Shinji Steel 69
Disclaimer; I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or Max Steel. Wish I did, though.
(Fifteen minutes later; corridor leading to Pool 5)
As Shinji and Rits walk with Yachiru between them, the small girl gazes along the walls and frowns.
"Shinji onii-chan?"
"Yes, Yachiru?"
"Why are the walls so dull? There's no life, no color to them at all. Nothing but stainless steel coloring all around us."
"You can blame the former Commander for that." Shinji's reply has a smirk on his lips that's duplicated by Rits. "It seems his artistic sense deserted him long ago." Yachiru can't help but giggle at that just as another voice joins them.
"More like it was nonexistent, Shinji." Looking behind them, Shinji and Rits see Fuyutsuki and Retnuh standing together. Smiling softly, Fuyutsuki adds, "Unless the gestation time has changed, along with the growth rate of a child post-birth, Mrs 'Ikari'…" Rits can't help but giggle at that.
"I see word spreads fast around here, Mr Fuyutsuki." Nestling Yachiru into her side, Rits says, "Yachiru Suzuhara, this is Mr Fuyutsuki and his aide, Ms Retnuh. Mr Fuyutsuki, Ms Retnuh, this is Yachiru Suzuhara, Touji's sister. Shinji and I are babysitting her so Touji and Hikari can go on their date."
"Ah. But NERV isn't exactly an ideal babysitting location, Mrs Ikari. Why bring a cute little girl to a drab place like this here?"
"Yachiru wanted to go swimming today, Ms Retnuh. So Rits and I brought her here so she can swim in Pool 5 under our direct watch." Retnuh nods her head in understanding before kneeling down to look Yachiru over.
"What do you think, since the halls are so dull, would brighten these hallways up, Yachiru?"
"Crayon art, Ms Retnuh. Maybe some rainbows and unicorns as well." Retnuh scrunches her face up before looking back at Fuyutsuki.
"It could merit scrutiny, Sensei." Giving him a soft smile, she gets one right back.
"I suppose it couldn't hurt. I'll consult Captain Sychola, see if any Agents are inclined toward art. Well, we shan't keep you any longer. You and your wife came to swim with a child you're both babysitting and it's incredibly bad form for me to keep you any longer."
"I don't know about that, sir. It's always nice to talk with you, sir." Fuyutsuki can only smile warmly at the three before nodding.
"Thank you, Shinji. I look forward to seeing your first child in your arms, Mrs Ikari." Tears of joy shimmering in her eyes, Rits nods at Fuyutsuki and Retnuh both before the three head on. Retnuh then hears Fuyutsuki sighing sadly.
"Is everything okay, Sensei? You sound sad about something."
"It's just the war and all that the Children had faced off against. I just wish they hadn't gotten mixed up in this mess. But…"
"The Evangelions won't work for adults." Sighing sadly, Retnuh adds, "I'd done some crappy things as well, Sensei, but they never involved children. But if involving children is needed for saving humanity from a terrible fate when no other options are available, then I'd have to make my peace with it."
"I agree, Ms Retnuh. I'd realized that myself, but it doesn't make it any easier or less agonizing." Sighing, he asks, "You did read the Dead Sea Scrolls, correct?"
"Yes sir." Shuddering, she adds, "Just thinking about what I read makes my skin crawl."
"Agreed. I trust you remember the portion about the 17th Angel."
"Yes, Sensei. 'The 17th Messenger will arrive in the flesh of the Lilim'." Shuddering again, Retnuh shakes her head and asks, "How'll we know what the 17th looks like, though?"
"The only way to know is when our system picks up the 'Blue Blood Pattern' exhibited by Angels." Pondering it before frowning, Retnuh has only one thing to say.
"That sucks, Sensei. Having to wait for the 'Blue Pattern' to show up, I mean." Fuyutsuki can only nod before replying.
"Yes, Ms Retnuh. It, indeed, sucks." Looking toward her, he sees that she has a pensive expression on her face. "What is it, Ms Retnuh?"
"I've a confession to make, Sensei."
"What kind?"
"Of who I am." Taking his silence as an indication for her to continue, she looks downward and goes on. "My real name's Roxanne Hunter, Sensei. That should be enough of a bell ringer for you."
"Fugitive from justice, escaped from a California women's Correctional Facility under mysterious circumstances." Looking intently at her, he asks, "Does Lt Aoba know?"
"No, Sensei, though I did tell him I have a checkered past."
"If anything, you should at least let him know as he's quite taken with you, Roxanne." Roxanne looks back up at Fuyutsuki, tears of regret shimmering in her eyes.
"And I him, Sensei. But I can't help fear that…" Feeling his arms wrapping around her, Roxanne melts into them and lets out a sob. "I'm so sorry, Sensei!"
"Shh, it's alright, Roxanne." Turning her toward the passageway to the bridge, he goes alongside her and starts walking while handing her a tissue. "Dry your eyes, young one. Can't have you looking like a mess when you see Lt Aoba, now can we?"
(Sohryu/Katsuragi apartment; same time)
As Asuka makes herself a light brunch, she hums to herself only to stop when a knock is heard on the door.
'Who can that be?' Going to the door, she opens it and smiles widely at who it is. "Wondergirl, hi!" The blue-haired young woman nods slightly as Asuka moves aside. "Come on in." Once Rei's done so, she asks, "Where's your other half at?
"He's asleep at home." Smiling dirtily, she asks, "Need I go on?" Asuka can't help but giggle at that.
Once they're both seated, she then asks, "What brings you here today?"
"I came to discuss the incident of the 16th Angel, Pilot Sohryu. Particularly how a robotic duplicate of my form was made at short notice." Asuka nods in understanding at that before Rei goes on. "Especially disturbing is the idea I had that the ones that made it knew that my spares were disintegrating." Next thing she knows, Asuka nods again before grinning. "Pilot Sohryu?"
"Answer the phone." Before Rei can even reply, the apartment phone rings. Blinking bewilderedly, Rei gets up and goes to the phone.
"Katsuragi/Sohryu residence. Rei Ikari speaking." Rei then hears a distorted voice in the receiver.
"Good morning, Miss Ikari. I figured you'd have questions about what had happened sooner or later. So I had our asset stand by in case you went to her."
"Asset? I don't understand…"
"It's a long story. One that I can't really get into right now. But here're the basics."
"I'm listening."
"For the past few months, NERV has been under investigation. Particularly former-Commander Rokubungi. Around the time the 14th Angel attacked, after Rokubungi was taken out of power and into UN custody, one of our analysts monitoring the room your spares were contained in noticed something disturbing."
"Them starting to fall apart."
"Correct. However, they didn't start until the day after and in a small amount at a time. We did a back trace to find out why that would be and found through our monitoring device that once a month, Rokubungi would enter a code embedded in his fingerprint from his office."
"Could you have…"
"Entered it 'for' him remotely? Negative. It was an off-grid system. Meaning the person duplicating his fingerprint would have had to be there. With knowledge of the location of the scanner. The decision was then made to make a robotic duplicate as a contingency plan should our search for the scanner come up empty. At the time of the 16th Angel, the scanner had not been found and your spares were totally unusable." Horrified by this, Rei sinks down to the floor.
"Had I died then, I wouldn't have been resurrected. At all."
"Correct, Miss Ikari. In all aspects, you had dodged a 'fatal bullet' according to our pointman." Rei gulps audibly before shuddering. "I'm sorry this disturbs you, Miss Ikari."
"No need to apologize. Any chance I can meet your pointman and give my thanks?" Next thing she knows, the voice chuckles.
"You already have. And he'd said 'you're welcome' just in case." With that, the call ends. Rei then shakily puts the handset back into place before collapsing onto the floor. Tears falling from her red eyes, she starts sobbing. Noting Asuka's arms draping around her, Rei clutches tightly onto the redhead.
"It's alright, Rei. Let it out." As Rei does so, Asuka holds the blue-haired girl close.
(New Nagasaki; warehouse)
"So, Irina, do you have any idea as to who had thrown you to the jackasses?" Shintaro's query can't help but get a wry smirk from Irina.
"Isn't that supposed to be wolves, Professor?"
"Under normal circumstances, yes. But these are not exactly normal circumstances now are they?"
"No, they're not." Irina lets off a giggle as she adds, "Plus 'jackasses' does describe this bunch best!" Shintaro nods while chuckling before Irina sighs. "As for your query, my rubles are on Yuri Costanovaski, the head of the SVR section for Japan."
"How's that?"
"He told me, when I was assigned, that I am expendable due to my completing the missions at the bare minimum."
"Talk about colder than a frozen banana in a freezer." Irina nods silently before sighing.
"Of course, that's just what I think. Any chance we can talk about something else, Professor?"
"I don't see why not. Anything in mind?"
"Your wife. What was she like?" Shintaro can't help but smile sadly, yet wistfully.
"Atsuko was the kindest woman you'd ever want to meet, Irina. She had a quiet, dignified strength about her. It may have faded over time as the cancer consumed her, but she never wavered even once." Letting off a chortle, he adds, "Every day she awoke, she'd grin and say, 'Let's see how badly I can piss "Death" off today. If not outright ruin "his" day'. She'd then laugh before getting ready for the day." Irina can't help but chuckle at that.
"I think I'd have liked to have met her, Professor. She must've been a real spitfire."
"Oh, she certainly was, Irina. And I'm sure she'd have liked meeting you." Sighing, he adds, "The day she died, it was nearing sunset. She told Mana and I that she wanted to see the sun set. To this day, I think she knew that the sunset would've been her last one, as does Mana. As she basked in the fading sunlight, with me holding her, she closed her eyes and smiled in serenity. I felt her slip away and told her that Mana and I love her. That we were blessed to have had her in our lives." As a pair of tears drip down his face, he sighs while Irina lets off a sniffle.
"I just sat there, with Atsuko in my arms, for two hours, while Mana went into the house and made the necessary calls as I was in no position to move. However, I heard her crying as she did so. For the life of me, I will never figure out how she managed to stay coherent while I just fell to pieces."
"Sounds like Mana got her strength from her while she got your smarts."
"She'd also gotten Atsuko's heart and her eyes."
"I don't doubt that." Stalk's voice is an unwelcome intrusion into their conversation as the disgrace to Interpol goes on. "But I must digress as I have very little time for chit-chat. Watts, bring forth the prototype and your hacking equipment!" Shintaro and Irina can only blink as Watts does so.
"You're going to have him hack into the prototype?"
"That's correct, Professor, seeing as you're less than forthcoming with your answers. Oddly enough, I do believe them. Therefore… the hack job."
"It's going to blow up in your face, just so you know." Stalk can't help but smirk in amusement at his statement.
"Oh? And why is that?"
"It's hack-proof. No connection points for computers at all. It's pretty much a standalone."
"No problem. We'll simply hack in through the wireless."
"That won't work either. Even with the on-board wireless capability, it has to be on."
"If that's required, then that's required." Turning to Watts, she frowns when she sees him scowling at Irina. "Something on your mind, Watts?"
"Yeah. She has a lot of nerve to be against us all this time. Doesn't she realize we're doing it for 'His' glory?"
'Someone's elevator is not reaching the top floor!' Shintaro's sardonic thought brings a grin to his face, only for Stalk to notice it.
"What're you grinning about, Professor?"
"Just how Watts' elevator doesn't reach the top floor."
"Ah." With that, she strides to Irina and slaps her across the face. As Irina's face swings to the side, Stalk spits out, "Next words of disrespect, Professor, I'll shoot her!" Striding away from Irina before turning back to Shintaro, she goes on. "Now, Professor, I'll make this simple. Either tell us the code to fully activate, and be truthful, or I'll shoot your new best friend in a non-lethal area."
"Don't tell these insanely brainless thugs a thing, Professor." Irina's voice is resolute as she adds, "I have a high threshold for pain. Heaven knows that listening to her talk is somewhat painful."
"WHY YOU LITTLE…" Stalk brings her gun back out, but before she can shoot her, the phone in Stalk's pocket rings. "Hold that thought. I'll be right back." Putting the gun back into her holster, she brings the phone out and snarls, "What?"
"Just thought I'd call and see how you fare in getting the information." The voice of their benefactor causes Stalk's eyes to bolt wide open. "Judging from the way you answered, I'd say you're not having much luck."
"You'd be correct, sir. An unexpected wrinkle turned up and I'm having a hard time ironing it out." Narrowing her eyes at Irina, she adds, "Of course, the SVR Agent is giving me a hard time as well. Can I go ahead and ice her?"
"Not just yet. Once you've obtained the information needed, you can. But until then…"
"I understand, sir." Biting her lower lip, she adds, "By now, sir, I'm sure you've heard that Cochrane's been arrested and the payment seized."
"I haven't."
"Oh. Well, in any case, since the money's been seized, I was wondering if…" The benefactor's voice cuts her off before she can even finish.
"Denied. Payment in full was delivered, as promised. Just because it was seized does not entitle you to demand reparation."
"You listen to me. Cochrane and I blew our careers to obtain the prototypes and cover our involvement in their theft up."
"I fail to see where that's my problem." The man's voice is so casual, Stalk snaps.
"I WANT MY FUCKING MONEY!" Seething when she doesn't hear his voice in reply, she snarls, "HELLO? CYCLOPS?" The only reply she gets is a disconnect tone. Throwing the phone away, she relishes the sound of it breaking against the wall before storming toward the building's exit. As she does so, she snarls out, "Let's go get some lunch, Watts!"
"Alright. Should we bring them anything?"
"Hell no! If they want to be obstinate, they can go hungry for all I care! Besides, you know how I get hungry when I'm pissed off!" Watts then nods before picking up the case and carrying it toward the office. "What the Hell are you doing, Watts?!"
"Putting the prototype back into the office to lock it up."
"Don't bother with that! The prisoners are both tied up! Now let's go!" Watts nods and does so.
"Good point. Not like they can do anything since they're all tied up." Watts can't help but snicker at the pun. Only to stifle it when Stalk growls.
"What did I tell you about puns?!" Frightened at her glare, Watts races out the door, Stalk right at his heels. "Come back here and take your beating, you punster!" When the door closes, Shintaro and Irina can only blink.
"I don't know whether I should be afraid for Watts or not."
"I vote not, Irina. His pun about us being 'tied up' was quite terrible and redundant."
"That's about to become untrue, us being tied up that is." Before Shintaro can even ask, Irina's bindings fall away from her torso before she unbinds her legs. "There. Much better." Reaching over toward Shintaro, she undoes his bindings and gets up. "Just call me 'Miss Houdini'." Shintaro can't help but chuckle at that.
"Alright, 'Miss Houdini', but why didn't you do that sooner?"
"Didn't want Stalk to shoot at us when we made a break for it."
"Good point." Irina nods at that before Shintaro goes to the prototype and closes the case. "Now to hide this thing somewhere out of the way before we depart."
"I saw a ventilation grate behind one of the storage racks that looks big enough to put it in upright. But shouldn't we take it with us?"
"No. We'd be too noticeable and this thing is 35 lbs. May not be heavy by any stretch, but it'll eventually slow us down in our departure."
"Good point. This way." Nodding, Shintaro follows her until he sees the grate she talked about. As she undoes the grate mounts, Shintaro nervously looks around for any cameras that may be around. Irina notices him looking around and says, "The only cameras in here are the two at the doors and both of them can only swivel so far."
"So they couldn't have caught us moving in this direction?" His tone is hopeful, yet Irina lets out a sigh.
"They might have just enough to get a general idea, but without more specific visual information, they'd be looking for a needle in a haystack."
Once the grate's been removed, Irina moves aside for Shintaro to put it into place. Sure enough, it fits. Hurriedly, Irina puts the grate back into place. Ensuring that no sign of disturbance is evident on the grate as she does so.
"That's going to have to do, Professor. Now, shall we make like a banana and split?" Shintaro can only chuckle at that before nodding. Irina chuckles as well before they make their way in the opposite direction behind cover of the N2 storage racks. Once they've reached the end of the racks, Irina looks back at him.
"Ready, Professor?"
"As I'll ever be, dear girl." Irina nods at that before they both bolt toward the door. Not caring if the cameras catch them or not. As Irina slams the door open, she ushers Shintaro out the door before following suit.
(Katsuragi/Sohryu apartment; same time)
Once Rei had calmed down from her crying fit, she got up from the floor and is currently on the sofa. Eying Asuka intently. With the redhead noticing.
"What is it, Wondergirl?"
"I want in." Asuka blinks at her words before Rei goes on. "You know what I mean, Pilot Sohryu."
"Yeah, I do, Rei. Thing is, though, you don't ask to get involved. You get asked or 'offered' as my case went." Rei ponders that before her eyes go wide. Asuka noticing. "That's right. I have no real pull anyway. Besides, I'm just a probie undergoing training. The only one that can make that kind of offer would have to be my handler or the ones higher up." Rei can only nod in understanding before frowning in consternation. "What's on your brain now?"
"When I expressed my wish to meet the pointman on the investigation, the voice said I already had. But, I do not recall meeting anyone from a covert agency of any kind. Other than you, of course." Asuka can only snicker softly at that.
"Believe me, Wondergirl, you wouldn't believe me if I told you. So just leave it at that and keep quiet about what you just heard. For your sake and mine."
"Understood." At Rei's deadpan tone, Asuka sees amusement in the girl's red orbs and bursts into giggles. With Rei right behind her.
(Tokisona/Uramishi safe house; same time)
Shizuka races into the cabin's bathroom and vomits into the toilet, Scott following to rub her back. Concerned for his paramour, he makes his decision and tells her once she's finished.
"You're seeing a Doctor tomorrow, Shizuka." As she rinses her mouth out at the sink, she silently nods before her eyes go wide.
"But how, Scott? I'm under protection! If I go out there…"
"Just leave it to me. Okay?" Shizuka silently nods as Scott wraps his arms around her and breathes in the scent of her hair. "Lilacs." Shizuka can only giggle as the two lovers exit the bathroom. With her in his arms as they return to the dining area. As a worried Kyusuke gazes toward her, Shizuka looks back and weakly smiles at him.
"I'm okay, Doctor Tokisona. Scott's taking me to see a Doctor tomorrow. With a different name, it seems." Her smile going sheepish, she adds, "Too bad you can't be my Doctor. But given the lack of equipment here…" Kyusuke nods while chuckling.
"I know. Of course, in retrospect, I think I'll be happier as a farmer or a painter once the whole thing's over with." Shizuka can only grin softly at him before he turns toward Scott. "What will her name be in public, Marshal Walker?"
"Well, it's a name I'd been pondering and thought to be pretty enough. So I went ahead and made the ID for it." Shyly reaching into his blazer's inner pocket, Scott brings out the ID and hands it to Shizuka. Her eyes can't help but go wide at the name before she giggles.
"You've been watching 'Naruto', haven't you?" A sheepish grin from Scott sends her into a fit of laughter before she calms back down. "Suzika Uzumaki. I gotta admit, it's creative. Which brings me to another query."
"Go ahead."
"How're we gonna get there? The cars outside just scream 'COP'."
"No need to worry, Suzi." Shizuka breaks into another giggle fit at the short form of her new name. "I've got a way around that." Gillespie's eyes can't help but go wide at that.
"You mean… the Stingray? You brought the Stingray? Where is it? I haven't seen that thing since we got posted here."
"It's close, Gillespie. No need to worry about that."
"You sly devil." Gillespie's eyebrows quirk in amusement as he asks, "What do you think the old man who sold it to you would do if he knew what you had in mind for it?"
"I think he'd be pleased that I helped someone with it. Much like he did people long ago." Kyusuke and Shizuka can only blink perplexedly at that while Myers, Gillespie and Higgins nod in agreement. Myers then snaps his fingers.
"I think we should have a toast to him. Whoever he was." Getting up from the table, he crosses to the refrigerator and opens it. "I believe grape juice should serve quite nicely for the toast." Grinning at Scott, he asks, "Or would you rather wait until a more suitable occasion for a toast?"
"I think we should wait on that, Marshal Myers." Shizuka's face has a soft smile on it before she adds, "At least until we get back from seeing the Doctor."
"You wanna go now, huh?" Shizuka nods, with Scott nodding his understanding. "Alright. Let's go." With that, the two exit the cabin, Kyusuke and the others right behind them. When Shizuka sees the car, she can only smile widely at it.
"A black 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. 327 cubic inch, 375 horsepower 5.36 liter V8 engine with the Rochester fuel injection system." Looking inside, she adds, "Automatic transmission and bucket seats."
"I'm impressed." Shizuka can only shrug haplessly while grinning.
"It's something of a hobby for me since I was little. Studying American muscle cars and comparing them to cars from around the world." Scott nods his understanding before opening the passenger side door. As Shizuka slides into the seat, she feels the contours of the black cloth seats. "Were the seats like this or leather-like vinyl?"
"Leather-like vinyl. I figured since I and anyone I'd have in the car with me would be wearing shorts on warm days, I might as well get cloth coverings to cover the vinyl. Stave off any discomfort." Shizuka can only smile while nodding in agreement.
"Good investment." Scott can only nod back before closing the door and walking to the driver's side, bringing out the keys in the process. Opening the door, he slides into the driver's seat and closes the door before starting the engine. Hearing the powerful V8 purring, Shizuka then asks, "We have enough gas to get there and back?"
"Yeah. Full tank. By the time we get back, we should be at ¾ of a tank." Shizuka nods at that as Scott moves the lever down to 'D' before stomping on the accelerator. As the car roars down the gravel way, Shizuka can only yell out.
"OH YEAH!"
(NERV; Pool 5)
As Shinji enters the pool area, he sees Rits and Yachiru standing at the poolside, looking at a corner of the room. Looking toward where they're looking, he can only chuckle softly before walking up to behind Rits and softly embracing her from behind. Placing his hands onto her still-slender belly, he feels Rits putting her hands onto his.
"Mmm." Tilting her head back toward him, she pecks his lips and asks, "What do you think of our swimsuits, Shinji?" Taking a good look at the both of them, Shinji can only smile softly. Yachiru in a pink one-piece with Rits wearing a suit much like Asuka's the day of the 8th Angel, only with blue stripes.
"I'll tell you about yours later, Rits…" Leaning into her ear, he murmurs, "When we're alone with no young ears nearby." Rits can only giggle at that as Shinji looks toward Yachiru and grins softly. "It looks good on you, Yachiru."
"Thanks, Shinji onii-chan. Rits onee-chan gave me her old swimsuit from when she was my age." Looking back toward the corner, she asks, "What are those, Shinji onii-chan?"
"They're scuba rigs, Yachiru." Rits' reply is tender as she gently runs her fingers through the little girl's hair. "It's how people are able to breathe down deep underwater."
"Do you and Shinji onii-chan use them, Rits onee-chan?"
"Yes. In fact, we can use three different rigs. The rigs over there, for example, are the kind I qualified on and used for the class trip to Okinawa. Along with the ones Shinji and I both first certified on."
"Can you and Shinji onii-chan teach me, Rits onee-chan? I'd like to qualify."
"I can't, at least for a while, Yachiru. And Shinji would need to be a certified instructor to do so."
"How long is a 'while', Rits onee-chan? When will Shinji onii-chan become one?"
"Looking at nine-ten months, Yachiru. As for when…" Her voice trailing off as she looks toward Shinji, she smiles softly when Shinji picks it up.
"I can always see about getting certification when I'm done here at NERV. Of course, it won't be for a while."
"That's a long while." Kinking her head to the side, she looks up toward Rits and asks, "Why will it take that long, Rits onee-chan?"
"Because inside me is something very delicate and precious." Softly running her left hand's fingers along her belly, she adds, "To scuba dive now will not be a good idea for me." Yachiru can't help but blink up at her.
"What's inside you, Rits onee-chan?"
"A baby, Yachiru." As the girl's eyes go wide, Rits nods and smiles warmly as she says, "That's right, Yachiru. I'm going to be a Mommy." Yachiru can only be awed at Rits' smile.
'She looks so happy!'
(Treadwell Industries; Sam's office)
Checking his watch, Sam nods slightly before reaching down into his desk's bottom drawer and bringing out a snifter of Cognac and a shot glass. Pouring a small amount into the glass, Sam then brings out a photo frame before checking his watch again.
"Here's to you guys." With that, he gulps down the liquid, not knowing he was being watched the whole time.
"So that's what you do every year on this day." Edith's voice gets his attention before he turns toward her. Nodding her head toward the frame, she asks, "Your old unit?" Sam looks back at the frame and smiles sadly.
"Yeah. 1258th Air-Cav. They called us 'The Reapers' as anytime we went up, the enemy would be decimated. However, on our last mission…"
"Things went wrong." Stepping toward his desk and sitting down across from him, she asks, "What happened?"
"We'd gotten Intel that the cartels had joined forces just south of the border. The southern government at the time was weak, yet determined, to do its' part in stemming the cartels' progress."
"So you said when we talked to Dr Hanson. What happened?"
"A Lieutenant Colonel from Intelligence was assigned to give us the briefing. Plans were finalized and we took off in the early daylight."
"But everything went to Hell in a hand-basket when you got there." Sam's nod tells her all. "Was it compromised?"
"I've spent many years thinking exactly that, E. There were 250 of us altogether. Only 125 came back."
"What became of the Officer from Intelligence? I mean, there's no way you wouldn't have decked him one when you got back."
"Oh I did. Even more, when he saw me, he was outright shocked. I sneeringly asked him, 'What? Surprised I'm not dead, bastard?'. I then decked him before the Base MPs grabbed me." Chuckling softly, he adds, "The JAG Lawyer assigned to the case offered me the option to resign my commission or be court-martialed. With a guilty verdict well assured given the amount of witnesses on site. I chose the former. Of course, the prick didn't like that one bit." Passing her the picture frame, he adds, "Second from the right, front row, is where the bastard is." Next thing he knows, he hears a shocked gasp. "E?"
"That's him, Sam."
"Him who?"
"The guy that killed my folks." Looking back at him, she asks, "What's his name?"
"John Adernos is what he called himself." Reaching down into his desk drawer again, he brings out a round piece of wood and hands it to E. When she looks at it, she gasps before roaring in laughter. On the piece is an enlarged shot of Adernos' face. As E laughs, he chuckles. "May not be the real thing, but it's a great stress reliever."
"I have no doubt. Although…" Walking to his office door before closing and locking it, she adds, "I know of another kind of stress reliever." Before she can even step further toward him, there's a knock on the door. "Now who can that be?" Unlocking the door, she grins at who it is.
"Did I come at a bad time?" Deidre's query gets a wide smile from Sam and Edith both.
"Nonsense, Deidre. Having second thoughts of being a teacher?" Deidre can only chuckle while shaking her head in the 'negative' at Sam's question. "Oh, shoot." Indicating a seat in front of his desk, he asks, "What's on your mind?"
"Felt like getting out of the house before I finished up my packing. I was walking around and thought I'd pop in on you." Seeing the photo frame on Sam's desk, she adds, "Don't think I've seen that one before."
"My old unit from my time in fighting in the Border Wars. Care to see?"
"Sure." Gingerly lifting the frame from his desk before looking at it, Deidre grins. "Peek-a-boo, I see you. First in the middle, right by the placard. 1258th Air-Cav, 41st Flight Combat Regiment." Her eyes sweep over the people in the photo until they narrow and she snarls. "What… in… the… fuck?"
"Deidre? What is it? What's wrong?" The only reply Sam gets from Deidre is the sound of cardboard being pierced by Deidre's nails. "Deidre?"
"How many lives did you lose to this bastard, Sam?" Understanding the question, Sam can only sigh.
"125 good men and women, Deidre." Next thing he knows, Deidre silently puts the frame back down onto his desk and exits the office. Before Sam can even get up as well, Deidre's voice erupts. Enraged.
"YOU WORTHLESS BASTARD!" A loud crash is audible while Deidre's storm goes on. "HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU INTEND TO FUCK OVER?!" Another crash is barely heard in her yell.
"IT'S BAD ENOUGH YOU FUCKED MYSELF AND PETER OVER!" The sound of glass breaking gets their attention before she yells again. "BUT YOU HAD TO FUCK OVER MY BOSS BEFORE HE EVEN BECAME MY BOSS?!"
The sound of her growling is heard before she yells out, "YOU'D BETTER HOPE I NEVER FIND YOU, DREAD!" Next thing they know, a loud crash is heard from outside.
With trepidation, Sam and Edith both look outside to the street level and wince. A white BMW SUV. With an office desk embedded in its' body. While in a 'No Parking' zone.
"Well, at least whoever parked there will learn not to do it again." Edith can't help but snort at Sam wanting to see the bright side. "Of course, given that the idiot's parked there repeatedly…"
Edith starts to cackle at that, with Sam following suit before soft feminine sobs come from the office area. They both exit Sam's office and see Deidre sitting on the floor, her feet behind her, her body wracking in sobs. Concerned for her, they both go to her, paying no attention to the devastation around them. Edith gets to her side and holds the distraught woman closely.
"Deidre? You okay?" At her 'negative' headshake, Edith asks, "Did you see someone you recognized in Sam's picture?" At Deidre's tremor-filled nod, Edith asks, "Where in the picture, Deidre?"
"Second from the right, front row." Through the remnants of the broken window, a man's scream is audible.
"MY CAR! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY CAR?!" Edith can't help but snicker at that, getting Deidre's attention.
"Do I even wanna know?" Edith nods before hefting Deidre up and taking her over to the broken window. Deidre looks down before gasping and letting a snicker escape. "He's gonna have a hard time collecting from his insurance company. Especially since he was illegally parked." The Treadwells both nod, snickers escaping, before Deidre sighs. "Sorry about the mess, by the way."
"Given what we heard, you were long overdue for a temper attack." Sam looks Deidre in the eye and says, "I'm not gonna ask how you knew him, or in what capacity, but if you wanna talk, our ears are open."
"Our? You mean… he affected you as well, Edith?" Edith's nod tells her everything. "How?"
"He was the one that killed my folks when I was little when the Outriders came around. In fact, he was the one that told my folks what he'd said."
"What did he say to them?"
"'No one shall defy our will and live'." Her lips trembling, Edith adds, "He then shot my Mother before shooting my Father."
"That's just like him. An asshole that apparently woke up hating the world and decided to shit all over it and its' inhabitants."
(Hyuga apartment; same time)
As a nude Makoto lies in bed, with an equally nude Maya snuggled against him, he can't help but run his fingers through her short-cut hair. Next thing he knows, she lightly giggles.
"That feels nice, Makoto." Looking up toward him, she has a sultry smile on her face only for it to fade at the sound of her stomach rumbling. Her cheeks then go pink as she says, "Oh my." Makoto can only smile softly at her.
"I think we can both do with something to eat, Maya. I'm feeling hungry as well." Getting up from the bed, he allows the sheet covering him to fall away from his body, giving Maya a look at him. Maya can't help but lick her lips lasciviously at the sight of his member. Out of the corner of his right eye, Makoto sees her licking her lips. "Maya?"
"I'm just admiring you, Makoto."
Exiting the bed as well, she allows the sheet to fall from her body, allowing Makoto to see her in her glory. Small but pert breasts, a trim waist and a small patch of hairs at her crotch. Makoto's member can't help but start hardening at the sight of her and Maya can't help but softly giggle.
"Want me to take care of that first before we eat or the other way around?"
"Let's eat first." Makoto's eyes suddenly go wide in shock before he slaps himself on his forehead. "Oh man! We didn't use protection! And I have no condoms at all!"
"Aw, you're worried you may've knocked me up. How sweet!" Maya then strides toward him before encircling his member in her hand and strokes him. "In all fairness though, I wouldn't mind being pregnant by you, Makoto." She gently tugs him out of the room and toward the kitchen. Once they're there, Maya releases his member. Looking up into his eyes, she sees he's pensive. "Makoto?"
"This may seem to be an awkward time, Maya, but marry me?" Maya's reply is nonverbal, as she pulls him into a passionate kiss where their tongues dance together again until…
GROWL
As the two break off their kiss, Maya's face goes beet red and Makoto smiles warmly down at her.
"Let's go ahead and eat, Maya. We've got all day to do this." Maya can only giggle as he sets about making brunch. As she sits down, Maya feels a rivulet of his essence seep out of her opening and trickle down her leg. Putting a hand over her lower belly, she has one thought.
'Right on schedule for my cycle.' With that, she watches Makoto as he sees about making breakfast. As she watches him, she murmurs, "I've something to confess, Makoto."
"Go ahead, Maya. I'm all ears." Maya can only smile warmly at him from behind.
"Ever since we met, I've had the … biggest… crush on you." Stopping, Makoto turns back toward her.
"Why didn't you say anything before, Maya?"
"I was still pretty shy."
"Huh. Why would that get in the way?"
"It's because the guys in school would always feel intimidated by my smarts and avoid me because of my looks."
"Oh please." Bringing up his hands and framing them, he adds, "You're pretty enough to be a model." Maya can't help but go beet red at that.
"Makoto, please!" Clasping the sides of her face, Maya's smile goes wide when Makoto walks up to her and puts a finger to her lips.
"And if they couldn't handle your smarts, then they weren't even worth your time."
With that, he leans down and gently brushes his lips against hers. With Maya draping her hands over his head, deepening the kiss into a passionate Frencher. Only…
GGGGRRRROOOOWWWWLLLL
Maya ends the kiss, a sheepish grin on her face, before she breaks into giggles. Makoto chuckling as well.
"We'd better eat before anything else happens." Maya can only nod while giggling at Makoto's words.
(Kyushu Island; outskirts of Akaike; same time)
Kaji and Bledsoe watch the MP EVA construction site while the other fourteen Agents sleep. Sabotaging the MP EVAs proved to be tiring work, but they did manage to plant explosives in hard to reach spots within the giant beings before covering up their work.
"So, Marvin…" Kaji's voice gets Bledsoe's attention before the spy goes on. "Just how did you get in with 'N-Tek' anyways?" Bledsoe can't help but grin wryly at Kaji.
"I'll put it to you like this, Kaji. I wasn't the nicest person in the 'hood. I got caught and was made an offer I couldn't refuse. During my time, I got my act straightened out and made a better life for myself. Then I caught N-Tek's eye and now here I am." Shrugging, he adds, "I don't want to traumatize you with the details. Otherwise, Agent Katsuragi'll have my head if you're catatonic in shock."
"I'm still trying to get that reconciled in my head. Misato, an Agent. How the Hell that happen?"
"It was through the field reports of her handler and the section chiefs."
"What's her handler like, anyway?"
"Don't really know all that much about him. But I do know that he sometimes works with Agent Steel." Kaji can't help but smile at that.
"Sure like to meet him sometime." The grin on Bledsoe's face gets an arched eyebrow.
"You already have."
(NYC; Same time)
"Aw, man, that was a good meal." Hearing Nikita giggle beside him, Brian asks, "Nik?"
"Just amused at how the waiter's jaw dropped when you had five consecutive servings. For a while there, I was worried that you'd never eaten before." Brian could only sheepishly shrug before Nikita snuggles into him. "So, what's next?"
"I need to call Captain Sychola, let him know we'll be en route to Tokyo-3 tomorrow." Bringing out his phone, Brian hits the pre-set number. After one ring, the line picks up.
"Section 2, Captain Sychola's office." Machiko's voice brings a smile to Brian's face before he replies.
"Hey, Machiko, this is Agent Dyson. Is Captain Sychola about?"
"Oh hi, Agent Dyson! One moment and I'll put him on." Sure enough…
"Sychola here. How was your expedition, slugger?"
"I got my answers and a resolution, sir."
"Excellent. When do you expect to return?"
"That's actually why I'm calling, sir. We expect to be back in Tokyo-3 by nightfall tomorrow. With guests and a gift for you, sir."
"Guests and a gift, huh? You really shouldn't have on the gift, but what's the deal on the guests?"
"One's a VIP resulting from a notification I did today."
"Notification? What kind of… oh. Regarding…"
"Yes, sir. I recalled the former spouse living here in NYC and decided to proceed with the notification without instruction from you."
"Alright. I'll get Lieutenant Hisnokasu to handle the VIP. The other guests?"
"I'll inform you in person, sir. I don't think you'd quite believe me over the phone."
"That bad, huh?"
"Not bad, exactly. More like unexpected."
"Okay. Anything else?"
"A contingent of Agents for the 'gift', sir. With a prisoner transport for the 'gift'."
"Oh, that kind of 'gift', huh? Arm level?"
"The highest, the better, sir. The 'gift' is considered to be dangerous."
"I got it. I'll see you upon arrival at the Geofront. Have a safe flight, Dyson."
"Yes, sir." With that, the call ends and Brian sighs. "At least he took it well."
(NERV; Pool 5)
As Yachiru rises to the surface, with Shinji following behind her, she breaks the surface and squeals in giggles when Shinji tickles her right foot before surfacing as well. Without looking toward his 'wife', Shinji grins at Yachiru.
"Not bad. How long was that now, Rits? A minute and a half?" From her position at the shallow end, Rits nods. Before she can answer, however…
"Just about, yeah." Stunned at the voice, Shinji and Rits turn and see Ritsu and Matt standing together. Ritsu, clad in the same one-piece swimsuit as from the day Shinji first arrived, smiles warmly at the sight of Shinji and Yachiru swimming together. "And who is the little charmer I see in the pool with you, Shinji?"
"Doctors Akagi and Hanson, this is Yachiru Suzuhara. Yachiru, these are Doctors Ritsuko Akagi and Matt Hanson."
"Are you a model, Doctor Akagi?" Ritsu can only smile softly at the cutie.
"I can only wish, sweetie. Much like I can already tell you'll make a good Father, Shinji."
"Thanks, Dr Akagi. How're you doing today?" The brunette shrugs as she takes a seat by Rits' side, a swim-trunk clad Matt following suit.
"Same old routine. Going over EVA 01 and 02's systems, keeping track of expended medical necessities. That kind of thing." Gently rubbing her belly, she adds, "Plus doing my best to ensure this little one makes it to term." Looking toward Rits, she then asks, "How about yourself, Mrs Ikari? Any concerns I should know about?"
"Nothing major, but I'd like to talk to you in private when you get a chance." Ritsu nods as Rits slides herself into the pool. "For now, though, it's time I swam with my hubby and our charge." As Rits swims with Shinji and Yachiru, Ritsu can gaze softly at the three. Next thing she knows, Matt rises up to stand beside her. Ritsu looks up at him and notices him smirking.
"Matt? What're you planning?" Matt doesn't reply. He just gently lifts Ritsu into his arms, resulting him her kicking and screaming. "Matt! What're you doing?!"
"Just going for a little dip with my sweetheart is all." With that, Matt bounds off the edge of the pool into the deep end, submerging the both of them. Five seconds later, they both surface. Matt with a mischievous grin. Ritsu with a scowl on her face. Only for the scowl become a smirk. With Matt noticing. "Why am I not liking your smirk?"
"Dunno. Could be, however, because of this!" Sweeping her arm toward him, she sends a wave of water against his face. As his face drips with water, she says, "It just goes to show that you'll always be all wet, Matt!"
"True. Of course, I'm not as wet as you always have been since I knew you, 'Suko." Ritsu's jaw can only drop at Matt's audacity at the double meaning. Recovering her jaw, a now-smirking-again Ritsu has only one thing to say.
"This means war."
(WA State Medical Center; one hour later)
"Suzika Uzumaki." The Japanese woman raises her head up at the call and blinks at the Assistant. "The Doctor will see you now."
"Thank you." The Assistant nods and escorts Suzika to an examination room. Opening the door, the Assistant allows Suzika to see a kindly old woman of Korean descent within the room. Once Suzika's inside, the Assistant closes the door.
"Hello, Ms Uzumaki, I'm Dr Lee. Have a seat, please." Suzika nods at Dr Lee and sits down on the table while Dr Lee looks over her paperwork. "Okay, on your paperwork, it says you have no current Medical records on file."
"Yes, Doctor. Mainly because they'd been destroyed in a fire three years ago. I haven't been to a Doctor since."
"And why, may I ask?"
"Because the fire happened an hour after my last visit. I considered myself to be a jinx when it comes to Doctors."
"Hmm, I see. So what convinced you to chance jinxing me?" Suzika can't help but softly titter.
"My boyfriend. He noticed I'd been feeling under the weather and told me, 'You're not a jinx, Suzi. So get that nutty thought out of your head'. I was still unsure, but I agreed to give myself another chance."
"Well, as long as this visit doesn't result in a blaze…" The two share a giggle before Dr Lee goes on. "So you're here for a pregnancy test?"
"Yes, Dr."
"What made you think pregnancy?"
"I'd been pregnant before. Years ago." Dr Lee nods in understanding at that.
"How did it come out?"
"I lost the baby in an act of utter stupidity. I got drunk and crashed my car." Tears falling out of her eyes, she murmurs, "That haunts me to no end."
"I see. Well, let's see what your blood says." Suzika nods at that before presenting her left arm. Dr Lee swabs the offered arm with antiseptic cream before slipping a sampling needle into the vein. Once the sample's been collected, Dr Lee brings out a pad of gauze and positions it over the entry point. Slipping the needle out, she puts the gauze over it.
"Hold that, if you please." Suzika nods as the Dr brings out stretch-tape and puts it over the gauze. "Leave that in place for three hours, Ms Uzumaki." Suzika nods as Dr Lee puts the sampler into a blood processing machine. "It'll take about ten minutes for the bloodwork to come back with the results." Suzika nods in understanding before putting her right hand over her belly. With Dr Lee noticing. "You're hoping you're to be a Mother, aren't you?"
"I am." Her voice is so soft, Dr Lee had to strain herself in hearing her.
(Fifteen minutes later)
A subdued Suzika comes back into the waiting room, only for her to smile upon seeing her boyfriend. Six red roses in hand. Walking up to him, she feels his lips against hers as he embraces her. Remembering they aren't exactly alone, Suzika ends the kiss. With her eyes promising 'later' before eying the roses again.
"Oh, Scott, how sweet." Scott can only shrug while grinning sheepishly.
"Just felt you'd need a mood booster, is all."
"Good to see you've recovered from your shyness issues, Scott." Blinking, Scott turns toward the feminine voice and grins.
"Alex!" Chuckling softly, he hefts a slender blond into the air before hugging her. With her returning the hug. "I haven't seen you since graduation from UNLETC!"
"I know!" Releasing him from her arms, she adds, "You haven't changed a bit!"
"I could say the same of you." Looking back toward Suzika, he adds, "Suzika Uzumaki, this is Alex Wheeler. She went through UNLETC with me and we graduated together. Alex, my girlfriend, Suzi." Alex looks Suzika over and smiles.
"Nice to meet you, Suzika. Have you been keeping Scott out of trouble?"
"When I can. But he's a handful." Alex can only nod while giggling at that. "Of course, this little one's probably going to be just like him."
Alex's giggles become outright laughter while Scott looks back at her before smiling widely.
"You mean… I'm gonna be a Daddy?" Suzika nods at him and is quickly, yet gently wrapped in his arms again. Feeling his lips against her ear, she hears him softly say, "I love you, Shizuka."
"I love you too, Scott." Tears of joy dripping from her eyes, she breaks away from Scott before looking back at Alex. "Judging from the way he greeted you, I'd say the bitch that broke his heart was not you."
"You'd be correct, Suzika. Of course, if anything, Scott's more like a brother to me." Smirking softly, she adds, "Of course, I did tease him on occasion during training just to see if I could get him to respond."
"And did he?"
"Slightly. About as far as we got were hugs behind the instructors' backs and stayed that way up until after graduation." Her smirk becoming a scowl, she adds, "I had so wanted to club her over the head with my nightstick back then, but now… not so much."
"I see. What's your current viewpoint?" Alex's scowl switches back to a smirk so quickly, Shizuka can only blink to be sure her eyes are working right.
"Simple. She ever shows up in my neck of the woods, she's getting a ticket. Even if it's just where a warning is enough, her ass is getting a ticket."
"So he told you who she was?" At Alex's nod, Shizuka rolls her eyes. "Seems you got further with him than you just said."
"Not exactly. We went to a bar our graduation night. I got him so rip-roaring drunk, he spilled all to me. Once he got done spilling, he got silly." Shizuka can only blink before looking at Scott before looking back at Alex before back at Scott before back at Alex.
"Scott got silly? My sweet, sober, shy Scott?" At Alex's nod, Shizuka asks, "How silly did he get?" Before Alex can even reply to it however, the woman she knows as Suzika gasps in horrified shock. Scott noticing the gasp.
"What is it, Suzi?"
"That man, outside the window, left side." Scott looks and sees a dark-haired Caucasian man looking away from the window. With him is a blond-haired man talking in an animated manner.
"You know him?"
"He's the one who… who…" Trembling in fear, Shizuka huddles into Scott, resulting in him looking toward Alex.
"If you'll excuse us, Alex."
"Scott, what's going on? Why's Suzika all bent out of shape?" Seeing Scott wave her closer, she does so. Next thing she knows, Scott whispers into her ear.
"I'll have to tell you later. But here's the gist of it. Suzi's not just my girlfriend, she's also a protected witness. That guy out there's the one that killed her previous boyfriend, an Okinawa Police Officer. I gotta get her out of here, like now." Alex nods her understanding.
"Okay. Make like you're heading out of town, but turn toward my parents' place. I'll go on ahead of you." Scott nods at Alex before softly edging Shizuka on.
Leaving a flabbergasted crowd in their wake. Within minutes, Scott had gotten Shizuka out the door and to the Stingray. Upon seeing Alex's Sheriff's Office pickup pull out of the lot, Scott quickly gets them both in. Not seeing the man Shizuka had spotted looking right her as the black Stingray pulls out. Heading toward a blue sedan, the man quickly gets in and brings out a phone from the glove box.
"It's Stone. I just spotted the Uramishi bitch. Instructions?"
"Kill her and anyone with her, Stone. Do not dare fail me and return for you know the price of failure."
"Yes, My Master." Ending the call, Stone starts the car and speeds off after the Stingray.
Inside the Stingray, Shizuka's trembling tapers off, yet she's still nervous. Looking toward Scott, she sees he's intent on both driving and watching out for the guy that had murdered her previous love. Deciding for a distraction, Shizuka smirks at Scott.
"So, she's pretty."
"That she is. But I'm not in her league."
"I don't know about that, Scott. Looked to me like she thought you were." Scott gives a soft smirk before it fades away.
"Don't look now, but we got a tail. Blue sedan. Could be the guy that killed Tsukune." Seeing the blue sedan speed up behind him, Scott grits out. "Hang on tight, Shizuka." Nodding as Scott speeds up, Shizuka lowers herself into the seat as much as possible while putting her hands onto her belly.
'Please, let us make it through this with our baby intact!' Feeling him take a sharp turn, Shizuka looks back out the split window and sees the blue sedan still behind them.
"He's still back there!"
"Demented fucker drives like a cop." Seeing a sign for 'road work ahead' pass by them, Scott sees an earth mover making its way toward a pile of soil that's covering the width of the roadway. 'If we time this just right… we should be able to avoid the boom as it comes up. Along with the rest of the mover. Albeit barely.' With that, he presses down on the accelerator, getting Shizuka's attention.
"Scott?"
"If you know any prayers for what I've in mind, you might wanna start saying them." Shizuka looks ahead and gulps before weakly grinning.
"In case you don't pull this off, Scott, I love you. It's been great."
"Likewise." As the car looms closer to the pile, Scott chances a glance and sees Shizuka's eyes are wide open. "You sure you don't want to close your eyes?"
"If I'm gonna die, I'd rather see it coming than not." Scott can only nod before pressing down on the accelerator one last time as the car reaches the pile. As the car's speed sends it flying over the pile and earth mover, Shizuka screams, "OOOOHHHH SSSSHHHHIIIITTTT!" Upon feeling the car touch down onto the road, Scott stops the car, intent on seeing if their pursuer follows them or not.
Inside his sedan, Stone can't believe his eyes over seeing the black Stingray jump the pile of soil covering the roadway. Cackling madly, he stomps down on the accelerator as well.
"Two can play, boy!" As the sedan's engine roars, Stone maintains his course and the car begins its leap. Only to be stopped by the earth mover's scoop. The impact is so great, it detonates the engine, with the flames engulfing the car. Killing Stone instantly.
Back inside the Stingray, Shizuka and Scott can't help but wince at the explosion of the car. Next thing Scott knows, Shizuka sighs in disappointment.
"Well that's just great." Scott looks over at Shizuka and sees her looking toward him, pouting. "Who am I going to testify against now?" Scott can't but feel his lips twitching upward. Neither can Shizuka. They both then erupt into laughter before Scott resumes the drive. Leaving the scene far behind. "You think you can find your way to Alex's parents' house from here? I'd like to meet them."
"Yeah. In fact, there's a cut-off road just ahead that'll take us that way."
"Great!" With that, Scott keeps driving while Shizuka smirks softly. 'You can rest in peace now, Tsukune.'
Author's Notes; Sorry it took me so long to write this chapter. Real life issues kept popping up and my laptop's hard drive crashed on me before I could finish it. Fortunately the DRC was able to recover what I had on there. Now, for an omake to celebrate!
OMAKE
"That's going to blow up on you. Just so you know." Next thing Shintaro, Irina, Stalk and Watts know, a small form clad in rags and clutching a detonator plunger runs out.
"Did somebody say 'blow up'?" Pressing down onto the plunger, the figure cackles madly when Stalk and Watts wind up covered in soot. Just as quickly as the figure arrived, the figure races off, still cackling. Shintaro and Irina can't help but blink at what'd just happened. Irina then broaches the subject.
"Did that actually happen or was I hallucinating just now?"