*S*H', right?"

"Exacto. Only without the blood and madcap comedy." Looking around, he then asks, "Misato in yet? Got something I wanna ask her about."

"Does this involve a certain 'Mrs.' Ikari?" Asuka's grin emerges as Shinji nods, a wide smile on his face.

"Yeah. Seeing as Deidre's going to be moving back to Kyoto-2, Rits and I are going to be living together and would like our own place."

"And seeing as Misato's in charge of NERV now, she's the go-to for housing and what-not."

"You got it. So, she around?"

"Not yet, but she outta be home soon. So get cooking, Shinji. She's going to be hungry when she gets in." Shinji smirks again before giving his reply.

"Jawohl, Fraulein Sohryu."

"Why you!" Asuka bolts up and starts chasing a laughing Shinji all over the apartment. Bursting into giggles herself. "When I get my hands on you…" Getting her hands on his midriff, she starts tickling him. As Shinji howls in laughter, she laughs as well. "This is what I do to funny guys that fuck around with the German language!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I was only acknowledging what you said, Asuka! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! BWA-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Well, now, I see you two are getting on just fine." Misato's voice gets their attention as their guardian stands there, amused and playful smirk on her face. "But I'm quite shocked that you two started without me!" With that, she lunges at them and starts tickling them. As they howl in laughter, Misato laughs as well.

'This is the way we should feel. A family. A dysfunctional family, but a family nonetheless.' As the laughter abates, Misato smiles happily at her charges. "So how was your day?"

(Treadwell Industries; next day)

"Mr. Treadwell, I'm posting my two week notice of resignation." Deidre stands tall, yet saddened as she faces Sam directly as she goes on. "You were great to work with, but I can't do this forever."

"I understand, Deidre." Sam smiles softly as he goes on. "I'm pleased to say the same thing about you. Which is why I'm giving you a year's salary in a lump sum to keep you on your feet while you pursue your academic endeavors." Deidre's eyebrows both arch upward as Sam writes out a check. "It may not seem like much to you, but you're worth every penny of this."

When he's finished, he hands the check to Deidre and relishes the sight of her jaw dropping down and her eyes bulging outward.

'Holy Moly!' Shakily, Deidre looks at a smugly grinning Sam and blinks. "Is that a comma or a period?"

"A comma." Deidre then passes out, falling backward onto the floor, getting Sam to chuckle. "Others pursuing their dreams may be expensive, but seeing them react like that is priceless."

"One of these days, 'Anaheim', that's going to come back and bite you in the ass. You know that, right?" Edith's voice, filled with incredulous mirth, gets Sam to snicker. "How much you pay her, anyway?"

"$365,000. I hope that'll be enough."

"Uh, yeah, I'd say that'd be more than enough." Edith then looks down at Deidre and smirks. "On the upside, however, she took it quite well." Sam nods as Edith gently hefts Deidre onto her right shoulder and carries her over to the couch in Sam's office. "I think she'll be more comfortable on the couch than the floor."

"Yep."

An hour later, Deidre blearily opens her eyes and sees Sam working at his desk. In turn, Sam looks up toward her and grins.

"Welcome back to the world of the awake."

"Thanks." Looking at the check, Deidre can only sheepishly chuckle. "Sorry about that, by the way."

"Ah, no need. You were just overwhelmed, is all."

"That's putting it mildly." Deidre then eyes Sam intently and starts getting an uneasy feeling in her spine from seeing his eyes. "You were a warrior at one time, weren't you?"

"Yeah. I fought in the Border Wars long before I met E. I may have flown in a plane and fired missiles from long distances, but I also did see ground combat. Mainly search and destroy. Then I went to work at a reclamation/recycling facility in Anaheim, got a robot wife that went into meltdown five years later and went on an adventure that introduced me to E."

"Ah." She then asks, "Why haven't I ever seen you two with kids? From the looks of things, and with all you'd done before, I'd say you two are more than up to being parents."

"We've a daughter that's living with a friend of Sam's for her safety." Edith's voice gets Deidre to turn around as the slender redhead goes on. "Living in a place like Glory Hole does tend to have negative aspects. The only reason I hadn't been raped while living there is because I was too 'scary' for the lowlifes there."

"I'm so sorry."

"No need." Looking Deidre right in the eye, Edith adds, "If you're to become a Grandmother, cherish your grandbabies as much as you can."

"I will." Deidre then smirks wickedly. "Ritsy'll probably kill me, with Shinji helping her, but how would you two like to be the Godparents to my grandbabies?" Sam and Edith's jaws both drop before recovering. Allowing Sam and Edith both to smile widely. Edith taking it.

"Nothing would please or delight us more, Deidre." Next thing they know, a brilliant glow surrounds them and the feeling of sheer agony sweeps over them.

(NERV HQ; fifteen minutes ago)

"Blue pattern detected! 10,000 miles out!"

"10,000 miles out, Maya?" Misato scrunches up her face in a grimace before remarking, "But that would put it…"

"Just outside Earth's orbit." Fuyutsuki's addendum gets a grimace from he and Misato both before he leans into Misato's ear. "Seeing as Doctor Akagi's finally refined the Dummy Plug, this will be an ideal opportunity to see how well it fares."

"Agreed. Ritsu, is the DP installed on all three EVAs?"

"It is."

"Okay. I want Unit-02 on point, Unit-01 on backup and Unit-00 in reserve." Fuyutsuki nods his approval of the set-up as Misato adds, "I just hope Asuka doesn't mind being a passenger for this one."

"Agreed. The only time the DP can be overridden is if it takes intense damage."

"Not much chance of that happening with the plugs recessed so far into the EVAs." Berto's remark can't help but get a smirk from Misato as Units 01 and 02 bolt up onto street level. As the DP-controlled bio-machines reach for their weapons, Asuka can be heard griping.

"Why does the Angel have to be that far out? Why did Akagi have to get the friggin' autopilot working now when we'd gotten along just fine without it!"

"Your guess is as good as mine, Asuka." Misato can tell he has a smirk on his face as he adds, "Besides, this is an ideal circumstance for testing the DP."

"You have a point, but why isn't the damned Angel down here?"

"Maybe it heard of you and decided to stay out of your reach."

"Maybe, or maybe it heard of your ferocity and decided to wait until you drop your guard. Eh, what the…" A sudden bright light washes over both of them, getting Asuka to snarl. "Turn off your brights, you dumb jackass!"

"I don't think this is any ordinary high beam, Asuka. I'm getting a slight tingle in my skull here."

"Yeah, so am I. My guess is the DP's taking the brunt of it."

"That's a plausible guess. Analysis, Doctor Akagi?"

"Checking now." Ritsu intently eyes the readouts and grimaces. "I'll put it to you like this. If you two had been in ordinary plugs, neither of you would be in a good position for combat."

"Understood. Anything we can do to fight it?"

"Wait one, Asuka." Ritsu mutes the comm. and turns to Fuyutsuki. "We'll have to use 'it', sir."

"Can it penetrate?"

"If it's lobbed fast enough, then yes."

"I think I should know what you two are talking about, just so we're clear."

"The Lance of Longinus, Commander Katsuragi. It's what the former Commander and I went to Antarctica for as a means to…"

"Say no more. Lance approved. Rei, you heard all of that, right?"

"Affirmative. Am proceeding to the Lance's location now."

"Okay. Let us know so we can get you into position and start feeding you target data."

"Understood." Three minutes later, Rei's voice comes back. "I have the Lance, Commander Katsuragi."

"Okay, Rei. Shunting you up to street level now. Shinji, Asuka?"

"I'm okay, but the tingling is not going away."

"Same here, Misato. Hurry the Hell up, Wondergirl!"

(Treadwell Industries; current time)

All three adults hold their heads, their minds resurfacing old, painful memories and nightmarish scenarios. Sam, his actions in the Border Wars. Edith, the day her parents died in front of her. Deidre, however, is by far the worst off.

(Deidre's mindscape)

Deidre can only gape horrified as Rits and Shinji both fight against Dread. Even though Rits' belly is still slender, Deidre can clearly see a baby bump on her daughter's torso. All of a sudden, Dread sends his hands right into their midsections, relishing in their agonized screams. Rits' even more pronounced as Dread casually withdraws his left hand from Rits' midsection, a fetus in hand.

"What's this? Your 'daughter' was having a baby?" Callously, he clenches his hand, crushing the fetus. "I believe I told you before, Dragonelle, that you're not entitled to happiness unless I give it to you." He then grabs Rits' neck and swiftly breaks it.

"RITSY!" She then watches horrified as Dread brings Shinji's form closer to himself and opens his mouth wide. Revealing a pair of enlarged canines. "SHINJI!"

"I have long awaited this moment ever since I heard about Josh McGrath taking on an heir of sorts. Even moreso ever since learning about the existence of 'Max Steel Jr.' and the possibility of finally acquiring the MAX probes. In a way, it's fitting you're here to see this, Dragonelle." With that, he sinks his teeth into Shinji's neck. As Shinji struggles to break free, Dread reaches up and snaps his neck.

"SHINJI!" Next thing Deidre knows, she feels her attire changing. Looking down, she gasps horrified at her Dragonelle suit appearing on her body. "No! I'm not her anymore!"

"You will always be Dragonelle. Remember that."

(Outside; Unit-00's plug)

Upon reaching street level, Rei activates her targeting hood. But not before noticing the building housing Treadwell Industries being awash in bright white light.

"That is not a good sign."

"What is it, Rei?"

"Treadwell Industries is currently under the light, Commander Katsuragi."

"I copy. Feeding you the targeting data." Receiving the data, Rei makes the necessary adjustments and flings the Lance into the sky.

(Treadwell Industries)

"NNNOOO!" All of a sudden, the light vanishes. A shaken Deidre looking toward Sam and Edith and seeing they were just as rattled as she is. "Sam, Edith?"

"We're okay." Edith's shaken reply gets an understanding nod from Deidre as she asks, "You?"

"I've had better days. But what the fuck was that light about?"

"That's a good question. A very good question." Next thing Sam knows, the phone rings, prompting him to answer it. "Treadwell."

"Mr. Treadwell, this is Commander Katsuragi of NERV. Is everything alright?"

"We're fine, Commander, considering our minds had just been tapped into by some weird light show."

"I understand. I'm sending a psychiatrist there under Section-2 escort. They'll brief you on what had happened and help you through what had happened."

"I thank you, Commander Katsuragi. How're the Pilots doing?"

"They're fine. Shinji and Asuka are lucky the DP plugs took the brunt of the light and Rei threw the projectile that killed the Angel."

"Good to hear. Any chance they can come by as well?"

"I'll discuss it with them and see what they say. Is Deidre there?"

"I'm here and okay, Misato." Deidre can't help but grin at how well she pulled herself back together. "Just a little shook up, is all."

"That's understandable. You won't believe how often I worry about Shinji, Asuka or Rei any time they go into battle."

"I think I can believe quite easily."

(Five minutes later)

"Okay, I'm Dr Hanson. I was asked by Commander Katsuragi to come speak with you and listen to your takes on what had happened. Who'd like to go first?" Next thing Deidre knows, she's meekly raising her hand. "Okay, Ms Takamiya."